WEBVTT

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 1 to 13, and Pete is going to come and read for us this morning.

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 Okay, so if we've got the church Bible, it's on page 1213.

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 So it's James chapter 2, verse 1 to 13.

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 My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism.

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 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes,

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 and a poor man comes in filthy old clothes, also comes in.

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 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say,

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 here is a good seat for you, but say to the poor man,

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 you can stand there or sit on the floor by my feet,

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 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

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 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters,

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 has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith

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 and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?

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 But you have dishonoured the poor.

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 Is it not the rich who are exploiting you?

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 Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court?

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 Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?

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 If you really keep the royal law found in scripture,

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 love your neighbour as yourself, you are doing right.

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 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.

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 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point

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 is guilty of breaking all of it.

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 For he who said you shall not commit adultery also said you shall not murder.

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 If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder,

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 you have become a lawbreaker.

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 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom

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 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful.

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 Mercy triumphs over judgment.

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 Thank you, Pete.

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 So let's keep our Bibles open at James chapter 2 and we're going to pray.

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 Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves.

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 Do what it says.

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 Father, give us your Holy Spirit, we pray,

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 so that we listen carefully to your word,

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 so that we submit to its authority,

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 that we accept it,

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 but also so that we may do what your word commands.

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 For we know that this is not only good for us,

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 it is good for each other,

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 and it is good for the world in which we live.

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 So, Father, help us now, we pray.

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 In Jesus' name.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 So, what's your favourite in a box of chocolates?

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 And don't tell me you don't like chocolates.

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 Strawberry cream,

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 Turkish delight,

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 velvet fudge.

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 Well, last Sunday,

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 after I'd come home,

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 I was over at my brother's,

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 and there were a few others there,

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 and we opened up a box of milk tray after dinner.

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 Well, by the time the box came round to me,

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 all that was left

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 were the ones that nobody really likes,

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 hazelnut whirl,

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 coffee cup.

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 Well, I broke the golden rule,

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 the one my mother always told me I mustn't do,

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 and went straight for the second layer.

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 Salted caramel,

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 my favourite.

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 Now, just as we all have our favourite chocolates,

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 we also have our favourite people, don't we?

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 We choose and pick the people we like,

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 while we ignore and discard the ones we don't.

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 Look at verse 1 of chapter 2.

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 My brothers and sisters,

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 believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ

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 must not show favouritism.

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 If we're believers,

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 if we're claiming to follow Jesus,

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 there must not be a hint of favouritism.

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 Look back with me to chapter 1, verse 21,

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 where James commands us.

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 He says,

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 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth

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 and the evil that is so prevalent,

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 and humbly accept the word planted in you

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 which can save you.

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 Do not merely listen to the word

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 and so deceive yourselves.

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 Do what it says.

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 Now, the evidence that we accept the word,

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 listen to the word,

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 and do what the word says

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 is not showing favouritism.

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 If I am a Christian,

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 I will not have favourites.

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 I will treat each and every person

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 without prejudice or discrimination.

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 You see, the sad reality is

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 we all show favouritism.

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 Look at verse 2.

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 Suppose a man comes into your meeting,

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 to your gathering on a Sunday morning

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 wearing a gold ring and fine clothes.

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 He's got all the bling and the latest fashion.

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 And a poor man in filthy old clothes

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 also comes in

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 and he's got a half-drunk Heineken can

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 stuck in his pocket.

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 If you show special attention

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 to the man wearing fine clothes

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 and say,

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 Oh, please, sit with me.

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 But say to the poor man,

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 You stand there

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 or there's a chair at the back.

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 Why don't you just sit there

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 and keep quiet?

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 Have you not discriminated among yourselves

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 and become judges with evil thoughts?

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 Or suppose a sporting celebrity family

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 comes in and visits one Sunday morning,

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 just like one of the Munster players did

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 a few years ago, you may remember.

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 Well, they were the star attraction,

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 the focus of attention.

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 We were like bees round a honeypot,

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 wanting to talk to them.

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 Now suppose a family

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 from the travelling community arrives.

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 Well, it's all a bit noisy

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 and a bit disruptive.

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 There's no rushing over to chat.

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 Instead, there seems to be

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 a collective sigh of relief

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 when they leave the building.

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 We ignore the family

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 from the travelling community,

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 but rush straight

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 to the celebrity family.

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 Well, of course,

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 we don't have to wait

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 for travellers or celebrities

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 to arrive to expose our favouritism.

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 We do it all the time.

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 Just think about how we operate

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 on a Sunday morning

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 as we come in the door

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 or as we take our seats.

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 We choose who we sit beside,

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 making sure it's somebody

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 that we can relate to.

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 We decide who we talk to over coffee,

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 being careful to avoid

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 the one that we find

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 particularly awkward.

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 We pick who we invite to our homes,

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 calculating who's more fun

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 and who will be more acceptable

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 to our neighbours

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 if they should see them coming.

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 Verse 4.

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 Have you not discriminated

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 among yourselves

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 and become judges

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 with evil thoughts?

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 It's quite pointed, isn't it?

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 When we show favouritism,

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 we are making judgments

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 on each other.

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 We're saying,

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 this person

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 is more valuable

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 than that person

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 and the visitor

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 who walked in,

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 well, they're more important

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 than the other visitor.

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 It's called discrimination.

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 Sometimes it's called racism.

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 James,

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 through God's word,

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 tells us

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 it is evil.

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 Verse 4.

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 And it's lurking

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 in the hearts

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 in the hearts

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 of each one of us.

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 This one,

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 not that one.

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 I like them,

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 but I don't particularly

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 like them.

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 He's strange,

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 but she's a lot of fun.

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 They're Irish.

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 They're not.

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 Well, I know them,

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 but I can't stand them.

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 Every Sunday,

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 as we walk

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 through the doors,

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 perhaps subconsciously,

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 we choose,

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 decide,

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 and pick.

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 We show favouritism.

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 We become judges

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 with evil thoughts.

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 Like the box of chocolates,

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 we pick who we like

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 and discard the ones

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 we don't.

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 Verse 1.

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 Look at verse 1 again.

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 My brothers and sisters,

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 believers in our glorious

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 Lord Jesus Christ

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 must not show favouritism.

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 Now James goes on

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 very helpfully

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 to give us three reasons

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 why we should not

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 show favouritism.

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 Here's the first one.

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 God chooses

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 the humble poor.

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 God chooses

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 the humble poor.

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 Look at verse 5.

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 Listen,

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 my brothers and sisters,

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 has not God chosen

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 those who are poor

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 in the eyes of the world

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 to be rich in faith

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 and to inherit the kingdom

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 he promised

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 those who love him?

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 You see,

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 when it comes to

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 choosing people,

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 the world does so

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 on the basis of

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 categories like

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 wealth,

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 success,

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 looks,

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 your education.

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 If you've got

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 a well-paid job,

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 if you look beautiful,

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 you look fit,

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 you've got a good figure,

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 if you're popular

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 among friends,

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 well then you're

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 the person

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 who's chosen every time.

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 You're selected.

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 You are somebody.

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 In the eyes of the world,

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 you're deserving.

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 You've made it.

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 You're everyone's favourite.

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 But that's not how God

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 and the gospel works.

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 Do you see what it says

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 in verse 5?

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 God has chosen

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 those who are poor

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 in the eyes of the world

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 to be rich

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 in faith.

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 God chooses

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 the nobodies,

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 the losers,

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 those who have nothing

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 and are nothing,

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 the rejected

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 and the disregarded.

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 The Apostle Paul

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 helpfully

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 shows us

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 the same thing

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 if you keep

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 your finger

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 in James chapter 2

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 and go back

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 to 1 Corinthians

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 chapter 1.

00:13:13.279 --> 00:13:16.959
 1 Corinthians chapter 1.

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 If somebody's got

00:13:17.839 --> 00:13:18.879
 a page number there,

00:13:19.439 --> 00:13:20.480
 they could call it out

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 and I can help you along.

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 1 Corinthians chapter 1.

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 Are we all there?

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 So here Paul

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 is reminding

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 the church

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 in Corinth

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 just how God

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 has worked

00:13:46.439 --> 00:13:47.619
 amongst the people.

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 Look what it says,

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 chapter 1,

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 verse 26.

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 Brothers and sisters,

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 think of what you were

00:13:55.959 --> 00:13:57.019
 when you were called.

00:13:58.399 --> 00:13:59.619
 Not many of you

00:13:59.619 --> 00:14:00.559
 were wise

00:14:00.559 --> 00:14:02.059
 by human standards.

00:14:02.979 --> 00:14:04.139
 Not many were

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 influential.

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 Not many were

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 of noble birth.

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 But God

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 chose

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 the foolish

00:14:09.899 --> 00:14:11.000
 things of the world

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 to shame the wise.

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 God chose

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 the weak

00:14:14.779 --> 00:14:15.939
 things of the world

00:14:15.939 --> 00:14:17.299
 to shame the strong.

00:14:18.159 --> 00:14:19.059
 God chose

00:14:19.059 --> 00:14:19.839
 the lowly

00:14:19.839 --> 00:14:21.000
 things of this world

00:14:21.000 --> 00:14:22.399
 and the despised

00:14:22.399 --> 00:14:22.899
 things

00:14:22.899 --> 00:14:23.600
 and the things

00:14:23.600 --> 00:14:24.439
 that are not

00:14:24.439 --> 00:14:25.919
 to nullify

00:14:25.919 --> 00:14:26.919
 the things that are

00:14:26.919 --> 00:14:28.279
 so that no one

00:14:28.279 --> 00:14:29.139
 may boast

00:14:29.139 --> 00:14:30.919
 before him.

00:14:32.799 --> 00:14:34.000
 It's quite clear,

00:14:34.100 --> 00:14:34.500
 isn't it?

00:14:35.039 --> 00:14:35.740
 Let's go back

00:14:35.740 --> 00:14:37.139
 to James chapter 2.

00:14:38.360 --> 00:14:39.580
 The foolish,

00:14:40.200 --> 00:14:41.620
 the weak,

00:14:42.440 --> 00:14:43.580
 the lowly,

00:14:43.720 --> 00:14:45.019
 the despised,

00:14:45.360 --> 00:14:47.659
 they are the ones

00:14:47.659 --> 00:14:48.740
 that God chooses.

00:14:48.740 --> 00:14:49.039
 Jesus.

00:14:51.740 --> 00:14:53.220
 When I was in Ghana

00:14:53.220 --> 00:14:54.480
 just last week,

00:14:54.580 --> 00:14:55.539
 we travelled up

00:14:55.539 --> 00:14:57.139
 to the northern region

00:14:57.139 --> 00:14:58.000
 of the country,

00:14:58.740 --> 00:15:00.299
 heading up towards

00:15:00.299 --> 00:15:01.940
 the edge of the Sahara.

00:15:02.080 --> 00:15:02.600
 It was very,

00:15:02.740 --> 00:15:03.299
 very hot.

00:15:04.700 --> 00:15:05.740
 And there we went

00:15:05.740 --> 00:15:07.100
 into a small village

00:15:07.100 --> 00:15:08.159
 that was way out

00:15:08.159 --> 00:15:08.980
 into the country.

00:15:09.139 --> 00:15:09.600
 It was about

00:15:09.600 --> 00:15:10.620
 an hour's drive

00:15:10.620 --> 00:15:11.620
 from the town

00:15:11.620 --> 00:15:13.600
 that we were staying in.

00:15:15.019 --> 00:15:16.659
 We arrived in the village,

00:15:16.899 --> 00:15:17.899
 no electricity,

00:15:17.899 --> 00:15:20.519
 no running water,

00:15:21.840 --> 00:15:23.379
 nothing to offer,

00:15:24.079 --> 00:15:24.939
 no employment.

00:15:27.279 --> 00:15:28.120
 But yet,

00:15:28.240 --> 00:15:29.059
 in that small

00:15:29.059 --> 00:15:29.779
 little village,

00:15:29.919 --> 00:15:31.179
 there was a thriving

00:15:31.179 --> 00:15:32.319
 church of about

00:15:32.319 --> 00:15:33.519
 60 people

00:15:33.519 --> 00:15:35.360
 crammed into

00:15:35.360 --> 00:15:36.199
 a small

00:15:36.199 --> 00:15:37.039
 little building.

00:15:38.360 --> 00:15:39.779
 They don't have work.

00:15:41.199 --> 00:15:42.139
 Every one of them

00:15:42.139 --> 00:15:43.039
 was living off

00:15:43.039 --> 00:15:43.699
 the land.

00:15:43.700 --> 00:15:46.160
 in the eyes

00:15:46.160 --> 00:15:46.740
 of the world,

00:15:46.879 --> 00:15:48.120
 this bunch of people

00:15:48.120 --> 00:15:49.720
 were materially

00:15:49.720 --> 00:15:50.480
 poor

00:15:50.480 --> 00:15:51.800
 nobodies.

00:15:53.460 --> 00:15:54.100
 Weak,

00:15:54.820 --> 00:15:55.340
 lowly,

00:15:55.780 --> 00:15:56.820
 despised.

00:15:58.120 --> 00:15:59.500
 But in the eyes

00:15:59.500 --> 00:16:00.220
 of God,

00:16:00.379 --> 00:16:02.080
 spiritually rich

00:16:02.080 --> 00:16:03.000
 in faith,

00:16:03.440 --> 00:16:04.240
 inheritors

00:16:04.240 --> 00:16:05.420
 of the kingdom

00:16:05.420 --> 00:16:06.259
 of God,

00:16:07.320 --> 00:16:08.000
 it's like

00:16:08.000 --> 00:16:08.920
 they had received

00:16:08.920 --> 00:16:09.680
 the equivalent

00:16:09.680 --> 00:16:10.940
 of the spiritual

00:16:10.940 --> 00:16:12.120
 Euro millions.

00:16:12.120 --> 00:16:14.419
 God chooses,

00:16:14.700 --> 00:16:15.379
 verse 5,

00:16:15.740 --> 00:16:16.659
 those who are

00:16:16.659 --> 00:16:18.019
 poor in the eyes

00:16:18.019 --> 00:16:18.759
 of the world

00:16:18.759 --> 00:16:20.240
 to be rich

00:16:20.240 --> 00:16:21.240
 in faith.

00:16:22.759 --> 00:16:23.340
 Nothing

00:16:23.340 --> 00:16:25.139
 in their hands

00:16:25.139 --> 00:16:26.019
 of material

00:16:26.019 --> 00:16:26.679
 worth,

00:16:27.159 --> 00:16:29.600
 but inheritors

00:16:29.600 --> 00:16:30.700
 of the kingdom

00:16:30.700 --> 00:16:31.399
 of God,

00:16:31.879 --> 00:16:32.940
 the new heavens

00:16:32.940 --> 00:16:33.560
 and the new

00:16:33.560 --> 00:16:34.019
 world.

00:16:35.100 --> 00:16:36.460
 Riches beyond

00:16:36.460 --> 00:16:37.740
 our imagination.

00:16:37.740 --> 00:16:41.700
 Now,

00:16:41.759 --> 00:16:42.340
 we might get

00:16:42.340 --> 00:16:43.720
 confused as we

00:16:43.720 --> 00:16:44.980
 read this section

00:16:44.980 --> 00:16:45.600
 in James

00:16:45.600 --> 00:16:46.159
 and think

00:16:46.159 --> 00:16:47.220
 that God

00:16:47.220 --> 00:16:47.820
 is showing

00:16:47.820 --> 00:16:48.759
 favoritism

00:16:48.759 --> 00:16:49.580
 to the poor.

00:16:50.480 --> 00:16:51.360
 That God

00:16:51.360 --> 00:16:52.480
 chooses the poor

00:16:52.480 --> 00:16:53.379
 over the rich.

00:16:54.519 --> 00:16:55.279
 But I don't

00:16:55.279 --> 00:16:55.919
 think God

00:16:55.919 --> 00:16:56.820
 loves poor

00:16:56.820 --> 00:16:57.560
 people more

00:16:57.560 --> 00:16:58.180
 than he loves

00:16:58.180 --> 00:16:59.080
 rich people,

00:16:59.539 --> 00:17:00.740
 or that God

00:17:00.740 --> 00:17:01.960
 ignores rich

00:17:01.960 --> 00:17:02.720
 people more

00:17:02.720 --> 00:17:03.480
 than poor

00:17:03.480 --> 00:17:03.940
 people.

00:17:03.940 --> 00:17:05.480
 I think

00:17:05.480 --> 00:17:06.140
 the point

00:17:06.140 --> 00:17:06.980
 that James

00:17:06.980 --> 00:17:07.940
 is driving

00:17:07.940 --> 00:17:08.660
 at is this,

00:17:09.120 --> 00:17:10.120
 that we all

00:17:10.120 --> 00:17:11.059
 need to learn

00:17:11.059 --> 00:17:12.640
 from the poor.

00:17:13.799 --> 00:17:14.519
 In fact,

00:17:14.620 --> 00:17:15.180
 we need to

00:17:15.180 --> 00:17:16.299
 become like

00:17:16.299 --> 00:17:17.400
 the humble

00:17:17.400 --> 00:17:18.019
 poor.

00:17:19.360 --> 00:17:19.740
 You see,

00:17:19.820 --> 00:17:20.519
 the materially

00:17:20.519 --> 00:17:22.000
 poor have

00:17:22.000 --> 00:17:22.460
 nothing.

00:17:23.660 --> 00:17:24.140
 They are

00:17:24.140 --> 00:17:25.259
 dependent on

00:17:25.259 --> 00:17:26.420
 outside help.

00:17:26.960 --> 00:17:27.460
 They need

00:17:27.460 --> 00:17:28.200
 people to

00:17:28.200 --> 00:17:29.100
 give what

00:17:29.100 --> 00:17:29.660
 they don't

00:17:29.660 --> 00:17:30.039
 have.

00:17:30.700 --> 00:17:31.279
 And that

00:17:31.279 --> 00:17:32.059
 becomes a

00:17:32.059 --> 00:17:32.440
 model,

00:17:32.440 --> 00:17:33.200
 it becomes

00:17:33.200 --> 00:17:34.039
 an example

00:17:34.039 --> 00:17:34.539
 of how

00:17:34.539 --> 00:17:34.960
 we should

00:17:34.960 --> 00:17:35.580
 all come

00:17:35.580 --> 00:17:36.180
 to God

00:17:36.180 --> 00:17:37.120
 spiritually.

00:17:38.160 --> 00:17:38.860
 We come

00:17:38.860 --> 00:17:39.860
 as hopeless

00:17:39.860 --> 00:17:41.019
 and helpless,

00:17:41.340 --> 00:17:41.900
 dependent

00:17:41.900 --> 00:17:43.420
 and completely

00:17:43.420 --> 00:17:44.580
 reliant upon

00:17:44.580 --> 00:17:45.420
 God's grace

00:17:45.420 --> 00:17:46.340
 that we have

00:17:46.340 --> 00:17:47.320
 nothing in our

00:17:47.320 --> 00:17:48.220
 hands to bring

00:17:48.220 --> 00:17:49.000
 before him.

00:17:50.220 --> 00:17:51.059
 We have

00:17:51.059 --> 00:17:52.460
 nothing to

00:17:52.460 --> 00:17:53.299
 bring before

00:17:53.299 --> 00:17:53.840
 God.

00:17:57.039 --> 00:17:58.100
 So when

00:17:58.100 --> 00:17:59.120
 someone comes

00:17:59.120 --> 00:17:59.980
 into the

00:17:59.980 --> 00:18:00.900
 church gathering

00:18:00.900 --> 00:18:02.700
 and I

00:18:02.700 --> 00:18:03.620
 think that

00:18:03.620 --> 00:18:04.780
 I'm above

00:18:04.780 --> 00:18:05.740
 that person,

00:18:06.120 --> 00:18:06.780
 God is

00:18:06.780 --> 00:18:07.360
 saying to

00:18:07.360 --> 00:18:07.640
 me,

00:18:07.820 --> 00:18:08.120
 Johnny,

00:18:08.360 --> 00:18:09.180
 do not

00:18:09.180 --> 00:18:10.019
 ignore them.

00:18:11.280 --> 00:18:12.060
 In fact,

00:18:12.180 --> 00:18:12.440
 Johnny,

00:18:12.540 --> 00:18:12.960
 I want you

00:18:12.960 --> 00:18:13.580
 to learn

00:18:13.580 --> 00:18:14.560
 from them.

00:18:15.880 --> 00:18:16.340
 Johnny,

00:18:16.500 --> 00:18:17.160
 I want you

00:18:17.160 --> 00:18:17.820
 to become

00:18:17.820 --> 00:18:19.680
 like them.

00:18:21.060 --> 00:18:22.019
 I want you

00:18:22.019 --> 00:18:22.620
 to become

00:18:22.620 --> 00:18:23.280
 like the

00:18:23.280 --> 00:18:23.600
 humble

00:18:23.600 --> 00:18:24.040
 poor,

00:18:24.240 --> 00:18:25.060
 because they

00:18:25.060 --> 00:18:25.440
 know what

00:18:25.440 --> 00:18:25.940
 it is to

00:18:25.940 --> 00:18:26.420
 come with

00:18:26.420 --> 00:18:27.880
 nothing and

00:18:27.880 --> 00:18:29.200
 to receive

00:18:29.200 --> 00:18:30.680
 God's

00:18:30.680 --> 00:18:31.320
 free gift

00:18:31.320 --> 00:18:31.960
 of grace.

00:18:33.100 --> 00:18:33.780
 Look at

00:18:33.780 --> 00:18:34.460
 verse 6.

00:18:37.720 --> 00:18:38.460
 But you

00:18:38.460 --> 00:18:38.680
 have

00:18:38.680 --> 00:18:39.380
 dishonoured

00:18:39.380 --> 00:18:40.040
 the poor.

00:18:41.140 --> 00:18:41.640
 Is it

00:18:41.640 --> 00:18:42.100
 not the

00:18:42.100 --> 00:18:42.820
 rich who

00:18:42.820 --> 00:18:43.740
 are exploiting

00:18:43.740 --> 00:18:44.020
 you?

00:18:44.480 --> 00:18:45.000
 Are they

00:18:45.000 --> 00:18:45.440
 not the

00:18:45.440 --> 00:18:45.980
 ones who

00:18:45.980 --> 00:18:46.520
 are dragging

00:18:46.520 --> 00:18:47.060
 you into

00:18:47.060 --> 00:18:47.420
 court?

00:18:47.740 --> 00:18:48.200
 Are they

00:18:48.200 --> 00:18:48.620
 not the

00:18:48.620 --> 00:18:49.140
 ones who

00:18:49.140 --> 00:18:50.060
 are blaspheming

00:18:50.060 --> 00:18:50.600
 the noble

00:18:50.600 --> 00:18:51.100
 name of

00:18:51.100 --> 00:18:51.700
 him to

00:18:51.700 --> 00:18:52.120
 whom you

00:18:52.120 --> 00:18:52.480
 belong?

00:18:54.000 --> 00:18:54.780
 It's so

00:18:54.780 --> 00:18:55.220
 telling,

00:18:55.380 --> 00:18:55.880
 isn't it?

00:18:55.880 --> 00:18:57.640
 written 2,000

00:18:57.640 --> 00:18:58.360
 years ago,

00:18:59.020 --> 00:18:59.740
 but we

00:18:59.740 --> 00:19:00.580
 still operate

00:19:00.580 --> 00:19:00.940
 on the

00:19:00.940 --> 00:19:01.560
 same level.

00:19:02.120 --> 00:19:02.740
 All through

00:19:02.740 --> 00:19:03.200
 the week,

00:19:03.320 --> 00:19:04.180
 we give

00:19:04.180 --> 00:19:04.960
 our attention

00:19:04.960 --> 00:19:05.580
 to those

00:19:05.580 --> 00:19:06.100
 we deem

00:19:06.100 --> 00:19:06.500
 to be

00:19:06.500 --> 00:19:07.120
 successful

00:19:07.120 --> 00:19:07.900
 and wealthy

00:19:07.900 --> 00:19:08.620
 in the

00:19:08.620 --> 00:19:09.120
 hope that

00:19:09.120 --> 00:19:09.480
 somehow

00:19:09.480 --> 00:19:10.100
 they will

00:19:10.100 --> 00:19:10.940
 notice us

00:19:10.940 --> 00:19:11.840
 and maybe

00:19:11.840 --> 00:19:12.420
 they'll give

00:19:12.420 --> 00:19:12.800
 us that

00:19:12.800 --> 00:19:13.340
 little bit

00:19:13.340 --> 00:19:13.960
 of promotion

00:19:13.960 --> 00:19:15.160
 or we'll

00:19:15.160 --> 00:19:15.480
 get an

00:19:15.480 --> 00:19:16.400
 extra rise

00:19:16.400 --> 00:19:16.780
 in our

00:19:16.780 --> 00:19:17.560
 salary or

00:19:17.560 --> 00:19:18.480
 somehow

00:19:18.480 --> 00:19:19.160
 we'll become

00:19:19.160 --> 00:19:19.760
 part of

00:19:19.760 --> 00:19:20.320
 the in

00:19:20.320 --> 00:19:20.780
 crowd,

00:19:20.940 --> 00:19:21.480
 the in

00:19:21.480 --> 00:19:21.880
 group,

00:19:22.020 --> 00:19:22.840
 and we

00:19:22.840 --> 00:19:23.340
 look up

00:19:23.340 --> 00:19:23.680
 to the

00:19:23.680 --> 00:19:24.260
 successful

00:19:24.260 --> 00:19:24.760
 in the

00:19:24.760 --> 00:19:25.380
 hope that

00:19:25.380 --> 00:19:25.860
 they will

00:19:25.860 --> 00:19:26.360
 kind of

00:19:26.360 --> 00:19:26.860
 pull us

00:19:26.860 --> 00:19:27.180
 up.

00:19:29.980 --> 00:19:30.500
 Well,

00:19:30.540 --> 00:19:31.020
 the irony

00:19:31.020 --> 00:19:31.940
 is that

00:19:31.940 --> 00:19:32.580
 those who

00:19:32.580 --> 00:19:33.000
 we look

00:19:33.000 --> 00:19:33.540
 up to

00:19:33.540 --> 00:19:35.180
 don't

00:19:35.180 --> 00:19:35.580
 actually

00:19:35.580 --> 00:19:36.300
 help you.

00:19:37.080 --> 00:19:38.000
 They use

00:19:38.000 --> 00:19:38.300
 you and

00:19:38.300 --> 00:19:38.840
 abuse you

00:19:38.840 --> 00:19:39.240
 to get

00:19:39.240 --> 00:19:39.640
 to where

00:19:39.640 --> 00:19:40.140
 they want

00:19:40.140 --> 00:19:40.660
 to get.

00:19:42.520 --> 00:19:43.060
 While

00:19:43.060 --> 00:19:43.920
 those we

00:19:43.920 --> 00:19:44.620
 look down

00:19:44.620 --> 00:19:45.200
 upon who

00:19:45.200 --> 00:19:45.980
 think they

00:19:45.980 --> 00:19:46.480
 can give

00:19:46.480 --> 00:19:47.040
 us nothing,

00:19:47.460 --> 00:19:48.120
 they are

00:19:48.120 --> 00:19:48.620
 the ones

00:19:48.620 --> 00:19:49.040
 who can

00:19:49.040 --> 00:19:49.820
 help us

00:19:49.820 --> 00:19:51.120
 because they

00:19:51.120 --> 00:19:51.400
 are the

00:19:51.400 --> 00:19:51.860
 ones who

00:19:51.860 --> 00:19:52.600
 can teach

00:19:52.600 --> 00:19:53.120
 us.

00:19:55.380 --> 00:19:56.860
 James is

00:19:56.860 --> 00:19:57.480
 so clear,

00:19:57.780 --> 00:19:58.300
 don't

00:19:58.300 --> 00:19:59.180
 ignore

00:19:59.180 --> 00:19:59.900
 the poor,

00:20:01.060 --> 00:20:01.300
 the

00:20:01.300 --> 00:20:01.840
 nobodies

00:20:01.840 --> 00:20:02.480
 and the

00:20:02.480 --> 00:20:02.940
 losers,

00:20:03.280 --> 00:20:03.760
 those who

00:20:03.760 --> 00:20:04.520
 are considered

00:20:04.520 --> 00:20:05.620
 of no

00:20:05.620 --> 00:20:06.660
 value in

00:20:06.660 --> 00:20:07.280
 the world's

00:20:07.280 --> 00:20:07.720
 eyes.

00:20:09.720 --> 00:20:10.640
 James is

00:20:10.640 --> 00:20:10.980
 saying,

00:20:11.660 --> 00:20:12.240
 listen to

00:20:12.240 --> 00:20:12.520
 them,

00:20:13.460 --> 00:20:14.920
 learn from

00:20:14.920 --> 00:20:15.300
 them,

00:20:16.300 --> 00:20:16.840
 I want

00:20:16.840 --> 00:20:17.200
 you to

00:20:17.200 --> 00:20:17.660
 become

00:20:17.660 --> 00:20:19.060
 like them.

00:20:19.059 --> 00:20:21.480
 spiritual

00:20:21.480 --> 00:20:22.679
 poverty

00:20:22.679 --> 00:20:24.500
 coming with

00:20:24.500 --> 00:20:25.480
 empty hands

00:20:25.480 --> 00:20:26.119
 so that we

00:20:26.119 --> 00:20:27.099
 receive the

00:20:27.099 --> 00:20:29.039
 riches of

00:20:29.039 --> 00:20:29.480
 God's

00:20:29.480 --> 00:20:29.879
 grace.

00:20:32.679 --> 00:20:33.579
 The other

00:20:33.579 --> 00:20:34.039
 reason,

00:20:34.220 --> 00:20:34.720
 the second

00:20:34.720 --> 00:20:35.440
 reason why

00:20:35.440 --> 00:20:35.879
 we should

00:20:35.879 --> 00:20:36.679
 not show

00:20:36.679 --> 00:20:37.440
 favouritism

00:20:37.440 --> 00:20:38.079
 is because

00:20:38.079 --> 00:20:39.079
 God commands

00:20:39.079 --> 00:20:39.659
 the church

00:20:39.659 --> 00:20:40.240
 to love.

00:20:41.359 --> 00:20:41.779
 Look at

00:20:41.779 --> 00:20:42.319
 verse 8.

00:20:42.319 --> 00:20:44.299
 If you

00:20:44.299 --> 00:20:45.099
 really keep

00:20:45.099 --> 00:20:45.659
 the royal

00:20:45.659 --> 00:20:46.480
 law found

00:20:46.480 --> 00:20:47.200
 in scripture,

00:20:47.759 --> 00:20:48.299
 love your

00:20:48.299 --> 00:20:48.879
 neighbour as

00:20:48.879 --> 00:20:49.379
 yourself,

00:20:49.519 --> 00:20:50.079
 you are

00:20:50.079 --> 00:20:51.039
 doing right.

00:20:52.139 --> 00:20:53.079
 But if you

00:20:53.079 --> 00:20:54.179
 show favouritism,

00:20:54.279 --> 00:20:55.200
 you sin and

00:20:55.200 --> 00:20:56.399
 are convicted

00:20:56.399 --> 00:20:57.259
 by the law

00:20:57.259 --> 00:20:58.039
 as law

00:20:58.039 --> 00:20:58.720
 breakers.

00:21:01.259 --> 00:21:02.159
 On one

00:21:02.159 --> 00:21:02.679
 occasion,

00:21:03.480 --> 00:21:04.179
 in the

00:21:04.179 --> 00:21:04.899
 Gospels we

00:21:04.899 --> 00:21:05.480
 read this,

00:21:05.579 --> 00:21:06.019
 one of the

00:21:06.019 --> 00:21:06.839
 religious leaders

00:21:06.839 --> 00:21:07.539
 came up to

00:21:07.539 --> 00:21:08.279
 Jesus in a

00:21:08.279 --> 00:21:09.700
 discussion and

00:21:09.700 --> 00:21:10.139
 asked him,

00:21:10.200 --> 00:21:10.799
 of all the

00:21:10.799 --> 00:21:11.859
 commandments that

00:21:11.859 --> 00:21:12.839
 are in the

00:21:12.839 --> 00:21:13.379
 scriptures,

00:21:13.659 --> 00:21:14.279
 which one is

00:21:14.279 --> 00:21:14.659
 the most

00:21:14.659 --> 00:21:15.259
 important?

00:21:16.959 --> 00:21:17.219
 Do you

00:21:17.219 --> 00:21:17.699
 remember what

00:21:17.699 --> 00:21:18.399
 Jesus said?

00:21:20.099 --> 00:21:20.919
 Love the

00:21:20.919 --> 00:21:21.479
 Lord your

00:21:21.479 --> 00:21:22.019
 God with

00:21:22.019 --> 00:21:22.419
 all your

00:21:22.419 --> 00:21:22.899
 heart,

00:21:23.059 --> 00:21:23.379
 with all

00:21:23.379 --> 00:21:24.039
 your soul,

00:21:24.199 --> 00:21:24.539
 with all

00:21:24.539 --> 00:21:25.279
 your mind,

00:21:25.399 --> 00:21:25.619
 and with

00:21:25.619 --> 00:21:25.979
 all your

00:21:25.979 --> 00:21:26.719
 strength.

00:21:27.819 --> 00:21:28.339
 And the

00:21:28.339 --> 00:21:28.919
 second is

00:21:28.919 --> 00:21:29.279
 this,

00:21:29.759 --> 00:21:30.679
 love your

00:21:30.679 --> 00:21:31.619
 neighbour as

00:21:31.619 --> 00:21:32.179
 yourself.

00:21:32.839 --> 00:21:33.359
 And Jesus

00:21:33.359 --> 00:21:33.899
 says there

00:21:33.899 --> 00:21:34.439
 is no

00:21:34.439 --> 00:21:34.919
 greater

00:21:34.919 --> 00:21:35.579
 commandment

00:21:35.579 --> 00:21:36.179
 than these.

00:21:37.679 --> 00:21:38.099
 You see,

00:21:38.199 --> 00:21:38.799
 for Jesus,

00:21:39.179 --> 00:21:39.939
 loving God

00:21:39.939 --> 00:21:41.139
 and loving

00:21:41.139 --> 00:21:41.719
 your neighbour

00:21:41.720 --> 00:21:42.380
 as yourself

00:21:42.380 --> 00:21:42.940
 was a

00:21:42.940 --> 00:21:44.019
 summary of

00:21:44.019 --> 00:21:44.900
 all of

00:21:44.900 --> 00:21:45.339
 God's

00:21:45.339 --> 00:21:45.620
 law.

00:21:46.640 --> 00:21:47.420
 In fact,

00:21:47.480 --> 00:21:48.460
 of all the

00:21:48.460 --> 00:21:49.019
 laws that

00:21:49.019 --> 00:21:49.299
 were in

00:21:49.299 --> 00:21:49.900
 the scriptures,

00:21:50.380 --> 00:21:51.039
 the one that

00:21:51.039 --> 00:21:52.059
 Jesus quoted

00:21:52.059 --> 00:21:52.759
 and talked

00:21:52.759 --> 00:21:53.339
 about the

00:21:53.339 --> 00:21:54.180
 one the

00:21:54.180 --> 00:21:55.880
 most is

00:21:55.880 --> 00:21:56.480
 here in

00:21:56.480 --> 00:21:57.000
 verse 8.

00:21:57.100 --> 00:21:57.500
 It's what

00:21:57.500 --> 00:21:58.700
 James calls

00:21:58.700 --> 00:21:59.819
 the royal

00:21:59.819 --> 00:22:00.680
 law.

00:22:01.740 --> 00:22:02.339
 It's the

00:22:02.339 --> 00:22:02.839
 king's

00:22:02.839 --> 00:22:03.360
 command,

00:22:04.819 --> 00:22:05.779
 his command

00:22:05.779 --> 00:22:06.400
 to his

00:22:06.400 --> 00:22:07.059
 subjects,

00:22:07.220 --> 00:22:07.680
 to those

00:22:07.680 --> 00:22:08.339
 who follow

00:22:08.339 --> 00:22:08.680
 him.

00:22:08.680 --> 00:22:09.600
 Christian,

00:22:10.779 --> 00:22:11.860
 love your

00:22:11.860 --> 00:22:12.940
 neighbour as

00:22:12.940 --> 00:22:13.779
 yourself.

00:22:15.840 --> 00:22:16.340
 And,

00:22:16.480 --> 00:22:16.860
 well,

00:22:16.900 --> 00:22:17.259
 it's quite

00:22:17.259 --> 00:22:17.660
 simple.

00:22:17.779 --> 00:22:18.080
 If we

00:22:18.080 --> 00:22:18.960
 obey God's

00:22:18.960 --> 00:22:19.279
 command,

00:22:19.420 --> 00:22:19.820
 if we

00:22:19.820 --> 00:22:20.380
 do love

00:22:20.380 --> 00:22:20.980
 our neighbour,

00:22:21.700 --> 00:22:22.120
 well then,

00:22:22.500 --> 00:22:22.920
 there won't

00:22:22.920 --> 00:22:24.140
 be favouritism,

00:22:24.340 --> 00:22:24.860
 there won't

00:22:24.860 --> 00:22:25.880
 be discrimination,

00:22:26.340 --> 00:22:26.680
 there won't

00:22:26.680 --> 00:22:27.539
 be prejudice,

00:22:28.039 --> 00:22:28.440
 there won't

00:22:28.440 --> 00:22:29.380
 be racism.

00:22:30.600 --> 00:22:31.440
 When there

00:22:31.440 --> 00:22:32.120
 is love,

00:22:32.160 --> 00:22:32.519
 and when

00:22:32.519 --> 00:22:33.600
 love grows

00:22:33.600 --> 00:22:34.560
 and flourishes

00:22:34.560 --> 00:22:35.440
 within God's

00:22:35.440 --> 00:22:35.820
 people,

00:22:35.819 --> 00:22:37.259
 then favouritism

00:22:37.259 --> 00:22:37.839
 dies.

00:22:38.619 --> 00:22:38.779
 It

00:22:38.779 --> 00:22:39.439
 disappears.

00:22:41.619 --> 00:22:42.319
 And that's

00:22:42.319 --> 00:22:42.980
 not a problem

00:22:42.980 --> 00:22:43.659
 in the church,

00:22:43.700 --> 00:22:44.019
 is it?

00:22:44.039 --> 00:22:44.559
 Because we

00:22:44.559 --> 00:22:45.439
 all love our

00:22:45.439 --> 00:22:45.779
 neighbour,

00:22:45.899 --> 00:22:46.399
 don't we?

00:22:48.439 --> 00:22:49.240
 Don't we?

00:22:50.079 --> 00:22:51.019
 Don't we love

00:22:51.019 --> 00:22:51.500
 our neighbour,

00:22:52.079 --> 00:22:52.799
 as God has

00:22:52.799 --> 00:22:53.119
 said?

00:22:55.119 --> 00:22:55.720
 Well,

00:22:56.339 --> 00:22:58.319
 behind my

00:22:58.319 --> 00:22:59.259
 points here,

00:23:00.000 --> 00:23:01.240
 I like to

00:23:01.240 --> 00:23:01.919
 think that I

00:23:01.919 --> 00:23:02.740
 love my

00:23:02.740 --> 00:23:03.079
 neighbour.

00:23:03.079 --> 00:23:05.019
 I take

00:23:05.019 --> 00:23:05.799
 pride that I

00:23:05.799 --> 00:23:06.399
 love people

00:23:06.399 --> 00:23:06.759
 in the

00:23:06.759 --> 00:23:07.079
 church,

00:23:07.240 --> 00:23:08.019
 and when

00:23:08.019 --> 00:23:08.460
 a visitor

00:23:08.460 --> 00:23:08.960
 comes,

00:23:09.119 --> 00:23:10.419
 I seek

00:23:10.419 --> 00:23:10.839
 to show

00:23:10.839 --> 00:23:11.299
 love.

00:23:12.599 --> 00:23:13.259
 But remember

00:23:13.259 --> 00:23:13.899
 where this

00:23:13.899 --> 00:23:15.460
 love command

00:23:15.460 --> 00:23:16.699
 first came.

00:23:17.579 --> 00:23:18.000
 You might

00:23:18.000 --> 00:23:18.579
 have a note

00:23:18.579 --> 00:23:19.579
 at the bottom

00:23:19.579 --> 00:23:19.899
 of your

00:23:19.899 --> 00:23:20.539
 Bible there,

00:23:20.619 --> 00:23:20.899
 it says

00:23:20.899 --> 00:23:21.559
 Leviticus

00:23:21.559 --> 00:23:22.579
 19,

00:23:22.759 --> 00:23:24.000
 verse 18.

00:23:24.299 --> 00:23:24.939
 That's where

00:23:24.939 --> 00:23:25.639
 the love,

00:23:25.879 --> 00:23:26.519
 love your neighbour

00:23:26.519 --> 00:23:27.099
 as yourself,

00:23:27.359 --> 00:23:28.519
 first was

00:23:28.519 --> 00:23:28.839
 written.

00:23:29.419 --> 00:23:29.919
 It was

00:23:29.919 --> 00:23:30.399
 given to

00:23:30.399 --> 00:23:30.799
 God's

00:23:30.799 --> 00:23:31.559
 people Israel

00:23:31.559 --> 00:23:32.659
 just after

00:23:32.659 --> 00:23:33.039
 they were

00:23:33.039 --> 00:23:33.879
 rescued from

00:23:33.879 --> 00:23:34.399
 Egypt,

00:23:34.879 --> 00:23:35.279
 and were

00:23:35.279 --> 00:23:35.819
 on their

00:23:35.819 --> 00:23:36.480
 way into

00:23:36.480 --> 00:23:37.339
 entering the

00:23:37.339 --> 00:23:38.319
 promised land.

00:23:38.980 --> 00:23:39.500
 And God

00:23:39.500 --> 00:23:39.960
 says to

00:23:39.960 --> 00:23:40.159
 them,

00:23:40.619 --> 00:23:41.200
 love your

00:23:41.200 --> 00:23:42.139
 neighbour as

00:23:42.139 --> 00:23:42.599
 yourself.

00:23:42.700 --> 00:23:43.000
 In other

00:23:43.000 --> 00:23:43.339
 words,

00:23:43.819 --> 00:23:44.200
 they were

00:23:44.200 --> 00:23:44.740
 to love

00:23:44.740 --> 00:23:45.579
 the nations

00:23:45.579 --> 00:23:47.019
 that were

00:23:47.019 --> 00:23:47.579
 going to be

00:23:47.579 --> 00:23:48.200
 around them.

00:23:48.919 --> 00:23:49.399
 They were

00:23:49.399 --> 00:23:49.879
 to love

00:23:49.879 --> 00:23:50.460
 those who

00:23:50.460 --> 00:23:50.859
 were not

00:23:50.859 --> 00:23:51.559
 like them,

00:23:51.919 --> 00:23:52.379
 those who

00:23:52.379 --> 00:23:53.000
 spoke a

00:23:53.000 --> 00:23:53.259
 different

00:23:53.259 --> 00:23:54.079
 language and

00:23:54.079 --> 00:23:54.399
 ate

00:23:54.399 --> 00:23:55.259
 different kinds

00:23:55.259 --> 00:23:55.859
 of foods.

00:23:56.379 --> 00:23:56.819
 They were

00:23:56.819 --> 00:23:57.159
 to love

00:23:57.159 --> 00:23:57.839
 their enemies,

00:23:58.179 --> 00:23:58.619
 those who

00:23:58.619 --> 00:23:59.240
 had wronged

00:23:59.240 --> 00:23:59.519
 them and

00:23:59.519 --> 00:23:59.980
 attacked

00:23:59.980 --> 00:24:00.240
 them.

00:24:00.240 --> 00:24:01.160
 They were

00:24:01.160 --> 00:24:01.740
 to love

00:24:01.740 --> 00:24:02.519
 the rejected,

00:24:02.700 --> 00:24:03.420
 the outsider,

00:24:03.559 --> 00:24:04.279
 the wanderer,

00:24:04.339 --> 00:24:05.079
 those who

00:24:05.079 --> 00:24:05.579
 didn't have

00:24:05.579 --> 00:24:06.319
 a place to

00:24:06.319 --> 00:24:06.559
 live.

00:24:07.160 --> 00:24:07.980
 Love them.

00:24:11.980 --> 00:24:12.519
 Now,

00:24:12.599 --> 00:24:13.079
 I don't

00:24:13.079 --> 00:24:13.539
 have a

00:24:13.539 --> 00:24:14.079
 problem

00:24:14.079 --> 00:24:15.160
 loving those

00:24:15.160 --> 00:24:15.519
 who are

00:24:15.519 --> 00:24:16.259
 like me,

00:24:16.500 --> 00:24:19.460
 because there

00:24:19.460 --> 00:24:20.240
 is only one

00:24:20.240 --> 00:24:20.980
 like me,

00:24:21.359 --> 00:24:21.859
 and that's

00:24:21.859 --> 00:24:22.140
 me.

00:24:22.700 --> 00:24:23.240
 It's easy

00:24:23.240 --> 00:24:23.660
 to love

00:24:23.660 --> 00:24:23.940
 me,

00:24:24.039 --> 00:24:24.480
 isn't it?

00:24:26.579 --> 00:24:27.359
 It's easy

00:24:27.359 --> 00:24:28.000
 to love

00:24:28.000 --> 00:24:28.660
 people who

00:24:28.660 --> 00:24:29.079
 are like

00:24:29.079 --> 00:24:29.420
 me,

00:24:29.420 --> 00:24:30.080
 people of

00:24:30.080 --> 00:24:30.960
 my culture,

00:24:31.960 --> 00:24:32.960
 my class,

00:24:33.380 --> 00:24:34.360
 my background.

00:24:35.440 --> 00:24:36.580
 The problem

00:24:36.580 --> 00:24:37.300
 comes for

00:24:37.300 --> 00:24:37.900
 me when

00:24:37.900 --> 00:24:38.880
 other people

00:24:38.880 --> 00:24:39.279
 are not

00:24:39.279 --> 00:24:39.920
 like me,

00:24:39.980 --> 00:24:40.860
 and that's

00:24:40.860 --> 00:24:41.800
 everybody else,

00:24:41.900 --> 00:24:42.180
 really.

00:24:44.500 --> 00:24:45.460
 Verse 9,

00:24:45.460 --> 00:24:58.940
 knows

00:24:58.940 --> 00:24:59.400
 him.

00:24:59.400 --> 00:24:59.880
 He tend

00:24:59.880 --> 00:25:00.299
 to be

00:25:00.299 --> 00:25:01.940
 are not

00:25:01.940 --> 00:25:09.600
 I can take pride that I give attention and take time with 90% of the people in the church.

00:25:11.000 --> 00:25:18.860
 You can feel pleased with yourself that you spend 90% of the time with every visitor that comes in

00:25:18.860 --> 00:25:21.740
 and you say hello to them and welcome them.

00:25:22.740 --> 00:25:23.440
 But you know what?

00:25:23.440 --> 00:25:34.420
 If you or I exclude one person out of discrimination because their skin colour is different to mine,

00:25:35.320 --> 00:25:43.980
 or if I exclude one person out of prejudice because, well, they're not as educated as me and they look a little bit awkward,

00:25:45.200 --> 00:25:50.039
 I am as guilty as if I have not loved anybody.

00:25:50.039 --> 00:25:53.659
 That's what James is saying.

00:25:54.619 --> 00:25:56.019
 Verse 11.

00:25:58.200 --> 00:26:04.879
 For he who said, you shall not commit adultery, also said, you shall not murder.

00:26:05.639 --> 00:26:11.659
 If you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.

00:26:11.660 --> 00:26:22.019
 That's like a man being arrested for murdering his wife and then standing up before the judge and claim,

00:26:22.140 --> 00:26:25.759
 well, I'm actually innocent of murder because, well, I didn't have an affair.

00:26:26.400 --> 00:26:27.580
 Maybe you should let me off.

00:26:28.740 --> 00:26:29.440
 It's ridiculous.

00:26:30.940 --> 00:26:34.600
 Fail at one point of the law and you are guilty.

00:26:34.800 --> 00:26:37.640
 You are under the law and you will be judged by it.

00:26:37.640 --> 00:27:07.620
 Fail at one point of the law.

00:27:07.640 --> 00:27:11.500
 And I think it's wonderful as we shared tea and coffee together,

00:27:12.500 --> 00:27:16.040
 the conversations, the chat with one another, welcoming,

00:27:17.800 --> 00:27:22.860
 extending mercy and grace, being conduits of God's love to one another.

00:27:24.440 --> 00:27:28.420
 Favoritism dies as love grows.

00:27:28.420 --> 00:27:31.140
 It's wonderful to see.

00:27:31.140 --> 00:27:38.940
 It's wonderful to be part of a church family where we love our neighbour as ourself.

00:27:38.940 --> 00:27:47.220
 So James is quite clear and it's really hard hitting, isn't it?

00:27:48.720 --> 00:27:52.660
 No favoritism because God chooses the humble poor.

00:27:53.100 --> 00:27:56.640
 No favoritism because God commands the church to love.

00:27:56.640 --> 00:28:04.580
 And then his third reason, no favoritism because God acts in mercy towards us.

00:28:04.579 --> 00:28:10.019
 Look at verse 12 as he brings things to a conclusion.

00:28:13.220 --> 00:28:19.519
 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom.

00:28:20.439 --> 00:28:24.720
 There's two things about the law, two sides to the law.

00:28:24.720 --> 00:28:29.279
 There's the law that brings freedom.

00:28:31.740 --> 00:28:37.700
 If we follow God's law and do what it says, well then it helps us thrive.

00:28:37.900 --> 00:28:41.700
 It helps us to become the kind of people God has called us to be.

00:28:42.059 --> 00:28:44.799
 If we follow God's law, it's good for us.

00:28:44.900 --> 00:28:46.700
 It's best and right for us.

00:28:46.700 --> 00:28:51.460
 It creates the right kind of environment in which we live and flourish.

00:28:51.840 --> 00:28:54.559
 It brings freedom for how we should live.

00:28:56.620 --> 00:28:58.819
 But then there's the other side of the law.

00:28:59.940 --> 00:29:03.220
 Not only does the law bring freedom if we follow it,

00:29:04.000 --> 00:29:08.980
 the law is also the basis on which we will be judged.

00:29:09.740 --> 00:29:11.299
 Do you see what it says in verse 12?

00:29:11.299 --> 00:29:16.759
 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law.

00:29:19.619 --> 00:29:23.319
 Now, I hope I don't need to remind us all again

00:29:23.319 --> 00:29:27.119
 that the problem as we've gone through this section in James is,

00:29:27.740 --> 00:29:29.659
 well, we don't obey God's law.

00:29:31.099 --> 00:29:35.259
 Rather than love our neighbor, we often show favoritism.

00:29:35.259 --> 00:29:42.980
 We pick and choose those who we like and reject and ignore those we don't like.

00:29:43.119 --> 00:29:46.400
 We need God's mercy.

00:29:48.599 --> 00:29:54.160
 Where we fail to love as we should, we need God's mercy.

00:29:55.039 --> 00:29:56.779
 Look at verse 13.

00:29:56.779 --> 00:30:06.639
 Because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful.

00:30:08.259 --> 00:30:11.500
 Mercy triumphs over judgment.

00:30:12.879 --> 00:30:15.639
 Now, here's the logic of verse 13.

00:30:15.839 --> 00:30:16.960
 Follow along with me.

00:30:17.899 --> 00:30:20.559
 If we've received mercy from God,

00:30:21.319 --> 00:30:23.619
 we will now show mercy to others.

00:30:23.619 --> 00:30:30.139
 If we've experienced the mercy of God who does not judge us as we deserve,

00:30:30.979 --> 00:30:36.259
 then we will be merciful to others and not become judges with evil thoughts.

00:30:37.719 --> 00:30:38.939
 I want us to get that.

00:30:38.979 --> 00:30:40.719
 I'm going to say that last line again.

00:30:41.359 --> 00:30:46.539
 If we've experienced the mercy of God who does not judge us as we deserve,

00:30:47.579 --> 00:30:50.219
 then we will be merciful to others

00:30:50.219 --> 00:30:53.539
 and not become judges with evil thoughts.

00:30:53.619 --> 00:30:59.299
 You see, at the heart of the gospel is God's mercy.

00:31:00.119 --> 00:31:03.579
 Mercy is his unconditional grace and compassion.

00:31:04.059 --> 00:31:06.259
 It's the opposite of favoritism.

00:31:06.739 --> 00:31:10.000
 Rather than show prejudice, God shows grace.

00:31:10.479 --> 00:31:14.079
 Rather than discrimination, God has compassion.

00:31:14.079 --> 00:31:21.899
 Let me show you how God has mercy upon us.

00:31:23.980 --> 00:31:26.519
 First, he became poor.

00:31:27.159 --> 00:31:30.539
 Look at the beginning of verse 5 of chapter 2.

00:31:31.599 --> 00:31:32.519
 Verse 5.

00:31:32.519 --> 00:31:35.400
 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters.

00:31:36.019 --> 00:31:41.960
 Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith

00:31:41.960 --> 00:31:46.059
 and to inherit the kingdom he promised to those who love him?

00:31:47.119 --> 00:31:50.619
 You see, for us to become spiritually rich,

00:31:51.019 --> 00:31:54.680
 Christ first had to become spiritually poor.

00:31:54.680 --> 00:32:00.279
 Look at the quote on the screen from 2 Corinthians.

00:32:01.279 --> 00:32:04.360
 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,

00:32:04.440 --> 00:32:08.820
 that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor,

00:32:08.940 --> 00:32:13.500
 so that you, through his poverty, might become rich.

00:32:13.500 --> 00:32:19.660
 Christ was rich, perfect in righteousness and purity,

00:32:20.140 --> 00:32:23.859
 yet he became poor, taking on our impurity,

00:32:24.299 --> 00:32:28.440
 and in its place giving us his riches, his purity.

00:32:29.480 --> 00:32:32.380
 Christ takes on our spiritual poverty

00:32:32.380 --> 00:32:37.079
 so that we might receive his spiritual riches.

00:32:38.019 --> 00:32:40.519
 Now that is mercy.

00:32:40.519 --> 00:32:45.139
 That is mercy triumphing over judgment.

00:32:45.740 --> 00:32:48.599
 That is the grace and compassion of God

00:32:48.599 --> 00:32:54.839
 towards discriminating, prejudiced people like you and me.

00:32:56.019 --> 00:32:57.460
 That is mercy.

00:32:59.519 --> 00:33:01.819
 But not only has he become poor.

00:33:03.200 --> 00:33:05.019
 He has loved us.

00:33:05.500 --> 00:33:06.379
 Look at verse 8.

00:33:06.380 --> 00:33:10.880
 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture,

00:33:11.100 --> 00:33:12.760
 love your neighbour as yourself,

00:33:13.220 --> 00:33:15.040
 you are doing right.

00:33:16.580 --> 00:33:20.080
 Christ was the only one who came into this world

00:33:20.080 --> 00:33:24.180
 and as a man kept the royal law.

00:33:24.720 --> 00:33:28.040
 He was the only one who loved the neighbour as himself,

00:33:28.260 --> 00:33:28.680
 perfectly.

00:33:31.160 --> 00:33:33.980
 And this is how we know of his love.

00:33:34.080 --> 00:33:35.040
 Look at the screen again.

00:33:35.039 --> 00:33:37.579
 Here is a quote from 1 John 3.16.

00:33:38.599 --> 00:33:40.659
 This is how we know what love is.

00:33:40.819 --> 00:33:45.440
 Christ laid down his life for us.

00:33:48.000 --> 00:33:52.319
 Christ was treated as a lawbreaker for you and for me.

00:33:53.039 --> 00:33:55.519
 When Christ was nailed to the cross,

00:33:55.879 --> 00:33:58.539
 he was treated as a favourite-picking,

00:33:58.539 --> 00:34:00.059
 discriminating,

00:34:00.059 --> 00:34:00.220
 discriminating,

00:34:00.740 --> 00:34:01.559
 prejudiced,

00:34:02.019 --> 00:34:03.799
 unmerciful sinner,

00:34:05.039 --> 00:34:05.720
 racist,

00:34:06.259 --> 00:34:08.420
 for us.

00:34:08.820 --> 00:34:11.259
 He was treated as a lawbreaker.

00:34:12.440 --> 00:34:14.759
 And in place of the lawbreaking,

00:34:15.099 --> 00:34:17.099
 what was credited to our account

00:34:17.099 --> 00:34:19.519
 was his perfect law-keeping.

00:34:20.820 --> 00:34:23.860
 So that we might be welcomed in.

00:34:23.860 --> 00:34:27.280
 So that we would never be pushed out,

00:34:27.420 --> 00:34:30.340
 but become part of his family.

00:34:31.420 --> 00:34:33.099
 That is mercy.

00:34:33.960 --> 00:34:37.300
 That is mercy triumphing over judgment.

00:34:37.940 --> 00:34:40.720
 That is the grace and compassion of God

00:34:40.720 --> 00:34:42.200
 towards people like us,

00:34:42.800 --> 00:34:43.180
 who,

00:34:43.179 --> 00:34:45.419
 and let's admit it,

00:34:46.119 --> 00:34:49.239
 judge with evil thoughts.

00:34:52.719 --> 00:34:54.139
 Verse 13.

00:34:55.719 --> 00:34:58.239
 Because judgment without mercy

00:34:58.239 --> 00:35:00.899
 will be shown to anyone

00:35:00.899 --> 00:35:03.279
 who has not been merciful.

00:35:04.279 --> 00:35:07.480
 Mercy triumphs over judgment.

00:35:07.480 --> 00:35:10.219
 You see,

00:35:10.320 --> 00:35:11.240
 the evidence,

00:35:11.500 --> 00:35:14.300
 the evidence that we have received

00:35:14.300 --> 00:35:18.139
 and experienced God's mercy in our life

00:35:18.139 --> 00:35:21.880
 is that we are now merciful to others.

00:35:22.840 --> 00:35:25.119
 Instead of showing favouritism,

00:35:25.579 --> 00:35:29.719
 we now show unconditional grace and compassion.

00:35:30.679 --> 00:35:33.280
 As our lives are filled afresh

00:35:33.280 --> 00:35:34.740
 with the mercy of God,

00:35:34.739 --> 00:35:37.839
 as we bow before him in worship

00:35:37.839 --> 00:35:39.739
 for all that we have received,

00:35:40.219 --> 00:35:42.099
 so mercy,

00:35:42.359 --> 00:35:43.739
 grace and compassion

00:35:43.739 --> 00:35:45.919
 will bubble up and overflow

00:35:45.919 --> 00:35:47.739
 and we will be conduits

00:35:48.279 --> 00:35:50.399
 of God's mercy towards one another.

00:35:51.719 --> 00:35:53.659
 And we will point people to

00:35:53.659 --> 00:35:56.439
 the most merciful Saviour,

00:35:56.619 --> 00:35:57.539
 Jesus Christ.

00:36:01.419 --> 00:36:04.119
 I want to leave us with two questions.

00:36:04.739 --> 00:36:08.279
 just in the quietness

00:36:08.279 --> 00:36:11.739
 to think about these two things.

00:36:12.719 --> 00:36:14.039
 If you've got the notes

00:36:14.039 --> 00:36:14.879
 that were handed out,

00:36:14.959 --> 00:36:16.219
 the two questions are there.

00:36:17.359 --> 00:36:19.199
 And here's the first question.

00:36:20.479 --> 00:36:22.259
 Have I experienced

00:36:22.259 --> 00:36:24.099
 God's mercy?

00:36:25.899 --> 00:36:27.619
 Do I know what it is

00:36:27.619 --> 00:36:30.519
 to come with absolute spiritual poverty,

00:36:31.519 --> 00:36:32.899
 not claiming anything,

00:36:32.900 --> 00:36:34.320
 empty hands,

00:36:34.320 --> 00:36:34.340
 empty hands,

00:36:34.840 --> 00:36:37.740
 and just come to him and say,

00:36:38.539 --> 00:36:40.480
 Lord, fill me with your mercy.

00:36:41.039 --> 00:36:42.380
 I have nothing to bring,

00:36:42.500 --> 00:36:43.280
 nothing to claim.

00:36:44.420 --> 00:36:45.800
 I need your mercy.

00:36:47.119 --> 00:36:48.700
 Have you experienced

00:36:48.700 --> 00:36:50.500
 the depth of God's mercy

00:36:50.500 --> 00:36:51.280
 in your life?

00:36:51.280 --> 00:36:56.000
 The second question is this.

00:36:56.960 --> 00:36:59.420
 Who do I need to show mercy to

00:36:59.420 --> 00:37:00.840
 this week?

00:37:02.280 --> 00:37:03.340
 Is there somebody

00:37:03.340 --> 00:37:04.660
 I'm avoiding at work?

00:37:05.820 --> 00:37:06.840
 Is there somebody

00:37:06.840 --> 00:37:08.760
 who I just don't talk to

00:37:08.760 --> 00:37:09.360
 on a Sunday?

00:37:12.200 --> 00:37:13.200
 Where am I

00:37:13.200 --> 00:37:15.060
 showing favouritism?

00:37:15.059 --> 00:37:18.259
 Lord, help me to show mercy

00:37:18.259 --> 00:37:19.460
 and compassion

00:37:19.460 --> 00:37:21.019
 and grace.

00:37:23.279 --> 00:37:24.920
 Let's pray together.

00:37:25.039 --> 00:37:25.820
 And as we pray,

00:37:27.039 --> 00:37:28.619
 let's answer

00:37:28.619 --> 00:37:30.340
 those two questions.

00:37:30.340 --> 00:37:34.800
 The end