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Book of James – Part 4 I want you to lean forward and listen to my Two Amazing Promises heart. After Governor Abbott lifted the shelter- James 1:12-16 in-place order, we researched the State and the CDC guidelines for churches. We realized Hello everyone! Today I’m going to share two we need a few weeks more to prepare to have promises that God offers; One promise that you come back to the worship center and feel will make you happy and a second promise safe. We want to protect you, your family, and that will make you pure, able to withstand the your friends from the Coronavirus when you destructive temptations that make you feel so come. So, we want to plan on opening the dirty. worship center on May 31st, the last Sunday of the month. Honestly, it will take us four weeks Thank you joining us. I’m Pastor Kenny, the to plan, prepare, and train all our leaders to lead pastor at BCF Church in beautiful South again have worship services together. As your Texas. I encourage you to watch through our pastor, my heart wants to protect you because website, BCFChurch.com, where we have for I love you. Pray for me and for us. OK? more resources for you than we have on Face Book and You Tube. TWO PROMISES FOR TOUGH TIMES
Alert church family two very important 1. God promises you happiness (life at its announcements: Mother’s Day is next week. fullest (John 10:10), at its maximum) - if you Send a short (ten to fifteen seconds) tribute to don’t quit. [email protected] by Tuesday at noon. Happy are those who remain faithful under Sending it gives us the right to use it, to edit it, trials, because when they succeed in passing or even to not use it. such a test, they will receive as their reward the life which God has promised to those who love him. James 1:12 (TEV)
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Don’t walk away from your problem - Work A few years ago I went to the auto parts through the problem. School. Work. Home. store to get a starter for our Suburban. The associate asked, “what year?” If you walked away, God forgives you and I “1999.” don’t judge or condemn you. Start fresh “Have you thought about getting a new today! one?” “No. I’ve never bought a new car as long as The reward for not walking away – is we’ve been married?” happiness! Life at it’s best. “How long have you been married?” “Forty-one years.” 2. God promises you can win over temptation - A younger associate behind the counter if you will trust Him. looked up and said, “Forty-one years! I can barely stay with my girlfriend for one 13 When you are being tempted, do not say, year.” “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted I asked, “Want some advice?” to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone He said, “Sure.” else. “Put God first. If you do, you’ll do well. If 14 Temptation comes from our own desires, you don’t, you won’t.” which entice us and drag us away. When I finished buying the part the young 15 These desires give birth to sinful actions. man walked from behind the counter And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives and asked, “May I shake your hand?” birth to death. “Sure.” 16 So don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. James 1:13-16 (NLT2) All Have we been tempted to walk away? Sure. Christians are going to be tempted. “We have what everyone is looking for!”
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While you in this life, you're never going to way that we are, but he didn’t sin.” be sinless. But, you can sin less. Hebrews 4:15 (GWT) 2) Being tempted isn’t sin The person who has been born into God’s 3) Never think you can play with temptation. family does not make a practice of sinning. “I can handle this.” 1 John 3:9 (TLB) 4) You can win over temptation. The temptations in your life are no I have great news! You can be free today. different from what others experience. You can start the journey toward freedom And God is faithful. He will not allow the today! Drinking too much. Talking too temptation to be more than you can much. Gambling or cocaine, or whatever, stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can If the Son [of God] sets you free, you are endure. 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NLT2) truly free. John 8:36 (NLT I asked the three oldest men on our staff "God is faithful. He will not allow the how long they’ve been porn free: temptation to be more than you can KL – Over 40 years stand." That's a promise from God. When Michael – Over 25 years somebody says, "I couldn't help myself," Rich – Over 30 years that person is saying, “I didn’t let God John – Over 18 years help me.”
If you want to be free 5) Temptation, if entertained, can destroy you. (“Do not be misled, deceived”) 1. You’ve go to know five truths about temptation: Watch out for your great enemy, the 1) Everyone is tempted (“When you are devil. He prowls around like a roaring temped.”) “[Jesus] was tempted in every 7 8
lion, looking for someone to devour. 1 (1. Discover when are you most likely to be Peter 5:8 (NLT2) tempted? • HALT = Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired 2. If you want to be free, You can’t blame • When you are bored. others when you fail. “That’s just the way I • When you’ve suffered a loss. (grieving am.” God made me like this! This is God’s a loss). Lost job. Retirement savings. fault! If I fall, it’s my fault. • When you see someone improperly dressed. “Temptation comes from our own desire, • What day of the week and I likely to which entice us and drag us away.” Until be tempted. Don’t correct kids on you own it, you can’t disown it. Mondays.
(2. Discover where you are most likely to be 3. If you want to be free, You’ve go to plan to tempted win. • Sitting in front of your computer. • When you go to a friend’s barbecue. We know very well what Satan’s plans are. • Alone at home (contacting Beau while 2 Corinthians 2:11 (NCV) Let’s talk about the Connie is away.) when, where and who of Satan’s plans. • Plan carefully what you do . . . . avoid Satan knows you better than you know evil and walk straight ahead. Don't go yourself. one step off the right way. Proverbs 4:26-27 (TEV) Satan’s schemes to destroy will are unique • If you're trying to lose weight, don’t to to you. His deadly plans for me will be to Dunkin Doughnuts different than your plans.
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• If you struggle alcohol, you don't go to Call to me when trouble comes . . . . [and] a bar to watch the game. (They sell I will save you. Psalm 50:15 (TEV) pretzels at HEB). • Maybe you need to block some “Lord, help me!” channels on your TV, and on your internet, and on your phone. Don't try to resist the temptation. What you resist persists. The more you (3. Discover with whom you are most likely think about something, the more you're to be tempted? attracted to it. I'm not going to smoke that cigarette. I'm not going to eat that • She thinks I’m good looking! I know Joe food. I'm not going to drink that beer. I'm understands me. not going to watch that porn. The more Run from her! Don’t go near her house, you’re resisting, you're driving the lest you fall to her temptation and lose temptation deeper into your heart. your honor, and give the remainder of Whatever you resist persists. your life to the cruel and merciless; lest The Bible never tells us to resist strangers obtain your wealth . . . . Lest temptation. Instead, the Bible tells us to afterwards you groan in anguish and in run from temptation. shame when syphilis consumes your body, and you say, "Oh, if only I had Run from . . . youthful lusts. 2 Timothy listened! If only I had not demanded my 2:22 (NLT2) own way! Oh, why wouldn’t I take advice? Why was I so stupid? Proverbs Replace wicked thoughts with God’s 5:8-13 (TLB) thoughts. Instead of resisting, replace them with a Bible verse. (4. Plan for Satan’s surprise attacks.
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“Jesus is Lord.” Romans 10:9 (NLT) pollution. Everything you allow in your Over and over as I go to sleep. mind, every song, every movie, every video, every thought is stored in your “Lord Jesus, please come into my heart mind. and take over. Direct me. Guide me. Connie and I have never subscribed to Protect me. Amen.” the movie channels. HBO, Cinemax. We once had them for free. Called to remove This is the principle of replacement not them. resistance. You don't resist temptation, you replace it with God’s word Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. Don't let evil conquer you, but conquer Proverbs 4:23 (NLT2) evil with good. Romans 12:21 (GW) Run from it. Replace it. Call a friend. Do what Jesus did when Satan tempted When temptation persists, phone a Him. He quoted scripture three times. Get friend. a go-to verse or verses. Two are better off than one, because I have hidden your word in my heart, together . . . . If one of them falls down, that I might not sin against you. Psalm the other can help him up . . . . Two 119:11 (NLT2) If you are not memorizing people can resist an attack that would Scripture, you are going to fail. defeat one person alone. Ecclesiastes 4:9- 12 (TEV) Who's helping you? Let me ask Some of you worry about pollution, you. water pollution. Others worry about air pollution, or food pollution. You ought be far more concerned about mental 13
There are some habits you're just not going to get over until you share them with a committed friend.
That friend is already near you. Or, God will bring them to you.
On Friday nights at 7p, we have Celebrate Recovery. Afterwards, we have Open Share, men with men, women with women, where you can share.