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Christian
Education Pre-K-12
Richmond Academy
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Double Trouble
Jam 1:2-8 (KJV) “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers
temptations; (3) Knowing [this], that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
(4) But let patience have [her] perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire,
wanting nothing. (5) If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth
to all [men] liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. (6) But
let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of
the sea driven with the wind and tossed. (7) For let not that man think that he
shall receive any thing of the Lord. (8) A double minded man [is] unstable in
all his ways.”
Even Abraham, the father of faith, struggled to find total surrender to its
ways. During the course of their very long lives, Abraham and Sarah received a
promise from God that they would conceive a child, even though Sarah was barren
and had long since past her child bearing years. As doubts mixed with passing
time would have it, Abraham and Sarah came to the rationalization that they
would have to use extreme means to fulfill the promise of having a child that
they had received from God. So they used a servant woman as a surrogate, and
thus had a son they named Ishmael. But in the not-so-far future, when Sarah
found herself to be with child, the couple realized that they had made a grave
mistake by taking matters into their own hands.
Have you ever, or even lately, found yourself trying to make something in your
life happen because it seemed sure to be lost if you didn’t? Have those
temptations ever caused you to take situations in your own hands? If so, perhaps
you have not yet seen the final outcome; but rest assured, it will probably mean
trouble. How can you tell when your efforts are working against God’s best for
you? The sure signs are usually obvious, but they are dismissed because of
religious opinions along with vain philosophies. Be assured that when it is all
said and done, and then looking back, we can see that the primary temptation was
getting something that we wanted our way. The issue is that we could have done
it God’s way. Then we would have received what He wanted for us and at the same
time been growing in perfection with patience. We can ask God: “Why am I so
wishy-washy?” “Why do I always get myself into a mess when I really do want to
do Your will Lord?” But when it all comes down to it, we just wanted what we
wanted! There are ways to tell when you start compromising God’s word and His
will for your life. The first obvious signs are: Failing to attend church and
withholding tithes and offerings, along with not prioritizing quiet time alone
with the Lord. Other tell-tale signs would be: Negative attitudes, and a lack of
integrity on other levels.
Double minded troubles bring people to a miserable existence. Those who have
experienced this, and thus turned from their own ways, will concur that when you
have what you really need, you do not want anything else. Please re-read the
scriptures: James 1:2-8.
-Kurt Thurston
June Newsletter2007 |
Sons of Glory
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Restoration part 2 of 2
Pastor's Journal June 2007 |
Double Trouble
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Biblical
Counseling for Leaders
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