Missed Shots(OG Camp 2021)
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James 4:13 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: 14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? hIt is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. 15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. 16 But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. 17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
In life there is this constant pressure to focus on tomorrow. We live in a society full of: “What next?”, “What’s your 10 year plan?”, “Where do you think you’ll end up?” As we read and study scripture we find out that, that train of thought and constant focus on tomorrow could not be more ungodly. To live in tomorrow is wrong. We must learn to live in the present.
Don’t look at tomorrow rather focus on now.
James 4:13 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: 14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? hIt is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. 15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. 16 But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. 17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
- James introduce a hypothetical conversation in which the individual has made plans and goals for tomorrow. He has not only made aspirations but claims about his tomorrow. James uses this monologue to explain that he is wrong.
- I believe that far too often we fall into the same trap as Christians.
- “ When this happens than I’ll”
- “One day”
-“ I just need to then I’ll”
-“ When I get this I’ll do that”
- These are wrong.
Don’t live in the future. Live in the now.
I- Life is uncertain(James 4:14)
Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
- Life is not promised
- It’s short
- Job 7:7,
O remember that my life is wind:
Mine eye shall no more see good.
- Proverbs 27:1
Boast not thyself of to morrow;
For thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.
- We don’t know our end. Only God knows the future and is the only one who can give any assurance about tomorrow.
- Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
- When we make claims about tomorrow we essentially are making a statement that only God should be making.
- The present is certain and that we should be focused on
- Look at what David prays about his life
- Psalm 39:4
Lord, Make me to know mine end,
And the measure of my days, what it is;
That I may know how frail I am.
- We need to know that our time is short and not promised
- All that we have is today
II- God’s will should be our desire
Rather than boast in what we wan’t tomorrow we ought to look for what God wants for us.
- If I can tell you something about God’s leadership and guidance it is in the present
- When Moses asked God what his name was he said “I am”
- Exodus 13:13-14
And every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb; and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break his neck: and all the firstborn of man among thy children shalt thou redeem. And it shall be when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What is this? that thou shalt say unto him, By strength of hand the Lord brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage:
- Present tense
- God works on his won time table
- Joseph had to be a slave for decades before he ruled
- Moses wandered for 40 years before God used him
- Elijah was fed by birds and
- He provided Manna for Israel day by day
- Exodus 16:4-6
Then said the Lord unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no. And it shall come to pass, that on the sixth day they shall prepare that which they bring in; and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily. And Moses and Aaron said unto all the children of Israel, At even, then ye shall know that the Lord hath brought you out from the land of Egypt:
- Jesus prayed for daily provision
- Matthew 6:11
Give us this day our daily bread.
- God led his people day by day
- Exodus 13:21
And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:
- Israel took the promised land by little by little and day by day
- Exodus 23:30
By little and little I will drive them out from before thee, until thou be increased, and inherit the land.
- We see God commands the concept of abiding multiple time
- John 15:4, 1 John 2:6
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
Our God is focused on the present
- When we focus and make our confidence in tomorrow we ere very closely to the sin of Idolatry. We make out selves God when we decide what we are going to do with our time.
- Are we learning to live in the present?
- Are we being led by God today ?
- Are we reading God’s word ?
- Where we find His will
- 2 Timothy 3:16
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
- Are we being leadable?
- Are we meek and submitted
- James 1:21
Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
- Matthew 5:5
Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
- David prayed to be led
- Psalms 43:3
O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me;
Let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles.
All you have to do right with is today.
III- We should do right now (James 4:17)
Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
- James makes this statement about boasting in tomorrow
- “ all such rejoicing is evil. “
- Making boast in what we will do is sin
- Jesus said take no thought of tomorrow
- Will we trust and obey him today?
- We will do right today?
- Will we be readable today?
