When Life Gets Messy
Good morning to you. As many of you are aware, I am the new Executive Pastor at BBC. I started in late August and things are going well. I am enjoying the opportunity to be serving you and be on staff with such a great team. I really enjoyed getting to know many of you as well. I want to thank you so much for your prayers for me and my family.
Many of you have been wondering how things are going for us. So I wanted to give you an update before we begin on the sermon.
Christy and I have been married for 17 years. We have five children (Rebekah, Rachel, Jeremiah, Elizabeth, and Hannah). Originally, we are from Wisconsin but moved out East about 8 years ago. I am big Green Bay Packer fan and lover of sports. Christy loves the ocean, she enjoys camping, hiking, and being a mom. Interesting fact about my wife Christy. Her dad was a pastor and she did not want to marry a pastor. Apparently, God had different plans for my wife as now I am a pastor.
November 9, 2014
James 1:2-5,12, When Life Gets Messy
David Pranga, Brewster Baptist Church
[powerpress]
Many of you have asked about our house situation. I was very fortunate that I had a friend from my former church that goes to Brewster Baptist Church in the summer time, and they have been letting me use their home in the meantime. Which was a real answer to God. Many of you have prayed for our house to “sell” in Upton. As of two weeks ago, we have sold the house. The family is living down here in Dennis full time now. It has been nice to have the entire family here.
In the process of selling our house, we have been searching for a house and found one in Orleans. That is where we found a beautiful house that will fit our family and our needs. We made an offer and it was accepted in principle. I would like to say everything has gone smoothly but far from it.
In the past two weeks, we have had no idea if the house deal was “on” or “off”. Whether we going to move to Orleans? Should we just find a winter rental and give up on this house? The kids were wondering when and where they would be going to school?
Should we start the kids in Dennis school system where we currently live? Do we ask for them to go to the Orleans school system, or do just rent a house in Brewster and have them start there? All these questions Christy and I have been asking ourselves over the past two weeks.
As you can image there was a lot of stress and trials over the past two weeks with buying a house. I was beginning to wonder if we would ever sign the “purchase and sale agreement” that would lock things down for a house.
I cannot speak about you but when I go through trials, the seeds of doubts set in? You begin to ask yourself, why is this happening us? Are really supposed to buy this house? I often ask God, What are you trying to teach me through this process?
I think my daughter summed it up in a conversation with us around 8 days ago. The kids have been off of school for a week, with no clear decision on a house if we were moving forward or not. She was beginning to wonder when and what school we should start the kids in.
Rachel came in one evening said, “I think our life is a mess right now”. I asked her what she meant by that? She continued on and let us know that we left our former house. We don’t know what school we are going to? We don’t know where we are going to live? We don’t know what is going to happen to us next week.
All we could say to Rachel, which to be honest with you. “Our life is completely a mess right now. I have no idea what is going to happen with the house, I have no idea where and when you will start school.” I think she summed up our life pretty good at that point. So I decided that I would title today’s sermon, “When Life Gets Messy”.
I want everyone to think for just a minute and I want you write the answer to this question on a piece of paper. You can pull out your bulletin and write on it. Here is the question… What is one thing you are stressed about? What is one struggle or trial you are going through today? What is it that you are spending your waking hours fretting and thinking about? I want you to write it down on a piece of a paper.
For some of us the answer may be our family. Maybe we struggling with a relationship with a love one. Maybe it how to deal with parenting a kid. Maybe you’re struggling with your marriage. Wondering if your spouse will ever get it. For others it may be with your finances. Maybe you have car that needs a major repair, but don’t have the money for it. Maybe no matter how much you save, you cannot get ahead in life. There is always something dealing with money that is bring you down. For others it might a job. Maybe you don’t have a boss you get along with or someone is asking you to do something that is not ethical. Maybe you are thinking about switching jobs or careers for a time and you’re scared. For someone else, it might be the future. You are struggle with what the future holds for you. For someone else it might be your health. You may need a surgery but you haven’t done yet. Or maybe you feel like your health is going down and you just don’t know how to pick it back up. There has been set back after set back. You are feeling miserable today.
What is it that you are stressed about in life? What trials are you dealing with? This morning, we are going to be talking about “When life gets messy”.
If you have your bibles, please turn to book of James. It is located in the New Testament and is one of my favorite books. The author of James is the brother of Jesus. Imagine being the brother of Jesus. If you ever needed a reason to believe Jesus claims to be true and that he is surely the Messiah, all you have to see is that even Jesus’ brother, James believed he was the Messiah and was the son of God.
James was serving as the Lead Elder and Chief spokesman of the Jerusalem Church; which was the church that the Christians look toward for support and knowledge on key issues of the church.
James wrote this letter to the Jewish Christians. The letter was written to the earlier believers that were scattered about due to the stoning of Stephan and his death. The Romans have already destroyed the temple. The Christians were going through terrible difficulties, perhaps even great persecution during this time. They were oppressed and discriminated during this time.
Remember as we read this passage, James is writing to Christians that are going through hard times.
Read…. James 2:2-5, and verse 12.
This morning, as I read this passage I really believe that God’s word can help us with our life. Whenever I read the bible it reminds me that I am not alone. That people in the 1st century are going through times of distress, struggles, hardships, and trials.
When I read this passage there are few things that stand out to me about this passage that I want to share with you about this morning. I pick this passage because it helps me out when I going through struggles and trials. My hope is that it will help you as well. I believe this passage gives us 5 victories over struggles.
1. First, thing we learn from this passage – We will all face trials of many kinds.
James is writing to the early Christians and he is warning them and us, we will face trials and temptations here on earth. These trials are things that we need to expect. James, uses the word “whenever we face trials of many kinds”. James does not use the word IF but when these trials come.
I find it interesting that God did not shelter his people from trials and temptations.
Sometime when people give there life to Jesus Christ they fall under a false sense of security. They begin to believe nothing bad will ever happen to them. That Jesus Christ is there to protect them of terrible things that may happen to them in life. They look at becoming a Christian as fire insurance. They have this card that will protect them.
I firmly believe that the reason why we have trials in our life is for us to exhibit faith in God. I believe we go through trials because our faith is being tested. When our faith is being tested, God will see if we are obedient to him. This is when we will begin to show our true colors in what we believe.
John Maxwell has a good quote. “A faith has not been tested, cannot be trusted.”
When trials are coming our way, God is looking to see if we are obedient to him. God wants to see if we are faithful to him. It is easy to be obedient and to have faith to him in good time. What about the tough times? What about the times we are stressed out? What about the times we are in trials?
It is through these times that we need to trust him the most. But it during these times that our faith is being tested. It probably is the hardest time to follow God. It during these difficult stages in our life that need to call on him the most.
I believe one of the reasons why God allows us to go through trials is that he wants us to draw closer to him. God wants to see where we stand with him. I believe that God wants to increase our faith through these times of trials.
I can look over my life and see many times where God put a time of stress or trials in my life. One of the trials Christy and I faced was knowing the time was coming to a close in our previous church. We loved the church very much. We served there eight years and had enjoyed our time very much. I got to work with two great senior pastors. I was there as we built 4.6 million dollar building. We experienced significant growth. Our kids enjoyed the schools and came to love Mass and the town we lived in. Christy and I loved living in the log cabin house with a big yard.
Yet, we knew that God had something in store for us. Sometimes you just know that our time was done. The church just hired a new senior pastor and it would be great opportunity to move closer to family.
Christy and I always talked about going back home to Wisconsin. I was being interviewed by a great church in Northern Minnesota which was not that far away from family. The position was to be Associate Pastor and it seemed like it was a great fit on many fronts. I had a lot skills they were looking for.
I was also working with a search firm, as well, called Vanderbloem. I remember seeing the job description for this church and I looked on the website and I really like what I read about from the church. They cared about community and reaching out to people. I remember mentioning this to my wife Christy about this great job on the Cape. (At this point, I promised my wife that we would only stay in Mass for 5 years and then we would move back to the Midwest and home. We were now at 8 years and our desire really was to go back home.) Christy first response, I don’t think so.
Christy and I were praying about where God would use us next. The more we prayed, the more I got phone calls from Vanderbloem about this position. I will be honest with you. I did not call them back because I needed my wife to be on board. I just felt we both needed to be on board.
Christy and I were pretty set that we were going back to Minnesota. I remember when Jay from Vanderbloem left a message. Jay called to let me know that he loved my resume and he really wanted me to meet with him about this position as Executive Pastor. This was going to be the last chance he was going to call. I talked to my wife and Christy gave me her blessings to interview with him about this position.
I met with the search firm and they had so many good things to say about Brewster Baptist Church. The interview with Jay went excellent. After talking with him, I told my wife about the job in more details. I assured that there would be 6 other candidates and who knows if they would even bring me for an interview. I think deep down she really was hoping that you would not call.
Well, the church selected me to come for interview. I will be honest with you; I let the church know that I wanted to bring my wife Christy with me, because I knew if she was not on board, then the interview was would be for naught.. Christy and I met with Doug and Jill and had a great talk and really connected with them.
I met with search team and things went great from my end. If you heard things from Doug’s point of view they went very well in deed. Christy and I started to pray more seriously about the position here at BBC.
I went through a number of interviews and wrote a few papers before being offered the job.
It is amazing to both Christy and I because through the trials and stresses, we were open to where God was calling us. But we both know that it is better to be in God’s plan than to do our own thing.
Question: Let me go back to the first question; Where are you being tested or what trials are you going through right now? Are you open to where God may leading you?
Second, thing we learn from this passage – James tells us to face these trials with what kind of heart? James tells us be have a “Joyful” or some translation it says, “pure joy”.
I will be honest there are times when I read the bible that I have to scratch my head. Sometimes, I have to ponder that thought or command that God gives his believers. This is one of the head scratching moments.
How many of us look at trials and are joyful over them? Does anybody here look at trials or obstacles in life as things we are joyful over?
So how do we face trials with Joy?
When we are going through a difficult time in our life. When we are going through a trial. How am I supposed to look at this as a joyful opportunity?
Sometimes I have to take a step back and ask a different question. Sometimes I need to think, why is James telling the early believer and telling us not to worry but look at this opportunity to exhibit “Joy”.
In fact, James tell us to have “pure joy”.
I believe James is telling us that to remember that we are not alone in this situation. We have a heavenly father that loves us very much. God knows the situation we are dealing with. This not something new that he did not see coming. In fact, he allowed this situation to occur.
I believe what God wants to see is our attitude. Are we people that grumble when difficult trials come our way? Are we people who complain? We are people that want to tell the world how difficult we have it.
I am expecting that the people that James is writing to are going through some awful persecution, discrimination. Yet James is reminding people of their attitude.
Why is that? Why does God cares about our attitude when we face trials, persecution, temptation?
I think it is for a couple of reasons….
#1. It is to win non-believers to Jesus Christ. I believe James is trying to encourage the believer that they will win and influence people to Jesus Christ by their actions. James is hoping that how we handle difficult stress will show others where our hope lies. Is it in ourselves or is in God?
I remember my dad sharing this story with me on more than one occasion. He was general manager of a large fertilizer business that dealt with farmers. As a boss it was always difficult for him to share his faith openly. You run into mixing religion and the work place that people frown over.
My dad would share stories with me in times where his employees would be going through a difficult time, they search out my dad and share their story. It was during these interactions, that my dad would share his faith in Jesus Christ. People looked at my dad as a person that had incredible strength in something, in God. When people are going through difficult times, they will search out people who seem to know what they believe.
I really believe God uses people who have joyful hearts in all circumstances (good and the bad).
#2. God wants us to see where our hope is. Often we can portray that we are in control. The reality is that God is really in control.
I can think of my children. It brings me more delight when my child expresses a joyful attitude over something verses a complaining attitude.
When we trust God, we can exhibit joy.
When we trust ourselves, our live will always be uneasy…
I really believe we go through trials and God cares about our attitude because God wants us to strengthen our relationship with him.
The third revelation from this passage – James tells us to ask God for wisdom.
James tells us that we are going to face many kinds of trials. James tells us to have attitude of joy. The good news about God is that he does not leave us stranded or alone. God cares about you deeply. God love you! Let go back to the scripture to verse 5….
James states, v5 “If any you lack wisdom, he should ask, who gives generously to all”.
I love verse 5 because whatever trial we are facing, the bible says that God gives generously. God yearns to give you the wisdom you are asking for. I truly believe that God gives his wisdom generously.
When I am struggling like in the sense of a house we are trying to purchase, or with a relationship at work, or even when I have fight with my wife. I have to go scripture and the Bible and look for wisdom.
I love reading from the Bible and reciting scripture because it reminds me that I am not alone. That the God of the universe truly cares about me. There is a God that truly loves me. God has my interest in mind. At times, I may not see it. It might take me a long time to see it and it is ok. But I do believe that God will use my trials for His good and my good.
The question that I may ask is, Why does James says that we should go to God? Why should we go to God for and ask for Wisdom. I think it is for two reason:
1) I believe that God wants us to humble ourselves. That we understand that he is God and we are not. I am reminded of the verse in 1 Peter 5:6-7
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Then Peter says, Cast all your anxiety on him (God) because he cares for you.
God wants us to come in a humble way. We need to bow down and put our pride away. Then I believe God will help us.
2) I think the second reason James is saying this is that we need be dependent upon God. I love verse Phil 4:6
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, present your request to God.”
God’s heart is not for us to be alone and stressed out about life. God wants to help us out. God truly has our best interest in mind.
Story: I only have to think of my kids. When my kids are in need. When they come with an attitude of pride or self-sufficiently. When come with little respect to me. Honestly, my heart and actions are not one that really wants to help them out. But if my child comes to me in a humble way. One where I can see they are really asking for help in a gentle spirit. My heart swells up and I want to help them out. Even when I know they messed up. I want to help make it right.
I believe that it is similar with God. When we go God with a humble heart. One that is dependent upon him and not on ourselves. I believe that God will give us an answer. I will say, it may not be the answer we want. But I know that God loves me and he wants to help us out in the worst way.
I. The Fourth revelation from this passage is the word “Perseverance”.
James says in verse 4, Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete.
When I look up the word perseverance it means endurance in the face of trials; and steadfastness under pressure. The synonyms are: diligent, persistence, long suffering, and endurance…
When you go back to original audience James is talking to, the Jewish Christians were going through persecution, hardship, and enduring terrible things. James is trying to encourage the believers not to give up their faith but to work through the pain. To persist and persevere through the difficult times.
James knew it would be easy for the Christians to give up. We know it is far easier to go with the crowd and do what everyone is doing, than to take a stand and do the right thing. Here James is encouraging the believer to do the right thing. To endure and persevere and not give up.
When I was thinking about perseverance this week, I was thinking about the Boston Marathon. I have run a couple of Marathons but never Boston. Running a marathon requires a lot of perseverance and endurance. A marathon is not something you can do without training. It requires a lot of hard work, practice, repetition, in order to run 26.2 miles.
Let say, if I asked you, What do you believe is the toughest stretch for a marathon runner?
· Is it first 13 miles?
· Is it mile 14 to 22?
· Is mile 23-26 the few miles?
How many of you say the first 13 miles? How many of you say last 4 miles? How many would say mile 14-22?
If you ask most marathon runners including myself, everyone will tell you it is the middle miles. The first 13 miles are the easiest. The last four miles are harder but you can taste the finish line, you know it is right around the next corner. But the hardest miles, where you need the most perseverance and endurance are the middle miles. They are by far the hardest to run.
It is during this stretch that your brain and your body says, why am I doing this? This is the area where you want to quit. You have to challenge yourself to keep running and stay focus. I firmly believe that if you do the training the body can fight through it but the mind will play games on you.
It is the same way when our faith is best tested in life. When you are going through one of the stresses we talked about earlier. You just have to take one step at time and persevere. Keep going to God and asking for help. Become more dependent on him. Let God take over and continue to take one step at a time.
Proverbs 3:5-5 says…
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
In all ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths go straight.”
Lastly, Reward is receiving the crown of life.
James is reminding the believers that this trial or temptation you are dealing with will come to end. Fix your eye forward. In life, only one thing really matters. It is all about your salvation with Jesus Christ. Our reward is coming one day. It may not be down here on earth. Our hope is simply having a relationship with Jesus Christ. Our reward is that as believers, we will spend paradise in heaven.
James is reassuring the believers that everything will be ok. It may seem like you are going through a scary time. You may feel like you are alone. But what James is trying to teach us:
1) We will all face trials of many kinds
2) Face our trials with joyful hearts
3) Persevere through the trials…It is hard road ahead
4) Ask God for Wisdom – He give it generously…
5) Our reward is up in heaven….
No matter how difficult our life can become. No matter how difficult things can get. No matter what our trials, temptation, or stress we are dealing with. Our hope is not on this earth or the things of the earth. We will not find it here.
As Christians, our hope is in only Jesus Christ. Jesus is the king. Jesus has forgiven us of all our sins. Our reward is up in heaven. Our reward is not on this earth. This time is only temporary.
Our trials here on earth are only temporary. When you look at the stress that you wrote down on the piece of paper. Look at again… This stress is just temporary. It will come and some day it will go away. What James is trying to assure the believers is the hope in Jesus Christ. It is Jesus where our hope and comfort is found.
So let us pray…