Sermons Christ Community Church: Daytona Beach, FL

I'm sure a lot of us sometimes wonder if it's possible for two people to stay happy together forever. What Jesus and the Scriptures tell us is that it is not only possible, but it is the purpose of marriage. At the same time the Bible is honest and clear about the fact that that the only way it happens is if we work at it. That's what this message is about.

We need to take our most important relationships in life very seriously and do everything we can to protect them. That's also why we should be encouraged that there are steps that we can take to protect our marriages and strengthen our relationships that are not crazy or ineffective but very healthy, helpful and hopeful. In this series we are going to look at certain crucial secrets, or principles, for stronger relationships. The first secret is that of priority. Here's the foundation that this secret is built on: In order to find deep fulfillment in life or in marriage you have to find the One.

God speaks, in our hearing, a word addressed to the ungodly wealthy about His coming judgment to correct their false thinking and so that we will understand how God expects us to live our lives differently from them if we have faith in him. This is why this passage ends up having something to say to all of us. It is showing us the mind of God on the issue of wealth. It is teaching us that God is going to judge the rich for what they have done with their riches. James is revealing principles that apply to all of us.

Psalm 15 A psalm of David.

There is no place for playing God in your own life by just leaving God out of your plans and choices. What God shows me in Jesus and the promise of the gospel is that his love is real and powerful and I can trust in him. He deserves my trust and attention and I need to trust in him and live all my life in relationship to him.

At the beginning of James 4 the questions is raised: What causes fights and quarrels among you? He's saying there is something wrong. There isn't any peace. He goes on to add there isn't any satisfaction because in verse 2 he talks about not getting what you want. James is saying these are like the symptoms of a sickness. The symptoms are common. Many of us have them right now; quarrels with people, conflicts in our hearts, lots of frustration, little satisfaction. So what's the cause and what do we do? James says here's the surprising diagnosis of the problem. It isn't what most people think. The sickness from which we suffer is that we are double-minded about God. So, What's the cure? What should we do? The key is the beginning of verse 7. What should you do to find peace and satisfaction? Submit yourselves to God. What we need to do is submit ourselves to God. But what does that mean? It means to choose to place yourself and arrange your life under someone else's authority and care. James says you have to place or arrange your life under the canopy of God's care and authority.

When you are stressed out, or struggling, your future is uncertain and relationships are disappointing it's not easy to just drift along on the happy raft. Can we really look around us in the world, with eyes wide open and have peace and satisfaction? Wouldn't it be better to just say, in heaven we will have peace and satisfaction but in this world you better count on conflict and disappointment? Well it is true that this world is messed up in a lot of ways and the ultimate peace and complete fulfillment of our lives won't come until the end of time. But that doesn't mean we can't have real peace and real satisfaction right now in the real world even if it is messed up. That's what makes the offer and the invitation and the message of Jesus so engaging and exciting.

There is something wrong with our desires. It is part of our humanness that we all have desires. To have a desire simply means that we want something. Sometimes what we want is good. Sometimes we just want a little rest. We want security, love, fun, happiness, peace and quiet or to be left alone. Here's where we need to be careful. It's not wrong that we have desires. The Bible is not saying that the answer to our search for peace and satisfaction is to quit wanting things, but that our desires too often rule us when we should take them captive, bring them to the feet of Christ and make them all come under his authority so that they obey Him.

The incarnation should compel us, motivate us, fill our hearts in such a way that we really do want to worship the living Christ.

The big word that is used to describe what Christmas is all about is incarnation, which means to take on human flesh. Christmas is about the incarnation of God. The truth that Jesus was and is God who took on human flesh, was born as a baby through the miracle of virgin birth and became one of us for our redemption.