james series sermon notes wk 6 sun sept 16 2012
TRANSCRIPT
-
7/31/2019 James Series Sermon Notes Wk 6 Sun Sept 16 2012
1/8
-
7/31/2019 James Series Sermon Notes Wk 6 Sun Sept 16 2012
2/8
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.
02 4472 9419|0433 161 422|[email protected]
b e l i e v e b e l o n g b e c o m e b e y o n d
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://wearecrosscentral.com/http://wearecrosscentral.com/ -
7/31/2019 James Series Sermon Notes Wk 6 Sun Sept 16 2012
3/8
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.
02 4472 9419|0433 161 422|[email protected]
b e l i e v e b e l o n g b e c o m e b e y o n d
SermonNotesWk 6 // TheWillofGod // James 4:13-17
http://wearecrosscentral.com/http://wearecrosscentral.com/http://wearecrosscentral.com/http://wearecrosscentral.com/http://wearecrosscentral.com/http://wearecrosscentral.com/http://wearecrosscentral.com/http://wearecrosscentral.com/http://wearecrosscentral.com/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://wearecrosscentral.com/http://wearecrosscentral.com/ -
7/31/2019 James Series Sermon Notes Wk 6 Sun Sept 16 2012
4/8
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.
02 4472 9419|0433 161 422|[email protected]
b e l i e v e b e l o n g b e c o m e b e y o n d
SermonNotesWk 6 // TheWillofGod // James 4:13-17
http://wearecrosscentral.com/http://wearecrosscentral.com/http://wearecrosscentral.com/http://wearecrosscentral.com/http://wearecrosscentral.com/http://wearecrosscentral.com/http://wearecrosscentral.com/http://wearecrosscentral.com/http://wearecrosscentral.com/http://wearecrosscentral.com/http://wearecrosscentral.com/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://wearecrosscentral.com/http://wearecrosscentral.com/ -
7/31/2019 James Series Sermon Notes Wk 6 Sun Sept 16 2012
5/8
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.
02 4472 9419|0433 161 422|[email protected]
b e l i e v e b e l o n g b e c o m e b e y o n d
SermonNotesWk 6 // TheWillofGod // James 4:13-17
http://wearecrosscentral.com/http://wearecrosscentral.com/http://wearecrosscentral.com/http://wearecrosscentral.com/http://wearecrosscentral.com/http://wearecrosscentral.com/http://wearecrosscentral.com/http://wearecrosscentral.com/http://wearecrosscentral.com/http://wearecrosscentral.com/http://wearecrosscentral.com/http://wearecrosscentral.com/http://wearecrosscentral.com/http://wearecrosscentral.com/http://wearecrosscentral.com/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://wearecrosscentral.com/http://wearecrosscentral.com/ -
7/31/2019 James Series Sermon Notes Wk 6 Sun Sept 16 2012
6/8
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.
02 4472 9419|0433 161 422|[email protected]
b e l i e v e b e l o n g b e c o m e b e y o n d
SermonNotesWk 6 // TheWillofGod // James 4:13-17
http://wearecrosscentral.com/http://wearecrosscentral.com/http://wearecrosscentral.com/http://wearecrosscentral.com/http://wearecrosscentral.com/http://wearecrosscentral.com/http://wearecrosscentral.com/http://wearecrosscentral.com/http://wearecrosscentral.com/http://wearecrosscentral.com/http://wearecrosscentral.com/http://wearecrosscentral.com/http://wearecrosscentral.com/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://wearecrosscentral.com/http://wearecrosscentral.com/ -
7/31/2019 James Series Sermon Notes Wk 6 Sun Sept 16 2012
7/8
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.
02 4472 9419|0433 161 422|[email protected]
b e l i e v e b e l o n g b e c o m e b e y o n d
SermonNotesWk 6 // TheWillofGod // James 4:13-17
http://wearecrosscentral.com/http://wearecrosscentral.com/http://wearecrosscentral.com/http://wearecrosscentral.com/http://wearecrosscentral.com/http://wearecrosscentral.com/http://wearecrosscentral.com/http://wearecrosscentral.com/http://wearecrosscentral.com/http://wearecrosscentral.com/http://wearecrosscentral.com/http://wearecrosscentral.com/http://wearecrosscentral.com/http://wearecrosscentral.com/http://wearecrosscentral.com/http://wearecrosscentral.com/http://wearecrosscentral.com/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://wearecrosscentral.com/http://wearecrosscentral.com/ -
7/31/2019 James Series Sermon Notes Wk 6 Sun Sept 16 2012
8/8
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 ).
02 4472 9419|0433 161 422|[email protected]
b e l i e v e b e l o n g b e c o m e b e y o n d
SermonNotesWk 6 // TheWillofGod // James 4:13-17
http://wearecrosscentral.com/http://wearecrosscentral.com/http://wearecrosscentral.com/http://wearecrosscentral.com/http://wearecrosscentral.com/http://wearecrosscentral.com/http://wearecrosscentral.com/http://wearecrosscentral.com/http://wearecrosscentral.com/http://wearecrosscentral.com/http://wearecrosscentral.com/http://wearecrosscentral.com/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://wearecrosscentral.com/http://wearecrosscentral.com/