WEBVTT 00:00:00.680 --> 00:00:02.940 Starting in verse 12, we read, 00:00:03.879 --> 00:00:07.259 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, 00:00:07.440 --> 00:00:10.880 for when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life, 00:00:11.080 --> 00:00:13.960 which God has promised to those who love him. 00:00:14.759 --> 00:00:18.440 Let no one say when he is tempted, I am being tempted by God, 00:00:18.640 --> 00:00:23.440 for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 00:00:23.960 --> 00:00:28.480 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 00:00:28.480 --> 00:00:33.119 Then desire, when it has conceived, gives birth to sin, 00:00:33.539 --> 00:00:36.980 and sin, when it is fully grown, brings forth death. 00:00:38.159 --> 00:00:41.179 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers and sisters. 00:00:41.820 --> 00:00:45.320 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, 00:00:45.799 --> 00:00:47.820 coming down from the Father of lights, 00:00:48.019 --> 00:00:51.659 with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 00:00:52.420 --> 00:00:55.719 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, 00:00:55.719 --> 00:00:59.219 that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. 00:01:00.379 --> 00:01:02.960 Know this, my beloved brothers and sisters. 00:01:03.659 --> 00:01:08.640 Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger, 00:01:09.039 --> 00:01:12.480 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 00:01:13.239 --> 00:01:16.640 Therefore, put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness, 00:01:16.700 --> 00:01:19.180 and receive with meekness the implanted word, 00:01:19.539 --> 00:01:21.280 which is able to save your souls. 00:01:21.280 --> 00:01:27.040 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 00:01:27.620 --> 00:01:30.659 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, 00:01:30.780 --> 00:01:35.040 he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 00:01:35.820 --> 00:01:37.799 For he looks at himself and goes away, 00:01:37.900 --> 00:01:41.040 and at once forgets what he was like. 00:01:41.780 --> 00:01:43.879 But the one who looks into the perfect law, 00:01:44.359 --> 00:01:45.439 the law of liberty, 00:01:45.439 --> 00:01:47.099 and perseveres, 00:01:47.379 --> 00:01:49.280 being no hearer who forgets, 00:01:49.319 --> 00:01:50.500 but a doer who acts, 00:01:50.799 --> 00:01:52.620 he will be blessed in his doing. 00:01:53.039 --> 00:01:54.500 This is the word of God. 00:02:00.079 --> 00:02:01.280 Great. Thanks so much, Zoe. 00:02:01.599 --> 00:02:04.500 And why don't we come to God in prayer? 00:02:07.459 --> 00:02:10.020 Our Father, thank you that we can come to you now, 00:02:10.020 --> 00:02:13.560 and we can give you thanks for the word of truth 00:02:13.560 --> 00:02:15.100 that can save our souls, 00:02:15.680 --> 00:02:16.640 that brought us forth, 00:02:16.740 --> 00:02:17.480 that met us your children. 00:02:17.740 --> 00:02:19.939 We pray that we would receive that word now with meekness. 00:02:20.020 --> 00:02:21.939 Please speak to us by your spirit. 00:02:22.060 --> 00:02:23.200 Work in each of our hearts, 00:02:23.219 --> 00:02:25.219 no matter where we are at, 00:02:25.340 --> 00:02:27.700 no matter what kind of weekend we've had. 00:02:28.200 --> 00:02:29.580 Please speak to our hearts today 00:02:29.580 --> 00:02:31.540 and encourage us with the good news of Jesus. 00:02:32.060 --> 00:02:32.920 In his name we pray. 00:02:33.540 --> 00:02:33.879 Amen. 00:02:35.420 --> 00:02:35.820 Great. 00:02:36.460 --> 00:02:39.700 I don't know if you sometimes feel like God's word is not relevant to me. 00:02:39.699 --> 00:02:40.959 What they preach here on Sundays. 00:02:41.299 --> 00:02:41.939 I hope the word, 00:02:42.219 --> 00:02:44.479 Book of James has been actually pretty good, right? 00:02:45.079 --> 00:02:46.359 So it's about, you know, 00:02:46.819 --> 00:02:48.299 what if life is messed up? 00:02:48.399 --> 00:02:49.419 What if things go wrong? 00:02:49.539 --> 00:02:50.959 What if things don't go your way? 00:02:51.159 --> 00:02:52.579 And so we have a typhoon, 00:02:52.619 --> 00:02:53.659 and we have this flooding, 00:02:54.439 --> 00:02:56.079 and I don't know what, 00:02:56.159 --> 00:02:58.019 yeah, what your weekend was like. 00:02:59.280 --> 00:03:01.280 Maybe there was this really important thing 00:03:01.280 --> 00:03:02.120 you had to do at work, 00:03:02.139 --> 00:03:02.719 and you couldn't. 00:03:03.319 --> 00:03:05.159 Or you were stuck at home with your kids. 00:03:05.599 --> 00:03:06.419 Those kind of things. 00:03:06.639 --> 00:03:07.519 And, yeah, 00:03:07.519 --> 00:03:09.259 the Book of James addresses that. 00:03:09.259 --> 00:03:10.859 What do we do? 00:03:10.919 --> 00:03:11.819 Because the problem is, 00:03:12.039 --> 00:03:14.819 we don't always respond well. 00:03:15.139 --> 00:03:16.519 I don't know how you spend your day. 00:03:17.519 --> 00:03:17.739 You know, 00:03:17.819 --> 00:03:18.879 I talked to someone who, 00:03:19.280 --> 00:03:19.579 oh, yeah, 00:03:19.639 --> 00:03:20.560 a lot of arguing, 00:03:20.659 --> 00:03:22.859 because we were just stuck up here at home. 00:03:22.899 --> 00:03:23.359 But, you know, 00:03:23.399 --> 00:03:24.159 it's just temporary, 00:03:24.359 --> 00:03:24.639 he said. 00:03:24.659 --> 00:03:25.099 It's okay. 00:03:25.840 --> 00:03:26.579 Or maybe, 00:03:27.180 --> 00:03:27.539 I don't know, 00:03:27.620 --> 00:03:28.259 maybe it's not that, 00:03:28.340 --> 00:03:29.659 maybe it's something slightly longer. 00:03:30.019 --> 00:03:31.759 What if your spouse is sick, 00:03:31.759 --> 00:03:32.560 or you are sick, 00:03:32.939 --> 00:03:33.959 and you're just in bed, 00:03:34.019 --> 00:03:35.539 and there's all this stuff you need to do, 00:03:36.019 --> 00:03:38.099 and how do you respond to that? 00:03:39.599 --> 00:03:41.759 I know that I usually don't respond well. 00:03:41.919 --> 00:03:42.120 I don't know. 00:03:42.180 --> 00:03:43.000 My wife is sick, 00:03:43.079 --> 00:03:43.299 and so, 00:03:43.439 --> 00:03:43.560 well, 00:03:43.659 --> 00:03:45.560 what do the kids eat? 00:03:45.599 --> 00:03:45.680 Well, 00:03:45.699 --> 00:03:46.819 McDonald's and pizza, 00:03:47.280 --> 00:03:48.719 and go and watch TV, 00:03:49.060 --> 00:03:50.719 and it's only temporary, 00:03:50.959 --> 00:03:51.120 right? 00:03:51.139 --> 00:03:51.959 That's what we only say, 00:03:52.019 --> 00:03:53.359 and it doesn't really matter. 00:03:53.539 --> 00:03:53.979 Ultimately, 00:03:54.379 --> 00:03:55.939 it's not that many consequences. 00:03:56.899 --> 00:03:58.439 But what if it drags on then? 00:03:59.399 --> 00:04:00.759 I don't know if you remember COVID. 00:04:01.539 --> 00:04:03.379 We never knew that COVID would take so long, 00:04:03.439 --> 00:04:03.620 right? 00:04:04.799 --> 00:04:05.979 In the beginning of the pandemic, 00:04:05.979 --> 00:04:06.459 I thought, 00:04:06.560 --> 00:04:06.699 oh, 00:04:06.719 --> 00:04:07.859 I'll just need one mask, 00:04:07.899 --> 00:04:08.439 and that's enough. 00:04:09.099 --> 00:04:10.039 I was wrong. 00:04:11.299 --> 00:04:11.579 Right? 00:04:11.699 --> 00:04:11.899 But, 00:04:11.979 --> 00:04:12.359 you know, 00:04:12.459 --> 00:04:12.659 okay, 00:04:12.780 --> 00:04:13.699 two weeks at home, 00:04:13.799 --> 00:04:14.699 a bit of online learning, 00:04:14.799 --> 00:04:15.519 that should be okay, 00:04:15.620 --> 00:04:16.939 but it dragged on and on, 00:04:17.039 --> 00:04:17.959 and actually, 00:04:18.099 --> 00:04:19.680 now we can see some of the consequences, 00:04:19.860 --> 00:04:20.019 right? 00:04:20.039 --> 00:04:22.039 You can see little kids without immunity, 00:04:22.639 --> 00:04:23.740 or with speech problems, 00:04:23.740 --> 00:04:26.019 or who are socially awkward, 00:04:26.399 --> 00:04:28.019 because they've been locked up at home, 00:04:28.539 --> 00:04:29.539 right? 00:04:29.540 --> 00:04:31.660 But sometimes these things, 00:04:31.819 --> 00:04:32.960 things don't go wrong, 00:04:33.040 --> 00:04:34.420 and they have negative consequences. 00:04:36.720 --> 00:04:36.860 Now, 00:04:36.980 --> 00:04:37.980 what do we do with that? 00:04:38.080 --> 00:04:38.840 What do we do when, 00:04:39.020 --> 00:04:39.300 you know, 00:04:39.340 --> 00:04:40.319 work is so stressful, 00:04:40.560 --> 00:04:40.780 and, 00:04:41.340 --> 00:04:41.580 well, 00:04:41.740 --> 00:04:41.900 okay, 00:04:41.939 --> 00:04:43.240 I'm going to stop reading the Bible, 00:04:43.360 --> 00:04:44.280 and praying for a bit. 00:04:44.439 --> 00:04:45.939 Maybe I'm too busy for church. 00:04:46.460 --> 00:04:47.240 It's only temporary, 00:04:47.480 --> 00:04:47.600 right? 00:04:47.600 --> 00:04:48.520 It's just for a season. 00:04:49.280 --> 00:04:49.780 It's okay. 00:04:51.640 --> 00:04:53.600 I'm going to drown my stress with Netflix, 00:04:53.600 --> 00:04:55.720 and unhealthy eating. 00:04:57.120 --> 00:04:57.379 You know, 00:04:57.500 --> 00:04:58.439 if it's only two weeks, 00:04:58.600 --> 00:04:59.080 it's okay, 00:04:59.160 --> 00:04:59.379 right? 00:05:00.180 --> 00:05:00.920 What do we do with that? 00:05:01.040 --> 00:05:01.860 What if it's worse? 00:05:01.980 --> 00:05:02.120 Well, 00:05:02.180 --> 00:05:02.600 if you know, 00:05:02.640 --> 00:05:04.439 there's a real conflict in your family, 00:05:04.580 --> 00:05:07.760 but as a result of your busyness at work, 00:05:07.960 --> 00:05:08.160 but, 00:05:08.260 --> 00:05:08.600 you know, 00:05:09.200 --> 00:05:09.400 oh, 00:05:09.439 --> 00:05:09.640 well, 00:05:09.740 --> 00:05:10.680 it's only for a season. 00:05:10.760 --> 00:05:12.180 This project will be finished soon, 00:05:12.220 --> 00:05:13.720 and I'm sure then we'll sort it out. 00:05:14.820 --> 00:05:15.900 The market's bad. 00:05:16.000 --> 00:05:16.140 Yeah, 00:05:16.220 --> 00:05:16.400 okay, 00:05:16.480 --> 00:05:16.620 well, 00:05:16.620 --> 00:05:18.879 I'm being very creative with my finances, 00:05:18.879 --> 00:05:20.360 but it'll soon be over, 00:05:20.439 --> 00:05:21.120 and then it's okay, 00:05:21.420 --> 00:05:21.620 right? 00:05:22.900 --> 00:05:23.300 Pornography, 00:05:23.540 --> 00:05:23.640 yeah, 00:05:23.680 --> 00:05:25.060 my marriage is not very good, 00:05:25.180 --> 00:05:27.280 but soon we'll sort it out. 00:05:27.279 --> 00:05:28.219 We'll get some counseling, 00:05:28.439 --> 00:05:29.779 and no harm done, 00:05:29.839 --> 00:05:30.019 right? 00:05:31.159 --> 00:05:31.559 Well, 00:05:31.659 --> 00:05:32.439 that's the question. 00:05:32.599 --> 00:05:33.979 Does it have consequences? 00:05:34.199 --> 00:05:35.359 When things go wrong, 00:05:35.399 --> 00:05:37.159 and we respond in such a bad way, 00:05:37.699 --> 00:05:38.859 it seems so easy, 00:05:38.939 --> 00:05:39.139 right? 00:05:39.239 --> 00:05:40.759 Let's just take the easy way out. 00:05:41.159 --> 00:05:43.339 Let's take the easy solution, 00:05:43.479 --> 00:05:44.379 the thing that satisfies. 00:05:44.379 --> 00:05:46.120 I mean, 00:05:46.159 --> 00:05:47.339 life is hard enough already, 00:05:47.420 --> 00:05:47.600 right? 00:05:47.779 --> 00:05:48.060 It's, 00:05:48.740 --> 00:05:48.959 you know, 00:05:49.000 --> 00:05:49.800 things are stressful, 00:05:49.959 --> 00:05:50.740 things are difficult. 00:05:51.459 --> 00:05:52.779 Let's take the easy way out. 00:05:53.439 --> 00:05:53.680 Well, 00:05:53.860 --> 00:05:55.019 what do we do with that? 00:05:55.319 --> 00:05:56.060 Is that good? 00:05:56.439 --> 00:05:57.560 That's what we're talking about, 00:05:57.600 --> 00:05:58.579 because the book of James, 00:05:58.980 --> 00:06:00.319 as we've heard the past few weeks, 00:06:00.800 --> 00:06:03.579 is written to a bunch of religious refugees. 00:06:03.879 --> 00:06:05.939 People had to flee their hometown 00:06:05.939 --> 00:06:07.240 because of persecution, 00:06:07.639 --> 00:06:08.120 and now, 00:06:08.219 --> 00:06:08.439 of course, 00:06:08.500 --> 00:06:09.759 they've lost everything, 00:06:09.899 --> 00:06:11.199 and they need to get a new job, 00:06:11.279 --> 00:06:12.680 and a new life, 00:06:12.680 --> 00:06:13.540 and that's hard. 00:06:13.540 --> 00:06:15.040 And if you read the letter, 00:06:15.280 --> 00:06:17.120 these guys were not responding well. 00:06:17.960 --> 00:06:18.220 I mean, 00:06:18.260 --> 00:06:19.200 most of us will know that, 00:06:19.260 --> 00:06:20.160 even if you're a visitor, 00:06:20.319 --> 00:06:20.480 right? 00:06:20.520 --> 00:06:21.660 When life goes wrong, 00:06:21.760 --> 00:06:23.439 sometimes it brings out the best in people, 00:06:23.879 --> 00:06:25.680 sometimes it brings out the worst in people, 00:06:25.760 --> 00:06:26.460 and with these guys, 00:06:26.540 --> 00:06:26.939 definitely, 00:06:27.340 --> 00:06:28.340 it was the worst. 00:06:29.300 --> 00:06:29.800 And so, 00:06:30.680 --> 00:06:31.540 their pastor, 00:06:31.720 --> 00:06:32.000 James, 00:06:32.080 --> 00:06:32.439 he says, 00:06:32.500 --> 00:06:32.600 no, 00:06:32.680 --> 00:06:34.840 I want you to keep responding well. 00:06:35.060 --> 00:06:36.520 Use this as a chance to grow. 00:06:37.500 --> 00:06:37.820 You know, 00:06:37.900 --> 00:06:38.860 here are some truths. 00:06:38.980 --> 00:06:39.240 Come on, 00:06:39.379 --> 00:06:40.580 let's keep going. 00:06:41.040 --> 00:06:43.340 And today is basically the last week of, 00:06:43.540 --> 00:06:44.780 James's introduction, 00:06:45.000 --> 00:06:47.960 before we dive into specific topics, 00:06:47.960 --> 00:06:49.120 like favoritism, 00:06:49.260 --> 00:06:49.740 and the tongue, 00:06:49.840 --> 00:06:50.740 and some other things. 00:06:51.520 --> 00:06:51.819 And, 00:06:51.939 --> 00:06:53.020 I don't know, 00:06:53.240 --> 00:06:55.220 some of the passage we read last week as well, 00:06:55.280 --> 00:06:57.980 but there's so much in there that we need to look at it again. 00:06:58.320 --> 00:06:59.060 Partly because, 00:06:59.220 --> 00:06:59.660 actually, 00:06:59.780 --> 00:07:01.240 it is one passage. 00:07:01.560 --> 00:07:01.720 So, 00:07:01.800 --> 00:07:05.820 I don't know if you notice that the passage starts and ends in the same way. 00:07:06.180 --> 00:07:06.400 Right? 00:07:06.399 --> 00:07:07.079 In verse 12, 00:07:07.199 --> 00:07:07.560 it says, 00:07:07.939 --> 00:07:11.439 blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial. 00:07:12.179 --> 00:07:12.459 But, 00:07:12.500 --> 00:07:13.399 in verse 25, 00:07:13.519 --> 00:07:13.719 it says, 00:07:13.899 --> 00:07:14.500 the one who, 00:07:14.979 --> 00:07:17.560 the one who is, 00:07:19.000 --> 00:07:19.500 here you go, 00:07:19.599 --> 00:07:21.299 the one who perseveres, 00:07:21.939 --> 00:07:22.919 he will be blessed, 00:07:23.259 --> 00:07:24.060 and persevering, 00:07:24.159 --> 00:07:24.719 and steadfast. 00:07:24.779 --> 00:07:25.639 It's kind of the same word. 00:07:25.699 --> 00:07:26.120 They're related, 00:07:26.219 --> 00:07:26.359 right? 00:07:26.759 --> 00:07:27.079 So, 00:07:27.399 --> 00:07:27.779 that's, 00:07:28.060 --> 00:07:28.319 you know, 00:07:28.379 --> 00:07:29.500 back then they didn't have paragraphs. 00:07:29.699 --> 00:07:29.799 So, 00:07:29.859 --> 00:07:29.979 hey, 00:07:30.099 --> 00:07:31.299 we need to take this together. 00:07:31.800 --> 00:07:31.980 You know, 00:07:32.020 --> 00:07:33.020 sometimes you read James, 00:07:33.100 --> 00:07:34.259 and it's all this random stuff. 00:07:34.420 --> 00:07:34.660 Actually, 00:07:34.720 --> 00:07:35.280 it's not random. 00:07:35.400 --> 00:07:36.840 This is all one topic. 00:07:36.939 --> 00:07:38.340 How do we respond to trials? 00:07:39.160 --> 00:07:39.319 Yeah? 00:07:39.600 --> 00:07:40.780 How do we respond well? 00:07:41.240 --> 00:07:42.220 And if you endure, 00:07:42.400 --> 00:07:43.300 if you're steadfast, 00:07:43.379 --> 00:07:44.480 if you persevere, 00:07:45.220 --> 00:07:46.960 you will get the crown of life, 00:07:47.020 --> 00:07:47.180 right? 00:07:47.240 --> 00:07:47.740 Verse 12, 00:07:47.879 --> 00:07:49.540 the promised crown of life, 00:07:49.620 --> 00:07:53.160 this promised great future that we want. 00:07:54.180 --> 00:07:54.480 But, 00:07:54.580 --> 00:07:54.939 but, 00:07:54.939 --> 00:07:55.580 but so what? 00:07:55.660 --> 00:07:55.780 Yeah, 00:07:56.100 --> 00:07:56.420 yeah, 00:07:56.540 --> 00:07:56.819 okay, 00:07:56.900 --> 00:07:57.500 we want it. 00:07:57.560 --> 00:07:57.699 But, 00:07:57.840 --> 00:07:58.080 you know, 00:07:58.120 --> 00:07:59.379 life is really hard right now. 00:07:59.840 --> 00:08:01.280 Does it matter if I don't know? 00:08:01.300 --> 00:08:02.120 Don't respond well. 00:08:03.360 --> 00:08:03.579 Well, 00:08:03.620 --> 00:08:03.920 and for that, 00:08:03.960 --> 00:08:05.340 we need to go back actually to, 00:08:05.400 --> 00:08:05.639 uh, 00:08:05.740 --> 00:08:09.879 these verses 12 to 18 to look at something we didn't have time for last week, 00:08:09.879 --> 00:08:11.400 because there's some imagery here. 00:08:11.520 --> 00:08:15.580 That's actually really important because in here, 00:08:15.639 --> 00:08:16.259 what we see, 00:08:16.660 --> 00:08:17.680 what James wants us to know, 00:08:17.699 --> 00:08:19.379 there's two kinds of growth, 00:08:20.160 --> 00:08:21.980 two kinds of growth. 00:08:22.639 --> 00:08:25.160 Now we look at first at 13 to 15, 00:08:25.460 --> 00:08:26.759 and that is kind of the, 00:08:26.800 --> 00:08:27.259 uh, 00:08:27.259 --> 00:08:27.420 the, 00:08:27.420 --> 00:08:27.519 the, 00:08:27.519 --> 00:08:28.340 the bad response, 00:08:28.439 --> 00:08:28.580 right? 00:08:28.639 --> 00:08:29.400 Verse 13, 00:08:29.560 --> 00:08:31.280 let no one say when he is tempted, 00:08:31.300 --> 00:08:31.400 tempted, 00:08:31.699 --> 00:08:36.019 I'm being tempted by God for God's cannot be tempted with evil. 00:08:36.159 --> 00:08:37.539 And he himself tempts no one, 00:08:37.539 --> 00:08:41.879 but each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desires. 00:08:42.560 --> 00:08:43.980 And this is the person who, 00:08:44.100 --> 00:08:44.419 uh, 00:08:44.419 --> 00:08:44.840 you know, 00:08:44.879 --> 00:08:45.919 it's all God's fault. 00:08:46.000 --> 00:08:46.100 Yeah. 00:08:46.100 --> 00:08:46.799 My life is, 00:08:47.200 --> 00:08:47.740 yeah, 00:08:47.740 --> 00:08:48.600 it's all going wrong, 00:08:48.639 --> 00:08:49.600 but it's not my fault. 00:08:49.600 --> 00:08:51.639 And so I've got an excuse to, 00:08:51.700 --> 00:08:52.560 to sin basically. 00:08:52.560 --> 00:08:52.860 Right. 00:08:52.960 --> 00:08:53.320 Uh, 00:08:53.820 --> 00:08:54.419 and James says, 00:08:54.460 --> 00:08:54.620 no, 00:08:54.659 --> 00:08:54.799 no, 00:08:54.799 --> 00:08:55.100 that's, 00:08:55.139 --> 00:08:55.720 that's not you. 00:08:55.799 --> 00:08:56.180 That's not, 00:08:56.379 --> 00:08:57.100 that's not God. 00:08:57.180 --> 00:08:57.379 That is, 00:08:57.440 --> 00:08:57.759 that's you. 00:08:57.820 --> 00:08:58.360 That's your heart. 00:08:58.360 --> 00:08:59.759 That's your desires. 00:09:00.399 --> 00:09:02.200 But did you notice in the reading, 00:09:02.320 --> 00:09:02.600 uh, 00:09:02.600 --> 00:09:03.159 the imagery, 00:09:03.159 --> 00:09:05.919 because what happens in verse 15, 00:09:06.019 --> 00:09:06.800 then desire, 00:09:07.060 --> 00:09:08.560 when it has conceived, 00:09:08.759 --> 00:09:11.180 gives birth to sin and sin, 00:09:11.259 --> 00:09:12.419 when it is fully grown, 00:09:12.560 --> 00:09:13.820 brings forth death. 00:09:14.600 --> 00:09:15.080 Well, 00:09:15.139 --> 00:09:15.700 what do we hear? 00:09:16.060 --> 00:09:16.560 Conceive, 00:09:16.740 --> 00:09:17.480 give birth, 00:09:17.759 --> 00:09:18.139 uh, 00:09:18.139 --> 00:09:18.840 fully grown, 00:09:19.019 --> 00:09:19.720 bring forth, 00:09:20.460 --> 00:09:20.740 right? 00:09:20.800 --> 00:09:22.740 This is about procreation, 00:09:23.360 --> 00:09:23.800 reproduction, 00:09:24.100 --> 00:09:24.340 uh, 00:09:24.340 --> 00:09:25.039 making babies, 00:09:25.159 --> 00:09:25.379 right? 00:09:25.379 --> 00:09:26.159 That's what it's about. 00:09:26.700 --> 00:09:28.700 It's about the growth of a baby. 00:09:28.700 --> 00:09:29.500 Uh, 00:09:29.559 --> 00:09:30.659 you add verse 14, 00:09:30.879 --> 00:09:31.080 right? 00:09:31.559 --> 00:09:32.000 Um, 00:09:32.519 --> 00:09:32.779 the, 00:09:32.919 --> 00:09:35.500 when he's lured and enticed by his own desires, 00:09:35.500 --> 00:09:35.939 yeah, 00:09:35.960 --> 00:09:38.059 someone being seduced and then, 00:09:38.379 --> 00:09:38.480 well, 00:09:38.480 --> 00:09:40.340 they sleep together and you get a baby. 00:09:40.919 --> 00:09:41.500 I mean, 00:09:41.500 --> 00:09:44.700 these days we think it doesn't have any consequences, 00:09:44.700 --> 00:09:45.100 right? 00:09:45.120 --> 00:09:46.279 Because there's contraception. 00:09:47.240 --> 00:09:49.000 It's what we so often think about life. 00:09:49.080 --> 00:09:49.620 What we do, 00:09:49.659 --> 00:09:50.840 it doesn't have any consequences, 00:09:50.840 --> 00:09:52.899 but back then you sleep together, 00:09:53.000 --> 00:09:55.360 you get a baby and that baby will, 00:09:55.360 --> 00:09:55.639 grow. 00:09:56.340 --> 00:09:57.759 And that is the thing here, 00:09:57.960 --> 00:09:58.220 right? 00:09:58.379 --> 00:10:00.600 It's not a great picture because yeah, 00:10:00.700 --> 00:10:03.580 it gives birth to sin and sin will grow up and give, 00:10:03.759 --> 00:10:04.919 bring forth death, 00:10:05.840 --> 00:10:06.379 your death. 00:10:08.060 --> 00:10:09.000 At the same time, 00:10:09.039 --> 00:10:11.560 look at the positive passage because after that, 00:10:12.180 --> 00:10:13.639 after looking at our hearts, 00:10:13.740 --> 00:10:13.879 Hey, 00:10:13.940 --> 00:10:14.300 he says, 00:10:14.720 --> 00:10:17.580 look at your father and how he gives every good gift. 00:10:17.879 --> 00:10:19.879 But then what does he say? 00:10:19.879 --> 00:10:23.860 Every good gift and every perfect gift for 17 coming down from the father. 00:10:24.560 --> 00:10:24.700 Now, 00:10:24.759 --> 00:10:25.500 what is a father? 00:10:25.620 --> 00:10:26.720 It's someone who procreates, 00:10:26.779 --> 00:10:26.899 right? 00:10:27.460 --> 00:10:28.779 Usually James says God, 00:10:28.860 --> 00:10:29.680 but he says father. 00:10:29.800 --> 00:10:30.539 And what does he do? 00:10:31.039 --> 00:10:32.720 Verse 18 of his own will. 00:10:32.860 --> 00:10:36.100 He brought us forth at the same word by the word of truth. 00:10:36.680 --> 00:10:36.919 That should, 00:10:36.980 --> 00:10:39.879 we should be a kind of first fruits of his creation of his creatures. 00:10:39.879 --> 00:10:42.679 So it's about bringing forth verse 21, 00:10:43.460 --> 00:10:45.120 receive with meekness, 00:10:45.200 --> 00:10:46.559 the implanted words, 00:10:47.259 --> 00:10:47.419 right? 00:10:47.480 --> 00:10:50.980 The egg that kind of gets implanted in the womb, 00:10:51.379 --> 00:10:52.519 that kind of imagery here. 00:10:53.240 --> 00:10:54.320 And so in, 00:10:54.360 --> 00:10:55.200 in both passages, 00:10:55.419 --> 00:10:55.580 the, 00:10:55.580 --> 00:10:55.840 the, 00:10:55.840 --> 00:10:56.200 the good, 00:10:56.279 --> 00:10:57.100 the bad and the good, 00:10:57.220 --> 00:10:57.799 there is, 00:10:58.159 --> 00:10:58.939 there is growth. 00:10:59.200 --> 00:10:59.960 And so that, 00:11:00.039 --> 00:11:00.220 yeah, 00:11:00.340 --> 00:11:00.720 the positive, 00:11:00.820 --> 00:11:03.139 the positive here is being a child of God. 00:11:03.439 --> 00:11:03.919 Now, 00:11:04.039 --> 00:11:05.519 I know what we say, 00:11:05.580 --> 00:11:06.100 we're watermark, 00:11:06.159 --> 00:11:06.279 right? 00:11:06.299 --> 00:11:07.620 That being a child of God is, 00:11:07.840 --> 00:11:09.059 we're no longer orphans, 00:11:09.120 --> 00:11:09.279 right? 00:11:09.279 --> 00:11:09.480 We, 00:11:09.759 --> 00:11:11.459 God has adopted us and, 00:11:11.559 --> 00:11:11.819 you know, 00:11:11.819 --> 00:11:15.959 we used to be able to have to survive on our own and it's so difficult, 00:11:15.959 --> 00:11:20.360 but now God has made us his children and we have the status of being his 00:11:20.360 --> 00:11:21.319 children is wonderful, 00:11:21.319 --> 00:11:23.199 but this is something else. 00:11:23.199 --> 00:11:24.659 This is about growing, 00:11:24.759 --> 00:11:24.919 right? 00:11:24.919 --> 00:11:28.740 This is about the word of truth implanting in you and changing you. 00:11:29.279 --> 00:11:32.339 God doesn't want you to have the status just of being children, 00:11:32.339 --> 00:11:36.059 but he wants you to almost have his DNA that you resemble him, 00:11:36.059 --> 00:11:39.419 that you become more and more like Jesus, 00:11:39.619 --> 00:11:40.359 like his son, 00:11:40.879 --> 00:11:41.039 right? 00:11:41.079 --> 00:11:42.479 Isn't that a wonderful thing? 00:11:42.879 --> 00:11:44.699 And the life of God growing in you, 00:11:44.899 --> 00:11:45.119 I mean, 00:11:45.159 --> 00:11:45.719 most of us, 00:11:45.779 --> 00:11:47.019 we are not happy with who we are, 00:11:47.059 --> 00:11:47.199 right? 00:11:47.579 --> 00:11:50.239 But God wants us to make us better. 00:11:50.319 --> 00:11:51.379 He wants to grow us. 00:11:51.379 --> 00:11:53.679 But the thing is, 00:11:53.860 --> 00:11:55.279 so in both passages, 00:11:55.279 --> 00:11:56.279 there is growth. 00:11:57.200 --> 00:11:58.519 And the question is, 00:11:58.919 --> 00:11:59.159 yeah, 00:11:59.279 --> 00:12:00.399 which growth do you want? 00:12:00.500 --> 00:12:01.379 There's always growth. 00:12:01.899 --> 00:12:03.259 When things go wrong in your life, 00:12:03.360 --> 00:12:04.220 something's going to grow. 00:12:05.220 --> 00:12:06.180 But what is going to grow? 00:12:06.279 --> 00:12:07.759 Is it sin that's going to grow in you? 00:12:08.560 --> 00:12:10.700 Or is it the life of God that's going to grow in you? 00:12:11.200 --> 00:12:12.139 It's one of the two. 00:12:13.100 --> 00:12:14.600 And there's no neutrality. 00:12:14.820 --> 00:12:16.540 Which one do you want? 00:12:17.759 --> 00:12:21.120 And because I so often think that when I don't grow in holiness, 00:12:21.120 --> 00:12:22.160 I'm standing still, 00:12:22.420 --> 00:12:22.639 right? 00:12:23.100 --> 00:12:23.279 Yeah, 00:12:23.279 --> 00:12:24.540 normally I grow spiritually, 00:12:24.759 --> 00:12:25.899 but now my life is a mess. 00:12:25.960 --> 00:12:27.279 So I'm just neutral. 00:12:27.500 --> 00:12:28.540 I've just pressed pause, 00:12:28.639 --> 00:12:28.840 right? 00:12:28.899 --> 00:12:30.320 And when things are better, 00:12:30.320 --> 00:12:32.940 then I'll press play again and things will go well. 00:12:32.940 --> 00:12:35.100 Actually, 00:12:35.880 --> 00:12:36.560 James says, 00:12:36.640 --> 00:12:37.580 that's not the case. 00:12:38.380 --> 00:12:40.840 When you're not growing better, 00:12:40.960 --> 00:12:41.920 you're growing worse, 00:12:42.600 --> 00:12:42.920 right? 00:12:44.000 --> 00:12:45.340 There's sin growing in you. 00:12:45.420 --> 00:12:46.300 Every time you sin, 00:12:46.420 --> 00:12:47.480 every time you give in to sin, 00:12:47.520 --> 00:12:48.620 you're making things worse. 00:12:49.380 --> 00:12:50.820 And it's not a pretty picture. 00:12:52.000 --> 00:12:52.280 I mean, 00:12:52.380 --> 00:12:55.400 I put there a picture of a pregnant woman expecting a cute baby, 00:12:55.520 --> 00:12:56.960 and we've seen lots of cute babies. 00:12:57.560 --> 00:12:59.160 But this is probably something else, 00:12:59.220 --> 00:12:59.420 right? 00:13:00.560 --> 00:13:01.560 Have any of you, 00:13:01.559 --> 00:13:04.419 I know this movie came out before most of you were born, 00:13:04.519 --> 00:13:05.419 but Alien? 00:13:05.839 --> 00:13:07.599 I don't know if any of you have seen this movie. 00:13:07.919 --> 00:13:08.799 It's a classic. 00:13:09.799 --> 00:13:12.719 And you probably know which scene I'm thinking about with John Hurt. 00:13:14.179 --> 00:13:14.419 You know, 00:13:14.479 --> 00:13:16.519 next time you think of sin growing in you, 00:13:16.859 --> 00:13:18.099 think of that scene, 00:13:18.239 --> 00:13:18.459 okay? 00:13:21.599 --> 00:13:22.519 That's terrible. 00:13:22.699 --> 00:13:23.359 Or maybe, 00:13:23.679 --> 00:13:24.159 if you don't know, 00:13:24.219 --> 00:13:25.359 think of a tapeworm, 00:13:25.479 --> 00:13:25.679 right? 00:13:26.399 --> 00:13:28.959 A little parasite that grows and grows and becomes this, 00:13:29.419 --> 00:13:29.599 right? 00:13:29.600 --> 00:13:31.080 And your intestines think of cancer, 00:13:31.659 --> 00:13:33.620 something evil growing inside you. 00:13:34.540 --> 00:13:34.980 That is, 00:13:35.500 --> 00:13:35.920 you know, 00:13:35.920 --> 00:13:36.540 you don't want that, 00:13:36.580 --> 00:13:36.740 right? 00:13:40.180 --> 00:13:40.840 The thing is, 00:13:40.899 --> 00:13:41.980 we are so often deceived, 00:13:42.120 --> 00:13:42.259 right? 00:13:42.259 --> 00:13:42.940 He keeps on saying, 00:13:43.019 --> 00:13:43.720 don't be deceived, 00:13:43.840 --> 00:13:44.620 don't be deceived. 00:13:45.580 --> 00:13:45.860 I mean, 00:13:46.000 --> 00:13:46.519 the thing is, 00:13:46.600 --> 00:13:47.460 you don't see it grow, 00:13:47.560 --> 00:13:47.740 right? 00:13:48.259 --> 00:13:48.639 And actually, 00:13:48.720 --> 00:13:49.720 growth is very slow. 00:13:50.480 --> 00:13:51.540 That's the thing with childbirth. 00:13:51.600 --> 00:13:52.019 It's very, 00:13:52.139 --> 00:13:52.639 very slow, 00:13:52.720 --> 00:13:52.920 right? 00:13:53.240 --> 00:13:54.000 After conception, 00:13:54.099 --> 00:13:55.699 it takes nine months for the birth. 00:13:56.779 --> 00:13:58.299 And then before they're fully grown, 00:13:58.439 --> 00:13:59.679 that's a long time later, 00:14:00.699 --> 00:14:00.919 right? 00:14:00.959 --> 00:14:01.179 I mean, 00:14:01.199 --> 00:14:01.839 it says here, 00:14:02.179 --> 00:14:04.459 when sin is fully grown, 00:14:04.500 --> 00:14:05.459 it brings forth death. 00:14:05.539 --> 00:14:06.919 So death is like the grandchild. 00:14:07.599 --> 00:14:07.779 Now, 00:14:07.779 --> 00:14:08.659 that's a long time away, 00:14:08.719 --> 00:14:08.879 right? 00:14:08.879 --> 00:14:09.839 Any of the parents here, 00:14:09.899 --> 00:14:11.219 are you thinking about grandkids? 00:14:11.759 --> 00:14:12.079 No, 00:14:12.179 --> 00:14:12.339 right? 00:14:12.379 --> 00:14:13.500 That's so long. 00:14:14.379 --> 00:14:15.019 But that's the thing, 00:14:15.079 --> 00:14:15.219 right? 00:14:15.579 --> 00:14:16.839 Sin is growing very, 00:14:16.939 --> 00:14:17.620 very slowly. 00:14:18.299 --> 00:14:18.860 But slowly, 00:14:18.960 --> 00:14:19.500 but surely. 00:14:20.840 --> 00:14:24.080 That's why we are so deceived and think our sin doesn't matter. 00:14:24.720 --> 00:14:25.240 It does. 00:14:26.240 --> 00:14:26.840 At the same time, 00:14:26.960 --> 00:14:28.360 that's the problem with the positive, 00:14:28.560 --> 00:14:28.740 right? 00:14:29.600 --> 00:14:29.779 You know, 00:14:29.820 --> 00:14:31.019 are we growing in holiness? 00:14:32.220 --> 00:14:35.680 The problem is we often don't see it because children grow so slowly. 00:14:36.120 --> 00:14:38.120 I hardly notice my own kids growing. 00:14:38.580 --> 00:14:40.919 It's only when kind of you see people after a while, 00:14:41.039 --> 00:14:41.180 oh, 00:14:41.240 --> 00:14:42.200 your kids have really grown. 00:14:42.539 --> 00:14:43.560 You just don't notice it. 00:14:43.980 --> 00:14:47.659 And so the fact that you are growing more and more as a child of God, 00:14:47.800 --> 00:14:48.379 yeah, 00:14:48.379 --> 00:14:49.240 you don't really see it. 00:14:49.639 --> 00:14:50.539 You don't notice it. 00:14:51.100 --> 00:14:53.679 And so maybe you're discouraged because you don't see much happening. 00:14:54.439 --> 00:14:54.559 Well, 00:14:54.580 --> 00:14:57.220 actually it is because God's work is, 00:14:57.240 --> 00:14:58.480 it's just slow and steady. 00:14:59.779 --> 00:15:01.939 But which growth that's up to us, 00:15:01.939 --> 00:15:06.259 that depends on how you are going to respond to the things going wrong in your life. 00:15:06.799 --> 00:15:07.899 Are you going to respond well? 00:15:08.299 --> 00:15:09.779 Or are you going to respond badly? 00:15:10.259 --> 00:15:11.559 And I hope if we see this, 00:15:11.639 --> 00:15:11.860 if we, 00:15:11.960 --> 00:15:15.659 if we have this picture in our minds that we want to respond well. 00:15:15.799 --> 00:15:17.399 So what should we do then? 00:15:17.399 --> 00:15:17.799 Well, 00:15:18.039 --> 00:15:19.559 that's the second half of the passage. 00:15:20.439 --> 00:15:21.419 And the step one, 00:15:21.539 --> 00:15:22.360 I guess is obvious. 00:15:22.740 --> 00:15:22.860 Well, 00:15:22.939 --> 00:15:23.740 turn from sin, 00:15:23.860 --> 00:15:24.019 right? 00:15:24.139 --> 00:15:24.840 Turn away. 00:15:25.519 --> 00:15:26.539 Verse 19. 00:15:26.659 --> 00:15:27.220 And know this, 00:15:27.299 --> 00:15:28.159 my beloved brothers, 00:15:28.559 --> 00:15:30.659 let every person be quick to hear, 00:15:31.039 --> 00:15:31.819 slow to speak, 00:15:31.939 --> 00:15:32.740 slow to anger. 00:15:32.740 --> 00:15:36.519 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 00:15:37.159 --> 00:15:37.360 Therefore, 00:15:37.519 --> 00:15:40.879 put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness. 00:15:41.759 --> 00:15:43.879 It's interesting how we turn straight to relationships, 00:15:44.060 --> 00:15:44.200 right? 00:15:44.200 --> 00:15:45.560 Where do we see the stress, 00:15:45.759 --> 00:15:46.360 everything? 00:15:46.620 --> 00:15:47.620 We see it in conflict, 00:15:47.720 --> 00:15:47.879 right? 00:15:48.280 --> 00:15:51.259 So much arguing with others and you're, 00:15:51.259 --> 00:15:53.360 you're stressed and you take it out on others and, 00:15:53.780 --> 00:15:53.920 you know, 00:15:53.940 --> 00:15:55.440 you want something and you don't get it. 00:15:55.480 --> 00:15:56.320 And so you fight, 00:15:56.759 --> 00:15:57.040 right? 00:15:57.099 --> 00:15:57.659 We see that, 00:15:57.740 --> 00:15:58.599 but instead, 00:15:59.179 --> 00:15:59.539 you know, 00:15:59.860 --> 00:16:01.799 don't speak, 00:16:01.959 --> 00:16:03.000 don't get angry, 00:16:03.500 --> 00:16:04.500 be quick to hear, 00:16:04.639 --> 00:16:04.959 listen, 00:16:05.139 --> 00:16:06.360 don't take it out on others, 00:16:06.480 --> 00:16:06.620 right? 00:16:06.620 --> 00:16:07.980 I can see this in myself. 00:16:08.360 --> 00:16:09.319 It's so easy to speak. 00:16:09.399 --> 00:16:10.240 It's so easy to, 00:16:10.319 --> 00:16:11.419 to think you're right, 00:16:11.539 --> 00:16:11.740 right? 00:16:11.740 --> 00:16:13.000 I love verse 20. 00:16:13.399 --> 00:16:16.060 The anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 00:16:16.620 --> 00:16:17.659 I want something. 00:16:17.860 --> 00:16:17.919 And, 00:16:18.039 --> 00:16:18.680 uh, 00:16:18.980 --> 00:16:19.299 you know, 00:16:19.340 --> 00:16:20.960 my wife disagrees and I'm, 00:16:20.960 --> 00:16:22.200 I'm so sure I'm right. 00:16:22.220 --> 00:16:25.539 And I think about it and I get more angry and I feel more right. 00:16:25.539 --> 00:16:26.879 And that keeps going. 00:16:27.539 --> 00:16:28.840 I'm not getting more righteous. 00:16:29.799 --> 00:16:31.560 I'm just getting more and more bitter. 00:16:32.060 --> 00:16:34.700 And that is really doing damage to my heart. 00:16:34.700 --> 00:16:35.080 Isn't it? 00:16:35.379 --> 00:16:36.460 If I respond like that. 00:16:37.820 --> 00:16:38.259 Now, 00:16:38.539 --> 00:16:38.940 uh, 00:16:38.940 --> 00:16:40.840 take time to listen and, 00:16:40.840 --> 00:16:41.080 and, 00:16:41.080 --> 00:16:41.680 and turn, 00:16:41.740 --> 00:16:42.680 turn away from this anger, 00:16:42.779 --> 00:16:45.820 turn away from this desire to just speak and be right. 00:16:46.360 --> 00:16:46.680 Uh, 00:16:46.680 --> 00:16:47.180 in general, 00:16:47.259 --> 00:16:47.379 just, 00:16:47.440 --> 00:16:48.039 just get rid, 00:16:48.180 --> 00:16:48.379 right? 00:16:48.419 --> 00:16:49.180 Verse 21, 00:16:49.620 --> 00:16:49.799 uh, 00:16:49.799 --> 00:16:52.340 take away all filthiness and rampant wickedness. 00:16:52.399 --> 00:16:54.440 I don't know how you respond to trials, 00:16:54.519 --> 00:16:55.659 maybe in a very bad way. 00:16:55.720 --> 00:16:55.940 Maybe, 00:16:56.240 --> 00:16:56.539 well, 00:16:56.580 --> 00:16:57.120 you feel, 00:16:57.220 --> 00:16:57.340 okay, 00:16:57.340 --> 00:16:58.060 I can sin. 00:16:58.340 --> 00:16:59.600 My life is just a mess. 00:17:01.340 --> 00:17:02.620 It's really bad for you, 00:17:02.659 --> 00:17:02.820 right? 00:17:03.259 --> 00:17:03.639 It's like, 00:17:03.680 --> 00:17:03.799 yeah, 00:17:03.799 --> 00:17:04.960 think of this parasite. 00:17:05.440 --> 00:17:07.480 Don't excuse sin because of stress. 00:17:07.640 --> 00:17:08.980 Don't think it's just a season. 00:17:09.480 --> 00:17:09.980 Stop it. 00:17:10.240 --> 00:17:10.339 And, 00:17:10.380 --> 00:17:11.380 and how do you stop something? 00:17:11.380 --> 00:17:11.740 I think, 00:17:12.260 --> 00:17:12.380 well, 00:17:12.420 --> 00:17:13.480 you need to starve it, 00:17:13.540 --> 00:17:13.680 right? 00:17:13.740 --> 00:17:15.880 That's what many of us think with sin, 00:17:15.960 --> 00:17:17.100 with doing something bad. 00:17:17.220 --> 00:17:18.360 If I just do something, 00:17:18.440 --> 00:17:19.340 then it will go away. 00:17:19.540 --> 00:17:20.640 Like a dog right here. 00:17:20.680 --> 00:17:21.400 You give it some food, 00:17:21.440 --> 00:17:22.160 it will go away. 00:17:22.580 --> 00:17:23.840 It doesn't work like that. 00:17:24.000 --> 00:17:25.240 It will just keep coming back. 00:17:26.000 --> 00:17:26.800 Let's starve it. 00:17:26.799 --> 00:17:29.799 You need to starve it if you want to stop the growth. 00:17:31.879 --> 00:17:32.200 Now, 00:17:32.240 --> 00:17:32.559 the thing is, 00:17:32.579 --> 00:17:39.460 we don't often talk about that because we don't want to say kind of stop sinning because that feels so legalistic, 00:17:39.519 --> 00:17:39.659 right? 00:17:39.660 --> 00:17:40.660 We're a gospel centered church. 00:17:40.660 --> 00:17:41.200 We're a gospel centered church. 00:17:41.320 --> 00:17:42.740 Maybe as a, 00:17:42.820 --> 00:17:43.900 if you're here as a visitor, 00:17:44.080 --> 00:17:44.440 you wonder, 00:17:44.540 --> 00:17:46.880 we keep talking about the gospel and gospel centered. 00:17:47.840 --> 00:17:49.320 I do want to say that because, 00:17:49.440 --> 00:17:49.519 yeah, 00:17:49.560 --> 00:17:51.560 the gospel is the good news of Jesus. 00:17:51.779 --> 00:17:51.980 I mean, 00:17:52.000 --> 00:17:53.200 what are we all about? 00:17:53.200 --> 00:17:56.360 The fact that Jesus came to die for what we've done wrong, 00:17:56.440 --> 00:17:56.559 right? 00:17:56.620 --> 00:17:58.039 God made us and he, 00:17:58.580 --> 00:17:59.019 you know, 00:17:59.140 --> 00:17:59.299 he, 00:17:59.440 --> 00:17:59.779 he, 00:17:59.920 --> 00:18:00.279 yeah, 00:18:00.340 --> 00:18:01.120 we belong to him, 00:18:01.180 --> 00:18:02.000 but we've turned away. 00:18:02.100 --> 00:18:03.279 We've all lived our own way. 00:18:03.400 --> 00:18:04.920 And how do you get back to him? 00:18:04.960 --> 00:18:05.140 And, 00:18:05.259 --> 00:18:06.500 and every religion says, 00:18:06.580 --> 00:18:06.759 oh yeah, 00:18:06.799 --> 00:18:07.080 just, 00:18:07.319 --> 00:18:07.600 you know, 00:18:07.620 --> 00:18:09.400 be good and do more good and bad. 00:18:09.460 --> 00:18:10.519 And then God will have you. 00:18:11.340 --> 00:18:11.600 Of course, 00:18:11.620 --> 00:18:12.460 the problem is, 00:18:13.140 --> 00:18:13.340 well, 00:18:13.380 --> 00:18:13.600 one, 00:18:13.680 --> 00:18:14.360 everything good, 00:18:14.400 --> 00:18:15.559 I should have already done anyway. 00:18:15.559 --> 00:18:18.160 So why would it merit me anything? 00:18:18.319 --> 00:18:19.080 And second, 00:18:19.180 --> 00:18:22.460 if I really look at my insight with my faults and my words, 00:18:22.460 --> 00:18:23.319 which God sees, 00:18:23.960 --> 00:18:26.819 no way I'm going to do more good things than bad things, 00:18:26.860 --> 00:18:27.039 right? 00:18:28.000 --> 00:18:28.259 No, 00:18:28.340 --> 00:18:29.539 because of God's love, 00:18:29.600 --> 00:18:33.299 he sent his son and he paid for everything we've done wrong. 00:18:33.420 --> 00:18:40.579 And now we can just come back to God forgiven and accepted without any kind of trying to be good enough. 00:18:40.600 --> 00:18:41.019 And we, 00:18:41.160 --> 00:18:42.880 we have that freedom and it's wonderful. 00:18:42.880 --> 00:18:44.620 And that good news changes everything. 00:18:45.620 --> 00:18:47.000 That's what we celebrate here. 00:18:47.039 --> 00:18:47.860 And if you don't know it, 00:18:47.920 --> 00:18:48.860 come and talk to me. 00:18:48.940 --> 00:18:49.039 We, 00:18:49.100 --> 00:18:49.220 we, 00:18:49.539 --> 00:18:50.799 that's what we're all about. 00:18:50.799 --> 00:18:54.279 But the only thing is when you say that it's so easy to think, 00:18:54.359 --> 00:18:54.419 well, 00:18:54.440 --> 00:18:55.240 sin doesn't matter, 00:18:55.960 --> 00:18:56.119 right? 00:18:56.139 --> 00:18:57.919 Because Jesus has paid for everything. 00:18:58.399 --> 00:18:59.399 It doesn't matter. 00:18:59.899 --> 00:19:00.079 Right? 00:19:00.159 --> 00:19:00.279 And, 00:19:00.419 --> 00:19:00.919 and in some ways, 00:19:00.980 --> 00:19:01.099 yeah, 00:19:01.159 --> 00:19:01.619 it doesn't. 00:19:01.659 --> 00:19:03.399 It's not like I'm a child of God, 00:19:03.480 --> 00:19:07.419 but I do something wrong and I'm no longer a child of God and I need to get back to him. 00:19:08.039 --> 00:19:08.240 I mean, 00:19:08.259 --> 00:19:09.919 I have kids just because they are rude. 00:19:10.019 --> 00:19:10.759 One time to me, 00:19:10.819 --> 00:19:12.599 that doesn't mean that they're still being my children. 00:19:12.779 --> 00:19:13.039 No, 00:19:13.680 --> 00:19:13.919 right? 00:19:13.960 --> 00:19:14.159 They, 00:19:14.299 --> 00:19:14.500 they, 00:19:14.500 --> 00:19:16.619 they stay my kids and we stay God's children, 00:19:16.619 --> 00:19:20.519 but that doesn't mean that sin doesn't do damage to your heart. 00:19:20.819 --> 00:19:23.879 It doesn't mean that it's not growing something inside you, 00:19:23.940 --> 00:19:24.859 that it hardens you, 00:19:25.299 --> 00:19:28.319 that if you just give into sin because life is difficult, 00:19:28.859 --> 00:19:29.519 that it won't, 00:19:30.220 --> 00:19:30.539 you know, 00:19:30.740 --> 00:19:31.960 turn you away from God, 00:19:32.000 --> 00:19:33.299 that it won't grow inside you. 00:19:33.859 --> 00:19:34.960 I think that that's the danger, 00:19:35.039 --> 00:19:35.160 right? 00:19:35.180 --> 00:19:36.980 Because we think Jesus paid it all, 00:19:37.240 --> 00:19:38.519 that actually sin is harmless, 00:19:38.940 --> 00:19:40.160 that it doesn't do anything. 00:19:40.960 --> 00:19:41.119 No. 00:19:42.019 --> 00:19:43.639 And even though, 00:19:43.720 --> 00:19:43.859 yeah, 00:19:43.980 --> 00:19:44.400 that's, 00:19:44.539 --> 00:19:45.339 yeah, 00:19:45.339 --> 00:19:47.119 I hope it's clear, 00:19:47.299 --> 00:19:47.480 right? 00:19:47.940 --> 00:19:48.220 I mean, 00:19:48.299 --> 00:19:49.139 come and talk to me. 00:19:49.140 --> 00:19:54.420 But don't make peace with sin because it will not make peace with you. 00:19:55.060 --> 00:19:55.840 I think it was John Owen, 00:19:55.880 --> 00:19:56.040 right? 00:19:56.060 --> 00:19:58.740 Who said to be killing sin or otherwise sin will kill you. 00:19:59.080 --> 00:19:59.780 It's one of the two. 00:20:00.740 --> 00:20:00.940 But, 00:20:00.960 --> 00:20:01.560 but what then? 00:20:01.759 --> 00:20:02.160 What then? 00:20:02.220 --> 00:20:03.880 What if we turn from sin? 00:20:04.300 --> 00:20:04.500 Now, 00:20:04.540 --> 00:20:06.000 my guess is most of us will think, 00:20:06.080 --> 00:20:06.240 okay, 00:20:06.280 --> 00:20:09.020 I stopped doing bad things and I start doing good things. 00:20:09.720 --> 00:20:10.120 Actually, 00:20:10.140 --> 00:20:11.220 that's not where James goes, 00:20:11.280 --> 00:20:11.420 right? 00:20:11.440 --> 00:20:12.840 Because where does he first go? 00:20:13.280 --> 00:20:13.580 Well, 00:20:13.580 --> 00:20:14.680 turn to the words, 00:20:14.820 --> 00:20:14.940 right? 00:20:14.940 --> 00:20:16.100 End of verse 21. 00:20:16.700 --> 00:20:19.440 Receive with meekness the implanted words, 00:20:19.900 --> 00:20:21.799 which is able to save your souls. 00:20:22.519 --> 00:20:22.680 Right? 00:20:22.720 --> 00:20:22.860 We, 00:20:22.860 --> 00:20:25.160 we turn to the words and receiving. 00:20:25.420 --> 00:20:25.539 I mean, 00:20:25.559 --> 00:20:27.019 later he will talk about listening, 00:20:27.019 --> 00:20:29.539 but because why do we need the words? 00:20:29.640 --> 00:20:29.799 Well, 00:20:30.039 --> 00:20:31.279 it says it's implanted. 00:20:31.460 --> 00:20:31.880 It's the, 00:20:31.940 --> 00:20:33.799 the word that is at work in us. 00:20:34.180 --> 00:20:35.379 The thing is by ourselves, 00:20:35.379 --> 00:20:36.879 we can never become like this, 00:20:36.919 --> 00:20:37.039 right? 00:20:37.059 --> 00:20:39.759 We can never just turn and with our own goodness, 00:20:40.339 --> 00:20:40.619 you know, 00:20:40.639 --> 00:20:41.940 become what we should be. 00:20:42.319 --> 00:20:44.279 We need God's grace. 00:20:44.399 --> 00:20:45.879 We need God to work in us. 00:20:45.960 --> 00:20:46.559 God's spirit, 00:20:46.700 --> 00:20:47.279 God's power, 00:20:47.399 --> 00:20:50.659 God's love through that gospel that came to us, 00:20:50.700 --> 00:20:52.899 that word that is kind of inside us. 00:20:52.960 --> 00:20:53.859 And of course, 00:20:53.879 --> 00:20:55.240 that's connected to the word here, 00:20:55.299 --> 00:20:55.440 right? 00:20:55.460 --> 00:20:56.019 As we work, 00:20:56.379 --> 00:20:57.619 as we read the word here, 00:20:58.019 --> 00:20:58.960 it kind of, 00:20:59.039 --> 00:20:59.319 yeah, 00:20:59.359 --> 00:21:01.680 it works in us by the same spirit who wrote this, 00:21:01.740 --> 00:21:03.200 who now speaks to our hearts now. 00:21:03.799 --> 00:21:04.379 And if, 00:21:04.819 --> 00:21:05.099 yeah, 00:21:05.200 --> 00:21:06.919 we can't just do it, 00:21:06.980 --> 00:21:08.059 but we need the word. 00:21:08.180 --> 00:21:09.099 We need God's power. 00:21:09.480 --> 00:21:09.819 And so, 00:21:09.919 --> 00:21:10.039 yeah, 00:21:10.099 --> 00:21:11.720 turn to the words. 00:21:12.019 --> 00:21:12.619 And last week, 00:21:12.639 --> 00:21:14.980 we saw these great truths that we just really need, 00:21:15.039 --> 00:21:16.359 but where do you find those words? 00:21:17.599 --> 00:21:18.339 In the word, 00:21:18.639 --> 00:21:18.819 right? 00:21:19.279 --> 00:21:20.319 So I'm glad you're here, 00:21:20.899 --> 00:21:21.700 but you know, 00:21:21.759 --> 00:21:24.859 one morning is not enough to keep me on the good path. 00:21:25.240 --> 00:21:25.759 And so, 00:21:25.879 --> 00:21:26.200 you know, 00:21:26.839 --> 00:21:28.059 go to your community groups, 00:21:28.200 --> 00:21:29.099 read the Bible daily, 00:21:29.159 --> 00:21:29.799 those kinds of things. 00:21:29.859 --> 00:21:30.659 We need the word, 00:21:30.740 --> 00:21:30.879 right? 00:21:30.919 --> 00:21:31.279 We need, 00:21:31.759 --> 00:21:33.319 it's not a duty, 00:21:33.319 --> 00:21:35.319 but it's just something that is our life, 00:21:35.399 --> 00:21:35.559 right? 00:21:35.599 --> 00:21:37.579 Our bread that feeds us, 00:21:37.819 --> 00:21:37.899 our, 00:21:38.819 --> 00:21:42.399 the power that comes inside us and changes us. 00:21:42.779 --> 00:21:43.700 And with humility, 00:21:43.899 --> 00:21:44.439 with meekness, 00:21:44.519 --> 00:21:45.179 come to the words. 00:21:46.240 --> 00:21:46.839 But of course, 00:21:46.879 --> 00:21:47.740 don't just hear it. 00:21:48.259 --> 00:21:49.200 Then the third one, 00:21:49.299 --> 00:21:49.599 of course, 00:21:49.799 --> 00:21:50.339 do it, 00:21:50.439 --> 00:21:50.619 right? 00:21:50.619 --> 00:21:51.500 this famous passage, 00:21:51.619 --> 00:21:52.239 verse 22, 00:21:52.659 --> 00:21:57.219 but be doers of the words and not hearers only deceiving yourselves. 00:21:57.939 --> 00:21:59.339 And that seems the problem with them. 00:21:59.419 --> 00:21:59.639 They, 00:21:59.719 --> 00:22:00.519 they were hearers, 00:22:00.579 --> 00:22:01.219 but not doers. 00:22:01.279 --> 00:22:03.579 They were pretty proud of themselves because we're hearing the word, 00:22:03.699 --> 00:22:05.659 but they weren't actually doing anything. 00:22:06.359 --> 00:22:08.199 And if you think you, 00:22:08.619 --> 00:22:09.219 you know, 00:22:09.359 --> 00:22:10.299 that's enough. 00:22:10.299 --> 00:22:12.799 If you think that that is a change, 00:22:12.919 --> 00:22:14.659 then while you're deceiving yourself, 00:22:14.660 --> 00:22:16.840 and he's gives this great illustration, 00:22:16.840 --> 00:22:17.460 uh, 00:22:17.779 --> 00:22:18.600 verse 23, 00:22:18.779 --> 00:22:18.920 right? 00:22:19.000 --> 00:22:21.840 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, 00:22:22.380 --> 00:22:27.160 he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror for, 00:22:27.240 --> 00:22:31.519 he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 00:22:32.100 --> 00:22:36.040 And the man who looks in the mirror and then just turns away and completely 00:22:36.040 --> 00:22:36.620 forgets. 00:22:36.700 --> 00:22:36.840 Now, 00:22:37.399 --> 00:22:40.500 people aren't fully sure what it means. 00:22:40.699 --> 00:22:42.679 The problem is that we think of modern mirrors, 00:22:42.899 --> 00:22:43.059 right? 00:22:43.099 --> 00:22:46.079 And so you see the mirror and you look at yourself and you can see, 00:22:46.199 --> 00:22:46.439 oh man, 00:22:46.459 --> 00:22:49.439 I need a haircut and what's this stain and okay, 00:22:49.500 --> 00:22:50.759 I need to lose some weight, 00:22:50.959 --> 00:22:51.199 right? 00:22:51.240 --> 00:22:53.959 And it would be stupid to then not do something about it. 00:22:54.399 --> 00:22:55.919 The only thing is mirrors back then, 00:22:55.980 --> 00:22:56.919 they weren't very good. 00:22:57.839 --> 00:22:58.199 Uh, 00:22:58.199 --> 00:22:58.980 in one Corinthians, 00:22:59.159 --> 00:22:59.720 Paul says, 00:22:59.919 --> 00:23:00.240 you know, 00:23:00.259 --> 00:23:01.839 now we can hardly see Jesus. 00:23:01.839 --> 00:23:02.699 It's like in a mirror, 00:23:02.819 --> 00:23:04.259 but then we see face to face. 00:23:04.939 --> 00:23:06.439 I think mirrors back then, 00:23:06.440 --> 00:23:09.580 it's more like a Tesla kind of that you walk past. 00:23:09.799 --> 00:23:10.759 You walk past the car, 00:23:10.840 --> 00:23:13.400 you see a vague reflection and, 00:23:13.539 --> 00:23:13.860 uh, 00:23:14.000 --> 00:23:14.200 well, 00:23:14.220 --> 00:23:15.320 that doesn't mean very much, 00:23:15.320 --> 00:23:15.500 right? 00:23:15.620 --> 00:23:15.840 You, 00:23:15.940 --> 00:23:16.660 you walk on the street, 00:23:16.799 --> 00:23:18.900 you see your reflection quite a few times, 00:23:18.960 --> 00:23:19.420 but it's, 00:23:19.420 --> 00:23:19.660 it's, 00:23:19.660 --> 00:23:20.080 it's pointless. 00:23:20.519 --> 00:23:24.440 It doesn't change your life because it doesn't help you by contrast. 00:23:24.440 --> 00:23:25.440 On the other hand, 00:23:26.440 --> 00:23:27.160 because that's the point, 00:23:27.200 --> 00:23:27.340 right? 00:23:27.380 --> 00:23:28.640 The word is different. 00:23:28.820 --> 00:23:30.059 The word is well, 00:23:30.140 --> 00:23:30.299 the, 00:23:30.299 --> 00:23:31.680 the perfect law, 00:23:31.840 --> 00:23:32.000 right? 00:23:32.059 --> 00:23:33.920 The one who looks into the perfect law. 00:23:34.200 --> 00:23:35.620 God's word is flawless. 00:23:35.619 --> 00:23:37.859 It shows everything about us. 00:23:37.899 --> 00:23:39.399 It shows us everything about God, 00:23:39.479 --> 00:23:40.239 about the world. 00:23:40.679 --> 00:23:41.459 It's perfect. 00:23:41.559 --> 00:23:41.979 It is the, 00:23:41.979 --> 00:23:42.239 the, 00:23:42.239 --> 00:23:42.539 the, 00:23:42.539 --> 00:23:43.639 the word that we need. 00:23:44.239 --> 00:23:45.719 You mean the word that gave you birth, 00:23:45.799 --> 00:23:46.959 the word that can save you. 00:23:47.119 --> 00:23:48.299 You wouldn't ignore that, 00:23:48.339 --> 00:23:48.500 right? 00:23:48.519 --> 00:23:49.839 That's something pointless. 00:23:49.959 --> 00:23:50.839 That is something that, 00:23:50.979 --> 00:23:51.719 that you need. 00:23:51.819 --> 00:23:52.079 So, 00:23:52.419 --> 00:23:52.659 uh, 00:23:52.659 --> 00:23:53.479 read it and, 00:23:53.479 --> 00:23:54.279 and do it, 00:23:54.279 --> 00:23:55.379 right? 00:23:55.799 --> 00:23:55.939 And, 00:23:56.019 --> 00:23:58.359 and especially do it when it's hard. 00:23:59.059 --> 00:24:00.919 That's the thing about training, 00:24:01.339 --> 00:24:02.119 training only. 00:24:02.259 --> 00:24:02.379 You need, 00:24:02.379 --> 00:24:03.159 you need to push through, 00:24:03.219 --> 00:24:03.359 right? 00:24:03.359 --> 00:24:04.779 If you stop exercising, 00:24:04.779 --> 00:24:06.000 when you get tired, 00:24:06.099 --> 00:24:06.959 you never get better. 00:24:07.599 --> 00:24:08.639 And you never get more holy. 00:24:08.639 --> 00:24:10.719 If you stop obeying when it's, 00:24:11.119 --> 00:24:12.500 if you only obey when it's easy, 00:24:12.740 --> 00:24:12.919 right? 00:24:13.859 --> 00:24:14.179 Now, 00:24:14.819 --> 00:24:16.939 you make progress when you keep going, 00:24:17.019 --> 00:24:17.979 when you persevere, 00:24:18.019 --> 00:24:18.619 when it's hard. 00:24:18.919 --> 00:24:20.500 I don't know what it's going to look like. 00:24:20.759 --> 00:24:21.479 Maybe to, 00:24:21.639 --> 00:24:22.279 on Monday, 00:24:22.599 --> 00:24:23.779 probably it will be a mess, 00:24:23.819 --> 00:24:24.039 right? 00:24:24.279 --> 00:24:27.159 Because there was this work you wanted to do on Friday and, 00:24:27.639 --> 00:24:27.959 uh, 00:24:27.959 --> 00:24:29.079 you couldn't get that done. 00:24:29.079 --> 00:24:31.799 And now you're stressed and you had a bad weekend with your, 00:24:31.799 --> 00:24:32.460 uh, 00:24:32.460 --> 00:24:33.579 at home. 00:24:34.919 --> 00:24:35.919 How are you going to act? 00:24:36.079 --> 00:24:37.539 Are you going to take it out to your colleagues? 00:24:37.699 --> 00:24:38.859 Are you going to be resentful? 00:24:39.119 --> 00:24:40.240 Are you going to be edgy? 00:24:41.359 --> 00:24:42.679 That's not going to be good for you, 00:24:42.679 --> 00:24:42.859 right? 00:24:42.879 --> 00:24:44.699 So you want to turn away from that. 00:24:44.740 --> 00:24:46.119 And so instead what you do, 00:24:46.179 --> 00:24:46.279 yeah, 00:24:46.279 --> 00:24:47.220 you turn to the word, 00:24:47.259 --> 00:24:47.460 right? 00:24:47.799 --> 00:24:51.299 In the morning and you read Psalm 139 and God, 00:24:51.439 --> 00:24:53.059 he's planned every detail, 00:24:53.139 --> 00:24:54.220 including that flooding, 00:24:54.839 --> 00:24:55.119 you know? 00:24:55.119 --> 00:24:55.779 And he, 00:24:55.939 --> 00:24:57.259 you read Matthew six, 00:24:57.339 --> 00:24:57.699 don't, 00:24:57.779 --> 00:24:58.500 we just said it, 00:24:58.559 --> 00:24:59.239 don't be anxious. 00:24:59.359 --> 00:25:00.559 Your father knows what you need, 00:25:01.199 --> 00:25:01.359 right? 00:25:01.379 --> 00:25:02.299 He'll take care of that. 00:25:02.359 --> 00:25:03.559 He'll take care of the deadline. 00:25:04.339 --> 00:25:05.839 We don't need to sin to, 00:25:06.259 --> 00:25:06.639 you know, 00:25:06.699 --> 00:25:07.059 uh, 00:25:07.339 --> 00:25:07.519 to, 00:25:07.579 --> 00:25:07.979 to follow, 00:25:08.279 --> 00:25:08.479 uh, 00:25:08.479 --> 00:25:09.119 to follow God, 00:25:09.219 --> 00:25:09.359 to, 00:25:09.439 --> 00:25:10.459 to do what we need to do. 00:25:10.719 --> 00:25:12.399 And maybe you read about compassion. 00:25:12.539 --> 00:25:12.719 You know, 00:25:12.759 --> 00:25:13.299 your colleagues, 00:25:13.439 --> 00:25:14.839 they probably also had a bad weekend, 00:25:14.939 --> 00:25:15.159 right? 00:25:15.519 --> 00:25:17.339 Maybe their house got flooded more than yours. 00:25:18.319 --> 00:25:20.839 Maybe it's not the best time to get angry with them. 00:25:20.839 --> 00:25:23.159 And maybe I should just treat them with compassion. 00:25:23.160 --> 00:25:24.019 And, 00:25:24.080 --> 00:25:25.200 and so you see God, 00:25:25.279 --> 00:25:25.500 you know, 00:25:25.660 --> 00:25:28.620 you pray for wisdom and patience and self-control. 00:25:28.779 --> 00:25:28.920 Uh, 00:25:28.920 --> 00:25:29.100 Lord, 00:25:29.180 --> 00:25:34.160 help me to be compassionate like you and understanding like a father who doesn't find fault. 00:25:34.680 --> 00:25:34.960 Uh, 00:25:35.180 --> 00:25:35.440 you know, 00:25:35.440 --> 00:25:36.220 help me to grow, 00:25:36.320 --> 00:25:38.060 to be more like your child through this. 00:25:38.480 --> 00:25:40.220 Help me to make me more like Jesus. 00:25:40.680 --> 00:25:40.860 You know, 00:25:40.920 --> 00:25:41.140 that's, 00:25:41.200 --> 00:25:41.380 that's, 00:25:41.400 --> 00:25:42.200 that's how you respond. 00:25:42.259 --> 00:25:45.860 And you go into your day and go into your work with grace, 00:25:45.980 --> 00:25:46.759 with love, 00:25:46.800 --> 00:25:47.480 with patience, 00:25:47.480 --> 00:25:47.740 and, 00:25:47.900 --> 00:25:49.060 and that will grow you. 00:25:49.060 --> 00:25:50.040 That's kind of the idea, 00:25:50.140 --> 00:25:50.300 right? 00:25:50.299 --> 00:25:51.259 And we, 00:25:51.299 --> 00:25:55.299 we turn away from what we want to do and we seek the word and, 00:25:55.559 --> 00:25:55.919 and then we, 00:25:56.039 --> 00:25:56.180 okay, 00:25:56.399 --> 00:25:57.720 we're trying to be like Jesus. 00:25:58.180 --> 00:25:59.180 And that's wonderful. 00:25:59.399 --> 00:26:00.279 But that's a struggle. 00:26:01.319 --> 00:26:03.039 It's struggle because it's usually hard, 00:26:03.839 --> 00:26:04.039 right? 00:26:04.480 --> 00:26:07.799 It's so easy to do things when it's easy. 00:26:08.000 --> 00:26:10.119 It's so easy to love your spouse when they are lovely. 00:26:10.559 --> 00:26:12.159 It's harder to love them when they're not lovely. 00:26:12.779 --> 00:26:14.919 It's great to obey your boss when he's really great, 00:26:15.000 --> 00:26:15.879 but if he's difficult, 00:26:16.079 --> 00:26:17.039 we find it hard, 00:26:17.099 --> 00:26:17.279 right? 00:26:17.279 --> 00:26:21.899 And it's easy to trust God when life is stable and secure and you're feeling 00:26:21.899 --> 00:26:22.299 blessed. 00:26:22.639 --> 00:26:25.980 It's much harder to trust him when things are going wrong, 00:26:26.619 --> 00:26:28.859 but we need to persevere, 00:26:29.039 --> 00:26:29.460 right? 00:26:30.619 --> 00:26:31.819 Even when things are tough, 00:26:32.039 --> 00:26:33.279 when you think you're tough enough, 00:26:33.359 --> 00:26:35.099 when you're busy enough just to survive. 00:26:35.960 --> 00:26:37.559 I know it can feel like a burden, 00:26:37.819 --> 00:26:37.980 right? 00:26:38.319 --> 00:26:39.039 James knows that. 00:26:39.099 --> 00:26:39.799 God knows that. 00:26:39.899 --> 00:26:40.139 Okay. 00:26:40.559 --> 00:26:41.879 Following God when it's tough, 00:26:41.960 --> 00:26:43.420 that's feels like a burden, 00:26:43.500 --> 00:26:43.980 a law. 00:26:44.139 --> 00:26:46.279 It's so easy to just give in to your desires, 00:26:46.279 --> 00:26:47.119 right? 00:26:47.180 --> 00:26:48.899 Just give in to your sin. 00:26:50.779 --> 00:26:51.480 Look again, 00:26:51.579 --> 00:26:52.619 what James calls it. 00:26:53.099 --> 00:26:54.079 God knows this. 00:26:54.700 --> 00:26:56.220 Look into the perfect law, 00:26:56.680 --> 00:26:57.879 the law of liberty. 00:26:58.200 --> 00:26:59.559 Now he doesn't mean the old Testament. 00:26:59.799 --> 00:27:00.680 He means the gospel. 00:27:00.859 --> 00:27:02.160 He means Jesus teaching, 00:27:03.240 --> 00:27:03.480 you know, 00:27:03.839 --> 00:27:05.440 God's teaching, 00:27:05.599 --> 00:27:06.039 the word, 00:27:06.119 --> 00:27:06.960 it brings freedom. 00:27:08.359 --> 00:27:10.119 Now you think that giving into your sin is, 00:27:10.319 --> 00:27:10.879 feels free. 00:27:11.399 --> 00:27:12.799 I hope you see that you're not free, 00:27:12.859 --> 00:27:13.019 right? 00:27:13.019 --> 00:27:16.920 Because you're being enticed by your sinful desires and lured away. 00:27:17.079 --> 00:27:17.660 You're not free. 00:27:18.960 --> 00:27:19.660 Now remember, 00:27:20.379 --> 00:27:22.639 you are free because you were a child of God, 00:27:23.339 --> 00:27:23.579 right? 00:27:23.639 --> 00:27:25.259 Jesus has taken care of everything. 00:27:25.420 --> 00:27:26.339 God has accepted you. 00:27:26.420 --> 00:27:27.200 He's adopted you. 00:27:28.059 --> 00:27:29.559 And now you can just, 00:27:30.180 --> 00:27:31.839 you're free to be who you are. 00:27:32.220 --> 00:27:33.599 That is Christian freedom, 00:27:33.720 --> 00:27:33.859 right? 00:27:33.859 --> 00:27:35.579 It's not freedom to do whatever we want, 00:27:35.639 --> 00:27:37.319 but freedom to be who we really are. 00:27:37.900 --> 00:27:39.819 Freedom to be who God has made us. 00:27:40.439 --> 00:27:42.319 Freedom to try to be like God. 00:27:42.379 --> 00:27:43.859 And we don't have to worry about, 00:27:43.939 --> 00:27:45.279 are we meeting a standard? 00:27:45.419 --> 00:27:49.099 Because God has already met a standard for us in his son, 00:27:49.179 --> 00:27:49.419 Jesus. 00:27:50.099 --> 00:27:51.200 We can just live it. 00:27:52.099 --> 00:27:53.599 And isn't that what you want? 00:27:53.639 --> 00:27:55.220 That's what God wants for you. 00:27:55.279 --> 00:27:56.599 He wants you to live in freedom, 00:27:56.879 --> 00:27:58.099 to live and, 00:27:58.099 --> 00:27:59.659 and grow to be like him. 00:27:59.679 --> 00:28:01.619 And surely that's what we want as well. 00:28:01.759 --> 00:28:03.099 So yeah, 00:28:03.159 --> 00:28:03.439 let's, 00:28:03.519 --> 00:28:04.619 let's remember this passage. 00:28:04.619 --> 00:28:05.379 Let's remember, 00:28:05.939 --> 00:28:06.099 you know, 00:28:06.179 --> 00:28:06.839 next trial, 00:28:06.960 --> 00:28:07.659 next temptation. 00:28:07.660 --> 00:28:10.140 Remember the picture of sin here. 00:28:10.600 --> 00:28:11.840 And then remember this, 00:28:12.120 --> 00:28:12.220 I, 00:28:12.500 --> 00:28:13.060 the words, 00:28:13.180 --> 00:28:15.400 the life of God growing in you and, 00:28:15.440 --> 00:28:16.180 and turn to that. 00:28:16.980 --> 00:28:18.180 And then let's live it out. 00:28:18.240 --> 00:28:19.200 And let's see God work. 00:28:19.300 --> 00:28:21.019 Let's see God strengthen you, 00:28:21.140 --> 00:28:21.759 grow you, 00:28:22.180 --> 00:28:24.019 establish you and, 00:28:24.019 --> 00:28:25.060 and do a miracle. 00:28:26.080 --> 00:28:26.600 Why don't we, 00:28:27.240 --> 00:28:27.400 you know, 00:28:27.420 --> 00:28:28.500 why don't we reflect for a moment? 00:28:28.540 --> 00:28:29.700 I've got a few questions here. 00:28:29.779 --> 00:28:30.019 Just, 00:28:30.540 --> 00:28:30.860 you know, 00:28:30.920 --> 00:28:33.180 maybe there's things that we need to repent of. 00:28:33.220 --> 00:28:33.460 Maybe, 00:28:34.060 --> 00:28:34.320 yeah, 00:28:34.320 --> 00:28:37.000 things have been hard and you have been responding with sin. 00:28:37.000 --> 00:28:38.579 And you realize that, 00:28:38.640 --> 00:28:38.920 uh, 00:28:39.039 --> 00:28:40.339 that's been hurting you. 00:28:40.599 --> 00:28:43.920 Why don't you bring that to the Lord and repent, 00:28:43.920 --> 00:28:45.480 but also, 00:28:45.640 --> 00:28:45.900 yeah, 00:28:45.920 --> 00:28:47.339 think about the goodness here. 00:28:47.440 --> 00:28:49.319 Think about the gospel and, 00:28:49.420 --> 00:28:49.779 uh, 00:28:49.900 --> 00:28:50.119 yeah, 00:28:50.779 --> 00:28:50.960 and, 00:28:51.000 --> 00:28:51.079 and, 00:28:51.079 --> 00:28:52.640 and let that massage your heart. 00:28:52.720 --> 00:28:52.940 Okay. 00:28:52.980 --> 00:28:55.740 So let's take a minute to reflect and then I'll pray. 00:28:56.180 --> 00:28:58.480 And then we're going to respond in some worship. 00:28:58.480 --> 00:28:58.599 Thank you. 00:28:58.599 --> 00:28:58.640 Thank you. 00:29:07.000 --> 00:29:36.980 Thank you. 00:29:37.000 --> 00:30:06.980 Thank you. 00:30:06.980 --> 00:30:08.980 Thank you. 00:30:08.980 --> 00:30:09.240 Father, 00:30:09.240 --> 00:30:09.420 we, 00:30:09.420 --> 00:30:09.980 we see the, 00:30:10.039 --> 00:30:11.779 the two ways here. 00:30:12.160 --> 00:30:12.579 And, 00:30:12.660 --> 00:30:12.779 uh, 00:30:12.779 --> 00:30:13.980 we confess that sometimes we, 00:30:14.039 --> 00:30:14.799 we haven't responded. 00:30:14.799 --> 00:30:15.099 Well, 00:30:15.279 --> 00:30:17.460 we bring that to you and we thank you that, 00:30:17.460 --> 00:30:18.380 uh, 00:30:18.579 --> 00:30:18.819 yeah, 00:30:18.960 --> 00:30:20.519 your love for us doesn't change. 00:30:21.039 --> 00:30:24.839 That it doesn't mean that you need to get back to you, 00:30:24.900 --> 00:30:26.480 but we are secure in your love. 00:30:26.519 --> 00:30:28.660 And yet we want to turn away from the things that harm us. 00:30:28.720 --> 00:30:29.579 Help us to turn away. 00:30:29.980 --> 00:30:32.160 Help us to turn to you by your grace, 00:30:32.160 --> 00:30:32.840 by your power, 00:30:32.980 --> 00:30:33.680 work in us, 00:30:34.320 --> 00:30:36.560 grow in us that life, 00:30:36.660 --> 00:30:37.220 that words, 00:30:37.580 --> 00:30:39.160 that we become more like your son, 00:30:39.279 --> 00:30:39.580 Jesus, 00:30:39.720 --> 00:30:40.759 who we see in this word, 00:30:41.500 --> 00:30:43.220 that we be more and more, 00:30:43.320 --> 00:30:43.940 your children, 00:30:44.140 --> 00:30:45.180 more and more like you, 00:30:45.779 --> 00:30:48.460 the beautiful people that you want us to be. 00:30:49.200 --> 00:30:49.860 Jesus name. 00:30:49.920 --> 00:30:50.299 We pray. 00:30:50.680 --> 00:30:51.039 Amen.