Topic: When Life Gives You Lemons

Part 4

We all have problems, difficulties, and challenges but I want you to know that when life gives you lemons, you can overcome them every single time.

(James 1:2-4 NKJV)  My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,  [3]  knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.  [4]  But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. (AMP: fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing.)

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Friendly Reminders

• The trial did not come from God.

James 1:13 NKJV Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.

• You are not the first or only person to face this trial.

1 Corinthians 10:13 NLT (13) The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, He will show you a way out so that you can endure.

• Don’t try and face it alone – isolation is a big mistake.

1 Peter 5:8-9 NKJV Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. (9) Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.

• Jesus has experienced what you are experiencing and will bring help to you.

Hebrews 4:14-16 NKJV Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. (15) For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. (16) Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

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What Do I Do?

1. Prepare for the trial in advance.

When you are under pressure, you never rise to the occasion; you will always fall back to the level of your preparation.

A Navy Seal once said, “Under pressure, you don’t rise to the occasion. You sink to the level of your training.” One of the marks of high intensity training that the SEALS use, is constant repetition. Doing the same thing over and over until it does not require conscious mental activity to accomplish it. (Brushing your teeth, etc.)

1 Timothy 4:8 AMP For physical training is of some value (useful for a little), but godliness (spiritual training) is useful and of value in everything and in every way, for it holds promise for the present life and also for the life which is to come.

When the heat comes, you will do what you have prepared to do.

It is what we do in the low stress period that gets us ready for the high stress time.

2. Pray and thank God for the answer.

Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; (7) and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

3. Stand in faith on God’s Word.

Ephesians 6:13-14 NKJV Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. (14) Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

4. Cast or roll your cares on the Lord.

1 Peter 5:6-7 AMPC  Therefore humble yourselves [demote, lower yourselves in your own estimation] under the mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you,  (7)  Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.

Cast – to throw with your arm

Psalms 37:5 NKJV Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.

Proverbs 16:3 NLT Commit your actions to the LORD, and your plans will succeed.

Commit – Hebrew: galal – to roll as you would a heavy stone or object

5. Don’t quit!

Galatians 6:9 MSG So let’s not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don’t give up, or quit.

1 Corinthians 9:24 CEV You know that many runners enter a race, and only one of them wins the prize. So run to win!

 

Part 3

We all have problems, difficulties, and challenges but I want you to know that when life gives you lemons, you can overcome them every single time.

(James 1:2-4 NKJV)  My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,  [3]  knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.  [4]  But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. (AMP: fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing.)

When things do not seem to be going our way or even when we are totally surrounded by problems, God has given us a tool or weapon that we can use that will bring Him on the scene and begin to get us out.

The best thing you can do when life gives you lemons is to praise the Lord.

What is Praise?

Dictionary: Praise – to express grateful approval, admiration or commendation.

Who Should Praise the Lord?

(Psalms 150:6 NKJV) Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD!

When Should We Praise the Lord?

(Psalms 34:1 NLT) I will praise the LORD at all times. I will constantly speak His praises.

Praise is to be a part of your everyday life. No matter what may be happening – whether you are having low moments or high moments – your focus is to stay on God.

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• In the best of times.

David wanted to build God a house.

(1 Chronicles 17:1-2 NLT) (1) When David was settled in his palace, he summoned Nathan the prophet. “Look,” David said, “I am living in a beautiful cedar palace, but the Ark of the LORD’s Covenant is out there under a tent!” (2) Nathan replied to David, “Do whatever you have in mind, for God is with you.”

But God said instead He wanted to build David a house. God was giving David a house instead of David giving God a house.

David praised the Lord when Nathan gave him this news. (1 Chronicles 17:20-24)

(1 Chronicles 17:20 NLT) “O LORD, there is no One like You. We have never even heard of another God like You!

(1 Chronicles 17:23-24 NLT) (23) “And now, O LORD, I am Your servant; do as You have promised concerning me and my family. May it be a promise that will last forever. (24) And may Your name be established and honored forever so that everyone will say, ‘The LORD of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, is Israel’s God!’ And may the house of Your servant David continue before You forever.

Later the people responded by giving generously to the building of the Temple. David praised the Lord again. (1 Chronicles 29:20-22)

These were some great times for David.

• In the worst of times.

Paul and Silas were cast into prison.

(Acts 16:22-26 NLT) A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. (23) They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn’t escape. (24) So the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks. (25) Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. (26) Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off!

Although they had been wrongly accused, beaten, naked, were in stocks in prison, they chose to praise the Lord. They did the one thing that would get God’s presence into that urine-soaked cell with them. They had a prayer and praise session.

(Psalms 22:3 AMPC)  But You are holy, O You Who dwell in [the holy place where] the praises of Israel [are offered].

If you want God to come into your prison cell of bad circumstances, then you must resist the temptation to grumble, murmur, and complain. You must make the decision to praise Him instead.

Praise Him for whatever goodness you have enjoyed from His hand, however small or insignificant it may seem to be. Instead of recalling everything that is wrong in your life, remember everything that is right.

• In the mundane, in-between times.

Often times the normal days of our lives can be the hardest to praise the Lord in because there is nothing in particular to draw our attention to Him.

David talked to himself about God all the time. (Psalm 103)

(Psalms 103:1-5 NKJV) A Psalm Of David. Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! (2) Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: (3) Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, (4) Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, (5) Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Your soul is your mind, your will, and your intellect. You are telling your soul what to do and then your body will follow the instructions.

• In public and in private.

We should have an attitude of praise before we ever get to the Church for the worship service.

When you prepare in private for a public praise, you don’t need a worship leader to make you feel like praising God. There is a place for worship leaders in our corporate worship, but it is not their job to make you feel good enough to tell your Daddy how great He is.

Something that would cause something great in your public praise and worship is if you have had an individual meeting with God first. Praise in your private life is what brings power and authority to your public experience.

• Sing to Him a new song.

Our new song is to be a song of all God has done for us. It is new (fresh) because it is based on our fresh experience with Him.

(Psalms 98:1 NLT) Sing a new song to the LORD, for He has done wonderful deeds. His right hand has won a mighty victory; His holy arm has shown His saving power!

(Psalms 40:1-3 NLT) I waited patiently for the LORD to help me, and He turned to me and heard my cry. (2) He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. (3) He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what He has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the LORD.

Your most effective praise is about the things that God has done for you this week, yesterday or this morning.

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Part 2

We all have problems, difficulties, and challenges but I want you to know that when life gives you lemons, you can overcome them every single time.

(James 1:2-4 NKJV)  My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,  [3]  knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.  [4]  But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. (AMP: fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing.)

(Matthew 7:24-27 NKJV) “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: (25) and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. (26) “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: (27) and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

(Luke 6:48 NKJV) … And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock.

• Jesus taught us that the storms of life come to everybody – even good people!
• Jesus taught us that you can come through the storm “undamaged”.

Three types of storms that come into our lives:

1. The storm of disobedience – Jonah and his disobedience.

(Jonah 1:8-10 NLT) “Why has this awful storm come down on us?” they demanded. “Who are you? What is your line of work? What country are you from? What is your nationality?” (9) Jonah answered, “I am a Hebrew, and I worship the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the land.” (10) The sailors were terrified when they heard this, for he had already told them he was running away from the LORD. “Oh, why did you do it?” they groaned.

• The way out of this storm is to repent.

When we repent of our disobedience, it opens the door for God to be able to step in and do something about the storm.

(Jonah 2:2 NLT) He said, “I cried out to the LORD in my great trouble, and He answered me…

(Jonah 2:9-10 NLT) But I will offer sacrifices to You with songs of praise, and I will fulfill all my vows. For my salvation comes from the LORD alone.” (10) Then the LORD ordered the fish to spit Jonah out onto the beach.

Just because you repent does not exempt you from whatever it was that you were faced with that led to the disobedience. Jonah still had to go to Nineveh.

(Jonah 3:1-3 NLT) Then the LORD spoke to Jonah a second time: (2) “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh, and deliver the message I have given you.” (3) This time Jonah obeyed the LORD’s command and went to Nineveh, a city so large that it took three days to see it all.

2. The storm of association arises because of the people you are with.

Paul encountered a storm and hardship because of the people he was with.

(Acts 27:9-11 NKJV) Now when much time had been spent, and sailing was now dangerous because the Fast was already over, Paul advised them, (10) saying, “Men, I perceive that this voyage will end with disaster and much loss, not only of the cargo and ship, but also our lives.” (11) Nevertheless the centurion was more persuaded by the helmsman and the owner of the ship than by the things spoken by Paul.

(Acts 27:21-25 NKJV) But after long abstinence from food, then Paul stood in the midst of them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me, and not have sailed from Crete and incurred this disaster and loss. (22) And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. (23) For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, (24) saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ (25) Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me.

(Acts 27:44 NKJV) and the rest, some on boards and some on parts of the ship. And so it was that they all escaped safely to land.

• The way out of this storm is to simply endure.

Three things that you can count on while you endure:

1. 1. You can have supernatural help while you endure.

(Acts 27:23 NKJV) For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve,

1. 2. You can still flourish while you are enduring and God will use you.

Paul was bitten by a snake and it did not harm him, he laid hands on the owner of an estate on the island and God healed him, they had great favor with the people on the island.

(Acts 28:10 NKJV) They also honored us in many ways; and when we departed, they provided such things as were necessary.

1. 3. God will still get you to your destiny.

(Acts 28:16 NKJV) Now. when we got to Rome…

3. The storm of obedience arises because you follow what the Lord has told you.

(Mark 4:35-41 NKJV) On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” (36) Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. (37) And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. (38) But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” (39) Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. (40) But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” (41) And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”

The disciples encountered a storm when they did as Jesus commanded and were going to the other side.

There is a misconception that when you are walking in the will of God, everything always goes smooth with no difficulties.

• The command of faith stills the storm.

(Mark 11:23 NKJV) For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.

Part 1

Many people are being beat up by life and not realizing that life does not have to be that way.

We all have problems, difficulties, and challenges but I want you to know that when life gives you lemons, you can overcome them every single time.

(James 1:2-4 NKJV)  My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,  [3]  knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.  [4]  But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

(James 1:4 AMPC)  But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing.

Trial or Temptation: (Greek: “peirasmos”) A putting to proof of what you believe by the experience of adversity.

Adversity = pressure in our lives. The enemy is desiring to generate pressure to get you off of what you believe through the adversity.

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Three things we need to know about the troubles:

• The temptation, test, or trial is not coming from God.

(James 1:13 NKJV) Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.

• God does test us, but never with adversity. His tests are always tests of obedience to His Word.
• The pressure is coming from the enemy because of what you believe.

(Mark 4:14-15 NKJV)  The sower sows the word.  [15]  And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts.

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(James 1:12 NKJV)  Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

Endurance – the ability to last, especially despite fatigue, stress, or other adverse conditions.

How to develop endurance:

1. You must train before the competition begins.

(1 Corinthians 9:24-25 NLT) (24) Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! (25) All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize.

2. You cannot be entangled with the affairs of this life. (taking the cares).

(2 Timothy 2:4 NKJV) No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.

If you are worried, you are contemplating how you can solve your own problems.

(1 Peter 5:6-7 AMPC)  Therefore humble yourselves [demote, lower yourselves in your own estimation] under the mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you,  (7)  Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully. [Psa 55:22]

3. Make the Word of God first place in your life by spending time in it.

(Psalms 1:1-3 NLT) Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. (2) But they delight in the law of the LORD, meditating on it day and night. (3) They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.

4. If you won’t quit because of weariness, you will win.

(Galatians 6:9 TLB) And let us not get tired of doing what is right, for after a while we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t get discouraged and give up.

5. Count it all joy when the test shows up.

(James 1:2 NLT) Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.

(Nehemiah 8:10 NKJV) Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”