Bridges: Swaying Bridges

Passage: James 1:2-8

Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing. 5 Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God—who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly—and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord, 8 being double-minded and unstable in all his ways.

Pray:

Title: Swaying Bridges

Big Idea: To get from where you are to where God is calling you to go is not easy.

Main Points: Four steps you need to take to go from where you are to where God is calling you to go.

1. Faith
   1. Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance.” - James 1:2-3
   2. The first attack of a trial is on what? Your faith.
      1. The first attack of a trial at on your faith
      2. It’s almost as if the enemy knows that if he can attack your faith, he’ll win everything else.
      3. If he can make you doubt, then he has your thoughts and actions.
      4. If he can get you to stop growing, then he can get you to start dying
      5. The master of lies and deceit
      6. Gen - Adam & Eve
      7. He wants to get you trippin
   3. Muscle Memory Definition: “the ability to repeat a specific muscular movement with improved efficiency and accuracy that is acquired through practice and repetition”

   4. Illust: Riding A Bike

      1. Rarely do you see a child get on a bike and ride off into the sunset. For the majority of us, we had a process of learning how to ride a bike. There were the training wheels, then maybe your parents raised the training wheels, little by little, then one day the training wheels came off. This was both scary and exciting. Maybe even your mom or dad held on to the bike and pushed you as you tried to find your balance. Then if you’re like most, you probably fell a few times.
      2. After a series of events, some bumps and bruises, scars and scrapes, you finally learned how to ride a bike. Once you have learned the basis principles behind riding a bike, it’s likely that you never went back.
      3. Have you ever gone years without riding a bike and then hopped back on one? You don’t have to start back over with the training wheels right? That’s why there’s the saying “It’s like riding a bike.” Your muscle memory kicks in and you do the thing that you’ve been trained to do. You do the thing that you know works best to produce the results you’re trying to achieve.
      4. The same is true in the Christian life. Except too often we start the process backwards. We want to be on our own moving forward, but we forgot the most important part… the first step.
      5. We have a passion for our purpose, but we’ve yet to develop our faith. We have the desire for favor, but we lack faith. We want all the benefits of God’s calling on our lives without the faith that is required for us to get there.
         5. The first step is faith
      6. “For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift — not from works, so that no one can boast.” - ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2:8-9‬ ‭CSB‬‬
      7. “Now without faith it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” - ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11:6‬ ‭CSB‬‬
      8. The first step is putting for faith in Jesus Christ. Putting all of your trust in who He is and what He has done.

      9. You cannot earn or achieve this first step, it is a gift from God

         6. Dependent on Feelings (unstable) or Faith (solid)

      10. I’m not enough / He’s given me everything I need

      11. I’m afraid / He’s my strength when I am weak
      12. I’m confused / He’s the giver of wisdom & direction

      13. I’m frustrated / He’s giving me a peace & purpose

          7. When you start to have these feelings, these thoughts, these emotions, just ask yourself “Who told you that?” WHO TOLD YOU THAT?!

      14. God has not called us to operate on feelings but on faith. Not on what we feel about ourselves, but who He says we are. Not on our strength, but on His promises. Not for our glory, but for His glory and honor! Not for our desires, but for His purposes.

      15. Maybe it was your friends, family members, co-workers, spouse.

          8. Question: Do you operate on feelings or faith?

      16. Your first step is not a feeling, but faith. Believing in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

      17. Faithfulness

          1. Faith is your first step, faithfulness is your next step and every step after that.
          2. “And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.” - James 1:4
          3. “Never let loyalty and faithfulness leave you. Tie them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will find favor and high regard with God and people.” - ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3:3-4‬ ‭CSB‬‬
          4. Caught in the middle

      18. Application: When you step out in faith and start walking towards God’s plan for your life then you better prepare for the middle. The place where it starts to get really difficult.

      19. Often times we do 1 of 3 things in the middle, we will fall back, fall off, or freeze. All 3 things are driven by fear.
      20. Question: If you are in the middle today, are you afraid? Are you dependent on fear or faith?
      21. When you are driven by fear or feelings, then that’s when you will begin to lose faith. Did God really call me to this? Is this really my purpose? Is this really worth it?

      22. Illust: On the slackline

          1. “I like Jesus as a teacher, I don’t want Him as Lord of my life.
          2. “I like the idea of Faith, but I don’t want it to effect all areas of my life.”
          3. “I want to serve them,
             5. Illust: Slackline

      23. The first time you try slacklining it is not easy. Your body has yet to experience the necessary balance required to get you to the other side. It takes repetition and practice before you begin to really get comfortable on the slackline. But after a while, you begin to get better and better. The surprise wears off and you can begin to anticipate the movements. You no longer overcompensate one way or the other, but you rely on what you’ve learned the last 100 attempts.

      24. When you first start stepping out in faith, it oftentimes feel shaky and unstable. You wonder if you’re ever going to make it to the otherside. Opposition comes and your faith becomes shaky.
      25. Illust: Jake & Andy

      26. “And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.” - James 1:4

          1. Let endurance have its full effect, endure more, endure more!
             6. Example: Peter walking on water

      27. “Immediately Jesus spoke to them. “Have courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter answered him, “command me to come to you on the water.” 29 He said, “Come.” And climbing out of the boat, Peter started walking on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the strength of the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand, caught hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 Then those in the boat worshiped him and said, “Truly you are the Son of God.” - Matthew 14:27-32

      28. Peter took His eyes off Jesus. He set his focus on his circumstances and fear took over.
      29. Faith is putting your trust in God. Faithfulness is keeping your eyes on God.
      30. “For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind.” - James 1:6
          7. Faithfulness is not perfection, but obedience.
      31. It is keeping your eyes on Jesus. Keep your focus on Him. Walking with Him. Abiding in Him. Growing with Him.
      32. Relationship, relationship, relationship, NOT DO MORE!

      33. Fortitude

          1. “whenever you experience various trials”
          2. Notice that it doesn’t say “If you experience trials” but “Whenever you experience trials.”
          3. Fortitude Definition: “strength of mind that enables a person to encounter danger or bear pain or adversity with courage”
          4. Surrounded & Grounded

      34. Nehemiah was surrounded and grounded

      35. “So I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in. Jerusalem lies in ruins and its gates have been burned. Come, let’s rebuild Jerusalem’s wall, so that we will no longer be a disgrace.” 18 I told them how the gracious hand of my God had been on me, and what the king had said to me. They said, “Let’s start rebuilding,” and their hands were strengthened to do this good work. 19 When Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard about this, they mocked and despised us, and said, “What is this you’re doing? Are you rebelling against the king?” 20 I gave them this reply, “The God of the heavens is the one who will grant us success. We, his servants, will start building, but you have no share, right, or historic claim in Jerusalem.” - Nehemiah 2:17-20
      36. God’s given us favor
      37. God is going to grant success
      38. We’re going to build
      39. We’re going to stay faithful against opposition
      40. When you got God’s blessing and favor, you’re never on the defense. You don’t have to make excuses or apologies. You are on assignment from God, you are on mission for the King, you have the papers, you have the authority, you have everything you need to complete the task!
          5. “Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 We have also obtained access through him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, 4 endurance produces proven character,and proven character produces hope. 5 This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” - Romans 5:1-5

Closing:

“Blessed is the one who endures trials, because when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” - James 1:12

Walking Points:

1. Take your first step - and put your faith in Jesus
2. Take your next step - stay faithful to what God has called you to today. Obey, obey, obey. Obey today, obey today, obey today.
3. Take your next steps - keep moving forward, keep taking another step and never stop. You cannot be all that God has called you to be, do all that God has called you to do and stay right where you are. God give me fortitude. God give me courage. God help me be consistent. God keep me faithful.