James 1:17

0:00 You've already heard more important things than I have to say, so I hope I'm going to set a record tonight. I think the record is nine minutes, and see if we're going to challenge that. Our verse tonight, as already spoken of, is James 1.16, and here it is. Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. I think the main idea of this verse is that if we want anything genuinely good and perfect, we're going to have to get it from God.

0:38 Looking anywhere else is a lie. This truth, a failure to believe this truth, is responsible for much of the misery of this world. Our first parents, Adam and Eve, failed to believe this. They believed the devil's lie, saying there's something else out for you. If you'll just go a little farther than what God has said you to go, then you'll have blessings that he's otherwise going to deny you.

1:11 We all know the result of that. And failing to believe that God is going to give us everything good, and our pride, those two things, are probably the source of all sin. certainly the source of most sin so I'd like to put our choice plain and simple I've got two lists that I pull out of the scriptures tonight you'll immediately recognize them I'll speak directly if I may as Pastor Menikoff did today if you're a child here tonight teenager someone brought you this may be new to you it not what you see The world lies to us Our hearts are bent to believe that lie, and we know from Jesus that the source of those lies is ultimately Satan, that there's something else out there. Here's the choice. Here's what God has on offer.

2:09 love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. That's what's there for us from God. Here's what the world has to offer. Jealousy, envy, fits of anger, rivalries, drunkenness, sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, covetousness, which is idolatry, and the like. That's our choices.

2:41 Let's choose God. Let's pray. Father, this world that we see comes at us so strong. We ask that those here tonight who may not know you, choose you tonight. Take advantage of what your son has bought to offer them. taking on our sins, rising from the dead, so that your Holy Spirit can draw us to you.

3:16 We're asking you to draw them to you tonight. For those of us who already know you, we have tasted you, we know how good you are. Help us to turn our backs on this world and believe that all good gifts come from you. to pursue you above everything else. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.