Grace Community

Taking a break from our series in James, we are considering what Jesus really says about vaccinations. The word 'vaccination' isn't in the Bible but the word 'love' is nearly on every page. This talk focuses on the one thing Christians must do: love. Love is only truly tested when we disagree with others. The whole vaccination debacle is a wonderful God-given opportunity for Christians to learn to love each other and the world, even where we may disagree. 
WITHOUT LOVE, even if...
1. ... I have excellent arguments and speak 'spiritually', it is of no value.
2. ... I know the real truth and understand everything, I am nothing.
3. ... I make serious sacrifices, I don't achieve anything.

The love Jesus commands, is the love Jesus demonstrates:

Jesus, 1. Had the best arguments in the world, was the most spiritual Person in the world, but He gave it all up for us. Jesus, 2. not only knows the Truth He is the Truth, and yet He died for the ignorant. (Father, forgive them, they don't know...) And Jesus, 3. made the Ultimate Sacrifice and achieved heaven for us, even though we were wilfully wrong.

All our choices in life flow from what we really love. When sin disorders our loves, our lives are characterised by instability and we become victims of various passions - like someone tossed by waves and wind. Wisdom begins with an undivided heart that loves God. If we love God above all else, our lives will be characterised by choices motivated by love for Him. This is wisdom. It leads to stability, peace and joy. Since we all lack wisdom, James invites us to go to God and ask Him for wisdom. God loves to give. Above all else, in Jesus Christ God has given us all the riches and treasures of wisdom. In Jesus we have everything we need for a life of godliness. 

The letter of James is written on Jesus Christ's authority by His brother James, with the aim of curing us from being spiritually double-minded and unstable. Jesus said that we are to love God with all our heart. Love for God flows over into love for others. However, sin disorders our loves and creates within us unhealthy spiritual fragementation as different desires pull us in different directions. The result is that we end up unstable, unfruitful and in the end we give our love to things that are less than God. The cure is to remain close to God, because He is the endless source of all our strength, joy and spiritual nourishment.

Longing for God may not be your thing... but God alone will satisfy the longing soul. However, David doesn't just long for God because nothing else satisfies - even though that's true. There's another reason why he longs for God...

1. David longs for God because we do not have it within us to get free from the enemy (1-4)

2. David trusts, rejoices and sings because of God's bountiful goodness (5-6)

Cultivate a longing for God because experience and reason prove that even the longing for God is sweeter than the actual having of anything else we may long for.

Before Jesus entered our world, the Holy Spirit gave us glimpses of His glory throughout the Old Testament. In this 6 part series we are looking at the glory of Jesus before entering our world. As we listen to the text of the Bible, our minds are hearts will open to the love and truth of God and our souls will be deeply satisfied.

1. the Bridegroom is blessed forever because of His triumphant grace (1-9)
  
2. the Bride is beautiful forever because of His triumphant grace (9-17)

     THERFORE...   just say Yes!

Before Jesus entered our world, the Holy Spirit gave us glimpses of His glory throughout the Old Testament. In this 6 part series we are looking at the glory of Jesus before entering our world. As we listen to the text of the Bible, our minds are hearts will open to the love and truth of God and our souls will be deeply satisfied.

In the context of the failure of human government...

1. God  will make light shine in darkness (1-3)
  
2. God will rescue His people from their enemies (4-5)
 
 3. God gave us the Godman to govern forever (6-7)

     THERFORE...   surrender to the Godman!

Before Jesus entered our world, the Holy Spirit gave us glimpses of His glory throughout the Old Testament. In this 6 part series we are looking at the glory of Jesus before entering our world. As we listen to the text of the Bible, our minds are hearts will open to the love and truth of God and our souls will be deeply satisfied.

1. God's majesty is seen in creation (1)
  
2. God's majesty is seen in God defeating the enemy through weakness (2)
 
 3. God's majesty is seen in Man ruling everything (3-9)
         - man is the outcome of God's mind (4)
         - man is the object of God's care (4)
         - man is the recipient of God's honour (5)
         - man is the centre of God's purposes (6-9)

     BUT... we don't see man ruling anything. Man is not in the state in which God made them.

     Instead, we see THE Man, Jesus! (Hebrews 2)

     THERFORE... in Jesus we find our true humanity and in Jesus we become all that we were                                    meant to be

James, the brother of Jesus, wrote this letter to help believers love God with an undivided heart. The heart is the seat of our loves but sin causes a disordering of our loves. When our loves pull us in different directions we become fragmented, or, as James puts it, double-minded and unstable. True joy comes from loving One Being - God, Who is love.  Keep it simple, silly. 

    the peace that comes from God (3:17-18)

1. double mindedness causes a war within (4:1)

2. double mindedness causes a war with others (2)

3. double mindedness causes a war with God (3-5)

   BUT God the Spirit gives even more grace (6)

THEREFORE... humble yourselves (7-10)
     - submit to God
     - resist the devil
     - draw near to God
     - cleanse your hands
     - purify your hearts

Before Jesus entered our world, the Holy Spirit gave us glimpses of His glory throughout the Old Testament. In this 6 part series we are looking at the glory of Jesus before entering our world. As we listen to the text of the Bible, our minds are hearts will open to the love and truth of God and our souls will be deeply satisfied.

1. People exchange the glory of God for created things (Exodus 32:1-8)
  
2. God partially shows His glory of grace and truth to Moses (Exodus 32:30 - 33:5, 33:12-23)
 
 3. God fully shows His glory of grace and truth in Jesus (John 1:16-18)

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." (2 Corinthians 4:6)

James, the brother of Jesus, wrote this letter to help believers love God with an undivided heart. The heart is the seat of our loves but sin causes a disordering of our loves. When our loves pull us in different directions we become fragmented, or, as James puts it, double-minded and unstable. True joy comes from loving One Being - God, Who is love.  Keep it simple, silly. 

James 1:27 - 2:26
Our faith is in Jesus Christ the Lord of Glory who loved us so much He became poor in order to make us rich in faith (2:1)

THEREFORE...
1. Do not judge according to the worlds standards (1-7)

2. Do love according to Jesus' standards (8-13)

3. Do not think faith without love is saving faith (14-26)

     Religious people love out of fear - afraid they won't be saved or loved.
     Christians love out of love - knowing they are already saved and loved.