“Comforting the Afflicted & Afflicting the Comfortable” James 1:9-11

Posted on 2012/09/16 by Shawn Thomas

In the early 1900’s, humorist Finley Peter Dunne said that “The newspaper does everything for us. It runs the police force and the banks, commands the militia, controls the legislature, baptizes the young, marries the foolish, comforts the afflicted and afflicts the comfortable, buries the dead, and roasts them afterward.” Many of us have heard that expression “comforts the afflicted and afflicts the comfortable” and wondered where it came from. Some assume that it came from scripture, and might be disappointed to discover that it came from the lips of 1900’s era comedian!
Although the words “comforting the afflicted” and “afflicting the comfortable” are not found in scripture, that is the very thing the word of God does. In fact it is true for the passage we are going to study today, James 1:9-11. Here James gives us truths which should comfort the poorest and most afflicted among us; and humble the most lofty in our midst. Let’s read this chapter together again, and then bring our attention to :9-11, and see how these words challenge each one of us, whatever our material and financial standing, to look to the Lord. Continue reading →

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His House of Prayer

Posted on 2012/09/12 by Shawn Thomas

In Mark 11:17, Jesus said: “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations?’”  His words regarding the temple remind us of some principles regarding our houses of worship today: Continue reading →

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The Goal of Revival

Posted on 2012/09/11 by Shawn Thomas

In Genesis 35, Jacob led his family in a “revival” in which they put away foreign gods and purified themseles.  But “revival” is not merely putting away sinful gods and practices – it has a positive end.   After he admonished his family to cleanse themselves, he said in :3, “and let us arise and go to Bethel; and I will make an altar there to God …”.   The repentance and purification of Jacob’s family was not an end in itself; the goal of their revival was that they might worship the one true God. Continue reading →

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This Week in “Paradise” Sept. 10

Posted on 2012/09/10 by Shawn Thomas

Disgusted Fan
The University of Oklahoma did not do as well as their fans might have hoped in their football season opener a week ago, including an ugly blocked punt in the first quarter. Just after it happened, Libby sent me a text and said: “I’ve never seen a team rush so many players at the punter like that before!”
Disgusted, I replied: “Oh, teams rush the punter like that all the time. It’s just that the other team usually BLOCKS them!” :/ Continue reading →

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Revival Time in the Home

Posted on 2012/09/10 by Shawn Thomas

In Genesis 35:2, Jacob told his household: “Put away the foreign gods which are among you, and purify yourselves, and change your garments; and let us arise and go to Bethel; and I will make an altar there to God.” This was like “revival time” in the household of Jacob: he responds to God’s call to worship Him, and leads his family to purify themselves from their attachment to false gods, and to rededicate themselves to worship the one true God alone. It is significant that this call for revival in his home came from the head of the household: Jacob himself issued the challenge to his family. Continue reading →

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“What Real Faith Looks Like: Total Commitment” (James 1:6-8)

Posted on 2012/09/09 by Shawn Thomas

Cheryl and Michael & I were waiting in the drive through at Wendy’s the other day, and it looked like the people in front of us were having a difficult time making up their mind as to what they wanted to order. Cheryl came up with the idea that they should have two lines at the drive-throughs: one for people who know what they want, and one for people who can’t make up their mind. Michael immediately chipped in: “Like Dad!” Hey, sometimes it’s just hard to know what you want!
Well, I would suggest to you that not being able to make up your mind at McDonald’s or Wendy’s is not the worst thing in the world. But when it comes to our commitment to God, we need to be decisive. This what we are going to see in James 1:6-8 today.

Continue reading →

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People for an Inheritance

Posted on 2012/09/09 by Shawn Thomas

There is a sweet thought in Psalm 33:12, that we are “the people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance.” God has not chosen for His inheritance the glorious stars, or mighty angels, or the vast riches of the universe. He has chosen PEOPLE — you & I, if we are in Christ. This should influence the way we go to worship this Sunday:

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The Illusion of Security

Posted on 2012/09/08 by Shawn Thomas

Proverbs 18:11 says: “A rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and like a high wall in his own imagination.”
This verse is instructive to us in that it proclaims that the rich man’s wealth is like a wall “in his own IMAGINATION.” It is NOT actually the defense that he thinks it is!

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The Goal of Your Conversation

Posted on 2012/09/07 by Shawn Thomas

Proverbs 18:2 says: “A fool does not delight in understanding, but only in revealing his own heart.”
This verse reveals a fundamental problem: many people do not seek to understand others in their conversations with them. On the contrary, they are merely “waiting their turn” to fire off what they have already planned to say. The conversation is not a real “back and forth” exchange of ideas, leading to understanding, but more like a “duel” in which they can’t wait to get their “jab” in! Continue reading →

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At ALL Times!

Posted on 2012/09/05 by Shawn Thomas

Psalm 34:1 says: “I will bless the Lord at ALL times.”  David, having just come out of a “close call” with Abimelech was a living example of this.  He praised God in good times and bad – “all times.”  We are to do the same.  But we need to remember that the Psalm says “ALL” times! 

Someone said recently that whenever people get good news (no cancer, a healing, test was negative, etc.) that they often respond by saying “God is good!”  But he pointed out that “God is good” even when those things do NOT go how we’d like!  We are to bless the Lord (saying He is “good” is blessing Him!) at ALL times: good news or bad! 

That is what Job did.  Even when he had lost virtually everything he had, his response was: “Blessed be the name of the Lord.”  Job lived out Psalm 34:1, and blessed the Lord at ALL times.  May we be found doing the same!

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