Plan AheadChapter 10James 4:13-17

• When a believer is out of God’s will, he is a troublemaker. The dangerous life is being out of God’s will.

• Attitudes toward God

– Ignoring God’s will (4:13-14, 16)• Arguments revealing the foolishness of ignoring God’s will

– Complexity of life» Apart from God’s will is a mystery

– The uncertainty of life (4:14a)» Prov. 27:1 - Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou

knowest not what a day may bring forth. » A farmer in Luke 12:16-21

– The brevity (shortness) of life» Life is a vapor (Job 7:16, 7:9, 8:9, 9:25, 9:26, 14:1-2)» We count years at each birthday when God asks us to

count days (Ps. 90:12)» Invest out life in things that are eternal» God shows His will in his precepts, principles, and

promises, but most people ignore the Bible» Surest way to success: knowing and obeying the Word of

God (Joshua 1:8, Ps 1:3)– The frailty of man (4:16)

» Man’s boasting covers up his weakness» Man has neither wisdom to see the future nor power to

control the future» Therefore, boasting is sinful

– Disobeying God’s Will• People choose to disobey the will of God even though they

know God’s will

• Pride– 2 Peter 2:21 - For it had been better for them not to have known

the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

• Man’s ignorance of the nature of God’s will– The will of God is not an option, but an obligation– God’s chastening until your submission ( Hebrews 12:5-11)

» Evidence of God’s love– Danger of losing heavenly rewards (1 Cor. 9:24-27)

» Castaway – disqualified– Obeying God’s Will

• Constant attitude of the heart• God’s will for all believers

– We must yield ourselves to God (2 Cor. 8:5)– We must avoid sexual immorality (1 Thess. 4:3)– We should rejoice, pray, and thank God (1 Thess 5:16-18)– Every commandment in the Bible is part of God’s will

• God’s will tailor-made for every believer• The will of God is a loving relationship between God and

believer, not a cold impersonal machine

– If disobey, relationship is not destroyed, he will be chastened like Jonah

– A growing experience

– We should know God’s will (Acts 22:14)» Will for those who are ready and willing to obey» Col. 1:9; God wants us to be filled with knowledge of His

will» Eph 5:17: God wants us to understand His will» Wisdom –the what and understanding – the why» Rom. 12:2; We must prove God’s will» We must do the will of God from heart