Taking care of our other half

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GRAB YOUR BIBLES James 1:18-21
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Tonight my message is going to be about..... “our other half”:
That other side of us.....that we have to make exceptions for;
Our flesh!
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LETS READ THE TEXT James 1:18-21
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Having just learned about “temptations” & “sin”:
Now we are reminded why......those things are even an issue!
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V.18A “Of his own will begat he us”
-WHERE WE ARE.....AND HOW WE GOT THERE-
(We have been born again
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And we are part....of God’s great plan!
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V.18B “with the word of truth,”
-THE CONDUIT.....BY WHICH WE WERE SAVED-
(The Lord Jesus Christ
AKA “The Word of God”:
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If it wasn’t for the Bible..we would not be saved:
Qt. John 5:24 “Verily, verily, I say unto you,”
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V.18C “that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.”
-THE KIND OF PEOPLE.....CHRISTIANS “SHOULD BE”-
(The best...that this would has ever seen
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Just as the “firstfruits”...are the best of the crop:
So Christians...should be the world’s best people!
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V.19A “Wherefore,”
-GOD’S PLAN.....FOR CHANGING OUR LIFE-
(So that we fulfill His perfect will for us
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Note: If we are going to be changed:
It will be....the LORD that does it!
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V.19B “my beloved brethren,”
-AN IMPORTANT DETAIL....IN THIS PASSAGE-
(To keep us from getting off track
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These are instructions to “saved people”:
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They will do the unsaved...no good at all!
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V.19C “let every man be swift to hear,”
-AN ATTITUDE....THE LORD WANTS US TO HAVE-
(Being anxious to learn truth
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Regardless of how it will make them feel!
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V.19D “slow to speak,”
-A WISDOM......THE LORD WANTS US TO HAVE-
(The wisdom to think & pray
Before speaking:
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Our mouth...can get us into a lot of trouble!
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V.19E “slow to wrath:”
-A DECISION.....THE LORD WANTS US TO MAKE-
(The decision....to “react slowly”
To hardships or problems we face:
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These are times....that Satan is waiting for!
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V.20A “For the wrath of man”
-THE REAL REASON.........WE NEED TO SLOW DOWN-
(Because of our flesh
And the influence it has on us:
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This is....the half of us....we need to consider:
Because it can still get us into big trouble!
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V.20B “worketh not the righteousness of God.”
-THE DECISION...THAT EVERY CHRISTIAN HAS BEFORE THEM-
(Am I going to do it my way
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Or the LORD’s way?
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Every time we do it “our way”....we lose!
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V.21A “Wherefore”
-GOD’S PLAN.....FOR DOING THINGS GOD’S WAY-
(That must be followed
No matter how long we have been saved:
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Because our flesh.....will always be with us:
Waiting for that.... “weak moment”!
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V.21B “lay apart all filthiness”
-KEEPING TEMPTATIONS.....A SAFE DISTANCE AWAY-
(So that we don’t trip over them
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Remembering how weak our flesh can be!
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V.21C “and superfluity of naughtiness,”
-KEEPING EVIL THOUGHTS....A SAFE DISTANCE AWAY-
(By not allowing them...to come within “earshot”
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“superfluity” Lit.(An overabundance
“naughtiness” Lit.(Spitefulness)
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Wicked thoughts...are as dangerous as wicked actions!
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V.21D “and receive with meekness”
-A HUMILITY....THAT CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE-
(By realizing how much danger...you are in
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Because of your wicked flesh!
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V.21E “the engrafted word,”
-HUMBLY ALLOWING.....GOD’S WORD TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE-
(That has been planted within you
Through Bible study and preaching:
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These times do more for us...than we can every know!
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V.21F “which is able to save your souls.”
-ALL THIS....WILL KEEP US FROM DESTROYING OURSELVES-
Note: (Although we are eternally saved
Our “life here”....is still very fragile:
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Giving in to our flesh...will effect our eternity!
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