LEGACY BIBLE CHURCH > Embrace, Embody, Entrust, & Engage the Gospel

What is the key to overcoming trials? The word of God implanted in you. The word is God's will, mind, heart, purity, power, His Holy Spirit placed into us. It is Christ alive in us. To overcome trials we must humbly accept God's word. As Christians we can enjoy the gifts of God but we must look beyond the gifts to the gift giver and know that it is not the gift but the giver, Jesus Christ, who sustains us through trials.

James informs us that every trial in life can be an opportunity for growth or a temptation to sin. Trials come as we live our lives but the temptation comes from within our very own heart. The desires of our heart keep dragging us away from the true lover of our soul, Jesus. So may we run to him rather than be enticed by another lover that promises so much but leaves us empty, for He will always satisfy!

In the midst of trials James brings us back to the promises and goodness of God to help us persevere.

This week tragedy struck a family within our church body and we, as a church family, shared in that pain and grieved together as a family. When tragedy strikes what sustains us? Jesus Christ, is our only hope. The gospel saves the unbeliever but for the believer it secures our lives today and tomorrow, next week and next year. Jesus Christ walks into our pain and carries us through it. While we do not know how God will use Grant's life, we do know it will be used for His glory.

Trials in life are not optional they are sure to come. How then can we, "consider it all joy"? As we encounter trials and tribulation, we are to cry out to God. We must cry out for wisdom and then let God work in our lives. Let Him shape us and change us and when wisdom comes, then we will see God at work in our lives. But first we must stand and cry out for wisdom.

This week we begin our new sermon series in the Book of James. We find out that James, the younger half-brother of Jesus, was a significant leader in the church. James calls himself a "bond servant." He willingly chose to be a slave to Christ. Having encountered Jesus Christ and experienced His grace, everything changed. A bond servant says, "Whatever you want I am yours"! Do our lives reflect that?

Joy is central to the life of the Christian. Is your life marked by joy? Have you tasted the joy of Christ? Do those around you see that "joy" in you? Joy is the essence of Jesus Christ's heart, passion, desire and purpose. It is what He calls us to. Jesus Christ is the bridegroom who delights in us, His bride. We know God is loving but we must feel it, experience it, touch it. We must do more than know the love of God, we must taste it.

Do you trust God? Our initial response may be yes but do our daily lives reflect that? Do we "roll over" everything to God trusting Him for the outcome? God has given us free will in order to make choices but it is God who takes those choices and weaves them into His sovereign plan. God's wisdom guides our steps when we commit to Him and walk daily with Him. Only when we trust God can we say, "give or withhold whatever you will."

We all know a marriage begins by taking wedding vows to each other, under God. The marriage union is the covenant by which a man and woman live out the gospel to each other. With your spouse as your best friend and lover, you are free to minister to them with the same dedication and sacrifice that Christ shows to the church.

What do you run to for security? If we as Christians do not run to Christ then we are running to something that is imaginary and will not protect or save when the attack comes. We must stop listening to ourselves and preach the gospel to ourselves daily. When that "moment" hits (insecurity, anger, temptation, etc) we have one hope, to remind ourselves of who He is and what He has done.