James 4:13-17 June 1, 2014

Theme of James: FAITH WORKS – Things that people of faith do. Review:James 4 “Sins”: (1-4)Quarrelsomeness and Spiritual Unfaithfulness (5-10) Lack of Humility (11-12) Slander

James 4: Theme: Purpose of faith is to produce dependence on God – not me! I. LIFE AT BEST IS VERY BRIEF (v 14) II. GOD IS SOVEREIGN (vv 15-16) III. PLANNING FOR TOMORROW (vv 13, 15, 17)

LIFE AT BEST IS VERY BRIEF (v 14) A. Age & Size of the Universe

LIFE AT BEST IS VERY BRIEF (v 14) A. Age & Size of the Universe o 1 with 24 “zero’s” (Zeptillion) stars in “observable Universe” o 47 Billion light yrs in ALL directions from Earth

LIFE AT BEST IS VERY BRIEF (v 14) A. Age & Size of the Universe o 1 with 24 “zero’s” (Zeptillion) stars in “observable Universe” o 47 Billion light yrs in ALL directions from Earth B. The Average Life of a Man is Short (Psalm 90:10)

LIFE AT BEST IS VERY BRIEF (v 14) A. Age & Size of the Universe o 1 with 24 “zero’s” (Zeptillion) stars in “observable Universe” o 47 Billion light yrs in ALL directions from Earth B. The Average Life of a Man is Short (Psalm 90:10) o Psalm 39:5 “…man at his best is a mere breath”

LIFE AT BEST IS VERY BRIEF (v 14) A. Age & Size of the Universe o 1 with 24 “zero’s” (Zeptillion) stars in “observable Universe” o 47 Billion light yrs in ALL directions from Earth B. The Average Life of a Man is Short (Psalm 90:10) o Psalm 39:5 “…man at his best is a mere breath” C. So, Scripture Teaches Us to Consider Our Days

LIFE AT BEST IS VERY BRIEF (v 14) A. Age & Size of the Universe o 1 with 24 “zero’s” (Zeptillion) stars in “observable Universe” o 47 Billion light yrs in ALL directions from Earth B. The Average Life of a Man is Short (Psalm 90:10) o Psalm 39:5 “…man at his best is a mere breath” C. So, Scripture Teaches Us to Consider Our Days o Matthew 6:27 “And which of you by being anxious can add a single cubit to his life’s span?”

GOD IS SOVEREIGN (vv 15-16)

A. He is Creator (Star-Breather) o His attributes are REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE for Christians!

GOD IS SOVEREIGN (vv 15-16) A. He is Creator (Star-Breather) o His attributes are REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE for Christians! o As maker: He decides, He governs, He CONTROLS EVERYTHING Colossians 1:16-17 “For by Him ALL things were created…”

GOD IS SOVEREIGN (vv 15-16) A. He is Creator (Star-Breather) o His attributes are REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE for Christians! o As maker: He decides, He governs, He CONTROLS EVERYTHING Colossians 1:16-17 “For by Him ALL things were created…” B. Deo Volente (D.V.): “Lord” Willing o “If God wills we shall live…” (v 15)

GOD IS SOVEREIGN (vv 15-16) A. He is Creator (Star-Breather) o His attributes are REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE for Christians! o As maker: He decides, He governs, He CONTROLS EVERYTHING Colossians 1:16-17 “For by Him ALL things were created…” B. Deo Volente (D.V.): “Lord” Willing o “If God wills we shall live…” (v 15) o The ONLY thing that “will” (definitely) occur is what God “wills”!!!

GOD IS SOVEREIGN (vv 15-16) A. He is Creator (Star-Breather) o His attributes are REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE for Christians! o As maker: He decides, He governs, He CONTROLS EVERYTHING Colossians 1:16-17 “For by Him ALL things were created…” B. Deo Volente (D.V.): “Lord” Willing o “If God wills we shall live…” (v 15) o The ONLY thing that “will” (definitely) occur is what God “wills”!!! C. Arrogance of Man: v 16

GOD IS SOVEREIGN (vv 15-16) A. He is Creator (Star-Breather) o His attributes are REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE for Christians! o As maker: He decides, He governs, He CONTROLS EVERYTHING Colossians 1:16-17 “For by Him ALL things were created…” B. Deo Volente (D.V.): “Lord” Willing o “If God wills we shall live…” (v 15) o The ONLY thing that “will” (definitely) occur is what God “wills”!!! C. Arrogance of Man: v 16 o So, just who & what do I think I am???

GOD IS SOVEREIGN (vv 15-16) A. He is Creator (Star-Breather) o His attributes are REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE for Christians! o As maker: He decides, He governs, He CONTROLS EVERYTHING Colossians 1:16-17 “For by Him ALL things were created…” B. Deo Volente (D.V.): “Lord” Willing o “If God wills we shall live…” (v 15) o The ONLY thing that “will” (definitely) occur is what God “wills”!!! C. Arrogance of Man: v 16 o So, just who & what do I think I am??? o Remember Nebuchadnezzar? Dan 4:28-32

Daniel 4: “All this happened to Nebuchadnezzar the king. 29 Twelve months later he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon. 30 The king reflected and said, ‘Is this not Babylon the great, which I myself have built as a royal residence by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?’ 31 While the word was in the king’s mouth, a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is declared: sovereignty has been removed from you, 32 and you will be driven away from mankind, and your dwelling place will be with the beasts of the field. You will be given grass to eat like cattle, and seven periods of time will pass over you until you recognize that the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind and bestows it on whomever He wishes.’

Jeremiah 9: Thus says the L ORD, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; 24 but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the L ORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the L ORD.

GOD IS SOVEREIGN (vv 15-16) C.Arrogance of Man: v 16 o So, just who & what do I think I am??? o Remember Nebuchadnezzar? Dan 4:28-32 o Such arrogance is EVIL  Arrogance is one thing, claim of self-sufficiency is another.  ‘Invictus’ (William Ernest Henley)

Invictus Out of the night that covers me, Black as the pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever gods may be For my unconquerable soul. In the fell clutch of circumstance I have not winced nor cried aloud. Under the bludgeonings of chance My head is bloody, but unbowed. Beyond this place of wrath and tears Looms but the horror of the shade, And yet the menace of the years Finds, and shall find, me unafraid. It matters not how strait the gate, How charged with punishments the scroll, I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul.

GOD IS SOVEREIGN (vv 15-16) C.Arrogance of Man: v 16 o So, just who & what do I think I am??? o Remember Nebuchadnezzar? Dan 4:28-32 o Such arrogance is EVIL  Arrogance is one thing, claim of self-sufficiency is another.  ‘Invictus’ (William Ernest Henley)  Evil: Isaiah 14:13-14 “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. ‘I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’

PLANNING FOR TOMORROW (vv 13,15,17)

PLANNING FOR TOMORROW A. Good Plan – From Human Perspective (Prov 21:5) Time:“today or tomorrow” Personnel:“we” Place:“such and such a city” Duration:“one year” Activity:“buy and sell” Purpose:“make a profit”

PLANNING FOR TOMORROW (vv 13,15,17) A. Good Plan – From Human Perspective (Prov 21:5) Time:“today or tomorrow” Personnel:“we” Place:“such and such a city” Duration:“one year” Activity:“buy and sell” Purpose:“make a profit” BUT THE MAIN INGREDIENT IS MISSING

PLANNING FOR TOMORROW (vv 13,15,17) A. Good Plan – From Human Perspective (Prov 21:5) Time:“today or tomorrow” Personnel:“we” Place:“such and such a city” Duration:“one year” Activity:“buy and sell” Purpose:“make a profit” BUT THE MAIN INGREDIENT IS MISSING B. BEST Plan – From God’s Perspective (Prov 16:3) o “Lord willing (DV), we shall …” (v 15)  Time…..Personnel…..Place…..Duration…..Activity…

PLANNING FOR TOMORROW (vv 13,15,17) A. Good Plan – From Human Perspective (Prov 21:5) Time:“today or tomorrow” Personnel:“we” Place:“such and such a city” Duration:“one year” Activity:“buy and sell” Purpose:“make a profit” BUT THE MAIN INGREDIENT IS MISSING B. BEST Plan – From God’s Perspective (Prov 16:3) o “Lord willing (DV), we shall …” (v 15)  Time…..Personnel…..Place…..Duration…..Activity… C. Christians Should Lean On God

PLANNING FOR TOMORROW (vv 13,15,17) C. Christians Should Lean On God o Believe that God is IN CHARGE! o Say what you believe  Put what you believe into your daily vocabulary o Act as you speak & believe in planning and activities

PLANNING FOR TOMORROW (vv 13,15,17) C. Christians Should Lean On God o Believe that God is IN CHARGE! o Say what you believe  Put what you believe into your daily vocabulary o Act as you speak & believe in planning and activities o Heartfelt prayer and rest on the Lord for his permission, preparation, protection = Providence

Proverbs 16:3 Commit your works to the L ORD And your plans will be established. Proverbs 16:20 He who gives attention to the word will find good, And blessed is he who trusts in the L ORD.

PLANNING FOR TOMORROW (vv 13,15,17) C. Christians Should Lean On God o Believe that God is IN CHARGE! o Say what you believe  Put what you believe into your daily vocabulary o Act as you speak & believe in planning and activities o Heartfelt prayer and rest on the Lord for his permission, preparation, protection = Providence D. Failure To Do So Is SIN (v 17)

PLANNING FOR TOMORROW (vv 13,15,17) C. Christians Should Lean On God o Believe that God is IN CHARGE! o Say what you believe  Put what you believe into your daily vocabulary o Act as you speak & believe in planning and activities o Heartfelt prayer and rest on the Lord for his permission, preparation, protection = Providence D. Failure To Do So Is SIN (v 17) o Leaving God out “consciously” is in contradiction to revealed truth = Godliness.

PLANNING FOR TOMORROW (vv 13,15,17) C. Christians Should Lean On God o Believe that God is IN CHARGE! o Say what you believe  Put what you believe into your daily vocabulary o Act as you speak & believe in planning and activities o Heartfelt prayer and rest on the Lord for his permission, preparation, protection = Providence D. Failure To Do So Is SIN (v 17) o Leaving God out “consciously” is in contradiction to revealed truth = Godliness. o This is a sin of omission – just as sinful as sins of commission!

James 4: Theme: Purpose of faith is to produce dependence on God – not me!  Living in acknowledgment of God’s Will is in fact “PRACTICING our FAITH”  Working out our faith = FAITH that WORKS

Conclusion : God is Sovereign over His creation, which includes us and our lives!!! God very much wants to be in partnership with every detail of our lives – HE LOVES US DEARLY, THAT’S WHY HE CREATED US! Never hesitate to look to the Lord for counsel, help, and direction - PRAY. FAITH WORKS: Christian’s role is to think, talk and live in accordance to God’s will, not mine. Life at best is very brief – here today, gone tomorrow!

Gospel… 2 Corinthians 6:2 Behold, now is “ THE ACCEPTABLE TIME,” behold, now is “ THE DAY OF SALVATION ”.