History and Sovereignty
Date: May 6, 2018
Speaker: Tyler Saxton
Series: n/a
Pastor’s Comment
Thank you so much for listening in here at West Side. We often say that we love the word of God because it points us to the son of God. We hope these messages encourage you and equip you to love Jesus more. We also want you to be apart of a local church, we believe these messages are only supplemental, being apart of a local church is essential. Blessings.
Sermon Notes
The Will of God/ James 1:1-25
Introduction:
‘The will of God’
ILL> Mother’s Day/ Father’s Day/ Graduates.
What is the will of God? What is it not? We will be taking time to contrast the answers to these two questions
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What it’s not.
1) It’s not an Agenda for your life.
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness…” v2
why does he begin this letter with something as negative as “…when you meet trials…”
ILL> John Locke LOST ‘what am I supposed to do?!’
Have you ever felt like this? “what is your will for my life? what am I supposed to do?” Looking for God’s perfect agenda or plan for your life?
I believe this passage is addressing this very question.
James is reminding Christians that sometimes the workings of our lives do not pan out according to our own plans. That we will face hardships and trials. We are promised this from the very mouth of Christ!
How do we handle this? Maybe some of us do it this way.
‘List with a seal’
APP> Often times our perspective of God’s will is the problem in our suffering.
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2) It’s not for your Advantage.
James 1: 9-11
The problem here is not money. God’s word tells us in 1 Timothy that the problem is not money itself, but the LOVE of money. The pursuit of money.
Pursuits: (poreia) πορεύω Translates to ‘purpose.’
ILL> David Lee Edwards/ Lottery.
God’s word is telling us here that the pursuits of these things are not good for us. That they are actually pointless.
APP>The heart of every problem is a problem of the heart.
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3) It’s not Avoidable. (for the believer) Clarify.
“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast…”v12-13
(We mess this up.) As believers, we are promised/ guaranteed to suffer in this life.
Regardless of what you are going through, God’s will is to use every circumstance for His glory. So whatever we are going through, it is unavoidable.
“God works all things together for good for those who are called according to His purpose.” Rom 8:28
ILL> James McDonald- The Dot
“God works all things together for good for those who are called according to His purpose.” Rom 8:28
APP> God uses the ordinary to reveal the extraordinary.
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What it is.
Context: ‘Will’ in greek -> ‘thelema’//
Translates ‘pleasure/desire’
1) It is Pursuing you.
“Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth…” v18
Well, you’re in church today lol.
This verse is key to our passage today because it hones in on the subject we’re focusing on in terms of the ‘will of God.’
Grab your pen or highlighter and underline v18 in your Bible. I want you to take a close look at this verse. Are you looking? Of who’s own will? Who brought us forth?
Brought us forth from where? HE brought us forth from DEATH.
ILL> Indonesian Ma’Nene Festival. Every three years.
“v1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked…v5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ…”
Ephesians 2: 1-5
Let me ask you something crazy. What can a dead man do?
Say it out loud. What can a dead man do?
APP> He is the initiator, we are the responders.
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2) It is Protecting you.
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming from the Father of lights…”v17
Good gifts, not just gifts, but good gifts.
What if the good and perfect gifts God gives us are far more good and far more perfect than the standards we hold? What if the gifts He gives are not solely for our advantage, but for His glory?
ILL> Jessie Rae if we always gave her what she wanted it would not be the best thing for her..
APP> We must love the Giver more than the gift.
Sometimes we don’t understand
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3) It is Perfecting you.
v18 “… but be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves…”v22
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Piper Quote:
“For this is the will of God, your sanctification.”
1 Thessalonians 4:3
How do I know if this is God’s will for my life?
- Is it for the glory of God or is it just for your good?
- Have you consulted other believers?
- Does it make me more like Christ?
- Is it in His word?
APP> God’s word is His will.
—————————————————————————————BIG IDEA>>
God’s will for your life is for you to know Christ and to become like him.
What now?
1) Stop overthinking it.
“For this is the will of God, your sanctification.” 1 Thess 4:3
2) Start Applying It
“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.” v22-25
3) Surrender to it.
“For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” John 6:38-40
The Lord’s Prayer
