Protect Your Joy

"Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him." - James 1:12

James 1 tells us that above all other human traits, endurance is the characteristic that God is trying to build into your life and mine. Perseverance. Steadfastness. Keep on going. Continue making and keeping the commitments of life. No matter how hard, don't quit.

Endurance is the funnel through which all Christian virtue flows. If God can just get me to not be a quitter, He can get every other good thing into my life. If I won't quit my marriage and I won't quit my kids and I won't quit my job and I won't quit my church and I'm not going to run around thinking the grass is greener somewhere else; I'm going to believe, this is where God has me! This is where I'm going to put down roots and plant my life and make a difference; if I'll stay right here under the pressure, it's unbelievable what God could do in my life. But I've got to be willing to commit for the long haul in order for God's trials to have their purpose in my life.

I want to share a cool related verse in James 1:12, "Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life."

While I think there are literal crowns that we'll receive from the Lord, I'd like to suggest that the "crown of life" means the quality of life which God promises to those who love Him. If you endure, if you stand the test, there'll be a better life for you on the other side of this trial. Your best and most fruitful days are ahead. Your most God-glorifying days are ahead. God has a purpose for every difficult thing that you face, and if you hold up under it you're going to receive the "crown of life." It's a quality of life that comes to those who successfully pass the test - those who love Him. For some people it will be in eternity, but for most people it'll be at some point later in this life. Protect your joy - remain under the pressure and don't let this trial steal what's ahead.


James MacDonald
www.walkintheword.com

Living/Giving Principles

As we continue to prepare for the upcoming ministry season, we are in the middle of training the teams in order that they are prepared and ready to get on the road the beginning of September. Throughout that preparation I have been reminded of some of the truths that we teach on week after week in the churches that we have the privilege to minister in. One such truth is what we call Living/Giving principles (below). These are faith building, word centered truths that have had a substantial impact not only on our lives, but thousands of lives that hear and apply what you are about to read below. Please take a minute to look and see if there is something you can apply from the principles below. How do you view all the blessing that you have been entrusted with? This is not a one-time event but the development of a lifestyle. Enjoy.

1. Before I give any of my material possessions to God, He first wants me to

give myself (2 Corinthians 8:5).

a. Has there ever been a point in my life when I fully gave myself to God?

b. Have I completely surrendered my will, my desires, my needs, my goals,

and my plans to God?

c. Is there any area of my life that I have not yielded to God? Relationships?

Position? Reputation? Recognition? Finances? Future?

d. Do I sometimes find it easier to give my material possessions than to give

myself or my time to minister to the needs of others?

2. I must be willing to be made materially poor, if necessary, in order that I

or others might be made spiritually rich (2 Corinthians 8:9).

a. When was the last time I demonstrated this principle in my life?

b. Have I ever done so?

c. Would I be willing to apply this principle if no one else would ever know I

had done it?

d. Have I ever applied this principle and later grumbled against God for not

immediately meeting my perceived needs or desires?

e. What material sacrifices on my part might help to nurture my spiritual life?

f. What specific material sacrifices could I make that might help others to be

made spiritually rich?

3. God wants me to learn to give out of that which I have (2 Corinthians 8:12).

a. Make a list of all the material possessions that God has entrusted to you.

b. What other non-material resources has God given me that I might be able to

invest in others or in His kingdom (e.g., time)?

c. Do I tend to expect God to meet my needs through the giving of others

rather than through my own giving?

d. When I hear of a need, do I ask the Lord if He wants me to have a part in

helping meet that need?

e. What do I have right now that God might want me to give?

4. I need to transfer the ownership of everything I have to God (1 Chronicles 29:14).

a. Have I transferred the ownership of everything I have to God?

b. Since the owner has the right to make the final decision, have I accepted

God’s right to give or to take away any of “my” material possessions, according

to His will?

c. Am I as quick to rejoice when I experience material loss as I am when God

blesses me materially?

d. Is there any material possession that I would be reluctant to part with at a

moment’s notice from the Lord?

5. Giving must be according to the will of God.

In order to know the will of God, I must have no will of my own.

The will of God is never contrary to the Word of God.

The Word of God is the will of God.

a. Have I studied what the Word of God has to say in relation to my giving?

b. Do I prayerfully seek God’s will in relation to my giving?

c. Are there any principles of God’s Word that I may be violating in my

giving?

d. Am I willing to obey any direction from God in relation to my giving?

6. I need to learn to give today out of my abundance (or supply) to meet the

needs of others, believing that tomorrow, if I have a need, God will use

the abundance of others to meet my need.

a. Make a list of any individuals or ministries that you are aware of who have

specific material needs at this time.

b. Are there any of those needs that God may want to meet out of the supply

He has given to me?

c. Do I feel the need to maintain a “safety net” in case God doesn’t provide

for me?

d. Am I guilty of hoarding certain resources for fear that I may need them at

some unforeseen time?

e. When God uses the abundance of others to meet my needs, do I gratefully

receive the gift as a provision from God?

7. The deeper the level of my giving, the greater is the expression of my love

(2 Corinthians 8:8).

Levels of Giving

Obedience (giving of regular tithes and offerings)

Faith (giving what God clearly prompts, but I cannot see or figure out)

Sacrifice (giving out of my need—that which I actually need to live)

a. Am I currently practicing biblical giving by giving back to the Lord at least

10% of my income?

b. Have I practiced faith giving in the past six months?

c. When was the last time I gave sacrificially to the Lord’s work or to meet the

need of another believer?

d. Does my life illustrate each of these three levels of giving?

e. What does my giving reveal about the depth of my love for the Lord Jesus?

8. I am to minister to the material needs of those who minister to my spiritual

needs (Galatians 6:6).

a. Make a list of the people who have ministered to you spiritually in the past

year.

b. Am I aware of the personal and material needs of the people on my list?

How could I become better informed of their needs?

c. Am I consistently investing in the lives of those who minister to me?