Untitled Sermon (14)

Repairer of the Breach Starts with you. If we are to embrace this years theme we must first do a self examination to see if we are up for the challenge. How many of you would like to see your community become a greater community?

In order to have great communities we need great churches.

We need churches impacting the community for Jesus…

In order to have greater churches, we need churches filled with great Christians.

In order to have churches filled with greater Christians…we need a greater grace…

Greater grace builds greater Christians…which builds greater churches…which builds greater communities…which builds a better world. A world where we will see beloved communities. James opens chapter 4 with challenging the reader to look at the behavioral issues in the community of saints. James the brother of Jesus does not write to the world but to the church. The church he watch struggle with being the best Christian. Its this not the case today. When folks look at church today what do they see. James noticed the saint were dealing with some major character defects. Chapter 1 he advises us to be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. So the saints were dealing with listening problems and anger problems. So those who are to be the first fruits of the Lord must put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive the word with meekness. You recall hin saying do doers of the word and not just hearers. Our Sunday school lessons does the same when Paul tells the Thessalonians to allow the Word to have free course.

Then in Chapter 2 he lets us know that the church was also dealing with favoritism. Deferential treat of the poor and the well off. In a beloved community we must be careful about how we treat the poor. God has the poor to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom. That is good news for us because even if we have a few coin we all just a tragedy away from being destitute our selves. I am glad that i learn to humble myself and be thankful for Gods grace. We are reminded to love our neighbor as ourselves!

Its in chapter 3 we learn the hurtfulness of a untamed tongue. That small thing that James said can burn down a whole forest.

So the saint had loose tongues and then there was jealousy and selfish ambition and lying also. Well sounds like the early church sounds like the modern day church. How can this be? This letter written 61 AD notices the struggles of the early church. It was God design that the Church the called out assembly the exclesia of God would be a beloved community. James close chapter 3 like this But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). ().

So what happened? What is the common factor in the early church and the current church? SIN. He opens Chapter 4 like this:  What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? SAY SIN

2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. SAY SIN 4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

Enmity What is enmity? ITS THE STATE OF BEING AN ENEMY ......HOSTILITY. NO ONE IN HERE WOULD ADMIT I AM AN ENEMY OF GOD.

who wants to be fighting with God. You know what the play write said, “Your arms too short to box with God”

So James want is to become better so we in turn can be a better church and then make better communities. He wants us to be great Christians so we can become a Great Church and then in turn make Great Communities! James said in verse 6 Bur he gives more grace! What ever sin we have He gives more grace. What ever struggle we have he gives more grace. The grace is not given to everyone its given to those who know they need it.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

If we are to move to great we must learn on his AMAZING GRACE. Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost but now Im found blind but now I see.

1. We Must Step Down: v7a  Submit yourselves therefore to God. We must learn to decrease and allow God to increase. He gives grace to the humble. This word Submit means Accept or Yield to a superior force. Is there anyone greater than God? Submitting says I am willing to trust you.

The proverb writer said

The proverb writer said

The proverb writer said

5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart,

And lean not on your own understanding;

6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He shall direct your paths.

7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;

Fear the LORD and depart from evil.

We must move from our position as CEO of our life and allow God to be in charge. Do not be wise in your own eyes.

From our position as CEO of your life…

We will never be of any use to God until we settle this issue of WHO is in charge. It’s funny how the more I yield to the Lord the better results I see.

I am not the star of the show and each of us must, daily submit to the Lord, the right to call the shots. So many people quote 7 b resist the devil and he shall flee but forget that submitting to God is the key to the success. We are no match for Satan on our own. 8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

Salvation comes free but Discipleship cost. I tell people who are dealing with the idea of salvation that it is the easiest thing they’ll ever do. BUT the walk is hard…

I am not the star of the show and each of us must, daily submit to the Lord, the right to call the shots. So many people quote 7 b resist the devil and he shall flee but forget that submitting to God is the key to the success. We are no match for Satan on our own. 8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

Martin Luther once said that “A religion that gives nothing…cost nothing and suffers nothing…is worth nothing.”

Salvation comes free but Discipleship cost. I tell people who are dealing with the idea of salvation that it is the easiest thing they’ll ever do. BUT the walk is hard…

2. We Must Step Up: v7b After we step down we can then Step up. We can resist the devil and his antics. It’s time for the church to step up to the front line and fight the fight. We can repair the breach but we have to resist the ways of the enemy. He does not want us reconciled. He does not want us loving each other. He does not want us sharing the Gospel. He does not want us creating a beloved community. He does not want us growing in Gods word. So we must resist the devil . He is tricky now.

2. We Must Step Up: v7b It’s time for the church to step up to the front line and fight the fight…

,“3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.

4 For the weapons of our warfare [are] not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,”

We need to refuse to be intimidated by the enemy. We must put up an active resistance in order to get the enemy to flee.

If we refuse to step up, the enemy will continue to hold us and our community, hostage.

3. We Must Step In: vs 8v 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Draw me nearer nearer blessed Lord. We run away from God when we need to run to him. Roberta Flack said it this way

The closer I get to you The more you make me see By giving me all you got Your love has captured me

The Chronicle writer said in 2 Chronicle 15: Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin: The LORD is with you while you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). ().

Step in to a closer relationship with Christ…HOW?

Step in to a closer relationship with Christ…HOW?

Step in to a closer relationship with Christ…HOW?

a. Stay on top of my sin problem…

b. Have one motivation…glorifying God.

c. Maintain the proper position…

When we do, we get closer to God and He is able to do more in us and through us than we could ever accomplish on our own…