Trusting an Unknown Future to a Known God

Have you as they do some research so good to see so many of you here today. Always does a good time with family and friends got safely of a few fireworks golf mama dog.

I got a little dog to God. Although does we will take my man card from me. His name is squirrel about 9 pounds and he hates fireworks. The Romans you know box not a big dog made with a rubber fireworks as ideas down. I love you somebody here squirrel doesn't. But I love it I love the grill.

I love being outside, but it is one thing I hate about grilling and being outside eating in the summertime we all know that is is flies, flies all know about developing one of the first question why is God like you have is like God seriously educate flies with honey light you know that light right before you to the rest of the Sabbath in your entire new LifeLock they disappeared everywhere.

You know we we we can view it flies because they actually only live the common out flock only lives about 30 days that okay 30 days but it was interesting is that the common house fly has a first cousin called the Mayflower. Okay now to Mayflower 11 usually eat. He barely makes it to the flapping reunion because he only lives along with this, this, this is a live is a day okay and it is been said to some of them actually only can live up to 30 minutes. 30 minutes. Imagine that a 30 minute lifespan.

That means that the Mayflower already fit his hospital with the college, got a doctorate Mary Ms. Mayflower passing kids. He was laid to rest on epitaph said one day all allow you in line at Walmart hi yeah so we all called as a male God. But seriously, we also can find ourselves making major plans making major decisions which never seem to be void of lots of money living day by day, week by week, month by month, year by year mean were already over halfway through 2015, we often neglect to hear what God is saying and doing in our lives. Many of us would just like the Mayflower clueless of how short our lives really is and aside from his humans. How we live our lives every day while simultaneously being clueless about our future.

So this actually reveal the truth about us as humans know we live our lives based on who or what we currently trust. The trust plays a major role in how we navigate to this this unknown future that we all face but I want to proclaim to you today that no matter how unknown your future is that you can boldly face tomorrow if you leave it in the hands of a known God to turn with me into James chapter 4 would be at the end of James for now I want you to know today were going to really get three sections of Scripture in vain for any five but the first two sections that were negative due to the minimal reveal what happens when we place our assurance things that we revere what we idolize too often blinded by these things because they hide out. Deep down in the dark crevices of our hearts, but past James do a great job of illuminating some of these counterfeit saviors for us in the final section in class exam form is gonna give us a practical way to trust God. So let's look at the first place that we often place our trust in our plans and our plans.

We have overconfidence in our plans designed for verse 13. This is come down you say today or tomorrow we will go into such a such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit, yet you did not know what tomorrow will bring.

What is your life for it is a myth that appears for a little time and then vanishes. If there's want to say if the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that, but as it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil now sure many of you have heard the same.

If you fail to plan you plan to fail, and that's one of my favorite science. I deftly think that is true and I don't think this passage in any way is trying to convince us that we should not plan. Instead, it implies that God's will is often the gated we we do make our plans so James actually gives us two warnings right here in this passage. First thing he tells us something that seems like is it makes sense, but we don't know what tomorrow will bring. Now this is not Scripture being mean.

This is be a realistic, the only person that can say with confidence what will happen tomorrow is God he is the Alpha and Omega. He is the male Jesus is a manual which means God with us. Currently he's also the Omega he is beginning.

He's all of these omnipresent he can step outside of time ago, in the time he's the only one that knows that advertisement all the things a pastor I don't know what the future holds, but I know who holds my future that leads to the second warning that you see right here played without God reveals something about us reveals our arrogance. How is it that we can be so confident in our plans and not consult the one who holds the future and that's this arrogant idol worship is evil, senior were not careful, Tom quickly passes and in our routine were often blinded by business because this is what we do as Christians we equate good plans with good Christian live listed his quote from a book called crazy busy busy. This does not mean you are faithful or fake or faithful or fruitful Christian humility major busy just like everyone else and everyone else and like everyone else. You enjoy your heart and your soul are in danger.

We need the word of God to set us free. If we only had time to make an appointment.

Proverbs 1921 says many other plans in the mind of a man, what is the purpose of the Lord, that will stay so the answer is overconfidence in in this area is in our own plans.

Look at verse 17 verse 17 says this so whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it for him. It is a sin.

Listen our problem. Most of the time is not that we don't know what to do, is just that we don't do it to verse 17 says right directly into our hearts to write is that right is now delayed obedience is not obedience at all. Delayed obedience is not obedience at all. Somehow we've convinced ourselves that we can do right will do that later. Later see often in our planning.

You actually do hear from God. But seriously, and we ignore him and we make plans anyway.

Saying I'll do it later. This time to think about that here the most classic crystalline we pray about that little bit more right and we have zero intention of doing and doing the godly thing is a pastor limits eczema.

They left I had people say they say we know the Bible says we should have premarital sex know that but will do that later was no demand I know that should be a cheerful giver. Well, you know facilities. A max is only this week was the big old church government people are gives a month on I know that my neighbor is going through a very rough time right now but I'm sure you know I saw a lot of cars already got a lot of family you know God take care of on. I know I should be involved in a small group because I hear it all the time either reading Jesus was counting in a smaller group of people, but you know when the sport season over half time to do that little bit like a normal acid be share my faith with other people. Right now, but you know I mean tense is a need to preach a little bit more on evangelism and do nothing. I'll be good to go. How long are we going to be arrogant and disobey what God is made clear to us today is my big listen to God's voice is simply the obedience delayed obedience is not obedience at all to verse 17, it actually sets up this next section they were going to go into is about a group of people to live a lifestyle of delay obedience, we wouldn't have too much confidence in their material possessions and their wealth. James 5126. Now listen this particular group in the text they get 10 James search in Jerusalem and they happen to be very rich. They happen to be very rich so as a point of clarity that let me consider four categories of people just formal you have godly poor people you have ungodly poor people you have godly wealthy people you have ungodly wealthy people this passage. These six verses right here about ungodly wealthy people that attend this church for what designs at the site. Listen. Come now, you rich, weep, and how for the miseries that are coming upon you. Your riches of rot in your garments are moth-eaten your gold and silver have corroded and their corrosion will be evidence against you, and will eat your flesh like fire. You laid up treasure in the last days. Behold, the wages of the laborers who have mold growth feels which of That you resume That by fraud are crying out against you and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of you live on earth in luxury and is self indulgence use that in your hearts in a day of slaughter. You can deal him and murdered the righteous person. He does not resist to these ungodly people, wealthy people that are in his church there noted two things. One, they hoard their possessions there so stingy they will literally let their fortune rot go to waste. Reporting sought to share it with everyone else. Not only that they default their employees. They mistreat in cheek people because they had the power to do so. They always viewed other people as inferior to themselves as superior always want to be served but never to be served. Dano capital Presidents no hunger games just make a real these are, people that are there in his congregation right now. I so what can we learn from the ungodly receipt. 20 we learn where two things that we learned we we learn to different brutally different worldviews are in these two different worldviews. It reveals our hearts motivation when it comes to plans when it comes to possessions you go to either blinded by ownership or humble by stewardship. You would think you own everything. Will you understand that you're just a steward of those things that has made it clear see ownership what is ownership. Site ownership say is I don't belong to God. Nothing I have below is God. In fact I deserve all that I have because I work hard all 11 answer only to myself.all you want my money are thrown up in the air. Whatever whatever goes up development of lands on the ground is not this ownership is Eric's see it. See ownership convinces you that you always have the final say that you are the voice of reason that you are self-made that you made the boots and then you poured yourself up by your own bootstraps that you walk yourself up every morning that you are in control because you believe that ultimately you are God with humility produces an attitude stewardship which screens that are someone else beyond you to steward six is belong to God. Everything I have belongs to God. In fact, I don't deserve any of this is a gift from God. I am the Lord.

Steward. I will be a fool to throw the money in the air the same air in our previous to produce the loans in my body for Altieri to pick it up off the ground and that like his mind. When you created the ground that I stand no Jesus sums it up. Matthew 619 he said, do not lay up treasures for yourselves on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in the steel leg up treasures in heaven when neither moth nor rust destroys with these don't breaking the steel for where your treasure is, there is your heart also.

There's no question that I love earthly treasure often reveals our hearts.

Motivation is why we look back at verse six. Here is is you condemn and murdered the righteous person and he didn't resist.

Know what's scary about just reading this verse that there were probably some people bear. There were in that church that enhance family members of other people in the church murdered because of this the all too common persecution.

Death was the fate of many Christians in this time about ungodly people we see Alden James to read through in their we started having emulsified disciples, Paul, Steven and even Pastor James who was murdered because he wouldn't stop believing in his big brother Jesus we see these things happen. The first question we ask is where did this come from, how could people be that way and reminded that actually is in our nature to not make it out of this. I love my kids. I really do that forever but I'm kinda reminded that we are all born sinners long because every time I see kids in my keys, and other people's kids do things that nobody ever taught them the things that my parents never taught me. For example, for them it is in a situation that was allocated I might be okay. You know the kid is anxious that appointees out you know you like to play with keys there playing with keys and put them in their mouth. Do it all, things within their plan to talk to the other parent have a good time with your keys and then a thousand years ago. I tell you my keys back when you go to take the keys that they snatch the keys back from you and they put together these two words that you know, I know you don't talk to kids but together no mine. I believe the key in the world know the name keys that ready to go. I did know mine. Now listen listen. Mine is the gospel we naturally we naturally make plans without considering we naturally allow material possessions to corrupt our hearts in treat others as inferior and though most of us aren't kids anymore. We still act like kids when it comes to plans, possessions if God decides in your life to take his keys that you borrow and we choose to respond in the same way. No, my plans no my possessions that that same sinful nature that murdered Christians in this time, but make more personal. See our sins. That's what nailed Jesus to the cross. And even though we mistreated him. Since everything is in this passage, he did not resist us. He willingly became sin so that we can become righteous. He submitted his plans to God for not my will, Lord, your will be done. Jesus had it all in heaven, but he gave it all up himself. He became poor, so that we can become rich, and he didn't delay in his obedience. He was obedient even to death on the cross is the story about the hero dying for the dinner is the story of the judge the steps off the bench and please guilty on behalf of the criminal for safe punishing me instead of punishing him what, love is that that's the common love that Jesus has for us while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us so if you hear his voice today, harden not your heart. Don't delay, be obedient and trust him today. Some of you might be here today you say pastor Chris know I made plans are considered God's will. I'm a good steward.

I don't have a lot but I try to get as much of my time my town and my treasure to him right now I need to be honest with you, Beth, Chris, my life is an award-winning writer. I don't know what to do next.

Yes I know the future is unknown. I'm going through a tough time right now and I need direction. How can I trust God right now as you keep listening to God's voice in this final test right here. James five was made to put your confidence in unknown God verse seven. Be patient, be patient, therefore, brothers to the coming of the Lord see how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth being patient about it until it receives the early and late rains.

You also be patient, establish a hearts for the coming of the Lord is at hand not grumble against one another brothers. You may not be judged. Behold, the judge standing at the door she James is teaching this persecuted group is suffering confidence how to place their confidence in Jesus, the good church by being patient.

How do we trust Jesus. Be patient. That sounds simple right but God do know that patient is not natural places is not natural. According to the Scripture basis is something that is supernatural. Galatians 5 talks about the fruit of the spirit is there, this love, joy, peace, patience, supernatural from God with your problem is we often miss understand the purpose of patients see back in James chapter 1. The class verse.

We put he personifies patients says let patience have her perfect work. Patient is trying to perfect something out of us what kind of work is that why think Paul David Tripp says it says the best right here the safe places is not just about what you will get in the union of the white. This truth patience is about what you will become as you wait for verse seven gives us the example of farmers. If you guys know anybody that farming was you know anything about a farmer when they did you know that while farmer plant seeds. One of the things that they don't believe is that they do not believe in their wasting their time. Farmers don't believe that when they so seize the day that is useless. It is meaningless and what is a vapor suit. They actually joyfully and enthusiastically wait for the fruit of the harvest they counted all joy while they wait, the patient is a lot like faith right is not believe in something that is happening even though you can't see it happen. So what displaces produce one of the things that patient does one of the first things he does is very uncomfortable because he begins to perch and purges out all those things that we put our trust in those items. It calls to the surface.

All those plans and all those material possessions.

All those things that seem to be worthy of our of our love and trust.

It calls now. Now listen just like when acute as take medicine we don't want to do it.

We comply see when you want to complain this let you know that God is doing something because I know that when I go to stuff the first thing I ask is why is this happening to me right now because obviously Lord I'm not ready for this right now.

How long is this thing going to continue to go on the last as a path I would tell you this is not been an easy year and all for me and my family.

I made that I cannot keep it real for me not, I longed to hear the prophetic words of sweet brown and nobody got confident I II ignored was a God purges some things out to me Chris. Who do you trust crisp cool you place a hold me son you believe in him good.

Do you believe that I will give you more than what you can bear to believe that my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Do you believe have you seen the people that are placed around in your life. See what typical in isolation were to be angry at God and even others see patients when I was perfect and work in a Pers all this out of us.

That's why Jane says right here not to global against one another to Groveland is a reflection of what you believe about God's sovereignty and his character. That's why he reminds the suffering people that Jesus is a judge. While we go to that characteristic qualities of suffering why diabetes is absurd because this is a good judge adjust judge could never be wrong. So you'll have to worry about your oppression. You have to wear a bottle of precious because God can't be mocked. He's a judge. He never let things go on punished is why he promised his son on our behalf as well. You should trust him, but in the meantime is life approval was a song of praise to places the something else now is a Pers outing idols but he gives us character it gives us hope. In Romans five, Romans 53 Truvada says this not only that, but we rejoice in our suffering, knowing that suffering produces endurance with his patients and endurance patients produces character, and character produces hope, and hope his name is Jesus is not put a strain because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who is been given to us church. Let us not neglect how God can and will make us more like him in the presence of the hardships and never forget. No matter how grim it may get you have a hope that is beyond his world in a spirit inside of you to guarantee that that's what James leaves us. He encourages us with two practical examples of suffering and paste in the midst of an unknown future housing doing is reversing as an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Behold, we consider those plans and remain steadfast. You've heard of the steadfastness of Joe. You see, the purpose of the Lord how the Lord is compassionate and merciful. Please us to examples.

One is of the prophets in one of Joe nonprofits. They certainly trusted their unknown future to God is no limit ironic to do that always talk about the future are often unsure about their own future meds met the prophet Jonah. Jonah wrestled with delayed obedience to the right thing to do when he ran from doing so. What did God do God said Jonah I know you want to go and preach to these people that are pretty much terrors these people that want to see you dated and won't have anything to do with you so he spent some time in the belly of a fish thinks he's inhale and through that through that patient time God purges out the idols of his heart and he confesses repentance. Then he goes out and increases the word save people and then of what was God trying to do $again Jonah. His heart. Another example is that of Jeremiah Jeremiah the prophet wanted to be a priest care for people.com and be a prophet. He often went through things that were very uncertain. His life was threatened every turn his own for people that he was prophesying to her, trying to kill him.

This gasket Tommy Ely was thrown out to the animals. He was thrown down into a deep dark murky dungeon left to die.

How do you continue to speak God's word. Why was first to while you still proclaim things that is fine I ever get to see on the cost of the risk. How did he manage under so much uncertainty because he didn't allow his distress to define God to some of us would BFFs with Jesus, the pain and suffering, she is easy to praise him for his provision, but can we be content with his presence. Don't forget this company is in Jesus.

He is having confidence in his character companies in Jesus, not just having confidence in what he can do.

But in who he is, even when you don't see those things being done immediately have a solid grasp on his character to listen. We are naturally heavily concentrated on the outcome of our circumstance. But God is heavily concentrated on the outcome of our faith to some of us will never realize how balding this world really is into this world comes falling down literally all around us.

That's why I plead with you to trust that you can't trust them. If you don't know is it very difficult to trust somebody that you don't know. So how do you trust Jesus with two ways you can trust them as you trust him through the Scripture. One of the ways that you trust him through Scripture. The other way through the body of believers when you're going through. When times are hard. The greatest things you could have his to hear from God. I don't know about you with Rob when a blood draw.

I will not need to speak to me only another person say what he audibly from you.

God I want to feel you right now God would just what you can. Happy to hear from God. You have to study his word. This is voice. Listen God to speak in many different ways, but he speaks most clearly most clearly in his word now talking to a brother the other day going to the painting with three was like man I just want to feel God right now I just want I just I need them to embrace me right now. I understand I feel the same way, how do you feel God you have to be around people. The community of God while you think were called the body of Christ because where the hands were the feet docket to his presence through you the way that you love one another as people know he's there.

See, we have to trust that the Savior. The last example James gives us is one of our brother named Joe. His church is very familiar with the story so he just spoke of Joe's name. Let me just tell you about Joe Job was a godly wealthy man to fight many of us Joe's plans.

While they were good. They were abruptly interrupted with several unplanned events. What happened to Joe. I don't wish own anyone ever one catastrophe after another. He lost all of his business.

All of his material possessions you lost something even more presses. He lost the lives of all of his children. He lost the trust of his wife Jeannie lost his health and take a step further. His friends tried to convince him that all of this it happened because of the sin in his life. He had no idea what the future would hold things were not going according to plan. Job is something that I pray to God. Now they are doing the same room. He worshiped God he worshiped God in the middle of a strategy to Joe yes Job it praise God when he was doing well when he was doing good when when when he was provided for. But he still worship God because he knew that God was a good father.

He knew his God's character I think is very interesting because during this entire period we saw what patient is David Joe now like Joe because Joe Kemper drew he wanted answer why God why is this so much calamity why there's so much heartache and God spoke to him because we didn't do. He did not give Job an answer to why he was going through so much because what he did give to gave him something greater and more intimate relationship with him.

Listen to Job's response after God spoke to him even though he didn't give him the answer to why Joe 42 verse one incentives then Job answered the Lord and say I know you can do all things and that no purpose of yours can be for God and Satan, who is this that hides counsel without knowledge. Job says therefore I voted when I do not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I do not know God is said here and I will speak I will question you and you make it known to me.

Job says I have heard of you by the hearing of the year, but now my eyes therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and I'm convinced church that the closer we get to God come bail compelled to repeat. Repentance is not a one-time event at the beginning of salvation is posture. As Christians are thousand one Revelation stay. God gives us relationship with him. That happens to repentance. God gives us that grace. See when you respond to this breakthrough relied that something that you can purchase something that you don't deserve is something that you can earn when it produces a heart that's what Jesus is after is making us more like him. Yes, Job brought a heartache and pain, not of the things he had before was returned to him. But as foreshadowing of what God would do for us in eternity with Jesus was amazing is that God our God took a righteous man was already righteous. Every form him through the trial that he was going to the middle trial date.

We want to stand with you body of Christ is not a bad thing. You desperately won't listing the past because it reminds you that you don't belong here. You don't belong in this fallen world. You belong in a better world a better kingdom with the better team, King Jesus is coming back for us to submit to him church trust in church, you can't predict what tomorrow will bring. Which can place your confidence and trust in God, who holds in the same value is with all that you take the next few moments has been freighted to begin the service which I hear from God what areas in your life, delaying and obedient, what is patient's front in your life. How is perfect right now. Spin the moment there are teens becoming closeout service