WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:29.980 Thank you. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:59.980 Thank you. 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:29.980 Thank you. 00:01:30.000 --> 00:01:32.000 Thank you. 00:02:00.000 --> 00:02:02.840 We respond when we meet injustice. 00:02:05.000 --> 00:02:07.540 Well, James' readers were used to injustice. 00:02:07.900 --> 00:02:11.199 Back in chapter 2, verse 6, James says, 00:02:11.199 --> 00:02:13.659 the rich are the ones dragging you off into court, 00:02:13.799 --> 00:02:14.659 harassing you. 00:02:15.459 --> 00:02:19.339 We go into that again at the end of verse 6 of chapter 5. 00:02:19.340 --> 00:02:23.840 Some of the poor Christians in this church were being exploited, 00:02:24.219 --> 00:02:25.719 treated unjustly. 00:02:25.719 --> 00:02:28.960 The powerless poor were helpless. 00:02:30.719 --> 00:02:34.939 It's exactly the situation that many of our brothers and sisters around the world find themselves in, 00:02:35.360 --> 00:02:37.319 like that church in Algeria, 00:02:38.319 --> 00:02:40.139 with apparently no records, 00:02:40.800 --> 00:02:44.659 where apparently Judge Hategood is in control of the court, 00:02:45.039 --> 00:02:46.340 to go back to Vanity Fair. 00:02:46.340 --> 00:02:50.379 So how are we to respond to that kind of injustice? 00:02:50.580 --> 00:02:51.120 What are we to do? 00:02:51.200 --> 00:02:53.280 How are James' readers to respond? 00:02:54.800 --> 00:02:56.080 Well, James has just been highlighting, 00:02:56.219 --> 00:02:57.199 verses 1 to 6, 00:02:57.480 --> 00:02:58.879 a way not to respond. 00:02:59.460 --> 00:03:01.980 Not to envy the wealthy and the powerful, 00:03:02.640 --> 00:03:04.259 because they're going to lose everything. 00:03:05.060 --> 00:03:06.360 Their money will rot. 00:03:06.659 --> 00:03:07.680 They will be judged. 00:03:08.000 --> 00:03:09.480 Not to emulate the envy, 00:03:09.640 --> 00:03:11.020 the powerful and wealthy, 00:03:11.020 --> 00:03:13.439 because that will not last. 00:03:13.540 --> 00:03:14.320 It will not go anywhere. 00:03:14.740 --> 00:03:15.920 This is God's world. 00:03:16.580 --> 00:03:18.900 It does not belong to the elites. 00:03:19.740 --> 00:03:21.600 It does not belong to the powerful nations, 00:03:21.800 --> 00:03:22.800 or the powerful businesses, 00:03:23.040 --> 00:03:24.100 or the powerful presidents. 00:03:24.780 --> 00:03:26.060 It is God's world. 00:03:26.560 --> 00:03:27.780 He is in control of it. 00:03:28.680 --> 00:03:31.879 And the Lord Jesus will come back to judge. 00:03:31.960 --> 00:03:33.520 That's really the point of verses 1 to 6 00:03:33.520 --> 00:03:34.740 we looked at this morning. 00:03:34.879 --> 00:03:35.980 Judgment is coming. 00:03:36.840 --> 00:03:38.080 So how then should we live? 00:03:39.060 --> 00:03:40.360 Well, James tells two things. 00:03:40.360 --> 00:03:41.360 to us, 00:03:41.480 --> 00:03:42.060 and these believers, 00:03:42.160 --> 00:03:42.580 and these verses. 00:03:42.980 --> 00:03:44.480 And the first is to live patiently, 00:03:45.200 --> 00:03:46.480 because of the gospel hope. 00:03:46.560 --> 00:03:47.280 Live patiently. 00:03:47.420 --> 00:03:48.960 I'm sure you caught that in the reading. 00:03:49.060 --> 00:03:49.640 Look at verse 7. 00:03:50.000 --> 00:03:51.660 Be patient, therefore, brothers, 00:03:52.140 --> 00:03:53.640 until the coming of the Lord. 00:03:54.860 --> 00:03:55.880 See how the farmer waits 00:03:55.880 --> 00:03:57.100 for precious fruits of the earth, 00:03:57.160 --> 00:03:58.540 being patient about it. 00:03:59.100 --> 00:03:59.780 And again in verse 8, 00:03:59.840 --> 00:04:00.220 he will say, 00:04:00.380 --> 00:04:01.180 be patient. 00:04:02.220 --> 00:04:02.900 James is saying, 00:04:02.980 --> 00:04:04.220 Christ will return. 00:04:05.060 --> 00:04:06.040 A day will come 00:04:06.040 --> 00:04:07.360 where everything is put right. 00:04:07.360 --> 00:04:08.780 So be patient. 00:04:08.780 --> 00:04:10.500 Wait patiently for that day. 00:04:11.460 --> 00:04:12.520 Now does that mean, 00:04:13.000 --> 00:04:13.640 be passive, 00:04:13.819 --> 00:04:14.340 do nothing? 00:04:15.620 --> 00:04:15.939 Well no, 00:04:15.960 --> 00:04:17.100 look at the illustration he uses. 00:04:17.319 --> 00:04:18.720 The patient farmer, 00:04:19.160 --> 00:04:19.800 verse 7. 00:04:20.240 --> 00:04:21.279 See how the farmer waits 00:04:21.279 --> 00:04:22.720 for precious fruit of the earth, 00:04:22.819 --> 00:04:24.439 being patient about it, 00:04:24.800 --> 00:04:25.620 until he receives 00:04:25.620 --> 00:04:27.519 the early and late rains. 00:04:28.500 --> 00:04:30.079 Now what can the farmer do 00:04:30.079 --> 00:04:32.319 to hasten the harvest? 00:04:33.920 --> 00:04:34.439 Nothing. 00:04:34.439 --> 00:04:35.860 He can't do anything, can he? 00:04:35.860 --> 00:04:38.580 That's all in God's control. 00:04:39.020 --> 00:04:40.080 When the rains come, 00:04:40.139 --> 00:04:41.040 how the harvest grows, 00:04:41.240 --> 00:04:42.160 that's God's job. 00:04:42.379 --> 00:04:44.080 The farmer has to wait patiently. 00:04:45.199 --> 00:04:46.379 So why does he wait? 00:04:47.280 --> 00:04:48.800 Because it's a precious crop. 00:04:48.900 --> 00:04:49.800 It's something he values, 00:04:49.879 --> 00:04:51.199 it's something he's looking forward to. 00:04:53.379 --> 00:04:55.100 And how does the farmer wait? 00:04:55.780 --> 00:04:56.500 Is he passive? 00:04:56.660 --> 00:04:57.280 Does he do nothing? 00:04:58.420 --> 00:04:59.720 Well I'm sure we all know farmers, 00:04:59.800 --> 00:05:00.620 even in a city like this, 00:05:00.639 --> 00:05:01.780 we might not know farmers locally, 00:05:02.240 --> 00:05:03.319 but perhaps we know some farmers, 00:05:03.379 --> 00:05:04.600 or at least know something about farmers. 00:05:04.600 --> 00:05:05.600 It's not like they sit there 00:05:05.600 --> 00:05:06.580 and do nothing all the time 00:05:06.580 --> 00:05:07.460 until harvest, is it? 00:05:08.240 --> 00:05:09.120 There's work to be done 00:05:09.120 --> 00:05:10.140 to kind of tend the crops, 00:05:10.260 --> 00:05:11.760 to keep off the birds 00:05:11.760 --> 00:05:12.340 that will eat them, 00:05:12.460 --> 00:05:13.660 to kill off the weeds 00:05:13.660 --> 00:05:14.520 that will grow up. 00:05:15.860 --> 00:05:16.800 They're not passive. 00:05:17.500 --> 00:05:19.280 They do things to facilitate 00:05:19.280 --> 00:05:20.540 the crop, don't they? 00:05:21.260 --> 00:05:23.040 They cooperate with the growth 00:05:23.040 --> 00:05:23.900 of the harvest, 00:05:24.320 --> 00:05:26.379 as they wait patiently for it. 00:05:27.140 --> 00:05:27.780 And as Christians, 00:05:27.900 --> 00:05:29.340 that's how we are to respond 00:05:29.340 --> 00:05:31.379 to the trials and difficulties 00:05:31.379 --> 00:05:32.379 of our own lives. 00:05:32.379 --> 00:05:34.379 Be it injustice we experience, 00:05:34.939 --> 00:05:37.000 or the everyday difficulties 00:05:37.000 --> 00:05:39.240 that can affect anyone and everyone. 00:05:40.040 --> 00:05:41.040 So if you remember how James 00:05:41.040 --> 00:05:42.180 started this later, 00:05:42.259 --> 00:05:43.399 it's worth turning back 00:05:43.399 --> 00:05:44.180 to chapter 1, 00:05:44.540 --> 00:05:46.180 verses 2 to 4. 00:05:48.579 --> 00:05:50.719 Count it all joy, my brothers, 00:05:51.180 --> 00:05:52.079 when you need trials 00:05:52.079 --> 00:05:53.259 of various kinds. 00:05:53.920 --> 00:05:55.420 How can we keep trials as joy? 00:05:56.420 --> 00:05:57.100 Here's the reason. 00:05:57.100 --> 00:05:58.720 For you know that the testing 00:05:58.720 --> 00:05:59.480 of your faith 00:05:59.480 --> 00:06:01.360 produces steadfastness, 00:06:02.040 --> 00:06:03.100 and that steadfastness 00:06:03.100 --> 00:06:04.140 have its full effect, 00:06:04.600 --> 00:06:05.820 that you may be perfect 00:06:05.820 --> 00:06:06.900 and complete, 00:06:07.360 --> 00:06:08.140 lacking in nothing. 00:06:08.760 --> 00:06:09.900 See, there is the harvest 00:06:09.900 --> 00:06:11.400 that trials produce 00:06:11.400 --> 00:06:12.800 in our own lives. 00:06:13.879 --> 00:06:14.439 Steadfastness, 00:06:14.700 --> 00:06:16.820 that as we cooperate with it, 00:06:17.140 --> 00:06:18.260 makes us perfect 00:06:18.260 --> 00:06:18.960 and complete, 00:06:19.160 --> 00:06:19.900 lacking in nothing. 00:06:21.740 --> 00:06:22.580 So there's what God, 00:06:22.740 --> 00:06:23.300 in his grace, 00:06:23.360 --> 00:06:24.939 wants to achieve in our lives. 00:06:24.939 --> 00:06:26.939 He wants us to cooperate 00:06:26.939 --> 00:06:27.500 with that, 00:06:27.540 --> 00:06:28.180 with patience, 00:06:29.040 --> 00:06:30.639 as he produces this harvest 00:06:30.639 --> 00:06:32.319 of steadfastness, 00:06:32.800 --> 00:06:33.620 and of maturity, 00:06:34.120 --> 00:06:34.860 and completeness 00:06:34.860 --> 00:06:35.560 in our lives. 00:06:36.459 --> 00:06:37.220 So how exactly 00:06:37.220 --> 00:06:37.959 do we do that? 00:06:38.680 --> 00:06:39.279 How are we able 00:06:39.279 --> 00:06:40.139 to wait patiently? 00:06:40.920 --> 00:06:41.659 I find it hard enough 00:06:41.659 --> 00:06:42.159 to wait patiently 00:06:42.159 --> 00:06:42.980 for a bus when it's late. 00:06:43.060 --> 00:06:43.980 I only wait patiently 00:06:43.980 --> 00:06:45.000 during trials. 00:06:45.839 --> 00:06:46.259 Well, look at what 00:06:46.259 --> 00:06:46.899 James tells us 00:06:46.899 --> 00:06:47.500 in verse 8. 00:06:48.980 --> 00:06:50.300 Establish your hearts, 00:06:50.519 --> 00:06:51.339 for the coming 00:06:51.339 --> 00:06:52.779 of the Lord is at hand. 00:06:53.000 --> 00:06:54.019 Establish your hearts. 00:06:54.019 --> 00:06:55.519 A couple of weeks ago, 00:06:55.799 --> 00:06:56.699 during the half-term break, 00:06:56.799 --> 00:06:57.459 Mary, my wife, 00:06:57.539 --> 00:06:58.079 took the kids down 00:06:58.079 --> 00:06:58.519 to her mother 00:06:58.519 --> 00:07:00.079 in Hampshire for a few days 00:07:00.079 --> 00:07:00.599 while our kitchen 00:07:00.599 --> 00:07:01.419 was being ripped apart. 00:07:02.379 --> 00:07:03.500 And on their way back, 00:07:03.680 --> 00:07:04.459 they got a flat tyre 00:07:04.459 --> 00:07:05.399 on the M3, 00:07:05.919 --> 00:07:06.639 and so had to pull in 00:07:06.639 --> 00:07:08.859 just before the M3-M25 junction. 00:07:09.659 --> 00:07:10.000 And Zoe, 00:07:10.099 --> 00:07:11.099 being seven years old, 00:07:11.339 --> 00:07:12.639 was somewhat upset 00:07:12.639 --> 00:07:13.379 and perturbed 00:07:13.379 --> 00:07:14.079 by the fact 00:07:14.079 --> 00:07:14.579 they're now standing 00:07:14.579 --> 00:07:15.579 next to a big motorway 00:07:15.579 --> 00:07:16.959 with cars flying past. 00:07:17.459 --> 00:07:17.879 I suspect 00:07:17.879 --> 00:07:18.359 we can all 00:07:18.359 --> 00:07:19.180 sympathise with her. 00:07:19.879 --> 00:07:20.539 So what did Mary 00:07:20.539 --> 00:07:21.079 all have to do 00:07:21.079 --> 00:07:21.859 in that situation? 00:07:22.419 --> 00:07:23.399 I don't phone the ADA, 00:07:23.399 --> 00:07:24.620 she had to try 00:07:24.620 --> 00:07:25.399 and establish 00:07:25.399 --> 00:07:26.439 Zoe's heart 00:07:26.439 --> 00:07:27.659 by reminding her 00:07:27.659 --> 00:07:28.179 of the truth 00:07:28.179 --> 00:07:28.719 of the fact 00:07:28.719 --> 00:07:29.620 the AA man 00:07:29.620 --> 00:07:30.339 was going to come 00:07:30.339 --> 00:07:31.159 and they were going 00:07:31.159 --> 00:07:31.719 to be top of the 00:07:31.719 --> 00:07:32.519 priority list 00:07:32.519 --> 00:07:33.419 because a single female 00:07:33.419 --> 00:07:34.500 with two young children 00:07:34.500 --> 00:07:35.639 and so the guy 00:07:35.639 --> 00:07:36.539 came pretty quickly. 00:07:37.579 --> 00:07:38.199 But her job 00:07:38.199 --> 00:07:39.239 was to reassure her 00:07:39.239 --> 00:07:40.039 with the truth 00:07:40.039 --> 00:07:41.399 of the closeness 00:07:41.399 --> 00:07:42.560 of the coming 00:07:42.560 --> 00:07:43.739 of a rescuer. 00:07:44.239 --> 00:07:45.120 To reassure her. 00:07:46.299 --> 00:07:46.899 We even have 00:07:46.899 --> 00:07:47.839 a greater truth, 00:07:48.979 --> 00:07:50.219 a more imminent arrival 00:07:50.219 --> 00:07:51.159 to look forward to. 00:07:51.160 --> 00:07:53.020 The coming of the Lord 00:07:53.020 --> 00:07:54.140 is at hand 00:07:54.140 --> 00:07:55.260 says James. 00:07:55.720 --> 00:07:56.620 So to establish 00:07:56.620 --> 00:07:58.000 ourselves in that truth. 00:07:58.480 --> 00:07:59.820 He is ready to appear. 00:08:00.140 --> 00:08:01.300 He is close by. 00:08:01.960 --> 00:08:03.020 The judge will come 00:08:03.020 --> 00:08:04.420 to vindicate his people. 00:08:05.620 --> 00:08:06.220 He's at hand 00:08:06.220 --> 00:08:06.600 in the sense 00:08:06.600 --> 00:08:06.920 that he has 00:08:06.920 --> 00:08:08.560 nothing else to do. 00:08:09.620 --> 00:08:10.260 Nothing else 00:08:10.260 --> 00:08:11.160 for God 00:08:11.760 --> 00:08:12.340 to complete 00:08:12.340 --> 00:08:13.460 on his to-do list 00:08:13.460 --> 00:08:14.540 other than 00:08:14.540 --> 00:08:15.800 send the Lord Jesus back. 00:08:16.780 --> 00:08:17.600 He is ready 00:08:17.600 --> 00:08:18.680 to be revealed, 00:08:18.940 --> 00:08:19.800 ready to come. 00:08:19.800 --> 00:08:21.220 So James says 00:08:21.220 --> 00:08:22.439 establish your hearts 00:08:22.439 --> 00:08:23.100 as you wait 00:08:23.100 --> 00:08:23.900 for his return. 00:08:25.340 --> 00:08:26.800 If you're building 00:08:26.800 --> 00:08:27.400 up a fence, 00:08:27.500 --> 00:08:27.819 what do you do? 00:08:27.860 --> 00:08:29.020 You have to dig down 00:08:29.020 --> 00:08:30.160 deep to put the fence 00:08:30.160 --> 00:08:30.780 pole in 00:08:30.780 --> 00:08:31.560 to make sure 00:08:31.560 --> 00:08:32.019 it's firm 00:08:32.019 --> 00:08:33.019 and well established. 00:08:33.899 --> 00:08:34.820 That's the idea here, 00:08:34.899 --> 00:08:35.460 to establish, 00:08:35.620 --> 00:08:37.500 to get this firmly fixed, 00:08:38.039 --> 00:08:38.840 get our hearts 00:08:38.840 --> 00:08:39.720 firmly fixed 00:08:39.720 --> 00:08:40.440 in this truth. 00:08:41.779 --> 00:08:42.700 So how do we do that? 00:08:44.220 --> 00:08:44.740 Well, Paul 00:08:44.740 --> 00:08:45.680 writing for Romans, 00:08:46.000 --> 00:08:47.379 Romans 16, 25, 00:08:47.639 --> 00:08:48.340 says that God 00:08:48.340 --> 00:08:49.700 is able to establish 00:08:49.700 --> 00:08:51.759 the same words, 00:08:51.840 --> 00:08:52.820 establish or strengthen 00:08:52.820 --> 00:08:53.460 our hearts 00:08:53.460 --> 00:08:55.320 according to the gospel 00:08:55.320 --> 00:08:56.280 and the preaching 00:08:56.280 --> 00:08:57.259 of Jesus Christ. 00:08:58.240 --> 00:08:59.259 1 Thessalonians 3, 00:08:59.340 --> 00:08:59.800 verse 2, 00:09:00.139 --> 00:09:00.960 Paul sends Timothy 00:09:00.960 --> 00:09:01.480 to the church 00:09:01.480 --> 00:09:02.120 in Thessalonica 00:09:02.120 --> 00:09:03.259 to establish 00:09:03.259 --> 00:09:04.320 and exhort them 00:09:04.320 --> 00:09:04.820 in the faith. 00:09:05.019 --> 00:09:06.080 It's the same word again. 00:09:06.980 --> 00:09:07.280 Do you see how 00:09:07.280 --> 00:09:08.139 we get established? 00:09:09.100 --> 00:09:09.440 Do you see how 00:09:09.440 --> 00:09:10.500 our hearts get established? 00:09:10.800 --> 00:09:11.680 It's by the gospel. 00:09:12.580 --> 00:09:13.259 It's by feeding 00:09:13.259 --> 00:09:13.920 on the gospel. 00:09:14.600 --> 00:09:15.220 It's by listening 00:09:15.220 --> 00:09:15.879 to the gospel, 00:09:16.399 --> 00:09:17.820 by speaking the truth 00:09:17.820 --> 00:09:18.360 of the gospel 00:09:18.360 --> 00:09:19.100 to one another, 00:09:20.000 --> 00:09:20.740 by gathering 00:09:20.740 --> 00:09:21.779 around the Lord's table 00:09:21.779 --> 00:09:23.440 as he strengthens 00:09:23.440 --> 00:09:24.320 our hearts, 00:09:25.000 --> 00:09:26.100 using the bread and wine 00:09:26.100 --> 00:09:26.779 to strengthen 00:09:26.779 --> 00:09:27.779 our faith 00:09:27.779 --> 00:09:28.639 as bread 00:09:28.639 --> 00:09:29.820 strengthens our bodies 00:09:29.820 --> 00:09:30.519 for life. 00:09:32.519 --> 00:09:33.180 Through speaking 00:09:33.180 --> 00:09:33.700 the gospel 00:09:33.700 --> 00:09:34.399 to one another, 00:09:34.779 --> 00:09:35.580 through meditating 00:09:35.580 --> 00:09:36.460 on the great gospel 00:09:36.460 --> 00:09:36.899 promises, 00:09:37.040 --> 00:09:38.240 we establish our hearts 00:09:38.240 --> 00:09:39.379 in this truth 00:09:39.379 --> 00:09:40.399 that the Lord Jesus 00:09:40.399 --> 00:09:41.360 is coming back. 00:09:42.440 --> 00:09:42.759 Indeed, 00:09:42.759 --> 00:09:44.080 the Lord God Almighty 00:09:44.080 --> 00:09:45.460 establishes our hearts. 00:09:45.580 --> 00:09:46.319 That's what Paul 00:09:46.319 --> 00:09:47.539 prays for for the 00:09:47.539 --> 00:09:48.299 Thessalonians 00:09:48.299 --> 00:09:50.279 later on in 1 Thessalonians 3. 00:09:52.580 --> 00:09:53.100 So first, 00:09:53.179 --> 00:09:54.080 we establish our hearts 00:09:54.080 --> 00:09:55.620 so the hope 00:09:55.620 --> 00:09:56.340 of the return 00:09:56.340 --> 00:09:57.019 of the Lord Jesus 00:09:57.019 --> 00:09:57.980 becomes more real 00:09:57.980 --> 00:09:58.539 to us. 00:09:59.200 --> 00:09:59.659 But also, 00:09:59.799 --> 00:10:00.379 as our hearts 00:10:00.379 --> 00:10:00.899 are established 00:10:00.899 --> 00:10:01.600 in the gospel, 00:10:02.620 --> 00:10:03.759 we are less shocked 00:10:03.759 --> 00:10:05.120 by the horrors 00:10:05.120 --> 00:10:05.779 and injustices 00:10:05.779 --> 00:10:06.259 of the world, 00:10:06.319 --> 00:10:06.679 aren't we? 00:10:07.799 --> 00:10:08.659 Francis Schaeffer 00:10:08.659 --> 00:10:10.840 said that a Christian 00:10:10.840 --> 00:10:11.519 should never have 00:10:11.519 --> 00:10:12.759 the reaction designated 00:10:12.759 --> 00:10:13.419 by the word 00:10:13.419 --> 00:10:15.120 shocked to anything. 00:10:15.620 --> 00:10:16.100 Why? 00:10:17.279 --> 00:10:18.539 Because if we believe 00:10:18.539 --> 00:10:19.100 the gospel, 00:10:19.220 --> 00:10:19.960 if we understand 00:10:19.960 --> 00:10:20.480 the gospel, 00:10:20.799 --> 00:10:21.279 then we know 00:10:21.279 --> 00:10:22.139 the depravity, 00:10:22.259 --> 00:10:22.659 the evil, 00:10:22.740 --> 00:10:23.699 within our own hearts 00:10:23.699 --> 00:10:24.179 naturally. 00:10:25.559 --> 00:10:26.259 And so nothing 00:10:26.259 --> 00:10:27.019 about the world 00:10:27.019 --> 00:10:27.500 will shock 00:10:27.500 --> 00:10:28.500 or surprise us. 00:10:31.120 --> 00:10:32.319 People who do not 00:10:32.319 --> 00:10:33.500 understand the gospel, 00:10:35.120 --> 00:10:36.419 the average secular 00:10:36.419 --> 00:10:37.279 person on the street 00:10:37.279 --> 00:10:38.600 is horrified 00:10:38.600 --> 00:10:40.879 by injustice 00:10:40.879 --> 00:10:41.879 in the Middle East, 00:10:42.360 --> 00:10:43.700 horrified by 00:10:43.700 --> 00:10:45.580 child abuse scandals 00:10:45.580 --> 00:10:46.620 of Jimmy Savile 00:10:46.620 --> 00:10:47.080 and the like. 00:10:47.379 --> 00:10:47.939 They're right to be 00:10:47.939 --> 00:10:48.299 horrified, 00:10:48.379 --> 00:10:48.659 but they don't 00:10:48.659 --> 00:10:49.159 understand it. 00:10:49.200 --> 00:10:49.700 They have a category 00:10:49.700 --> 00:10:50.259 for it. 00:10:50.559 --> 00:10:50.840 Why? 00:10:51.740 --> 00:10:52.379 Because they do not 00:10:52.379 --> 00:10:52.840 have a category 00:10:52.840 --> 00:10:53.480 for sin. 00:10:54.620 --> 00:10:55.439 If we understand 00:10:55.439 --> 00:10:56.039 the gospel, 00:10:56.480 --> 00:10:56.939 if our hearts 00:10:56.939 --> 00:10:57.500 are established 00:10:57.500 --> 00:10:58.179 in the gospel, 00:10:59.220 --> 00:11:00.120 then no evil 00:11:00.120 --> 00:11:00.700 in the world 00:11:00.700 --> 00:11:01.759 will shock us 00:11:01.759 --> 00:11:03.220 because we know 00:11:03.220 --> 00:11:04.000 what we are capable 00:11:04.000 --> 00:11:04.460 of. 00:11:05.679 --> 00:11:06.779 We know the evil 00:11:06.779 --> 00:11:07.440 we have been 00:11:07.440 --> 00:11:08.580 redeemed from 00:11:08.580 --> 00:11:09.519 by our Lord Jesus. 00:11:09.519 --> 00:11:10.379 We know the sin 00:11:10.379 --> 00:11:11.299 of our own hearts. 00:11:11.840 --> 00:11:12.120 So we need to 00:11:12.120 --> 00:11:13.039 establish our hearts 00:11:13.039 --> 00:11:13.480 in the gospel 00:11:13.480 --> 00:11:14.000 so we're not 00:11:14.000 --> 00:11:15.419 surprised and 00:11:15.419 --> 00:11:16.500 shocked on the 00:11:16.500 --> 00:11:17.179 one hand by 00:11:17.179 --> 00:11:18.100 pain and injustice, 00:11:18.939 --> 00:11:19.519 but also on the 00:11:19.519 --> 00:11:20.139 other hand so we 00:11:20.139 --> 00:11:20.759 have hope. 00:11:21.720 --> 00:11:22.460 So we remember 00:11:22.460 --> 00:11:23.379 firmly the Lord 00:11:23.379 --> 00:11:24.220 Jesus will come 00:11:24.220 --> 00:11:25.120 back and we'll 00:11:25.120 --> 00:11:26.100 put everything right. 00:11:26.439 --> 00:11:27.000 That one day 00:11:27.000 --> 00:11:28.179 every tear will 00:11:28.179 --> 00:11:28.819 be wiped from 00:11:28.819 --> 00:11:29.379 the eyes of 00:11:29.379 --> 00:11:30.079 Jesus' people. 00:11:33.620 --> 00:11:34.439 But the question 00:11:34.439 --> 00:11:35.000 for all of us 00:11:35.000 --> 00:11:35.360 here is, 00:11:36.600 --> 00:11:37.539 are our hearts 00:11:37.539 --> 00:11:38.539 established in 00:11:38.539 --> 00:11:39.000 the gospel? 00:11:40.399 --> 00:11:40.939 What are you 00:11:40.939 --> 00:11:41.500 and I putting 00:11:41.500 --> 00:11:42.399 our hope in? 00:11:43.639 --> 00:11:44.039 What are we 00:11:44.039 --> 00:11:44.719 putting our hope 00:11:44.719 --> 00:11:45.000 in? 00:11:46.000 --> 00:11:46.839 During all those 00:11:46.839 --> 00:11:48.159 floods and 00:11:48.159 --> 00:11:48.980 storms that we 00:11:48.980 --> 00:11:50.719 had and the 00:11:50.719 --> 00:11:51.279 snow that was 00:11:51.279 --> 00:11:51.759 coming to New 00:11:51.759 --> 00:11:52.139 York a few 00:11:52.139 --> 00:11:52.599 months ago, 00:11:53.139 --> 00:11:53.839 people are often 00:11:53.839 --> 00:11:54.719 told to get 00:11:54.719 --> 00:11:55.079 out of their 00:11:55.079 --> 00:11:55.759 houses because 00:11:55.759 --> 00:11:56.319 it was going 00:11:56.319 --> 00:11:56.860 to be dangerous 00:11:56.860 --> 00:11:57.199 or there were 00:11:57.199 --> 00:11:57.860 tornadoes coming 00:11:57.860 --> 00:11:58.240 through the 00:11:58.240 --> 00:11:58.459 area. 00:11:58.579 --> 00:11:58.799 People are 00:11:58.799 --> 00:11:59.199 told to get 00:11:59.199 --> 00:12:00.539 out, get 00:12:00.539 --> 00:12:01.360 somewhere safe. 00:12:04.439 --> 00:12:05.120 The question 00:12:05.120 --> 00:12:05.559 for us is, 00:12:05.699 --> 00:12:06.419 are we standing 00:12:06.419 --> 00:12:07.439 somewhere safe? 00:12:08.259 --> 00:12:08.939 Given this 00:12:08.939 --> 00:12:09.719 judgment is 00:12:09.719 --> 00:12:11.039 coming, given 00:12:11.039 --> 00:12:11.879 Jesus the 00:12:11.879 --> 00:12:12.740 judge is at 00:12:12.740 --> 00:12:13.439 the door, at 00:12:13.439 --> 00:12:14.679 hand, ready 00:12:14.679 --> 00:12:15.620 to come back, 00:12:16.059 --> 00:12:17.139 are we somewhere 00:12:17.139 --> 00:12:17.879 safe? 00:12:18.620 --> 00:12:18.979 What do we 00:12:18.979 --> 00:12:19.639 put our hope 00:12:19.639 --> 00:12:19.939 in? 00:12:21.240 --> 00:12:21.899 What makes 00:12:21.899 --> 00:12:22.559 you feel safe? 00:12:22.620 --> 00:12:22.959 The fact you're 00:12:22.959 --> 00:12:23.319 better than 00:12:23.319 --> 00:12:23.620 others? 00:12:24.219 --> 00:12:24.699 The fact you're 00:12:24.699 --> 00:12:25.259 not like those 00:12:25.259 --> 00:12:25.740 people over 00:12:25.740 --> 00:12:26.079 there? 00:12:27.319 --> 00:12:27.959 The fact that 00:12:27.959 --> 00:12:28.379 you've been to 00:12:28.379 --> 00:12:28.879 church? 00:12:30.620 --> 00:12:31.339 The fact that 00:12:31.339 --> 00:12:32.419 you try to be a 00:12:32.419 --> 00:12:33.019 nice person, 00:12:33.099 --> 00:12:33.439 you're open 00:12:33.439 --> 00:12:34.079 minded, you try 00:12:34.079 --> 00:12:34.620 to treat people 00:12:34.620 --> 00:12:35.059 fairly? 00:12:35.059 --> 00:12:37.359 Where is it 00:12:37.359 --> 00:12:37.819 you put your 00:12:37.819 --> 00:12:38.279 hope? 00:12:38.779 --> 00:12:39.239 The way that 00:12:39.239 --> 00:12:40.519 judgment comes, 00:12:41.619 --> 00:12:42.079 you will not 00:12:42.079 --> 00:12:42.739 be destroyed 00:12:42.739 --> 00:12:43.559 but saved. 00:12:45.319 --> 00:12:46.139 The truth is 00:12:46.139 --> 00:12:46.699 none of us 00:12:46.699 --> 00:12:47.139 live up to 00:12:47.139 --> 00:12:47.459 our own 00:12:47.459 --> 00:12:47.799 standards, 00:12:47.879 --> 00:12:48.099 do we? 00:12:48.099 --> 00:12:48.939 Let alone 00:12:48.939 --> 00:12:49.379 live up to 00:12:49.379 --> 00:12:49.699 God's 00:12:49.699 --> 00:12:50.039 standards. 00:12:51.159 --> 00:12:51.659 So if we're 00:12:51.659 --> 00:12:51.959 going to be 00:12:51.959 --> 00:12:53.219 safe when a 00:12:53.219 --> 00:12:53.559 righteous, 00:12:53.759 --> 00:12:54.419 perfect judge 00:12:54.419 --> 00:12:55.359 comes back, 00:12:56.379 --> 00:12:57.459 we need to 00:12:57.459 --> 00:12:58.079 make sure that 00:12:58.079 --> 00:12:58.979 our sin has 00:12:58.979 --> 00:12:59.839 already been 00:12:59.839 --> 00:13:00.519 paid for, 00:13:01.159 --> 00:13:01.679 otherwise we 00:13:01.679 --> 00:13:02.199 will pay for 00:13:02.199 --> 00:13:02.779 it ourselves. 00:13:02.779 --> 00:13:04.779 God has 00:13:04.779 --> 00:13:05.399 provided a 00:13:05.399 --> 00:13:05.759 way for 00:13:05.759 --> 00:13:06.100 that. 00:13:07.039 --> 00:13:07.360 The Lord 00:13:07.360 --> 00:13:08.120 Jesus came 00:13:08.120 --> 00:13:08.819 to earth to 00:13:08.819 --> 00:13:09.159 live the 00:13:09.159 --> 00:13:10.319 life that I 00:13:10.319 --> 00:13:10.740 could never 00:13:10.740 --> 00:13:11.259 live, that 00:13:11.259 --> 00:13:11.679 you could 00:13:11.679 --> 00:13:12.379 never live. 00:13:14.000 --> 00:13:14.799 He died a 00:13:14.799 --> 00:13:15.319 death on the 00:13:15.319 --> 00:13:16.579 cross that we 00:13:16.579 --> 00:13:17.240 deserve to 00:13:17.240 --> 00:13:20.259 die and was 00:13:20.259 --> 00:13:21.000 raised to new 00:13:21.000 --> 00:13:21.699 life, to offer 00:13:21.699 --> 00:13:22.620 forgiveness and 00:13:22.620 --> 00:13:23.539 life to each 00:13:23.539 --> 00:13:24.059 one of us. 00:13:24.339 --> 00:13:25.000 So there is a 00:13:25.000 --> 00:13:25.679 safe place to 00:13:25.679 --> 00:13:26.839 be and that 00:13:26.839 --> 00:13:27.720 safe place is in 00:13:27.720 --> 00:13:28.399 the Lord Jesus, 00:13:28.919 --> 00:13:29.639 to turn to 00:13:29.639 --> 00:13:30.959 him in faith 00:13:30.959 --> 00:13:31.879 and in repentance, 00:13:31.879 --> 00:13:32.580 turning from 00:13:32.580 --> 00:13:33.080 living our 00:13:33.080 --> 00:13:33.620 own way, 00:13:33.960 --> 00:13:34.580 with all our 00:13:34.580 --> 00:13:35.259 selfishness, 00:13:35.340 --> 00:13:35.840 with all our 00:13:35.840 --> 00:13:36.919 judgmentalism 00:13:36.919 --> 00:13:37.559 towards others 00:13:37.559 --> 00:13:38.139 who don't 00:13:38.139 --> 00:13:38.620 meet our 00:13:38.620 --> 00:13:39.899 standards, and 00:13:39.899 --> 00:13:40.340 to come to 00:13:40.340 --> 00:13:42.559 Jesus and 00:13:42.559 --> 00:13:43.259 say, I am a 00:13:43.259 --> 00:13:43.759 rebel, I 00:13:43.759 --> 00:13:44.200 need your 00:13:44.200 --> 00:13:45.539 forgiveness, I 00:13:45.539 --> 00:13:46.039 need you to 00:13:46.039 --> 00:13:46.820 be my king, 00:13:48.659 --> 00:13:49.820 please take 00:13:49.820 --> 00:13:51.120 my sin and 00:13:51.120 --> 00:13:51.639 let me be 00:13:51.639 --> 00:13:52.159 yours. 00:13:52.700 --> 00:13:53.179 So that's a 00:13:53.179 --> 00:13:54.139 safe place to 00:13:54.139 --> 00:13:56.080 stand, we're 00:13:56.080 --> 00:13:56.700 to establish 00:13:56.700 --> 00:13:57.980 our hearts in 00:13:57.980 --> 00:13:58.679 that truth. 00:13:58.679 --> 00:13:58.739 faith. 00:14:00.579 --> 00:14:01.019 So that's the 00:14:01.019 --> 00:14:01.620 first way we 00:14:01.620 --> 00:14:02.479 live in a 00:14:02.479 --> 00:14:02.799 world of 00:14:02.799 --> 00:14:03.579 injustice and 00:14:03.579 --> 00:14:04.120 suffering, we 00:14:04.120 --> 00:14:04.919 live patiently 00:14:04.919 --> 00:14:06.059 because of the 00:14:06.059 --> 00:14:07.379 gospel hope, the 00:14:07.379 --> 00:14:07.919 hope of sins 00:14:07.919 --> 00:14:09.259 forgiven and 00:14:09.259 --> 00:14:10.239 eternal life to 00:14:10.239 --> 00:14:11.399 come where every 00:14:11.399 --> 00:14:12.059 tear is wiped 00:14:12.059 --> 00:14:12.500 away. 00:14:13.699 --> 00:14:14.059 But there's a 00:14:14.059 --> 00:14:14.539 second thing 00:14:14.539 --> 00:14:15.120 James says as 00:14:15.120 --> 00:14:16.919 well, if we're 00:14:16.919 --> 00:14:17.979 living patiently 00:14:17.979 --> 00:14:19.459 with the gospel 00:14:19.459 --> 00:14:20.739 hope, how would 00:14:20.739 --> 00:14:21.399 you expect that 00:14:21.399 --> 00:14:22.000 to be seen? 00:14:22.279 --> 00:14:22.620 How do you 00:14:22.620 --> 00:14:23.479 expect James 00:14:23.479 --> 00:14:24.079 to carry on 00:14:24.079 --> 00:14:24.339 here? 00:14:25.459 --> 00:14:26.199 I guess I'd 00:14:26.199 --> 00:14:26.779 expect it to be 00:14:26.779 --> 00:14:27.240 seen in our 00:14:27.240 --> 00:14:28.379 ambitions, our 00:14:28.379 --> 00:14:28.980 attitudes, what 00:14:28.980 --> 00:14:29.539 our goals in 00:14:29.539 --> 00:14:30.139 life are. 00:14:31.240 --> 00:14:31.840 But James has 00:14:31.840 --> 00:14:32.240 something very 00:14:32.240 --> 00:14:32.740 different to 00:14:32.740 --> 00:14:33.039 say. 00:14:34.379 --> 00:14:35.220 He says that 00:14:35.220 --> 00:14:35.960 hope will be 00:14:35.960 --> 00:14:37.500 seen, that 00:14:37.500 --> 00:14:38.259 patience will be 00:14:38.259 --> 00:14:39.559 seen in the 00:14:39.559 --> 00:14:41.360 way we speak, in 00:14:41.360 --> 00:14:41.919 our words. 00:14:42.480 --> 00:14:43.659 So firstly, we're 00:14:43.659 --> 00:14:44.480 to live patiently 00:14:44.480 --> 00:14:45.039 in the gospel 00:14:45.039 --> 00:14:45.960 hope, and 00:14:45.960 --> 00:14:46.700 secondly, we're 00:14:46.700 --> 00:14:47.379 to speak with 00:14:47.379 --> 00:14:48.919 integrity because 00:14:48.919 --> 00:14:49.559 of the gospel 00:14:49.559 --> 00:14:49.939 hope. 00:14:50.019 --> 00:14:50.399 We're to speak 00:14:50.399 --> 00:14:51.059 with integrity. 00:14:51.799 --> 00:14:52.539 So speech has 00:14:52.539 --> 00:14:53.139 been a big issue 00:14:53.139 --> 00:14:53.759 for James all 00:14:53.759 --> 00:14:54.059 the way through 00:14:54.059 --> 00:14:54.559 this letter. 00:14:55.639 --> 00:14:56.580 So if you 00:14:56.580 --> 00:14:57.159 follow it through 00:14:57.159 --> 00:14:57.480 for a moment, 00:14:57.480 --> 00:14:58.139 chapter 1, 00:14:58.220 --> 00:14:59.019 verse 26, 00:14:59.820 --> 00:15:00.240 James says, 00:15:00.379 --> 00:15:00.740 if anyone 00:15:00.740 --> 00:15:01.440 thinks he's 00:15:01.440 --> 00:15:02.840 religious and 00:15:02.840 --> 00:15:03.600 does not bridle 00:15:03.600 --> 00:15:05.240 his tongue but 00:15:05.240 --> 00:15:05.899 deceives his 00:15:05.899 --> 00:15:06.740 heart, this 00:15:06.740 --> 00:15:07.519 person's religion 00:15:07.519 --> 00:15:08.899 is worthless. 00:15:10.659 --> 00:15:11.279 He goes on, 00:15:11.340 --> 00:15:12.220 chapter 3, 00:15:12.300 --> 00:15:12.899 verse 8, 00:15:13.519 --> 00:15:14.320 says that no 00:15:14.320 --> 00:15:15.139 human being, 00:15:15.560 --> 00:15:16.300 it's on the 00:15:16.300 --> 00:15:16.700 same page, 00:15:16.899 --> 00:15:18.200 no human being 00:15:18.200 --> 00:15:19.820 can control 00:15:19.820 --> 00:15:20.300 the tongue. 00:15:20.299 --> 00:15:24.479 No human being 00:15:24.479 --> 00:15:25.019 can tame the 00:15:25.019 --> 00:15:25.459 tongue, it is 00:15:25.459 --> 00:15:26.299 a restless evil 00:15:26.299 --> 00:15:27.139 full of deadly 00:15:27.139 --> 00:15:27.620 poison. 00:15:27.979 --> 00:15:28.339 With it we 00:15:28.339 --> 00:15:29.019 bless our 00:15:29.019 --> 00:15:29.479 Lord and 00:15:29.479 --> 00:15:30.359 Father, with 00:15:30.359 --> 00:15:30.919 it we curse 00:15:30.919 --> 00:15:31.719 people who 00:15:31.719 --> 00:15:32.139 are made in 00:15:32.139 --> 00:15:32.599 the likeness 00:15:32.599 --> 00:15:33.039 of God. 00:15:33.299 --> 00:15:33.639 From the 00:15:33.639 --> 00:15:34.219 same mouth 00:15:34.219 --> 00:15:34.819 come blessing 00:15:34.819 --> 00:15:35.459 and cursing. 00:15:35.819 --> 00:15:36.459 My brothers, 00:15:36.799 --> 00:15:37.319 these things 00:15:37.319 --> 00:15:38.139 ought not to 00:15:38.139 --> 00:15:38.559 be said. 00:15:39.539 --> 00:15:40.019 Then chapter 00:15:40.019 --> 00:15:40.599 4, verses 00:15:40.599 --> 00:15:41.279 11 and 12, 00:15:41.559 --> 00:15:42.079 he warns 00:15:42.079 --> 00:15:42.839 about speaking 00:15:42.839 --> 00:15:43.599 evil against 00:15:43.599 --> 00:15:44.139 someone else, 00:15:44.259 --> 00:15:44.899 judging someone 00:15:44.899 --> 00:15:45.159 else. 00:15:45.459 --> 00:15:45.839 Anyone who 00:15:45.839 --> 00:15:46.519 does is judging 00:15:46.519 --> 00:15:46.899 the law, 00:15:46.979 --> 00:15:47.399 makes themselves 00:15:47.399 --> 00:15:48.120 a lawbreaker. 00:15:48.120 --> 00:15:50.700 See, for 00:15:50.700 --> 00:15:51.419 James, the 00:15:51.419 --> 00:15:52.060 way we use 00:15:52.060 --> 00:15:52.700 our tongues 00:15:52.700 --> 00:15:53.600 is all 00:15:53.600 --> 00:15:54.139 important. 00:15:54.419 --> 00:15:54.759 Why? 00:15:56.120 --> 00:15:56.399 Well, it's 00:15:56.399 --> 00:15:56.740 because what 00:15:56.740 --> 00:15:57.320 Jesus said, 00:15:57.379 --> 00:15:58.240 Matthew 12, 00:15:58.399 --> 00:15:59.080 verse 34, 00:15:59.500 --> 00:16:00.000 it is out of 00:16:00.000 --> 00:16:00.639 the abundance 00:16:00.639 --> 00:16:01.799 of the heart 00:16:01.799 --> 00:16:02.600 that the mouth 00:16:02.600 --> 00:16:03.159 speaks. 00:16:03.960 --> 00:16:04.560 It's out of 00:16:04.560 --> 00:16:05.039 the abundance 00:16:05.039 --> 00:16:05.720 of the heart 00:16:05.720 --> 00:16:06.179 that the mouth 00:16:06.179 --> 00:16:06.659 speaks. 00:16:07.759 --> 00:16:08.299 So we can 00:16:08.299 --> 00:16:08.799 tell if we're 00:16:08.799 --> 00:16:09.779 living patiently, 00:16:10.159 --> 00:16:11.080 waiting patiently 00:16:11.080 --> 00:16:11.899 because of the 00:16:11.899 --> 00:16:12.639 gospel hope, 00:16:12.980 --> 00:16:13.440 because of the 00:16:13.440 --> 00:16:14.080 kind of things 00:16:14.080 --> 00:16:15.100 that we say. 00:16:16.539 --> 00:16:16.860 So let's 00:16:16.860 --> 00:16:17.299 look at what 00:16:17.299 --> 00:16:17.779 James says 00:16:17.779 --> 00:16:18.600 about the 00:16:18.600 --> 00:16:19.000 tongue there. 00:16:19.039 --> 00:16:19.480 Speak with 00:16:19.480 --> 00:16:20.039 integrity 00:16:20.039 --> 00:16:20.720 because of 00:16:20.720 --> 00:16:21.100 the gospel 00:16:21.100 --> 00:16:21.500 hope. 00:16:21.740 --> 00:16:22.000 He actually 00:16:22.000 --> 00:16:22.279 gives us 00:16:22.279 --> 00:16:23.079 two commands 00:16:23.079 --> 00:16:23.839 to speak 00:16:23.839 --> 00:16:24.500 with integrity 00:16:24.500 --> 00:16:25.419 in verses 00:16:25.419 --> 00:16:26.159 9 and 12. 00:16:26.279 --> 00:16:26.720 First of all, 00:16:26.939 --> 00:16:27.620 do not grumble 00:16:27.620 --> 00:16:28.740 and secondly, 00:16:28.919 --> 00:16:29.799 do not swear. 00:16:30.279 --> 00:16:30.860 Look at verse 00:16:30.860 --> 00:16:31.559 9, first of all. 00:16:31.579 --> 00:16:32.259 Do not grumble. 00:16:34.639 --> 00:16:35.539 Do not grumble 00:16:35.539 --> 00:16:36.240 against one another, 00:16:36.319 --> 00:16:36.699 brothers, 00:16:37.079 --> 00:16:37.519 so that you 00:16:37.519 --> 00:16:38.360 may not be 00:16:38.360 --> 00:16:38.939 judged. 00:16:39.419 --> 00:16:39.919 Now that word 00:16:39.919 --> 00:16:40.879 translated grumbling 00:16:40.879 --> 00:16:41.720 is also used 00:16:41.720 --> 00:16:42.439 of groaning 00:16:42.439 --> 00:16:43.039 in other parts 00:16:43.039 --> 00:16:43.500 of the Bible. 00:16:44.159 --> 00:16:44.579 So the word 00:16:44.579 --> 00:16:45.199 Paul uses 00:16:45.199 --> 00:16:45.699 in Romans 00:16:45.699 --> 00:16:46.539 chapter 8, 00:16:46.559 --> 00:16:47.039 23, 00:16:47.039 --> 00:16:47.559 we're talking 00:16:47.559 --> 00:16:48.259 about the 00:16:48.259 --> 00:16:48.939 difficulties of 00:16:48.939 --> 00:16:49.339 life. 00:16:49.980 --> 00:16:50.899 We groan 00:16:50.899 --> 00:16:51.639 inwardly, 00:16:52.120 --> 00:16:52.719 waiting for the 00:16:52.719 --> 00:16:53.299 redemption of 00:16:53.299 --> 00:16:53.759 our bodies 00:16:53.759 --> 00:16:54.299 when Christ 00:16:54.299 --> 00:16:54.799 Jesus is 00:16:54.799 --> 00:16:55.199 revealed. 00:16:56.159 --> 00:16:56.599 But that's a 00:16:56.599 --> 00:16:57.759 groaning upwardly 00:16:57.759 --> 00:16:58.339 to God 00:16:58.339 --> 00:16:59.679 in hope. 00:17:00.480 --> 00:17:01.019 Whereas here, 00:17:01.120 --> 00:17:01.799 James is talking 00:17:01.799 --> 00:17:02.679 about a groaning 00:17:02.679 --> 00:17:03.519 or a grumbling 00:17:03.519 --> 00:17:04.720 that goes out 00:17:04.720 --> 00:17:05.440 to one another. 00:17:07.500 --> 00:17:07.720 See, 00:17:07.779 --> 00:17:08.279 when we're under 00:17:08.279 --> 00:17:08.720 pressure, 00:17:08.859 --> 00:17:09.619 when life is 00:17:09.619 --> 00:17:10.659 difficult for us 00:17:10.659 --> 00:17:12.019 as individuals, 00:17:13.180 --> 00:17:13.799 who do we 00:17:13.799 --> 00:17:14.399 take it out 00:17:14.399 --> 00:17:15.039 on most? 00:17:16.519 --> 00:17:17.159 It's the people 00:17:17.159 --> 00:17:17.940 closest to us, 00:17:17.960 --> 00:17:18.319 isn't it? 00:17:19.299 --> 00:17:19.740 If I'm having 00:17:19.740 --> 00:17:20.740 a stressful day, 00:17:21.019 --> 00:17:21.659 it's my wife 00:17:21.659 --> 00:17:22.299 and my children 00:17:22.299 --> 00:17:23.480 who sadly 00:17:23.480 --> 00:17:24.039 will get their 00:17:24.039 --> 00:17:24.680 brunt of it. 00:17:25.279 --> 00:17:25.720 Because that's 00:17:25.720 --> 00:17:26.139 what we're like. 00:17:26.220 --> 00:17:26.960 Under pressure, 00:17:27.399 --> 00:17:28.779 we say things 00:17:28.779 --> 00:17:29.139 to the people 00:17:29.139 --> 00:17:29.619 near us. 00:17:29.859 --> 00:17:30.359 And that's what 00:17:30.359 --> 00:17:30.799 James is 00:17:30.799 --> 00:17:31.559 commanding us 00:17:31.559 --> 00:17:32.180 not to do. 00:17:32.759 --> 00:17:33.039 And there are 00:17:33.039 --> 00:17:33.480 all sorts of 00:17:33.480 --> 00:17:33.940 reasons people 00:17:33.940 --> 00:17:34.220 could have 00:17:34.220 --> 00:17:34.700 groaned and 00:17:34.700 --> 00:17:35.279 grumbled against 00:17:35.279 --> 00:17:35.680 each other 00:17:35.680 --> 00:17:37.059 in this Christian 00:17:37.059 --> 00:17:37.759 community James 00:17:37.759 --> 00:17:38.539 is writing to. 00:17:39.180 --> 00:17:39.980 The poor 00:17:39.980 --> 00:17:40.319 could have 00:17:40.319 --> 00:17:41.519 grumbled against 00:17:41.519 --> 00:17:42.339 the rich who 00:17:42.339 --> 00:17:42.639 are often 00:17:42.640 --> 00:17:43.320 oppressing them. 00:17:45.259 --> 00:17:46.120 The rich may 00:17:46.120 --> 00:17:46.520 have grumbled 00:17:46.520 --> 00:17:47.240 about the poor 00:17:47.240 --> 00:17:47.520 and didn't 00:17:47.520 --> 00:17:48.640 understand the 00:17:48.640 --> 00:17:49.120 pressures they 00:17:49.120 --> 00:17:49.500 were under. 00:17:50.500 --> 00:17:51.240 And in churches 00:17:51.240 --> 00:17:52.120 when life is hard 00:17:52.120 --> 00:17:52.660 it's very easy 00:17:52.660 --> 00:17:53.160 to grumble 00:17:53.160 --> 00:17:53.640 about other 00:17:53.640 --> 00:17:53.980 people. 00:17:54.780 --> 00:17:55.500 If only they 00:17:55.500 --> 00:17:56.080 would do what 00:17:56.080 --> 00:17:56.580 they're supposed 00:17:56.580 --> 00:17:56.920 to be doing. 00:17:56.980 --> 00:17:57.280 If only they 00:17:57.280 --> 00:17:57.920 would play their 00:17:57.920 --> 00:17:58.300 part. 00:17:58.540 --> 00:17:58.940 If only they 00:17:58.940 --> 00:17:59.759 understood me. 00:18:01.600 --> 00:18:02.100 And grumbling 00:18:02.100 --> 00:18:03.160 is such an easy 00:18:03.160 --> 00:18:03.800 thing, isn't it? 00:18:03.820 --> 00:18:04.420 It's the lowest 00:18:04.420 --> 00:18:05.380 common denominator. 00:18:06.259 --> 00:18:06.580 I remember 00:18:06.580 --> 00:18:07.920 a place I used 00:18:07.920 --> 00:18:08.320 to work, 00:18:08.840 --> 00:18:09.700 every lunchtime 00:18:09.700 --> 00:18:10.240 pretty much, 00:18:10.460 --> 00:18:10.980 what was the 00:18:10.980 --> 00:18:12.020 conversation about 00:18:12.020 --> 00:18:12.520 in the workplace? 00:18:12.640 --> 00:18:14.480 It was kind of 00:18:14.480 --> 00:18:15.300 good natured 00:18:15.300 --> 00:18:16.120 grumbling about 00:18:16.120 --> 00:18:17.060 the management 00:18:17.060 --> 00:18:18.040 or about the 00:18:18.040 --> 00:18:18.660 latest stupid 00:18:18.660 --> 00:18:19.460 bit of advertising 00:18:19.460 --> 00:18:20.040 the marketing 00:18:20.040 --> 00:18:20.580 department had 00:18:20.580 --> 00:18:21.080 put out or 00:18:21.080 --> 00:18:21.960 whatever it was. 00:18:22.120 --> 00:18:23.060 It was grumbling 00:18:23.060 --> 00:18:25.080 because it's so 00:18:25.080 --> 00:18:26.460 easy to find 00:18:26.460 --> 00:18:27.300 things to grumble 00:18:27.300 --> 00:18:28.120 about together. 00:18:28.660 --> 00:18:29.000 Well at least 00:18:29.000 --> 00:18:29.440 it is if you're 00:18:29.440 --> 00:18:30.020 British anyway. 00:18:30.120 --> 00:18:30.540 That's kind of 00:18:30.540 --> 00:18:31.840 the way we are. 00:18:33.320 --> 00:18:33.640 But James 00:18:33.640 --> 00:18:34.600 says don't do it. 00:18:35.140 --> 00:18:35.680 Don't do it. 00:18:35.740 --> 00:18:36.240 Do not grumble 00:18:36.240 --> 00:18:36.920 against one another 00:18:36.920 --> 00:18:38.220 brothers so that 00:18:38.220 --> 00:18:39.020 you may not be 00:18:39.020 --> 00:18:39.480 judged. 00:18:40.000 --> 00:18:40.960 Behold the judge 00:18:40.960 --> 00:18:41.660 is standing 00:18:41.660 --> 00:18:42.319 at the door. 00:18:43.299 --> 00:18:43.920 I went to a 00:18:43.920 --> 00:18:44.519 boarding school 00:18:44.519 --> 00:18:45.259 for better or 00:18:45.259 --> 00:18:46.779 worse and in 00:18:46.779 --> 00:18:47.360 the door tree 00:18:47.360 --> 00:18:48.299 at night there 00:18:48.299 --> 00:18:48.759 would often be 00:18:48.759 --> 00:18:49.539 a lot of chat 00:18:49.539 --> 00:18:50.299 and people moaning 00:18:50.299 --> 00:18:51.000 about the teachers 00:18:51.000 --> 00:18:51.779 and moaning 00:18:51.779 --> 00:18:52.299 about one another 00:18:52.299 --> 00:18:52.940 as you'd imagine. 00:18:54.039 --> 00:18:54.600 I still remember 00:18:54.600 --> 00:18:55.079 those horrible 00:18:55.079 --> 00:18:56.059 moments where we 00:18:56.059 --> 00:18:56.579 were talking to 00:18:56.579 --> 00:18:57.180 each other and 00:18:57.180 --> 00:18:57.980 saying what bad 00:18:57.980 --> 00:18:58.660 man our house 00:18:58.660 --> 00:19:00.480 master was and 00:19:00.480 --> 00:19:01.039 the door would 00:19:01.039 --> 00:19:02.960 open and he'd be 00:19:02.960 --> 00:19:03.940 standing there. 00:19:05.000 --> 00:19:05.319 And you think 00:19:05.319 --> 00:19:05.920 what have I just 00:19:05.920 --> 00:19:06.319 said? 00:19:06.660 --> 00:19:07.440 What did he just 00:19:07.440 --> 00:19:07.880 hear? 00:19:07.880 --> 00:19:09.600 Oh no! 00:19:11.180 --> 00:19:11.700 Well that's the 00:19:11.700 --> 00:19:12.420 idea here. 00:19:13.500 --> 00:19:14.040 James is saying 00:19:14.040 --> 00:19:14.920 the judge is at 00:19:14.920 --> 00:19:15.340 the door. 00:19:15.420 --> 00:19:15.860 Now that's a 00:19:15.860 --> 00:19:16.400 good thing. 00:19:16.480 --> 00:19:16.860 He's at the 00:19:16.860 --> 00:19:18.320 door because he's 00:19:18.320 --> 00:19:18.740 going to put 00:19:18.740 --> 00:19:19.540 right what is 00:19:19.540 --> 00:19:19.940 wrong. 00:19:20.040 --> 00:19:20.480 He'll put the 00:19:20.480 --> 00:19:21.140 end to all the 00:19:21.140 --> 00:19:21.860 oppression and 00:19:21.860 --> 00:19:22.360 injustice. 00:19:23.480 --> 00:19:23.840 But it also 00:19:23.840 --> 00:19:24.200 means he's 00:19:24.200 --> 00:19:24.680 listening into 00:19:24.680 --> 00:19:25.480 your conversations. 00:19:26.700 --> 00:19:27.500 Be careful how 00:19:27.500 --> 00:19:28.240 you speak. 00:19:28.940 --> 00:19:29.460 It's a reason to 00:19:29.460 --> 00:19:30.180 hope because he's 00:19:30.180 --> 00:19:30.500 close. 00:19:30.740 --> 00:19:31.260 It's a reason to 00:19:31.260 --> 00:19:31.860 be careful. 00:19:33.260 --> 00:19:33.800 Now that doesn't 00:19:33.800 --> 00:19:35.080 mean that you say 00:19:35.080 --> 00:19:35.740 the wrong thing 00:19:35.740 --> 00:19:36.000 and you're going to 00:19:36.000 --> 00:19:36.420 miss out on 00:19:36.420 --> 00:19:37.300 eternal life. 00:19:37.880 --> 00:19:38.680 No, we're not 00:19:38.680 --> 00:19:39.580 saved by what we 00:19:39.580 --> 00:19:40.240 say or we don't 00:19:40.240 --> 00:19:40.560 say. 00:19:40.860 --> 00:19:41.680 We're saved by the 00:19:41.680 --> 00:19:42.260 grace of our Lord 00:19:42.260 --> 00:19:43.060 Jesus Christ, by 00:19:43.060 --> 00:19:43.760 faith in Christ 00:19:43.760 --> 00:19:44.080 Jesus. 00:19:45.920 --> 00:19:46.620 But scripture is 00:19:46.620 --> 00:19:47.160 clear, there are 00:19:47.160 --> 00:19:47.900 some levels of 00:19:47.900 --> 00:19:48.860 rewards in one way 00:19:48.860 --> 00:19:49.260 or another. 00:19:52.280 --> 00:19:53.080 So we need to be 00:19:53.080 --> 00:19:53.900 careful in what we 00:19:53.900 --> 00:19:54.300 say. 00:19:54.880 --> 00:19:55.620 And James uses a 00:19:55.620 --> 00:19:56.240 couple of examples 00:19:56.240 --> 00:19:57.080 to help us to not 00:19:57.080 --> 00:19:57.460 grumble. 00:19:58.120 --> 00:19:58.700 First of all, the 00:19:58.700 --> 00:19:59.220 example of the 00:19:59.220 --> 00:20:00.920 prophets, verse 10. 00:20:01.160 --> 00:20:01.960 As an example of 00:20:01.960 --> 00:20:02.460 suffering and 00:20:02.460 --> 00:20:03.100 patience, brothers, 00:20:03.460 --> 00:20:04.460 take the prophets 00:20:04.460 --> 00:20:05.720 who spoke in the 00:20:05.720 --> 00:20:06.500 name of the Lord. 00:20:06.500 --> 00:20:07.599 Now the Old 00:20:07.599 --> 00:20:08.220 Testament prophets 00:20:08.220 --> 00:20:09.000 often had a really 00:20:09.000 --> 00:20:09.700 hard time. 00:20:10.299 --> 00:20:11.619 Jeremiah was so 00:20:11.619 --> 00:20:12.119 hated by the 00:20:12.119 --> 00:20:12.559 people he was 00:20:12.559 --> 00:20:13.079 put down a 00:20:13.079 --> 00:20:13.980 well and kind 00:20:13.980 --> 00:20:14.400 of left there 00:20:14.400 --> 00:20:14.960 to die, although 00:20:14.960 --> 00:20:16.140 someone else dug 00:20:16.140 --> 00:20:16.579 him back up 00:20:16.579 --> 00:20:16.880 again. 00:20:18.740 --> 00:20:20.400 There was a 00:20:20.400 --> 00:20:20.940 legend, a 00:20:20.940 --> 00:20:21.460 tradition had 00:20:21.460 --> 00:20:22.400 arisen by the 00:20:22.400 --> 00:20:23.099 first century that 00:20:23.099 --> 00:20:24.059 prophet Isaiah was 00:20:24.059 --> 00:20:24.839 sawn in two. 00:20:25.339 --> 00:20:25.740 We'll read a bit 00:20:25.740 --> 00:20:26.259 about that in 00:20:26.259 --> 00:20:27.039 Hebrews chapter 00:20:27.039 --> 00:20:28.180 11, verse 37. 00:20:28.980 --> 00:20:29.680 So prophets 00:20:29.680 --> 00:20:30.799 often suffered 00:20:30.799 --> 00:20:32.019 terrible injustice 00:20:32.019 --> 00:20:33.099 and yet how 00:20:33.099 --> 00:20:33.799 did they respond? 00:20:34.819 --> 00:20:36.000 They spoke in 00:20:36.000 --> 00:20:36.879 the name of the 00:20:36.879 --> 00:20:37.660 Lord, James 00:20:37.660 --> 00:20:38.039 says. 00:20:38.400 --> 00:20:39.379 They spoke God's 00:20:39.379 --> 00:20:39.819 message. 00:20:40.259 --> 00:20:41.279 Very often that 00:20:41.279 --> 00:20:42.220 was denouncing the 00:20:42.220 --> 00:20:43.039 injustices of the 00:20:43.039 --> 00:20:43.379 day. 00:20:44.359 --> 00:20:45.119 But they spoke 00:20:45.119 --> 00:20:45.839 with integrity, 00:20:46.039 --> 00:20:47.460 speaking God's 00:20:47.460 --> 00:20:47.839 truth. 00:20:48.720 --> 00:20:49.680 So their patience 00:20:49.680 --> 00:20:50.279 certainly wasn't 00:20:50.279 --> 00:20:50.660 passive. 00:20:51.680 --> 00:20:52.460 It meant speaking 00:20:52.460 --> 00:20:52.940 out. 00:20:54.519 --> 00:20:55.259 And they suffered 00:20:55.259 --> 00:20:56.139 for that and yet 00:20:56.139 --> 00:20:57.019 James says, verse 00:20:57.019 --> 00:20:58.279 11, behold we 00:20:58.279 --> 00:20:58.900 consider those 00:20:58.900 --> 00:21:00.220 blessed who remain 00:21:00.220 --> 00:21:00.920 steadfast. 00:21:00.920 --> 00:21:03.080 We look back 00:21:03.080 --> 00:21:03.820 on the 00:21:03.820 --> 00:21:04.539 Jeremiah's and 00:21:04.539 --> 00:21:05.320 the Isaiah's and 00:21:05.320 --> 00:21:06.060 the Amos's and 00:21:06.060 --> 00:21:06.700 the Hosea's of 00:21:06.700 --> 00:21:07.060 the day. 00:21:07.880 --> 00:21:08.560 We consider them 00:21:08.560 --> 00:21:09.820 blessed now because 00:21:09.820 --> 00:21:10.620 their words were 00:21:10.620 --> 00:21:11.420 used to build up 00:21:11.420 --> 00:21:11.980 the church. 00:21:13.660 --> 00:21:14.340 So James is 00:21:14.340 --> 00:21:15.519 saying, keep 00:21:15.519 --> 00:21:16.400 persevering in the 00:21:16.400 --> 00:21:17.100 trials, speaking 00:21:17.100 --> 00:21:17.740 truth. 00:21:19.360 --> 00:21:19.920 I wonder, can you 00:21:19.920 --> 00:21:20.660 think of people in 00:21:20.660 --> 00:21:21.600 your own lives? 00:21:22.080 --> 00:21:22.860 I know I can. 00:21:23.200 --> 00:21:23.960 People who suffered 00:21:23.960 --> 00:21:25.360 greatly as 00:21:25.360 --> 00:21:25.860 Christians. 00:21:27.360 --> 00:21:28.039 Maybe through 00:21:28.039 --> 00:21:29.340 persecution, maybe 00:21:29.340 --> 00:21:30.700 through ill 00:21:30.700 --> 00:21:31.160 health. 00:21:33.180 --> 00:21:33.700 And yet their 00:21:33.700 --> 00:21:35.580 perseverance has 00:21:35.580 --> 00:21:36.200 been a blessing 00:21:36.200 --> 00:21:36.880 to others and we 00:21:36.880 --> 00:21:37.500 consider them 00:21:37.500 --> 00:21:38.279 blessed now. 00:21:38.960 --> 00:21:39.700 Blessed by the 00:21:39.700 --> 00:21:40.680 Lord God who 00:21:40.680 --> 00:21:41.440 looked after them. 00:21:42.319 --> 00:21:42.620 So that's 00:21:42.620 --> 00:21:43.340 example one, the 00:21:43.340 --> 00:21:43.860 prophets who 00:21:43.860 --> 00:21:44.460 spoke in the name 00:21:44.460 --> 00:21:44.740 of the Lord. 00:21:45.080 --> 00:21:45.380 The second 00:21:45.380 --> 00:21:46.539 example is Job, 00:21:46.980 --> 00:21:47.519 down there in 00:21:47.519 --> 00:21:48.100 verse 11. 00:21:49.600 --> 00:21:50.240 You've heard of 00:21:50.240 --> 00:21:51.240 the steadfastness 00:21:51.240 --> 00:21:51.779 of Job. 00:21:52.819 --> 00:21:53.519 Now Job in some 00:21:53.519 --> 00:21:53.940 ways is an 00:21:53.940 --> 00:21:54.799 unusual example. 00:21:55.400 --> 00:21:55.799 If you've read 00:21:55.799 --> 00:21:56.420 the book of Job 00:21:56.420 --> 00:21:57.039 you'll know he's 00:21:57.039 --> 00:21:57.460 a man who's 00:21:57.460 --> 00:21:58.580 suffered hugely 00:21:58.579 --> 00:22:00.019 in many ways. 00:22:00.639 --> 00:22:01.419 Yet he spends a 00:22:01.419 --> 00:22:01.839 lot of time 00:22:01.839 --> 00:22:02.279 groaning. 00:22:03.419 --> 00:22:04.000 But Job's 00:22:04.000 --> 00:22:04.599 groaning was to 00:22:04.599 --> 00:22:05.460 the Lord rather 00:22:05.460 --> 00:22:05.859 than to other 00:22:05.859 --> 00:22:06.559 people most of 00:22:06.559 --> 00:22:06.859 the time. 00:22:06.919 --> 00:22:07.500 He groaned to 00:22:07.500 --> 00:22:07.919 the Lord in 00:22:07.919 --> 00:22:09.059 prayer rather 00:22:09.059 --> 00:22:09.899 than grumbling 00:22:09.899 --> 00:22:10.759 about those 00:22:10.759 --> 00:22:11.339 around him. 00:22:12.039 --> 00:22:13.139 And he spoke 00:22:13.139 --> 00:22:14.379 what was right. 00:22:15.679 --> 00:22:16.480 So for example, 00:22:17.279 --> 00:22:17.659 right at the 00:22:17.659 --> 00:22:18.139 beginning of the 00:22:18.139 --> 00:22:19.659 book, Job's 00:22:19.659 --> 00:22:20.279 wife tells him 00:22:20.279 --> 00:22:20.960 to curse God 00:22:20.960 --> 00:22:21.460 and die. 00:22:21.720 --> 00:22:22.339 But he said 00:22:22.339 --> 00:22:23.259 to her, you 00:22:23.259 --> 00:22:23.939 speak as one 00:22:23.940 --> 00:22:24.539 other foolish 00:22:24.539 --> 00:22:25.019 women would 00:22:25.019 --> 00:22:25.380 speak. 00:22:25.840 --> 00:22:26.220 Shall we 00:22:26.220 --> 00:22:26.880 receive good 00:22:26.880 --> 00:22:27.440 from God 00:22:27.440 --> 00:22:27.960 and shall we 00:22:27.960 --> 00:22:28.759 not receive 00:22:28.759 --> 00:22:29.120 evil? 00:22:30.240 --> 00:22:31.100 In all this, 00:22:31.539 --> 00:22:32.460 Job did not 00:22:32.460 --> 00:22:33.140 sin with his 00:22:33.140 --> 00:22:33.519 lips. 00:22:34.400 --> 00:22:34.799 And at the 00:22:34.799 --> 00:22:35.600 end of the 00:22:35.600 --> 00:22:36.220 book of Job, 00:22:36.299 --> 00:22:36.759 Job chapter 00:22:36.759 --> 00:22:37.960 42 verse 7, 00:22:39.360 --> 00:22:39.880 as the Lord 00:22:39.880 --> 00:22:40.539 appears to 00:22:40.539 --> 00:22:41.920 Job, the 00:22:41.920 --> 00:22:42.279 Lord then 00:22:42.279 --> 00:22:42.820 turns to 00:22:42.820 --> 00:22:43.160 Job's 00:22:43.160 --> 00:22:43.680 comforters, 00:22:43.920 --> 00:22:44.420 who'd spoken 00:22:44.420 --> 00:22:45.039 lies all the 00:22:45.039 --> 00:22:45.440 way through, 00:22:45.820 --> 00:22:46.320 and says 00:22:46.320 --> 00:22:47.740 this to 00:22:47.740 --> 00:22:48.400 his comforters, 00:22:48.480 --> 00:22:48.980 to Eliphaz 00:22:48.980 --> 00:22:49.620 the Temanite, 00:22:50.000 --> 00:22:50.920 My anger 00:22:50.920 --> 00:22:51.779 burns against 00:22:51.779 --> 00:22:52.299 you and 00:22:52.299 --> 00:22:52.779 against your 00:22:52.779 --> 00:22:53.480 two friends, 00:22:53.960 --> 00:22:54.240 for you 00:22:54.240 --> 00:22:54.740 have not 00:22:54.740 --> 00:22:55.440 spoken of 00:22:55.440 --> 00:22:55.920 me what 00:22:55.920 --> 00:22:56.519 is right, 00:22:57.160 --> 00:22:57.899 as my 00:22:57.899 --> 00:22:58.899 servant Job 00:22:58.899 --> 00:22:59.480 has. 00:23:00.920 --> 00:23:01.379 See why 00:23:01.379 --> 00:23:01.759 James is 00:23:01.759 --> 00:23:02.119 using this 00:23:02.119 --> 00:23:02.559 example? 00:23:03.379 --> 00:23:04.019 With all 00:23:04.019 --> 00:23:04.480 the pressure, 00:23:04.619 --> 00:23:04.899 with all 00:23:04.899 --> 00:23:05.619 the suffering, 00:23:06.720 --> 00:23:07.000 with all 00:23:07.000 --> 00:23:07.960 his complaining 00:23:07.960 --> 00:23:08.619 to God, 00:23:08.720 --> 00:23:09.200 and praying 00:23:09.200 --> 00:23:09.839 to God, 00:23:10.720 --> 00:23:11.379 Job spoke 00:23:11.379 --> 00:23:11.740 what is 00:23:11.740 --> 00:23:12.200 right. 00:23:13.019 --> 00:23:13.440 Not like 00:23:13.440 --> 00:23:14.200 his counsellors, 00:23:14.259 --> 00:23:14.599 who are mere 00:23:14.599 --> 00:23:15.399 moralists, 00:23:15.819 --> 00:23:16.480 who assumed 00:23:16.480 --> 00:23:17.160 Job must have 00:23:17.160 --> 00:23:17.639 done something 00:23:17.639 --> 00:23:18.279 wrong to be 00:23:18.279 --> 00:23:18.660 suffering. 00:23:21.740 --> 00:23:22.259 And we've 00:23:22.259 --> 00:23:22.519 got people 00:23:22.519 --> 00:23:22.799 like that 00:23:22.799 --> 00:23:23.059 today, 00:23:23.160 --> 00:23:23.519 don't we? 00:23:23.799 --> 00:23:24.279 The health 00:23:24.279 --> 00:23:24.720 and wealth 00:23:24.720 --> 00:23:25.700 prosperity 00:23:25.700 --> 00:23:26.579 gospel people, 00:23:27.099 --> 00:23:27.279 who will 00:23:27.279 --> 00:23:27.539 say if 00:23:27.539 --> 00:23:27.680 you're 00:23:27.680 --> 00:23:28.240 suffering, 00:23:28.660 --> 00:23:28.940 it's because 00:23:28.940 --> 00:23:29.220 you don't 00:23:29.220 --> 00:23:29.619 have enough 00:23:29.619 --> 00:23:30.119 faith. 00:23:30.980 --> 00:23:31.259 That's 00:23:31.259 --> 00:23:31.940 speaking a 00:23:31.940 --> 00:23:32.660 lie about 00:23:32.660 --> 00:23:33.019 God, 00:23:33.079 --> 00:23:33.359 it's not 00:23:33.359 --> 00:23:34.359 speaking with 00:23:34.359 --> 00:23:35.000 integrity 00:23:35.000 --> 00:23:35.819 because of 00:23:35.819 --> 00:23:36.259 the gospel 00:23:36.259 --> 00:23:36.759 hope. 00:23:37.799 --> 00:23:38.200 Also some 00:23:38.200 --> 00:23:39.000 other theologians 00:23:39.000 --> 00:23:39.220 who will 00:23:39.220 --> 00:23:40.000 speak lies 00:23:40.000 --> 00:23:40.859 about God, 00:23:42.099 --> 00:23:43.460 trying to 00:23:43.460 --> 00:23:43.960 make life 00:23:43.960 --> 00:23:44.599 easier for 00:23:44.599 --> 00:23:44.859 people. 00:23:44.980 --> 00:23:45.259 So a few 00:23:45.259 --> 00:23:45.639 years ago 00:23:45.639 --> 00:23:46.299 there was a 00:23:46.299 --> 00:23:46.920 movement called 00:23:46.920 --> 00:23:47.519 the openness 00:23:47.519 --> 00:23:48.279 of God. 00:23:48.960 --> 00:23:49.359 They said God 00:23:49.359 --> 00:23:49.980 isn't really in 00:23:49.980 --> 00:23:50.400 control of 00:23:50.400 --> 00:23:50.639 everything, 00:23:50.759 --> 00:23:51.059 God just 00:23:51.059 --> 00:23:51.500 kind of 00:23:51.500 --> 00:23:52.099 mix it up 00:23:52.099 --> 00:23:52.299 as he 00:23:52.299 --> 00:23:52.980 goes along. 00:23:53.639 --> 00:23:53.960 So if 00:23:53.960 --> 00:23:54.559 something bad 00:23:54.559 --> 00:23:55.099 happens to 00:23:55.099 --> 00:23:55.379 you, 00:23:56.599 --> 00:23:57.440 it's not 00:23:57.440 --> 00:23:57.980 God's brought 00:23:57.980 --> 00:23:58.339 that into 00:23:58.339 --> 00:23:58.779 your life, 00:23:58.879 --> 00:23:59.119 it's just 00:23:59.119 --> 00:23:59.679 God's going 00:23:59.679 --> 00:24:00.019 to pull a 00:24:00.019 --> 00:24:00.339 few other 00:24:00.339 --> 00:24:01.259 levers and 00:24:01.259 --> 00:24:01.700 make things 00:24:01.700 --> 00:24:02.240 work out a 00:24:02.240 --> 00:24:02.779 bit differently. 00:24:04.220 --> 00:24:04.539 And what 00:24:04.539 --> 00:24:04.700 they were 00:24:04.700 --> 00:24:05.240 trying to 00:24:05.240 --> 00:24:07.559 do was 00:24:07.559 --> 00:24:07.940 kind of 00:24:07.940 --> 00:24:09.059 make God 00:24:09.059 --> 00:24:10.460 sound nicer 00:24:10.460 --> 00:24:11.119 or something. 00:24:12.339 --> 00:24:12.740 Yet what 00:24:12.740 --> 00:24:12.980 they were 00:24:12.980 --> 00:24:13.500 actually doing 00:24:13.500 --> 00:24:14.299 was distorting 00:24:14.299 --> 00:24:14.659 God's 00:24:14.659 --> 00:24:15.139 character. 00:24:16.059 --> 00:24:16.299 They were 00:24:16.299 --> 00:24:17.019 not speaking 00:24:17.019 --> 00:24:17.579 the truth 00:24:17.579 --> 00:24:17.859 with 00:24:17.859 --> 00:24:18.480 integrity. 00:24:20.139 --> 00:24:20.319 But you 00:24:20.319 --> 00:24:20.619 see how 00:24:20.619 --> 00:24:21.700 James reminds 00:24:21.700 --> 00:24:22.279 us of 00:24:22.279 --> 00:24:22.579 God's 00:24:22.579 --> 00:24:22.920 character 00:24:22.920 --> 00:24:23.160 here. 00:24:23.220 --> 00:24:23.259 There's 00:24:23.259 --> 00:24:23.480 another 00:24:23.480 --> 00:24:24.019 reason for 00:24:24.019 --> 00:24:24.299 hope. 00:24:24.960 --> 00:24:25.200 You've 00:24:25.200 --> 00:24:25.639 seen the 00:24:25.639 --> 00:24:26.200 purpose of 00:24:26.200 --> 00:24:26.680 the Lord, 00:24:27.059 --> 00:24:27.460 how the 00:24:27.460 --> 00:24:27.819 Lord is 00:24:27.819 --> 00:24:28.420 compassionate 00:24:28.420 --> 00:24:29.299 and merciful. 00:24:30.720 --> 00:24:30.960 And what 00:24:30.960 --> 00:24:31.200 was the 00:24:31.200 --> 00:24:31.680 purpose of 00:24:31.680 --> 00:24:32.000 the Lord? 00:24:32.319 --> 00:24:32.839 Well in 00:24:32.839 --> 00:24:33.240 Job's 00:24:33.240 --> 00:24:33.660 life, 00:24:34.039 --> 00:24:34.519 Job never 00:24:34.519 --> 00:24:34.900 found out 00:24:34.900 --> 00:24:35.339 the purpose. 00:24:36.059 --> 00:24:36.379 But the 00:24:36.379 --> 00:24:36.980 reader does 00:24:36.980 --> 00:24:37.700 at the end, 00:24:38.079 --> 00:24:38.519 Job chapter 00:24:38.519 --> 00:24:38.960 42, 00:24:39.859 --> 00:24:40.500 he says 00:24:40.500 --> 00:24:41.180 of the 00:24:41.180 --> 00:24:41.379 Lord, 00:24:41.519 --> 00:24:41.819 I had 00:24:41.819 --> 00:24:42.319 heard of 00:24:42.319 --> 00:24:43.460 you by 00:24:43.460 --> 00:24:43.960 the hearing 00:24:43.960 --> 00:24:44.279 of the 00:24:44.279 --> 00:24:44.519 ear. 00:24:44.660 --> 00:24:45.039 Now my 00:24:45.039 --> 00:24:45.579 eye has 00:24:45.579 --> 00:24:46.039 seen you, 00:24:46.039 --> 00:24:46.799 therefore I 00:24:46.799 --> 00:24:47.399 despise 00:24:47.399 --> 00:24:48.379 myself and 00:24:48.379 --> 00:24:49.059 repent in 00:24:49.059 --> 00:24:49.680 dust and 00:24:49.680 --> 00:24:50.059 ashes. 00:24:51.019 --> 00:24:51.319 What was 00:24:51.319 --> 00:24:51.659 the Lord's 00:24:51.659 --> 00:24:52.159 purpose in 00:24:52.159 --> 00:24:52.440 Job's 00:24:52.440 --> 00:24:52.740 life? 00:24:54.339 --> 00:24:54.819 So that 00:24:54.819 --> 00:24:55.259 Job could 00:24:55.259 --> 00:24:55.639 know the 00:24:55.639 --> 00:24:56.259 Lord better. 00:24:57.399 --> 00:24:57.839 What is 00:24:57.839 --> 00:24:58.259 the Lord's 00:24:58.259 --> 00:24:58.920 purpose for 00:24:58.920 --> 00:24:59.680 suffering and 00:24:59.680 --> 00:25:00.539 injustice and 00:25:00.539 --> 00:25:01.200 trials in 00:25:01.200 --> 00:25:01.879 our lives? 00:25:03.119 --> 00:25:03.819 Miserable as 00:25:03.819 --> 00:25:04.519 they can be? 00:25:05.579 --> 00:25:06.039 That's what we 00:25:06.039 --> 00:25:06.480 read earlier 00:25:06.480 --> 00:25:07.599 from James 00:25:07.599 --> 00:25:08.319 chapter 1. 00:25:09.279 --> 00:25:09.839 It is so 00:25:09.839 --> 00:25:10.139 that the 00:25:10.139 --> 00:25:10.700 testing of 00:25:10.700 --> 00:25:11.180 our faith 00:25:11.180 --> 00:25:11.680 will produce 00:25:11.680 --> 00:25:12.599 steadfastness 00:25:12.599 --> 00:25:13.200 and that 00:25:13.200 --> 00:25:13.960 steadfastness 00:25:13.960 --> 00:25:14.240 will get 00:25:14.240 --> 00:25:14.980 full effect. 00:25:14.980 --> 00:25:15.940 And we 00:25:15.940 --> 00:25:16.299 may be 00:25:16.299 --> 00:25:17.299 perfect and 00:25:17.299 --> 00:25:17.839 complete, 00:25:18.360 --> 00:25:18.880 lucky and 00:25:18.880 --> 00:25:19.140 nothing. 00:25:20.140 --> 00:25:20.380 See, 00:25:20.460 --> 00:25:20.860 God is 00:25:20.860 --> 00:25:21.640 compassionate. 00:25:23.160 --> 00:25:23.519 He will 00:25:23.519 --> 00:25:25.220 use trials 00:25:25.220 --> 00:25:25.900 and difficulties 00:25:25.900 --> 00:25:26.200 in our 00:25:26.200 --> 00:25:27.799 lives so 00:25:27.799 --> 00:25:28.319 they know 00:25:28.319 --> 00:25:29.000 him better 00:25:29.000 --> 00:25:29.860 and be 00:25:29.860 --> 00:25:30.819 perfect and 00:25:30.819 --> 00:25:31.360 complete. 00:25:31.839 --> 00:25:32.059 And the 00:25:32.059 --> 00:25:32.380 Lord's 00:25:32.380 --> 00:25:33.160 character is 00:25:33.160 --> 00:25:33.779 an encouragement 00:25:33.779 --> 00:25:34.319 in that. 00:25:34.779 --> 00:25:35.039 He is 00:25:35.039 --> 00:25:36.039 compassionate and 00:25:36.039 --> 00:25:36.480 merciful. 00:25:38.140 --> 00:25:39.059 So James 00:25:39.059 --> 00:25:39.380 says, 00:25:39.880 --> 00:25:40.559 don't grumble. 00:25:41.380 --> 00:25:42.059 Don't grumble. 00:25:42.420 --> 00:25:42.860 Speak with 00:25:42.860 --> 00:25:43.839 integrity because 00:25:43.839 --> 00:25:44.299 of the gospel 00:25:44.299 --> 00:25:44.759 hope and 00:25:44.759 --> 00:25:45.379 don't grumble. 00:25:46.659 --> 00:25:47.119 And secondly, 00:25:47.220 --> 00:25:47.819 verse 12, 00:25:47.899 --> 00:25:48.779 do not swear. 00:25:49.419 --> 00:25:50.039 Above all, 00:25:50.119 --> 00:25:50.519 my brothers, 00:25:50.619 --> 00:25:51.319 do not swear, 00:25:51.419 --> 00:25:51.839 either by 00:25:51.839 --> 00:25:52.639 heaven or 00:25:52.639 --> 00:25:53.619 by earth or 00:25:53.619 --> 00:25:54.119 by any 00:25:54.119 --> 00:25:55.180 other oath, 00:25:55.700 --> 00:25:56.079 but let 00:25:56.079 --> 00:25:56.639 your yes 00:25:56.639 --> 00:25:57.319 be yes, 00:25:57.539 --> 00:25:58.000 your no 00:25:58.000 --> 00:25:58.619 be no, 00:25:59.159 --> 00:25:59.579 so that you 00:25:59.579 --> 00:26:00.220 may not fall 00:26:00.220 --> 00:26:01.139 into condemnation. 00:26:01.579 --> 00:26:02.039 Now why does 00:26:02.039 --> 00:26:02.680 James say that 00:26:02.680 --> 00:26:02.899 here? 00:26:02.940 --> 00:26:03.240 What's that 00:26:03.240 --> 00:26:03.779 going to do 00:26:03.779 --> 00:26:04.759 with suffering 00:26:04.759 --> 00:26:05.379 and trials 00:26:05.379 --> 00:26:05.960 and injustice? 00:26:07.359 --> 00:26:07.579 Well, 00:26:07.639 --> 00:26:08.419 it could be 00:26:08.419 --> 00:26:09.240 that some of 00:26:09.240 --> 00:26:09.720 the poor 00:26:09.720 --> 00:26:10.119 who are being 00:26:10.119 --> 00:26:10.440 oppressed 00:26:10.440 --> 00:26:11.279 by the rich 00:26:11.279 --> 00:26:11.940 would say, 00:26:12.039 --> 00:26:12.099 look, 00:26:12.259 --> 00:26:12.859 we promised 00:26:12.859 --> 00:26:13.379 to pay that 00:26:13.379 --> 00:26:13.619 debt. 00:26:13.719 --> 00:26:14.899 I swear I'll 00:26:14.899 --> 00:26:15.339 pay it. 00:26:16.359 --> 00:26:16.579 And they 00:26:16.579 --> 00:26:16.819 would get 00:26:16.819 --> 00:26:17.339 themselves into 00:26:17.339 --> 00:26:17.759 even more 00:26:17.759 --> 00:26:18.219 difficulties. 00:26:19.599 --> 00:26:20.579 Or it may 00:26:20.579 --> 00:26:22.379 be people 00:26:22.379 --> 00:26:23.019 within the 00:26:23.019 --> 00:26:23.879 Christian community 00:26:23.879 --> 00:26:24.799 were promising, 00:26:25.000 --> 00:26:25.599 swearing to 00:26:25.599 --> 00:26:25.919 help one 00:26:25.919 --> 00:26:26.240 another, 00:26:27.139 --> 00:26:28.139 and then were 00:26:28.139 --> 00:26:28.879 failing to meet 00:26:28.879 --> 00:26:29.519 those demands. 00:26:30.679 --> 00:26:31.459 Maybe even the 00:26:31.459 --> 00:26:32.759 rich were promising 00:26:32.759 --> 00:26:33.579 to let people 00:26:33.579 --> 00:26:34.419 off and they're 00:26:34.419 --> 00:26:34.919 not doing it. 00:26:35.099 --> 00:26:35.439 Truth is, 00:26:35.459 --> 00:26:36.159 we don't quite 00:26:36.159 --> 00:26:37.359 know if any 00:26:37.359 --> 00:26:37.740 one of those 00:26:37.740 --> 00:26:38.039 things are 00:26:38.039 --> 00:26:38.379 possible, 00:26:38.479 --> 00:26:38.839 aren't they? 00:26:38.839 --> 00:26:40.679 what can 00:26:40.679 --> 00:26:41.119 happen to 00:26:41.119 --> 00:26:42.019 us when we 00:26:42.019 --> 00:26:43.240 see people 00:26:43.240 --> 00:26:43.959 in difficulties? 00:26:44.599 --> 00:26:45.319 We can promise 00:26:45.319 --> 00:26:45.839 to help, 00:26:46.500 --> 00:26:47.199 but then fail 00:26:47.199 --> 00:26:47.779 to do it. 00:26:48.139 --> 00:26:48.699 Because we 00:26:48.699 --> 00:26:49.240 promise more 00:26:49.240 --> 00:26:49.559 than we can 00:26:49.559 --> 00:26:49.819 deliver. 00:26:50.099 --> 00:26:50.839 We can promise 00:26:50.839 --> 00:26:51.459 to pray, 00:26:52.599 --> 00:26:53.039 but then we 00:26:53.039 --> 00:26:53.519 fail to. 00:26:56.679 --> 00:26:57.099 See, 00:26:57.119 --> 00:26:57.839 what's underlying 00:26:57.839 --> 00:26:59.259 all this is 00:26:59.259 --> 00:27:00.039 the need to 00:27:00.039 --> 00:27:00.559 speak with 00:27:00.559 --> 00:27:01.139 integrity. 00:27:01.819 --> 00:27:02.079 The Lord 00:27:02.079 --> 00:27:02.779 Jesus himself 00:27:02.779 --> 00:27:03.039 said, 00:27:03.099 --> 00:27:03.339 Matthew 00:27:03.339 --> 00:27:04.220 chapter 5, 00:27:04.220 --> 00:27:05.319 Do not 00:27:05.319 --> 00:27:06.039 swear by 00:27:06.039 --> 00:27:06.500 heaven or 00:27:06.500 --> 00:27:07.100 by earth. 00:27:07.819 --> 00:27:08.180 Do not 00:27:08.180 --> 00:27:08.519 take an 00:27:08.519 --> 00:27:08.940 oath by 00:27:08.940 --> 00:27:09.339 your head 00:27:09.339 --> 00:27:09.579 if you 00:27:09.579 --> 00:27:10.019 cannot make 00:27:10.019 --> 00:27:10.559 one hair 00:27:10.559 --> 00:27:11.079 white or 00:27:11.079 --> 00:27:11.420 black. 00:27:11.839 --> 00:27:12.319 Let what 00:27:12.319 --> 00:27:12.680 you say 00:27:12.680 --> 00:27:13.259 simply be 00:27:13.259 --> 00:27:13.960 yes or 00:27:13.960 --> 00:27:14.339 no. 00:27:14.740 --> 00:27:15.140 Anything 00:27:15.140 --> 00:27:15.600 more than 00:27:15.600 --> 00:27:16.079 this comes 00:27:16.079 --> 00:27:16.680 from evil. 00:27:18.660 --> 00:27:19.360 The point 00:27:19.360 --> 00:27:19.640 is we're 00:27:19.640 --> 00:27:20.079 to be people 00:27:20.079 --> 00:27:20.700 of integrity, 00:27:21.240 --> 00:27:21.940 that we do 00:27:21.940 --> 00:27:22.480 what we say 00:27:22.480 --> 00:27:22.799 we'll do, 00:27:22.860 --> 00:27:23.220 whatever the 00:27:23.220 --> 00:27:23.700 pressure is 00:27:23.700 --> 00:27:24.360 upon us, 00:27:25.100 --> 00:27:25.579 because we're 00:27:25.579 --> 00:27:26.339 Jesus people, 00:27:26.960 --> 00:27:27.480 we're people 00:27:27.480 --> 00:27:28.420 who simply 00:27:28.420 --> 00:27:29.519 say yes or 00:27:29.519 --> 00:27:29.900 no. 00:27:30.740 --> 00:27:31.259 We speak 00:27:31.259 --> 00:27:31.980 with integrity 00:27:31.980 --> 00:27:32.440 because of 00:27:32.440 --> 00:27:32.880 the gospel 00:27:32.880 --> 00:27:33.360 hype. 00:27:33.359 --> 00:27:34.439 And that 00:27:34.439 --> 00:27:35.119 is possible 00:27:35.119 --> 00:27:36.619 because as 00:27:36.619 --> 00:27:37.299 we trust in 00:27:37.299 --> 00:27:37.619 Jesus, 00:27:37.879 --> 00:27:38.459 we're made 00:27:38.459 --> 00:27:38.919 into new 00:27:38.919 --> 00:27:39.299 people. 00:27:40.179 --> 00:27:40.659 James said 00:27:40.659 --> 00:27:41.059 back in the 00:27:41.059 --> 00:27:41.479 beginning of 00:27:41.479 --> 00:27:41.740 the letter, 00:27:41.819 --> 00:27:42.279 chapter 1, 00:27:42.359 --> 00:27:42.959 verse 18, 00:27:43.319 --> 00:27:43.639 that God 00:27:43.639 --> 00:27:44.039 has brought 00:27:44.039 --> 00:27:44.740 us forth 00:27:44.740 --> 00:27:45.959 by the 00:27:45.959 --> 00:27:46.339 word of 00:27:46.339 --> 00:27:46.819 truth. 00:27:47.500 --> 00:27:47.779 We might 00:27:47.779 --> 00:27:48.019 be a 00:27:48.019 --> 00:27:48.319 kind of 00:27:48.319 --> 00:27:48.919 first fruit 00:27:48.919 --> 00:27:51.339 of his 00:27:51.339 --> 00:27:51.539 new 00:27:51.539 --> 00:27:51.939 creatures. 00:27:52.539 --> 00:27:52.919 God is 00:27:52.919 --> 00:27:53.539 making us 00:27:53.539 --> 00:27:54.799 new through 00:27:54.799 --> 00:27:55.299 the gospel. 00:27:56.079 --> 00:27:56.740 So to speak 00:27:56.740 --> 00:27:57.439 with integrity 00:27:57.439 --> 00:27:57.919 because of 00:27:57.919 --> 00:27:58.339 the gospel 00:27:58.339 --> 00:27:58.699 hope, 00:27:59.319 --> 00:27:59.679 and to 00:27:59.679 --> 00:28:01.039 live patiently 00:28:01.039 --> 00:28:01.779 because of 00:28:01.779 --> 00:28:02.199 the gospel 00:28:02.199 --> 00:28:02.599 hope. 00:28:02.599 --> 00:28:03.539 because one 00:28:03.539 --> 00:28:03.939 day, 00:28:04.740 --> 00:28:05.339 Jesus is 00:28:05.339 --> 00:28:06.019 coming back. 00:28:06.279 --> 00:28:06.719 The judge 00:28:06.719 --> 00:28:07.139 is at the 00:28:07.139 --> 00:28:07.419 door. 00:28:07.559 --> 00:28:07.799 He is 00:28:07.799 --> 00:28:08.399 ready to 00:28:08.399 --> 00:28:09.000 come back. 00:28:09.839 --> 00:28:10.099 And what 00:28:10.099 --> 00:28:10.500 will happen 00:28:10.500 --> 00:28:10.740 when he 00:28:10.740 --> 00:28:11.139 does come 00:28:11.139 --> 00:28:11.459 back? 00:28:13.000 --> 00:28:13.719 Let me read 00:28:13.719 --> 00:28:14.159 to you 00:28:14.159 --> 00:28:15.459 from 2 00:28:15.459 --> 00:28:16.119 Thessalonians 00:28:16.119 --> 00:28:16.859 chapter 1, 00:28:17.319 --> 00:28:17.619 a little 00:28:17.619 --> 00:28:18.959 reminder of 00:28:18.959 --> 00:28:19.259 what will 00:28:19.259 --> 00:28:19.699 happen on 00:28:19.699 --> 00:28:20.279 that day 00:28:20.279 --> 00:28:21.359 for all our 00:28:21.359 --> 00:28:21.799 oppressed 00:28:21.799 --> 00:28:22.419 brothers and 00:28:22.419 --> 00:28:23.000 sisters around 00:28:23.000 --> 00:28:23.519 the world. 00:28:24.299 --> 00:28:24.719 What is 00:28:24.719 --> 00:28:24.980 going to 00:28:24.980 --> 00:28:25.299 come? 00:28:26.599 --> 00:28:27.259 Paul says 00:28:27.259 --> 00:28:27.619 there, 00:28:27.619 --> 00:28:28.339 they, 00:28:28.479 --> 00:28:28.819 those who 00:28:28.819 --> 00:28:29.219 oppress 00:28:29.219 --> 00:28:29.399 you, 00:28:29.459 --> 00:28:29.759 those who 00:28:29.759 --> 00:28:30.899 persecute 00:28:30.899 --> 00:28:31.199 you, 00:28:31.559 --> 00:28:32.099 will suffer 00:28:32.099 --> 00:28:32.719 the punishment 00:28:32.719 --> 00:28:33.399 of eternal 00:28:33.399 --> 00:28:34.079 destruction 00:28:34.079 --> 00:28:35.219 away from 00:28:35.219 --> 00:28:35.779 the presence 00:28:35.779 --> 00:28:36.139 of the 00:28:36.139 --> 00:28:36.459 Lord, 00:28:36.759 --> 00:28:37.119 from the 00:28:37.119 --> 00:28:37.659 glory of 00:28:37.659 --> 00:28:38.199 his might, 00:28:38.599 --> 00:28:39.059 when he 00:28:39.059 --> 00:28:39.899 comes on 00:28:39.899 --> 00:28:40.699 that day 00:28:40.699 --> 00:28:41.559 to be 00:28:41.559 --> 00:28:42.419 glorified in 00:28:42.419 --> 00:28:43.039 his saints 00:28:43.039 --> 00:28:43.959 and to be 00:28:43.959 --> 00:28:44.659 marveled at 00:28:44.659 --> 00:28:45.500 among all 00:28:45.500 --> 00:28:45.819 those who 00:28:45.819 --> 00:28:46.439 believed. 00:28:49.179 --> 00:28:49.959 That is what 00:28:49.959 --> 00:28:50.319 is going to 00:28:50.319 --> 00:28:50.839 happen one 00:28:50.839 --> 00:28:51.079 day. 00:28:52.019 --> 00:28:52.639 The judge 00:28:52.639 --> 00:28:53.339 is at the 00:28:53.339 --> 00:28:53.679 door, 00:28:54.159 --> 00:28:54.699 ready to 00:28:54.699 --> 00:28:55.379 come back. 00:28:55.380 --> 00:28:57.300 the oppressors, 00:28:58.860 --> 00:28:59.880 the governments 00:28:59.880 --> 00:29:00.880 who oppress 00:29:00.880 --> 00:29:01.600 the church 00:29:01.600 --> 00:29:01.960 like that 00:29:01.960 --> 00:29:02.420 church in 00:29:02.420 --> 00:29:03.000 Algeria, 00:29:03.700 --> 00:29:04.380 will face 00:29:04.380 --> 00:29:04.860 judgment. 00:29:05.920 --> 00:29:06.460 Everyone who 00:29:06.460 --> 00:29:06.840 does not 00:29:06.840 --> 00:29:07.320 obey the 00:29:07.320 --> 00:29:07.700 gospel, 00:29:08.260 --> 00:29:08.660 as Paul 00:29:08.660 --> 00:29:09.080 puts it 00:29:09.080 --> 00:29:09.420 here, 00:29:11.700 --> 00:29:11.940 he will 00:29:11.940 --> 00:29:12.740 reflect vengeance 00:29:12.740 --> 00:29:13.180 on those 00:29:13.180 --> 00:29:13.600 who do not 00:29:13.600 --> 00:29:14.240 know God 00:29:14.240 --> 00:29:14.880 and on those 00:29:14.880 --> 00:29:15.340 who do not 00:29:15.340 --> 00:29:15.780 obey the 00:29:15.780 --> 00:29:16.300 gospel of 00:29:16.300 --> 00:29:16.620 our Lord 00:29:16.620 --> 00:29:17.480 Jesus Christ. 00:29:18.120 --> 00:29:18.660 Those who 00:29:18.660 --> 00:29:19.100 have not 00:29:19.100 --> 00:29:20.180 vowed before 00:29:20.180 --> 00:29:20.800 Jesus, 00:29:21.860 --> 00:29:22.620 the Lord, 00:29:23.840 --> 00:29:24.420 and repented 00:29:24.420 --> 00:29:24.960 and believed 00:29:24.960 --> 00:29:25.360 in him, 00:29:25.380 --> 00:29:25.900 will face 00:29:25.900 --> 00:29:26.300 judgment. 00:29:28.320 --> 00:29:28.920 So in the 00:29:28.920 --> 00:29:29.360 meantime, 00:29:29.500 --> 00:29:29.840 how do we 00:29:29.840 --> 00:29:30.140 live? 00:29:31.280 --> 00:29:31.920 We live with 00:29:31.920 --> 00:29:32.740 patience because 00:29:32.740 --> 00:29:33.260 of the gospel 00:29:33.260 --> 00:29:33.620 hope. 00:29:33.700 --> 00:29:34.160 The world will 00:29:34.160 --> 00:29:34.700 be put right 00:29:34.700 --> 00:29:35.120 when Jesus 00:29:35.120 --> 00:29:35.780 comes back. 00:29:36.140 --> 00:29:36.680 We speak 00:29:36.680 --> 00:29:37.320 with integrity 00:29:37.320 --> 00:29:37.820 because of 00:29:37.820 --> 00:29:38.200 the gospel 00:29:38.200 --> 00:29:38.600 hope. 00:29:39.340 --> 00:29:39.720 Because we 00:29:39.720 --> 00:29:39.980 are being 00:29:39.980 --> 00:29:40.500 made into 00:29:40.500 --> 00:29:41.200 new people 00:29:41.200 --> 00:29:41.940 through the 00:29:41.940 --> 00:29:42.300 word of 00:29:42.300 --> 00:29:42.700 truth. 00:29:43.760 --> 00:29:44.160 And if you 00:29:44.160 --> 00:29:45.160 have not yet 00:29:45.160 --> 00:29:46.120 bowed the 00:29:46.120 --> 00:29:46.520 knee to 00:29:46.520 --> 00:29:46.940 obey the 00:29:46.940 --> 00:29:47.420 gospel of 00:29:47.420 --> 00:29:47.740 our Lord 00:29:47.740 --> 00:29:48.060 Jesus, 00:29:48.740 --> 00:29:49.240 then please 00:29:49.240 --> 00:29:50.040 do it now. 00:29:50.720 --> 00:29:51.280 The judge 00:29:51.280 --> 00:29:51.960 is at the 00:29:51.960 --> 00:29:52.300 door. 00:29:53.000 --> 00:29:53.700 Turn to him 00:29:53.700 --> 00:29:54.540 tonight before 00:29:54.540 --> 00:29:55.060 it is too 00:29:55.059 --> 00:29:56.599 late because 00:29:56.599 --> 00:29:57.179 he is coming. 00:29:57.980 --> 00:29:58.619 Let's pray. 00:29:58.619 --> 00:29:58.639 Let's pray.