WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.000 Good morning Church. 00:00:04.000 --> 00:00:13.620 The reading is from James 1, 19-27, page 1213 in Church Bible. 00:00:13.620 --> 00:00:19.539 ! My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this. 00:00:20.059 --> 00:00:24.800 ! Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry. 00:00:25.800 --> 00:00:29.800 Because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:37.000 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is prevalent, 00:00:37.000 --> 00:00:42.000 and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. 00:00:42.000 --> 00:00:49.000 Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourself. 00:00:49.000 --> 00:00:51.000 Do what it says. 00:00:51.000 --> 00:00:56.000 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says 00:00:56.000 --> 00:01:03.000 is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror, and after looking at himself goes away, 00:01:03.000 --> 00:01:07.000 and immediately forget what he looks like. 00:01:07.000 --> 00:01:14.000 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law 00:01:14.000 --> 00:01:18.000 that gives freedom and continues in it, 00:01:18.000 --> 00:01:26.000 not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it, they will be blessed in what they do. 00:01:26.000 --> 00:01:33.000 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep tight rain on their tongue deceive themselves, 00:01:33.000 --> 00:01:35.000 and their religion is worthless. 00:01:35.000 --> 00:01:41.000 The religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this, 00:01:41.000 --> 00:01:50.000 to look after orphans and widows in their distress, and keep ourselves from being polluted by the world. 00:01:50.000 --> 00:01:52.000 This is the word of God. Amen. 00:01:52.000 --> 00:02:00.000 Let's pray, shall we? Let's pray. 00:02:01.000 --> 00:02:07.000 Almighty Father, we thank you for all that you have revealed to us as people, Lord. 00:02:08.000 --> 00:02:12.000 We thank you, Father, for all that you have said to us in the past and taught us. 00:02:13.000 --> 00:02:17.000 Father, we pray that you would speak to us today, that you would open our eyes, Lord, 00:02:17.000 --> 00:02:20.000 that we might see marvelous things in your law. 00:02:20.000 --> 00:02:26.000 There are good things, beautiful things, magnificent things, the greatest being yourself. 00:02:27.000 --> 00:02:30.000 But, Father, the truth is we can easily miss it. 00:02:30.000 --> 00:02:33.000 Open our minds, Father. Open our hearts, Lord. 00:02:33.000 --> 00:02:37.000 May you be glorified. Amen. 00:02:37.000 --> 00:02:38.000 Amen. 00:02:38.000 --> 00:02:40.000 Very good morning to you. 00:02:40.000 --> 00:02:44.000 Andrew Gordon, Donington Evangelical Church, 00:02:44.000 --> 00:02:51.000 Pastor of former West Kilburnite back in the day. 00:02:51.000 --> 00:02:52.000 Okay. 00:02:52.000 --> 00:02:55.000 And, yeah, a few days ago. 00:02:55.000 --> 00:02:58.000 Yeah, so we're looking at James chapter one. 00:02:59.000 --> 00:03:03.000 Pastor Steve's asked me to do an intro on this. 00:03:03.000 --> 00:03:07.000 So the aim is that you will read the book. 00:03:07.000 --> 00:03:09.000 Yeah, that's the aim. 00:03:09.000 --> 00:03:10.000 You'll read the book. 00:03:10.000 --> 00:03:11.000 You'll study it. 00:03:11.000 --> 00:03:14.000 Hopefully you're going to enjoy it as well. 00:03:14.000 --> 00:03:15.000 So that's the plan. 00:03:16.000 --> 00:03:19.000 So what I'm going to do is an intro on the intro. 00:03:19.000 --> 00:03:20.000 I said we're going to start. 00:03:20.000 --> 00:03:26.000 And then I'm going to lock in on one subject that I think is going to be the key subject for us. 00:03:27.000 --> 00:03:30.000 So James one verse one. 00:03:30.000 --> 00:03:32.000 Who is James? 00:03:32.000 --> 00:03:34.000 And what is this? 00:03:34.000 --> 00:03:45.000 James, verse one, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ to the 12 tribes scattered among the nations. 00:03:46.000 --> 00:03:48.000 This is a letter. 00:03:48.000 --> 00:03:57.000 This is a letter written any time between 44, 49, a D, 2,000 years old. 00:03:57.000 --> 00:03:59.000 Who is James? 00:03:59.000 --> 00:04:03.000 James identifies himself in this verse as a servant. 00:04:03.000 --> 00:04:07.000 So he's speaking to fellow servants. 00:04:08.000 --> 00:04:12.000 Well, not only is he a servant, he's the Lord's half brother. 00:04:12.000 --> 00:04:15.000 Not only is he a half brother and a servant. 00:04:15.000 --> 00:04:17.000 He's also a child of God. 00:04:17.000 --> 00:04:25.000 So he's speaking to fellow servants, but siblings, spiritual siblings. 00:04:26.000 --> 00:04:28.000 Who is he writing to? 00:04:28.000 --> 00:04:31.000 One verse one, the 12 tribes. 00:04:32.000 --> 00:04:36.000 So Jewish believers around the Roman Empire. 00:04:37.000 --> 00:04:39.000 He's talking to them. 00:04:39.000 --> 00:04:43.000 He's given them instructions so that they will become like Christ. 00:04:43.000 --> 00:04:50.000 And as a result, draw people to the Lord Jesus in the Empire. 00:04:50.000 --> 00:04:53.000 But they'll be attracted to this community. 00:04:56.000 --> 00:04:57.000 New Testament teaching. 00:04:58.000 --> 00:05:00.000 To them, for us. 00:05:01.000 --> 00:05:03.000 To them, for us. 00:05:04.000 --> 00:05:07.000 To the Jewish Christians in the first century. 00:05:07.000 --> 00:05:10.000 But for us, for our understanding. 00:05:10.000 --> 00:05:13.000 This is not a museum piece. 00:05:14.000 --> 00:05:16.000 Okay, just something we sort of walk by and go, 00:05:16.000 --> 00:05:17.000 Ooh, that's nice, isn't it? 00:05:18.000 --> 00:05:19.000 Oh, that's very interesting. 00:05:19.000 --> 00:05:23.000 No, actually, it is to be applied. 00:05:24.000 --> 00:05:26.000 So in terms of style. 00:05:27.000 --> 00:05:30.000 If you contrast it with say, a letter from Paul. 00:05:31.000 --> 00:05:32.000 Paul will have his truth. 00:05:32.000 --> 00:05:33.000 Bam. 00:05:33.000 --> 00:05:34.000 And then he'll have his application. 00:05:34.000 --> 00:05:35.000 Bam. 00:05:35.000 --> 00:05:36.000 I got my truth. 00:05:36.000 --> 00:05:37.000 I got my commands. 00:05:37.000 --> 00:05:39.000 James is slightly different. 00:05:39.000 --> 00:05:41.000 He will just go, I've got my truth. 00:05:41.000 --> 00:05:43.000 I'm going to sprinkle it briefly. 00:05:43.000 --> 00:05:45.000 And then bang, I've got some commands for you. 00:05:46.000 --> 00:05:49.000 I've got command after command after command. 00:05:50.000 --> 00:05:51.000 I've got lots of commands. 00:05:52.000 --> 00:05:53.000 I've got multi commands. 00:05:54.000 --> 00:05:56.000 Loads and loads of them. 00:05:56.000 --> 00:05:58.000 About 50 in about five chapters. 00:05:59.000 --> 00:06:00.000 Loads of them. 00:06:00.000 --> 00:06:01.000 They come at you. 00:06:01.000 --> 00:06:02.000 It's like a boxer. 00:06:02.000 --> 00:06:02.000 00:06:02.000 --> 00:06:04.000 Who's not just delivering the one punch. 00:06:04.000 --> 00:06:05.000 Do you remember the one punch boxers? 00:06:05.000 --> 00:06:06.000 Yeah, you may do. 00:06:06.000 --> 00:06:08.000 He's going combo. 00:06:08.000 --> 00:06:09.000 Yeah. 00:06:09.000 --> 00:06:11.000 I'm going one after the other. 00:06:11.000 --> 00:06:12.000 I'm coming at you. 00:06:12.000 --> 00:06:19.000 So some people find James really encouraging and comforting. 00:06:19.000 --> 00:06:23.000 So they welcome the straightness of James. 00:06:23.000 --> 00:06:25.000 And they're often straight people. 00:06:25.000 --> 00:06:28.000 Straight talking people like the book of James. 00:06:28.000 --> 00:06:33.000 Others can find it a bit intimidating, a bit overwhelming. 00:06:33.000 --> 00:06:37.000 So I was once in a group of actually mainly younger believers. 00:06:37.000 --> 00:06:41.000 And they were getting into a right pickle really about the book of James. 00:06:41.000 --> 00:06:46.000 They were really getting a bit, almost agitated with the number of commands. 00:06:46.000 --> 00:06:48.000 They found it sort of overwhelming. 00:06:50.000 --> 00:06:53.000 The focus I think of James is God as father. 00:06:54.000 --> 00:06:56.000 Good for Father's Day, isn't it? 00:06:56.000 --> 00:06:57.000 Something to remember. 00:06:57.000 --> 00:06:59.000 Father's Day, God as father. 00:06:59.000 --> 00:07:02.000 That is the main emphasis. 00:07:02.000 --> 00:07:07.000 And that can be a corrective to our church communities. 00:07:07.000 --> 00:07:12.000 Where we may overemphasize even the son of God, if we can do that. 00:07:12.000 --> 00:07:15.000 And the Holy Spirit, but forget the father. 00:07:15.000 --> 00:07:19.000 So it's going to help us to keep us aligned. 00:07:19.000 --> 00:07:22.000 Trinity, father, son, Holy Spirit. 00:07:24.000 --> 00:07:26.000 Where does he draw his teaching from? 00:07:26.000 --> 00:07:29.000 Well, I think in terms of teaching. 00:07:29.000 --> 00:07:31.000 I'm beginning to think this guy's a genius. 00:07:31.000 --> 00:07:33.000 Yeah, Holy Spirit. 00:07:33.000 --> 00:07:34.000 But he's a genius. 00:07:34.000 --> 00:07:36.000 Because what he does is. 00:07:36.000 --> 00:07:39.000 He will take the law of Moses. 00:07:39.000 --> 00:07:41.000 He will take the Proverbs. 00:07:41.000 --> 00:07:44.000 He will take the sermon on the Mount. 00:07:44.000 --> 00:07:45.000 And he will weave them together. 00:07:45.000 --> 00:07:47.000 Yeah, weave them together. 00:07:47.000 --> 00:07:51.000 Like a mum preparing her daughter for school. 00:07:51.000 --> 00:07:53.000 Yeah, nice big plat. 00:07:53.000 --> 00:07:54.000 He just weaves them together. 00:07:54.000 --> 00:07:56.000 In a marvelous way. 00:07:56.000 --> 00:07:58.000 Outline. 00:07:58.000 --> 00:08:00.000 What's the outline of the book? 00:08:00.000 --> 00:08:02.000 Previously, before I studied it. 00:08:02.000 --> 00:08:05.000 I thought there is none. 00:08:05.000 --> 00:08:08.000 Yeah, he's just bunging random things here, there and everywhere. 00:08:08.000 --> 00:08:12.000 But with some study, with a few thoughts. 00:08:12.000 --> 00:08:15.000 I think what he does is. 00:08:15.000 --> 00:08:16.000 Chapter one. 00:08:16.000 --> 00:08:19.000 He will introduce a number of issues. 00:08:19.000 --> 00:08:21.000 Chapters two to five. 00:08:21.000 --> 00:08:24.000 He'll come back to all those issues again. 00:08:24.000 --> 00:08:26.000 So that's what he's trying to do. 00:08:26.000 --> 00:08:28.000 Chapter one is a long introduction. 00:08:28.000 --> 00:08:33.000 And therefore, it's probably one of the longest introductions in the New Testament. 00:08:33.000 --> 00:08:38.000 Even though it's a very short book. 00:08:38.000 --> 00:08:40.000 What are the subjects raised? 00:08:40.000 --> 00:08:42.000 Wealth. 00:08:42.000 --> 00:08:44.000 Poverty. 00:08:44.000 --> 00:08:46.000 Favoritism. 00:08:46.000 --> 00:08:49.000 Class, as we call it in Britain. 00:08:49.000 --> 00:08:50.000 Provision. 00:08:50.000 --> 00:08:52.000 Prayer. 00:08:52.000 --> 00:08:53.000 Sickness. 00:08:53.000 --> 00:08:55.000 Temptation. 00:08:55.000 --> 00:08:57.000 Spiritual warfare. 00:08:57.000 --> 00:08:58.000 Wisdom. 00:08:58.000 --> 00:09:00.000 Faith. 00:09:00.000 --> 00:09:01.000 Faith. 00:09:01.000 --> 00:09:02.000 And words. 00:09:02.000 --> 00:09:03.000 Words. 00:09:03.000 --> 00:09:04.000 Words. 00:09:04.000 --> 00:09:07.000 The words that God speaks. 00:09:07.000 --> 00:09:09.000 The words that I speak. 00:09:09.000 --> 00:09:12.000 The words that others will speak to me. 00:09:12.000 --> 00:09:16.000 And that's what we're going to look at for the rest of our time. 00:09:16.000 --> 00:09:19.000 That's the one issue I'm going to center on. 00:09:19.000 --> 00:09:20.000 Words. 00:09:20.000 --> 00:09:21.000 So. 00:09:21.000 --> 00:09:25.000 Let's think first of all about the words of God. 00:09:25.000 --> 00:09:27.000 Have a look at verse 18. 00:09:27.000 --> 00:09:28.000 Verse 18. 00:09:28.000 --> 00:09:31.000 It says there. 00:09:31.000 --> 00:09:32.000 Verse 18. 00:09:32.000 --> 00:09:33.000 He. 00:09:33.000 --> 00:09:34.000 That's God. 00:09:34.000 --> 00:09:37.000 Chose to give us birth. 00:09:37.000 --> 00:09:38.000 That's this church. 00:09:38.000 --> 00:09:40.000 Through the word of truth. 00:09:40.000 --> 00:09:43.000 That we might be a kind of first fruits. 00:09:43.000 --> 00:09:44.000 Yet. 00:09:44.000 --> 00:09:45.000 A new creation. 00:09:45.000 --> 00:09:47.000 Of all that he has made. 00:09:49.000 --> 00:09:50.000 So. 00:09:52.000 --> 00:09:53.000 Spiritually. 00:09:53.000 --> 00:09:55.000 If you're a Christian here this morning. 00:09:55.000 --> 00:09:56.000 How did you get here? 00:09:56.000 --> 00:09:59.000 What did God do? 00:09:59.000 --> 00:10:00.000 What did God use? 00:10:00.000 --> 00:10:01.000 And we're told. 00:10:01.000 --> 00:10:02.000 In this verse. 00:10:02.000 --> 00:10:04.000 He uses his word. 00:10:05.000 --> 00:10:06.000 Yeah. 00:10:06.000 --> 00:10:08.000 He uses what he's revealed. 00:10:08.000 --> 00:10:10.000 And what has been recorded. 00:10:10.000 --> 00:10:11.000 In what we call the scriptures. 00:10:12.000 --> 00:10:14.000 That is his tool of choice. 00:10:15.000 --> 00:10:17.000 With regards to taking people. 00:10:17.000 --> 00:10:18.000 Out of darkness. 00:10:18.000 --> 00:10:20.000 Into his marvelous light. 00:10:20.000 --> 00:10:21.000 Okay. 00:10:21.000 --> 00:10:22.000 Okay. 00:10:22.000 --> 00:10:24.000 Have you been rescued from darkness? 00:10:24.000 --> 00:10:26.000 How did it happen? 00:10:26.000 --> 00:10:28.000 How are you in light? 00:10:28.000 --> 00:10:29.000 It is because. 00:10:29.000 --> 00:10:32.000 Him using his word. 00:10:32.000 --> 00:10:33.000 Either first hand. 00:10:33.000 --> 00:10:34.000 Okay. 00:10:34.000 --> 00:10:35.000 So you studied it yourself. 00:10:36.000 --> 00:10:37.000 Or second hand. 00:10:37.000 --> 00:10:38.000 Someone taught you. 00:10:38.000 --> 00:10:39.000 Someone told you. 00:10:39.000 --> 00:10:41.000 That's how you came to faith. 00:10:42.000 --> 00:10:43.000 Through his word. 00:10:43.000 --> 00:10:44.000 His word. 00:10:46.000 --> 00:10:47.000 So. 00:10:47.000 --> 00:10:48.000 If you're a person here this morning. 00:10:48.000 --> 00:10:49.000 And you're saying. 00:10:49.000 --> 00:10:50.000 Look. 00:10:50.000 --> 00:10:52.000 I'd love God to forgive me. 00:10:53.000 --> 00:10:55.000 I'd love to have this eternal life. 00:10:55.000 --> 00:10:57.000 That these Christians seem to have. 00:10:58.000 --> 00:10:59.000 How are you going to get it? 00:11:00.000 --> 00:11:02.000 Stick close to the word. 00:11:02.000 --> 00:11:04.000 Stick close to the word. 00:11:04.000 --> 00:11:05.000 Hear the word. 00:11:05.000 --> 00:11:06.000 Read the word. 00:11:06.000 --> 00:11:07.000 Study the word. 00:11:07.000 --> 00:11:09.000 Ask questions about the word. 00:11:09.000 --> 00:11:11.000 Pray about the word. 00:11:11.000 --> 00:11:13.000 The word is important. 00:11:13.000 --> 00:11:14.000 The word is key. 00:11:14.000 --> 00:11:16.000 It's what God is going to use. 00:11:16.000 --> 00:11:18.000 To bring you to life. 00:11:19.000 --> 00:11:19.000 00:11:19.000 --> 00:11:21.000 Stay near the word. 00:11:21.000 --> 00:11:24.000 And ask God to do something in your heart. 00:11:25.000 --> 00:11:26.000 As he does that. 00:11:27.000 --> 00:11:27.000 00:11:27.000 --> 00:11:28.000 So. 00:11:28.000 --> 00:11:29.000 That's how. 00:11:29.000 --> 00:11:32.000 The Jewish Christians. 00:11:34.000 --> 00:11:36.000 How they got spiritual life. 00:11:36.000 --> 00:11:38.000 That's how the believers here got spiritual life. 00:11:38.000 --> 00:11:39.000 That's how. 00:11:39.000 --> 00:11:40.000 If you're not a Christian yet. 00:11:40.000 --> 00:11:42.000 That's how you're going to get life. 00:11:42.000 --> 00:11:43.000 It is through. 00:11:43.000 --> 00:11:44.000 The word. 00:11:44.000 --> 00:11:46.000 That's what he says. 00:11:47.000 --> 00:11:48.000 So. 00:11:48.000 --> 00:11:49.000 That's number one. 00:11:51.000 --> 00:11:52.000 Moving on. 00:11:52.000 --> 00:11:53.000 Verse 21. 00:11:54.000 --> 00:11:56.000 Not just God uses his word. 00:11:56.000 --> 00:11:58.000 He also plants the word. 00:11:59.000 --> 00:12:01.000 And this could be one of the key ideas. 00:12:01.000 --> 00:12:02.000 Really. 00:12:02.000 --> 00:12:03.000 In the whole book. 00:12:03.000 --> 00:12:03.000 00:12:03.000 --> 00:12:04.000 He says there in verse 21. 00:12:04.000 --> 00:12:06.000 Doesn't he says. 00:12:06.000 --> 00:12:07.000 Therefore. 00:12:07.000 --> 00:12:09.000 Get rid of all moral filth. 00:12:09.000 --> 00:12:10.000 Okay. 00:12:10.000 --> 00:12:10.000 00:12:10.000 --> 00:12:12.000 Which may or may not be sexual. 00:12:12.000 --> 00:12:14.000 And the evil that is so prevalent. 00:12:14.000 --> 00:12:16.000 And humbly. 00:12:16.000 --> 00:12:17.000 Accept the word. 00:12:18.000 --> 00:12:19.000 Planted in you. 00:12:19.000 --> 00:12:20.000 Which can save you. 00:12:20.000 --> 00:12:21.000 Save you. 00:12:27.000 --> 00:12:29.000 Where Paul will talk about the Holy Spirit. 00:12:30.000 --> 00:12:33.000 James will talk about the implanted word. 00:12:34.000 --> 00:12:36.000 Paul will talk about the spirit. 00:12:37.000 --> 00:12:40.000 James will talk about the effect of the spirit. 00:12:40.000 --> 00:12:41.000 The work of the spirit. 00:12:41.000 --> 00:12:42.000 What he will do. 00:12:42.000 --> 00:12:45.000 That the spirit is the author of the scriptures. 00:12:45.000 --> 00:12:47.000 And what he will do is. 00:12:47.000 --> 00:12:49.000 He will take that word. 00:12:49.000 --> 00:12:51.000 And plant it deep. 00:12:51.000 --> 00:12:52.000 Within an. 00:12:52.000 --> 00:12:53.000 Within it. 00:12:53.000 --> 00:12:54.000 Within an individual. 00:12:55.000 --> 00:12:55.000 00:12:55.000 --> 00:12:57.000 That's what he's going to do. 00:12:58.000 --> 00:12:59.000 Deep into the mind. 00:13:00.000 --> 00:13:01.000 Deep into the heart. 00:13:01.000 --> 00:13:03.000 Deep into the psyche. 00:13:04.000 --> 00:13:06.000 That there is a desire then for Jesus. 00:13:06.000 --> 00:13:08.000 And there is a strength. 00:13:08.000 --> 00:13:11.000 That his words can bring. 00:13:12.000 --> 00:13:12.000 00:13:12.000 --> 00:13:14.000 And that's going to lift the burden. 00:13:14.000 --> 00:13:15.000 For some of you. 00:13:15.000 --> 00:13:17.000 Some of you who are a bit burdened down. 00:13:17.000 --> 00:13:18.000 By all these commands. 00:13:18.000 --> 00:13:20.000 That you're given by James. 00:13:21.000 --> 00:13:22.000 If you're a person. 00:13:22.000 --> 00:13:23.000 Who's a bit. 00:13:23.000 --> 00:13:24.000 Who's a bit burdened. 00:13:24.000 --> 00:13:25.000 By all these commands. 00:13:25.000 --> 00:13:26.000 I say good for you. 00:13:26.000 --> 00:13:27.000 Yeah. 00:13:27.000 --> 00:13:28.000 Good for you. 00:13:28.000 --> 00:13:29.000 Because. 00:13:29.000 --> 00:13:30.000 It means you're taking things seriously. 00:13:30.000 --> 00:13:31.000 At least you're sincere. 00:13:31.000 --> 00:13:33.000 At least the weight of the commands. 00:13:33.000 --> 00:13:34.000 Is upon you. 00:13:34.000 --> 00:13:36.000 The good news is. 00:13:36.000 --> 00:13:38.000 He's going to give you the desire. 00:13:38.000 --> 00:13:41.000 He's going to give you the desire. 00:13:41.000 --> 00:13:42.000 He's going to give you the mind. 00:13:42.000 --> 00:13:43.000 He's going to give you the heart. 00:13:44.000 --> 00:13:45.000 And it does tell us. 00:13:46.000 --> 00:13:47.000 Our faith is supernatural. 00:13:49.000 --> 00:13:50.000 Our faith is supernatural. 00:13:50.000 --> 00:13:52.000 It is outside of ourselves. 00:13:53.000 --> 00:13:54.000 It is not just. 00:13:55.000 --> 00:13:56.000 Me trying harder. 00:13:56.000 --> 00:13:57.000 Doing better. 00:13:58.000 --> 00:13:59.000 Searching for the hero inside myself. 00:13:59.000 --> 00:14:01.000 I thought you could do some searching inside my heart. 00:14:01.000 --> 00:14:03.000 But there's no hero inside myself. 00:14:03.000 --> 00:14:04.000 I'll tell you that much. 00:14:04.000 --> 00:14:05.000 Yeah. 00:14:05.000 --> 00:14:06.000 But. 00:14:06.000 --> 00:14:07.000 But what the good news is. 00:14:07.000 --> 00:14:09.000 It doesn't depend on you. 00:14:09.000 --> 00:14:10.000 It doesn't depend on me. 00:14:10.000 --> 00:14:11.000 It depends. 00:14:12.000 --> 00:14:13.000 On what he has done. 00:14:14.000 --> 00:14:14.000 00:14:14.000 --> 00:14:15.000 So you may say. 00:14:15.000 --> 00:14:17.000 When you think of all the commands in James. 00:14:17.000 --> 00:14:18.000 I could never do that. 00:14:18.000 --> 00:14:20.000 I just can't do it. 00:14:20.000 --> 00:14:21.000 I can't change. 00:14:22.000 --> 00:14:22.000 00:14:22.000 --> 00:14:23.000 You can't change. 00:14:24.000 --> 00:14:25.000 You can't change. 00:14:26.000 --> 00:14:27.000 But. 00:14:27.000 --> 00:14:28.000 He can change. 00:14:28.000 --> 00:14:29.000 He has changed you. 00:14:29.000 --> 00:14:31.000 He is changing you. 00:14:31.000 --> 00:14:33.000 He will change you. 00:14:33.000 --> 00:14:34.000 Yeah. 00:14:34.000 --> 00:14:35.000 The work has started. 00:14:35.000 --> 00:14:36.000 Already. 00:14:36.000 --> 00:14:37.000 It's great news. 00:14:39.000 --> 00:14:39.000 00:14:40.000 --> 00:14:41.000 Here we go. 00:14:41.000 --> 00:14:42.000 We're doing well. 00:14:42.000 --> 00:14:43.000 What are we seeing here? 00:14:43.000 --> 00:14:44.000 We're seeing. 00:14:44.000 --> 00:14:46.000 That change is possible. 00:14:47.000 --> 00:14:48.000 And so we think. 00:14:49.000 --> 00:14:50.000 So why haven't I changed? 00:14:50.000 --> 00:14:52.000 Why am I not changing? 00:14:52.000 --> 00:14:54.000 What's going wrong? 00:14:54.000 --> 00:14:55.000 Is something going wrong? 00:14:56.000 --> 00:14:57.000 And this is where James. 00:14:58.000 --> 00:14:59.000 The master teacher. 00:15:00.000 --> 00:15:00.000 00:15:01.000 --> 00:15:02.000 The master pastor. 00:15:02.000 --> 00:15:03.000 Okay. 00:15:03.000 --> 00:15:04.000 James now is the master pastor. 00:15:05.000 --> 00:15:06.000 He's going to help them see what's going wrong. 00:15:07.000 --> 00:15:08.000 Here is reason number one. 00:15:08.000 --> 00:15:09.000 Why it's not happening. 00:15:10.000 --> 00:15:11.000 He says there. 00:15:11.000 --> 00:15:12.000 Verse 21. 00:15:12.000 --> 00:15:18.000 Therefore get rid of all moral filth. 00:15:19.000 --> 00:15:22.000 And the evil that is so prevalent. 00:15:24.000 --> 00:15:25.000 Reason number one. 00:15:25.000 --> 00:15:26.000 Why you're not coming forth. 00:15:27.000 --> 00:15:28.000 Why I'm not coming forth. 00:15:29.000 --> 00:15:31.000 Unconfessed rebellion. 00:15:32.000 --> 00:15:33.000 Unconfessed sin. 00:15:34.000 --> 00:15:35.000 I want the. 00:15:36.000 --> 00:15:37.000 I want implanted words. 00:15:37.000 --> 00:15:40.000 But I also want to hang on to my own behavior. 00:15:41.000 --> 00:15:42.000 And what James says is. 00:15:42.000 --> 00:15:43.000 You need to give it up. 00:15:44.000 --> 00:15:45.000 You need to confess it. 00:15:45.000 --> 00:15:46.000 A bit like we confessed this morning. 00:15:47.000 --> 00:15:47.000 00:15:48.000 --> 00:15:48.000 00:15:48.000 --> 00:15:49.000 Oh you're there. 00:15:49.000 --> 00:15:50.000 I don't know if you're there. 00:15:50.000 --> 00:15:51.000 But if you're there. 00:15:51.000 --> 00:15:52.000 We confessed right at the beginning. 00:15:53.000 --> 00:15:54.000 As a group. 00:15:55.000 --> 00:15:56.000 And as a result. 00:15:56.000 --> 00:15:57.000 What do we believe is going to happen? 00:15:57.000 --> 00:15:59.000 We believe that God will take us at our word. 00:16:00.000 --> 00:16:01.000 And we can move forward. 00:16:02.000 --> 00:16:02.000 00:16:03.000 --> 00:16:04.000 Confess. 00:16:04.000 --> 00:16:06.000 Because God wants to do something. 00:16:06.000 --> 00:16:07.000 In your lives. 00:16:08.000 --> 00:16:09.000 You're a believer. 00:16:09.000 --> 00:16:10.000 As a group. 00:16:10.000 --> 00:16:11.000 God wants to do something. 00:16:11.000 --> 00:16:13.000 In your life. 00:16:13.000 --> 00:16:14.000 Move on. 00:16:14.000 --> 00:16:15.000 Move forward. 00:16:15.000 --> 00:16:17.000 Let the word change you. 00:16:17.000 --> 00:16:18.000 Because it is inevitable. 00:16:19.000 --> 00:16:20.000 It's inevitable. 00:16:20.000 --> 00:16:21.000 If you. 00:16:21.000 --> 00:16:22.000 If you resist. 00:16:23.000 --> 00:16:24.000 Temptation. 00:16:24.000 --> 00:16:25.000 You will inevitably grow. 00:16:25.000 --> 00:16:26.000 Let it flow. 00:16:27.000 --> 00:16:28.000 Let it flow. 00:16:29.000 --> 00:16:31.000 Let the word do his work. 00:16:31.000 --> 00:16:32.000 He's begun to do it. 00:16:32.000 --> 00:16:33.000 Let him continue. 00:16:33.000 --> 00:16:34.000 Let him continue. 00:16:36.000 --> 00:16:37.000 Reason number one. 00:16:37.000 --> 00:16:38.000 Reason number two. 00:16:38.000 --> 00:16:39.000 Lack of growth. 00:16:40.000 --> 00:16:41.000 Is deception. 00:16:42.000 --> 00:16:44.000 And the worst kind of deception. 00:16:46.000 --> 00:16:47.000 Have you ever been conned? 00:16:48.000 --> 00:16:49.000 Has anyone ever lied to you? 00:16:50.000 --> 00:16:52.000 Has someone pulled the wool over your eyes? 00:16:52.000 --> 00:16:53.000 It's terrible isn't it? 00:16:53.000 --> 00:16:55.000 When someone does that to you. 00:16:56.000 --> 00:16:57.000 But the worst thing. 00:16:58.000 --> 00:17:00.000 Is when you're pulling the wool over your own eyes. 00:17:02.000 --> 00:17:03.000 So what does he say? 00:17:04.000 --> 00:17:05.000 Verse 22. 00:17:05.000 --> 00:17:07.000 Do not merely listen to the word. 00:17:08.000 --> 00:17:09.000 And so deceive yourselves. 00:17:10.000 --> 00:17:11.000 Do what it says. 00:17:11.000 --> 00:17:14.000 So this is the second reason. 00:17:15.000 --> 00:17:16.000 Self deception. 00:17:17.000 --> 00:17:18.000 I'm fooling myself. 00:17:19.000 --> 00:17:20.000 No one's fooling me. 00:17:21.000 --> 00:17:22.000 I'm doing it all of my own accord. 00:17:24.000 --> 00:17:25.000 So with regards to the word. 00:17:26.000 --> 00:17:26.000 00:17:28.000 --> 00:17:29.000 You can listen to it. 00:17:30.000 --> 00:17:31.000 You can study it. 00:17:32.000 --> 00:17:33.000 You can meditate on it. 00:17:34.000 --> 00:17:35.000 You can memorize it. 00:17:36.000 --> 00:17:37.000 You can have discussions about it. 00:17:38.000 --> 00:17:39.000 You can read books about it. 00:17:39.000 --> 00:17:40.000 You can write books about it. 00:17:41.000 --> 00:17:42.000 You can preach about it. 00:17:43.000 --> 00:17:44.000 You can preach about it. 00:17:45.000 --> 00:17:46.000 You can tell youth about it. 00:17:47.000 --> 00:17:48.000 You can tell kids about it. 00:17:49.000 --> 00:17:50.000 You can tell strangers about it. 00:17:52.000 --> 00:17:53.000 Doesn't mean you're doing it. 00:17:54.000 --> 00:17:54.000 00:17:55.000 --> 00:17:56.000 Doesn't mean I'm doing it. 00:17:57.000 --> 00:17:58.000 Doesn't mean I'm obeying it. 00:17:59.000 --> 00:18:00.000 There can be a sort of comfort. 00:18:01.000 --> 00:18:02.000 But I'm not necessarily applying. 00:18:03.000 --> 00:18:03.000 00:18:04.000 --> 00:18:04.000 00:18:05.000 --> 00:18:06.000 So there are countless people. 00:18:07.000 --> 00:18:08.000 Who will want to argue. 00:18:08.000 --> 00:18:09.000 Argue about the word of God. 00:18:11.000 --> 00:18:12.000 Some in the church. 00:18:12.000 --> 00:18:13.000 Some outside it. 00:18:13.000 --> 00:18:14.000 They love a discussion. 00:18:17.000 --> 00:18:18.000 That doesn't mean there's any desire. 00:18:19.000 --> 00:18:20.000 To follow Christ. 00:18:21.000 --> 00:18:22.000 Doesn't mean there's any desire. 00:18:22.000 --> 00:18:23.000 To follow him. 00:18:24.000 --> 00:18:24.000 00:18:24.000 --> 00:18:25.000 I had a conversation with a guy. 00:18:26.000 --> 00:18:27.000 For one hour. 00:18:28.000 --> 00:18:29.000 Left nominal Christian. 00:18:29.000 --> 00:18:30.000 Now a Muslim. 00:18:30.000 --> 00:18:32.000 He was talking for ages. 00:18:32.000 --> 00:18:33.000 About the Bible. 00:18:33.000 --> 00:18:33.000 00:18:33.000 --> 00:18:34.000 And everything there. 00:18:34.000 --> 00:18:36.000 You don't want to believe. 00:18:36.000 --> 00:18:37.000 It's pretty clear. 00:18:37.000 --> 00:18:38.000 Do what it says. 00:18:38.000 --> 00:18:39.000 Do what it says. 00:18:39.000 --> 00:18:40.000 Doesn't it. 00:18:40.000 --> 00:18:41.000 Verse 22. 00:18:41.000 --> 00:18:42.000 Do what it says. 00:18:42.000 --> 00:18:43.000 Obey it. 00:18:44.000 --> 00:18:46.000 If it's love. 00:18:46.000 --> 00:18:47.000 Love your neighbor. 00:18:48.000 --> 00:18:49.000 Love your neighbor. 00:18:50.000 --> 00:18:51.000 Ask God to help you. 00:18:51.000 --> 00:18:52.000 If it is to love God. 00:18:52.000 --> 00:18:53.000 Love God. 00:18:53.000 --> 00:18:54.000 Ask for his help. 00:18:54.000 --> 00:18:55.000 To do that. 00:18:55.000 --> 00:18:58.000 If it is go and make disciples of all nations. 00:18:58.000 --> 00:19:00.000 Go and make disciples of all nations. 00:19:01.000 --> 00:19:02.000 Ask him for his help. 00:19:02.000 --> 00:19:03.000 If it is. 00:19:04.000 --> 00:19:07.000 Trust in the resurrection and death of the Lord Jesus. 00:19:07.000 --> 00:19:08.000 For your sins. 00:19:08.000 --> 00:19:09.000 Do it. 00:19:10.000 --> 00:19:11.000 Do it. 00:19:11.000 --> 00:19:12.000 Don't deceive yourselves. 00:19:13.000 --> 00:19:13.000 00:19:13.000 --> 00:19:15.000 Now the last one I said. 00:19:16.000 --> 00:19:17.000 I've got a suspicion. 00:19:17.000 --> 00:19:20.000 Because I sort of know some of the people in this church. 00:19:20.000 --> 00:19:21.000 That. 00:19:21.000 --> 00:19:22.000 That has been taught regularly. 00:19:22.000 --> 00:19:23.000 taught regularly. 00:19:23.000 --> 00:19:24.000 Week by week. 00:19:24.000 --> 00:19:26.000 You're hearing it. 00:19:26.000 --> 00:19:27.000 But have you done it? 00:19:28.000 --> 00:19:30.000 Have you actually prayed and said. 00:19:30.000 --> 00:19:32.000 I trust in your death and resurrection. 00:19:32.000 --> 00:19:33.000 Please have mercy. 00:19:34.000 --> 00:19:35.000 On me. 00:19:36.000 --> 00:19:37.000 Let's not deceive ourselves. 00:19:38.000 --> 00:19:39.000 Let's do it. 00:19:40.000 --> 00:19:42.000 So verse 24 25. 00:19:43.000 --> 00:19:45.000 We've got two sort of memorable. 00:19:46.000 --> 00:19:47.000 Illustrations for you there. 00:19:47.000 --> 00:19:48.000 And for me. 00:19:50.000 --> 00:19:51.000 And the first one is. 00:19:51.000 --> 00:19:52.000 Is the man or the woman. 00:19:52.000 --> 00:19:53.000 Who just can't get ready. 00:19:53.000 --> 00:19:56.000 They keep going back to the mirror. 00:19:56.000 --> 00:19:58.000 Because they forget what they look like. 00:19:58.000 --> 00:19:58.000 00:19:58.000 --> 00:19:59.000 A bit like. 00:19:59.000 --> 00:20:00.000 So. 00:20:00.000 --> 00:20:01.000 Those people you see on the tubes. 00:20:02.000 --> 00:20:03.000 Bakerloo line. 00:20:04.000 --> 00:20:05.000 They take out their phone. 00:20:05.000 --> 00:20:06.000 They sort themselves out. 00:20:06.000 --> 00:20:07.000 At Queen's Park. 00:20:07.000 --> 00:20:08.000 They put it away. 00:20:08.000 --> 00:20:09.000 And made a veil. 00:20:09.000 --> 00:20:10.000 They've got it back out of Paddington. 00:20:11.000 --> 00:20:12.000 They've tucked it away. 00:20:12.000 --> 00:20:13.000 The Regions Park. 00:20:13.000 --> 00:20:14.000 They've got it out again. 00:20:14.000 --> 00:20:15.000 And then up to the circus. 00:20:15.000 --> 00:20:16.000 You're getting off. 00:20:16.000 --> 00:20:17.000 And they're still doing it. 00:20:17.000 --> 00:20:18.000 They're just forever looking. 00:20:19.000 --> 00:20:19.000 00:20:19.000 --> 00:20:20.000 Yeah. 00:20:20.000 --> 00:20:21.000 It's a comical. 00:20:21.000 --> 00:20:22.000 But also a pathetical. 00:20:22.000 --> 00:20:23.000 A pathetical. 00:20:23.000 --> 00:20:24.000 Pathetic. 00:20:24.000 --> 00:20:25.000 Pathetic. 00:20:25.000 --> 00:20:26.000 Picture. 00:20:26.000 --> 00:20:27.000 Pathetic picture. 00:20:27.000 --> 00:20:28.000 Um. 00:20:28.000 --> 00:20:30.000 That is the person who will not apply the word. 00:20:31.000 --> 00:20:32.000 That's the person who won't. 00:20:33.000 --> 00:20:34.000 If you don't apply the word. 00:20:34.000 --> 00:20:36.000 You will end up forgetting the word. 00:20:37.000 --> 00:20:38.000 Yeah. 00:20:38.000 --> 00:20:39.000 Use it or lose it. 00:20:39.000 --> 00:20:40.000 That's what they say. 00:20:40.000 --> 00:20:41.000 Don't they? 00:20:41.000 --> 00:20:42.000 Use it or lose it. 00:20:42.000 --> 00:20:43.000 You've got to apply it. 00:20:43.000 --> 00:20:44.000 As you hear it. 00:20:44.000 --> 00:20:48.000 Now you may not be able to apply everything straight away. 00:20:48.000 --> 00:20:50.000 But you should look for opportunities. 00:20:50.000 --> 00:20:52.000 I should look for opportunities. 00:20:52.000 --> 00:20:53.000 Uh. 00:20:53.000 --> 00:20:54.000 The mirror man. 00:20:54.000 --> 00:20:55.000 The mirror woman. 00:20:55.000 --> 00:20:57.000 Who's on the. 00:20:57.000 --> 00:20:59.000 On her Apple phone. 00:20:59.000 --> 00:21:00.000 Or his Apple phone. 00:21:00.000 --> 00:21:01.000 Going all the way up the tube. 00:21:01.000 --> 00:21:03.000 That is not you. 00:21:03.000 --> 00:21:05.000 If you're a Christian. 00:21:05.000 --> 00:21:06.000 That is not you. 00:21:06.000 --> 00:21:07.000 Um. 00:21:07.000 --> 00:21:08.000 That is not God's will for you. 00:21:08.000 --> 00:21:10.000 That is not his plan for you. 00:21:10.000 --> 00:21:11.000 Uh. 00:21:11.000 --> 00:21:12.000 As. 00:21:12.000 --> 00:21:14.000 Our brothers and sisters would say down the road. 00:21:14.000 --> 00:21:16.000 That is not his portion. 00:21:16.000 --> 00:21:17.000 That's not his portion for you. 00:21:17.000 --> 00:21:19.000 So what is. 00:21:19.000 --> 00:21:20.000 Verse 25. 00:21:20.000 --> 00:21:21.000 Yeah. 00:21:21.000 --> 00:21:23.000 The person. 00:21:23.000 --> 00:21:25.000 Who looks intently. 00:21:25.000 --> 00:21:28.000 Into the perfect law that gives freedom. 00:21:28.000 --> 00:21:30.000 And continues to do this. 00:21:30.000 --> 00:21:32.000 Not forgetting what he has heard. 00:21:32.000 --> 00:21:33.000 But doing it. 00:21:33.000 --> 00:21:34.000 He will be blessed. 00:21:34.000 --> 00:21:36.000 In what he or she. 00:21:36.000 --> 00:21:37.000 Does. 00:21:37.000 --> 00:21:38.000 Uh. 00:21:38.000 --> 00:21:39.000 I wonder if you know any law students. 00:21:39.000 --> 00:21:40.000 Or if you are a law student. 00:21:40.000 --> 00:21:41.000 I wonder if law students. 00:21:41.000 --> 00:21:42.000 Enjoy the law. 00:21:42.000 --> 00:21:43.000 I wonder. 00:21:43.000 --> 00:21:44.000 I know they sort of. 00:21:44.000 --> 00:21:44.000 00:21:44.000 --> 00:21:45.000 That they're going to. 00:21:45.000 --> 00:21:46.000 They're going to splurge out. 00:21:46.000 --> 00:21:47.000 When they get to an exam. 00:21:47.000 --> 00:21:48.000 Or into court. 00:21:48.000 --> 00:21:49.000 Some sort of court. 00:21:49.000 --> 00:21:52.000 I wonder if law students. 00:21:52.000 --> 00:21:54.000 I wonder if law students. 00:21:54.000 --> 00:21:55.000 Enjoy the law. 00:21:55.000 --> 00:21:57.000 I wonder. 00:21:57.000 --> 00:21:58.000 I wonder. 00:21:58.000 --> 00:21:59.000 I know they sort of. 00:21:59.000 --> 00:22:01.000 Sort of tuck things up in their brains. 00:22:01.000 --> 00:22:02.000 That they're going to. 00:22:02.000 --> 00:22:03.000 They're going to splurge out. 00:22:03.000 --> 00:22:04.000 When they get to an exam. 00:22:04.000 --> 00:22:05.000 Or into court. 00:22:05.000 --> 00:22:06.000 Some sort of court. 00:22:06.000 --> 00:22:08.000 But do they enjoy? 00:22:08.000 --> 00:22:09.000 Yeah. 00:22:09.000 --> 00:22:10.000 Do you. 00:22:10.000 --> 00:22:12.000 Are they the people who sit in the corner of a library going. 00:22:12.000 --> 00:22:13.000 Oh. 00:22:13.000 --> 00:22:14.000 Love it. 00:22:14.000 --> 00:22:15.000 Love it. 00:22:15.000 --> 00:22:15.000 00:22:15.000 --> 00:22:16.000 I'm beautiful. 00:22:16.000 --> 00:22:18.000 I think I saw the people. 00:22:18.000 --> 00:22:32.160 imagine the law student who's excited and enjoys the law Bible says Christian that is you that is 00:22:32.160 --> 00:22:37.319 you when you come to his word you're not just reading it because you have to but you're getting 00:22:37.319 --> 00:22:43.980 enjoyment as you're learning more about your father and your God and your Lord that's it 00:22:43.980 --> 00:22:49.860 you're not the mirror person you can be the mirror person but I believe God is calling you to something 00:22:49.860 --> 00:23:00.500 higher and me which is the person who loves the law and what does it mean freedom freedom that's 00:23:00.500 --> 00:23:07.900 what it means doesn't it I'm freed from my fears from my destructive habits and I'm free to serve 00:23:07.900 --> 00:23:18.259 God to learn from him to love him just to enjoy him enjoy him that is the call you're being called 00:23:18.259 --> 00:23:31.660 this day to freedom and enjoyment so God's word is a tool for life God's word implanted in your mind 00:23:31.660 --> 00:23:43.080 and in your heart okay let's talk about my words verse 26 if anyone considers himself religious 00:23:43.080 --> 00:23:50.960 and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue he deceives himself and his religion is worthless 00:23:50.960 --> 00:24:04.079 or some people might say worthless as my dad would say or worthless business now religion is it good 00:24:04.079 --> 00:24:13.160 or is it bad some people in our culture think it's good some people think it's bad I think say like 00:24:13.160 --> 00:24:19.120 those in power governments they can't make up their mind they think it's sometimes good sometimes bad 00:24:19.119 --> 00:24:25.319 it's probably good in this respect uh you Christians are more likely to pay your taxes okay so you're 00:24:25.319 --> 00:24:29.079 probably better it's nice that you're you've got this religious thing as long as it doesn't get out 00:24:29.079 --> 00:24:43.399 of control James would say good or bad religion depends depends how do we measure growth spiritual growth 00:24:43.400 --> 00:24:51.519 how do we measure spiritual maturity the kind of maturity whereby um you would say I'm going to make 00:24:51.519 --> 00:24:55.740 that person a youth leader I'm going to make that person a Sunday school teacher I'm going to put that 00:24:55.740 --> 00:25:00.640 person in a position of influence and power what are you looking for 00:25:00.640 --> 00:25:10.759 many Christians appear to focus on knowledge okay how much I know from the Bible 00:25:10.759 --> 00:25:21.440 experience my dealings with God my personal encounters with him or gifting the type of gifts a person has 00:25:21.440 --> 00:25:32.859 James says think about their words watch their words watch what they say watch when they say it 00:25:32.859 --> 00:25:40.579 watch how they see it say it their ability to say something the times when they say little 00:25:40.579 --> 00:25:52.579 or the self-control to sometimes say absolutely nothing watch that person because that will help you to 00:25:52.579 --> 00:25:58.879 decide whether that person should have a big role in your fellowship that's one of the things you're 00:25:58.879 --> 00:26:09.899 looking for their words now my culture my temperament you tell people straight yeah you get to the point 00:26:09.900 --> 00:26:15.820 you tell people straight yeah if somebody has a go at you most of the time you'll have a go back 00:26:15.820 --> 00:26:21.480 and you may add a bit of extras or as my mum would say a bit of hot pepper sauce that's what you're going 00:26:21.480 --> 00:26:32.700 to get if you get on my nerves now um James will say that's not the kingdom that's not the way 00:26:32.700 --> 00:26:42.279 yeah you're gonna have to drop the hot pepper sauce yeah because if you go down that road be clear it is 00:26:42.279 --> 00:26:51.279 another religion it's not the same thing it's now something different you have to go with God's way 00:26:51.279 --> 00:26:59.220 and so the prayer for many of us is well please forgive me yeah we we have we ever had to go at someone 00:26:59.220 --> 00:27:06.059 when we shouldn't have father please forgive me please help me help me to believe that you have 00:27:06.059 --> 00:27:15.960 implanted your word in my heart free me from gossip free me from lying free me from exaggeration 00:27:15.960 --> 00:27:23.220 free me from having a go at people and the Lord will answer he'll definitely help us 00:27:23.220 --> 00:27:33.799 final thing okay so we're coming near the end you people who are getting hot and falling asleep um 00:27:33.799 --> 00:27:38.460 we've got the word of others okay word of others we're gonna finish with that word of others 00:27:38.460 --> 00:27:48.920 so what is the norm when it comes to discussions with people one another the reality is this 00:27:48.920 --> 00:27:57.300 people can often be boring they can they can make me very boring they can say really um important 00:27:57.300 --> 00:28:09.519 things in a really boring way yeah um and people can be unkind and people can be um say silly things 00:28:09.519 --> 00:28:15.240 ridiculous things that is our context with what we're going to hear in a moment 00:28:15.240 --> 00:28:22.880 yeah we blurt things out in frustration in anger in fear in irritation and in impatience 00:28:22.880 --> 00:28:34.920 so are we ready for the revolution verse 19 brothers and sisters take note of this okay underline it 00:28:34.920 --> 00:28:40.099 in your bible if there is a bible you've got yours um everyone should be quick to listen 00:28:40.099 --> 00:28:48.379 slow to speak slow to speak and slow to become angry for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life 00:28:48.379 --> 00:29:02.039 that god requires never mind trotsky never mind nelson mandela never mind fidel castro this is revolution 00:29:02.039 --> 00:29:10.000 this is revolution this is entirely different to how our world operates yeah 00:29:10.000 --> 00:29:16.980 forget those sort of shea gevara t-shirts yeah they should have james picture there because this is 00:29:16.980 --> 00:29:25.240 absolutely radical if we put it into practice even by a little bit it will transform homes it will 00:29:25.240 --> 00:29:34.079 transform schools it will transform family and politics and industry and sports what are we told here 00:29:34.079 --> 00:29:40.619 uh we're all going to get involved it's everyone yeah the old time believer cannot say oh it's nothing 00:29:40.619 --> 00:29:45.220 to do with me this is who i am this is my personality you just all have to get used no it doesn't say that 00:29:45.220 --> 00:29:51.559 everyone yeah i'm a young believer i was only baptized a few a couple of weeks ago i'm just drying myself 00:29:51.559 --> 00:29:57.939 down from the baptism no it applies to you as well everyone here means everyone we're all to get 00:29:57.940 --> 00:30:02.660 involved whatever our temperament whether we are i'm going to strike back and give us some hot pepper 00:30:02.660 --> 00:30:10.100 sauce or whether i am mr choir or miss choir not saying much at all it's for everyone everyone has to 00:30:10.100 --> 00:30:19.120 be involved in this and it says be quick to listen be quick to listen be focused be intentional 00:30:19.119 --> 00:30:27.459 be patient be clarifying slow to speak don't give an answer straight away 00:30:27.459 --> 00:30:33.959 necessarily you don't have to why do we feel we always need to answer everyone straight away 00:30:33.959 --> 00:30:39.259 give yourself time if you need more time say i need to go away and think about it 00:30:39.259 --> 00:30:47.539 think about what we're saying don't just blurt things out and then slow to anger slow to anger 00:30:47.539 --> 00:30:55.359 people can say silly things can't they provocative things yeah a guy that got me on on the tubes last 00:30:55.359 --> 00:31:00.339 week um he was fortunate a little bit because i got my earphones here listening to the cricket 00:31:00.339 --> 00:31:07.000 but he he slated me for being too slow to move too slow to move out the way people are always trying 00:31:07.000 --> 00:31:15.720 to wind you up especially in london we got to be cool calm down take it easy wasn't it wasn't that 00:31:15.720 --> 00:31:21.460 the advert that they had um the mayor of london had one didn't he about about people um having beef 00:31:21.460 --> 00:31:25.860 in traffic and generally having a go at each other and i think that the headline was be calm 00:31:25.860 --> 00:31:33.740 cool down londoners stop losing your rag and that's got to be us doesn't it quick to listen slow to 00:31:33.740 --> 00:31:35.460 speak slow to anger 00:31:35.460 --> 00:31:45.380 in a world where people don't really listen yeah where people say silly things and people are provoked 00:31:45.380 --> 00:31:52.920 by silly things who are the people who are going to stand out the group who are applying verse 19 00:31:52.920 --> 00:32:03.579 however imperfectly they are going to stand out like a sore thumb so in terms of church advertising 00:32:03.579 --> 00:32:09.059 yeah you can you can you can you can do all kinds of things don't you you can put some nice um uh 00:32:09.059 --> 00:32:14.500 posters at the front yeah you can get people grinning and smiling being really well dressed 00:32:14.500 --> 00:32:19.059 yeah you can get the pastor dancing and church dancing doing the funky chicken on tiktok 00:32:19.059 --> 00:32:27.779 but the best way to do it is a community a community because if the pastor does the funky chicken yeah 00:32:27.779 --> 00:32:32.059 and we've got nice posters outside and i come in i think wow this is a church that 00:32:32.059 --> 00:32:38.799 guys doing the funky chicken okay and whatever and i see people arguing and squabbling with each other 00:32:38.799 --> 00:32:43.440 not listening and what's going to happen i'm going to think they're just like me there's no difference 00:32:43.440 --> 00:32:51.599 to this crowd this is the training ground the church is the training ground where you can make mistakes 00:32:51.599 --> 00:32:57.179 you can say something stupid and people are not going to cancel you 00:32:57.180 --> 00:33:03.980 my final point there's no cancelling in the kingdom of god is there 00:33:03.980 --> 00:33:11.960 there can't be can there that's not what jesus does there will be confrontation there should be 00:33:11.960 --> 00:33:18.600 gentle correction but cancelling that's a different religion it's a different religion 00:33:18.599 --> 00:33:28.339 and so uh this is challenging isn't it and if you know something of my character you know this is a 00:33:28.339 --> 00:33:35.579 major challenge for me absolutely why's my daughter laughing um they're funny you you span the crowd and i've 00:33:35.579 --> 00:33:42.159 got someone grinning from your own family lives with you um but this but we can do this the words 00:33:42.160 --> 00:33:48.900 implanted in your mind and in your heart he has changed you more than you realize he is changing 00:33:48.900 --> 00:33:51.620 you and he will change you 00:33:51.620 --> 00:33:58.600 do what it says first step let's sort out your relationship with god 00:33:58.600 --> 00:34:03.820 yeah speak to some of the regulars speak to the leaders let's sort out what this is all about 00:34:03.819 --> 00:34:09.079 enough with the hearing move on move forward what's the next step 00:34:09.079 --> 00:34:17.860 he's calling you to have the word implanted in yourself let's pray shall we our heavenly father 00:34:17.860 --> 00:34:24.539 thank you thank you father for doing that work in our hearts and in our minds help us not to believe 00:34:24.539 --> 00:34:30.579 uh the lies that come from our own heart that we can't change you have changed us already the very 00:34:30.579 --> 00:34:36.940 fact that we sit here in a warm building father we're listening to to your word is that is a sign 00:34:36.940 --> 00:34:44.719 of change father continue your great work knit this um community together that they will be a powerful 00:34:44.719 --> 00:34:52.360 witness lord uh to um a world lord where people do not honor the words of one another father to you 00:34:52.360 --> 00:34:56.000 be the glory and to your son be the glory amen amen 00:35:00.739 --> 00:35:00.739 00:35:00.739 --> 00:35:00.739 00:35:00.739 --> 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