Sunday Words of Encouragement June 25, 2023 - Learning by Correction.

We continued our study in James this morning which our Sunday School teacher titled “Don’t Blame God”. Based on James 1:12-15 he explained that James was telling the followers that temptations don’t come from God, they come from personal desires. We all have to face temptations and the enemy will attack in our weak areas. We are going through resistance training which provides growth towards being more like Christ. Satan can't get to our spirit without going through our flesh. There is a spiritual battlefield in our mind.

We had a guest preacher this morning, a man who comes about once a year to share his humor and wisdom with his messages of Mercy and Grace. This morning he spoke on the scripture Philippians 4:10-13. As Paul stated, you have to learn to be content in whatever circumstances you are in. A guest preacher talks about what they know.

We learn by experience, study, instruction, trial, and sometimes correction. The preacher went through a time and situation where he was in jail, facing 35 years in prison. God delivered him from that and he had to realize that God loved him (as he loves all of us) freely.

The Preacher felt he would never preach again he knew that God forgave him but he couldn’t forgive himself. Then God said to him, “You have established a higher standard than me.”.
We can distinguish between condemnation – which is accusing – and conviction where God says “come to me”.

God declared us justified on the basis of Christ’s blood. You are justified - made righteous. Preacher asked: Who here is Holy? No one raised their hand.  In the Bible, only two personalities say I'm holy. God of course (Leviticus 11:44) and David in the Psalms cries out to God and doesn’t want the Holy Presence taken from him (Psalm 51:11 and more). David recognized that his righteousness came from God. Psalm 56:13.

God says we are to be Holy. 1 Peter 1:16. When we accept Christ as our redeemer then we become Holy. Now hands went up throughout the church. We can have confidence through the blood of Christ.

A final word of correction this man experienced was a word of submission to the Lord. When the preacher started to critique a pastor he was under, God told him, “Submit to this man.” The preacher was at a point in life where he was broke. When a missionary spoke, God said to give his last $50.00. He was reluctant. He said to God, “That's all I've got.” God said, “That's all I want.”

God spoke to him and said: “You can continue to flounder through life, or you can learn to listen and obey.” The preacher had to humble himself and learn to “listen and obey” before God could send him out to preach again. After a year or so the pastor he was under told him that God said he was to have a second chance to preach, like Jonah.

We have to humble ourselves to God’s direction. Then we can teach the lessons to others.

This is the song video I was led to after enjoying many. God You Are.

Verses for Today:
Philippians 4:10-13 NIV
Thanks for Their Gifts
10 I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.


God, I thank you that you help me learn to listen and obey!