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  • 7/31/2019 James Series Sermon Notes Wk 6 Sun Sept 16 2012

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  • 7/31/2019 James Series Sermon Notes Wk 6 Sun Sept 16 2012

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    SermonNotesWk 6 // TheWillofGod // James 4:13-17

    Date: SundaySept 16. 2012Text: James 4:13-17Title: WhereTheresaWill, TheresaWay // Week 6 of7OUTLINE:A) IgnoringGodsWill - James 4:13-14B) DisobeyingGodsWill - James 4:17C) ObeyingGodsWill - James 3:15INTRODUCTION:

    James 4 beginsbytalkingaboutfightsandquarrels. Jamescontinuestounpack

    whatitmeanstobeatwarwithGod, andthenheendschapter 4 withhowwe

    respondtothewillofGod. Thetwothemesarerelated, becausewhenweare

    outofthewillofGod, webecometroublemakersandnotpeacemakers.

    LotmovedintoSodomandbroughttroubletohisfamily. Davidcommitted

    adulteryandmurderwhichbroughtfractureandbrokennesstohisfamilyand

    hiskingdom. JonahsteppedoutofthewillofGodandalmostsentashipof

    unbelievingsailorstotheirwaterydeaths. Ineachcasetherewasawrong

    responsetowardthewillofGod.

    ThatGodwouldhaveaplanforeachofusourlivesisanunmistakeabletruth.

    HeisaGodoforderandwisdom. Heknowswhatoughttohappenandwhenit

    shouldhappen. AndbecauseHeisaGodoflove, Heonlyeverdesiresthebest

    forHischildren. ToomanytimeswemistakenlyviewthewillofGodtobea

    bitterpillwemustswallow, ratherthanthegraciousevidenceoftheloveof

    Godtowardsus.

    Psalm 33:11 showsusthatthewillofGodcomesfromtheheartofGod. Weneed

    neverbeafraidofthewillofGod, becauseHiswillistheexpressionofHislove.

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    Inourtextthismorning, Jamespointsouttousthreeattitudesthatwecan

    havetowardsthewillofGodOfthethreethereisonlyonethatwemustall

    cultivateasfollowersofJesus.

    WHERETHERESAWILLTHERESAWAY - KEYSTO

    PLANNINGAHEAD.

    1. IGNOREGODSWILL // ( James 4:13-14 )

    PerhapsJameswastalkingtothewealthymerchantsintheassembly. They

    mighthavediscussedtheirbusinessdealsandboastedabouttheirplans.

    ThereisnoevidencethattheysoughtthewillofGodorprayedabouttheir

    decisions. Itappearsthattheymeasuredtheirsuccessinlifebyhowmany

    timestheygottheirownwayandaccomplishedwhattheyhadplanned.

    ButJamespresentedfourargumentsthatrevealedthefoolishnessofignoring

    thewillofGod.

    a) TheComplexityofLife ( James 4:13 ).Thinkofallthatisinvolvedinlife:

    today, tomorrow, buying, selling, facebook, twitter, racinghere, goingthere.

    Lifeismadeupofpeopleandplaces, activitiesandgoals, daysandyears; and

    eachofusmustmakemanycrucialdecisionsdayafterday.

    ApartfromthewillofGod, lifeisanunknownquantity. WhenweknowJesus

    ChristasourSaviour, andseektodoHiswill, thenlifestartstomakesense.

    Eventhephysicalworldaroundustakesusonnewmeaning. Thereisa

    simplicityandunitytoourlivesthatgivesusadeepsenseofunderstanding

    andconfidence. Wearenolongerlivinginamysterious, threateninguniverse.

    b) TheUncertaintyofLife ( James 4:14 ).ThisstatementisbasedonProverbs

    27:1 . Thesebusinessmenweremakingplansforawholeyearwhentheycould

    notevenseeaheadintooneday. Lookhowmuchofanassumptiontheywere

    willingtomake: Wewillgo. Wewillstayayear. Wewillbuyandsellandmakea

    profit.

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    SermonNotesWk 6 // TheWillofGod // James 4:13-17

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    TheirattitudemirrorsthefarmerinJesus parableinLuke 12:16-21 . Whatwas

    Godsreplytothismansboasting? Fool! Thisnightyoursoulisrequiredof

    you. ( Luke 12:20 ). LifeisnotuncertaintoGod, butitisuncertaintous. Only

    whenweareinHiswillcanwebeconfidentoftomorrow, becauseweknowthat

    Heisleadingus.

    c) TheBrevityofLife ( James 4:14 ).Thisisoneoftherepeatedthemes

    throughoutScripture. Touslifeseemslongandwemeasureitinyears; butcomparedtoeternity, lifeisjustmist. Jamesborrowedthisimageryfromthe

    BookofJobwherewefindmanypicturesofthetrulyfinitenatureoflife. ( Job

    7:6 , Job 7:9 , Job 8:9 , Job 9:25 , Job 9:26 , Job 14:1-2 ).

    Wecountouryearsateachbirthday, butGodtellsustonumberourdays

    ( Psalm 90:12 ). Therealityis, wecanonlyliveonedayatatime, andthosedays

    rushbyfasteraswegetolder.

    Sincelifeissoshort, wecannotafordtomerely spendourlives ; andwecertainlydonotwantto wasteourlives. Wemust invest ourlivesinthose

    thingsthatareeternal.

    GodrevealsHiswillthroughHisWord, andyetmostpeopleignoretheBible. In

    theBibleGodgivesusprecepts, principlesandpromisesthatcanguideusin

    everyareaoflife. KnowingandobeyingGodsWordisthesurestwaytofulfill

    ourGodgivenpurpose ( John 1:8 . Psalm 1:3 ).

    d) TheFrailtyofman ( James 4:16 ).Wheneverweboast, manytimesitisonlytocoverupourweaknessandinsecurity. Thomasa`Kempisoncewrote Man

    proposesbutGoddisposes. Prov 16:33 revealsthistruth. Wecannotcontrol

    futureeventsbecausewehavenotthewisdomtoseethefuture, orthepower

    tocontrolthefuture. Whenweboastitissinbecausewearetryingtotakethe

    placeofGod.

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    SermonNotesWk 6 // TheWillofGod // James 4:13-17

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    2. DISOBEYGODSWILL // (James 4:17)

    ThesearepeoplewhoKNOWthewillofGod, butwillfullychoosetodisobeyit.

    ThisattitudeissimilartoignoringGodswill, butexpressesevenmorepride,

    becausethepersonsays IknowwhatyouwantmetodoLord, butIprefernot

    to. IreallyknowmoreaboutthisYoudo. 2 Peter 2:21 saysitwouldhavebeen

    betterforthemnottohaveknownthewayofrighteousness.

    WHYDOPEOPLEWHOKNOWTHEWILLOFGODDELIBERATELYDISOBEY?

    a) PAIN - Manypeoplearehurtinchurch, anddespiteknowingGodswilland

    purposefortheirlives, theyallowthepainandofensetobegreaterthanGods

    destinyunfoldingintheirlives.

    b) PRIDE - Weliketothinkthatwearethe masterofourfateandcaptainof

    oursoul. Wheninactualfactwearethecreature, andGodaloneisTheCreator.

    Manhasaccomplishedsomanyamazingachievementsthatthereisthe

    temptationthatwecandoanything. ThetowerofBabelisagoodexample( Genesis 11 ).

    c) PRIORITIES - WhenGodswillgetschokedoutbythebusynessandnoiseof

    ourfastpacedworld, thenobeyingHispromptingcantakealowerpriorityto

    tothetyrannyoftheurgentscreamingforourattention. Thisiswhychurch

    andregularfellowshipissoimportant. ItkeepsuscomingbacktoHispurpose

    remainingourpriority.

    DisobeyingGodswilltodaymaynotseemaseriousthing, butitwillbecome

    veryseriouswhenJesusreturnsandexaminesourwork ( Col 3:22-25 ).

    3. OBEYGODSWILL // (James 4:15)

    IftheLordwills... isnotjustastatementthatwesayhereatcrossCentral, it

    musttheconstantandcontinualattitudeofourhearts. JesussaidinJohn 4:34

    thatHis foodwastodothewillofHimwhosentHim.

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    SermonNotesWk 6 // TheWillofGod // James 4:13-17

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    Ofteninhisletters, PaulreferredtothewillofGodashesharedhisplanswith

    hisfriends ( Rom 1:10 , Rom 15:32 , 1 Cor 4:19 , 1 Cor 16:7 ). Pauldidnotthinkof

    Godswillaschainsthatlockedhimdown; ratheritwasthekeythatopened

    thedoorsandsethimfree.

    Everythinginthisuniverseoperatesaccordingtolaws. ifwecooperatewith

    theselawsandabidebythem, thentheuniverseworksWITHus. Butifwefight

    theselawsanddisobeythem, theuniversewillwrkAGAINSTus. Forexamplethereacertainlawsthatgovernflight. Theengineerthatfollowsthoselawsin

    hisdesignoftheaircraft, andthepilotwhoobeysthoselawsinflyingtheplane

    willbothhavethejoyofseeingtheirA380 soarinthesky. Butiftheydisobey

    thebasiclawsthatgovernflight, theresultwillbeacrashandlossoflifeand

    money.

    GodswillforourlivesiscomparabletothelawsHehasbuiltwithinthe

    universe, withthisexception: thoselawsaregeneral, butthewillhehas

    plannedforourlivesisspecificallydesignedforus. Notwolivesareplannedaccordingtothesamespecificpattern.

    YestherearethingsthatmustbetrueofallChristians. Wearetogive,

    ourselvestoGod ( 2 Cor 8:5 ), avoidsexualimmorality ( 1 Thess 4:3 ) andrejoice,

    prayandbethankfultoGod ( 1 Thess 5:16-18. EverycommandmentintheBible

    isforustoobey. ButGoddoesnotcalleachofustothesameworkinlife, orto

    necessarilyhavethesamegiftsandministryexpression. ThewillofGodis

    masterfully tailor-made foreachofus.

    Godswillisnotacoldimpersonalmachine. WedonotdetermineGodswillin

    somemechanicalway, likeavendingmachine. HiswillisnotasifGodstartsit

    goinganditsuptoustokeepitfunctioningsmoothly. IfwedisobeyHimin

    someway, themachinegrindstoahalt, andweareoutofGodswillfortherest

    ofourlives.

    ThewillofGodisalivingrelationshipbetweenGodandHischildren. Thisis

    notDESTROYEDwhenabelieverdisobeys, fortheFatherstilldealswithHis

    child, evenifHemustusediscipline.

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    SermonNotesWk 6 // TheWillofGod // James 4:13-17

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    AtCrossCentral, weseeGodswillasawarm, living, growingbody. If

    somethinggoeswrongwithmybody, Idontdie: theotherpartsofthebody

    compensateforituntilIcangetthatorganworkingproperlyagain. Thereis

    pain; thereisalsoweakness; butthereisnotnecessarilydeath.

    WhenwegetoutofGodswill, itisnottheendofeverything. Wesufer, tobe

    sure, butifwerepentandreturntoHim, Heisabletocompensateforour

    malfunctionsandworkallthingstogetherforgood ( Romans 8:28 ). GodisabletouseeveryexperiencetobringusbackintoHiswillagain. Weseethisinthe

    livesofAbrahamandJonah.

    OurrelationshiptothewillofGodisasagrowingexperience. Itflowslikethis:

    i) WEMUSTKNOWHISWILL - Acts 22:14 // Godswillisnotdiculttodiscover.

    Ifwearewillingtoobey, Heiswillingtoreveal ( John 7:17 ). Ithasbeensaidthat

    obedienceistheorganofspiritualknowledge. Thisistrue. Goddoesnot

    revealHiswilltothosewhoarecuriousorcareless, buttothosewhoarereadyandwillingtoobeyHim.

    ii) WEMUSTUNDERSTANDHISWILL - Eph 5:17 // Thisiswherespiritual

    wisdomcomesintoplay. AchildmayKNOWthewillofhisfather, buthemay

    notUNDERSTANDhiswill. Thechildknowsthe what butnotthe why.

    Becausewearenowcalled friends ofJesus, wehavetheprivilegeofknowing

    whyGoddoeswhatHedoes ( John 15:15 ). Psalm 103:7 showsusthatthe

    IsraelitesknewWHATGodwasdoing, butMosesunderstoodWHYGodwas

    doingit.

    iii) WEMUSTPROVEHISWILL - Rom 12:2 // TheGreekverbmeans toproveby

    experience. WelearntodeterminethewillofGodbyworkingatit. Themore

    weobey, themorewecreateaforwardtrajectoryinourlifetodiscoverwhat

    Godwantsustodo. WeprovebyexperiencewhatthewillofGodis. Welearn

    fromboththesuccessesandfailures. Matt 11:29 - theyokegivesusthepicture

    ofdoingsomething, puttingintopracticewhatGodhastaughtus.

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    SermonNotesWk 6 // TheWillofGod // James 4:13-17

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    iv) WEMUSTDOITFROMTHEHEART - Eph 6:6 // WhenJonahdidthewillof

    God, hedidnotdoitfromhisheart. WhatPaulsaidaboutgivingcanalsobe

    appliedtoliving: notgrudgingly, oroutofnecessityforGodlovesacheerful

    giver 2 Cor 9:7 .

    Thesecrettoahappylifeistodelightinduty. Whendutybecomesadelight,

    thenburdensbecomeblessings ( Psalm 119:54 ). Thereisaneternalqualityto

    thelifeandworksofpeoplewhodothewillofGod ( 1 John 2:15-17 ). ThereistheexpectationofrewardatthereturnofJesusChrist ( Matt 25:34 ).

    Conclusion:

    WhichofthesethreeattitudesdowehavetowardsthewillofGod? Dowe

    totallyignoreGodswillaswemakeourdailyplansanddecisions? Or, dowe

    knowGodswillandyetrefusetoobeyit? Eachattitudeiswrongandcanonly

    ultimatelyleadtosorrowandruin.

    Butwhenweknow, loveandobeythewillofGod, thenwefindourselvesin

    placewherewecantrulyenjoytheblessingsofGod. Ourlivesmaynotbe

    easier, butwewillbeholierandhappier. OurveryfoodwillbethewillofGod

    ( John 4:34 ); itwillbethejoyanddelightofourheart ( Ps 40:8 ).

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    SermonNotesWk 6 // TheWillofGod // James 4:13-17

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