Beats From Your Pastor’s Heart
James 4:17, “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”
Sin in the context of James 4 means independent action.
This is what sin is–independent action.
From the beginning, the real source of all sin has been man acting independently of God.
In this chapter, James is talking about those who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”.
To those James says, “Instead you ought to say, If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that”.
“If the Lord wills” is not merely a religious saying.
It means we live a dependent life about everything.
Then James says, “But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.”
What is this boasting, this arrogance?
It is being independent in our moves, in our daily life.
He continues, “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.”
What is the good here?
The good here is dependence upon God.
I am going to the store dependent upon God.
I am going to fellowship with the saints dependent upon God.
To live independently is to live presumptuously and sinfully.
Perhaps we have never considered sin in this way.
But this is the basic definition of sin–independence from God.
Every sin is traced back to our independence.
So the way to be delivered from our sinning is not to act independently.
How can we do this?
Such a life issues from spending time with the Lord to have thorough fellowship with Him.
We need to nurture and cultivate our dependent relationship with the Lord.
Until Tomorrow
With A Shepherd’s Love,
Pastor Jackson
MONDAY’S PRAYER REQUESTS
PAT CHUPP – Major heart surgery on Friday
Robbie Edwards – Pacemaker
Amy Garner
Amy Garner’s Mom & Dad
Andrew Halevi & Daughter
Ashely Burn’s Sisters
Brandon’s Dad
Coly/Connor – Allison’s G’sons
Dan Haines
Darlene Wiggins
David Burnette
David Harrison – Riverside
Deanna Fowler
Denise Hulsey – Jordan’s G’mother
Donnie Butler’s Dad
Doris Loyd
Dr. and Mrs. Davis
Easton Fielder
Ed Mays
Eric Ward
Erik Magnusson
Freddie May’s Mom
George & Linda Alexander
Heather May
James Burnette
James Garner’s Friend
Janie Roberts
Jillian Gray
Joanie & Jeanie
Joanie/Jeanie Mom
Jodi Bateman
John Austin
John McClain
June Cronan
June Cronan’s Sister
Kailey Bateman
Kathy Mabe
Kim McClain’s Mother
Krista Hilscher – Improving
Larry Barker
Lee Cronan – Success
Lillanna Magnusson’s Mom
Linda Breedlove’s Sister – Sarah
Linda Hodges’ Sister
Lonzo Christin
Lori Blount’s Mother
Marlon Cook
Mary Sims
Marynell Ford
Maureen Brown
Michael Stanley
Nancy Proudfit – Home
Pastor & Mrs. Driskell
Richard Blount – Doing Well
Ricky Gipson
Ricky Stubbs
Rose Fuller – Rehab
Roseleigh Osborn
Sandra Graham
Scott Lanier
Soso Nzolo – 17 Yr. Old South African Pastor’s Daughter
Susan & Alexis Tesone
Tom Witcher