Troy Brewer, OpenDoor Church, Burleson, TexasTroy Brewer, OpenDoor Church, Burleson, TexasSunday, Nov. 24, 2019
The book of James is the “put up or shut up” book of the New Testament.
It’s the book that says, “If you say you have it in your heart, the rest of us should be able to see it in your life.”
When James gave his credentials, he could have said, “I am the half brother of the Lord Jesus Christ.”
He could have said,
“I was there when the angel busted Peter out of Prison”(Acts 12:17)
“I made the deciding speech at the Jerusalem Council” (Acts 15:13–22)
“I am one of the pillars of the Church”(Galatians 2:9)
“I was one of the select individuals Christ appeared to after his resurrection” (1 Corinthians 15:7)
“When Paul got saved, I was the first guy he came to see for verification” (Galatians 1:19)
As a matter of fact, Paul did the same on his last visit to Jerusalem (Acts 21:18) “When my brother Jude wrote his book, his highest credential was that he was my brother. In other words, he said, ‘My brother, James, can vouch for me’” (Jude 1:1)
James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,James 1:1
Serving is not your identity. Your identity is a son or a daughter of God. Your highest credential of identity is that you are part of the family of Jesus Christ.
Your highest credential for authority is that you serve. See, Jesus qualified you for family at the cross through His precious blood.
But you and I qualify ourselves for authority through serving. JESUS SAID
Matthew 23:11 – But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant.
The angel Gabriel presented his badge of authority to the daddy of John the Baptist this way …
Luke 1:19 – And the angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings.”
What Gabriel is saying is, “I stand in His presence, watching and waiting on him. I serve Him night and day. I wait on Him hand in foot so if I say it’s gonna happen, it’s gonna happen. I’ve got awesome authority so do not contradict me.”
FAMILY is who you get to be. FREEDOM is what you get to walk in. SERVING is what you get to do.
PAUL PUT IT THIS WAY:
1 Corinthians 13:13 – And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
LOVE IS WHEN YOU LAY DOWN YOUR LIFE. LOVE IS WHEN YOU SERVE.
We are not talking about works. We are talking about “Acts.”
Works are when you do something in the hope it will make you saved. Acts are when you do something because you know you are saved.
Works are something you do because you have no faith. Acts are something you do because you do have faith.
The fifth book of the New Testament is not called, “the thoughts of the apostles” or “the supernatural gifts of the apostles.” It’s not called “the philosophies or opinions” of the apostles. It’s called THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES.
The first century church HAD A REPUTATION FOR CHANGING EVERYTHING. They had a reputation for revolution.
Acts 17:6 – “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also…”
A church that changes the world is full of ACTS.
A world-changing Church is something that actually moves forward and lives life as if Jesus Christ really is the answer.
A Christian who is full of the Holy Spirit is just like the book that introduces us to the Holy Spirit.
Not every Christian acts.Not every church acts.
Acts 5:12 – The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people.
God did extraordinary miracles through Paul.(Acts 19:11)
THE POWER OF GOD IS ASSOCIATED WITH ACTS OF SERVICE
TRANSFORMATION AND REVOLUTION HAPPEN THROUGH ACTS OF SERVICE
One of the greatest reasons Christians don’t become world-changers is because they don’t know who they are or what their purpose is.
I tell you this: you will not discover who you are unless you give yourself away.
YOU DISCOVER YOUR CALLINGS THROUGH SERVING.
Identity: Who God says you are Purpose: What God says you are here for Destiny: How you contribute and change things
Christianity is a VERB”SERVOLUTION” It’s a lifestyle of standing on the promises of God,following hard after the King of Kings, and going into highest potential of our own callings.
When Christianity is a noun it is ugly. Christ is a noun. Christianity is an action based upon thedemonstration of the heart that has been given to each of us.
The only way we can see our lives, our families, our communities or our generation transformed is through selfless acts of redemption