Aug 7th, 2022 SUNDAY MESSAGE
JOIN US AT 10 AM TODAY!
Transcription Notes:
At the Jewish School in Phoenix, I was picking up my wife because there was a function that night for the girls. A play and she was going to it but, while I was waiting I was talking to the woman who operated their front desk - just making small talk and asking:
“are you going to the play tonight?”
Whoa…I don’t know that we need to invoke the will of God into this right now…a little intense.
Emily had told me she heard over and over: “God willing” it’s like there was a stark awareness and reminder built into the culture that “I INTEND TO DO THIS but GOD MAY HAVE ANOTHER PLAN”
Which is true, right? We sometimes operate out of how WE THINK things will go or an assumption of control.
And, THIS is exactly what Uncle James is going to put under review in today's text, Starting in James 4:13, he says…
James 5:13 Now listen!! (someone say listen up!”), you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen TOMORROW. What is your life? You are a MIST that appears for a little while and then vanishes.
So, what is James doing here? It ALMOST SOUNDS LIKE James is belittling the recipients of his letter.
James is saying there is a greater perspective here that they aren’t seeing so
there is an adjustment he wants them to make - a perspective shift - that brings them more fully into the reality that they’re lives here on earth are:
1, more FRAGILE than they realize and
2, SHORT in contrast to the span of eternity
WHAT IS A MIST?? <SPRAY BOTTLE>
What would you do if you were moving and you go into find your roommate, spouse, or kids putting UP new decorations or even trying to purchase a couch that fits their room perfectly…
“What are you doing? We are only here for a couple more days.
The time we have is short here, you should be thinking about the next space!”
This is the overall shift James wants them to say then he moves into the heart issue behind it. VERSE 15…
15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” 16 As it is, you BOAST in your ARROGANT SCHEMES. ALL SUCH BOASTING IS EVIL. 17 If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.
Think about an arrogant person…
Oxford Dictionary says its: “Having or revealing an exaggerated sense of one's own importance or abilities.”
When you read what James just wrote it doesn’t seem arrogant or evil really. It just seems like a regular plan or intention…
BUT that's the thing about fragile, finite people BECAUSE,
JUST AS OUR LIVES are short in comparison to ETERNAL EXISTENCE,
so are our plans/intentions against the eternal plan/wisdom of God
HENCE, any certainty you have set
in going to that city
In making money while you’re there
In being there for a year…
In TOMORROW!! SO
Any security you have put IN your very own INTENTIONS to do ANYTHING or live to take another breath and see tomorrow's sunset -
…any confidence or security you find in your plans to accomplish one thing or another, that is not submitted to the possibility that it may go in a different direction is, in fact, categorically ARROGANT and EVIL according to the scriptures.
His SHARP language is meant to be a GRAB THEIR ATTENTION!!
Boxing Coach, “It’s better to find out the TRUTH now than in a match when you can’t do anything about it”
So, life is a harsh teacher reminding us that we are not as in control as we would like to assume…
if you’ve trust in your relatively good health then had a health scare
Ministry to Older People
If you trusted in your housing security, 2008 was the wake up call
If you thought you were going to go to work on the week of March 15, 2022:
Calendar Reminders the whole year bore testimony against my arrogance.
Let me re-read VERSE 17:
17 If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.
James is describing “a sin of omission” which is more serious than the sin of those who are uninformed (Lk 12:47–48, 2 Peter 2:21). JNT: “In this specific situation the sin is to announce plans as if we could control all the circumstances, failing to acknowledge that God is in charge and our plans depend on his will.”
SO, NOW THAT YOU KNOW…live according to the humility that comes with recognizing that your assurance comes from God, NOT your own means…NOW, VERSE 5 will apply this idea very specifically.
5 Now listen (Once again, LISTEN UP!! He wants our attention!), Now listen you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you.
Commentary True to our Native Land: “The material in 4:13–17 should be understood in close connection with the material in 5:1–6, both of which open with the literary marker “come now.” This common ancient literary technique shifts the subject matter to a series of warnings addressed directly to the business merchants and the rich.”
So ALL THE FORCE of James’ previous lesson are meant to be applied here. It says…
5 Now listen, you rich people (who is rich?), weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. 2 Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. 3 Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days.
Once again, same lesson, new topic. Don’t trust your wealth, your ability to insulate yourself from calamity with riches, insurances, souring bank accounts because
it is temporary (like your fragile life, and the temporary nature of your existence here on earth).
SO, same idea applied to your finances.
BUT WE DO TRUST IN OUR FINANCES and we HOLD ON TIGHT!
In fact, isn’t it strange how we have anxiety because we don’t have things
(we are even held captive by our anxiety worrying about the things we desire)
then, when we GET THEM, we fortify our lives with assurances to protect them because we are held captive to the anxiety that we may LOSE WHAT WE have
so we get security cameras and alarms!
May we not run from one fear to another!!
James continues because this group is not only trusting their riches they are taking advantage of others…
4 Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. 5 You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you.
God’s people have lived a life of CAPTIVITY.
We can talk EGYPT
We can talk PERSIA
We can talk ASSYRIA
BABYLON, ROME, or GREECE!!
We have almost NO references to God’s people living in a context of a MAJORITY standing in the scripture…
Rev. Dr. Raymond Rivera helped me to see this in his lectures and in his book Liberty to the Captives.
And one of the greatest ironic tragedies found in the rebellion of God’s people is that when we are (REPEATEDLY) FREED from captivity, we often reflect the values of the oppressors who held us.
As the saying goes again, “Its harder to get Egypt out of God’s people than it is to get God’s people out of EGYPT”
James holds nothing back at the hearing of this “The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.”
He is directly MIRRORING the words of EXODUS when God says, “I have heard the cries of my people.”
Pharoah GOT the warning
The “Let my people go”
The plagues…
SO, here is James sending a WARNING to his own people “If you are going to ACT like the OPPRESSOR, you BETTER remember what God does to them!”
This was true then, it was true the day colonizers stole African people in the name of Jesus and wrecked the lives of Native Americans under the banner of manifest destiny.
It is true today…when we don’t search our hearts to see where we may be playing a part in the local and global systems that help buoy the American Lifestyle as others are
Mistreated or unfairly compensated for their labor
take part in certain freedoms while others are in chains
Take part in privileges while prejudice exists around us disadvantaging black and brown communities
And the list goes on and on…
BROTHERS AND SISTERS, we are here but for a little while and the things we do now have eternal implications.
May we hear the voice of James and heed the warning posed in the 1st century that applies today because we, of ALL PEOPLE, know the freedom we have received, in Christ, from our sins and from the chains of the enemy - the greatest oppressor of all time.
Instead of inheriting traits from the Father of Lies, the accuser, the one who would have us entangled in the temporary things of this world,
May we be freed to be like our Father in Heaven who Loved and who liberated and
May we live with eternity in mind longing for the day when the great liberation of humans comes in it’s fullness.
COMMUNION:
(1 COR. 11:23B-26)
“The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
PRAYER REQUESTS:
We are hosting prayer team meetings for both the congregation at large and individuals to sign up for individual prayer.
SUGGESTIONS FOR WORSHIP:
“Praise & Worship” Spotify playlist and “Praise & Worship” YouTube playlist (slightly different from each other), both of diverse music that are being constantly updated!
Bethel Music :
Bethel Music’s hours of live music YouTube Playlist, also being constantly updated
Bethel provides chords to most (if not all) of their songs here (just have to register email, but free!)
Live worship moments from the Upper Room YouTube Playlist
Journal writing! (I’m a writer too, so sometimes creative writing and writing my thoughts to God is my form of worship.)
Declare and worship with truth by singing and praying scriptures.
WORSHIP NIGHT! Dedicate a night to worship with friends and family, your house church or neighbors, those who need prayer, love worship, or just enjoy music through a video chat platform like Zoom. You can have one person leading at a time (switching off to whoever else wants to lead) while others sing along, pray, or prophesy, etc.
Serving your community, both online, in person, or both, is a great way to worship God, from spreading encouragement and God’s Word online to physically serving food to others. If you are able to go out and serve, click here for opportunities.
COMMISSIONING:
As Jesus said in John 20:21,
"Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you."
Go, be the Church!
In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Amen.