Sermons for Life with James Long, Jr.

Where to Turn When Life Gets ToughThis podcast is a message from 2 Samuel 22 and Psalm 18.Introduction‌PREMISE # 1 - Every person has experienced, is experiencing, or will experience great suffering in this life. Most people do not handle that suffering well.PREMISE # 2 - Every Biblically informed Christian believes in the sovereignty of God and the goodness of God.PREMISE # 3 - For many Christians, that creates a seeming contradiction between the God’s control over all things and His good character versus all the sufferings, pains, griefs, losses, trials, and horrors of this world. THE GAPFOUNDATION: Every Christian can successfully endure suffering and hardships by holding fast to six core convictionsLIFE LESSONS: REMEMBER, When life gets tough...1. The Lord is my safety (vs. 2-3)2. Prayer is my necessity (vs. 4-7)3. The Most High is my invincibility (vs. 8-19)4. The gospel is my security (vs. 20-25)5. The Scriptures are my sufficiency (vs 29-31)“God’s Word is the only sure, infallible, inerrant, and completely sufficient authority by which to face, deal with, and endure every test and trial of life.”6. God's loyal love is my certainty (vs. 50-51)

Psalm 51: Dealing with Guilt: A Prayer for Pardon and PurityJames Long, Jr.ExpositionPrayer for Pardon (Restoration)Have Mercy on Me (vs. 1a)Blot out My Transgression (vs. 1b)Wash Me Thoroughly (vs. 2a)Cleanse Me (vs. 2b)My Sin Are Ever Before Me (vs. 3)Sin plagues his mind.Sin is against God ultimately. Sin deserves judgment. The Source of Sin (vs. 5)God Delights in Truth in Us (vs. 6)Series of ThreesGod’s Character: Steadfast Love, Mercy, Justifier David’s Troubles: Transgressions, Iniquities, SinDavid’s Prayer: Blot out My Sin, Wash me, Cleanse MePrayer of Purity (Renewal)Prayer for a Clean Heart (vs. 10)Prayer for Continued Fellowship (vs 11)Prayer for Restored Joy (vs 12)Prayer for Empowered Service (vs. 13-19)Bringing It Home: Lessons from DavidLesson # 1 - No One is too Holy to FallLesson # 2 - We Need AccountabilityLesson # 3 - There is Horror in SinLesson # 4 - Sin Needs to be Confessed and RepentanceLesson # 5 - There is No Sin too Great that Can’t Be Forgiven Hymns:Hallelujah, what a Savior!Grace is greater than all our sin.Conclusion

We Do Not Lose HeartJames Long, Jr.2 Corinthians 4:7–18IntroductionFighting DiscouragementFocus on the mercy of God in yourSalvationServiceFaithful Proclamation of the GospelTwo Responses to the Gospel ProclamationLet There Be LightExposition: LearnTreasure in Jars of ClayInstruments of God’s Grace - Humility of LifePreserved through TrialsSacrificial LifeFruitfulFaithfulHopefulGraced, Grateful, and God-glorifyingHow Not to Lose HeartFocus/Perspective/LookFocus on inner life rather than the outer lifeFocus on the weightiness of glory rather than the lightness of sufferingsFocus on eternal rather than temporal

Where to Turn When Life Gets ToughThis podcast is a message from 2 Samuel 22 and Psalm 18.Introduction‌PREMISE # 1 - Every person has experienced, is experiencing, or will experience great suffering in this life. Most people do not handle that suffering well. PREMISE # 2 - Every Biblically informed Christian believes in the sovereignty of God and the goodness of God.PREMISE # 3 - For many Christians, that creates a seeming contradiction between the God’s control over all things and His good character versus all the sufferings, pains, griefs, losses, trials, and horrors of this world. THE GAPFOUNDATION: Every Christian can successfully endure suffering and hardships by holding fast to six core convictionsLIFE LESSONS: REMEMBER, When life gets tough...1. The Lord is my safety (vs. 2-3)2. Prayer is my necessity (vs. 4-7)3. The Most High is my invincibility (vs. 8-19)4. The gospel is my security (vs. 20-25)5. The Scriptures are my sufficiency (vs 29-31)“God’s Word is the only sure, infallible, inerrant, and completely sufficient authority by which to face, deal with, and endure every test and trial of life.”6. God's loyal love is my certainty (vs. 50-51)