SUBMISSION TO GOD

JAMES 4: 1-14

TX. VS. 14

INTRODUCTION:

-This is a great chapter in the Word of God, that speaks to us about our submission to God.

-Our submission to God, will rid us of the lusts of worldly things.

-Our submission to God, will keep us from setting to great a value on material things, money,

jobs, position, and prestige.

-Our submission to God, will keep us from having sinful relationships with people in this world.

-Our submission to God, will help us to know the right difference between pride and humility.

-Our submission to God, will help to keep us from making presumptious judgments about people.

-Our submission to God, will help us to remember that only God can pass sentence on anyone.

-Our submission to God, will help us to only consider only one day at a time.

1. Our Lord could come each day!

2. Make the most of every day!

3. Treat each one that you meet in a way, that if this was the last day you would spend with

them or they would spend with you, that you would not be ashamed of it.

-Text verse, James 4:14 gives us some great material in learning how to be submissive to God.

I. GOD WISELY LEFT US IN THE DARK CONCERNING WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN

IN THE FUTURE OF EACH INDIVIDUAL LIFE.

A. There are reasons for this and let me give you some.

1. Our Lord began and gave us our life.

2. The things we do not know about tomorrow belong only to God.

Deut 29:29

29 The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.

3. Our faith and trust in the Lord Jesus, would greatly diminish if we knew what tomorrow

would hold for us.

II. WE ARE NOT TO EXPECT TOO LONG OF A TIME ON THIS EARTH.

Ps 90:10

10 The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.

A. We can fix the time of many things on this earth.

1. The rising and going down of the sun.

2. The hours of work, rest, recreation, and sleep.

3. We can know what time it is by the going down and rising of the sun.

4. We can set the days of the calendar many years in advance. (Old Faithful Geyser)

a. But we cannot fix our beginning or know what will take us out of this world.

III. THIS LIFE IS VERY UNCERTAIN AS TO OUR TIME ALOTTED , AND THAT IS

WHY WE MUST MAKE CERTAIN OF THE LIFE TO COME.

A. We must remember that our time is not in our hands, but our time on this earth is in God's

hand's.

1. We live as long as God appoints us to live.

2. We will have to accept the circumstances that God appoints in our lives.

a. Explain the difference between the Cup and the Cross of God.

3. Our actions and circumstances are under the control of the God of Heaven.

B. Therefore, both of our decisions for action and conduct, must be entirely referred to the

God of Heaven first.

1. All that we do must be done with a submissive heart to God.

2. All that we do must be done in total dependence upon God.

a. After all, our life, breath, and everything else we are and will have depend upon God.

Acts 17:24-31

24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;

25 Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;

26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;

27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:

28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.

30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

CONCLUSION:

-Submission to our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, is the yielding up of all our rights and

priviledges and our life to Him, that His will might be done in our individual lives.

-Submission to God begins at salvation and then is to continue throughout the rest of our lives.