WEBVTT 00:00:01.389 --> 00:00:04.190 Today on Living on the Edge with Chip Ingram. 00:00:04.309 --> 00:00:07.110 When you feel like there's no hope, when you 00:00:07.110 --> 00:00:09.269 feel like there's nowhere to turn, where there's 00:00:09.269 --> 00:00:12.349 no answers, no explanations, what do you do? 00:00:12.970 --> 00:00:15.789 Where's God when you feel stuck, paralyzed by 00:00:15.789 --> 00:00:20.649 fear? That's today. Stay with me. When crisis 00:00:20.649 --> 00:00:23.170 strikes without warning, even the most devoted 00:00:23.170 --> 00:00:26.489 believers can find themselves paralyzed. We know 00:00:26.489 --> 00:00:29.960 what we should do, but we're stuck, frozen. unable 00:00:29.960 --> 00:00:32.920 to move forward. I'm Dave Drewy, and today on 00:00:32.920 --> 00:00:35.020 Living on the Edge, Chip Ingram offers biblical 00:00:35.020 --> 00:00:38.500 wisdom to survive whatever you're facing. Maybe 00:00:38.500 --> 00:00:41.140 it's a devastating loss, a financial collapse, 00:00:41.299 --> 00:00:44.439 or a relationship in ruins. We want to follow 00:00:44.439 --> 00:00:48.280 God, but honestly, we don't know how. In today's 00:00:48.280 --> 00:00:51.640 study of James chapter 1, Chip describes a supernatural 00:00:51.640 --> 00:00:54.679 resource that shows you precisely what to do, 00:00:54.799 --> 00:00:57.740 when to do it, and how to take the next step, 00:00:57.920 --> 00:01:00.740 even when you're stuck. And a bit later, Chip 00:01:00.740 --> 00:01:03.320 will describe one of the largest match opportunities 00:01:03.320 --> 00:01:06.000 in the history of Living on the Edge, so that 00:01:06.000 --> 00:01:08.420 you can double the impact of your generous year 00:01:08.420 --> 00:01:11.219 -end support. But right now, let's continue the 00:01:11.219 --> 00:01:13.959 series called The Art of Survival in an Age of 00:01:13.959 --> 00:01:16.540 Chaos. I want to tell you about a man that I 00:01:16.540 --> 00:01:18.819 got to know very, very well. We became very close 00:01:18.819 --> 00:01:23.060 friends. He was a fabulous athlete. And we got 00:01:23.060 --> 00:01:24.900 to know each other, and then I heard his story. 00:01:25.439 --> 00:01:30.099 Jerry was a phenomenal athlete who had a future 00:01:30.099 --> 00:01:33.239 in football. I mean, millions of dollars in his 00:01:33.239 --> 00:01:37.540 future. Absolute unbelievable. He was walking 00:01:37.540 --> 00:01:41.079 downtown with his girlfriend and on a downtown 00:01:41.079 --> 00:01:44.859 street, two guys came out of a bar and they were 00:01:44.859 --> 00:01:46.959 fighting and one of them pulled out a knife. 00:01:47.609 --> 00:01:50.569 And Jerry instinctively stepped in to try and 00:01:50.569 --> 00:01:53.430 break up the fight to save one of them. It looked 00:01:53.430 --> 00:01:56.730 very, very bad. And as he pulled them apart and 00:01:56.730 --> 00:01:59.670 got them away, he said, all I heard was a loud 00:01:59.670 --> 00:02:04.969 bang, bang, and then searing pain as two bullets 00:02:04.969 --> 00:02:10.150 lodged in his back. Jerry was paralyzed from 00:02:10.150 --> 00:02:13.669 that moment forward. And as I talked to Jerry, 00:02:13.750 --> 00:02:17.740 I thought, if anyone, anyone, sort of would have 00:02:17.740 --> 00:02:22.539 a right to say, why me? I tried to save someone's 00:02:22.539 --> 00:02:26.620 life. I'm trying to do what is good. And I get 00:02:26.620 --> 00:02:30.120 two bullets in the back. And I mean, his career 00:02:30.120 --> 00:02:33.560 was one of those that would be fame, millions 00:02:33.560 --> 00:02:36.800 and millions of dollars. He was the star that 00:02:36.800 --> 00:02:40.159 everyone wanted to play on their team. And he's 00:02:40.159 --> 00:02:45.960 devastated. It's gone. When Jerry first had this 00:02:45.960 --> 00:02:49.039 situation, I would call him a nominally Christian. 00:02:49.139 --> 00:02:52.199 He believed in God, did not have a close or personal 00:02:52.199 --> 00:02:55.520 relationship with God. And his whole world was 00:02:55.520 --> 00:02:58.780 falling apart. And he confessed to me over and 00:02:58.780 --> 00:03:02.139 over and over. I just said, why? Why me, God? 00:03:02.300 --> 00:03:05.379 Why? I don't understand. And then he went to 00:03:05.379 --> 00:03:08.710 rehab and he watched two sets of people. And 00:03:08.710 --> 00:03:11.169 he said, I watch people whose lives crumbled. 00:03:11.250 --> 00:03:14.889 All they did is ask why. And they wallowed in 00:03:14.889 --> 00:03:17.750 self -pity and their focus was inward. They made 00:03:17.750 --> 00:03:20.030 little progress and their lives were a disaster. 00:03:20.389 --> 00:03:22.750 And he said, then there were a few people, just 00:03:22.750 --> 00:03:25.969 a very, very few people that weren't asking why. 00:03:26.330 --> 00:03:29.750 They were asking, what do I need to do in this 00:03:29.750 --> 00:03:32.550 situation to get better? What can I control? 00:03:32.889 --> 00:03:35.759 How do I make it through today? And where can 00:03:35.759 --> 00:03:39.460 there be hope? Because as of right now, my life 00:03:39.460 --> 00:03:42.800 is devastated. And I learned some things from 00:03:42.800 --> 00:03:46.560 Jerry that I want to share with you. And God 00:03:46.560 --> 00:03:49.120 shared some things with me that were a great 00:03:49.120 --> 00:03:51.780 help as Jerry became a great friend. And God 00:03:51.780 --> 00:03:54.740 really transformed his life. And so when you 00:03:54.740 --> 00:03:57.000 don't feel like there's hope, when you need to 00:03:57.000 --> 00:03:59.879 know what to do, and how do you hang in there 00:03:59.879 --> 00:04:02.819 when it feels like... You just can't. What do 00:04:02.819 --> 00:04:05.900 you do? That's the art of survival. And God has 00:04:05.900 --> 00:04:09.240 an answer. And God gave a word to Jesus' half 00:04:09.240 --> 00:04:13.000 -brother James. James chapter 1, here's the principle. 00:04:13.479 --> 00:04:18.279 Don't ask why, ask what. Survivors, people that 00:04:18.279 --> 00:04:20.420 make it through the most devastating personal 00:04:20.420 --> 00:04:24.060 times or even global times, ask three questions. 00:04:24.399 --> 00:04:27.800 Question number one, what can I control? Answer, 00:04:27.939 --> 00:04:32.019 my attitude. Question number two, what must I 00:04:32.019 --> 00:04:35.920 do to make it through today? Answer, endure. 00:04:36.180 --> 00:04:40.420 Remember, hupo meno. I mean, don't give up, don't 00:04:40.420 --> 00:04:43.319 give in, hang on to the promises of God. And 00:04:43.319 --> 00:04:47.180 third, what hope do I have for tomorrow? Answer, 00:04:47.339 --> 00:04:51.259 an all -powerful, all -knowing, sovereign God 00:04:51.259 --> 00:04:55.560 who is good promises to take. the very worst 00:04:55.560 --> 00:04:58.759 that you experience in this life and turn it 00:04:58.759 --> 00:05:01.639 for your best and will either allow you to experience 00:05:01.639 --> 00:05:04.980 that in this life or in the one to come with 00:05:04.980 --> 00:05:09.939 him in heaven. Jerry stopped asking why and he 00:05:09.939 --> 00:05:13.839 started asking what. And as he did, he began 00:05:13.839 --> 00:05:16.980 to focus on, I'm going to consider this an opportunity. 00:05:17.420 --> 00:05:20.259 I'm going to consider that maybe God has a plan 00:05:20.259 --> 00:05:24.990 for me. And he'll use me in ways that are not 00:05:24.990 --> 00:05:28.290 about fame or fortune or money. But he allowed 00:05:28.290 --> 00:05:30.689 this to happen. He didn't cause it. And Jerry 00:05:30.689 --> 00:05:34.110 went into training. And Jerry became a world 00:05:34.110 --> 00:05:37.370 -class athlete again, but this time in a wheelchair 00:05:37.370 --> 00:05:40.410 and won gold medals. He traveled all over the 00:05:40.410 --> 00:05:43.470 world, all over the United States. He then went 00:05:43.470 --> 00:05:46.550 in and became a marathoner where he won the gold 00:05:46.550 --> 00:05:49.800 medal in the marathon in a wheelchair. 26 .2 00:05:49.800 --> 00:05:53.220 miles. You would meet Jerry and he shared his 00:05:53.220 --> 00:05:56.439 testimony of how the supernatural power of the 00:05:56.439 --> 00:05:59.339 Spirit of God inside of his life in the midst 00:05:59.339 --> 00:06:03.500 of the most devastating thing actually changed 00:06:03.500 --> 00:06:05.420 his life to the point where I remember having 00:06:05.420 --> 00:06:10.819 a very private conversation. He said, Chip, if 00:06:10.819 --> 00:06:13.879 I could do it all over again, I wouldn't change 00:06:13.879 --> 00:06:17.199 a thing. Do I like sitting in this chair? No. 00:06:17.930 --> 00:06:20.850 He said, but I thought money and fame and prosperity 00:06:20.850 --> 00:06:23.649 were my ticket to the life that's really life. 00:06:24.050 --> 00:06:26.649 And he said, you know, I was famous and I had 00:06:26.649 --> 00:06:29.949 a big future. He said, but I've experienced an 00:06:29.949 --> 00:06:33.370 intimacy with Jesus Christ, a peace and a joy 00:06:33.370 --> 00:06:38.290 and a power. And God has used my life all around 00:06:38.290 --> 00:06:43.529 the world to change people's lives because I 00:06:43.529 --> 00:06:47.529 wasn't a victim. I was a survivor. because he 00:06:47.529 --> 00:06:51.269 gave me hope. He gave me the grace to endure 00:06:51.269 --> 00:06:54.550 when I didn't think I could. And it changed me 00:06:54.550 --> 00:06:57.889 from a nominal, I kind of believe in God, to 00:06:57.889 --> 00:07:01.290 a dedicated follower of Jesus. And then he used 00:07:01.290 --> 00:07:04.370 my difficulty to share the love of Christ with 00:07:04.370 --> 00:07:07.129 other people whose lives will be different forever 00:07:07.129 --> 00:07:10.610 and ever. Now, here's what I want you to know. 00:07:11.389 --> 00:07:15.189 Jerry got stuck. I didn't share that part of 00:07:15.189 --> 00:07:16.990 the story. You know, when you hear a story like 00:07:16.990 --> 00:07:19.029 Jerry's, it sounds almost like a fairy tale. 00:07:19.250 --> 00:07:22.629 This happened. He made a few great choices. If 00:07:22.629 --> 00:07:25.029 I told you the long version, I would tell you 00:07:25.029 --> 00:07:29.089 about when he was in rehab and was depressed. 00:07:29.209 --> 00:07:32.069 I mean, clinically depressed. When he wallowed 00:07:32.069 --> 00:07:34.670 in self -pity. When he was ready to give up. 00:07:34.810 --> 00:07:39.529 When he didn't care. Jerry got stuck. Here's 00:07:39.529 --> 00:07:42.470 what I want you to know. When things are happening, 00:07:42.990 --> 00:07:45.470 the way they are in our life. You don't have 00:07:45.470 --> 00:07:49.110 a job. Maybe your marriage wasn't going well 00:07:49.110 --> 00:07:53.170 and now it's a train wreck. It's a mess. Maybe 00:07:53.170 --> 00:07:56.610 one of your kids has been impacted. Maybe you 00:07:56.610 --> 00:07:58.949 have no idea where you're going to get food tomorrow. 00:07:59.149 --> 00:08:01.949 You don't have any money or the business that 00:08:01.949 --> 00:08:06.050 you built has evaporated. Maybe your mental health, 00:08:06.129 --> 00:08:09.889 you are depressed. You are discouraged. I don't 00:08:09.889 --> 00:08:12.230 know where you're at, but I know many of you, 00:08:12.699 --> 00:08:16.699 you're stuck. And you're saying, I want to consider 00:08:16.699 --> 00:08:20.560 it all joy. I want to allow God to test me, and 00:08:20.560 --> 00:08:23.399 I want this endurance to make me mature and complete. 00:08:23.500 --> 00:08:28.720 I want a story like Jerry's, but I'm stuck. I 00:08:28.720 --> 00:08:34.559 can't get there. I'm trying hard, but am I just 00:08:34.559 --> 00:08:39.419 supposed to pretend that I have joy? God understands. 00:08:40.240 --> 00:08:45.279 And he knows that we get stuck. We'll hear more 00:08:45.279 --> 00:08:47.220 from Chip Ingram's message in just a moment. 00:08:47.480 --> 00:08:49.779 First, we're inviting you to multiply your year 00:08:49.779 --> 00:08:52.059 -end donation through an exciting match that's 00:08:52.059 --> 00:08:54.059 active right now. You know, when you give to 00:08:54.059 --> 00:08:56.019 Living on the Edge, you're not just supporting 00:08:56.019 --> 00:08:58.759 one ministry. You're creating a ripple effect. 00:08:59.179 --> 00:09:02.600 you begin to mobilize people who help other people 00:09:02.600 --> 00:09:05.000 who help other people, and that makes a huge 00:09:05.000 --> 00:09:07.159 difference. Your gift to the match will make 00:09:07.159 --> 00:09:10.360 an impact. Picture these scenes. A single listener 00:09:10.360 --> 00:09:12.399 in Iowa shares our teaching with a small group 00:09:12.399 --> 00:09:15.259 Bible study. A grandparent in Texas sends our 00:09:15.259 --> 00:09:17.840 resources to a son in Oklahoma that pastors a 00:09:17.840 --> 00:09:20.019 local church. Yes, the ripple effect of giving 00:09:20.019 --> 00:09:23.120 to Living on the Edge. For 30 years, Living on 00:09:23.120 --> 00:09:26.059 the Edge has been God's vehicle to not only help 00:09:26.059 --> 00:09:29.059 pastors, but to teach God's Word. And right now, 00:09:29.159 --> 00:09:32.220 we're on the threshold. We're at a season where 00:09:32.220 --> 00:09:34.419 God is using Living on the Edge like never before. 00:09:34.700 --> 00:09:37.240 Double the impact of your gift at livingontheedge 00:09:37.240 --> 00:09:41.799 .org. Don't let this opportunity slip by to double 00:09:41.799 --> 00:09:44.440 your gift, and even more importantly, to double 00:09:44.440 --> 00:09:47.179 your impact. Today, let's multiply God's ministry 00:09:47.179 --> 00:09:49.120 through Living on the Edge while there's still 00:09:49.120 --> 00:09:53.549 time. go to livingontheedge .org. From this series 00:09:53.549 --> 00:09:56.070 called The Art of Survival in an Age of Chaos, 00:09:56.389 --> 00:09:58.789 Chip Ingram is teaching from James chapter 1. 00:09:59.529 --> 00:10:04.190 And in verses 5 through 8 of chapter 1, he's 00:10:04.190 --> 00:10:08.129 now going to shift. And early on he said, don't 00:10:08.129 --> 00:10:12.190 ask why, ask what. And he told us that the key 00:10:12.190 --> 00:10:15.330 is first your attitude. Now he's going to tell 00:10:15.330 --> 00:10:19.350 you that you need a resource. And it's a resource 00:10:19.350 --> 00:10:22.309 more valuable than money. It's a resource even 00:10:22.309 --> 00:10:24.289 more valuable than a friend, as important as 00:10:24.289 --> 00:10:26.909 that is. There's a resource that he wants to 00:10:26.909 --> 00:10:30.289 give you that when you get stuck, when you don't 00:10:30.289 --> 00:10:32.950 know what to do in your circumstance, you don't 00:10:32.950 --> 00:10:35.330 know what to do in your relationship, you don't 00:10:35.330 --> 00:10:38.370 know what to do in terms of your geography, he 00:10:38.370 --> 00:10:42.710 says, I have a resource that will show you exactly 00:10:42.710 --> 00:10:46.509 what to do, and I promise to give it to you 100 00:10:46.509 --> 00:10:50.820 % of the time. Follow along as I read. Remember, 00:10:50.919 --> 00:10:54.139 let endurance have its perfect result. You might 00:10:54.139 --> 00:10:56.820 be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 00:10:56.899 --> 00:11:00.019 Look at verse 5. But, and by the way, in the 00:11:00.019 --> 00:11:03.320 Greek text, this is the strongest word used for 00:11:03.320 --> 00:11:07.919 a contrast. I mean, it's, but, if any of you 00:11:07.919 --> 00:11:11.399 lack wisdom, let him ask of God who gives to 00:11:11.399 --> 00:11:14.320 all men generously and without reproach, and 00:11:14.320 --> 00:11:17.649 it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith 00:11:17.649 --> 00:11:20.490 without any doubting. For the one who doubts 00:11:20.490 --> 00:11:23.789 is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed 00:11:23.789 --> 00:11:27.009 by the wind. For let not that person or that 00:11:27.009 --> 00:11:29.929 man or woman expect that they will receive anything 00:11:29.929 --> 00:11:33.029 from the Lord, being double -minded, unstable 00:11:33.029 --> 00:11:36.610 in all your ways. And in this little passage, 00:11:36.950 --> 00:11:39.850 he's going to teach you and he's going to teach 00:11:39.850 --> 00:11:42.210 me. What do you do when you're stuck in your 00:11:42.210 --> 00:11:44.789 pain? What do you do when emotional, financial, 00:11:45.129 --> 00:11:48.309 relational issues are flaring around and you 00:11:48.309 --> 00:11:51.250 want to follow God and you literally don't know 00:11:51.250 --> 00:11:53.750 how? Here's what I want you to know. Number one 00:11:53.750 --> 00:11:57.230 is that God understands when we get stuck. God 00:11:57.230 --> 00:12:00.990 wants to help you when you're stuck. God gives 00:12:00.990 --> 00:12:03.590 you a condition that if you will fulfill this 00:12:03.590 --> 00:12:06.490 condition, He promises He'll show you exactly 00:12:06.490 --> 00:12:10.269 what to do. And now let's break this down to 00:12:10.269 --> 00:12:14.070 understand God's offer of supernatural wisdom. 00:12:14.190 --> 00:12:17.789 That's the resource. By the way, wisdom here 00:12:17.789 --> 00:12:20.990 isn't being smart. It's not intellectual. This 00:12:20.990 --> 00:12:24.509 is the Hebrew sense of wisdom. Hebrew wisdom 00:12:24.509 --> 00:12:28.990 means the skill and the ability to know what 00:12:28.990 --> 00:12:32.690 to do, when to do, and how to do it in the midst 00:12:32.690 --> 00:12:36.120 of any situation or relationship. God's wisdom 00:12:36.120 --> 00:12:38.980 literally from the Old Testament and James' writing 00:12:38.980 --> 00:12:42.179 as a Jew to these Jewish Christians, he's saying 00:12:42.179 --> 00:12:46.340 God has a design for life and he wants to bring 00:12:46.340 --> 00:12:48.679 about the best possible ends by the best possible 00:12:48.679 --> 00:12:51.860 means for the most possible people for the longest 00:12:51.860 --> 00:12:54.779 possible time. And there is a way, there's a 00:12:54.779 --> 00:12:57.139 way to think, there's a way to do decisions, 00:12:57.440 --> 00:12:59.820 there's a way to do relationships, there's wisdom, 00:12:59.980 --> 00:13:03.450 there's this skill that God wants to give. to 00:13:03.450 --> 00:13:07.169 those who ask. And so what he's promising to 00:13:07.169 --> 00:13:10.529 this early group who find themselves, I believe 00:13:10.529 --> 00:13:14.230 in Jesus the Messiah. Fifteen years ago, he was 00:13:14.230 --> 00:13:17.490 raised from the dead. He showed himself to over 00:13:17.490 --> 00:13:21.190 500 witnesses. They believe. Their lives have 00:13:21.190 --> 00:13:24.070 been transformed. They've seen miracles. And 00:13:24.070 --> 00:13:27.090 now the world is falling apart. And they say, 00:13:27.149 --> 00:13:29.429 God, what do we do? He says, consider it all 00:13:29.429 --> 00:13:32.539 joy. But we're stuck. Now what do we do? He says, 00:13:32.620 --> 00:13:36.559 ask God for wisdom and he'll give it. But I want 00:13:36.559 --> 00:13:39.539 you to know this. He says, you have a responsibility. 00:13:40.139 --> 00:13:43.100 This isn't about trying hard, figuring it out 00:13:43.100 --> 00:13:46.940 your own way. He says, let him ask. It's a command. 00:13:47.940 --> 00:13:51.440 And the idea of this word is, let him ask for 00:13:51.440 --> 00:13:53.960 a gift in prayer. This is a word for prayer that's 00:13:53.960 --> 00:13:57.299 not just, I'm praying or Lord, help me. This 00:13:57.299 --> 00:14:02.299 is coming to God and saying. I don't know what 00:14:02.299 --> 00:14:06.000 to do about this relationship, about money, about 00:14:06.000 --> 00:14:08.860 housing, about location, about a big decision. 00:14:09.000 --> 00:14:12.659 I don't know what to do. God says, if you lack 00:14:12.659 --> 00:14:16.759 wisdom, number one, ask. And here's the promise. 00:14:16.960 --> 00:14:20.360 He'll give it generously and without reproach. 00:14:20.960 --> 00:14:25.539 I've been a pastor for over 35 years, and I've 00:14:25.539 --> 00:14:28.659 seen people stuck in health issues, relational 00:14:28.659 --> 00:14:34.059 issues. financial issues, legal issues, criminal 00:14:34.059 --> 00:14:38.419 issues. And it's always amazed me that there's 00:14:38.419 --> 00:14:41.659 times when a Christian will get stuck and they 00:14:41.659 --> 00:14:44.340 will do almost anything in the world to figure 00:14:44.340 --> 00:14:47.860 out what they ought to do except go to God in 00:14:47.860 --> 00:14:51.720 genuine humility and ask Him what to do. And 00:14:51.720 --> 00:14:54.259 for years that used to puzzle me, but it doesn't 00:14:54.259 --> 00:14:57.259 puzzle me anymore. See, I think many people have 00:14:57.259 --> 00:15:01.019 a very warped view of God. I think many people 00:15:01.019 --> 00:15:05.379 feel like God is arms crossed. And when we want 00:15:05.379 --> 00:15:08.059 and really need His help, we tend to think that, 00:15:08.100 --> 00:15:11.440 you know, I lied and I've stolen or I've not 00:15:11.440 --> 00:15:13.360 been the kind of Christian I know I should be 00:15:13.360 --> 00:15:16.240 or I have some areas of immorality in my life 00:15:16.240 --> 00:15:19.620 or I haven't obeyed what I know. And how could 00:15:19.620 --> 00:15:23.559 I go to God now when I've messed up, when I know 00:15:23.559 --> 00:15:26.740 I'm not the person that I should be? And did 00:15:26.740 --> 00:15:29.970 you notice what it says? Ask of God who gives 00:15:29.970 --> 00:15:33.129 to all men. The world means generously. In fact, 00:15:33.190 --> 00:15:37.450 literally this phrase is, come to the gift -giving 00:15:37.450 --> 00:15:43.929 God. You know, God loves you. And like a father 00:15:43.929 --> 00:15:48.330 who understands when his kids mess up, his desire 00:15:48.330 --> 00:15:50.590 isn't for you to get everything cleaned up before 00:15:50.590 --> 00:15:54.039 you come to him. His desire is just come. You 00:15:54.039 --> 00:15:57.100 just come as you are. It thrills your Father's 00:15:57.100 --> 00:16:00.059 heart when you say, I can't do this. I need your 00:16:00.059 --> 00:16:04.179 help. I don't understand. Yes, we all have some 00:16:04.179 --> 00:16:06.159 issues where we've done some things that we know 00:16:06.159 --> 00:16:09.059 are wrong. But he says he gives generously, and 00:16:09.059 --> 00:16:12.620 then I love this word, without reproach. It means 00:16:12.620 --> 00:16:15.340 that his arms aren't crossed. He's not pointing 00:16:15.340 --> 00:16:17.279 with a finger and said, well, you want help, 00:16:17.299 --> 00:16:19.700 but what about this or what about that? No, this 00:16:19.700 --> 00:16:23.139 is when Jesus says, come unto me. All of you 00:16:23.139 --> 00:16:25.960 that are heavy laden, that are burdened, that 00:16:25.960 --> 00:16:30.120 are overwhelmed, come, I'll give you rest. You 00:16:30.120 --> 00:16:34.440 serve a God who is kind and good and loving and 00:16:34.440 --> 00:16:37.379 understanding. It's why Jesus, when he taught 00:16:37.379 --> 00:16:40.840 the disciples to pray, he introduced a foreign 00:16:40.840 --> 00:16:44.279 concept. In the Old Testament, there's not a 00:16:44.279 --> 00:16:47.500 lot of references to God as our Father. And Jesus 00:16:47.500 --> 00:16:51.809 would say, when you pray, pray Abba. It's a term 00:16:51.809 --> 00:16:55.289 of endearment of a small child connected to his 00:16:55.289 --> 00:16:58.129 papa or his father. And I just want to remind 00:16:58.129 --> 00:17:02.649 you, when we go through difficult times, some 00:17:02.649 --> 00:17:05.730 of us blame other people. We can blame the government. 00:17:05.910 --> 00:17:09.210 We can blame circumstances. But down deep, many 00:17:09.210 --> 00:17:12.569 of us blame ourselves. And God would want you 00:17:12.569 --> 00:17:15.670 to know that I want you to come and I want to 00:17:15.670 --> 00:17:18.250 help you. But did you notice there's a condition 00:17:18.250 --> 00:17:22.039 here? He says, I want you to ask, but let him 00:17:22.039 --> 00:17:26.519 ask in faith without any doubting. There's two 00:17:26.519 --> 00:17:29.900 conditions. It assumes that you lack wisdom because 00:17:29.900 --> 00:17:32.200 of the construction and the grammar here. But 00:17:32.200 --> 00:17:35.740 then he says, we only receive God's wisdom if 00:17:35.740 --> 00:17:39.519 we, one, ask in faith, and two, without any doubting. 00:17:39.579 --> 00:17:42.789 So what's that mean? Let's figure out what it 00:17:42.789 --> 00:17:45.369 means to ask in faith. What it means to ask in 00:17:45.369 --> 00:17:48.990 faith is trusting and believing and having confidence 00:17:48.990 --> 00:17:53.490 in God's character and his word that you'll do 00:17:53.490 --> 00:17:56.170 whatever he shows you. Ask in faith. In other 00:17:56.170 --> 00:17:58.549 words, it's not, oh Lord, I would kind of like 00:17:58.549 --> 00:18:01.410 to know your opinion on what I ought to do in 00:18:01.410 --> 00:18:05.630 this devastating situation. This is, Lord, I'm 00:18:05.630 --> 00:18:08.250 believing you're the all -knowing, all -powerful 00:18:08.250 --> 00:18:11.000 God. You're the sovereign God of the universe. 00:18:11.400 --> 00:18:14.440 I can trust your word. I can trust your character. 00:18:14.759 --> 00:18:18.200 I'm asking in faith. And then notice without 00:18:18.200 --> 00:18:21.640 any doubting. Some people get tripped up on this. 00:18:21.740 --> 00:18:24.240 This word for doubting means without judgment 00:18:24.240 --> 00:18:27.680 or wavering. This is not that feeling that we 00:18:27.680 --> 00:18:30.180 all have at times like, God, are you really there? 00:18:30.339 --> 00:18:33.539 Or do I doubt that you might show up? Or are 00:18:33.539 --> 00:18:36.039 you really going to take care of me? God knows 00:18:36.039 --> 00:18:38.710 we're human. He knows that we'll have struggles 00:18:38.710 --> 00:18:41.809 at times and have some intellectual doubts. This 00:18:41.809 --> 00:18:45.329 passage is not saying that. This passage is talking 00:18:45.329 --> 00:18:48.329 about the kind of doubt that has disloyalty. 00:18:48.410 --> 00:18:50.829 Because notice what he says, he explains it later. 00:18:50.990 --> 00:18:53.089 He says, come to him without any doubt, for the 00:18:53.089 --> 00:18:56.890 one who comes with doubt like that is unstable 00:18:56.890 --> 00:19:00.049 in all his ways. In fact, is double -minded. 00:19:00.569 --> 00:19:04.230 too sold. We get our word schizophrenia. It's 00:19:04.230 --> 00:19:07.990 a picture of someone who says, God, I really 00:19:07.990 --> 00:19:11.069 want to know what you want me to do, but I'm 00:19:11.069 --> 00:19:13.670 not really committed to doing it. I just want 00:19:13.670 --> 00:19:17.390 to know what your will is so I can evaluate whether 00:19:17.390 --> 00:19:21.450 I will obey or not obey. And then notice he says, 00:19:21.529 --> 00:19:24.490 let not that person expect that he'll get anything 00:19:24.490 --> 00:19:27.049 from the Lord. So here's what I want you to get. 00:19:27.609 --> 00:19:30.369 I know some of you are going through really really 00:19:30.369 --> 00:19:33.839 difficult times. And I know that God wants to 00:19:33.839 --> 00:19:36.700 work in us before he works through us. And so 00:19:36.700 --> 00:19:39.819 come to God and ask. And then here's what you 00:19:39.819 --> 00:19:41.940 need to do. You need to come to God. Think of 00:19:41.940 --> 00:19:45.880 it as a contract or a blank check. And what God 00:19:45.880 --> 00:19:48.119 wants you to do is sign the bottom of the contract 00:19:48.119 --> 00:19:51.019 and say, Lord, what should I do about where I 00:19:51.019 --> 00:19:53.539 should live? What should I do about this problem 00:19:53.539 --> 00:19:56.059 relationship? What should I do about the business 00:19:56.059 --> 00:19:58.900 that is lost? What should I do to make it through 00:19:58.900 --> 00:20:03.019 today? And God says, if you will come to me and 00:20:03.019 --> 00:20:07.799 ask in faith and then say, Lord, whatever you 00:20:07.799 --> 00:20:10.559 show me before I know what it is, I'll do it. 00:20:10.740 --> 00:20:14.880 He says, 100 % of the time, I'll show you what 00:20:14.880 --> 00:20:20.339 to do. See, sometimes when you say, Lord, show 00:20:20.339 --> 00:20:23.519 me your wisdom, we unconsciously have a box that 00:20:23.519 --> 00:20:27.339 says, as long as it fits inside of this. In another 00:20:27.339 --> 00:20:30.079 time, I needed God's wisdom, and he said, I want 00:20:30.079 --> 00:20:32.319 you to relocate from this side of the United 00:20:32.319 --> 00:20:35.279 States to that side of the United States. And 00:20:35.279 --> 00:20:37.259 then it was, oh, Lord, no, my wife doesn't want 00:20:37.259 --> 00:20:39.920 to go. This won't work. It's going to cost a 00:20:39.920 --> 00:20:42.799 lot of money. I had all these reasons. But when 00:20:42.799 --> 00:20:47.259 you want God's wisdom, he says, come and you 00:20:47.259 --> 00:20:49.960 sign up and say, I will do, Lord, whatever you 00:20:49.960 --> 00:20:53.140 want me to do. And here's what he promises. He 00:20:53.140 --> 00:21:01.269 will do it. 100 % of the time. This is Living 00:21:01.269 --> 00:21:03.930 on the Edge with Chip Ingram. Chip is presenting 00:21:03.930 --> 00:21:06.769 a study in James. This brief teaching series 00:21:06.769 --> 00:21:10.029 is called The Art of Survival in an Age of Chaos. 00:21:10.430 --> 00:21:12.630 Please stick around because Chip is in the studio 00:21:12.630 --> 00:21:15.250 to share an encouraging word for pastors and 00:21:15.250 --> 00:21:17.710 those who care about them. First, I'll point 00:21:17.710 --> 00:21:19.910 you to an outstanding resource that compliments 00:21:19.910 --> 00:21:22.369 our current teaching series. It's a book written 00:21:22.369 --> 00:21:25.789 by Chip Ingram called The Art of Survival. The 00:21:25.789 --> 00:21:28.690 first century church was built in desperate times, 00:21:28.809 --> 00:21:31.630 not unlike our own. And the book of James speaks 00:21:31.630 --> 00:21:34.609 to desperate people with a calming message about 00:21:34.609 --> 00:21:38.089 remaining strong in chaotic times. And you can 00:21:38.089 --> 00:21:40.569 order a copy of Chip's book, The Art of Survival, 00:21:40.630 --> 00:21:45.400 by going to livingontheedge .org. And then I'll 00:21:45.400 --> 00:21:47.839 remind you that Living on the Edge is the recipient 00:21:47.839 --> 00:21:50.740 of a generous match that's going to catapult 00:21:50.740 --> 00:21:54.019 our ministry efforts in 2026. And we're calling 00:21:54.019 --> 00:21:56.519 upon you to join us in this exciting opportunity 00:21:56.519 --> 00:22:00.220 to reach and train more pastors next year. Leading 00:22:00.220 --> 00:22:02.799 a congregation in today's culture is challenging 00:22:02.799 --> 00:22:06.039 to say the least. And pastors, no matter where 00:22:06.039 --> 00:22:09.259 they serve or how big their church is, need godly, 00:22:09.259 --> 00:22:11.480 compassionate friends to come alongside them. 00:22:11.599 --> 00:22:14.220 Chip? You know, it's not uncommon for me to hear 00:22:14.220 --> 00:22:16.980 from pastors who say, Chip, I listened to Living 00:22:16.980 --> 00:22:19.500 on the Edge on my way to the church office. Some 00:22:19.500 --> 00:22:22.279 days I feel like you're the only colleague that 00:22:22.279 --> 00:22:24.900 really understands what I face and what I'm going 00:22:24.900 --> 00:22:27.700 through. You know, many pastors feel isolated, 00:22:27.920 --> 00:22:31.019 discouraged, and desperately need solid biblical 00:22:31.019 --> 00:22:34.059 teaching to fill their own tank. What I want 00:22:34.059 --> 00:22:36.799 you to know is when you give to this match, you're 00:22:36.799 --> 00:22:39.680 coming along aside thousands of pastors who are 00:22:39.680 --> 00:22:42.900 pouring out. but rarely get poured into. Look, 00:22:43.059 --> 00:22:46.259 we can't afford to let our pastors run on fumes. 00:22:46.460 --> 00:22:49.619 This isn't just another fundraising appeal. It's 00:22:49.619 --> 00:22:53.240 a rare multiplication moment. Every dollar given 00:22:53.240 --> 00:22:56.539 to this match becomes $2 of impact, not just 00:22:56.539 --> 00:22:59.680 in churches or individuals, but in pastors who 00:22:59.680 --> 00:23:02.480 lead them. 30 years of faithfulness has brought 00:23:02.480 --> 00:23:05.619 us here. Your doubled gift propels us into the 00:23:05.619 --> 00:23:08.420 future. Thanks so much. Living on the Edge is 00:23:08.420 --> 00:23:11.200 uniquely postured to minister to pastors and 00:23:11.200 --> 00:23:13.940 church leaders, not only in North America, but 00:23:13.940 --> 00:23:16.500 around the world as well. All that's standing 00:23:16.500 --> 00:23:18.960 in the way to succeed in this mission are the 00:23:18.960 --> 00:23:22.579 resources to do so. As you feel God nudging you 00:23:22.579 --> 00:23:25.420 to respond, please follow His leading. Whatever 00:23:25.420 --> 00:23:27.799 amount he places on your heart will be multiplied 00:23:27.799 --> 00:23:31.000 by two because of the match. That means your 00:23:31.000 --> 00:23:35.420 gift of $50 becomes $100. Your gift of $100 becomes 00:23:35.420 --> 00:23:38.559 $200. It's a wonderful time to double the impact 00:23:38.559 --> 00:23:41.619 of your year -end gift. To give right now, go 00:23:41.619 --> 00:23:48.250 to livingontheedge .org or call us at 888 - Remember, 00:23:49.809 --> 00:23:52.190 when you join Living on the Edge, you're giving 00:23:52.190 --> 00:23:55.049 to a ministry whose reach is growing faster than 00:23:55.049 --> 00:23:57.769 ever, with pastors receiving training in more 00:23:57.769 --> 00:24:00.950 than 28 countries around the world. And we're 00:24:00.950 --> 00:24:03.490 ready to do so much more because of the match 00:24:03.490 --> 00:24:06.670 that's active through December 31st. Today, your 00:24:06.670 --> 00:24:10.809 gift of $100 becomes $200. Your gift of $500 00:24:10.809 --> 00:24:13.910 becomes $1 ,000. To send a check in the mail, 00:24:14.049 --> 00:24:16.539 here's the address for your envelope. write to 00:24:16.539 --> 00:24:20.599 Living on the Edge, P .O. Box 3007, Atlanta, 00:24:20.859 --> 00:24:27.819 Georgia, 30024. You can also call 888 -333 -6003 00:24:27.819 --> 00:24:33.140 or visit livingontheedge .org. Feeling frozen 00:24:33.140 --> 00:24:35.880 in fear? Well, if so, Chip Ingram's message is 00:24:35.880 --> 00:24:39.180 just for you. I'm Dave Drewy, urging you to listen 00:24:39.180 --> 00:24:41.660 again Thursday to Living on the Edge.