A Humble Response to God and His Grace

James 4:1-10

The Characteristics of Godliness

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I. A choice for Him v. 7

Do you want God resisting you or do you want to resist the Devil?

We enter spiritual warfare with the fam at our side

god has placed specific spiritual authority

- don't fight their authority

The Devil is god's Devil, God is all knowing the devil is not

If god is resisting me there is no hope, if the devil is resisting there is hope

Romans 6

II. A Closeness to Him v. 8a

v. 5 Yearns Jealously

Revelation 3 - The church sounds much like America

This is us

III. A cleansing by Him v. 8b

this is a command not a promise

This is what we do

Clean our hands (external) and hearts (internal)

I John 1:7

I John 3:3

We are responsible to clean up our lives

IV. A contribution towards Him v. 9

We are commanded to mourn and weep our sins

Psalm 73:28

Romans 7 and 8

V. A confidence in Him v 10

VI. A concentration on Him v. 5-6

The main focus

DO YOU KNOW GOD? - This is the issue

The Consequences of Godliness

The Consequences of Godliness
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James 4:1-10

I. Tracing Back to Godlessness

    A. Wars - Interpersonal

        - Where do they come from

        - Your passions are at war within you

        - Are we hiding the war from others

        - A war among is from a war within you

        - A war is usually caused by a want

        - Why do I have this want?

            - Godlessness

            - Worldliness - based on the world

        - II Samuel II - not once is God in the picture

        - Sin will make promises it can't keep

        - There is pleasure in sin for a season; it will always let us down

        - Functional Atheist - A christian who never considers God or asking 

        - Bring God into my heart and mind, fight the war

        - God is a jealous God

        - God has a right to expect exclusiveness 

The Call of Jesus

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Matthew 9:9-17

I. The Call to Sinners

II. The Call to Repentance - To Jesus Himself

III. The Call to Service

Do we understand the call to discipleship.

This is a true response of one who understands the call to discipleship.

Over the span of the text we have been studying one needed to slow down. One needed to speed up. Matthew was just right. 

Go and learn what this means was a bit of a hit at them - Hosea 6:6

How many people are tied up in spiritual rituals, not the real deal.

God desires covenant faithfulness. 

The pharisee's don't understand why Jesus is with the sinners.   

We love because he first loved us.

We never would have chosen Him had he not chosen us. 

We can only love someone because God first loved me. 

We need to understand and that we are no more worthy of God's grace today. The call to dicipleship is a call to sinners. 

v. 14ff They view God as a demanding God

Jesus is present - feast don't fast!

Whatever your preconceptions, Jesus won't fit in just because you thought so. You must change and make your life fit into whatever Jesus' plan is. 

If you don't know Jesus - Fast, Pray, Seek

Jesus hangs out with goes out with sinners.

How do I look at sinners? Saved or unsaved...

What Sort of Man is This?

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Matthew 8:23-9:8

I. The Revelation of His authority 

     a. Authority over Storm

     b. Authority over Satan

     c. Authority over Sin

Notes:

Matthew wrote what he wrote for a purpose... He didn't leave anything out.

The point of this text is Jesus, not the people! 

Jesus is always relevant.

Creation obey's Jesus' Authority.

Even the Devil is God's Devil

The Demons had to beg Jesus to allow them into the pigs. 

The religious leaders assume Jesus is blaspheming. 

Sin is an assault on God's glory.