We must know and understand what God’s purpose is for our church, and together strive to excel in fulfilling that purpose for the glory of Christ.

The Fantastic 4-fold Purpose of the Local Church:

1) Be a Worshiping Body – Exalt the Lord

2) Be a Witnessing Body – Evangelize the Lost

3) Be a Walking Body – Edify the Saints

4) Be a Working Body – Equip the Saints

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Sermon by Cyril Florita

Colossians 3:14–15 (NASB95)

14 Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.

Theme/Proposition: In light of the Christian’s identity as a new man in Christ, you and I must put on the God-given garments of that new man.

Outline:

The Outer Garments of the New Man:

Garment of Love (v.14)
Garment of Peace (v.15a)
Garment of Thankfulness (v. 15b)

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James 5:16-18 (NASB)

16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. A prayer of a righteous person, when it is brought about, can accomplish much. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. 18 Then he prayed again, and the sky poured rain and the earth produced its fruit.

Theme: Since the prayer of the righteous is very powerful, we as Christians should be motivated to pray.

1) A Motivation to pray (5:16b)

2) An Illustration of the power of prayer (5:17-18)

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James 5:13-16 (NASB)

13 Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; 15 and the prayer of faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. A prayer of a righteous person, when it is brought about, can accomplish much.

Theme: Prayer is an expression of our dependence on God in all of life’s circumstances.

1) Times of suffering should lead us to prayer (5:13a)

2) Times of blessing should lead us to praise (5:13b)

3) In extreme sickness, we should call on the elders to pray (5:14-15)

4) In struggles with sin, we should confess to one another and pray (5:16a)

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James 5:12 (NASB)

12 But above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but your yes is to be yes, and your no, no, so that you do not fall under judgment.

Theme: Christians are called to be people who speak the truth and are faithful to keep their word.

Outline:

1) Don’t swear or take oaths to authenticate the truth (5:12a)

2) Make swearing/oaths unnecessary by always speaking the truth (5:12b)

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James 5:7-9 (NASB)

7 Therefore be patient, brothers and sisters, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains. 8 You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. 9 Do not complain, brothers and sisters, against one another, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door.

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Colossians 3:12-13 (NASB)
12 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so must you do also.

Theme: Because God has made believers to be His chosen, holy, and beloved people, they must clothe themselves with Christlike virtues and forgive one another as the Lord has forgiven them.

Outline: 4 Garments of the New Man:

• Identity
• Virtue
• Forbearance
• Forgiveness

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James 4:13-17 (NASB)

13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.” 14 Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. For you are just a vapor that appears for a little while, and then vanishes away. 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.” 16 But as it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil. 17 So for one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, for him it is sin.

Two big problems with making plans & decisions apart from seeking God’s will:

1) It is foolish to act like you are in control of the future (4:13-14)

2) It is arrogance and evil to neglect God’s will (4:16-17)

How to make plans & decisions in honor of Christ:

3) Seek the Lord’s will in everything you do (4:15)

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James 4:11-12 (NASB)

11 Do not speak against one another, brothers and sisters. The one who speaks against a brother or sister, or judges his brother or sister, speaks against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge of it. 12 There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you, judging your neighbor?

It is serious sin against God to speak against or stand in judgement over others.

1) The Command(s) – 4:11a (& b)

2) The Reasons for the Command(s) – 4:11b-12

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James 4:7-10 (NASB)

7 Submit therefore to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come close to God and He will come close to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be miserable, and mourn, and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning, and your joy into gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.

Being in close(r) relationship with God involves dealing with your pride and sin in much humility.

1) Some Pointers for closer closeness to God (4:7)

2) The Importance of real repentance (4:8-9)

3) A Promise to the wholly humble (4:10)

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