Harvest Bible Chapel-Woodhull

Prayer: a powerful tool

Prayer: a powerful tool

James 5:13-18

Pastor Dusty Foster

1-9-22

• Prayer is a powerful tool because it helps us:
  • V13-14 align with the will of God
    • Acts 16:25 ' About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, '
    • Titus 1:5-9 “…appoint elders in every town as I directed you— if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it. '
• Prayer is a powerful tool because it helps us:
  • V15-16a realize that our sin can be the cause of our suffering
  • 1 John 1:9 'If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. '
• Prayer is a powerful tool because it helps us:
  • V16b-18 trust God for the miraculous

• Matt 26:39 'And going a little farther he fell on his face and ayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” '

Smart Money James 5:1-6 Sunday, 12/26/21

Smart Money James 5:1-6 Sunday, 12/26/21

Smart money requires that I...

1. View money with an eternal perspective not just a temporal one v.1-3 2. View money to be a blessing and not just to gather more and spend it on myself v.3-7
Matthew 6:19, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.”

Look Who’s Coming to Christmas: The King

Look Who’s Coming to Christmas
The King
Isaiah 9:1-7

1.  When the king comes, darkness is eliminated v.1-2
2 Timothy 3:1-5, “But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.  For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,  having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power.”
2.  When the king comes, sadness is eliminated v.3
Revelation 21:4, “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
3.  When the king comes, oppression is eliminated v.4
Matthew 11:28, “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” 
4.  When the king comes, hatred is eliminated v.5
Isaiah 2:4, “He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.”
5.  When the king comes, human rule and government is eliminated v.6-7

12.12.21 Look Who‘s Coming to Christmas - God With Us

12.05.21 - Look Who’s Coming to Christmas The failures, the far-fetched, and the forgotten

Look Who’s Coming to Christmas
The failures, the far-fetched, and the forgotten
Matthew 1;1-16
Sunday, 12/5/21

 

1.  God’s grace is greater than my failure

1 Timothy 1:15, “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.”
2.  God’s plans are greater than my being far-fetched
3.  God’s love is greater than my being forgotten
Psalm 139:17-18 says: “How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you.”

Smart Planning

Smart Planning
James 4:13-17
Sunday, 11/28/21

 

1.  Smart planning recognizes the uncertainties of life, holds plans loosely, and seeks God’s will v.13-14,15
2.  Smart planning recognizes the brevity of life and lives with eternity in view v.14
Psalm 39:4-6, “O LORD, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am! Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before you.  Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath!  Surely a man goes about as a shadow!”
3.  Smart planning recognizes the boastfulness of life and knows God is in control v.16-17

11.21.21 -Stop the Fight pt.2(James 4:7-12)

Key points...

1.  Adjust my position so I’m in the proper place before God v.7-8
2.  Affirm the seriousness of having divided loyalties v.8-10
3.  Abstain from passing judgment about other people v.11-12

11.14.21 -Stopping the Fight pt. 1 (James 4:1-6)

Stopping the Fight pt. 1
James 4:1-6
Sunday, 11/14/21

 

We stop the fighting by...
1.  Acknowledging that fights come from my selfish desires v.1-2
2.  Aligning myself with God’s will for my life v.2-3
3. Arranging my life for Christ and not the culture v.4-5
4. Adjusting my attitude to recognize my continual need for God v.6

11.7.21 - The Wisdom Contrast (James:3:13-18)

10.31.21 A Reckless Tongue James 3:1-12

A Reckless Tongue

James 3:1-12