Series: “Summer Play List” Sermon#2: “Cure For The Summertime Blues”

Series: “Summer Play List” Sermon#2: “Cure For The Summertime Blues”

Sometimes I wonder what I’m gonna do Cause there ain’t no cure for the summertime blues.

                     Eddie Cochran

Reason for the BLUES:

No Money To Date My Girl  /  Boss Makes Me Work Too Late /. Parents Won’t Give Me Car / Too Young To Vote

Reasons For Summertime Blues Now:

People take less vacation time today.               In 20 Years down from 20 Days to 15.

Vacations too expensive — Average $3000.     People experience FOMO

SAD – Too hot! Too much rain!                           Unrealistic Expectations

Book Of James:

Brother of Jesus — Pastor of 1st Church Of Jerusalem

Believers experiencing incredible persecution by authorities. — Wants to encourage the church.

James 1:2-4 (NKJV) “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

James 1:24 (TPT)  “My fellow believers, when it seems as though you are facing nothing but difficulties, see it as an invaluable opportunity to experience the greatest joy that you can! For you know that when your faith is tested …

 … it stirs up in you the power of endurance. And then as your endurance grows even stronger, it will release perfection into every part of your being until there is nothing missing and nothing lacking.”

“… you fall into various trials,”

Unavoidable — Encounter. Trails come to everyone.

Unpredictable — Various. Often sudden and random.

Uncomfortable — Trials.  Testing or proving of your faith.

1 Corinthians 10:13 (NRSV). “No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.”

“… count it all joy…”

Count It (hēgeomai) :— Rule, Command, Govern, Engage in leadership, Take charge.

2 Timothy 1:11-12 “For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.”

Colossians 1:11 (MSG). “We pray that you’ll have the strength to stick it out over the long haul—not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives. It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy,”

Hebrews 12:1-2 “…let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,  looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross,…”

Joy is more relational than it is emotional.

John 15:11   “These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.”

Philippians 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!”

Nehemiah 8:10 “…for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Romans 15:13  “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in faith so that you overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Trials Don’t take something from you, they manifest the richness of God’s provision in you!!!

“…it stirs up in you the power of endurance…”.  Trials PROVE your FAITH!

Philippians 4:13 (AMPC) “I can do all things [which He has called me to do] through Him who strengthens and empowers me [to fulfill His purpose—I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency; I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses me with inner strength and confident peace.]”

Romans 8:37 (NLT) “No, despite (IN) all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.”

James 1:24 (TPT) “My fellow believers, when it seems as though you are facing nothing but difficulties, see it as an invaluable opportunity to experience the greatest joy that you can! For you know that when your faith is tested … 

… it stirs up in you the power of endurance. And then as your endurance grows even stronger, it will release perfection into every part of your being until there is nothing missing and nothing lacking.”

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