Calvary Church Bentonville

A person will never know who they are until they surrender to God and say "here I am." There is power when letting go and allowing God to work in our lives to where we need to be.

We must push towards seeking a relationship with God to have a personal revival and to become disciples who make disciples, then we will see the revival happen in our community.

In the first chapter, James established the foundation of the entire letter: being a doer of the Word. In the second and subsequent chapters, James expounds on what that means practically. We learn in this lesson that there is no room for favoritism. When we discriminate against someone, we are making ourselves judges with evil thoughts. If we show favoritism, we sin and are convicted as lawbreakers. If we desire mercy to be extended to us, we must also show mercy to others. We are declared righteous by God by our faith demonstrated in our works. Am I allowing the Word of God to continue to change me? How will people know?

While living for God, we all endure a race there will be seasons where you will face situations or obstacles that test our face. What matters during this season or trial is who will we look to.

Character as we serve the Lord is critical. Being an example to represent God's love. Read and live His word. Religion is serving those in need and to not be conformed of the world!

We all must make decisions. When we choose the wrong one, we cannot place the blame on anyone but ourselves. However, the right choice can affect millions of lives.

Joy can be found in trials. In the first lesson on the book of James, we explore how we can grow and draw closer to God in the midst of trials. We gain perseverance through overcoming our trial. We learn the need to desire and pray for wisdom through the trial. In the trial, we learn what we are made of.

Consider Jesus to teach faithfulness. You will see that He has been faithful to you. Through all of your hurt, all of your troubles, all of your trials, match it up to the hurt Jesus felt on the cross. God has been faithful and always will be faithful. Think, what would Jesus do? Faithfulness will be produced when you take time to consider how Jesus has been reaching for you. Faithfulness will produce Kingdom purpose in your life. Consider what Jesus can do and remain faithful. Believe!

The story that humanity is set to encounter over and over is that we will fail. Yet, God time and time again makes it his mission to create a opportunity for you and me to have a comeback story. Throughout all of scripture and even in lives today, there are stories of people failing and going through a life of mistakes, addictions, hurts, etc., yet God has always allowed a path to a comeback story. Today, thank God for His mercy and grace that when we fall, He will always pick you back up and create a comeback story, and if you are in need of one, then call on the God that will not turn His back, but rather will rewrite your story for a comeback.

Success in life and success in the Kingdom of God are one in the same. What the world may deem as successful means nothing when it comes to advancing the Kingdom. We should be elevating our perspective, dying to self, and humbling our selves to serve the Kingdom. You are not born successful. It takes a lot of work and grit, not cutting corners. What you do in the secret, will show up when the lights come on. Success in life is worshipping and glorifying God every single day.