WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.219 James chapter 1, our text for today is verses 26 and 27. 00:00:07.980 --> 00:00:19.519 Last week we considered James' words from verse 22 of chapter 1, but be doers of the word and not hearers only deceiving yourselves. 00:00:19.519 --> 00:00:37.140 And the case that followed and established at length that while we can only be saved by grace alone, through faith alone, that having been saved, said salvation will evidence in good works. 00:00:37.799 --> 00:00:43.560 We will live lives that show that we have in fact been changed inside. 00:00:43.960 --> 00:00:47.659 We are different now than we once were. 00:00:47.659 --> 00:00:53.419 And the Bible is replete with these kinds of exhortations and these kinds of warnings. 00:00:53.599 --> 00:00:56.979 And James is very concerned about this matter. 00:00:57.799 --> 00:01:05.019 The proof that we have Jesus as our Savior is a life that expresses that Jesus is our Lord. 00:01:05.420 --> 00:01:08.019 It's a life given to him. 00:01:08.479 --> 00:01:13.879 And we talked at length last week about biblical sanctification and that process of growing in holiness. 00:01:13.879 --> 00:01:15.620 We don't just arrive at holiness. 00:01:15.620 --> 00:01:21.820 It comes bit by bit through the regular means of grace and by the power of the Spirit. 00:01:23.120 --> 00:01:31.260 But you need to know that it is entirely possible to think that you are a Christian, but to be deceived about the condition of your heart. 00:01:32.360 --> 00:01:34.880 And James is going to continue this theme throughout his letter. 00:01:34.879 --> 00:01:39.259 And he certainly does so today in these two verses. 00:01:39.260 --> 00:01:43.680 So we'll read verse 26 and 27. 00:01:43.680 --> 00:01:54.140 But before we do, and because this is the most important part of the time that we have set apart for the sermon, the time that we read the word. 00:01:54.300 --> 00:01:54.400 Right? 00:01:54.439 --> 00:01:56.340 These are God's very words for us. 00:01:56.420 --> 00:01:59.480 That's why I remind you that this is God's word to us. 00:02:00.020 --> 00:02:02.939 That it was written for his glory and our good. 00:02:02.939 --> 00:02:10.539 And so we would all do well to listen to it in order to believe its promises and to obey its commands. 00:02:10.539 --> 00:02:21.899 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. 00:02:23.239 --> 00:02:27.599 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this. 00:02:28.180 --> 00:02:34.939 To visit orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained from the world. 00:02:34.939 --> 00:02:45.639 Now I think that before we can make any meaningful progress in our understanding of today's text, we need to first define some terms. 00:02:46.400 --> 00:02:55.680 Specifically, what does James mean by religious in verse 26 and religion in verse 27? 00:02:55.680 --> 00:03:09.060 Both of these words have as their Greek root the Greek word threskos, which means given to religious observance or outward signs of worship. 00:03:09.580 --> 00:03:20.180 Which in this case likely means the attendance of the gathering of the church as he's exhorted the church to be quick to hear and slow to speak. 00:03:20.180 --> 00:03:31.939 But it could also include things like reading the right books, singing the right songs, listening to the right preachers, giving to the right causes, etc. 00:03:32.640 --> 00:03:40.400 Those trappings, those things that can be very good things, but things that we can place our hope in. 00:03:41.319 --> 00:03:48.200 We can be doing all of these things and think ourselves properly religious. 00:03:48.199 --> 00:03:53.280 Kent Hughes, a contemporary pastor in his commentary on James said, 00:03:53.280 --> 00:03:59.359 Our doing can produce a deadly religious delusion. 00:03:59.939 --> 00:04:05.239 So caught up in doing good things that we think we are saved. 00:04:06.060 --> 00:04:09.019 James is working at the very heart of this. 00:04:09.239 --> 00:04:16.000 This thought process and this opportunity we have to deceive ourselves. 00:04:16.000 --> 00:04:22.500 He seeks to correct any improper thinking about these matters all throughout the letter. 00:04:23.160 --> 00:04:30.100 And today in verse 26 and 27, which we'll study in the following three points. 00:04:30.220 --> 00:04:36.379 Number one, true worshipers, the true worshiper controls their tongue. 00:04:36.379 --> 00:04:42.100 Number two, the true worshiper helps the helpless. 00:04:43.100 --> 00:04:48.819 And number three, the true worshiper lives an unpolluted life. 00:04:49.279 --> 00:04:54.180 So the true worshiper, the one who isn't doing things merely to be seen by others, 00:04:54.300 --> 00:04:58.019 the one who isn't doing things to find their acceptance before God, 00:04:58.019 --> 00:05:03.699 but the one who is doing things out of a grateful response for what God has already done for them. 00:05:04.039 --> 00:05:07.879 The one who has been saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone. 00:05:08.139 --> 00:05:14.399 The one who has cast all of their hope and trust on the completed work of Jesus Christ. 00:05:14.759 --> 00:05:16.599 Then, acts. 00:05:17.199 --> 00:05:22.120 Out of that confidence, out of that acceptance, then acts. 00:05:22.120 --> 00:05:52.100 Out of that confidence, in Jesus Christ, in Jesus Christ, 00:05:52.120 --> 00:05:56.160 He picks up this metaphor of bridling. 00:05:56.519 --> 00:06:00.840 You put a bridle into the mouth of a horse to direct its way. 00:06:00.840 --> 00:06:04.579 A large and powerful animal, right? 00:06:04.819 --> 00:06:09.560 Being directed by a small and much less powerful human, right? 00:06:09.660 --> 00:06:13.800 Able to steer the animal where it will go. 00:06:14.819 --> 00:06:17.480 So if a man thinks that he is properly religious, 00:06:17.920 --> 00:06:20.980 thinks that he is appropriately worshipping God, 00:06:20.980 --> 00:06:24.439 and yet doesn't control his tongue, 00:06:24.439 --> 00:06:27.720 then he's being deceived at heart. 00:06:28.580 --> 00:06:31.939 Are our tongues under our control? 00:06:32.259 --> 00:06:35.640 And he says this outward appearance of religion is worthless. 00:06:35.759 --> 00:06:39.420 It is without gain for this person. 00:06:39.420 --> 00:06:44.100 Now, this is not the only place in James' letter that he addresses the tongue. 00:06:44.180 --> 00:06:47.960 We'll pick it back up again and again throughout the text. 00:06:48.060 --> 00:06:51.340 But I just want to show you the place that's most emphatic, 00:06:51.460 --> 00:06:54.020 where he uses this bridle metaphor, 00:06:54.360 --> 00:06:57.960 which is found in chapter 3, beginning in verse 2. 00:06:58.939 --> 00:06:59.620 Where he writes, 00:06:59.620 --> 00:07:15.319 So we suggest that the tongue is the thing most difficult to control. 00:07:15.319 --> 00:07:19.259 If we put bits into the mouths of horses that they obey us, 00:07:19.319 --> 00:07:22.120 we guide their whole bodies as well. 00:07:22.959 --> 00:07:24.439 Look at the ships also. 00:07:25.159 --> 00:07:27.959 Though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, 00:07:28.040 --> 00:07:32.779 they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 00:07:33.699 --> 00:07:36.319 So also the tongue is a small member, 00:07:36.759 --> 00:07:38.600 yet it boasts of great things. 00:07:38.600 --> 00:07:44.080 How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire. 00:07:44.939 --> 00:07:48.020 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. 00:07:48.620 --> 00:07:50.180 The tongue is set among our members, 00:07:50.379 --> 00:07:51.520 staining the whole body, 00:07:51.720 --> 00:07:54.080 setting on fire the entire course of life, 00:07:54.720 --> 00:07:57.200 and set on fire by hell. 00:07:58.100 --> 00:08:00.860 We cannot know the exact circumstance 00:08:00.860 --> 00:08:05.439 that James is writing to in these believers' lives, 00:08:05.439 --> 00:08:09.360 but they must have been a mess with their tongues. 00:08:10.259 --> 00:08:13.540 We certainly live in a day where information moves 00:08:13.540 --> 00:08:15.360 at an incredibly rapid pace, 00:08:15.420 --> 00:08:18.540 where it's difficult to know what is or isn't true. 00:08:18.800 --> 00:08:23.480 A day where words are being redefined right before us. 00:08:23.899 --> 00:08:28.839 It's incredible the way in which the tongue can shape things, 00:08:28.959 --> 00:08:30.259 can destroy things, 00:08:30.519 --> 00:08:33.019 can build things up. 00:08:33.019 --> 00:08:35.179 And as Christian people, 00:08:35.480 --> 00:08:36.500 we ought to be a people 00:08:36.500 --> 00:08:38.779 so devoted to the truth, 00:08:39.600 --> 00:08:44.100 so engrossed with who Jesus is 00:08:44.100 --> 00:08:45.579 and the things that he said, 00:08:45.840 --> 00:08:47.439 so filled with the Spirit 00:08:47.439 --> 00:08:50.799 that we are careful with our tongues. 00:08:51.899 --> 00:08:54.240 If you want to be discouraged about the American church, 00:08:54.340 --> 00:08:56.039 you can follow some people on Twitter. 00:08:57.879 --> 00:09:02.740 There are pastors who are just flatly unqualified for their activity. 00:09:03.019 --> 00:09:04.100 on social media. 00:09:04.419 --> 00:09:08.299 It's a shame the way we speak to one another online. 00:09:09.460 --> 00:09:13.059 Paul was also very concerned about the Christian's use of the tongue. 00:09:13.139 --> 00:09:14.360 It's not just James, 00:09:14.480 --> 00:09:16.019 so I'll show you a couple of other examples. 00:09:17.019 --> 00:09:20.439 Paul warns against filthy talk. 00:09:20.539 --> 00:09:22.240 He says in Ephesians 4, 29, 00:09:22.240 --> 00:09:25.299 let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, 00:09:25.379 --> 00:09:28.860 but only such as is good for building up, 00:09:29.240 --> 00:09:30.480 as fits the occasion, 00:09:30.620 --> 00:09:34.139 that it may give grace to those who hear. 00:09:34.220 --> 00:09:37.580 So what's the opposite of corrupting or filthy talk? 00:09:37.860 --> 00:09:39.919 It's talk that builds people up, 00:09:40.039 --> 00:09:42.980 that brings grace to them. 00:09:44.120 --> 00:09:45.659 He warned against lying, 00:09:45.860 --> 00:09:47.440 just flat untruth. 00:09:47.440 --> 00:09:48.820 Ephesians 4, 25, 00:09:49.560 --> 00:09:51.680 therefore having put away falsehood, 00:09:51.740 --> 00:09:55.100 let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, 00:09:55.720 --> 00:09:58.900 for we are members one of another. 00:09:59.940 --> 00:10:02.080 He warns against gossip, 00:10:02.360 --> 00:10:05.800 which is meaningless talking about somebody else. 00:10:05.940 --> 00:10:08.280 Often it's untrue. 00:10:09.280 --> 00:10:11.580 1 Timothy 5, verse 13, 00:10:11.580 --> 00:10:14.400 this is in regards to some idle, 00:10:15.580 --> 00:10:17.900 the word just left my mind. 00:10:21.379 --> 00:10:23.259 It's going to come back to me in just a second. 00:10:23.340 --> 00:10:24.020 Be patient with me. 00:10:24.500 --> 00:10:25.360 It's in our text. 00:10:29.340 --> 00:10:29.780 Widows. 00:10:29.940 --> 00:10:30.320 Thank you. 00:10:33.440 --> 00:10:34.300 Idle widows. 00:10:36.240 --> 00:10:37.180 Besides that, 00:10:37.259 --> 00:10:40.379 they learn to be idlers going about from house to house, 00:10:40.379 --> 00:10:41.740 and not only idlers, 00:10:42.000 --> 00:10:45.279 but also gossips and busybodies, 00:10:45.679 --> 00:10:48.200 saying what they should not. 00:10:49.120 --> 00:10:50.519 Paul warns against slander, 00:10:50.820 --> 00:10:53.559 which is just saying things that are untrue of someone. 00:10:54.159 --> 00:10:55.519 Colossians 3, in verse 8, 00:10:56.019 --> 00:10:57.419 but now you must put them all away, 00:10:57.539 --> 00:11:00.159 anger, wrath, malice, slander, 00:11:00.360 --> 00:11:02.899 and obscene talk from your mouth. 00:11:03.580 --> 00:11:05.399 He also warns against flattery, 00:11:05.720 --> 00:11:08.139 speaking things that are untrue of somebody, 00:11:08.139 --> 00:11:12.080 that are a lie about how great they are. 00:11:12.740 --> 00:11:13.860 Romans 16, 18, 00:11:14.019 --> 00:11:16.480 for such persons do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, 00:11:16.659 --> 00:11:18.299 but their own appetites, 00:11:18.360 --> 00:11:20.620 and by smooth talk and flattery, 00:11:20.759 --> 00:11:24.259 they deceive the hearts of any eve. 00:11:24.840 --> 00:11:27.379 So the tongue is a concern of the scripture, 00:11:27.699 --> 00:11:29.779 that we would speak truth, 00:11:29.879 --> 00:11:32.419 and that we wouldn't speak falsehood. 00:11:32.419 --> 00:11:36.299 And so many of us need to be so careful with our tongues. 00:11:37.740 --> 00:11:38.699 Jesus, our Lord, 00:11:38.799 --> 00:11:43.240 says that our tongues are evidence of the condition of our hearts. 00:11:44.279 --> 00:11:46.620 Matthew 12, verse 33 and following. 00:11:47.559 --> 00:11:47.979 He said, 00:11:48.079 --> 00:11:50.159 Either make the tree good and its fruit good, 00:11:50.219 --> 00:11:52.099 or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, 00:11:52.139 --> 00:11:55.479 for the tree is known by its fruit. 00:11:56.240 --> 00:11:57.360 You brood of vipers, 00:11:57.439 --> 00:11:58.839 he's speaking to the Pharisees here, 00:11:58.840 --> 00:12:01.340 How can you speak good when you are evil? 00:12:01.940 --> 00:12:04.340 For out of the abundance of the heart, 00:12:04.860 --> 00:12:06.980 the mouth speaks. 00:12:07.600 --> 00:12:13.360 What we say gives evidence to who we are. 00:12:14.300 --> 00:12:17.860 We sing a song with the kids sometimes on Sunday morning 00:12:17.860 --> 00:12:21.660 called Good Fruit by a group called Rain for Roots. 00:12:21.780 --> 00:12:25.460 I would encourage their music for you and your children. 00:12:25.460 --> 00:12:28.120 And the chorus of this song, 00:12:28.220 --> 00:12:29.220 So Very Good, 00:12:29.340 --> 00:12:30.639 Children, you may know it, 00:12:31.240 --> 00:12:32.519 goes like this. 00:12:33.360 --> 00:12:37.660 Your heart is where the words of your mouth grow. 00:12:38.220 --> 00:12:42.900 Your mouth is where the thoughts of your heart go. 00:12:43.639 --> 00:12:47.300 Jesus, change our hearts to bear, 00:12:47.820 --> 00:12:51.360 to bear good fruit. 00:12:52.360 --> 00:12:54.500 Straight from this text. 00:12:54.500 --> 00:13:02.200 Jesus says that what we say gives evidence to who we are. 00:13:03.039 --> 00:13:04.759 And this should cause us to shudder, 00:13:04.899 --> 00:13:09.080 to really think about what we say and how we say it. 00:13:10.000 --> 00:13:13.759 Do you have a bridled tongue? 00:13:15.059 --> 00:13:16.080 Because if you don't, 00:13:16.279 --> 00:13:18.519 what James here is saying is that your religion is worthless. 00:13:19.419 --> 00:13:22.600 This does not mean necessarily that you're not in the faith, 00:13:22.600 --> 00:13:24.279 but it is a place for repentance. 00:13:25.000 --> 00:13:27.680 It is a place to ask the Lord to correct you. 00:13:27.820 --> 00:13:31.200 How is it that my tongue is not bridled, 00:13:31.279 --> 00:13:34.860 that I don't speak things that are consistent with the truth? 00:13:35.080 --> 00:13:36.860 Show me that I might repent. 00:13:37.560 --> 00:13:38.940 Correct my language. 00:13:39.279 --> 00:13:41.340 Be pleasing to you. 00:13:41.340 --> 00:13:45.700 If Jesus Christ has saved your soul, 00:13:45.820 --> 00:13:51.160 you will want to please the Lord with the way that you use your words. 00:13:51.159 --> 00:13:55.819 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue, 00:13:55.980 --> 00:13:58.000 but deceives his heart, 00:13:58.759 --> 00:14:01.419 this person's religion is worthless. 00:14:03.259 --> 00:14:07.639 Secondly, the true worshiper helps the helpless. 00:14:08.480 --> 00:14:10.860 This is the first part of verse 27. 00:14:10.860 --> 00:14:16.539 Religion stated in the positive now that is pure and undefiled before God, 00:14:16.600 --> 00:14:22.340 the father is this to visit orphans and widows in their affliction. 00:14:22.860 --> 00:14:25.320 So outward expression of worship, 00:14:25.500 --> 00:14:25.759 right? 00:14:26.200 --> 00:14:27.220 They cannot be questioned. 00:14:27.379 --> 00:14:29.240 It's pure and it's undefiled. 00:14:29.419 --> 00:14:32.200 It is righteous before God, 00:14:32.279 --> 00:14:36.600 the father to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, 00:14:36.680 --> 00:14:37.379 their trouble, 00:14:37.379 --> 00:14:39.899 like their times of trial. 00:14:41.340 --> 00:14:46.379 The widow and the orphan were the most destitute categories of people in ancient Jewish society. 00:14:47.259 --> 00:14:50.820 These were people who were without a social safety net. 00:14:50.980 --> 00:14:52.879 They were without planning and care. 00:14:53.019 --> 00:14:58.519 They just had no resource any longer for their concern. 00:14:59.600 --> 00:15:00.700 These were people who had, 00:15:01.159 --> 00:15:04.759 through the unfortunate loss of their parents or their husband, 00:15:04.759 --> 00:15:07.080 been left destitute. 00:15:07.379 --> 00:15:09.559 Without anybody to speak for them, 00:15:09.639 --> 00:15:11.580 without any help whatsoever. 00:15:13.580 --> 00:15:14.639 And so the church, 00:15:15.019 --> 00:15:15.860 in its early days, 00:15:16.000 --> 00:15:17.879 stepped in and began to do an amazing, 00:15:18.340 --> 00:15:19.519 God-honoring, 00:15:19.700 --> 00:15:24.200 God-empowered work amongst the orphans and the widows. 00:15:25.039 --> 00:15:29.600 This is why we see the church of Ephesus caring for widows under Paul's instruction to Timothy 00:15:29.600 --> 00:15:32.059 in 1 Timothy chapter 5. 00:15:32.059 --> 00:15:35.379 This is an active work of the church. 00:15:35.379 --> 00:15:38.179 They were taking up the cause of the orphan, 00:15:38.259 --> 00:15:39.299 the child on the street. 00:15:39.439 --> 00:15:44.980 They were homing these children as an extension of God's love for them. 00:15:45.820 --> 00:15:46.500 And beloved, 00:15:46.580 --> 00:15:50.559 we are still meant to care for the most helpless of our day. 00:15:51.360 --> 00:15:57.820 We ought not let our government's social security network make this, 00:15:57.820 --> 00:15:59.920 all of our problems go away. 00:15:59.980 --> 00:16:01.580 Hold everything at an arm's length. 00:16:01.740 --> 00:16:07.360 Live the life that we want to live and not be concerned about those who need our help. 00:16:08.320 --> 00:16:11.800 Pure and undefiled religion is expressed in this way. 00:16:12.040 --> 00:16:16.860 Finding those helpless and being a helper to them. 00:16:18.140 --> 00:16:18.640 Turn with me, 00:16:18.639 --> 00:16:19.039 if you will, 00:16:19.120 --> 00:16:19.340 please, 00:16:19.399 --> 00:16:20.980 to Isaiah chapter 1. 00:16:42.159 --> 00:16:43.600 Begin reading in verse 11. 00:16:43.600 --> 00:16:47.899 Listen to this rebuke of God to Israel. 00:16:49.200 --> 00:16:52.899 We ought to consider its application for the church today. 00:16:55.259 --> 00:16:56.000 God says, 00:16:56.159 --> 00:16:59.460 What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? 00:16:59.680 --> 00:16:59.759 Right? 00:17:00.000 --> 00:17:00.820 Outward worship, 00:17:01.180 --> 00:17:02.200 says the Lord. 00:17:03.480 --> 00:17:07.660 I haven't enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed beasts. 00:17:07.660 --> 00:17:12.220 I do not delight in the blood of bulls or of lambs or of goats. 00:17:13.019 --> 00:17:15.000 When you come to appear before me, 00:17:15.060 --> 00:17:19.519 who has required of you this trampling of my courts? 00:17:20.320 --> 00:17:20.620 Now, 00:17:20.700 --> 00:17:23.960 it's important to know that all of the things that have been mentioned by God 00:17:23.960 --> 00:17:28.060 were prescribed by God in the worship of God. 00:17:29.120 --> 00:17:33.220 But they're not taking care of things that matter most. 00:17:33.220 --> 00:17:35.200 Outward signs, 00:17:35.539 --> 00:17:38.360 not changed hearts. 00:17:39.519 --> 00:17:40.539 Verse 13, 00:17:40.660 --> 00:17:41.180 the Lord says, 00:17:41.279 --> 00:17:42.900 Bring no more vain offerings. 00:17:43.680 --> 00:17:45.660 Incense is an abomination to me. 00:17:46.120 --> 00:17:48.900 New moon and Sabbath and the calling of convocations, 00:17:49.019 --> 00:17:50.279 I cannot endure. 00:17:50.680 --> 00:17:53.100 Iniquity and solemn assembly. 00:17:54.200 --> 00:17:56.380 Your new moons and your appointed feasts, 00:17:56.500 --> 00:17:57.600 my soul hates. 00:17:58.120 --> 00:17:59.480 They have become a burden to me. 00:17:59.819 --> 00:18:01.720 I am weary of bearing them. 00:18:01.720 --> 00:18:04.259 When you spread out your hands, 00:18:04.360 --> 00:18:06.000 I will hide my eyes from you. 00:18:06.519 --> 00:18:08.460 Even though you make many prayers, 00:18:08.579 --> 00:18:09.660 I will not listen. 00:18:10.220 --> 00:18:13.700 Your hands are full of blood. 00:18:14.700 --> 00:18:17.200 And then he gives them the response to this, 00:18:17.579 --> 00:18:17.819 right? 00:18:18.400 --> 00:18:21.680 I will not bear with you any longer in this condition, 00:18:21.880 --> 00:18:22.220 but, 00:18:23.039 --> 00:18:23.759 verse 16, 00:18:24.460 --> 00:18:25.640 wash yourselves, 00:18:26.360 --> 00:18:27.880 make yourselves clean, 00:18:27.880 --> 00:18:32.160 remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes. 00:18:32.160 --> 00:18:35.720 So repent and cease to do evil. 00:18:36.680 --> 00:18:37.820 Learn to do good. 00:18:38.680 --> 00:18:39.580 Seek justice. 00:18:40.240 --> 00:18:41.040 Correct oppression. 00:18:41.820 --> 00:18:43.820 Bring justice to the fatherless, 00:18:44.220 --> 00:18:44.800 the orphan, 00:18:45.340 --> 00:18:48.260 and plead the widow's cause. 00:18:48.259 --> 00:18:56.500 God is pleased when changed hearts do a work that is honoring to him in the world. 00:18:56.700 --> 00:18:59.299 Not merely the trappings of religion. 00:18:59.640 --> 00:19:01.519 And it is good for us to come together, 00:19:01.640 --> 00:19:01.759 right? 00:19:01.799 --> 00:19:06.480 It is good for us to open God's word and to pray and to preach and to hear and to sing. 00:19:06.640 --> 00:19:09.759 All of those things are good things for us to do. 00:19:09.759 --> 00:19:12.379 They ought to be bolstering things, 00:19:12.740 --> 00:19:13.539 building things, 00:19:13.799 --> 00:19:17.220 equipping things so that we can go out into the world and live lives. 00:19:17.700 --> 00:19:20.879 The show that God is our God. 00:19:21.039 --> 00:19:23.839 That Jesus Christ has saved our souls. 00:19:24.019 --> 00:19:26.259 And we want to bring reconciliation. 00:19:26.740 --> 00:19:27.859 We want to bring redemption. 00:19:28.059 --> 00:19:33.960 We want to see peace established in the hearts of those people that we encounter each and every day. 00:19:33.960 --> 00:19:36.880 So we must ask, 00:19:37.500 --> 00:19:41.000 who are the most helpless of our day? 00:19:42.140 --> 00:19:43.680 We have widows in our church, 00:19:44.019 --> 00:19:46.480 and they need love and care like everybody else does, 00:19:46.539 --> 00:19:50.539 but they may not be the most helpless of our day. 00:19:52.140 --> 00:19:53.279 There are others, though. 00:19:53.460 --> 00:19:55.380 We need to be thoughtful about this. 00:19:55.880 --> 00:19:57.799 Who are those who have no voice? 00:19:57.900 --> 00:20:02.220 Who are those that need the church to speak for them? 00:20:02.220 --> 00:20:04.279 Who are those who need us to come alongside, 00:20:04.579 --> 00:20:05.519 to love and to serve, 00:20:05.600 --> 00:20:09.319 to show them the love of Jesus Christ? 00:20:10.400 --> 00:20:11.559 Are you individually, 00:20:11.720 --> 00:20:13.039 are we as a church, 00:20:13.100 --> 00:20:19.819 doing all that we can to do good and to seek justice and to correct oppression? 00:20:20.700 --> 00:20:21.680 And I would just say, beloved, 00:20:21.819 --> 00:20:24.339 that we need to seek the Lord with humility 00:20:24.339 --> 00:20:28.460 for what more we can do as a church. 00:20:28.799 --> 00:20:31.079 I know many of you love your neighbors well. 00:20:31.079 --> 00:20:34.159 What more could we do as a church 00:20:34.159 --> 00:20:38.139 so that our religion will be pure and undefiled, right? 00:20:38.179 --> 00:20:40.699 We want this to be the case before God, right? 00:20:41.039 --> 00:20:43.740 The God who has loved us so immensely in Jesus Christ, 00:20:43.859 --> 00:20:47.240 we want him to be pleased with our worship. 00:20:48.759 --> 00:20:49.279 And thirdly, 00:20:50.299 --> 00:20:54.079 the true worshiper lives an unpolluted life. 00:20:54.879 --> 00:20:56.339 Last part of verse 27, 00:20:56.339 --> 00:21:04.879 James is not being unreasonable here. 00:21:05.519 --> 00:21:08.099 He is not trying to say to us that we will be perfect. 00:21:08.199 --> 00:21:10.099 This is not at all what he's communicating. 00:21:10.619 --> 00:21:12.279 What he's saying is that the true worshiper 00:21:12.279 --> 00:21:14.559 will be about this work, right? 00:21:14.740 --> 00:21:18.079 Will be putting off sin and putting on righteousness. 00:21:18.439 --> 00:21:23.079 Will be avoiding the things that tend to taint our souls. 00:21:23.079 --> 00:21:28.199 We live in an increasingly corrupt world. 00:21:29.139 --> 00:21:32.199 This world is going off its rails. 00:21:32.960 --> 00:21:34.139 It is astounding. 00:21:35.199 --> 00:21:37.220 I don't know how many of you even have TV. 00:21:37.659 --> 00:21:38.899 We don't in our home, 00:21:39.139 --> 00:21:42.399 but our in-laws do and the kids go over. 00:21:42.460 --> 00:21:44.919 We have to be careful about the kids' channels these days 00:21:44.919 --> 00:21:47.859 and what kind of information is being propagated 00:21:47.859 --> 00:21:49.399 on the kids' channels. 00:21:49.460 --> 00:21:50.460 It's astounding. 00:21:50.460 --> 00:21:55.480 Pay attention to the messaging that is coming across to us. 00:21:56.000 --> 00:21:59.860 It seems that Isaiah's lament in Isaiah chapter 5 and verse 20 00:21:59.860 --> 00:22:01.440 has come true. 00:22:01.620 --> 00:22:01.880 He says, 00:22:02.059 --> 00:22:04.940 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, 00:22:05.220 --> 00:22:08.480 who put darkness for light and light for darkness, 00:22:08.880 --> 00:22:13.440 who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. 00:22:14.100 --> 00:22:18.840 This whole world just seems so terribly turned upside down. 00:22:18.839 --> 00:22:20.720 And as Christians, 00:22:20.879 --> 00:22:22.799 we are meant to be those who live, 00:22:23.159 --> 00:22:25.959 turning it right side up. 00:22:26.579 --> 00:22:29.579 We are those who take in good in the world, right? 00:22:29.619 --> 00:22:31.359 That we might share that with others. 00:22:32.339 --> 00:22:34.439 We need to make very careful decisions 00:22:34.439 --> 00:22:36.419 about what we take into our homes 00:22:36.419 --> 00:22:38.879 and what we take into our hearts. 00:22:39.500 --> 00:22:41.419 You need to pay attention to the way 00:22:41.419 --> 00:22:43.539 the things you consume affect 00:22:43.539 --> 00:22:44.920 the way you feel, 00:22:45.680 --> 00:22:46.339 speak, 00:22:46.940 --> 00:22:47.720 and act. 00:22:48.759 --> 00:22:51.799 We will do well to be left out of a conversation 00:22:51.799 --> 00:22:54.859 about the latest episode of some dumb TV show 00:22:54.859 --> 00:22:57.159 for the sake of our souls. 00:22:57.519 --> 00:22:59.139 It's okay to say to your friends, 00:22:59.259 --> 00:23:00.319 Nope, I don't watch that. 00:23:01.079 --> 00:23:02.180 And then tell them why. 00:23:02.920 --> 00:23:04.940 It's garbage and it's bad for you. 00:23:05.220 --> 00:23:07.200 It's an acceptable thing 00:23:07.200 --> 00:23:08.940 to say. 00:23:09.620 --> 00:23:10.980 We need to be mindful 00:23:10.980 --> 00:23:12.380 about what it means 00:23:12.380 --> 00:23:14.000 to keep ourselves 00:23:14.000 --> 00:23:15.860 unstained from the world. 00:23:16.000 --> 00:23:16.960 To live in it, 00:23:17.100 --> 00:23:18.559 but to not be of it. 00:23:18.880 --> 00:23:19.900 So that we will be, 00:23:20.059 --> 00:23:20.519 as a church, 00:23:20.580 --> 00:23:21.460 a city on a hill. 00:23:21.680 --> 00:23:23.200 So that we will carry a witness 00:23:23.200 --> 00:23:24.279 of the goodness of God 00:23:24.279 --> 00:23:25.840 and the personal work of Jesus Christ 00:23:25.840 --> 00:23:27.120 to everyone. 00:23:28.440 --> 00:23:29.660 At the end of our days, 00:23:29.720 --> 00:23:31.700 we are not going to look back on our lives 00:23:31.700 --> 00:23:33.100 and wish we had done more 00:23:33.100 --> 00:23:34.620 of the pointless stuff. 00:23:35.620 --> 00:23:36.840 We won't for a minute 00:23:36.840 --> 00:23:37.680 think, 00:23:37.680 --> 00:23:39.700 man, I just wish I'd spent more time 00:23:39.700 --> 00:23:40.640 consuming, 00:23:41.080 --> 00:23:41.759 watching TV, 00:23:42.080 --> 00:23:43.360 doing those types of things. 00:23:43.420 --> 00:23:46.500 We will not care about that. 00:23:47.400 --> 00:23:48.340 We will wish rather 00:23:48.340 --> 00:23:50.259 that we'd spent more time 00:23:50.259 --> 00:23:51.820 taking in the word, 00:23:52.240 --> 00:23:53.799 sharing the word with others 00:23:53.799 --> 00:23:55.000 in prayer. 00:23:56.060 --> 00:23:57.060 I think it was John Piper 00:23:57.060 --> 00:23:57.480 that said, 00:23:57.580 --> 00:23:58.400 the one good thing 00:23:58.400 --> 00:23:59.240 that Facebook will do 00:23:59.240 --> 00:23:59.759 for the world 00:23:59.759 --> 00:24:01.180 is prove that we had time 00:24:01.180 --> 00:24:01.840 for prayer. 00:24:04.360 --> 00:24:05.720 We need to set ourselves 00:24:05.720 --> 00:24:07.200 to the things of God. 00:24:07.680 --> 00:24:07.960 Beloved, 00:24:08.019 --> 00:24:09.200 this life is but a vapor. 00:24:09.900 --> 00:24:11.140 It is coming very quickly 00:24:11.140 --> 00:24:13.240 and it will pass on. 00:24:14.000 --> 00:24:14.900 In our weakness, 00:24:15.019 --> 00:24:16.420 we're most reminded of this. 00:24:16.480 --> 00:24:16.920 This morning, 00:24:17.039 --> 00:24:17.860 I kind of feel like 00:24:17.860 --> 00:24:18.779 I need to go lay down 00:24:18.779 --> 00:24:19.400 right now. 00:24:20.600 --> 00:24:21.960 You have felt that way. 00:24:22.980 --> 00:24:23.759 Much of our church 00:24:23.759 --> 00:24:24.299 is not here 00:24:24.299 --> 00:24:25.060 because they've got people 00:24:25.060 --> 00:24:25.860 who are sick. 00:24:26.400 --> 00:24:27.960 The curse of this world 00:24:27.960 --> 00:24:29.000 runs rampant. 00:24:29.259 --> 00:24:29.320 Right? 00:24:29.360 --> 00:24:30.519 And it should be reminding us 00:24:30.519 --> 00:24:31.180 that we don't live 00:24:31.180 --> 00:24:31.660 for this world. 00:24:31.660 --> 00:24:33.680 We live for the world 00:24:33.680 --> 00:24:34.800 to come. 00:24:35.440 --> 00:24:35.640 Right? 00:24:35.800 --> 00:24:37.340 We invest now 00:24:37.340 --> 00:24:38.840 into dividends 00:24:38.840 --> 00:24:39.920 that will pay out 00:24:39.920 --> 00:24:41.279 forever. 00:24:42.940 --> 00:24:44.000 We don't want to find 00:24:44.000 --> 00:24:44.940 ourselves being 00:24:44.940 --> 00:24:46.840 false worshipers. 00:24:47.180 --> 00:24:47.300 Right? 00:24:47.540 --> 00:24:48.480 Having a religion 00:24:48.480 --> 00:24:50.400 that is worthless. 00:24:51.060 --> 00:24:51.160 Right? 00:24:51.400 --> 00:24:52.220 We want to be people 00:24:52.220 --> 00:24:53.160 who set ourselves, 00:24:53.380 --> 00:24:54.519 all of ourselves, 00:24:54.620 --> 00:24:56.140 the entirety of ourselves, 00:24:56.140 --> 00:24:57.960 for the glory of God 00:24:57.960 --> 00:24:58.660 in the world 00:24:58.660 --> 00:24:59.440 in which we live. 00:24:59.440 --> 00:25:01.980 Note that James tells us 00:25:01.980 --> 00:25:03.039 that true worshipers 00:25:03.039 --> 00:25:04.019 will be concerned 00:25:04.019 --> 00:25:05.720 not just with their 00:25:05.720 --> 00:25:06.500 religious formality 00:25:06.500 --> 00:25:07.680 but with the activity 00:25:07.680 --> 00:25:09.480 of their mouths, 00:25:10.320 --> 00:25:11.680 of their hands and feet, 00:25:12.860 --> 00:25:13.799 and of their hearts. 00:25:14.340 --> 00:25:15.279 Their whole being 00:25:15.279 --> 00:25:16.940 devoted to the Lord. 00:25:18.080 --> 00:25:19.420 The true worshiper 00:25:19.420 --> 00:25:21.360 controls their tongue, 00:25:22.200 --> 00:25:22.960 helps the helpless, 00:25:23.799 --> 00:25:24.500 and lives 00:25:24.500 --> 00:25:26.400 an unpolluted life. 00:25:27.000 --> 00:25:28.080 Please join me in prayer.