WEBVTT

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 Good morning, church. It's good to be with you this morning. It's nice to see the sunshine.

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 I hope you've enjoyed some of the beautiful weather this weekend.

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 We're going to continue this morning in our series in the book of James.

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 I'm going to pray before we start, so will you pray with me as we look to God's word together?

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 Lord, we thank you this morning for the opportunity to gather virtually.

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 We thank you that by your grace, Lord, we are able to together hear your word this morning.

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 And I pray that your spirit would be at work in us, that we would be those who sit under it.

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 And Lord, that you would teach our hearts.

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 Lord, that you would bend our wills.

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 Lord, that you would renew our souls.

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 Lord, I pray that you would give me words this morning.

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 Lord, that you would help me.

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 Lord, that I might proclaim your word clearly, faithfully.

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 Lord, that you might use these words in all of our lives, we pray in Jesus' name.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 I can remember it was my sophomore year in high school, spring.

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 I played high school lacrosse.

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 Our season was already not going well midway through.

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 We were not going to make it to the playoffs.

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 And yet, our defensive coach, Graham Standish, pushed us every day in practice.

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 If you've ever played lacrosse, you know what a ground ball drill is.

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 It's kind of like a fumble drill in football, except you have two guys with six-foot sticks

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 trying to pick up a ball while the other person is beating on them with said stick.

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 And so, it's quite a challenge.

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 And we would do this over and over and over again.

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 We had to go get the ball.

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 He would chuck it down the field 30 or 40 yards.

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 We had to sprint down, get the ball, pick it up, and get it back to him.

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 And we would do this over and over again.

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 And as the spring got warmer and the practices got longer, and as the playoffs faded, it became

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 a great trial.

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 And he was unyielding, pushing us daily, seemingly unaware or uncaring of the trial that we were

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 facing.

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 We weren't going to win the title that year.

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 What was the point?

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 And as we went on, I began to doubt Graham Standish.

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 Did he just enjoy torturing us?

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 Was this punishment for not doing well this year?

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 Or was this just a big ego trip for him?

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 And we were the pawns upon which he was building his reputation.

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 In the midst of that trial, I doubted his goodness and his intentions for us.

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 And I wonder if we do the same thing in the midst of trials with God as well.

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 It can be easy at times as we face various trials to think that God is unyielding.

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 We wonder, is he punishing us?

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 Is he ignoring us?

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 Does he care?

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 Is he good?

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 It is to some of these questions that the book of James speaks to us this morning.

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 We're in James chapter 1.

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 If you want to turn there in your Bible at home or on your app, however you're reading

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 along with us this morning.

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 James chapter 1.

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 We're going to start in verse 12 and read through verse 18.

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 So let's read together.

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 James 1 verse 12.

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 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial.

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 For when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to

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 those who love him.

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 Let no one say when he is tempted, I'm being tempted by God.

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 For God cannot tempt with evil, cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.

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 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.

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 Then desire, when it has conceived, gives birth to sin.

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 And sin, when it is fully grown, brings forth death.

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 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers and sisters.

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 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights,

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 with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

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 Of his own will, he brought us forth by the word of truth that we should be a kind of first

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 fruits of his creatures.

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 As James is writing this letter to the church dispersed throughout the Middle East,

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 as he's writing to encourage them to be steadfast in trials,

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 today we see that in the face of trials, he gives us a promise, a problem, and a provision from God

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 as we walk through trials together.

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 A promise, a problem, and a provision from God.

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 So let's look at these three things in order.

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 First, in verse 12, we see the promise from God.

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 The promise is that there is a crown of life that God will give to those who are steadfast in the face of trials,

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 steadfast in loving God.

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 Now, this imagery of a crown of life, a crown would have been probably not a heavy metal thing

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 that maybe we think of from European history, but it would have been back from the original Olympics,

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 it would have been a wreath, most likely.

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 And it would have been a living wreath made of vines or of ivy or something like that.

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 And it would be given for those who win the race.

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 Now, for James, winning the race is not coming in first, but winning the race is finishing it to the end.

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 It is remaining steadfast in our love here.

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 And for those who are able to stand fast in loving God,

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 then God comes and, like the emperor would come in the ceremony,

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 at the end of life, for eternity, God will come,

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 and like the emperor, he will bestow upon those who are steadfast this crown.

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 And this crown is characterized by life, life from God, life that extends for all eternity.

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 Life that comes from being with him, the author of life.

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 And we are the ones who, not creating this life, but who receive this from God as a gift,

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 as a blessing, as a sign of God's favor.

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 And so, blessed are those who stand fast in trials.

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 And friends, we need to remember that the Bible tells us that standing fast in the midst of trial

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 does not mean that we will have success.

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 We think of the book of Hebrews, chapter 11,

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 where it tells of great stories of people who, by faith, saw God do amazing things to provide for them.

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 And yet, at the end of that chapter, if you remember,

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 but there were others who, with the same faith, trusted God.

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 And rather than seeing God's work in their lives,

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 they suffered great trials and did not see the salvation in this life.

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 They did not see the success in this life.

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 And yet, there is a future hope,

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 an eternal hope that James is pointing us to here.

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 That is for all,

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 for all of us who are steadfast in our faith in loving God.

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 So, there is hope that the end of the race,

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 at the end of the race, there is something worth hanging in there for.

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 I wonder whether you've lost sight of this.

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 I know sometimes I do.

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 Times I'm overwhelmed by the moment.

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 Sometimes the pain of the trial feels beyond my capacity to bear.

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 Sometimes I just am afraid that I'm going to fail.

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 And I feel like I lack the ability to endure.

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 And sometimes I just lose sight of it.

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 I lose sight of the prize.

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 I lose sight of where we're going in the midst of all the stuff that's right in front of me.

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 I can't see the crown of life that God has promised me.

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 So, James reminds us this morning that blessed are those who,

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 with steadfastness, continue on in loving God

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 because there is a crown of life for us.

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 Why is it so hard to stand firm with such a good prize waiting for us?

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 Well, this is what James addresses in the next couple of verses

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 because he says we have a problem in that perseverance, don't we?

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 We have a heart problem.

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 Look with me in verses 13 through 15.

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 The problem is that our hearts doubt God's intentions

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 and His goodness in the midst of our trials.

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 See, James is a wise pastor and he knows that he set before us this great hope.

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 Run the race.

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 Blessed are those who stand firm because there's something at the end.

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 But we all know that when things get really hard,

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 our human hearts, our first desire is to look outward

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 to blame someone else for it.

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 The devil made to do it.

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 It wasn't me.

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 It was the drink.

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 Or you made me do this.

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 You were the one who made me sin, fail, stop loving God, continuing to be.

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 James looks deeper and he says that this impulse to want to blame others

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 for a Christian is particularly acute

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 because we know that God is sovereign in all things.

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 And so when we look externally at these circumstances

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 and we know that God is sovereign over all of them,

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 then our hearts turn to this.

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 You are tempting me, God.

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 You are the one pushing me to failure and to sin.

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 We want to blame him and accuse him for our responses.

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 We doubt his good intentions and we look for a way to pass the buck to him.

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 But as verse 16 reminds us, we have to think rightly about these things.

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 We have to think rightly about both God and ourselves in this trial.

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 James does this as we walk through this passage.

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 First, James clearly says,

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 God is not the source of our temptation,

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 though he may give us trials.

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 And it's important to know that in the first century rear,

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 if you were reading this,

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 you would recognize that the word for trials,

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 that's both in verse 2 and in verse 12,

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 has the same root as the word that's translated temptations

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 in your translation here in verse 13.

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 So it's going to sound like,

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 it's going to look like it's maybe the same word.

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 But what James is doing is drawing on the richness of this word

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 to distinguish between a trial,

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 which is something external,

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 and a temptation, which is internal.

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 Because we know from the Bible that God does test his people.

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 That God does give trials.

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 Think about Genesis 22.

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 God comes to Abraham,

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 and having provided with Abraham a son

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 who is the fulfillment of a promise

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 that he will be the father of many nations,

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 he then says,

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 Abraham, I want you to come and offer up this son.

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 And Genesis 22 says,

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 God did this to test Abraham.

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 Or we read in Deuteronomy chapter 8,

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 as God is recounting his faithfulness

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 to his people in the wilderness,

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 he said,

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 I put you into the wilderness to test you,

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 to see what was in your hearts.

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 God puts us at times through trials,

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 but his intention is always

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 that we would steadfastly persevere,

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 and that we would succeed.

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 Look back in verses 2 through 4.

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 God gives us trials so that we might grow in character,

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 so that it might produce good in us,

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 so that we might know more about his faithfulness,

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 and his power,

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 and his strength.

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 God's intentions are always good.

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 He does not tempt us to sin.

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 One commentator puts it this way,

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 what must be understood is that temptation

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 is an impulse towards sin,

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 and since God is not susceptible

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 to any such desire for evil,

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 he cannot be seen as desiring

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 that it be brought about in man.

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 This is contrary to his very character,

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 that God would lead people into sin.

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 And so,

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 though he may create

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 and sovereignly oversee

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 our external circumstances,

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 the power of temptation

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 comes from somewhere else.

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 And this is what James goes on to say

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 in verses 14 and 15.

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 The temptation comes from within.

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 It comes from our own hearts,

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 our own desires.

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 Look with me in verse 14.

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 Each person is tempted

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 when he is lured and enticed

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 by his own desire.

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 Now look,

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 we need to be careful here.

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 Not all desires are good.

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 We are meant to desire God.

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 We have the capacity

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 to desire good things,

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 but the word here,

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 and often in the Bible,

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 when it talks about our desires,

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 it's laying bare our sinful desires,

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 our desires for things

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 that are outside of God.

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 And to think more carefully about this,

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 we need to recognize

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 that the pull of temptation

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 is not the same thing

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 as being captured by temptation.

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 And so,

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 Martin Luther has this famous quote.

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 He says,

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 you can't keep the birds

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 from flying over your head,

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 but you can keep them

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 from nesting in your hair.

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 We may see things

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 that will flit in front of our faces

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 that we think,

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 oh,

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 I'm tempted to sin

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 in response to that.

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 But if we let it fly by,

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 if we resist that temptation

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 and it goes by,

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 we have not sinned.

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 We have actually withstood

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 the temptation.

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 But we know that in our hearts,

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 the pull to sin

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 is met with a desire.

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 We desire things apart from God

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 that will be our salvation.

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 Things that give us ultimate satisfaction.

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 Things that we think

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 will give us fulfillment

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 or comfort.

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 Friends,

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 think back over the last 10 weeks

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 as we've been walking

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 through this pandemic

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 and the trials that it's been.

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 Where has your heart turned?

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 And look,

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 it can turn

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 not to evil things,

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 but to good things

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 in bad ways.

00:16:22.100 --> 00:16:23.159
 Maybe you've had

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 a couple too many

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 Oreo packages

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 on a bad day.

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 Or maybe your binging of Netflix

00:16:30.340 --> 00:16:32.299
 has gone beyond

00:16:32.299 --> 00:16:34.659
 what maybe is healthy for you.

00:16:34.659 --> 00:16:37.719
 And some of us

00:16:37.719 --> 00:16:38.480
 are battling

00:16:38.480 --> 00:16:40.679
 turning to real evil

00:16:40.679 --> 00:16:41.899
 that enslaves us.

00:16:42.240 --> 00:16:42.719
 Addictions

00:16:42.719 --> 00:16:44.959
 that maybe we have overcome

00:16:44.959 --> 00:16:46.740
 are lurking again

00:16:46.740 --> 00:16:48.079
 to capture us again.

00:16:48.719 --> 00:16:50.299
 Whether it be pornography

00:16:50.299 --> 00:16:51.539
 or alcohol

00:16:51.539 --> 00:16:52.919
 or substance abuse

00:16:52.919 --> 00:16:55.079
 or other ways

00:16:55.079 --> 00:16:56.740
 in which we seek to

00:16:56.740 --> 00:16:59.299
 find life

00:16:59.299 --> 00:17:00.179
 in things

00:17:00.179 --> 00:17:01.659
 apart from God.

00:17:01.659 --> 00:17:04.259
 things that we treat

00:17:04.259 --> 00:17:05.920
 as God substitutes.

00:17:06.480 --> 00:17:07.420
 And when we take

00:17:07.420 --> 00:17:07.980
 these things

00:17:07.980 --> 00:17:08.940
 and not only do we

00:17:08.940 --> 00:17:10.240
 fight against them

00:17:10.240 --> 00:17:11.619
 and even sometimes fail,

00:17:11.759 --> 00:17:13.839
 but when we cherish them,

00:17:14.139 --> 00:17:15.539
 when we coddle them,

00:17:15.879 --> 00:17:20.700
 when we excuse them,

00:17:20.819 --> 00:17:22.339
 and when we keep them

00:17:22.339 --> 00:17:23.079
 rather than

00:17:23.079 --> 00:17:23.920
 taking them

00:17:23.920 --> 00:17:25.279
 and giving them back to God

00:17:25.279 --> 00:17:25.639
 and saying,

00:17:25.700 --> 00:17:26.539
 God, help me.

00:17:26.539 --> 00:17:28.779
 when we abandon faith

00:17:28.779 --> 00:17:29.879
 in God's goodness

00:17:29.879 --> 00:17:31.000
 and in His provision

00:17:31.000 --> 00:17:31.759
 for us

00:17:31.759 --> 00:17:32.720
 and reach out

00:17:32.720 --> 00:17:34.079
 for these things instead,

00:17:35.059 --> 00:17:35.539
 then,

00:17:35.659 --> 00:17:36.799
 like in verse 14,

00:17:36.879 --> 00:17:38.019
 we are like the trout

00:17:38.019 --> 00:17:38.819
 in the stream

00:17:38.819 --> 00:17:39.779
 and we see

00:17:39.779 --> 00:17:41.480
 the big fat worm

00:17:41.480 --> 00:17:42.420
 float by

00:17:42.420 --> 00:17:43.039
 or we see

00:17:43.039 --> 00:17:44.500
 the well-tied fly

00:17:44.500 --> 00:17:46.259
 traipsing on the top

00:17:46.259 --> 00:17:46.779
 of the water

00:17:46.779 --> 00:17:47.799
 and we strike.

00:17:48.079 --> 00:17:48.960
 And when we strike

00:17:48.960 --> 00:17:49.680
 at that thing

00:17:49.680 --> 00:17:50.599
 with our desire,

00:17:50.819 --> 00:17:51.659
 it hooks us

00:17:51.659 --> 00:17:53.139
 and it drags us away

00:17:53.139 --> 00:17:54.460
 into sin.

00:17:54.460 --> 00:17:56.880
 And then,

00:17:57.039 --> 00:17:58.140
 James,

00:17:58.380 --> 00:17:59.620
 his image changes

00:17:59.620 --> 00:18:00.400
 from fishing

00:18:00.400 --> 00:18:01.400
 to childbirth.

00:18:01.740 --> 00:18:02.380
 He then says

00:18:02.380 --> 00:18:02.799
 that there is

00:18:02.799 --> 00:18:04.420
 this inevitable process

00:18:04.420 --> 00:18:06.019
 just as

00:18:06.019 --> 00:18:07.240
 in a human body

00:18:07.240 --> 00:18:08.400
 conception leads

00:18:08.400 --> 00:18:08.960
 to the growth

00:18:08.960 --> 00:18:09.779
 of an embryo

00:18:09.779 --> 00:18:10.620
 which in time

00:18:10.620 --> 00:18:12.019
 produces a baby

00:18:12.019 --> 00:18:12.980
 that then grows

00:18:12.980 --> 00:18:14.380
 to a mature person.

00:18:15.640 --> 00:18:16.460
 So also,

00:18:16.640 --> 00:18:17.980
 when we allow desires

00:18:17.980 --> 00:18:19.299
 to implant themselves

00:18:19.299 --> 00:18:20.420
 in our will,

00:18:20.680 --> 00:18:21.539
 we engage

00:18:21.539 --> 00:18:23.019
 in a natural process

00:18:23.019 --> 00:18:24.059
 that will lead us

00:18:24.059 --> 00:18:24.700
 to sin

00:18:24.700 --> 00:18:26.799
 and it gives birth

00:18:26.799 --> 00:18:27.399
 to sin

00:18:27.399 --> 00:18:29.159
 and the final result,

00:18:29.919 --> 00:18:31.319
 the maturity of sin,

00:18:31.399 --> 00:18:31.980
 if you will,

00:18:32.480 --> 00:18:33.319
 is death.

00:18:34.299 --> 00:18:35.440
 Spiritual death.

00:18:36.200 --> 00:18:37.339
 Eternal death.

00:18:38.399 --> 00:18:38.960
 Distance.

00:18:39.819 --> 00:18:41.359
 Separation from God

00:18:41.359 --> 00:18:43.279
 because we have

00:18:43.279 --> 00:18:44.039
 turned our back

00:18:44.039 --> 00:18:44.700
 on Him

00:18:44.700 --> 00:18:45.579
 and turned

00:18:45.579 --> 00:18:46.419
 to these things

00:18:46.419 --> 00:18:47.000
 instead.

00:18:47.000 --> 00:18:47.200
 dead.

00:18:50.799 --> 00:18:51.720
 So when we're

00:18:51.720 --> 00:18:52.700
 facing trials

00:18:52.700 --> 00:18:53.660
 and we feel

00:18:53.660 --> 00:18:54.660
 the pull of temptation,

00:18:54.839 --> 00:18:55.579
 we need to take

00:18:55.579 --> 00:18:56.559
 responsibility

00:18:56.559 --> 00:18:58.180
 for the fact that

00:18:58.180 --> 00:18:58.559
 our,

00:18:58.960 --> 00:18:59.559
 the pull

00:18:59.559 --> 00:19:00.220
 and the power

00:19:00.220 --> 00:19:01.680
 of that temptation

00:19:01.680 --> 00:19:02.960
 and the result

00:19:02.960 --> 00:19:03.259
 of it,

00:19:03.339 --> 00:19:04.440
 if we give into it,

00:19:04.440 --> 00:19:05.579
 is our own

00:19:05.579 --> 00:19:06.400
 responsibility

00:19:06.400 --> 00:19:08.099
 for which we are

00:19:08.099 --> 00:19:09.059
 ansible to God

00:19:09.059 --> 00:19:09.440
 for.

00:19:10.859 --> 00:19:11.359
 Now,

00:19:11.420 --> 00:19:11.559
 look,

00:19:11.660 --> 00:19:12.000
 friends,

00:19:12.000 --> 00:19:14.000
 there is a proper

00:19:14.000 --> 00:19:15.000
 place for us

00:19:15.000 --> 00:19:15.640
 to

00:19:15.640 --> 00:19:18.660
 lament

00:19:18.660 --> 00:19:19.539
 and cry out

00:19:19.539 --> 00:19:20.200
 to God

00:19:20.200 --> 00:19:21.720
 when we don't

00:19:21.720 --> 00:19:22.400
 understand what

00:19:22.400 --> 00:19:22.859
 He's doing

00:19:22.859 --> 00:19:23.440
 and when it's

00:19:23.440 --> 00:19:24.180
 really hard.

00:19:25.579 --> 00:19:27.000
 But we must not

00:19:27.000 --> 00:19:28.000
 allow our hearts,

00:19:28.180 --> 00:19:29.160
 as James says here,

00:19:29.259 --> 00:19:30.420
 to turn from that

00:19:30.420 --> 00:19:31.160
 lamenting

00:19:31.160 --> 00:19:32.079
 and crying out

00:19:32.079 --> 00:19:32.579
 to Him

00:19:32.579 --> 00:19:34.140
 to turn into

00:19:34.140 --> 00:19:34.779
 a heart

00:19:34.779 --> 00:19:35.880
 of accusation

00:19:35.880 --> 00:19:37.619
 and doubt

00:19:37.619 --> 00:19:38.599
 and bitterness.

00:19:38.599 --> 00:19:43.179
 This is where

00:19:43.179 --> 00:19:44.019
 James goes

00:19:44.019 --> 00:19:45.500
 in the last

00:19:45.500 --> 00:19:46.119
 couple of verses

00:19:46.119 --> 00:19:46.839
 of our passage

00:19:46.839 --> 00:19:47.339
 today.

00:19:47.839 --> 00:19:49.219
 If in trials

00:19:49.219 --> 00:19:49.699
 our hearts

00:19:49.699 --> 00:19:50.679
 are so prone

00:19:50.679 --> 00:19:51.319
 to doubt

00:19:51.319 --> 00:19:52.279
 and blame God

00:19:52.279 --> 00:19:53.099
 and pursue

00:19:53.099 --> 00:19:54.119
 our sinful desires,

00:19:54.259 --> 00:19:55.139
 where is there

00:19:55.139 --> 00:19:56.559
 hope for us?

00:19:57.099 --> 00:19:57.899
 And verse 16

00:19:57.899 --> 00:19:58.399
 through 18

00:19:58.399 --> 00:19:58.939
 gives us

00:19:58.939 --> 00:19:59.659
 the provision,

00:20:00.740 --> 00:20:01.259
 the provision

00:20:01.259 --> 00:20:02.539
 that God's goodness

00:20:02.539 --> 00:20:03.659
 is sure

00:20:03.659 --> 00:20:04.559
 and certain

00:20:04.559 --> 00:20:05.599
 to deliver us

00:20:05.599 --> 00:20:06.500
 from such doubt

00:20:06.500 --> 00:20:07.659
 because He

00:20:07.659 --> 00:20:08.519
 has given us

00:20:08.519 --> 00:20:09.160
 new life

00:20:09.160 --> 00:20:10.079
 in His Word.

00:20:11.839 --> 00:20:12.579
 Rather than

00:20:12.579 --> 00:20:13.539
 thinking that God

00:20:13.539 --> 00:20:14.319
 is tempting us

00:20:14.319 --> 00:20:15.039
 towards sin,

00:20:15.440 --> 00:20:16.420
 we ought to think

00:20:16.420 --> 00:20:16.759
 of Him

00:20:16.759 --> 00:20:17.359
 as it says

00:20:17.359 --> 00:20:18.500
 in verse 17,

00:20:19.000 --> 00:20:20.160
 God is altogether

00:20:20.160 --> 00:20:20.920
 good

00:20:20.920 --> 00:20:21.440
 and He is

00:20:21.440 --> 00:20:22.180
 unchanging

00:20:22.180 --> 00:20:23.059
 in His goodness

00:20:23.059 --> 00:20:24.039
 to His people.

00:20:24.639 --> 00:20:25.599
 God is like

00:20:25.599 --> 00:20:26.319
 the sun.

00:20:27.099 --> 00:20:27.980
 The sun cannot

00:20:27.980 --> 00:20:28.940
 cast a shadow

00:20:28.940 --> 00:20:29.779
 because it is

00:20:29.779 --> 00:20:30.299
 the source

00:20:30.299 --> 00:20:31.220
 of all light.

00:20:31.559 --> 00:20:32.259
 So there is

00:20:32.259 --> 00:20:32.920
 no shadow

00:20:32.920 --> 00:20:33.980
 and the sun,

00:20:34.220 --> 00:20:34.940
 although now we know

00:20:34.940 --> 00:20:35.859
 that cosmologically

00:20:35.859 --> 00:20:36.480
 there would be

00:20:36.480 --> 00:20:37.379
 some variation,

00:20:37.380 --> 00:20:38.580
 for all of human

00:20:38.580 --> 00:20:39.040
 existence,

00:20:39.200 --> 00:20:40.100
 our sun has not

00:20:40.100 --> 00:20:40.840
 changed and will

00:20:40.840 --> 00:20:41.440
 not change

00:20:41.440 --> 00:20:42.420
 and so we know

00:20:42.420 --> 00:20:43.340
 that the sun

00:20:43.340 --> 00:20:43.960
 is an image

00:20:43.960 --> 00:20:45.340
 of this unchanging

00:20:45.340 --> 00:20:46.120
 reality

00:20:46.120 --> 00:20:47.340
 that rules

00:20:47.340 --> 00:20:48.540
 over all

00:20:48.540 --> 00:20:49.160
 of the world

00:20:49.160 --> 00:20:50.380
 and brings life

00:20:50.380 --> 00:20:51.880
 to all

00:20:51.880 --> 00:20:52.940
 who receive

00:20:52.940 --> 00:20:53.740
 its blessing

00:20:53.740 --> 00:20:54.400
 of light.

00:20:57.340 --> 00:20:58.620
 And James says

00:20:58.620 --> 00:21:00.080
 this is what

00:21:00.080 --> 00:21:01.020
 all of the images

00:21:01.020 --> 00:21:02.020
 in verse 17

00:21:02.020 --> 00:21:02.640
 mean.

00:21:02.640 --> 00:21:03.940
 every good

00:21:03.940 --> 00:21:04.600
 and perfect

00:21:04.600 --> 00:21:05.580
 gift comes

00:21:05.580 --> 00:21:06.340
 from God

00:21:06.340 --> 00:21:07.040
 above,

00:21:07.840 --> 00:21:08.540
 the Father

00:21:08.540 --> 00:21:09.259
 of lights

00:21:09.259 --> 00:21:10.480
 who is

00:21:10.480 --> 00:21:11.400
 unchanging

00:21:11.400 --> 00:21:13.140
 and who is

00:21:13.140 --> 00:21:14.340
 without shadow

00:21:14.340 --> 00:21:15.880
 in His goodness.

00:21:18.840 --> 00:21:19.900
 When trials

00:21:19.900 --> 00:21:20.460
 arouse,

00:21:20.860 --> 00:21:21.680
 doubt in our

00:21:21.680 --> 00:21:22.080
 hearts

00:21:22.080 --> 00:21:23.340
 about God's

00:21:23.340 --> 00:21:23.660
 goodness,

00:21:23.900 --> 00:21:24.220
 God

00:21:24.220 --> 00:21:26.740
 stands firm

00:21:26.740 --> 00:21:27.180
 and says

00:21:27.180 --> 00:21:27.740
 no,

00:21:27.960 --> 00:21:29.000
 I am good.

00:21:29.080 --> 00:21:29.660
 And then James

00:21:29.660 --> 00:21:29.980
 says,

00:21:30.300 --> 00:21:31.180
 and if you doubt

00:21:31.180 --> 00:21:31.620
 that,

00:21:31.880 --> 00:21:32.660
 because if the

00:21:32.660 --> 00:21:33.279
 circumstances

00:21:33.279 --> 00:21:33.860
 around you

00:21:33.860 --> 00:21:34.820
 look too hard,

00:21:36.039 --> 00:21:37.120
 verse 18 then,

00:21:37.960 --> 00:21:38.779
 this is where

00:21:38.779 --> 00:21:39.420
 we can look

00:21:39.420 --> 00:21:40.259
 to know

00:21:40.259 --> 00:21:41.180
 how to walk

00:21:41.180 --> 00:21:41.880
 through this.

00:21:43.440 --> 00:21:44.299
 Verse 18,

00:21:44.480 --> 00:21:45.380
 of His own

00:21:45.380 --> 00:21:45.920
 will He

00:21:45.920 --> 00:21:46.580
 brought us

00:21:46.580 --> 00:21:47.340
 forth by the

00:21:47.340 --> 00:21:48.299
 word of truth.

00:21:49.160 --> 00:21:50.360
 God initiated

00:21:50.360 --> 00:21:51.840
 with us,

00:21:52.240 --> 00:21:53.000
 God came

00:21:53.000 --> 00:21:53.940
 and pursued

00:21:53.940 --> 00:21:54.700
 us

00:21:54.700 --> 00:21:55.720
 so that we

00:21:55.720 --> 00:21:56.380
 might choose

00:21:56.380 --> 00:21:57.200
 Him in faith.

00:21:58.200 --> 00:21:58.620
 Now I don't

00:21:58.620 --> 00:21:59.180
 know about you,

00:21:59.279 --> 00:21:59.660
 but I know

00:21:59.660 --> 00:22:00.120
 that when I

00:22:00.120 --> 00:22:00.720
 came to faith

00:22:00.720 --> 00:22:01.200
 in Christ,

00:22:01.360 --> 00:22:02.019
 I thought I

00:22:02.019 --> 00:22:02.500
 was choosing

00:22:02.500 --> 00:22:02.980
 God.

00:22:04.740 --> 00:22:05.539
 I thought I

00:22:05.539 --> 00:22:06.319
 was deciding

00:22:06.319 --> 00:22:07.000
 to believe

00:22:07.000 --> 00:22:07.519
 in Him

00:22:07.519 --> 00:22:08.380
 and to put

00:22:08.380 --> 00:22:08.819
 Him in the

00:22:08.819 --> 00:22:09.220
 center of

00:22:09.220 --> 00:22:09.819
 my life.

00:22:10.380 --> 00:22:11.019
 And at one

00:22:11.019 --> 00:22:11.400
 level that

00:22:11.400 --> 00:22:11.799
 was very

00:22:11.799 --> 00:22:12.319
 true.

00:22:13.880 --> 00:22:14.339
 But as

00:22:14.339 --> 00:22:15.019
 the great

00:22:15.019 --> 00:22:15.339
 Bible

00:22:15.339 --> 00:22:15.940
 commentator

00:22:15.940 --> 00:22:16.319
 Alec

00:22:16.319 --> 00:22:16.640
 Maudier

00:22:16.640 --> 00:22:17.839
 says in

00:22:17.839 --> 00:22:18.100
 his,

00:22:18.559 --> 00:22:19.140
 we learn

00:22:19.140 --> 00:22:19.740
 that behind

00:22:19.740 --> 00:22:21.200
 our choice,

00:22:21.380 --> 00:22:21.900
 making it

00:22:21.900 --> 00:22:22.839
 possible and

00:22:22.839 --> 00:22:23.380
 making it

00:22:23.380 --> 00:22:23.700
 real,

00:22:24.440 --> 00:22:24.920
 is the

00:22:24.920 --> 00:22:25.519
 wonder that

00:22:25.519 --> 00:22:26.480
 He first

00:22:26.480 --> 00:22:27.539
 chose us.

00:22:27.539 --> 00:22:29.680
 God

00:22:29.680 --> 00:22:30.480
 initiated

00:22:30.480 --> 00:22:31.759
 and pursued

00:22:31.759 --> 00:22:32.659
 and wooed

00:22:32.659 --> 00:22:33.359
 us with

00:22:33.359 --> 00:22:34.019
 the message

00:22:34.019 --> 00:22:34.559
 of the

00:22:34.559 --> 00:22:35.000
 gospel.

00:22:35.599 --> 00:22:36.119
 And He

00:22:36.119 --> 00:22:36.680
 took the

00:22:36.680 --> 00:22:37.220
 message of

00:22:37.220 --> 00:22:37.720
 the gospel

00:22:37.720 --> 00:22:38.420
 and He

00:22:38.420 --> 00:22:39.240
 implanted it

00:22:39.240 --> 00:22:39.740
 in our

00:22:39.740 --> 00:22:40.519
 souls.

00:22:41.299 --> 00:22:41.799
 And from

00:22:41.799 --> 00:22:42.180
 that,

00:22:42.559 --> 00:22:43.379
 this gospel

00:22:43.379 --> 00:22:43.940
 word of

00:22:43.940 --> 00:22:44.259
 truth,

00:22:44.559 --> 00:22:45.099
 He then

00:22:45.099 --> 00:22:46.180
 brought forth

00:22:46.180 --> 00:22:47.299
 a new

00:22:47.299 --> 00:22:47.859
 life.

00:22:49.399 --> 00:22:49.899
 And just

00:22:49.899 --> 00:22:50.220
 as in

00:22:50.220 --> 00:22:50.799
 verse 14

00:22:50.799 --> 00:22:51.259
 and 15

00:22:51.259 --> 00:22:51.839
 talks about

00:22:51.839 --> 00:22:52.259
 how our

00:22:52.259 --> 00:22:52.899
 desires

00:22:52.899 --> 00:22:53.659
 implant

00:22:53.659 --> 00:22:54.220
 something that

00:22:54.220 --> 00:22:54.779
 leads to

00:22:54.779 --> 00:22:55.279
 sin and

00:22:55.279 --> 00:22:55.639
 death,

00:22:56.079 --> 00:22:57.879
 but that

00:22:57.879 --> 00:22:58.519
 that is in

00:22:58.519 --> 00:22:59.339
 our souls,

00:22:59.519 --> 00:23:00.200
 what God

00:23:00.200 --> 00:23:00.700
 brings to

00:23:00.700 --> 00:23:01.180
 us is a

00:23:01.180 --> 00:23:01.660
 different thing.

00:23:01.720 --> 00:23:02.119
 The word

00:23:02.119 --> 00:23:02.559
 of truth

00:23:02.559 --> 00:23:03.259
 implanted in

00:23:03.259 --> 00:23:03.720
 our lives

00:23:03.720 --> 00:23:04.399
 that then

00:23:04.399 --> 00:23:05.200
 brings us

00:23:05.200 --> 00:23:06.039
 new and

00:23:06.039 --> 00:23:07.000
 eternal life

00:23:07.000 --> 00:23:07.700
 with Him.

00:23:09.399 --> 00:23:09.759
 And not

00:23:09.759 --> 00:23:10.440
 only eternal

00:23:10.440 --> 00:23:10.819
 life with

00:23:10.819 --> 00:23:10.940
 Him,

00:23:11.000 --> 00:23:11.599
 but that we

00:23:11.599 --> 00:23:12.460
 might be a

00:23:12.460 --> 00:23:13.059
 part of His

00:23:13.059 --> 00:23:14.019
 eternal family,

00:23:14.420 --> 00:23:14.980
 the first

00:23:14.980 --> 00:23:15.500
 fruits of

00:23:15.500 --> 00:23:15.720
 His

00:23:15.720 --> 00:23:16.379
 creation.

00:23:21.059 --> 00:23:21.539
 Friends,

00:23:21.619 --> 00:23:22.079
 this is the

00:23:22.079 --> 00:23:22.740
 good news,

00:23:23.119 --> 00:23:24.039
 is that as

00:23:24.039 --> 00:23:24.700
 we are held

00:23:24.700 --> 00:23:25.519
 forth this

00:23:25.519 --> 00:23:26.900
 crown before

00:23:26.900 --> 00:23:27.259
 us,

00:23:27.319 --> 00:23:27.819
 this crown

00:23:27.819 --> 00:23:28.460
 of life,

00:23:29.000 --> 00:23:29.620
 God does

00:23:29.620 --> 00:23:30.720
 not require

00:23:30.720 --> 00:23:31.400
 that we

00:23:31.400 --> 00:23:32.160
 be good

00:23:32.160 --> 00:23:33.080
 enough to

00:23:33.080 --> 00:23:33.940
 save ourselves

00:23:33.940 --> 00:23:34.600
 or that we

00:23:34.600 --> 00:23:35.319
 be strong

00:23:35.319 --> 00:23:36.120
 enough to

00:23:36.120 --> 00:23:37.080
 stay steadfast

00:23:37.080 --> 00:23:37.920
 and endure

00:23:37.920 --> 00:23:38.799
 on our own

00:23:38.799 --> 00:23:39.360
 power.

00:23:41.519 --> 00:23:42.340
 That would

00:23:42.340 --> 00:23:43.059
 be a terrible

00:23:43.059 --> 00:23:44.299
 tease if God

00:23:44.299 --> 00:23:45.200
 asked us to

00:23:45.200 --> 00:23:45.740
 do that.

00:23:47.680 --> 00:23:48.680
 But God

00:23:48.680 --> 00:23:49.360
 instead has

00:23:49.360 --> 00:23:50.160
 come to us,

00:23:50.299 --> 00:23:51.100
 initiated with

00:23:51.100 --> 00:23:51.400
 us,

00:23:51.779 --> 00:23:52.660
 worked in

00:23:52.660 --> 00:23:53.319
 us who

00:23:53.319 --> 00:23:54.019
 believe in

00:23:54.019 --> 00:23:54.519
 Christ,

00:23:54.700 --> 00:23:56.000
 He has

00:23:56.000 --> 00:23:56.559
 given us

00:23:56.559 --> 00:23:57.120
 a new

00:23:57.120 --> 00:23:57.759
 life,

00:23:58.759 --> 00:24:01.460
 a life

00:24:01.460 --> 00:24:02.259
 without which

00:24:02.259 --> 00:24:02.740
 we won't

00:24:02.740 --> 00:24:03.420
 make it on

00:24:03.420 --> 00:24:03.940
 our own.

00:24:04.360 --> 00:24:04.880
 Our hearts

00:24:04.880 --> 00:24:05.580
 won't allow

00:24:05.580 --> 00:24:05.960
 us.

00:24:08.360 --> 00:24:09.360
 But because

00:24:09.360 --> 00:24:10.019
 we know that

00:24:10.019 --> 00:24:11.019
 Jesus came to

00:24:11.019 --> 00:24:11.380
 earth,

00:24:11.819 --> 00:24:13.039
 was tested

00:24:13.039 --> 00:24:13.819
 and tried

00:24:13.819 --> 00:24:14.580
 as we are,

00:24:15.279 --> 00:24:16.160
 and then died

00:24:16.160 --> 00:24:17.180
 on the cross

00:24:17.180 --> 00:24:18.259
 for our sins,

00:24:18.720 --> 00:24:19.440
 that Jesus

00:24:19.440 --> 00:24:20.259
 was raised

00:24:20.259 --> 00:24:21.380
 to new life

00:24:21.380 --> 00:24:21.800
 so that

00:24:21.800 --> 00:24:22.520
 all who

00:24:22.520 --> 00:24:24.300
 are joined

00:24:24.300 --> 00:24:25.320
 to Him

00:24:25.320 --> 00:24:26.440
 experience

00:24:26.440 --> 00:24:27.340
 this new

00:24:27.340 --> 00:24:27.860
 life,

00:24:28.460 --> 00:24:29.060
 a spiritual

00:24:29.060 --> 00:24:29.680
 life now,

00:24:29.800 --> 00:24:30.020
 and an

00:24:30.020 --> 00:24:30.820
 eternal life

00:24:30.820 --> 00:24:31.600
 with God.

00:24:34.540 --> 00:24:35.600
 This, then,

00:24:35.800 --> 00:24:36.740
 is the great

00:24:36.740 --> 00:24:37.460
 hope that we

00:24:37.460 --> 00:24:37.920
 have.

00:24:38.480 --> 00:24:39.260
 This is how

00:24:39.260 --> 00:24:40.020
 we know that

00:24:40.020 --> 00:24:40.600
 God is good,

00:24:40.640 --> 00:24:41.380
 and this is the

00:24:41.380 --> 00:24:42.120
 power that we

00:24:42.120 --> 00:24:43.660
 find to be

00:24:43.660 --> 00:24:44.980
 steadfast in

00:24:44.980 --> 00:24:45.540
 the midst of

00:24:45.540 --> 00:24:46.020
 trials.

00:24:46.019 --> 00:24:47.460
 we throw

00:24:47.460 --> 00:24:48.180
 our helpless

00:24:48.180 --> 00:24:49.059
 selves on

00:24:49.059 --> 00:24:49.740
 God's goodness

00:24:49.740 --> 00:24:51.059
 to us in

00:24:51.059 --> 00:24:51.660
 this.

00:24:54.180 --> 00:24:55.139
 Friends, do you

00:24:55.139 --> 00:24:55.819
 doubt that God

00:24:55.819 --> 00:24:56.299
 is good?

00:24:57.559 --> 00:24:58.519
 Do you wonder

00:24:58.519 --> 00:24:59.900
 if in this

00:24:59.900 --> 00:25:00.420
 season of

00:25:00.420 --> 00:25:00.859
 pandemic,

00:25:01.379 --> 00:25:02.299
 He is tempting

00:25:02.299 --> 00:25:03.660
 you to turn?

00:25:05.000 --> 00:25:05.819
 Turn from

00:25:05.819 --> 00:25:06.839
 Him to sin?

00:25:07.400 --> 00:25:07.879
 Turn from

00:25:07.879 --> 00:25:08.299
 Him to

00:25:08.299 --> 00:25:09.119
 indulge your

00:25:09.119 --> 00:25:10.019
 sinful desires?

00:25:12.019 --> 00:25:12.819
 Have you

00:25:12.819 --> 00:25:13.639
 begun to doubt

00:25:13.639 --> 00:25:14.240
 His goodness

00:25:14.240 --> 00:25:14.720
 and to

00:25:14.720 --> 00:25:15.920
 accuse or to

00:25:15.920 --> 00:25:16.880
 blame Him

00:25:16.880 --> 00:25:17.860
 for your

00:25:17.860 --> 00:25:18.259
 faults,

00:25:18.600 --> 00:25:19.060
 for your

00:25:19.060 --> 00:25:19.580
 failures?

00:25:23.200 --> 00:25:23.960
 The good

00:25:23.960 --> 00:25:24.420
 news of the

00:25:24.420 --> 00:25:24.820
 gospel,

00:25:25.420 --> 00:25:26.259
 the mercy of

00:25:26.259 --> 00:25:26.600
 God,

00:25:26.720 --> 00:25:27.360
 calls us

00:25:27.360 --> 00:25:28.620
 to stand

00:25:28.620 --> 00:25:29.519
 fast in

00:25:29.519 --> 00:25:30.279
 believing in

00:25:30.279 --> 00:25:30.920
 His goodness.

00:25:32.519 --> 00:25:32.900
 And the

00:25:32.900 --> 00:25:34.140
 eternal salvation

00:25:34.140 --> 00:25:35.140
 that we have

00:25:35.140 --> 00:25:35.840
 in Christ

00:25:35.840 --> 00:25:37.500
 stands as a

00:25:37.500 --> 00:25:37.960
 monument,

00:25:39.220 --> 00:25:40.000
 like an

00:25:40.000 --> 00:25:41.279
 unchanging

00:25:41.279 --> 00:25:42.120
 pillar of

00:25:42.120 --> 00:25:42.539
 truth,

00:25:43.200 --> 00:25:45.240
 that God

00:25:45.240 --> 00:25:45.740
 is good,

00:25:45.920 --> 00:25:47.560
 and that

00:25:47.560 --> 00:25:47.860
 He is

00:25:47.860 --> 00:25:48.360
 worth

00:25:48.360 --> 00:25:49.000
 trusting.

00:25:50.519 --> 00:25:51.279
 Rather than

00:25:51.279 --> 00:25:51.759
 trusting in

00:25:51.759 --> 00:25:52.100
 our own

00:25:52.100 --> 00:25:52.500
 hearts,

00:25:53.720 --> 00:25:54.380
 let us find

00:25:54.380 --> 00:25:54.980
 in Jesus

00:25:54.980 --> 00:25:56.000
 the unchanging

00:25:56.000 --> 00:25:57.480
 reason to

00:25:57.480 --> 00:25:57.980
 love Him

00:25:57.980 --> 00:25:58.480
 forever.

00:25:59.840 --> 00:26:00.560
 And in

00:26:00.560 --> 00:26:01.400
 Him, we

00:26:01.400 --> 00:26:01.880
 will find the

00:26:01.880 --> 00:26:03.060
 power to

00:26:03.060 --> 00:26:04.180
 remain steadfast

00:26:04.180 --> 00:26:04.560
 and to

00:26:04.560 --> 00:26:05.880
 endure to

00:26:05.880 --> 00:26:06.380
 the end

00:26:06.380 --> 00:26:08.480
 and gain

00:26:08.480 --> 00:26:09.120
 that crown of

00:26:09.120 --> 00:26:09.720
 life that's

00:26:09.720 --> 00:26:10.279
 promised for

00:26:10.279 --> 00:26:10.560
 us.

00:26:10.559 --> 00:26:11.879
 let's pray.

00:26:16.879 --> 00:26:18.159
 Lord, we

00:26:18.159 --> 00:26:18.859
 confess our

00:26:18.859 --> 00:26:19.480
 weakness to

00:26:19.480 --> 00:26:19.740
 You.

00:26:20.980 --> 00:26:21.919
 How easily

00:26:21.919 --> 00:26:25.019
 we doubt

00:26:25.019 --> 00:26:26.139
 Your goodness,

00:26:26.359 --> 00:26:27.460
 how quickly we

00:26:27.460 --> 00:26:28.659
 turn from You

00:26:28.659 --> 00:26:30.399
 to ourselves.

00:26:30.400 --> 00:26:30.519
 us.

00:26:31.720 --> 00:26:32.380
 Lord, how we

00:26:32.380 --> 00:26:32.840
 trust our

00:26:32.840 --> 00:26:33.980
 hearts rather

00:26:33.980 --> 00:26:37.019
 than trusting

00:26:37.019 --> 00:26:37.420
 in Your

00:26:37.420 --> 00:26:37.820
 Word.

00:26:39.280 --> 00:26:39.940
 Lord, how

00:26:39.940 --> 00:26:41.420
 often we

00:26:41.420 --> 00:26:42.680
 allow our

00:26:42.680 --> 00:26:43.540
 desires to

00:26:43.540 --> 00:26:44.140
 rule us.

00:26:45.259 --> 00:26:45.860
 But God, we

00:26:45.860 --> 00:26:46.560
 thank You that

00:26:46.560 --> 00:26:47.140
 in Your mercy

00:26:47.140 --> 00:26:47.800
 and grace,

00:26:48.200 --> 00:26:48.960
 Lord, that in

00:26:48.960 --> 00:26:50.040
 Christ there is a

00:26:50.040 --> 00:26:51.120
 salvation and a

00:26:51.120 --> 00:26:52.920
 life that is not

00:26:52.920 --> 00:26:53.740
 from us but is

00:26:53.740 --> 00:26:54.259
 from You.

00:26:55.519 --> 00:26:56.360
 And Lord, that in

00:26:56.360 --> 00:26:57.080
 that we will find

00:26:57.080 --> 00:26:58.060
 great comfort and

00:26:58.060 --> 00:26:58.380
 hope.

00:26:58.380 --> 00:27:00.760
 we will find

00:27:00.760 --> 00:27:01.500
 the strength to

00:27:01.500 --> 00:27:02.900
 endure and

00:27:02.900 --> 00:27:03.840
 hold on to Your

00:27:03.840 --> 00:27:05.460
 goodness, to be

00:27:05.460 --> 00:27:06.820
 steadfast in trial

00:27:06.820 --> 00:27:07.780
 and loving You.

00:27:09.200 --> 00:27:10.100
 Lord, as we look

00:27:10.100 --> 00:27:10.880
 forward to this

00:27:10.880 --> 00:27:11.780
 crown of life that

00:27:11.780 --> 00:27:14.300
 we anticipate, may

00:27:14.300 --> 00:27:16.040
 You help us today

00:27:16.040 --> 00:27:17.800
 to take hold of

00:27:17.800 --> 00:27:18.460
 these things.

00:27:18.560 --> 00:27:19.320
 In Jesus' name,

00:27:20.220 --> 00:27:20.480
 Amen.