how you actually gain control…

when i share my hidden secrets with another person, i find that its empowering.  GOD gives power to us when we humble ourselves.  HE gives grace to the humble.  you get that grace, that power to change.  GOD says i’m going to give you the power now to change.

if i can’t talk about it, it’s out of control.  i don’t care what it is.  if i can’t talk about it, it’s out of control.  if i can’t talk about it because it’s too painful or it’s too embarrassing or its too shameful or i’m too bitter about it what my dad did or my mom did or what i’ve done to somebody else, if i can’t talk about it, it’s out of control.  in fact, if you can’t talk about it it’s controlling you.  you don’t control it, it’s controlling you. 

when you talk about a problem, that’s how you actually gain control of it.  when you begin to talk about it with a spiritual confidant, a friend, a spiritual friend who holds you accountable, an accountability partner, you actually gain control by talking about it.  that’s one of the ways you regain control of your life. 

just a thought from the front porch…

it’s your choice – swear or prayer?…

miles mcpherson in his book, do something!: make your life count says, “without prayer, we have no relationship with GOD.”  you need to talk with someone to have a relationship with them and prayer is our way of talking with GOD.

the word “prayer” is mentioned seven times here in james 5.13-20.  that’s what it’s about.  prayer.  there is tremendous power in prayer.  prayer is the greatest privilege of the CHRISTian life, being able to talk to GOD, and it’s the greatest power in the CHRISTian life.  what prayer can do is what GOD can do.  anything that GOD can do can be done through prayer. 

verse 16 of james 5 (niv) says, the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. so that is what we are going to be looking at here on the front porch.

JESUS said, the things that i do, you’ll do also even greater works.  how do you do greater works than JESUS?  JESUS said that, it’s by prayer.  anything you need, you pray for.  it’s our greatest responsibility.  it’s probably our greatest failure in the CHRISTian life. 

james, in this passage, mentions some specific times when i really need to pray.  one is when i am hurting emotionally.  james 5.13 (niv), is any one of you in trouble?  he should pray. 

now the word trouble here in greek literally means, “to suffer misfortune, to be in distress”.  in the nt book of timothy it’s translated “hardships”.  he’s talking about internal distress caused by external circumstances. 

it may be a financial crisis, a relational crisis, something on the outside, your heart is breaking, tension is at an all-time high, when life gets hard.

now james here is referring  back to verse 12 where he says, above all, my brothers, do not swear. 

when you’re under tension, that’s when you’re tempted to swear.  when you have distress in your life you have two alternatives – swear or prayer.  verse 12 or verse 13.  two alternatives – swear or prayer.  it is your choice.

just a thought from the front porch…

let’s pray…

would you pray this prayer right now?  “LORD, would you help me think of others and not just my own desires?  help me to be willing to admit when i am wrong.”

maybe you need to go to somebody this week and apologize.  say, “i’ve been selfish and i’m sorry.”  the bible says, GOD opposes the proud but he gives grace to the humble.  GOD will give you the power to change and become the person you’ve always wanted to be and HE’s always wanted you to be.  the bible says HE lifts you up.  before honor is humility. 

then would you pray, “ dear GOD, today i want to give into YOU.  i give YOU my life, my marriage, my career.  i submit it all to YOU.  i ask YOU to put the peace of CHRIST in my heart to rule.  help me to get wise about satan, to realize he plays on pride and tells me things i want to hear but really only makes matters worse.  FATHER, help me to grow closer to YOU, to make time in my schedule for time with YOU.  FATHER, i admit that many times i’ve put me first and i ask YOU to forgive me.  help me to become like JESUS, to have the attitude that HE had, to not only look after my own interest but the interest of those around me.  teach me to say, ‘THY will be done’  instead of me first.” 

if you've never invited JESUS CHRIST into your life, do it.  ask HIM to come in.

“LORD, thank YOU for YOUr word.  it’s practical and it helps us in the very area that we need it the most.  use this in our lives so we can have more peaceful relationships, less conflict, less strife, less arguing and more love, joy, and peace.  in JESUS name we pray, amen.

just a thought from the front porch…

where we get the power to change…

we are looking at the fact that having pride brings conflict in our relationships.    it does.  in fact james here in chapter 4 shows that it brings great conflict in our relationship with GOD.  verse 6, (msg) says, it’s common knowledge that GOD goes against the willful proud.  HE is against you if you are selfish, if you are proud.

have you noticed that GOD has unique ways to pop our pride?  just about the time i think, “i’ve got it all together!  i don’t need Him”, HE puts me in my place.  there’s no way we’re going to win.

so if pride is the cause of arguments – and that’s the case james is making,  “ i‘m going to have to have my way when i want it, my time, my place” –  then what is the cure?

the second part of verse 6 and verse 10 says (msg), GOD gives grace to the willing humble...get serious, really serious. get down on your knees before the MASTER. 

what is grace?  grace is GOD’s power to change.  what would you like to change about yourself?  what is it you need grace in?  what do you want to change about your relationships, your marriage, your family? 

whatever you would like to change, you need grace.  you can’t change it on your own.  you need GOD’s power and that’s called grace.  grace is the power to change and there is only one way you get grace.  you willingly humble yourself.

GOD doesn’t give grace to people who are full of pride who think, “i can do it on my own.”  HE gives it when we come and ask, “GOD, i need YOUr help”, and that’s where we get the power to make the changes we’d like to see.

just a thought from the front porch…

my words direct where I go…

so why must i watch what i say?  “why must i do that?  it’s only words, i’m just kidding.”  words are significant, says james. 

one reason why we have to learn to mange my mouth is because my tongue directs where i go.  it has tremendous influence and control in my life. 

where are you headed in life?  where are you going to be in ten years?  look at your conversation.  what do you like to talk about?  what do you talk about the most?  we shape our words and then our words shape us.

james says, the tongue is small, it’s tiny and because it is tiny we think it is insignificant but it has tremendous power.

consider a bit in a horse’s mouth.  james 3.3 (niv), when we put bits in the mouths of horses...we can turn the whole animal.

you’ve got a huge stallion, 2,000-3,000 pounds, and a 95 pound jockey on his back but the 95 pound jockey can control that tremendous mighty animal by a little piece of metal stuck strategically over his tongue.  likewise your tongue controls the direction of your life wherever you want to go.  a little bit of a word or a phrase can influence the total direction of your life.

just a thought from the front porch…

a new capacity to resist temptation.…

james 1.18 (niv), HE chose to gives us birth through the word of truth that we might be a kind of first fruit of all that HE created.

james here is not talking about physical birth.  he’s talking about being spiritually born.  a rebirth.  starting over with GOD.  he saying to be reborn.  be reborn.

the single most important principle in breaking bad habits and getting control of your life is to let GOD have control of it.  get HIM in your life so HE starts changing your character.  being born again gives you a new capacity to resist temptation.

you don’t have enough power in your own will power.  you need supernatural power.  you need JESUS CHRIST in your life.  that’s what it means to be born again.  it means you get a fresh start on life.  ask CHRIST in.  ask HIM to make the changes and give you the power you need to do what you know is right to do anyway.

folks, you will not be able to say no to temptation until you first learn to say yes to GOD.  you need HIS power in your life.  you need to not only be redirected and these other things but you need to be reborn.  that’s the starting point.  then you’ll have more than just your own power.

just a thought from the front porch…

there will be rewards…

some of you are going through some tough times right now.  it’s pretty hard.  GOD cares.  HE cares about you very much.  GOD sees everything you’re going through.  HE’s got your number!  the very hairs of your head are numbered.  HE knows exactly where you are.  HE hasn’t lost your number!  HE cares.

GOD has the power to do something about that problem.  HE could change it in a snap.  HE’s a miracle working GOD.  so why doesn’t HE?  because there is a greater purpose.

the greater purpose is what HE wants to do in you.  GOD is more interested in building your character than in making life comfortable and once you’ve learned those qualities, HE may be free then to remove that situation.  but there are some things in life we’re never going to be free from on this side of heaven.  they are thorns of the flesh.  we will deal with them and carry them.  nothing comes into your life without the FATHER’s permission.

there is a fantastic promise in james 1.12 (niv), blessed is the man who perseveres under trial because when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life that GOD has promised to those who love him.

GOD says there will be a reward.  i don't think when we get to heaven the rewards will go to the pastors, and evangelists and the billy grahams.  i think the rewards will go to the people who quietly put up with difficult situations and developed the character of JESUS CHRIST in their life.  he says, there will be a crown of life.  cast all your cares upon HIM.

just a thought from the front porch…

remind yourself of who GOD is…

there is no problem that is too big or too small for you to pray about.  in 5 & 6 in 2 chronicles 20 (tev) it says,  then king jehoshaphat went and stood before them [the entire nation] and he prayed aloud. 

that’s a good thing to do.  sometimes praying aloud keeps your mind focused.  when you pray in your mind, have you noticed sometimes your mind wanders?  it doesn’t do that when you’re talking aloud.  sometimes you need to pray aloud.

now jehoshaphat gives us a model of some things you can pray when you feel overwhelmed. 

verse 6 (niv), are you not the GOD who is in heaven?  YOU rule over all the kingdoms of the nations.  power and might are in YOUr hand, and no one can withstand YOU. 

the first thing you can do is to remind yourself of who GOD is.  before you talk to GOD about the problem, just focus on GOD and remind yourself that GOD is bigger than the problem you are facing. 

just say, “GOD, YOU’re all powerful.  nothing is too hard for YOU.  with YOU all things are possible.  YOU rule over all kingdoms and nations.” 

the king here realizes that three enemy nations are coming at him yet he stops and says, “YOU’re bigger than all the nations.  i want to keep that in mind.  YOU are bigger than anything i will ever face.”  i remind myself of who GOD is.

just a thought from the front porch…

the power to start over...

so if fatigue, failure and fear rob us of confidence then what restores it?

for one GOD's presence gives me the power to start over.

look at what changed the disciples. john 20.20 (niv), JESUS came and stood among them and … the disciples were overjoyed when they saw the LORD.

acts 4.13 (lb), when the council saw the boldness of peter and john and could see that they were ordinary men they were amazed and realized what being with JESUS had done for them.

these guys weren't phd's. they were just common, ordinary people. but they were bold. before the resurrection, they are cowering in fear in a room with the doors locked. now they're back out on the streets a few days later taking on the enemy, the opposition. what happened?

they had been with JESUS. not merely knowing HE's alive, but being with HIM, having a relationship.

are you aware that GOD is always with you? you lose your fear when GOD is near. HE's with you. GOD says, I'm always with you. JESUS said, low, I am always with you... i will never leave you nor forsake you.

that gives you confidence to start over. you can say, “LORD, i know YOU're with me. help me handle this.”

proverbs 14.26 (tev), reverence for the LORD gives confidence.

the secret of confidence. i think it's basically a SPIRITual problem. there's a lot of phony, baloney advice out there on how to build your confidence. it doesn't work. building confidence is a SPIRITual problem. GOD's presence encourages us to try again. the secret of confidence is to get in tune with GOD everyday.

just a thought from the front porch…