James 4_13-17

Secular: ** I love you…

More than words…

Scripture calls us to

Marks of true faith – love God, repentance of sin, humility, devotion to God’s glory, prayer, loving one another, being separate from the world, reaching out to the world… to the lost, growth and obedience….

More than these… more than our thoughts, more than our actions, MORE THAN WORDS… God wants us to surrender our will…

Psalm 40:8

NAU Psalm 40:8 I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your Law is within my heart."

Psalm 143:10

NAU Psalm 143:10 Teach me to do Your will, For You are my God; Let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.

Sobering thought Matthew 7:21

It is not about saying it is about “surrendering our will to God” – it is about living our faith.

NAU Matthew 7:21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.

1 Peter 4:2

NAU 1 Peter 4:2 so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.

James says surrender a real test of faith… Freedom 55 and other RRSP promotions say put your money to work for you, you secure your future, you plan, your store…

NAU Ephesians 6:6 not by way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.

NAU Matthew 6:10 'Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.

NAU Romans 7:22 For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man,

Hymn: Have Thine own way Lord:

“Have thine own way!

Thou art the Potter;

I am the clay

Mould me and make me

After Thy will,

While I am waiting,

Yielded and still.

-          Adelaide Pollard

Can we say we are sovereign over our own life… the time we are born… the time we get sick… the time we die?

NAU James 4:6 But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, "GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE."

NAU Titus 2:11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age,

Living a life surrender to the will of God…

Biblical:

James 4:13 Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money."

 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

 15 Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that."

 16 As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil.

 17 Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.

Personal:

** Oh how we plan… Freedom 55

Every detail of our future….

• do we pray – seek God’s will
• seek scriptural guidance 2Thessalanians 3:5 May the Lord direct your hearts into God's love and Christ's perseverance. Hab 2:19 Woe to him who says to wood, 'Come to life!' Or to lifeless stone, 'Wake up!' Can it give guidance? It is covered with gold and silver; there is no breath in it.
• wise counsel  Pro 13:14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death.
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Bridge:

Body:

Ignoring God’s will is Foolishness!

4:13 Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money."

 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

• Isaiah’s tone… Come Now… Pay attention… Listen up… NAU Isaiah 1:18 "Come now, and let us reason together," Says the LORD, "Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool.
• Business world… planning
• Educational World esp. Post-sec… planning
• The arrogance of extensive planning apart from God…
• Satan in Isaiah 14:13-14 height of ignorance!!

NAU Isaiah 14:13 "But you said in your heart, 'I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, And I will sit on the mount of assembly In the recesses of the north. 14 'I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.'

• Time – today / tomorrow
• Location – such and such a city
• Duration – spend a year there
• Enterprise – engage in business

Divine Volition or D.V.

NAU Luke 12:16 And He told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man was very productive. 17 "And he began reasoning to himself, saying, 'What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?' 18 "Then he said, 'This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 'And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry."' 20 "But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?' 21 "So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."

In arrogance we assume long life… Sea to Sky Highway…

We are like vapour!!

NAU Job 7:6 "My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, And come to an end without hope.

NAU Psalm 90:10 As for the days of our life, they contain seventy years, Or if due to strength, eighty years, Yet their pride is but labor and sorrow; For soon it is gone and we fly away.

Ignorance of the future and the frailty and brevity of human life should give pause to those who foolishly ignore the will of God.!

• Prayer * Wise Counsel
• Scripture
• Right Living

Our Faith is “More than Words”…

IGNORING THE WILL OF GOD IS FOOLISHNESS

Denying God’s will is Arrogance!

16 As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil.

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Disobeying God’s will is Sin!

17 Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.

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Acknowledging God’s will is Worship blessings

15 Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that."

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Conclusion:

Ignoring God’s Will is Foolishness

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Disobeying God’s Will is Sin

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Denying God’s Will is Arrogance

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Acknowledging God’s Will is Worship / blessing

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