RLC Grand Prairie

WISE CONNECTIONS

(James 3:13-18)

 

Key Verse 3:18 - And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness

 

WISDOM FROM ABOVE is (vs 17)...

 

1. PURE

 

2. DOES NOT PROVOKE

 

3. CONSIDERATE

 

4. SUBMISSIVE (REASONABLE)

 

5. DOES NOT PICK ON MISTAKES

 

6. IMPARTIAL/SINCERE (UNHYPOCRITICAL)

SPEAK LIFE

James 3:1-12

 

I. WHY MUST I WATCH WHAT I SAY?

Because…

- WORDS GUIDE (vs 3 - 4)

 

- WORDS CAN DESTROY (vs 5 - 8)

 

- WORDS REVEAL WHO I REALLY AM (vs 9 -12)

 

II. How do we control our tongue? 

 

- RENEW our hearts and minds

 

- SEEK God’s help EVERYDAY

 

- THINK before you speak

FAITH: THE REAL THING

(James 2:14-26)

 

Paul’s understanding of works is different from James understanding of works.

(Eph. 2:8-10)

 

FAITH is more than just:

 

1.  TALK (2:14)

 

2. A FEELING (2:15, 16, 17)

 

3. AN INTELLECTUAL PURSUIT (2:18)

 

4. BELIEVING (2:19)

 

FAITH is something  WE SHOW & DO (2:20-26)

 Real Faith is ALWAYS accompanied by action!

Robert Miller's message based on James 2 about loving God and loving people.  

God’s Word Blesses Our Lives

(James 1:19-27)

 

James 1:25 - But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

 

1. ACCEPT The Word (19-21)

 

- Be listeners

 

- Be slow to anger

 

- Get rid of the junk

 

- Be humble

 

2. REFLECT on The Word (22-25)

 

- Read

 

- Meditate

 

- Memorize

 

3. APPLY The Word (22-27)

Winning the Battle in Your Mind: Temptation

James 1:12-18

 

James 1:12 - "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” (KJV)

 

1. ALL of us are tempted (vs 13: when we are…)

 

2. Take Responsibility (vs13: ‘…no one should say God is tempting me…’)

 

3. Be Prepared to face it (vs 14-16)

Learn how temptation works: Desire => Deception => Disobedience => Death

 

4. Redirect your thoughts (vs 17 - 18)

 

5. Give up Control (1Cor. 10:13)

 

- Accountability/Fellowship with other believers

- Get into the WORD

The Power of Decision Making

James 1:5-11

 Link for video mentioned in sermon

www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZMAkLarIUo

I.  The issue is INDECISION

 "A doubleminded man is unstable in all his ways."  (vs. 8 KJV)

 

       ("DOUBLE-MINDED” - Greek "two-souled”)

 

       Indecision Causes:

                      * Damaged Emotions

                      * Insecurity in Relationships 

                      * Inconsistency  in our Spiritual life

  

II.  The Solution is GETTING WISDOM   (vs. 5-6a)

                - ACKNOWLEDGE you can’t do it on your own

 

                      "If any of you lack wisdom ..."  (vs. 5a)

               - PRAY - Ask God

 

                      " ... he should ask God ..."  (vs 5b)

  - BELIEVE God for an answer

                      "But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt ..."  (vs. 6)

  

III. WHY BELIEVE: Because HIS Promise 

  "... Ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him."  (vs. 5c)

 

How God gives:

 

- Continually

- Generously

- Without finding fault 

 

Misconception: God’s will does NOT mean God is not going to make the decision for you!  

The Silver Lining (James 1:2-6)

I. FOUR TRUTHS ABOUT THE PROBLEMS IN YOUR LIFE:
   A. We are ALL going to face them

   B. We can NOT predict when 

   C. They come in different sizes

   D. There is a purpose behind each one of them (The Silver Lining)…
       - Trials in life Purify my Faith
       - Trials Teach me Patience
       - Trials Build my Character

II. HOW DO WE HANDLE THE PROBLEMS:

   A. With Joy

   B. In Pray

   C. Be Still and Wait on God

The Test for Spiritual Growth (maturity)

(James 1:2-4)

 I. SPIRITUAL GROWTH (MATURITY) is NOT:

   *  It is NOT determined by how old you are 

   *  It is NOT based on your appearance

   *  It is NOT based on social status 

   *  It is NOT determined on your qualifications

 

 Maturity is determined by your attitude!

 

 II. THE TEST of SPIRITUAL GROWTH/MATURITY:

1.  How do we handle pressure? ( James 1:2-4, 1:12)

2.    Are we Sensitive towards others? (James 2:8)

 

 (See also 2:1-6, 14-16)

3.  Do you know when to talk and when to stay silent? (James 1:26; Eph. 4:29) 

4.  Am I a bridge builder or do my action/words cause division? (James 4:11-12)

(2 Sources of Conflict: Selfishness & Being too quick to judge)

5.    Have you learnt to wait patiently on God? (James 5:7, 11)

The truth about the lies they tell us! 

(John 8:31 - 32; 14:6)

I. FACTS OF LIFE I NEED TO BE AWARE OF:

 

1. The World does have an influence on me.

 

2. Untrue beliefs are the cause of my unhappiness and emotional problems. (John 8:32)

 

3. What i  believe is a choice I make. (Romans 1:25)

 

4. My beliefs determine the way i live my life. (Prov. 4:23 LB)

 

5. God is the only source of absolute truth (Rom. 3: 3-4, Luke 21:33)

 

6. Building my life on God and His Word is a sure foundation. (Matt. 7)

 

II. GREATER COMMITMENT:

 

- … to SEEKING the Truth

- … to BELIEVING the Truth

- … to LIVING the Truth