THE PROMISE

The Vital Importance of a Biblical Worldview

1. “A worldview is the most important thing that we know about a man or a woman” – Richard Weaver
2. “A Biblical worldview approach to life and learning has never been more needed than in today’s Pluralistic/Postmodern culture. Christians today face hostility to their faith from one side, and apathy from anything of importance on the other side. Sadly, the casualties are high” – Chuck Edwards
3. Part of God’s promise is that in the world today we will have trials and tribulations (John 16:33, 2nd Timothy 3:12, John 15:20, Psalms 34:17-19). “The Lord will test the righteous. The greater the test, the greater the calling of God on your life.” ~ Ravi Zacharias

THE PROVISION

Very important. The only way a person can experience the provision of God is to have a personal relationship with God. This opportunity is simply to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour for the forgiveness of sins and life everlasting (John 3:14-21).

GOD’S WAY OF PROVISION FOR HANDLING A PROBLEM

James 1:2-8 – This is a life-changing provision experience. Trust me, I know. 

This provision includes trials of all kinds, whether it be:

1. Financial
2. Business
3. Health
4. Marriage
5. Family
6. Personal
7. Other
   

James 1:2-8: Strong Recommendation – Read Out loud as Often as Necessary as a Prayer to the Lord 

How to Profit from Trials or How Shall We Then Live?

Verse 2: COUNT (to lead the way/to have rule over/to be chief). 

The Jewish-culture believer believed that the more trials you have the closer you are to God. Paul in 2nd Timothy 3:12 teaches that trials are part of a godly life. 

JOY (Calm delight/cheerfulness/exceeding gladness)

The joy with which we endure trials in the present is a signal of hope for future relief. 

FALL INTO (to fall into something that surrounds you/to light upon you). Like the story of the Good Samaritan, you may not even have caused the trial. 

Read the Good Samaritan story (Luke 10:25-37). – Details on page 7. 

Remember that Jesus taught that the two greatest commandments were:

 1. To love God with all of your heart/soul/mind. Remember your body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit who lives within you (1st Corinthians 3:16-17, 6:18-20). 

2. To love (agape) others as you love yourself. 

DIVERS (various in character). 

TEMPTATIONS (adversity, trials with a beneficial purpose and effect). The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of trials and temptation (2nd Peter 2:7-9). The Lord knows (which means to understand/divine knowledge. See Matthew 6:8).

Verse 3: KNOWING THIS (to understand/to realize). 

THE TRYING OF YOURSELF (trying means to test). 

What is faith? “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1).” How important is faith? Without faith it is impossible (impotent) to please God but He rewards those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). Faith is a gift that God gives us, but we have to use it to make it grow (Romans 12:3).

PATIENCE (abiding under). Patience perfects the Christian character, so let patience have her perfect work. Patience is the ability to persevere through increasing levels of trials. 

Verse 4: PERFECT WORK

THE AMPLIFIED BIBLE “But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play, and do a thorough work, so that you may be perfectly and fully developed lacking in nothing.”   

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WANTING NOTHING Jesus promised in Matthew 6:24-34 where He tells us to put God’s Kingdom first and all will be given to us. 

THE DAKE BIBLE “Worry is a sin and can produce anxiety/fear/disease and even mental illness.”

“What happens when you worry? Your mind and body go into overdrive as you constantly focus on - WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN.” Web MD

Verse 5: WISDOM/IF - There are about 1600 ifs in the Bible and the word usually means that someone has to make a decision. God asked King Solomon what he wanted, and Solomon’s answer was found in 1st Kings 3:3-15 – “Lord, give your servant an understanding mind.”

God asks us the same question with a promise. 

1. We are to ask (which means call up or to do something).
2. Giveth. Giveth is a present participle which means continual or repeated action with no indication of timing. In other words, it’s up to God. 
3. Liberally (unconditional supply).

Verse 6: FAITH. Faith is our choice because if we do not ask in faith we are like a wave in the sea.

Ask is a present imperative which means a command to do something which includes continuous or repeated action. More on the importance of faith – page 13. 

Matthew 7:7-8 tells us to keep on asking, keep on seeking and keep on knocking. 

Verse 7: If we do not follow the principles of verses 2-6, we will receive nothing from the Lord. WHY?

Verse 8: Because we are double-minded (two spirited), vacillating in our original purpose, and we are unstable (restless in our ways) (James 4: 1-10). Loving the world means hating God. 

Here is a checklist of qualities in your life that will assist you in assessing your action in obeying and trusting in the Lord, especially through trials:

Positive

1. Courage
2. Boldness
3. Patience
4. Steadfastness
5. Perseverance
6. Humility
7. Self-control
8. A caring heart
9. Compassion for others
10. Increased faith

Negative

1. Pride
2. Arrogance
3. Self-centeredness
4. Self-righteousness
5. Temper
6. Controlling Spirit
7. Know-it-all
8. Discouragement
9. Gossip
10. Blaming others/not forgiving
    

Remember, as the Temple of God, the Lord calls you such things as:

1. A Holy Priesthood
2. A Chosen Generation
3. A Holy Nation
4. A Peculiar People (the meaning of peculiar is acquisition or possession)

Our response to this is to PRAISE THE LORD (1st Peter 2:1-11).

The Good Samaritan Story (Luke 10:25-37)

Jesus was answering the question of a lawyer and He answered the question with a question (v. 26). Verses 27-29 tell us the story of a man travelling from Jerusalem to Jericho. This was a pathway of about 18 miles and was known as the bloody way. Jericho was a home to about 12,000 priests but was a beautiful city with palm trees. 

Jesus answers the question with a parable (vs. 30-37). 

The Samaritans were a blend of all kinds of mixed races and the Jewish people of the day had very little respect for them. 

When the man fell amongst thieves three types of people passed by. 

1. A priest whose main occupation was to offer sacrifices, and he had no compassion for the wounded man. 
2. A Levite. Levites were descendants of Levi. They kept a distinct separation from the other eleven tribes so obviously had little compassion. 
3. The Good Samaritan. The Good Samaritan shows us eight acts of mercy and compassion that we should show to others even if we disagree with them. Eight is a number of new beginnings in the Bible:
4. Had compassion. 
5. Bound up his wounds. 
6. Poured in oil.
7. Poured in wine. 
8. Set him on his own beast.
9. Brought him to an inn. 
10. Took care of him. 
11. Offered to pay for his care if anything more was needed. 

Jesus then sums up the parable by saying, “Go and do (likewise).” This is known as a present imperative which means a continuous or repeated action. As the Temple of God, this is how Jesus Christ instructed us to live. 

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE TEACH ABOUT PESTILENCE, PLAGUES AND GLOBAL PANDEMICS?

Joel C. Rosenberg, Founder and Chairman of the Joshua Fund

“While not every use of the words, pestilence and plagues, in the Bible refers to a terrible infectious disease, many of the references do. Throughout the Bible, we see repeated examples of God using diseases to accomplish His divine and sovereign purposes. There are also biblical prophecies that warn us that God intends to use terrible, infectious diseases to accomplish His divine and sovereign purposes in the future.”

What are God’s sovereign purposes for using such terrible diseases? 

1. Executing divine judgment on an individual, a nation, or many nations for chronic, unrepented sin. 
2. Warning other individuals and nations that they, too, could face divine judgment for chronic, unrepented sin.
3. Saving an individual, nation, or many nations so that they will wake up from spiritual slumber or rebellion, repent of their sins, and turn in faith to a holy, personal, Biblical, healthy relations to God. Repeatedly in the Bible, God explains that in His mercy He will shake individuals and nations in a desire to get our attention and draw us to Him.

Conclusion: Plagues are a way that God seeks to get our attention about our finite mortality as well as how we are giving attention to God, notes Dr. Darrell Bock, Theologian and Professor at Dallas Theological Seminary. They are an opportunity for reflection about how we live and a reminder we are not gods ourselves. 

Consider this: Dr. Mike Evans, an author and founder of the Jerusalem prayer team, said that David Wilkinson shared this prophecy with him during a meeting in 1986:

“I see a plague coming on the world, and the bars, churches and government will be shut down. The plague will hit New York City and shake it like it has never been shaken. The plague is going to force prayerless believers into radical prayer and into their bibles, and repentance will be the cry from the man of God in the pulpit. Out of this will come a third GREAT Awakening that will sweep America and the world.”

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Music by David Johannesson