The Perfect Game PlanFresh Start Christian Church

August 22, 2010

James 1:21-25• 21Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so

prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. 22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does. (NIV)

Scouting Report• Constant surveillance• Aware of weaknesses and

tendencies• Setup for your demise

The Ultimate Underdogs• 2 Corinthians 4:8-9• “pressed on every side”• “perplexed”• “persecuted”• “struck down”• Romans 8:36• “face death all day long”• “sheep to be slaughtered”

More than Conquerors• Romans 8:37• God’s FAVOR makes us “the

favorite.”• OBEDIENCE is the key.

Dump the Junk• 21Therefore, get rid of

ALL moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

• prevalent – commonly occurring, existing, accepted or practiced

Check Yourself• 22Do not merely listen to the word, and so

deceive yourselves. Do what it says. • “After Hours” Lifestyle• Watch out for PRIDE!• Execute the Game Plan.

How do you obey God?• O vercome selfish desires. (Gal. 5:20)

• B ehave like Jesus. (Phil. 2:8 & 3:14)

• E at more Word. (Ps. 119:11)

• Y ield not to temptation. (1 Cor. 10:13)

Bad Amnesia• 23Anyone who listens to the word but does not

do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.

Reap the Rewards• 25But the man who

looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does. (NIV)

He Wants It all• 18 And he sent you on a mission, saying, 'Go and

completely destroy those wicked people, the Amalekites; make war on them until you have wiped them out.' 19 Why did you not obey the LORD ? Why did you pounce on the plunder and do evil in the eyes of the LORD ?"

• 20 "But I did obey the LORD," Saul said. "I went on the mission the LORD assigned me. I completely destroyed the Amalekites and brought back Agag their king. 21 The soldiers took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of what was devoted to God, in order to sacrifice them to the LORD your God at Gilgal."

What Really Matters• 22 But Samuel replied:

"Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the

voice of the LORD ? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.

Seeking God’s Approval• Short of the glory of God• Hand it off!• Cannot lose with Jesus