FIX THE PROBLEM
BACKGROUND:
A. Illustration: Apollo 13 lifted off 2:13 PM April 11, 1970 [Apollo 13 web site]. James Lovell, John Swigert, Fred Haise read their instruments at 55:52:31 into the flight. The master caution light was triggered by low pressure in hydrogen tank #1. At 55:54:57 oxygen tank # 2 read off-scale; in plain language, it exploded. At 55:55:20, or 10:08 PM, April 13, command module pilot John Swigert speaks: “OK, Houston, we’ve had a problem here.” Oxygen tank #1 line had ruptured; service module bay cover #4 was blown off. All oxygen stores were lost in 3 hours; along with water, electric, & propulsion systems. Swigert’s voice was incredibly calm, but did not express joy. You may remember that Apollo 13 successfully returned at 1:07 PM, April 17th. Success relied on a combination of addressing the problem, gettig help, and trusting the advice of the control center.
B. The Bible does not tell us to be happy in times trial.
1. But we can express joy when our faith is tested in difficult times.
2. James offers counsel on how to deal with problems when our spiritual engine fails.
Read JAMES 1:2-6
INTRODUCTION:
A. There are many ways to address problems
1. Illustration: North Dakota Indian tribe wisdom[sermon-fodder.com, 9-27-03]: If you discover you are riding a dead horse, dismount.
2. We often expand this basic tribal wisdom in our church life and personal life.
a. If we find ourselves on a dead horse, we simply change riders.
b. Or we do nothing: “this is way we’ve always ridden dead horses.”
c. We can, of course, hire someone to ride the dead horse for us.
d. Some might form a committee to study the horse & see how dead it really is.
e. Liberals would merely re-classify the dead horse as “living impaired.”
f. Accountants would declare that since the dead horse does not have to be fed, it is no strain on the budget.
g. Bureaucrats would promote the dead horse to a leadership position.
B. The most effective way to address any problem is to consult God’s Word.
1. This message is the 3rd in a series of 5 F’s what to do if have spiritual engine failure.
a. #1 was to FLY the plane; let Jesus be pilot
b. #2 was to FIND a safe place to land, something God does best.
2. Today, #3 is FIX the problem.
a. In aviation, pilots are taught to troubleshoot in an appropriate order.
b. For example, if the VSI (vertical speed indicator) stops working, check the altimeter to see if you’re losing altitude, look at the tach to see if you are low on power, and look out the window.
3. For trials & tribulations of life, James offers a 3-step troubleshooting procedure.
THESIS: God’s AAA troubleshooting procedure will fix the problem:
Admit there is a problem; opportunity to learn (v 2)
Ask God for wisdom (v 5)
Acknowledge that God’s way is the only way (v 6)
MESSAGE:
A. TO ADMIT YOU HAVE PROBLEM IS MORE THAN SAYING "OK IT IS HERE"
1. James says to consider it pure joy when we face trials of many kinds (v 2).
a. Literally "pure joy" comes from a Greek root word meaning "calm delight."
b. It does not suggest we have to be happy when we face trails & temptations.
c. Rather, to have calm delight in knowing the testing faith results in perseverance (v 3).
2. Too many folks have the stuffing beat out of them, to the point they are not able get up.
3. Illustration: Chippie the parakeet was minding his own business in his cage [Max Lucado, In Eye of Storm 1991]. The wwner decided to clean his cage with a vacuum cleaner. When she turned to answer the phone, Chippie was sucked into the vacuum. The bird was retrieved, covered in soot & dust; the held under running water to clean it. Chippie was now wet & shivering, so the owner blasted him with hot air from a blow dryer. The story was reported in the local paper. After few days, the reporter contacted the owner to see how Chippie was doing. “Chippie doesn’t sing much anymore – he just sits & stares.”
4. All of us at one time or another probably felt like Chippie.
a. We denied self, took up our cross & followed Jesus (Matt 16:24).
b. Suddenly without warning, trials & temptations hit us.
c. We were so burdened that we felt helpless.
5. What we need is a beatitude of victory not an attitude of defeat.
a. Blessed are the poor in spirit, the helpless, for theirs is the kingdom heaven (Matt 5:3).
b. The test of faith produces perseverance (v 3).
c. Perseverance conveys the image of cheerful, hopeful endurance, to finish its work (v 4).
d. To suffer grief in trials allows our faith to be proved genuine (1 Pet 1:7).
6. Suffering leads to perseverance to character to hope (Rom 5:3-5).
a. Hope does not disappoint because of God’s love
b. Perseverance finishes it work in us so we become mature & complete (v 4).
7. So how do we get started in perseverance?
B. BY THE 2ND “A”: ASK GOD FOR WISDOM
1. When we lack wisdom, ask God, as a first resort, not as a last ditch effort (v 5).
2. Wisdom equates to accumulated learning, so ask early & often.
3. Illustration: Robert Fulghum, KC Times [Bible Illustrator for Windows, #3840] wrote a piece about wisdom. Most of what we really need to know about life, we learned in kindergarten. Wisdom is not at the top of a graduate school mountain, but in the sandbox of nursery school. Share everything – play fair – don’t hit people – put things back - clean up your own mess – say you’re sorry when you hurt someone - watch for traffic – hold hands – stick together.
4. Jesus reminded us that unless we were like little child, we would not enter His kingdom (Matt 18:3).
a. Imagine life if we revert to kindergarten wisdom.
b. Hold hands – stick together
5. Our problem as adults: we lose sight of how to ask God for wisdom. We couch our words to hide our true emotions.
a. How real are quotes like “I’m not thinking of myself” or “I don’t want to bother you”
b. Prayers of simple petition are turned to bail out prayers – “Lord get me out jam”
c. We need to get real – get honest – get humble
6. Notice, when we ask, God gives generously without finding fault (v 5).
a. That the Lord gives a generous portion wisdom beyond measure is really good news.
b. Wisdom of the world is foolishness in God’s sight (1 Cor 3:19).
c. Wisdom that comes from heaven is pure (James 3:17).
d. Unlike the world, God does not call us stupid for asking.
e. Unlike those over us, God does not say we should have known better.
f. Unlike our peers, God does not say we don’t belong.
g. Instead, God says ‘thank you for asking’
7. Ask & it will be given to you, seek & you find (Matt 7:7)
8. Ask & you will receive so your joy may be complete (John 16:24)
9. Good news: God will give us wisdom to fix problems.
10. Bad news: will we believe in the solution?
C. THE 3RD “A” IS TO ACKNOWLEDGE GOD’S SOLUTION TO OUR PROBLEM
1. Acknowledge = admit as true.
a. Before we ever ask God, we must believe in His answer (v 6).
b. Otherwise, we should not even ask.
2. Illustration: Jesus encounter with 2 blind men (Matt 9:27). The blind men cried, “Have mercy on us, Son of David.” Jesus asked, “Do you believe I am able to do this?” They replied, “yes” & were cured.
3. Often those perishing refuse to love truth & be saved (2 Thes 2:10).
4. They turn their ears from truth & turn aside to myth (2 Tim 4:4).
5. Thus, they become like a wave on the sea, blown & tossed by wind (v 6).
a. Do not expect to receive anything from the Lord if you are double-minded (v 7-8).
b. Double-minded implies 2 sets of loyalties.
c. One set is to have it your own way.
d. The other set has reliance on the Lord.
6. Our problem: we vacillate between both sets, making us unstable all the time.
7. To doubt is not so much unbelief as indecision .
a. Indecision undermines wisdom.
b. Storms of life rage around us, our spiritual engine fails.
c. On one hand, God provides the means to fix the problem.
d. On the other hand, our mind is not certain that is the solution.
e. So we are tossed about until the plane crashes, or we see solution at work.
8. Illustration: A donkey fell into an old mine shaft. The farmer had no rope to pull it out, no other way in or out of the mine. The donkey was braying & crying over its situation. The farmer got a shovel, began shoveling dirt on top of the donkey. As dirt fell on its back, it shook it off, cried louder & longer. After a time, the donkey stopped crying; found if it shook it off, he could step up. Finally, when the hole was nearly filled, the donkey stepped out of the shaft to safety.
9. To acknowledge that the Lord can fix a problem may take some time.
10. Blessed are we when we see what looked like the end was really the fix.
ALTAR CALL:
A. If you have never flown or traveled down the road
of life, you probably don’t need God’s AAA card.
1. Be assured, if you live in this world, you will one day need AAA.
2. Somewhere, sometime your spiritual engine is going to fail.
3. The opportunity to FIX the problem requires use of God’s card.
a. Admit that a problem exists as an opportunity to learn from Lord.
b. Ask Him to give you wisdom to see the solution.
c. Acknowledge His solution is the only way to fix you problem.
B. Decide how you will use AAA today
1. Admit your need of Jesus Christ as personal Lord & Savior.
2. Ask for wisdom to know where you belong in His kingdom.
3. Acknowledge that only God can lift burden off your shoulders.
