(All my sermons use illustrations found at www.sermoncentral.com and all scripture is NIV unless otherwise noted.)
SPIRITUAL BOOTCAMP
When I was young I was a very active kid, I am sure many of you were as well. We may have to strain a little to remember those days, but most all of us could not wait to get outside and run around. Times have changed; many children today don’t wander far from their comfort zone of cable television, video game center and munchies. BUT, when we were young it was all Moms’ could do to get us to come in for supper.
If it was hot outside we were told the garden hose was there for re-hydration, there was none of these separate bottles of water for each child, soda pop was a luxury and Kool-Aid was the norm. When it was cold, we put on extra pants and coats and we made the best of it. And when we scraped our knees or our elbows our mother was there with Bactine, oh you remember Bactine. Mom would look at the little abrasion on our knee, get out the little white spray bottle and let it rip, and then we knew what real pain felt like. Then Mom would say something like “Well you don’t want to get an infection do you?” We didn’t understand infection, we only understood pain, and we didn’t like it. I know some of us were thinking, “Well a little infection wouldn’t be so bad, but the pain from that little white bottle has to stop.”
As we mature in life, we come to a realization that anything good in life, anything worthwhile, requires some sort of pain. Not only do we realize it, but we understand how hard it will be to get our children to realize it as well. I am calling this sermon SPIRITUAL BOOTCAMP because the greatest lesson I ever learned about the benefits of pain came from Marine Corps Boot Camp, Parris Island, South Carolina, the Summer of 1978. It was there I endured some of the greatest physical and mental challenges of life and it was there I learned that nothing truly good comes without some sort of pain or trials.
James understood that if a Christian or a church was to grow, they would have to endure trials and testing as well, they would have to ask for direction and they would have to accept that guidance as well.
James 1:2-8 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.
PRAYER
There are three things contained in this short passage of scripture that I think can help every Christian and every Church if they are willing to hear and act on this advice. The first of which is:
I. ENDURE BRUTAL TRAINING
Now, if you look at the first two verses from our passage this morning, you can write novels on just that section. We are told to “Consider it JOY” we are told that we WILL face trials of MANY kinds. We are told that our FAITH will be tested, but this morning, can you see that the most important thing in this passage is ENDURE, it is perseverance that when finished, makes us mature and complete. It is those that weather the storm who in turn grow from the adventure. We are never truly defeated until we QUIT.
I learned this in Boot Camp, I learned that you weren’t done until you had given up. I learned that each time I pushed myself a little further, the stronger I grew. I learned that the longer I endured, the stronger I got. I learned that each adventure I pushed through made me more of a complete Marine.
But, I feel there was one thing in Boot Camp I don’t always see in church. TEAMWORK! Marines are trained to be a unit, to work together, hurt together and endure together. You would never quit, because it affected the entire unit. You wouldn’t slow down, because that slowed down the entire team. We worked together to endure, to get through, to succeed. Christians must see this as well. A church is dependent it on its people, it is the people. We covered that a few weeks ago. You know there is a lot we could learn from GEESE!
Lessons From Geese
Fact 1: As each goose flaps its wings, it creates an "uplift" for the birds that follow. By flying in a "V" formation, the whole flock adds 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew alone.
Lesson 1: People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going quicker and easier because they are traveling on the thrust of one another.
Fact 2: When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of flying alone. It quickly moves back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird in front of it.
Lesson 2: If we have as much common sense as a goose, we stay in formation with those headed where we want to go. We are willing to accept their help and give our help to others.
Fact 3: When the lead goose tires, it rotates back into the formation and another goose flies to the point position.
Lesson 3: It pays to take turns doing the hard tasks and sharing responsibilities. As with geese, people are interdependent on each others’ skills, capabilities, and unique arrangements of gifts, talents, or resources.
Fact 4: Geese flying in formation honk to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.
Lesson 4: We need to make sure our honking is encouraging. In groups where there is encouragement, the production is much greater. The power of encouragement (to stand by one’s heart or core values and encourage the heart and core of others) is the quality of honking we seek.
Fact 5: When a goose gets sick, wounded, or shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow it down to help protect it. They stay with it until it dies or is able to fly again. Then, they launch out with another formation or catch up with the flock.
Lesson 5: If we have as much sense as geese, we will stand by each other in difficult times as well as when we are strong.
We could learn a lot from geese if we are willing, ENDURE BRUTAL TRAINING.
II. ASK FOR DIRECTION
Verse five says if any of you lack wisdom ASK. Doesn’t that make good sense? If you are unclear about what direction you should go, ASK? I don’t know how many times I watched men fall in boot camp simply because they would not ASK. They were unsure of what to do, but rather than ask they allowed pride to do them in.
I have found through the years that this is the downfall of many a man, (and sometimes woman too.) Men, or at least most men, have a problem with asking for direction. I think they believe that they are supposed to be able to figure all things out on their own so to ask someone else for direction or guidance is a sign of weakness and we cannot be weak.
The scripture says plainly; If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
Like life, most highways that we find ourselves on aren’t always straight and true. In fact, what makes some highways fun to drive is that they give you the opportunity to make a turn here and there from time to time, just to break up the monotony of sameness. I have often been very thankful for that highway jog here and there that simply causes you to focus, to concentrate a bit harder on what you are doing so as to avoid the inevitable sleepiness that often accompanies long trips on a very boring and very straight highway.
Turns aren’t a bad thing when they give you pause to be reminded that you are on a highway in the first place and it is very important for safety sake and for your purpose of getting to where you want to go not to drive off on the shoulder or exit on the wrong ramp. It’s the turns that put us on life’s shoulder or on the wrong road that most often get us into trouble. Traveling on too many roads when you belong on one is a sure recipe for losing your direction and, ultimately, not getting to where you needed to go in the first place.
Have you ever found yourself “driving” sleepily through the day on more than one highway? “A weakness of all human beings,” wrote entrepreneur and inventory Henry Ford, “is trying to do too many things at once. That scatters effort and destroys direction. It makes for haste, and haste makes waste. So we do things all the wrong ways possible before we come to the right one. Then we think it is the best way because it works, and it was the only way left that we could see. Every now and then I wake up in the morning headed toward that finality, with a dozen things I want to do. I know I can’t do them all at once.” When asked what he did about that, Ford replied, “I go out and trot around the house. While I’m running off the excess energy that wants to do too much, my mind clears and I see what can be done and should be done first.”
Yet perhaps the greatest advice for the person that is unsure of what to do comes from James, ASK GOD who gives to all without finding fault, and it will be given to Him.
SUPPOSE IT HAD BEEN WISE WOMEN INSTEAD OF WISE MEN?
I read this humors account of the Wise Men (obviously written by a woman): If it had been ‘Wise Women’ instead of ‘Wise Men’, they would have asked directions, arrived on time, helped deliver the baby, cleaned the stable, made a casserole, and brought practical gifts from Baby’s-R-Us, including diapers, wipes, bibs and formula. But that’s an entirely different story…
One day three men were walking along and came upon a raging, violent river. They needed to get to the other side, but had no idea of how to do it.
The first man prayed to God saying, "Please God, give me the strength to cross this river." Poof! God gave him big arms and strong legs, and he was able to swim across the river in about two hours.
Seeing this, the second man prayed to God saying, "Please God, give me the strength and ability to cross this river." Poof ! God gave him a rowboat and he was able to row across the river in about three hours.
The third man had seen how this worked out for the other two, so he also prayed to God saying, "Please God, give me the strength, ability, and intelligence to cross this river." And Poof! God turned him into a woman. She looked at the map, then walked across the bridge.
ENDURE BRUTAL TRAINING
ASK FOR DIRECTION
III. ACCEPT TRUTHFUL GUIDANCE
So, after James tells us we should ask for direction, he says, “BUT WHEN HE ASKS, HE MUST BELIEVE & NOT DOUBT.
Wow, I know what he is saying and I am fairly sure that many here do to. Have you ever asked for advice and then thought to yourself, “Now that is the dumbest thing I have ever heard of?” I HAVE. I am sure we have all encountered times like these. We know that we need direction, but when we receive it, it just doesn’t make sense and therefore we doubt.
I know that this happened many times during my tour in the Marines. You have heard me speak of MILITARY INTELLIGENCE, I think that many people have encountered advice that just does not make sense. If we are truly honest with ourselves a lot of what Jesus teaches does not make sense. Empty yourself that you may be full. Die in order to live. The first will be last and the last shall be first. To be a king you must be a servant.
Life is full of things that may not make sense to us. Teenagers will tell you that their parents have no idea what they are talking about, parents will tell you that their teenagers haven’t a clue. I don’t know how many times I have heard the words “You just don’t understand Dad” truth be told, I probably don’t. BUT, we are told that we need not understand, we are told that when we ask, we MUST BELIEVE.
How many examples can you think of where you get advice, direction or help and it does not make sense. Medicine that tastes bad, how could it possibly be good for you? Physical activity that hurts so bad you could cry, how can this make me stronger? SCHOOL, how can this make me smarter? Do without, how could it make me appreciate things more? The list is never ending.
"We were on shipboard," relates a captain’s wife, "lying in a Southern harbor. We were obliged, first to make our way ashore. The waves were rolling heavily. I became frightened at the thought of attempting it, when one came to me, saying, ’Do not be afraid: I will take care of you.’ "He bore a peculiarly shaped dark-lantern, only single ray of light being emitted from a small circular opening. ’Now,’ said he, ’take my hand; hold fast, do not fear. Do not look about you, or on either side of you, only on the little spot lighted by my lantern, and place your footsteps firmly right there.’ "I heard the rushing of the waters, and was still conscious of fear; but by looking steadily only where the light fell, and planting my footsteps just there, not turning either to the right or the left, clasping firmly the strong hand, the danger was overcome, and the shore reached in safety." "The next day my kind guide said, ’Would you like to see the way by which you came last night? Then he showed me where our vessel had been lying, and the very narrow plank by which we had reached the shore. He knew that had I turned either to the right or left I should, in all probability, have lost my balance and gone over into those dark waters; but by holding fast and treading just where the light fell all danger would be averted." The believer often comes to some dark passage, or encounters some severe trial, which so overshadows the way that he fears to go forward less he fall. But when he clasps the hand of his heavenly Father, he is led gently over the rough and dangerous places and landed safely in some secure spot. The storms may rage and angry waves threaten to engulf, but if we keep our eye on Jesus we shall outride the storms, and have an abundant entrance into the heaven of eternal rest. -- Words of Life.
We must get ourselves in shape, we must be the Christians God wants us to be, we must ENDURE the brutal training that life and others will throw at us, we must take time to ask God what direction we must take and we must be willing to accept that direction even if it does not make any sense to us.
Now, I am certain that we have all heard this before, but let’s face it, we are not very good at remembering:
I’ve always liked the story of the 3 old widows who lived together. One sister got up to go to bed, half way up the stairs she stopped and asked "was I going up or was I coming down"
One sister replied with hint of aggravation, "you were going up to bed."
A second sister headed into the kitchen to make herself a sandwich. Once in the kitchen she hollered back to her sister who was still down stairs; "what did I come in here for" The sister responded again with a trace of irritation, "you went in to make yourself a sandwich" after which she said; "I’m so glad I am not as forgetful as the both of you are" as she knock on the end table.
And then she got up and walked over to the door and said "Who is it?"
Yes, we are a forgetful people. And from my vast experience I have concluded that forgetfulness is not a respecter of age. And therefore we come up with all kinds of ways to help us remember; (string around finger; post it notes, day planners, memory courses). And most of us do need a little help to remember. So I bring you a message we have heard before and one we will need to hear again. Endure hardships, Ask God for direction, and accept His wisdom.
This morning as the musicians come forward:
Our invitation song is #571 in your hymnal “Trust & Obey” we will be singing 1,3&5.
INVITATION
