Today we will talk about the topic of Righteousness.

Matthew 5:6 (New International Version)

6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Filled = satisfied, to fulfill or satisfy your desires

Righteous isn’t really a word that we hear talked about very often. When it is used, it’s brought up in a negative sense – that person is so self-righteous.

The word righteous really means to be approved. To have a deep sense of approval. Almost like having a verdict being rendered about you that you are worthy, you are approved.

Righteousness

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One of the best parts of getting a gift isn’t actually about the gift as much as it is about the gift giver and the receiver. I’m special to them,  They’re thinking about me.

God was thinking about you when he sent Jesus.

Isaiah 49:16 (English Standard Version)
Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands

More Than Just A Thought!
The thought does count. It’s important. A perfect gift is a thoughtful gift. But just thinking about it is not enough.

The Perfect Gift

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Today we are going to look at how God wants us to Re-Gift. God desires that all of us become masters at the art of the Re-Gift.

Matthew 10:8 (New International Version)

Freely you have received, freely give.

Before we can re-gift, we must receive what God has given to us.

Re-Gift

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I don’t like to wrap. I used to be really bad at wrapping. Now I do a pretty descent job. I’ve never got the art of the bow down.

Here’s the thing about wrapping paper, it can be very deceiving about what’s inside. You can look at some really amazingly wrapped gifts and be misled that something really good is inside of it.

You can take something that no one wants, something that people try to avoid, and make it look desirable.

In today’s message I want to unwrap sin. Sin always presents itself in a very attractive way. Satan is a master deceiver.

Wrapping

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Luke 17:9 (New Living Translation)
9 And does the master thank the servant for doing what he was told to do? Of course not.

Jesus is saying that there is a condition for appreciation, gratitude. There is some criteria that must be met.

He says if you want to be appreciated, if you want gratitude, you need to do something that is thankable. Just doing what is required, what is expected, is not thankable behavior.

Today I want to talk about the unthankful.

God Is

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I say thank you all the time. I say thank you a lot. Every time I’m in a checkout line I purposely look at the person’s name so that when they hand me my receipt I can say “thank you, Gertrude.”

While being polite is great, Jesus tells us that real thankfulness should be in response to something extraordinary.

God Is

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Most of life is determined by the choices we make. Where to live, where to work, who to date, who to marry. Choices to put my needs above other people’s needs. The choice to surrender my wants, desires, and will to God, or to do my own thing and hope it works out.

Often our daily choices don’t matter very much; what to wear, where to eat lunch. Other times, our choices are extremely important and affect our lives in a big way. It requires wisdom to know the difference.

How many times have you made choices, later to find out that you should have chosen something else? All of us have had times in our life when you say, “Well, if I would’ve known this, I wouldn’t have done that.” Maybe you can identify with the song lyrics, “I wish that I knew what I know now, when I was younger.”

Wisdom

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Perseverance and patience is not putting up with things until you go to Heaven. This is not what James is telling us to do.
When test and trials come, we must be patient and persevere WHILE OVERCOMING the test and trials.

Perseverance and patience is not passive. Say that with me. It is not sitting there waiting for things to be different.
James is the guy that tells us to do the Word not just listen, he’s the one that says faith without works is dead. He challenges us to action!

Patience Isn’t Passive

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We are in a series of talks right now where we are looking at the book of James to see what it means to be a mature Christian.

God’s will for every person is that they grow.  In Hebrews 6:1, “Let us go on to maturity.”  God says grow up.  Create a growing community that makes Jesus attractive. Growing spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and becoming more Christlike.

James challenges followers of Christ to not just “talk the talk,” but to “walk the walk.”
Good works are not the cause of salvation, but they are the result of it.

James is a manual on how to live a mature Christian life. James talks a lot about Patience and Perseverance. Patience and Perseverance should be evident in a mature persons life.

Patience

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