God's Plans Or My Plans Series

A Life of Works Produced By Faith

Part 16

“My Plans Or God’s Plans”

Date: November 10, 2002 A.M Service

Place: Allendale Baptist Church

Text: James 4:13-17

Introduction

This is our 16th message on the book of James. Last Sunday evening as we looked at the beginning of chapter 4, James addresses the problem of war and conflict within the Body of Christ. No he is speaking to believers about the will of God. This may seem to be running from one side of a broad spectrum to the complete opposite, but in actuality it is not.

Let me testify for just a moment. When a believer is out of the will of God, he has the opportunity & availability to become a troublemaker and not a peacemaker.

I have said this many time, a child of God outside the will of God is in a very dangerous place.

 Lot moved into Sodom and brought trouble upon his family.

 David committed adultery and brought trouble not only to his family but also to the entire kingdom.

 Jonah disobeyed God and nearly sent a shipload of sailors to a watery grave.

I will probably repeat myself at the close of this message but to even ponder the thought that a Holy, loving God has a plan for my life and yours also is beyond belief.

God in His all knowing power and grace has a plan for you. So many people struggle with the question, what is God’s will for my life? And then the other question is, how do I know God’s will for my life?

I may not answer all these questions this morning, but in our text James seems to point out three attitudes toward the will of God.

Stand for the reading of our text from the inspired & inerrant Word of God.

First let’s see…

I. Ignoring The Will of God. (Verses 13-14,16)

A. Now I must remind you that James is speaking to Christians. It is so evident among many I talk with that they never once consider what God’s plans are in their life.

1. Many often jump head first into something and then later ask God to bless their plans.

2. Then there are others who have heard from God and completely ignore the will of God in their lives.

B. James gives us an example of these that did not seek the will of God or pray about their decision. They seem to measure their success in life by how many times they got their own way and accomplished what they had planned.

1. We mentioned last week several times, each of us need the wisdom of God. Each of us cannot of our own knowledge and wisdom succeed in this thing called life.

2. Without the wisdom God has available to us as Christians, on are own we will fail.

C. Here James presents 4 facts of the foolishness of ignoring the will of God.

1. The complexity of life.

a. Think about this for just a moment, all that is involved in life. You see life is more than living, dieing and paying taxes.

b. Life is made up of, today, tomorrow; days & years; going here & there; places and activities; and not to mention decisions. Many decision.

c. Someone told me a long time ago, live is made up of a lot of decisions, than you live out the rest of your life facing all the decisions you have made.

d. Apart from the will of God, life is a mystery. But when you know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, and seek to do His will, then life starts to make sense.

2. The uncertainty of life.

a. This is taken from Proverbs 27:1; “Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.”

b. These were making plans for the entire year.

c. Let me stop and say this; life is not uncertain for God but it is uncertain for each of us.

d. Not one of us knows what tomorrow holds. Many of you here today have and keep putting of what God has planned for you, saying I’ll do it tomorrow or I’ll do it next week.

e. God has been calling some of you to salvation for a while now, and you refuse to give God your life.

f. Some have even put off becoming members of the church.

g. My friend God has a plan for your life, He desires you to be saved, He desires you to worship Him, and He desires you to live a holy life.

h. Many say I don’t know God’s will, but some of you hearing me this morning have heard from God, you know God’s will for your life.