Don’t Worry, Do Enjoy Life!

February 1, 2015 By Craig Wilson

Text: Ecclesiastes 9:1-12

The Big Idea: When you’re in full worry mode, it is impossible to enjoy life. Certainty brings stability, which alleviates worry. Don’t worry, but do enjoy your life!

Multitudes of people, many of them professing Christians, go through life will little or no joy. They may experience moments of happiness, such as the kind you experience on Christmas Day, but there is not an ongoing experience of joy.

Frankly, who can blame them? As we look at the drama being played out on the world stage, we are first hand witnesses to events being perpetrated by others that are intended to create fear in us and rob us of joy.

What is the end result of all of this anxiety?

When you’re in full worry mode, it is impossible to enjoy life.

Anxiety kills joyful living. You can’t enjoy what God has given you in the present because you’re worried about what might take place in the future.

Now think about that. If you’re always worried about what might happen, then you’re not going to be able to enjoy the good gifts that God has already given to you – which are a certainty – because you’re worried about what might happen – which is, at best, an uncertainty.

Remember this: God wants you, indeed God gives you permission, to enjoy the certainties of life.

Certainty brings stability, which alleviates worry.

Let me illustrate with a subject that the Preacher of Ecclesiastes has repeatedly addressed in his messages. Death.

Is it certain that we are all going to die? Yes! We all have that in common. As the Preacher of Ecclesiastes has written more than once, death is a fate that is common to all. The rich die and the poor die, the righteous die and the unrighteous die, the educated die and the uneducated die. Death is the greatest certainty in life.

Because death is the greatest certainty in life many, many people worry about death. Why? Although death is a certainty, what happens after death is an uncertainty for many. And uncertainty creates anxiety.

Can I tell you something? I think about death a lot. Not in a morbid way, not in some creepy way. I think about the certainty of death. I think about what happens to those who die apart from a genuine saving knowledge of Christ. I think about death because it helps me live properly in the here and now.

Even though I think a lot about death, I don’t worry about death. That doesn’t mean I live recklessly. I ask God to protect me when I get in the car. I ask God to protect my family as they drive to work each day. I think about death, but I don’t worry about death. How is it possible to not worry about something that is absolutely going to happen?

It’s possible because there is a greater certainty that creates stability, which in turn removes anxiety.

What is the greater certainty than death? Now what I’m about to say applies on to a genuine believer in Christ. It has absolutely no impact on those who have not been born again. Paul shows us a greater certainty than death. Turn with me to Romans 8 and let’s read verses 35 – 39. As we read really pay attention to what Paul writes.

“Who (make yourself a note that the who is all inclusive) shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. (Now notice carefully what Paul says next) For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:35–39, ESV)

What certainty is greater than death? The greater certainty is that nothing, no one, no event, no person, no organization, no sickness, no disease, no financial setback, no tax bill, nothing can separate me from the love of God that I experience through Christ Jesus our Lord!

If that doesn’t spread your butter, I don’t know what will!

Yes, death is certain. Yes, I am going to die. But there is a greater certainty and the greater certainty creates stability, which removes anxiety!

The GREATER certainty creates GREAT certainty, which removes ALL anxiety!

If you struggle with worry and anxiety the Bible says to enjoy the present while preparing for the future. Enjoy the present and prepare for what might happen in the future.

In the book of Proverbs we read:

“The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it.” (Proverbs 22:3, ESV)
“Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest. How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.” (Proverbs 6:6–11, ESV)

The ONLY way you are going to be able to overcome worry and anxiety is by applying the truth of Scripture in the power of the Holy Spirit to your life.

Positive thinking won’t do it. Trying to ignore it won’t help. You have to replace the worry and anxiety with truth! By the way that’s how we overcome any and all sin in our lives is through the application of the truth of Scripture.

As I was doing my research I was stuck by how many times Jesus spoke to the subject of worry and anxiety. Why did he do that? Because he lived in the same fallen sinful world we live in and he knew that the temptation to worry was plentiful. Let’s read what Jesus says to YOU. Take these words PERSONALLY!

“Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matthew 6:26–34, ESV)

When you feel anxious, when you are tempted to worry, Paul says talk to God about it! Ask for his strength, ask him to help you apply the truth of Scripture to your life right then and there because that’s when you need it the most.

Back to the Preacher’s message in Ecclesiastes 9.

Anxiety eats away at the joy life can give. Anxiety kills joyful living! That is as true today as it was in the time the Preacher wrote Ecclesiastes. The Teacher has been struggling in chapters 7 and 8 with the question why bad things happen to some good people and good things happen to some bad people. How can a just God allow this to come about? He ended chapter 8 with the conclusion that no one can find out all the work of God; “even though those who are wise claim to know, they cannot find it out.”

Now as he open chapter nine he begins with these words.

“But all this I laid to heart, examining it all, how the righteous and the wise and their deeds are in the hand of God. Whether it is love or hate, man does not know; both are before him.” (Ecclesiastes 9:1, ESV)

We need to lay some groundwork before we get to the Preacher’s advice on dealing with anxiety.

First of all notice the phrase “how the righteous and the wise and their deeds are in the hand of God.”

That expression “in the hand of God” is another way of saying that we are in the control of God. Remember the Sunday School Song “He’s got the whole world in His hands”. That’s true. Our lives are in the hands of God, they are in the control of the sovereign God of the universe.

Now it’s important to understand this in order for us to benefit from what the Preacher is going to encourage us to do later in the chapter.

Even though good people suffer, the way we come to terms with what we see is by understanding and acknowledging that even though it appears nobody is in control of what’s going on we must remember and take comfort in the knowledge that God is in control. We are truly in the hands of God.

One of my favorite songs is “Flirtin’ with Disaster” by Molly Hatchet. I discovered this song in 1978 and it’s been a favorite ever since. Listen to some of the lyrics.

I’m travelin’ down the road and I’m flirtin’ with disaster
I’ve got the pedal to the floor, my life is running faster
I’m out of money, out of hope, it looks like self-destruction
Well, how much more can we take with all of this corruption

We’re flirtin’ with disaster, y’all know what I mean
And the way we run our lives, it makes no sense to me
I don’t know about yourself or what you want to be, yeah
When we gamble with our time, we choose our destiny

I’m travelin’ down that lonesome road
Feel like I’m dragging a heavy load
Yeah, I’ve tried to turn my head away
Feel about the same most every day

You know what I’m talking about, baby

Speeding down the fast lane, honey, we’re playin’ from town to town
The boys and I’ve been burnin’ it up, can’t seem to slow it down
I’ve got the pedal to the floor, our lives are runnin’ faster
We got our sights set straight ahead, but I ain’t sure what we’re after

What we’re the boys saying? There didn’t seem to be any rhyme or reason to life! They struggled with the corruption that they saw going on in the world around them. I love the line, “We’re flirtin’ with disaster, y’all know what I mean
And the way we run our lives, it makes no sense to me.”

They, like so many others, struggled to make sense out of life. They didn’t understand or maybe they simply didn’t acknowledge that they were not running their own lives, that they were in the hands of God.

Do you acknowledge that you are in the hand of God? Do you live as if your life is in the hands of God?

The hands of God for the Christian are a place of comfort, a place of protection. The hands of God for a believer are a place of encouragement and hope as we live in a world that we learned last week can be a very dangerous and unjust place to live.

Now in verses 2 – 6 the Preacher once again reminds us that the same fate happens to all. We all die. And he deduces from what he sees (remember he is writing with incomplete revelation) that it is much better to be alive than it is to be dead! Now we know on this side of the Cross of Christ it’s much better to be dead in Christ than alive on planet earth.

But he was writing with what knowledge he had. He said all things considered, it’s even better to be living dog than a dead human.

In verse 7 he gives his advice to the living. What is his advice? His advice is to “Enjoy Life!”

“Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you do.” (Ecclesiastes 9:7, ESV)

Two things I want you to take note of in verse 7. First of all he gives us a command. “Go. Go do what I say!”

Second, notice that there is a sense of urgency. “Go now! Not later, don’t hesitate. Don’t put it off.”

Why is there this sense of urgency? Because we all die and, as we learned last week, only God knows the day and time of our death.

Enjoy the good gifts that God has given to you. Don’t worry, enjoy the good gifts of God!

Why can we enjoy the good gifts that God has given to you? It’s simple really, you can enjoy each and every day because you are in the hands of God!

How do you apply tonight’s message? If you’re worried and anxious, remind yourself as often as necessary what the Bible says about it. And then replace the worry and the anxiety with the truth. Part of the truth is to go enjoy the food and the drink that God has given you to enjoy!

Don’t worry, but please do enjoy life!

A Man’s Got To Know His Limitations

January 26, 2015 By Craig Wilson

Text: Ecclesiastes 8:1-17

Date: January 18, 2015

AN UNJUST PLACE

It’s no secret that we live in a world filled with injustice.

The Preacher of Ecclesiastes understood this and so he crafts a message that has the two-fold goal of encouraging his hearers to use wisdom in our dangerous and unjust world, while, at the same time, cautioning them to understand that human wisdom has it limits.

The Preacher’s goal speaks to two kinds of people.

The first group are those who are not making use of wisdom as they make their way through life. And we don’t have to look far to find numerous examples of those who fall into this category!
The second group are those who cannot live with the mystery of life. He speaks to those who think they should be able to find answers to all their questions. If you fall into this group and do not pay attention to what the Preacher has to say, you are going to drive yourself nuts!

The first point the Preacher makes is…

I. You must use wisdom to help you survive in our dangerous, unjust world.

The Preacher opens his message by praising wisdom. He praises wisdom by asking a rhetorical question. “Who is like the wise?” The implied answer would be “no one”. No one is like the wise man. Wise men and women are very hard to find, but they are not impossible to find! He goes on to ask “And who knows the interpretation of a thing?”

Perhaps the Preacher has Joseph in mind. Remember that Joseph had the God given ability to interpret Pharaoh’s dreams. Daniel, like Joseph, also had the ability to give the interpretation of a thing as he interpreted God’s communication to a pagan king. Joseph and Daniel represent the exception and not the norm.

The Preacher continues to praise wisdom by highlighting the effect wisdom has on those who possess it. What is the effect? Their countenance is changed. The Preacher says in effect that their wisdom is written all over their face!

But wisdom is not given to us to simply help us look better but to live better!

That’s the point that the Preacher makes in verses 2 – 5. We can summarize what the Preacher says in these verses with this statement: Use wisdom whenever you interact with those who are in positions of authority.

The Preacher uses an example that would have been a familiar one to those he originally addressed – the King. The King was the ultimate authority figure. Most commentators believe that the Preacher has an unpredictable King in mind. Because you could never be sure how the king was going to react you wanted to be sure that you used wisdom whenever you were in his presence.

None of us here have a human king to worry about but we do have to deal with those in positions of authority every day. Perhaps you have an unpredictable boss. Maybe you have an unpredictable professor. How should you deal with them?

The Preacher gives us two pieces of wisdom.

First recognize and come to terms with their authority and obey what they tell you to do. “I say: Keep the king’s command, because of God’s oath to him.” (Ecclesiastes 8:2, ESV)
Second, practice patience and discretion when you are in their presence. The Preacher says, “Be not hasty to go from his presence.” In other words don’t turn your back on the King and storm out in a huff.

The Preacher closes this section with a proverb that the wise heart will know the proper time and the just way to deal with the situation you find yourself in. In order to act properly you must either think very quickly on your feet aided by your knowledge of the Scriptures or you should refrain from speaking or acting until you’ve had the chance to properly think through the situation.

What the Preacher is advocating is illustrated in the life and the teachings of Jesus. In Matthew 15 the Pharisees asked Jesus if it was lawful to pay taxes to which Jesus responded by saying “Yes you should pay your taxes.” In Mark 3 the Pharisees were trying to figure out a way to destroy Jesus. What did Jesus do? Mark says the Jesus simply withdrew from the situation. In Matthew 16 Jesus instructed his disciples to “be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” Why because Jesus certainly understood that we live in a dangerous and unjust world.

The Preacher’s second point is…

II. You must understand the limitations of human wisdom

Now the Preacher has a particular limitation in mind. Specifically he wants us to understand that human wisdom does not enable us to know all the work, all of the activity of God.

The Preacher describes this limitation of human wisdom as “man’s trouble”. He says in verse six that this trouble “lays heavy on man”. It is troubling to many people that they don’t know everything that God has planned for the future.

Our trouble is twofold: First we do not know what the future holds. Second we’re also troubled that we don’t have any control over present events.

To prove his point the preacher gives us several examples.

The first example the Preacher gives is that no one, wise or foolish has any power over the day of our death.
The second example the Preacher gives is that once the battle starts, the soldier no longer has the opportunity to leave the battle.
The final example of the Preacher has to do with the wicked. He says that the wickedness of the wicked will not deliver them. What he means is that those who live lives of wickedness will one day have to deal with the consequences of their wickedness.

There are things – plenty of things in this life that we have no control over. And to try and control the uncontrollable is not a display of wisdom. The Preacher is not advocating that we adopt a fatalistic mindset. If there are things that we have the power to change and need to be changed then by all means change them. But understand that there are things in this life that we are powerless to control and remember that God is working all things for his glory and our good!

In light of the confusing circumstances of life what should we do? How should we respond?

In verse 12 the Preacher says “yet I know (even though there are lots of things I don’t know – yet this I know) that it will be well with those who fear God, because they fear before him.”

Implied in the Preacher’s statement is this comforting thought, that God has revealed what we absolutely need to know in order to function properly in life. God has revealed enough truth to help us successfully navigate through life in a fallen world. Take comfort in that.

The Preacher says one day all will be well for God’s people, for those who fear him.

But what should we do in the meantime? Philip Ryken writes “The same fear of God that will lead us to eternal life also helps us find enjoyment in the here and now.”

Why does he say that? Because that’s what Solomon said. Look at verse 15

“And I commend joy, for man has nothing better under the sun but to eat and drink and be joyful, for this will go with him in his toil through the days of his life that God has given him under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 8:15, ESV)

We should not let the limitation of human wisdom limit our experience of joy in this life.

Admittedly the Preacher has on several occasions told us to enjoy ourselves. The Preacher has said in spite of all the vanity “under the sun”, it is possible for us to find real genuine joy in the ordinary things of daily life. Notice The Preacher is growing more and more confident about this joy. If you remember he wrote in chapter 2 that he had found nothing better than joy. In chapter 5 he told us that he had seen joy. But now here in chapter 8 he encourages us to experience God’s joy for ourselves.

Notice in verse 15, “And I commend joy, for man has nothing better under the sun but to eat and drink and be joyful, for this will go with him

Philip Ryken says: “Yes, there is vanity under the sun. Yes, we see injustice that is hard to understand and accept. Yes, we have a lot of hard work to do. Nevertheless, there is joy for us in the ordinary things of life – eating – drinking and sharing fellowship with the people of God.

And that’s how you can use wisdom in an unjust world.

Draw Near to God

January 14, 2015 By Craig Wilson

Text: James 4:7–8

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

Date: January 4th & 11th, 2015

Whenever God makes a promise, we can be confident that God will keep His promise. But just because God makes a promise that doesn’t relieve us of our part, our responsibility – of our actions – that are necessary in order for God to keep his promise to us.

Once we meet the condition we can be confident that God will fulfill his promise. Once we obey we enjoy the blessings of obedience.

Let’s apply this to the promise that God makes through James to us.

Part 1

“Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.”

Twice James makes the promise personal. This means that if you are a disciple of Jesus, if you have been born again, you have the right to lay claim to this promise. God says, “If you will resist the devil (that’s the condition that has to be met) then you have my word on it that he will flee from you!” Resist the devil and God will make sure that the devil will leave you alone!

There are far too many Christians who give the devil too much credit. Too many Christians like to blame their sin and their failures on the devil. They try and avoid personal responsibility by saying that it was an outside source that made them sin.

The reality is the Bible clearly teaches that each one of us is responsible for our own actions. We are to flee temptation because it is the temptation that has the possibility of leading us to sin, and we are to resist the devil. And God has promised that when we resist the devil he will flee from you!

What does it mean to resist?

To resist literally means, “to take your stand against”. The implication is that each one of us should prepare ourselves to resist the devil. We should never be unprepared to take our stand against the devil and his lies. You are responsible to take a stand. Resist is a verb, resist is a command, and resistance is your responsibility!

What are we resisting?

What is it about the devil that we are to resist? One of the themes of the book of James is worldliness. What is the source of worldliness? Worldliness is the outcome of denying and disregarding God’s truth.

What did Jesus teach us about the devil? Jesus taught us that he is a liar! What is a lie? It is the opposite of truth.

Therefore when James instructs us resist the devil he wants us to remember that we are in a battle for the truth, we are to resist the lies and the distortions and the half-truths of the devil.

How can we prepare ourselves to actually resist the devil?

First understand that your ability to resist the devil is rooted in the grace of God.

Earlier in this same passage James says that God gives grace to the humble.

Paul writing to the church at Corinth said; “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9, ESV)

The power to resist IS the grace of God, the power to resist is not our own it is the power of Christ! Grace is the power of do for the Christian!

Second understand that Jesus has already won the victory and if you are in Christ you are already a winner! Therefore adopt the mindset of a winner! Jesus said in John 16 “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”” (John 16:33, ESV) Your victory is not simply assured it’s accomplished!

Third – and this is key – understand your need for self-control and discipline. Paul said “But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” (1 Corinthians 9:27, ESV) Who was it that was disciplining his body and keeping it under control? Paul was responsible for that. He said “I discipline my body, I keep it under control”. Paul didn’t say “well I’ll just let go and let God take care of it all”. No Paul said, “I’m responsible for my actions. This is my responsibility!”f

Fourth understand the weapons that you have at your disposal.

Weapon #1 You have the power of God in you through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit.
Weapon #2 You have the armor of God to wage war with.
Weapon #3 The body of Christ.

But what is the right way to use those weapons? Wouldn’t it be great if we had an example of how to properly use these weapons? The good news is we have such an example. We have the perfect example Jesus Christ. Jesus used the very same resource that is available to each and every one of us. He used the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Do you have the Word of God? Yes, you do! Therefore you’ve got the weapon of victory in your possession.

How then do we resist the devil? Through the active, skillful, continual use of the weapons that God has made available to us! And it all starts with you having a working knowledge of the Scriptures.

Part 2

One of the unique characteristics of the Christian faith is its emphasis on our ability to share a very personal and very intimate relationship with the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. Another unique characteristic of the Christian faith is that the offended One initiates the process whereby those who have offended Him can be reconciled to Him.

The way to be pleasing to God is to be honest with Him and to admit that in our fallen state we have nothing of value to offer him and to cast ourselves on his mercy and grace. To repent of our repeated offenses towards him, to confess our need for forgiveness and, by faith, embrace the salvation that Jesus Christ freely offers to all who will admit their need.

Advancing age has given me a greater appreciation for the value of relationships. I’m finding great enjoyment my relationships. My relationship with my wife, my children, my sons-in-laws, my daughter-in-law and of course with my first grandchild. I find great enjoyment in my relationship with my friends and my church family. I would encourage all of you who are younger than myself to learn now what took me far too long to learn. Learn to enjoy the people that God has placed in your life now. Learn to value the relationships that God is allowing you to develop. There is much joy to be found in your relationship with your church family and friends.

And of course learn to enjoy the relationship that you have with God the Father, God the Son and God the Spirit – it is the most important and the most soul – satisfying relationship you will ever have.

The Bible is clear that all true believers will have the desire to fellowship, to be in the presence of God. There are many verses I could share with you but let me give you just a few.

“Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud; be gracious to me and answer me! You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, Lord, do I seek.””
(Psalm 27:7–8, ESV)

“O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory.”
(Psalm 63:1–2, ESV)

“How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God. Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise! Selah” (Psalm 84:1–4, ESV)

The redeemed heart has a desire to commune with its Redeemer.

But if we are honest we have to admit that relationships if not carefully appreciated and attended too will begin to suffer. It happens in human relationships all the time. And sadly it happens with our relationship with God.

When your relationship with God begins to suffer you are in danger of becoming friends with the world and thereby making yourself the enemy of God.

Remember when James originally wrote his letter, he wrote to Christians who were being persecuted for their faith. James was afraid that in light of the persecution they were undergoing they would be tempted to make friends with the world. James understood that they couldn’t be friends with the world without doing serious damage to their relationship with God. So he writes to them to both warn and encourage them.

What does it mean to draw near?

As we saw in Part 1, when James instructed us to “resist the devil” he was under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit issuing a command. God commands us corporately and individually to take an active stand against the lies and the distortions of truth that are the stock and trade of Satan. Resisting the devil is not an option. It is a command.

Likewise when James tells us to “Draw near to God” that, too, is a command. That too is a verb. We are to actively pursue our relationship with God the Father.

Remember that God’s commands are for our good.

We see this repeatedly in God’s dealings with his people. God told them if they would obey him, if they would obey his law, if they would obey his commands their obedience would allow them to experience His blessings.

“Therefore you shall keep his statutes and his commandments, which I command you today, that it may go well with you and with your children after you, and that you may prolong your days in the land that the Lord your God is giving you for all time.”” (Deuteronomy 4:40, ESV)

“ ‘Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may go well with you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.” (Deuteronomy 5:16, ESV)

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.” (Psalm 1:1–3, ESV)

God issues these commands and many others for our own good.

Therefore he is commanding us to seek our own welfare. Did you catch that? God is commanding us to seek our own welfare, to seek the highest levels of contentment, joy and satisfaction possible on this earth.

You need to ask yourself if you really truly believe this. Do you believe that indescribable levels of joy are available, are only available to you in and through your relationship with God?

If you say you believe it are you pursuing it?

How do we experience this level of joy? By drawing near to God. By actively pursuing an intimate relationship with God.

When James tells us to draw near to God he is using the language of God’s covenant dealings with his people.

There is a very similar verse in Malachi 3:7

“From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. But you say, ‘How shall we return?’” (Malachi 3:7, ESV)

Drawing near has nothing to do with physical space. Neither James nor Malachi is speaking of physical movement. We don’t have to go to a particular place to enter into God’s presence. We don’t have to make long journey to another land to enter into God’s presence. We don’t have to wait for a church service to enter into God’s presence.

James is speaking in a spiritual sense. And because God is everywhere you and I can draw near to God at any time and at any place.

The words of James are not simply for you as an individual, remember when James wrote these words he was writing to a whole group of people, not a specific congregation per say but to a group of persecuted believers. But they do have application for the church. I believe these words are just as applicable to the church corporately as they are to individual believers. Therefore we as a church when we gather together should obey this command to draw near to God, to pursue our corporate relationship with God.

The ability to draw near is rooted in the finished work of Jesus Christ.

Your Creator, your Redeemer, the Sovereign of the universe desired to have a relationship with you and he has made that not just a possibility but also a reality through His Son Jesus Christ.

How can we draw near?

In order to draw near to God you must deal decisively with sin! Sin separates us from God. God makes this very clear through the Old Testament prophet Isaiah.

“but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.” (Isaiah 59:2, ESV)

We must understand the seriousness of sin. If you want to know how serious sin is look to the cross and see the Father putting to death his own Son! Why? Because sin is serious, and the wages of sin is death!

James gives us some insight into how we can deal decisively with sin.

Repent – Biblical repentance is more than simply being sorry for your sin. Biblical repentance is a sorrow for sin that results in a change of direction in your life.

Cleanse your hands – This refers to our deeds. With clean hands, we will have a heart for good works

Purify your heart. – This has to do with our dispositions.

Hate one’s sin and sinful desires.

Drawing near means that we will deal decisively with sin. But it also means that we continue to cultivate our relationship with the Father.

Through Preaching

Through Prayer and the Scriptures

Through corporate and private worship

Through fellowship with other believers

Remember we have a promise here. The promise is that if we will draw near to God, He will in turn draw near to us.

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you!

Sons and Daughters of God

January 2, 2015 By Ben

Text: Romans 8:12-30

Date: December 28, 2014

The Big Idea: Because we are loved by God in Christ, we dwell in the most solid and secure place in the world: in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

There are two major questions we will answer in this sermon. First, why do we need to be adopted? And secondly, what does it mean to be adopted by God?

1) Why do I need to be adopted?

We need adoption because we were by nature children of wrath. Adoption takes us from being a child wrath to a child of God.

Before we were Christians we were slaves; slaves to sin and the devil. We had the spirit of slavery, we were slaves. As Paul said in verse 2, you did not receive the spirit of slavery and a have been set free by the Spirit of life from the law of sin and death.

Paul uses this language in Galatians also in the context of Christians being sons and daughters of God. Galatians 4:3-7, “In the same way we also, when we were children, we were enslaved to the elemental principles of the world. But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.”

2) What does it mean to be adopted?

We are led by the Spirit of God. “Christians are led by the Spirit; their entire lives are under the control of the Spirit. Paul is providing us with a definition: a Christian is one who is led by the Spirit. The great life-changing event (regeneration, being “in Christ” as opposed to being “in Adam”) is marked by the Spirit’s leading us to mortify sin and pursue Christlikeness.” (Derek Thomas) What are some practical ways you can implement this in your life? Paul writes in Galatians 5:18 once again about being led by the Spirit. When you are thinking through a decision and want to know if you are led by the Spirit of God, run through these questions:
We have the Spirit of Adoption. We have not received the spirit of slavery but the Spirit of adoption. John Calvin wrote that it would be safe to describe the chief work of the Holy Spirit in our lives as “the Great Adopter.” The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of adoption in us that we might be children of God. By the Spirit we cry, “Abba! Father!” This word cry is an interesting one. It is not a cry of sadness that Paul is talking about, or even a cry of joy. It is a cry of desperation, it is a cry of need, it is a cry for help. Remember that the Spirit is leading us to make us holy, to kill the deeds of the body. Because we are children of God, God is for us and not against us. Being a child of God drives out fear. It drives out fear because the Spirit of adoption enables us to cry out to our Father.
We are heirs of God. Paul says we are are heirs of God. Think about this in the context of family relationships. If you are an only child and your parents die, you are the sole heir. When they die whatever belongs to them now belongs to you. What belongs to God? God owns everything. There is nothing that God does not own. One day we will share in everything that God owns. We are fellow heirs with Christ which means that every blessing we get as children of God comes to us because we are in Christ. If we are heirs this means there is something to come in the future. We do not currently possess all that will be given to us. Paul says we are fellow heirs with Christ, heirs of God, provided we suffer with him that we may also be glorified with him. There is more to come but for now we suffer. But we suffer as those who have hope because we will be glorified with him.
We have security. Our status as a child of God is sure, it is secure. Our Father who began a good work in us will see it to completion. “And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.” There is so much certainty with God that one day He will glorify His children that Paul can speak of it as a past event. There is nothing that can jeopardize our status as God’s children.

What can separate you from being a child of God? Nothing! Why? Nothing can separate us from the love of God, from being His child, because we are loved by God in Christ Jesus. God’s love for us as His children is based on His love for His Son Jesus. If it were possible for our Father to stop loving Jesus then we have every right to worry. That can never happen. Because we are loved by God in Christ we are in the most solid and secure place in the world; in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Almighty God,

I am loved with everlasting love, clothed in eternal righteousness, my peace flowing like a river, my comforts many and large, my joy and triumph unutterable, my soul lively with a knowledge of salvation, my sense of justification unclouded.

I have scarce anything to pray for; Jesus smiles upon my soul as a ray of heaven and my supplications are swallowed up in praise.

How sweet is the glorious doctrine of election when based upon your word and wrought inwardly within the soul!

I bless you that you will keep the sinner you have loved, and have engaged that he will not forsake you else I would never get to heaven.

I wrong the work of grace in my heart if I deny my new nature and my eternal life.

If Jesus were not my righteousness and redemption, I would sink into the lowest hell by my misdoings, shortcomings, unbelief, unlove; I Jesus were not by the power of his Spirit my sanctification, there is no sin I should not commit.

O when will I have his mind! When shall I be conformed to his image?

All the good things of life are less than nothing when compared with his love, and with one glimpse of your favor.

All treasures of a million worlds could not make me richer, happier, more contented, for his unsearchable riches are mine.

One moment of communion with him, one view of his grace, is ineffable, inestimable.

But O God,I could not long after your presence if I did not know the sweetness of it; And such I could not know except by your Spirit in my heart, nor love you at all unless you did elect me, call me, adopt me, save my.

I praise you for your grace.

(From the Valley of Vision)

The Significance of the Lord’s Supper

December 13, 2014 By Ben

This sermon was delivered by one of our elders, Todd Strouse.

Text: Luke 22:14-20

Date: November 30, 2014

The Big Idea: The Lord’s Supper Symbolizes for us several Gospel truths.

“I have EARNESTLY DESIRED to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.” – Jesus

It is symbolic of the death of Christ. (Verses 19-20)
It is symbolic of our participation in the benefits of His death. (Verse 19)
It is symbolic of our faith in Christ. (1 Corinthians 11)
It is symbolic of our unity as Believers. (1 Corinthians 10:17)
It is symbolic of what is to come. (Matthew 26:29)