Throughout this series, James has brought many things to light.
He has taught us about self-control and how to know what God wants us to do.
He’s advised us against giving up too easily and harboring favoritism and prejudice.
He warned us about confusing spirituality marked by traditions with spirituality marked by faith and actions.
We have been challenged to filter our discussions, live a life of humility and not to fall victim to envy and all that comes with it.
In the final installment of the Street Smart series, senior pastor Jim White makes clear what James wants to teach us about how to talk to God.
He has taught us about self-control and how to know what God wants us to do.
He’s advised us against giving up too easily and harboring favoritism and prejudice.
He warned us about confusing spirituality marked by traditions with spirituality marked by faith and actions.
We have been challenged to filter our discussions, live a life of humility and not to fall victim to envy and all that comes with it.
In the final installment of the Street Smart series, senior pastor Jim White makes clear what James wants to teach us about how to talk to God.
So often we fail to realize that while God is capable of all good things, we do not treat Him this way.
We shoot up a quick air prayer right before going into an exam, or pray in frantic desperation when we find ourselves so deep in trouble that we cannot see the other side.
We then blame God when our situation doesn’t turn out to our liking.
Instead of using prayer to communicate and draw closer to our Father, we treat prayer as an afterthought, as a bonus to our relationship with the Lord if it is answered in our favor.
James 5:13 (NIV) says, “Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.”
James is telling us that we need to pray at all times.
When God has delivered us from the undeliverable, we need to express our joy.
When we are in trouble, we need to go to Him first.
But, we shouldn’t stop there.
God is all-knowing, but he is still our Father.
And just as any other loving father, He wants us to talk to Him; to tell him how our day is going, what is bothering us, what excites us.
We need to be in constant communication with God.
We shoot up a quick air prayer right before going into an exam, or pray in frantic desperation when we find ourselves so deep in trouble that we cannot see the other side.
We then blame God when our situation doesn’t turn out to our liking.
Instead of using prayer to communicate and draw closer to our Father, we treat prayer as an afterthought, as a bonus to our relationship with the Lord if it is answered in our favor.
James 5:13 (NIV) says, “Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.”
James is telling us that we need to pray at all times.
When God has delivered us from the undeliverable, we need to express our joy.
When we are in trouble, we need to go to Him first.
But, we shouldn’t stop there.
God is all-knowing, but he is still our Father.
And just as any other loving father, He wants us to talk to Him; to tell him how our day is going, what is bothering us, what excites us.
We need to be in constant communication with God.
Most of us spent this past weekend with family and friends celebrating the Thanksgiving holiday.
We stuffed our faces, laughed, argued, shared what we are thankful for, watched football and then we parted ways.
Specifics may have varied depending on the family, but you get the point.
It was a wonderful time filled with love.
Sadly, for many, this time ended once cars hit the highway.
We stuffed our faces, laughed, argued, shared what we are thankful for, watched football and then we parted ways.
Specifics may have varied depending on the family, but you get the point.
It was a wonderful time filled with love.
Sadly, for many, this time ended once cars hit the highway.
Why don’t we go around the table and take turns sharing what we are thankful for every single day?
One reason is because we don’t recognize the need to constantly give thanks in the first place.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-17 (NASB) orders us to “Rejoice always; pray without ceasing.”
Whether we’re praying for the good, the bad, the things that don’t really matter to us, or the things we think don’t matter to God, we need to pray at all times for all things.
One reason is because we don’t recognize the need to constantly give thanks in the first place.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-17 (NASB) orders us to “Rejoice always; pray without ceasing.”
Whether we’re praying for the good, the bad, the things that don’t really matter to us, or the things we think don’t matter to God, we need to pray at all times for all things.
A second reason is because we have no one to sit with at the table. Once we leave the families into which we are born, we lose the community that accompanies them.
We need to start building community with the people who are in our lives each day.
James tells us in 5:19-20, “My dear brothers and sisters, if someone among you wanders away from the truth and is brought back, you can be sure that whoever brings the sinner back will save that person from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins.”
In order to bring others back to God’s truth, some of us need to be saved from death ourselves.
When we develop community, we create opportunities that allow us to hold each other accountable when we stray from God.
Having someone to pray for and knowing that someone is praying for you is incredibly powerful.
Are you continually assigned group projects with the same person?
God may be showing you that you are to play a role in each other’s lives.
Invite them to lunch. Take them to your next small group meeting.
Form relationships with people so you can begin to depend on each other, and together you can depend on the Lord.
We need to start building community with the people who are in our lives each day.
James tells us in 5:19-20, “My dear brothers and sisters, if someone among you wanders away from the truth and is brought back, you can be sure that whoever brings the sinner back will save that person from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins.”
In order to bring others back to God’s truth, some of us need to be saved from death ourselves.
When we develop community, we create opportunities that allow us to hold each other accountable when we stray from God.
Having someone to pray for and knowing that someone is praying for you is incredibly powerful.
Are you continually assigned group projects with the same person?
God may be showing you that you are to play a role in each other’s lives.
Invite them to lunch. Take them to your next small group meeting.
Form relationships with people so you can begin to depend on each other, and together you can depend on the Lord.
God does not ask us to be perfect; He just asks that we strive to perfect our relationship with Him. How do we do this?
Step 1: Pray about it.
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