WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.060 To preach, and as Tyler comes up, he'll be preaching from James chapter 1, from verses 22 to 27. 00:00:07.280 --> 00:00:10.599 So if you have a Bible, please turn to that. 00:00:10.599 --> 00:00:15.419 And if you have a red church Bible, it's on page 1213. 00:00:16.420 --> 00:00:17.219 Thank you, Tyler. 00:00:25.839 --> 00:00:27.060 Well, good morning. 00:00:27.059 --> 00:00:34.280 Good morning. As Jonathan said, if you have your Bibles, I'd ask that you go ahead and open them up to the book of James. 00:00:35.539 --> 00:00:39.719 James chapter 1, and I'll be reading here from verse 22 in just a moment. 00:00:40.920 --> 00:00:48.519 But before I dive in, I just want to take some time to thank Johnny and the other elders for the invitation to come and open God's word with you today. 00:00:48.980 --> 00:00:52.039 Consider it an honor and a privilege. Super excited to be here. 00:00:52.039 --> 00:00:56.960 And I bring you greetings from Carrick Tool Baptist Church, where my wife and I are members. 00:00:57.060 --> 00:01:01.500 So thank you so much for having us. It's really a privilege. 00:01:02.640 --> 00:01:06.140 Now, I haven't had the pleasure of meeting quite a few of you. 00:01:06.140 --> 00:01:11.680 So I just want to take a little bit of time to tell you about myself. 00:01:11.859 --> 00:01:16.120 So as you can tell from my accent, I'm originally from Donegal. 00:01:17.400 --> 00:01:18.019 No, I'm just kidding. 00:01:18.540 --> 00:01:20.299 I wasn't sure how that would land, but that was good. 00:01:20.560 --> 00:01:20.939 That's good. 00:01:21.260 --> 00:01:27.620 So no, I'm actually, me and my wife just recently relocated from North Carolina in the United States. 00:01:27.620 --> 00:01:34.340 So down in America's Southland, I am one of four siblings. 00:01:34.660 --> 00:01:37.240 So I have two brothers and a sister. 00:01:38.460 --> 00:01:46.600 And were you to ask my parents, they would probably tell you that out of all their children, I was the most energetic. 00:01:48.460 --> 00:01:50.900 Well, maybe a better word is hyper, actually. 00:01:50.900 --> 00:01:56.300 But I don't think I was a particularly disobedient child or anything like that. 00:01:56.400 --> 00:01:58.820 I just had loads and loads of energy. 00:01:59.800 --> 00:02:05.140 And one example from my childhood that I feel demonstrates this fact pretty well. 00:02:05.260 --> 00:02:09.560 It comes from a trip that my family took at the zoo when I was younger. 00:02:10.259 --> 00:02:13.180 So I was maybe four or five years old. 00:02:13.300 --> 00:02:16.659 So I don't have any real recollection of this event. 00:02:16.700 --> 00:02:18.500 But my mom, she swears that it happened. 00:02:18.500 --> 00:02:20.620 And so we're at the zoo. 00:02:20.879 --> 00:02:22.560 We're enjoying our time together. 00:02:22.560 --> 00:02:24.719 We're looking at all the wonderful animals. 00:02:25.439 --> 00:02:31.280 But because of what I just told you, that I'm incredibly energetic, being the energetic child I was, 00:02:31.319 --> 00:02:37.599 I'm running around everywhere, just back and forth, like a ping pong ball going back and forth between the paddles. 00:02:39.620 --> 00:02:42.199 And my mom, she's a wonderful mom. 00:02:42.280 --> 00:02:43.420 She's trying to rein me in. 00:02:43.479 --> 00:02:45.719 She's trying to stop me from causing a scene. 00:02:45.719 --> 00:02:48.099 And she runs after me. 00:02:48.099 --> 00:02:51.359 And she says, as the story goes, Tyler, stop running. 00:02:52.560 --> 00:02:58.900 And me, as I am jogging in place, I turn back to my mother and I say, I'm not running, mommy. 00:03:00.139 --> 00:03:03.979 And as I said, I don't remember this, but I can totally see myself doing it. 00:03:03.979 --> 00:03:09.299 It's kind of funny to think about, I'm there, this little boy, I'm hearing what my mom's saying. 00:03:09.780 --> 00:03:13.639 I'm just doing a really poor job of the whole listening part. 00:03:14.500 --> 00:03:17.639 And I'm sure I looked pretty ridiculous, pretty silly. 00:03:18.139 --> 00:03:20.379 She's telling me not to run. 00:03:20.879 --> 00:03:25.459 I'm screaming that I'm not running as I quite obviously run in place. 00:03:25.460 --> 00:03:29.219 So it's kind of a crazy picture. 00:03:29.840 --> 00:03:35.620 Well, James, in our passage today, he's going to paint another crazy picture. 00:03:36.379 --> 00:03:42.200 The absurdity of hearing God's word and failing to respond to it. 00:03:42.199 --> 00:03:49.659 And if I were to reduce the central idea of this passage down to a single sentence, 00:03:50.239 --> 00:03:55.699 this is what I would say, that we must listen to and obey God's word, 00:03:56.699 --> 00:04:00.959 demonstrating the genuineness of our faith by our behavior. 00:04:01.899 --> 00:04:03.099 I'll say that one more time. 00:04:03.339 --> 00:04:05.939 We must listen to and obey God's word, 00:04:06.979 --> 00:04:10.459 demonstrating the genuineness of our faith by our behavior. 00:04:10.460 --> 00:04:15.939 So for the rest of our time together, I want to unpack that idea. 00:04:16.180 --> 00:04:22.699 And I want, by God's spirit, my prayer is that we would leave this place with a greater understanding 00:04:22.699 --> 00:04:27.420 of what the Holy Spirit was saying to James's original audience 00:04:27.420 --> 00:04:31.560 and what's more, what he intends to teach us today. 00:04:32.439 --> 00:04:37.800 So look with me, begin reading with me here in chapter 1, verse 22. 00:04:40.459 --> 00:04:42.419 James writes, 00:04:42.539 --> 00:04:47.699 But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourself. 00:04:48.859 --> 00:04:52.439 Because if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, 00:04:53.099 --> 00:04:56.459 he's like someone looking at his own face in a mirror. 00:04:57.299 --> 00:05:00.479 For he looks at himself, he goes away, 00:05:01.039 --> 00:05:04.459 and immediately forgets what kind of person he was. 00:05:04.459 --> 00:05:11.379 But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres in it, 00:05:12.239 --> 00:05:15.379 and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer who works, 00:05:16.299 --> 00:05:19.560 this person will be blessed in what he does. 00:05:20.659 --> 00:05:24.799 If anyone thinks he is religious without controlling his tongue, 00:05:25.219 --> 00:05:29.359 his religion is useless, and he deceives himself. 00:05:29.360 --> 00:05:35.540 Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this, 00:05:36.100 --> 00:05:39.980 to look after orphans and widows in their distress, 00:05:40.360 --> 00:05:44.699 and to keep oneself unstained from the world. 00:05:45.439 --> 00:05:47.199 Let's pray together as we open God's word. 00:05:51.639 --> 00:05:54.740 Dear God, thank you so much for the opportunity to come 00:05:54.740 --> 00:05:57.600 and open your word with these brothers and sisters. 00:05:58.920 --> 00:06:01.340 I ask that you would, by the power of your spirit, 00:06:01.480 --> 00:06:05.340 make clear the message that you have for us this morning. 00:06:05.639 --> 00:06:10.800 Not a word from me, God, but a word from you to your people. 00:06:12.120 --> 00:06:15.740 And God, help us to be receptive to the message from your word, 00:06:15.819 --> 00:06:19.400 but would you also, by the power of your spirit, 00:06:20.199 --> 00:06:22.800 empower us to respond appropriately. 00:06:22.800 --> 00:06:27.379 And God, I ask all these things in the name of your son, Jesus. 00:06:28.220 --> 00:06:28.520 Amen. 00:06:30.960 --> 00:06:36.080 So we've already noted that the idea James is driving at for his readers 00:06:36.080 --> 00:06:39.340 is that we must listen to and obey God's word, 00:06:39.920 --> 00:06:44.680 demonstrating the genuineness of our faith by our behavior. 00:06:45.480 --> 00:06:48.900 But how is it that that unfolds throughout our passage? 00:06:50.080 --> 00:06:51.620 Well, to give a little bit of context, 00:06:51.620 --> 00:06:55.300 James has indicated in the opening verses of his epistle 00:06:55.300 --> 00:06:59.780 that it's primarily believers he has in mind as he writes. 00:07:00.660 --> 00:07:03.220 And he tells these believers that it is God, 00:07:03.899 --> 00:07:06.860 the one who's the source of every good gift 00:07:06.860 --> 00:07:09.420 whom they have to thank for their salvation. 00:07:10.120 --> 00:07:12.560 You can look in chapter one, verse 18. 00:07:12.699 --> 00:07:13.340 He tells them, 00:07:13.339 --> 00:07:15.339 by his own choice, 00:07:15.339 --> 00:07:15.379 by his own choice, 00:07:16.079 --> 00:07:19.139 he gave us birth by the word of truth 00:07:19.139 --> 00:07:23.500 so that we would be a kind of first fruits of his creatures. 00:07:24.859 --> 00:07:28.500 And now, at the outset of our text today, 00:07:28.500 --> 00:07:31.639 he begins to describe two individuals 00:07:31.639 --> 00:07:35.879 and their very different responses to the word of God. 00:07:35.879 --> 00:07:48.560 So let's take a look at that first individual in verses 23 and 24. 00:07:48.560 --> 00:07:51.019 James says, 00:07:51.019 --> 00:07:54.860 because if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, 00:07:55.699 --> 00:07:59.259 he's like someone looking at his own face in a mirror. 00:07:59.839 --> 00:08:01.180 For he looks at himself, 00:08:01.540 --> 00:08:02.459 he goes away, 00:08:02.699 --> 00:08:06.959 and immediately forgets what kind of person he was. 00:08:09.060 --> 00:08:11.420 Here in verses 23 and 24, 00:08:11.560 --> 00:08:14.680 James uses this very interesting analogy 00:08:14.680 --> 00:08:18.300 to illustrate the absurdity of hearing God's word 00:08:18.300 --> 00:08:20.040 and failing to respond to it. 00:08:21.120 --> 00:08:22.939 He says that the one who hears it 00:08:22.939 --> 00:08:24.740 and fails to respond to it, 00:08:24.759 --> 00:08:27.939 it's like someone who stares at their own reflection, 00:08:28.699 --> 00:08:30.000 they walk away, 00:08:30.180 --> 00:08:31.980 and they forget what they've seen. 00:08:33.360 --> 00:08:35.460 Now, when you and I read the word mirror, 00:08:36.399 --> 00:08:38.860 we think of this really nice and crystal clear, 00:08:39.500 --> 00:08:40.759 perfectly reflective thing 00:08:40.759 --> 00:08:44.240 that we probably have all of us hanging in our bathrooms now. 00:08:44.240 --> 00:08:46.480 But when James's original audience 00:08:46.480 --> 00:08:47.980 would have heard this word mirror, 00:08:48.560 --> 00:08:51.580 something quite different would have come to their minds. 00:08:51.799 --> 00:08:54.120 Because mirrors in the ancient world, 00:08:54.360 --> 00:08:56.899 they weren't made of the glass as we know it today. 00:08:56.980 --> 00:08:58.159 They were made from metal, 00:08:58.340 --> 00:09:01.480 which had been polished to offer a reflection. 00:09:02.600 --> 00:09:04.879 So rather than this crystal clear likeness 00:09:04.879 --> 00:09:07.080 and what we're used to today, 00:09:07.180 --> 00:09:10.680 these mirrors would have provided a murky image at best. 00:09:10.679 --> 00:09:14.319 And if you manage to see yourself adequately 00:09:14.319 --> 00:09:15.620 in these little mirrors, 00:09:16.419 --> 00:09:19.259 adequately enough to find any sort of cosmetic flaw, 00:09:19.439 --> 00:09:22.199 well, then of course you would address it. 00:09:23.799 --> 00:09:25.079 And in this passage, 00:09:25.219 --> 00:09:27.319 James is highlighting for his readers 00:09:27.319 --> 00:09:30.000 how absurd it is to give one's attention 00:09:30.000 --> 00:09:32.379 to one's appearance in the mirror, 00:09:32.799 --> 00:09:35.259 recognize that an issue needs to be addressed, 00:09:35.259 --> 00:09:37.620 and then not do anything about it. 00:09:37.819 --> 00:09:40.460 It's just not something that you would do. 00:09:41.700 --> 00:09:44.059 And I think that for most of us, 00:09:44.120 --> 00:09:47.200 this is an image that we can pretty intuitively grasp. 00:09:47.220 --> 00:09:49.980 But just to put it in more modern terms, 00:09:50.500 --> 00:09:52.120 I want to give you just an example here. 00:09:52.220 --> 00:09:54.000 So imagine that you're out 00:09:54.000 --> 00:09:56.980 for a nice Italian dinner with your friends. 00:09:56.980 --> 00:10:00.220 And as you're eating spaghetti, 00:10:00.779 --> 00:10:03.100 some sauce that maybe drops onto your chin, 00:10:03.600 --> 00:10:05.000 and one of your friends notices. 00:10:05.180 --> 00:10:06.700 And because they're a good friend, 00:10:06.879 --> 00:10:07.879 they point it out to you. 00:10:08.940 --> 00:10:11.240 So maybe you even head to the bathroom 00:10:11.240 --> 00:10:12.500 and you look in the mirror 00:10:12.500 --> 00:10:14.860 and you see you've got this massive glob 00:10:14.860 --> 00:10:16.779 of spaghetti sauce on your chin. 00:10:16.980 --> 00:10:19.000 But instead of seeing the sauce, 00:10:19.899 --> 00:10:21.480 wiping it from your face, 00:10:22.100 --> 00:10:23.180 you walk right back out, 00:10:23.259 --> 00:10:24.240 you ignore the problem, 00:10:24.240 --> 00:10:25.700 and you continue to eat. 00:10:25.700 --> 00:10:27.759 This would be crazy. 00:10:28.740 --> 00:10:31.360 It just isn't something you would do. 00:10:31.940 --> 00:10:32.920 And in the same way, 00:10:33.200 --> 00:10:34.640 to hear from God's word 00:10:34.640 --> 00:10:36.820 and to recognize a problem 00:10:36.820 --> 00:10:39.100 but fail to do anything about it, 00:10:39.100 --> 00:10:40.520 it just doesn't make any sense. 00:10:42.400 --> 00:10:44.820 And so after giving this example 00:10:44.820 --> 00:10:48.879 of the one who hears and fails to respond, 00:10:49.360 --> 00:10:52.180 James describes for his readers another individual. 00:10:52.460 --> 00:10:55.480 So let's look again at verse 25. 00:10:55.700 --> 00:11:00.680 Verse 25 says, 00:11:00.940 --> 00:11:03.320 But the one who looks intently 00:11:03.320 --> 00:11:06.060 into the perfect law of freedom 00:11:06.060 --> 00:11:08.000 and perseveres in it 00:11:08.000 --> 00:11:10.740 and is not a forgetful hearer 00:11:10.740 --> 00:11:12.720 but a doer who works, 00:11:13.759 --> 00:11:16.180 this person will be blessed in what he does. 00:11:16.179 --> 00:11:21.419 Now there's quite a bit to unpack in this verse, 00:11:21.839 --> 00:11:24.259 but already at first glance, 00:11:24.259 --> 00:11:27.139 we can see the difference between this individual 00:11:27.139 --> 00:11:31.899 and the individual described in verses 23 and 24. 00:11:33.039 --> 00:11:35.719 This person doesn't walk away from the word, 00:11:36.379 --> 00:11:37.759 failing to take action. 00:11:38.339 --> 00:11:40.319 This person looks to the word 00:11:40.319 --> 00:11:42.259 and acts appropriately in response, 00:11:42.259 --> 00:11:44.559 and James tells us that they're blessed for it. 00:11:45.799 --> 00:11:47.139 So let's revisit our analogy 00:11:47.139 --> 00:11:49.559 of the fancy Italian dinner. 00:11:50.539 --> 00:11:52.679 So remember while you're eating some spaghetti sauce, 00:11:52.759 --> 00:11:54.279 it's dripped onto your chin 00:11:54.279 --> 00:11:55.939 and one of your friends has noticed, right? 00:11:56.700 --> 00:12:00.240 Then after you have been informed of this tragedy, 00:12:00.919 --> 00:12:02.919 you went to the bathroom and you check things out. 00:12:02.919 --> 00:12:04.699 But imagine that this time 00:12:04.699 --> 00:12:06.779 you see the sauce on your chin 00:12:06.779 --> 00:12:08.699 and instead of walking out 00:12:08.699 --> 00:12:10.319 without addressing the issue, 00:12:10.659 --> 00:12:12.059 you wipe it from your face 00:12:12.059 --> 00:12:13.759 and you return to the table. 00:12:14.699 --> 00:12:16.659 This makes a whole lot more sense. 00:12:17.839 --> 00:12:20.360 Having looked into God's word 00:12:20.360 --> 00:12:21.779 and recognized a problem, 00:12:21.919 --> 00:12:23.899 this here that James describes for us 00:12:23.899 --> 00:12:25.379 in verse 25 00:12:25.379 --> 00:12:28.079 has chosen to address the issue. 00:12:30.159 --> 00:12:31.399 Now you may have noticed 00:12:31.399 --> 00:12:34.579 that James uses this very interesting phrase 00:12:34.579 --> 00:12:35.720 in verse 25. 00:12:36.059 --> 00:12:36.559 He says, 00:12:37.059 --> 00:12:38.799 perfect law of freedom. 00:12:40.120 --> 00:12:41.259 What does this mean? 00:12:42.899 --> 00:12:44.000 Because I think that 00:12:44.000 --> 00:12:45.399 if you and I are honest, 00:12:45.480 --> 00:12:46.939 we read the word law 00:12:46.939 --> 00:12:49.220 and we start to get a little nervous here. 00:12:50.439 --> 00:12:52.620 Is James urging us 00:12:52.620 --> 00:12:56.179 to adopt some sort of legalistic mentality 00:12:56.179 --> 00:12:58.500 or encouraging us 00:12:58.500 --> 00:13:01.319 to keep some sort of checklist of behaviors 00:13:01.320 --> 00:13:03.860 by which we earn God's favor? 00:13:05.140 --> 00:13:06.840 Well, I don't think that's what James 00:13:06.840 --> 00:13:08.280 is getting at at all. 00:13:09.379 --> 00:13:11.400 In fact, I think that these words 00:13:11.400 --> 00:13:12.660 he chooses to use, 00:13:12.800 --> 00:13:14.700 perfect and freedom, 00:13:15.300 --> 00:13:18.060 I think they're intentional and significant. 00:13:19.500 --> 00:13:22.580 Because by the use of these particular modifiers, 00:13:23.220 --> 00:13:24.540 James helps his readers 00:13:24.540 --> 00:13:25.940 to see the law 00:13:25.940 --> 00:13:28.260 in light of Christ's redemptive work. 00:13:28.259 --> 00:13:32.679 Christ's ultimate fulfillment 00:13:32.679 --> 00:13:34.899 of the law on our behalf. 00:13:36.080 --> 00:13:36.860 In one scholar, 00:13:37.000 --> 00:13:37.980 he says it this way, 00:13:39.019 --> 00:13:40.220 though the Old Testament law 00:13:40.220 --> 00:13:42.480 was holy and righteous and good, 00:13:43.039 --> 00:13:45.059 it had no power by itself 00:13:45.059 --> 00:13:46.419 to enable sinful people 00:13:46.419 --> 00:13:47.559 to conform to it. 00:13:48.639 --> 00:13:50.200 Thus, the Old Testament law, 00:13:50.259 --> 00:13:51.740 it did not liberate God's people, 00:13:51.860 --> 00:13:52.840 but it enslaved them, 00:13:52.879 --> 00:13:53.460 as Paul taught. 00:13:53.460 --> 00:13:56.620 But the law is one of liberty 00:13:56.620 --> 00:13:58.320 when it comes along 00:13:58.320 --> 00:14:00.180 with the word of the gospel 00:14:00.180 --> 00:14:02.960 and the power of the Holy Spirit 00:14:02.960 --> 00:14:04.120 to change hearts. 00:14:06.460 --> 00:14:07.900 Now, if you're here this morning 00:14:07.900 --> 00:14:09.460 and you have placed your faith 00:14:09.460 --> 00:14:11.840 and your trust in Jesus Christ, 00:14:12.680 --> 00:14:14.420 I want to stop and take a few moments 00:14:14.420 --> 00:14:15.600 to remind you of something 00:14:15.600 --> 00:14:17.800 that if you're anything like me, 00:14:17.879 --> 00:14:19.280 this is something that you know, 00:14:19.379 --> 00:14:22.240 but you are so often tempted to forget. 00:14:22.240 --> 00:14:26.879 As we work through James' teaching 00:14:26.879 --> 00:14:28.100 in this text, 00:14:28.740 --> 00:14:31.000 the idea isn't that we look 00:14:31.000 --> 00:14:32.940 into the mirror of God's word, 00:14:33.100 --> 00:14:34.139 we grit our teeth, 00:14:35.000 --> 00:14:36.960 and we try harder to obey 00:14:36.960 --> 00:14:38.539 to get on God's good side. 00:14:40.240 --> 00:14:41.899 Yes, we should desire 00:14:41.899 --> 00:14:43.940 to follow God's commands, 00:14:44.159 --> 00:14:45.680 and if you are in Christ, 00:14:45.759 --> 00:14:47.259 you will want to do so. 00:14:47.259 --> 00:14:50.000 But here's the thing. 00:14:51.059 --> 00:14:52.039 You don't do this 00:14:52.039 --> 00:14:53.480 to earn God's favor. 00:14:55.460 --> 00:14:56.860 Believers have been made right 00:14:56.860 --> 00:14:57.539 before God 00:14:57.539 --> 00:14:58.840 by placing their faith 00:14:58.840 --> 00:14:59.980 and their trust 00:14:59.980 --> 00:15:01.000 in the only one 00:15:01.000 --> 00:15:02.980 who ever kept God's law perfectly, 00:15:03.799 --> 00:15:04.960 Jesus Christ. 00:15:06.259 --> 00:15:07.840 And now we desire 00:15:07.840 --> 00:15:09.100 to keep God's commands 00:15:09.100 --> 00:15:10.899 because we've been given 00:15:10.899 --> 00:15:11.879 an incredible gift. 00:15:12.039 --> 00:15:14.399 We've been made right with God 00:15:14.399 --> 00:15:16.740 and adopted into his family. 00:15:18.220 --> 00:15:19.000 And what's more, 00:15:19.079 --> 00:15:19.699 we've been given 00:15:19.699 --> 00:15:20.799 the Holy Spirit 00:15:20.799 --> 00:15:22.079 who is day to day 00:15:22.079 --> 00:15:23.539 working to make us 00:15:23.539 --> 00:15:25.659 more like Jesus. 00:15:27.639 --> 00:15:28.199 Paul, 00:15:28.360 --> 00:15:29.059 as he's writing 00:15:29.059 --> 00:15:30.379 to the church in Philippi 00:15:30.379 --> 00:15:31.279 in chapter 2, 00:15:31.360 --> 00:15:32.000 verse 13, 00:15:32.100 --> 00:15:33.000 he says it this way. 00:15:34.299 --> 00:15:35.319 It is God 00:15:35.319 --> 00:15:36.639 who is working in you 00:15:36.639 --> 00:15:37.759 both to will 00:15:37.759 --> 00:15:39.299 and to work 00:15:39.299 --> 00:15:41.740 according to his good purpose. 00:15:41.740 --> 00:15:44.440 We aren't doing this 00:15:44.440 --> 00:15:45.320 in reliance 00:15:45.320 --> 00:15:46.759 on our own strength. 00:15:48.759 --> 00:15:49.639 Now at this point, 00:15:49.680 --> 00:15:50.759 I want to pause briefly again 00:15:50.759 --> 00:15:51.340 because I know 00:15:51.340 --> 00:15:52.379 that there are likely 00:15:52.379 --> 00:15:53.379 some here today 00:15:53.379 --> 00:15:54.919 who have been trying 00:15:54.919 --> 00:15:55.980 to earn God's favor. 00:15:57.980 --> 00:15:59.200 They've been relying 00:15:59.200 --> 00:16:00.440 on their own strength 00:16:00.440 --> 00:16:02.379 to get on God's good side. 00:16:02.940 --> 00:16:04.519 You've worked so hard 00:16:04.519 --> 00:16:06.560 to do all of the right things, 00:16:06.560 --> 00:16:08.460 to follow all of the rules, 00:16:08.460 --> 00:16:10.800 to get yourself 00:16:10.800 --> 00:16:12.560 into God's good graces, 00:16:12.820 --> 00:16:14.060 to tilt the scales. 00:16:15.600 --> 00:16:17.160 If you find yourself 00:16:17.160 --> 00:16:18.680 in that camp this morning, 00:16:18.840 --> 00:16:20.420 please hear me. 00:16:20.519 --> 00:16:22.440 You will never do enough. 00:16:23.960 --> 00:16:25.280 You can't do it. 00:16:26.960 --> 00:16:28.580 Because as James goes on 00:16:28.580 --> 00:16:29.220 to tell us 00:16:29.220 --> 00:16:30.600 in chapter 2, 00:16:30.720 --> 00:16:31.720 verse 10, 00:16:33.060 --> 00:16:33.879 if you've broken 00:16:33.879 --> 00:16:35.720 just one of God's commands, 00:16:35.720 --> 00:16:36.860 it's as if you've broken 00:16:36.860 --> 00:16:38.139 the whole lot. 00:16:39.639 --> 00:16:41.440 You cannot keep 00:16:41.440 --> 00:16:42.779 God's laws perfectly. 00:16:42.940 --> 00:16:43.899 You cannot do it. 00:16:44.019 --> 00:16:45.759 But there is one who did. 00:16:47.639 --> 00:16:48.860 Jesus lived 00:16:48.860 --> 00:16:50.300 a sinless life 00:16:50.300 --> 00:16:52.700 in perfect obedience 00:16:52.700 --> 00:16:53.600 to the Father. 00:16:54.039 --> 00:16:56.039 And he died a cruel 00:16:56.039 --> 00:16:57.100 and a painful death, 00:16:57.139 --> 00:16:58.240 a death that you 00:16:58.240 --> 00:16:59.720 and I deserved. 00:17:00.259 --> 00:17:02.180 But he didn't stay dead. 00:17:02.179 --> 00:17:05.419 After three days, 00:17:05.480 --> 00:17:06.059 he walked out 00:17:06.059 --> 00:17:07.099 of the tomb alive. 00:17:07.099 --> 00:17:07.839 And now, 00:17:07.980 --> 00:17:08.500 for those who would 00:17:08.500 --> 00:17:09.379 turn to him 00:17:09.379 --> 00:17:10.319 in faith, 00:17:10.799 --> 00:17:11.940 he offers 00:17:11.940 --> 00:17:12.779 forgiveness 00:17:12.779 --> 00:17:13.899 and restored 00:17:13.899 --> 00:17:14.659 relationship 00:17:14.659 --> 00:17:15.399 with God. 00:17:16.559 --> 00:17:18.079 He received 00:17:18.079 --> 00:17:18.799 sin's penalty 00:17:18.799 --> 00:17:20.099 on our behalf 00:17:20.099 --> 00:17:22.399 so we can now 00:17:22.399 --> 00:17:23.759 receive his righteousness. 00:17:25.119 --> 00:17:26.399 Praise God. 00:17:26.400 --> 00:17:26.440 God. 00:17:28.720 --> 00:17:29.759 So having 00:17:29.759 --> 00:17:30.700 explained 00:17:30.700 --> 00:17:31.519 to his readers 00:17:31.519 --> 00:17:32.200 that the word 00:17:32.200 --> 00:17:32.500 of God 00:17:32.500 --> 00:17:33.780 needs to be acted on 00:17:33.780 --> 00:17:35.660 and not just heard 00:17:35.660 --> 00:17:36.519 and forgotten 00:17:36.519 --> 00:17:37.160 through the example 00:17:37.160 --> 00:17:38.380 of these two hearers 00:17:38.380 --> 00:17:39.900 in verses 22 00:17:39.900 --> 00:17:41.240 to 25, 00:17:42.180 --> 00:17:42.680 James gets 00:17:42.680 --> 00:17:43.100 really, 00:17:43.259 --> 00:17:43.860 really practical. 00:17:45.759 --> 00:17:46.720 He provides 00:17:46.720 --> 00:17:47.380 for his readers 00:17:47.380 --> 00:17:48.160 an example 00:17:48.160 --> 00:17:49.820 both of a hearer 00:17:49.820 --> 00:17:50.480 of the word 00:17:50.480 --> 00:17:51.900 and a doer 00:17:51.900 --> 00:17:52.759 of the word. 00:17:52.759 --> 00:17:54.359 Let's look again 00:17:54.359 --> 00:17:55.859 at verses 26 00:17:55.859 --> 00:17:56.779 and 27. 00:18:02.200 --> 00:18:03.400 James states, 00:18:03.539 --> 00:18:04.579 if anyone thinks 00:18:04.579 --> 00:18:05.299 he is religious 00:18:05.299 --> 00:18:06.839 without controlling 00:18:06.839 --> 00:18:07.640 his tongue, 00:18:08.160 --> 00:18:08.879 his religion 00:18:08.879 --> 00:18:09.720 is useless 00:18:09.720 --> 00:18:11.240 and he deceives 00:18:11.240 --> 00:18:11.839 himself. 00:18:13.299 --> 00:18:13.980 Pure 00:18:13.980 --> 00:18:15.140 and undefiled 00:18:15.140 --> 00:18:15.740 religion 00:18:15.740 --> 00:18:16.779 before God 00:18:16.779 --> 00:18:17.339 the Father 00:18:17.339 --> 00:18:18.279 is this. 00:18:19.000 --> 00:18:19.740 To look 00:18:19.740 --> 00:18:21.019 after orphans 00:18:21.019 --> 00:18:21.740 and widows 00:18:21.740 --> 00:18:22.740 in their distress 00:18:22.740 --> 00:18:24.279 and to keep 00:18:24.279 --> 00:18:24.880 oneself 00:18:24.880 --> 00:18:25.940 unstained 00:18:25.940 --> 00:18:27.500 from the world. 00:18:29.120 --> 00:18:30.140 In these verses, 00:18:30.759 --> 00:18:31.799 James contrasts 00:18:31.799 --> 00:18:32.120 for us 00:18:32.120 --> 00:18:32.740 the one 00:18:32.740 --> 00:18:33.019 who has 00:18:33.019 --> 00:18:33.599 a legitimate 00:18:33.599 --> 00:18:34.960 and a God-honoring 00:18:34.960 --> 00:18:35.460 religion 00:18:35.460 --> 00:18:37.359 and the one 00:18:37.359 --> 00:18:38.160 whose religion 00:18:38.160 --> 00:18:39.480 is simply 00:18:39.480 --> 00:18:40.299 counterfeit. 00:18:40.700 --> 00:18:41.539 And how is it 00:18:41.539 --> 00:18:42.140 that you and I 00:18:42.140 --> 00:18:43.120 can tell the difference? 00:18:44.400 --> 00:18:45.319 We can tell 00:18:45.319 --> 00:18:45.819 the difference 00:18:45.819 --> 00:18:46.500 by examining 00:18:46.500 --> 00:18:47.099 behavior. 00:18:49.180 --> 00:18:50.140 So let's take 00:18:50.140 --> 00:18:50.680 a look at that 00:18:50.680 --> 00:18:51.359 example of 00:18:51.359 --> 00:18:51.920 counterfeit 00:18:51.920 --> 00:18:52.860 religion first. 00:18:53.380 --> 00:18:53.920 James uses 00:18:53.920 --> 00:18:54.779 some pretty 00:18:54.779 --> 00:18:55.820 strong imagery 00:18:55.820 --> 00:18:57.380 in this passage 00:18:57.380 --> 00:18:58.240 to get his 00:18:58.240 --> 00:18:58.840 point across 00:18:58.840 --> 00:18:59.480 here in verse 00:18:59.480 --> 00:19:00.500 26. 00:19:02.200 --> 00:19:03.180 He says that 00:19:03.180 --> 00:19:03.880 the one who 00:19:03.880 --> 00:19:05.080 claims to be 00:19:05.080 --> 00:19:05.840 religious, 00:19:05.840 --> 00:19:06.680 but they can't 00:19:06.680 --> 00:19:07.160 get a hold 00:19:07.160 --> 00:19:07.860 of their tongue, 00:19:08.220 --> 00:19:08.820 that person 00:19:08.820 --> 00:19:09.840 demonstrates that 00:19:09.840 --> 00:19:10.420 their religion 00:19:10.420 --> 00:19:11.279 isn't the real 00:19:11.279 --> 00:19:11.620 deal. 00:19:11.619 --> 00:19:11.659 people. 00:19:14.479 --> 00:19:14.959 Now, 00:19:15.119 --> 00:19:16.319 if you're like 00:19:16.319 --> 00:19:16.459 me, 00:19:16.500 --> 00:19:17.099 it may strike 00:19:17.099 --> 00:19:17.719 you as a 00:19:17.719 --> 00:19:18.699 bit strange 00:19:18.699 --> 00:19:20.699 that an 00:19:20.699 --> 00:19:21.539 inability to 00:19:21.539 --> 00:19:24.019 control one's 00:19:24.019 --> 00:19:24.439 tongue is the 00:19:24.439 --> 00:19:25.399 example James 00:19:25.399 --> 00:19:26.959 chooses to use 00:19:26.959 --> 00:19:28.559 in this passage. 00:19:29.339 --> 00:19:30.259 But throughout 00:19:30.259 --> 00:19:31.039 his epistle, 00:19:31.259 --> 00:19:32.379 he's reminded 00:19:32.379 --> 00:19:32.939 us of the 00:19:32.939 --> 00:19:33.799 importance of 00:19:33.799 --> 00:19:34.259 the human 00:19:34.259 --> 00:19:34.739 tongue and 00:19:34.739 --> 00:19:35.239 its great 00:19:35.239 --> 00:19:35.899 power both 00:19:35.899 --> 00:19:36.639 for good 00:19:36.639 --> 00:19:37.939 and evil. 00:19:37.940 --> 00:19:38.000 people. 00:19:38.000 --> 00:19:40.160 for example, 00:19:40.460 --> 00:19:41.180 in James 00:19:41.180 --> 00:19:42.299 chapter 3 00:19:42.299 --> 00:19:43.119 verse 2, 00:19:44.160 --> 00:19:44.740 he tells us 00:19:44.740 --> 00:19:45.380 that one's 00:19:45.380 --> 00:19:46.279 ability to 00:19:46.279 --> 00:19:47.240 control the 00:19:47.240 --> 00:19:48.720 tongue is an 00:19:48.720 --> 00:19:49.799 indicator of 00:19:49.799 --> 00:19:50.380 their ability 00:19:50.380 --> 00:19:51.579 to control the 00:19:51.579 --> 00:19:52.119 rest of their 00:19:52.119 --> 00:19:52.940 body in a way 00:19:52.940 --> 00:19:53.519 that's honoring 00:19:53.519 --> 00:19:54.119 to God. 00:19:54.119 --> 00:19:54.159 God. 00:19:55.719 --> 00:19:56.739 He says, 00:19:56.899 --> 00:19:57.659 for we all 00:19:57.659 --> 00:19:58.579 stumble in 00:19:58.579 --> 00:19:59.319 many ways. 00:20:00.039 --> 00:20:00.799 If anyone 00:20:00.799 --> 00:20:01.379 does not 00:20:01.379 --> 00:20:02.059 stumble in 00:20:02.059 --> 00:20:02.419 what he 00:20:02.419 --> 00:20:02.899 says, 00:20:03.139 --> 00:20:04.079 he's mature, 00:20:04.799 --> 00:20:05.879 able also 00:20:05.879 --> 00:20:07.639 to control 00:20:07.639 --> 00:20:08.339 the whole 00:20:08.339 --> 00:20:08.859 body. 00:20:10.239 --> 00:20:10.679 And in 00:20:10.679 --> 00:20:11.579 James chapter 00:20:11.579 --> 00:20:12.039 3, 00:20:12.159 --> 00:20:12.759 verses 9 00:20:12.759 --> 00:20:13.219 to 12, 00:20:13.319 --> 00:20:13.739 this is how 00:20:13.739 --> 00:20:14.119 he puts 00:20:14.119 --> 00:20:14.359 it. 00:20:15.639 --> 00:20:16.439 That with 00:20:16.439 --> 00:20:16.919 the tongue 00:20:16.919 --> 00:20:17.679 we bless 00:20:17.679 --> 00:20:18.399 our Lord 00:20:18.399 --> 00:20:19.219 and Father 00:20:19.219 --> 00:20:20.059 and with 00:20:20.059 --> 00:20:20.719 it we curse 00:20:20.719 --> 00:20:21.399 people who 00:20:21.399 --> 00:20:21.959 are made 00:20:21.959 --> 00:20:22.779 in God's 00:20:22.779 --> 00:20:23.399 likeness. 00:20:24.160 --> 00:20:24.800 Blessing 00:20:24.800 --> 00:20:25.580 and cursing 00:20:25.580 --> 00:20:26.160 come out 00:20:26.160 --> 00:20:26.860 of the same 00:20:26.860 --> 00:20:27.480 mouth, 00:20:27.600 --> 00:20:28.200 my brothers 00:20:28.200 --> 00:20:29.120 and sisters. 00:20:29.700 --> 00:20:30.320 These things 00:20:30.320 --> 00:20:30.840 should not 00:20:30.840 --> 00:20:31.660 be this way. 00:20:33.000 --> 00:20:33.820 Does a 00:20:33.820 --> 00:20:34.519 spring pour 00:20:34.519 --> 00:20:35.220 out sweet 00:20:35.220 --> 00:20:36.060 and bitter 00:20:36.060 --> 00:20:36.720 water from 00:20:36.720 --> 00:20:37.380 the same 00:20:37.380 --> 00:20:38.060 opening? 00:20:39.580 --> 00:20:40.300 And of 00:20:40.300 --> 00:20:40.600 course, 00:20:40.740 --> 00:20:41.680 the obvious 00:20:41.680 --> 00:20:42.540 answer to 00:20:42.540 --> 00:20:42.880 James' 00:20:43.180 --> 00:20:44.000 rhetorical 00:20:44.000 --> 00:20:44.740 question is 00:20:44.740 --> 00:20:45.100 no, 00:20:45.259 --> 00:20:45.740 it does 00:20:45.740 --> 00:20:46.060 not. 00:20:48.040 --> 00:20:48.680 Jesus 00:20:48.680 --> 00:20:49.519 himself in 00:20:49.519 --> 00:20:49.880 Matthew 00:20:49.880 --> 00:20:51.340 chapter 15 00:20:51.340 --> 00:20:52.500 verse 18, 00:20:52.759 --> 00:20:53.200 he tells 00:20:53.200 --> 00:20:53.960 us that 00:20:53.960 --> 00:20:54.700 what comes 00:20:54.700 --> 00:20:55.360 out of 00:20:55.360 --> 00:20:55.840 the mouth 00:20:55.840 --> 00:20:56.559 comes from 00:20:56.559 --> 00:20:57.180 the heart 00:20:57.180 --> 00:20:59.880 and this 00:20:59.880 --> 00:21:00.759 defiles a 00:21:00.759 --> 00:21:01.140 person. 00:21:03.080 --> 00:21:03.920 So we 00:21:03.920 --> 00:21:04.220 see that 00:21:04.220 --> 00:21:04.819 the tongue, 00:21:05.220 --> 00:21:05.680 though it's 00:21:05.680 --> 00:21:06.059 seemingly 00:21:06.059 --> 00:21:07.180 small and 00:21:07.180 --> 00:21:07.980 insignificant, 00:21:08.660 --> 00:21:09.700 it's actually 00:21:09.700 --> 00:21:10.259 incredibly 00:21:10.259 --> 00:21:12.140 powerful and 00:21:12.140 --> 00:21:12.720 what's more, 00:21:12.819 --> 00:21:13.819 it reveals the 00:21:13.819 --> 00:21:14.620 condition of 00:21:14.620 --> 00:21:15.259 one's heart. 00:21:16.819 --> 00:21:17.900 So that's the 00:21:17.900 --> 00:21:18.480 counterfeit 00:21:18.480 --> 00:21:18.920 religion. 00:21:18.920 --> 00:21:18.980 religion. 00:21:19.660 --> 00:21:20.660 So how is 00:21:20.660 --> 00:21:21.680 true and 00:21:21.680 --> 00:21:22.140 legitimate 00:21:22.140 --> 00:21:23.140 religion 00:21:23.140 --> 00:21:24.080 manifested? 00:21:25.519 --> 00:21:26.120 Well, 00:21:26.160 --> 00:21:26.580 according to 00:21:26.580 --> 00:21:26.920 James, 00:21:27.000 --> 00:21:27.740 it's manifested 00:21:27.740 --> 00:21:29.300 by care for 00:21:29.300 --> 00:21:30.180 the widows and 00:21:30.180 --> 00:21:30.920 orphans of the 00:21:30.920 --> 00:21:31.460 world in 00:21:31.460 --> 00:21:32.480 moral purity. 00:21:34.019 --> 00:21:34.880 If you look 00:21:34.880 --> 00:21:35.460 again with me 00:21:35.460 --> 00:21:36.019 at verse 00:21:36.019 --> 00:21:37.380 27, this is 00:21:37.380 --> 00:21:37.840 what James 00:21:37.840 --> 00:21:38.180 says. 00:21:39.779 --> 00:21:40.300 Pure and 00:21:40.300 --> 00:21:40.740 undefiled 00:21:40.740 --> 00:21:41.580 religion before 00:21:41.580 --> 00:21:42.200 God the 00:21:42.200 --> 00:21:42.880 Father is 00:21:42.880 --> 00:21:43.900 this, that 00:21:43.900 --> 00:21:44.460 we look 00:21:44.460 --> 00:21:45.420 after orphans 00:21:45.420 --> 00:21:46.080 and widows 00:21:46.079 --> 00:21:46.379 in their 00:21:46.379 --> 00:21:47.199 distress and 00:21:47.199 --> 00:21:47.639 to keep 00:21:47.639 --> 00:21:49.480 oneself unstained 00:21:49.480 --> 00:21:50.019 from the 00:21:50.019 --> 00:21:50.339 world. 00:21:52.819 --> 00:21:53.359 Widows and 00:21:53.359 --> 00:21:54.139 orphans had 00:21:54.139 --> 00:21:54.960 an incredibly 00:21:54.960 --> 00:21:56.399 difficult life 00:21:56.399 --> 00:21:56.839 in the 00:21:56.839 --> 00:21:57.659 ancient world. 00:21:58.119 --> 00:21:58.359 They were 00:21:58.359 --> 00:21:58.859 hard-pressed 00:21:58.859 --> 00:21:59.480 in almost 00:21:59.480 --> 00:22:00.460 every way, 00:22:00.799 --> 00:22:01.240 politically, 00:22:01.659 --> 00:22:02.159 socially, 00:22:02.799 --> 00:22:03.439 economically. 00:22:04.220 --> 00:22:04.779 And God, 00:22:04.879 --> 00:22:05.659 throughout the 00:22:05.659 --> 00:22:06.079 scriptures, 00:22:06.419 --> 00:22:07.119 he demonstrates 00:22:07.119 --> 00:22:08.039 the importance 00:22:08.039 --> 00:22:08.899 that he places 00:22:08.899 --> 00:22:09.980 on their 00:22:09.980 --> 00:22:10.399 care. 00:22:11.460 --> 00:22:11.939 So it's not 00:22:11.939 --> 00:22:12.859 really surprising 00:22:12.859 --> 00:22:13.639 that James 00:22:13.639 --> 00:22:15.139 highlights the 00:22:15.140 --> 00:22:16.120 importance of 00:22:16.120 --> 00:22:16.840 their care 00:22:16.840 --> 00:22:17.340 here. 00:22:19.060 --> 00:22:19.900 I think it's 00:22:19.900 --> 00:22:20.460 important to 00:22:20.460 --> 00:22:20.800 remember, 00:22:21.180 --> 00:22:21.600 though, that 00:22:21.600 --> 00:22:22.580 James' intention 00:22:22.580 --> 00:22:23.520 isn't to give 00:22:23.520 --> 00:22:24.400 an exhaustive 00:22:24.400 --> 00:22:25.960 list of the 00:22:25.960 --> 00:22:26.600 ways a 00:22:26.600 --> 00:22:27.360 legitimate and 00:22:27.360 --> 00:22:28.160 a God-honoring 00:22:28.160 --> 00:22:29.240 religion is 00:22:29.240 --> 00:22:29.980 presented. 00:22:30.960 --> 00:22:31.640 This can be 00:22:31.640 --> 00:22:32.080 thought of 00:22:32.080 --> 00:22:32.580 sort of a 00:22:32.580 --> 00:22:33.440 summary statement 00:22:33.440 --> 00:22:34.440 which gives 00:22:34.440 --> 00:22:35.340 some examples 00:22:35.340 --> 00:22:36.520 of behavior 00:22:36.520 --> 00:22:37.340 that's characteristic 00:22:37.340 --> 00:22:38.340 of a true and 00:22:38.340 --> 00:22:39.080 vibrant faith, 00:22:39.080 --> 00:22:40.040 but there are, 00:22:40.200 --> 00:22:40.480 of course, 00:22:40.540 --> 00:22:41.200 other ways. 00:22:42.860 --> 00:22:43.240 And it could 00:22:43.240 --> 00:22:44.860 be that James' 00:22:44.859 --> 00:22:45.879 focus on 00:22:45.879 --> 00:22:46.699 serving the 00:22:46.699 --> 00:22:47.439 downtrodden 00:22:47.439 --> 00:22:47.699 here, 00:22:47.740 --> 00:22:48.419 it sort of 00:22:48.419 --> 00:22:49.459 anticipates his 00:22:49.459 --> 00:22:50.019 teaching that 00:22:50.019 --> 00:22:50.579 he'll go on 00:22:50.579 --> 00:22:51.839 to do on 00:22:51.839 --> 00:22:52.679 favoritism in 00:22:52.679 --> 00:22:53.359 chapter 2, 00:22:53.439 --> 00:22:54.179 verses 1 to 00:22:54.179 --> 00:22:54.559 9, 00:22:55.000 --> 00:22:55.719 because in 00:22:55.719 --> 00:22:56.279 that text 00:22:56.279 --> 00:22:56.639 there are 00:22:56.639 --> 00:22:57.240 indications 00:22:57.240 --> 00:22:58.500 that James' 00:22:58.679 --> 00:22:58.979 readers, 00:22:59.119 --> 00:22:59.579 they may have 00:22:59.579 --> 00:22:59.959 been giving 00:22:59.959 --> 00:23:00.599 preferential 00:23:00.599 --> 00:23:01.219 treatment to 00:23:01.219 --> 00:23:01.639 the wealthy. 00:23:03.179 --> 00:23:03.779 So here, 00:23:04.159 --> 00:23:04.519 James, 00:23:04.659 --> 00:23:05.159 in presenting 00:23:05.159 --> 00:23:06.059 service to 00:23:06.059 --> 00:23:06.899 widows and 00:23:06.899 --> 00:23:08.259 orphans as 00:23:08.259 --> 00:23:08.959 evidence of 00:23:08.959 --> 00:23:09.719 true and 00:23:09.719 --> 00:23:10.299 God-honoring 00:23:10.299 --> 00:23:10.759 religion, 00:23:10.979 --> 00:23:11.619 he might be 00:23:11.619 --> 00:23:12.259 pushing back 00:23:12.259 --> 00:23:12.599 on that 00:23:12.599 --> 00:23:13.099 tendency 00:23:13.099 --> 00:23:14.319 among his 00:23:14.319 --> 00:23:14.619 readers. 00:23:15.740 --> 00:23:16.159 But at 00:23:16.159 --> 00:23:16.559 any rate, 00:23:16.619 --> 00:23:17.220 what's clear 00:23:17.220 --> 00:23:17.819 from James' 00:23:17.980 --> 00:23:18.799 comments here 00:23:18.799 --> 00:23:19.539 in verses 00:23:19.539 --> 00:23:21.059 26 and 00:23:21.059 --> 00:23:22.639 27 is that 00:23:22.639 --> 00:23:23.679 one's behavior 00:23:23.679 --> 00:23:25.179 is an indication 00:23:25.179 --> 00:23:25.839 of the 00:23:25.839 --> 00:23:26.960 genuineness of 00:23:26.960 --> 00:23:27.720 their faith. 00:23:27.720 --> 00:23:30.039 God-nosed 00:23:30.039 --> 00:23:30.720 God-nosed 00:23:30.720 --> 00:23:31.120 So as we 00:23:31.120 --> 00:23:31.740 begin to 00:23:31.740 --> 00:23:32.200 bring our 00:23:32.200 --> 00:23:33.220 time in 00:23:33.220 --> 00:23:33.700 the word 00:23:33.700 --> 00:23:34.200 to a 00:23:34.200 --> 00:23:34.539 close, 00:23:34.740 --> 00:23:35.200 I want to 00:23:35.200 --> 00:23:35.759 leave you 00:23:35.759 --> 00:23:36.740 with a few 00:23:36.740 --> 00:23:37.600 more points 00:23:37.600 --> 00:23:38.680 of application. 00:23:40.360 --> 00:23:41.539 And one 00:23:41.539 --> 00:23:41.759 of the 00:23:41.759 --> 00:23:42.200 things I 00:23:42.200 --> 00:23:42.980 love about 00:23:42.980 --> 00:23:44.079 this passage 00:23:44.079 --> 00:23:45.720 is you 00:23:45.720 --> 00:23:45.980 don't have 00:23:45.980 --> 00:23:46.400 to dig 00:23:46.400 --> 00:23:47.259 very deep 00:23:47.259 --> 00:23:48.240 to discover 00:23:48.240 --> 00:23:49.039 the application. 00:23:50.940 --> 00:23:51.660 What I 00:23:51.660 --> 00:23:51.880 mean to 00:23:51.880 --> 00:23:52.279 say is that 00:23:52.279 --> 00:23:52.839 you do not 00:23:52.839 --> 00:23:53.360 have to 00:23:53.360 --> 00:23:54.100 look very 00:23:54.100 --> 00:23:54.759 long and 00:23:54.759 --> 00:23:55.319 very hard 00:23:55.319 --> 00:23:55.639 at this 00:23:55.639 --> 00:23:57.019 passage before 00:23:57.019 --> 00:23:57.859 you start to 00:23:57.859 --> 00:23:58.379 get a pretty 00:23:58.379 --> 00:23:59.179 good idea of 00:23:59.179 --> 00:23:59.759 the response 00:23:59.759 --> 00:24:00.519 that James 00:24:00.519 --> 00:24:01.099 wanted from 00:24:01.099 --> 00:24:01.960 his original 00:24:01.960 --> 00:24:02.839 readers and 00:24:02.839 --> 00:24:03.500 the response 00:24:03.500 --> 00:24:04.159 that God 00:24:04.159 --> 00:24:04.700 wants from 00:24:04.700 --> 00:24:05.139 us. 00:24:07.099 --> 00:24:07.799 And I 00:24:07.799 --> 00:24:08.179 mentioned at 00:24:08.179 --> 00:24:08.500 the very 00:24:08.500 --> 00:24:08.980 beginning of 00:24:08.980 --> 00:24:09.700 our time the 00:24:09.700 --> 00:24:10.500 central idea 00:24:10.500 --> 00:24:11.679 and we must 00:24:11.679 --> 00:24:12.919 listen to and 00:24:12.919 --> 00:24:13.819 obey God's 00:24:13.819 --> 00:24:14.059 word. 00:24:15.259 --> 00:24:16.119 Demonstrating the 00:24:16.119 --> 00:24:16.779 genuineness of 00:24:16.779 --> 00:24:18.279 our faith by 00:24:18.279 --> 00:24:19.679 our behavior. 00:24:19.680 --> 00:24:22.940 And brothers 00:24:22.940 --> 00:24:23.360 and sisters, 00:24:23.360 --> 00:24:24.560 this sounds so 00:24:24.560 --> 00:24:25.740 incredibly simple, 00:24:25.740 --> 00:24:26.980 but if we're 00:24:26.980 --> 00:24:27.680 honest with 00:24:27.680 --> 00:24:28.160 ourselves, 00:24:28.160 --> 00:24:28.880 this is 00:24:28.880 --> 00:24:29.680 incredibly 00:24:29.680 --> 00:24:30.120 difficult. 00:24:30.279 --> 00:24:30.740 It's a battle 00:24:30.740 --> 00:24:31.279 that we fight 00:24:31.279 --> 00:24:32.580 every single 00:24:32.580 --> 00:24:33.640 day, a 00:24:33.640 --> 00:24:34.660 constant struggle 00:24:34.660 --> 00:24:35.779 for each 00:24:35.779 --> 00:24:36.400 and every 00:24:36.400 --> 00:24:37.200 one of us. 00:24:38.360 --> 00:24:39.220 In verses 00:24:39.220 --> 00:24:40.860 22 to 25, 00:24:41.080 --> 00:24:41.660 we see that 00:24:41.660 --> 00:24:42.880 merely hearing 00:24:42.880 --> 00:24:43.480 the word of 00:24:43.480 --> 00:24:44.259 God and not 00:24:44.259 --> 00:24:45.000 doing what it 00:24:45.000 --> 00:24:45.900 says is 00:24:45.900 --> 00:24:46.440 foolish. 00:24:47.660 --> 00:24:48.340 It's as 00:24:48.340 --> 00:24:48.880 foolish as 00:24:48.880 --> 00:24:49.420 looking in a 00:24:49.420 --> 00:24:50.000 mirror, seeing 00:24:50.000 --> 00:24:50.560 that spaghetti 00:24:50.560 --> 00:24:51.120 sauce on 00:24:51.120 --> 00:24:51.539 your chin 00:24:51.539 --> 00:24:52.400 and choosing 00:24:52.400 --> 00:24:53.519 not to wipe 00:24:53.519 --> 00:24:54.200 it away, 00:24:54.940 --> 00:24:55.680 going right 00:24:55.680 --> 00:24:56.160 back to the 00:24:56.160 --> 00:24:56.660 table without 00:24:56.660 --> 00:24:57.420 taking any 00:24:57.420 --> 00:24:58.000 steps to 00:24:58.000 --> 00:24:58.560 address the 00:24:58.560 --> 00:24:58.960 problem. 00:25:00.160 --> 00:25:00.880 But the 00:25:00.880 --> 00:25:01.680 person who 00:25:01.680 --> 00:25:03.180 acts appropriately 00:25:03.180 --> 00:25:04.440 to God's 00:25:04.440 --> 00:25:05.800 word, responds 00:25:05.800 --> 00:25:06.519 and does what 00:25:06.519 --> 00:25:07.680 it says, that 00:25:07.680 --> 00:25:09.060 person will be 00:25:09.060 --> 00:25:09.539 blessed. 00:25:11.920 --> 00:25:12.740 Friends, our 00:25:12.740 --> 00:25:13.539 desire should be 00:25:13.539 --> 00:25:15.140 not to just 00:25:15.140 --> 00:25:16.120 listen to the 00:25:16.120 --> 00:25:16.600 word of God, 00:25:16.660 --> 00:25:17.440 but to actually 00:25:17.440 --> 00:25:19.019 do what it 00:25:19.019 --> 00:25:19.400 says, to 00:25:19.400 --> 00:25:20.440 listen to the 00:25:20.440 --> 00:25:21.300 word and 00:25:21.300 --> 00:25:23.019 respond appropriately, 00:25:23.580 --> 00:25:24.780 demonstrating our 00:25:24.780 --> 00:25:25.640 faith to a 00:25:25.640 --> 00:25:26.960 watching world. 00:25:28.880 --> 00:25:29.620 So how does 00:25:29.620 --> 00:25:30.220 this play out 00:25:30.220 --> 00:25:31.000 in our daily 00:25:31.000 --> 00:25:31.560 life? 00:25:33.200 --> 00:25:33.759 Well, let's 00:25:33.759 --> 00:25:34.160 say that you're 00:25:34.160 --> 00:25:34.740 at work, you're 00:25:34.740 --> 00:25:35.240 reading your 00:25:35.240 --> 00:25:36.000 Bible, maybe on 00:25:36.000 --> 00:25:36.340 your lunch 00:25:36.340 --> 00:25:38.320 break, and you 00:25:38.320 --> 00:25:39.160 come across a 00:25:39.160 --> 00:25:39.620 portion of 00:25:39.620 --> 00:25:41.240 scripture that 00:25:41.240 --> 00:25:42.860 talks about having 00:25:42.860 --> 00:25:43.840 a quick temper. 00:25:44.080 --> 00:25:44.660 Maybe you're in 00:25:44.660 --> 00:25:46.300 James 1, verses 00:25:46.300 --> 00:25:47.600 19 to 21. 00:25:49.420 --> 00:25:50.420 You read the 00:25:50.420 --> 00:25:51.259 passage and you 00:25:51.259 --> 00:25:52.140 recognize that 00:25:52.140 --> 00:25:53.420 your tendency to 00:25:53.420 --> 00:25:54.180 blow up and 00:25:54.180 --> 00:25:54.920 lash out against 00:25:54.920 --> 00:25:55.860 your coworkers in 00:25:55.860 --> 00:25:57.279 anger is sinful. 00:25:58.200 --> 00:25:59.279 It's not God 00:25:59.279 --> 00:25:59.759 honoring. 00:26:00.040 --> 00:26:00.340 It's not 00:26:00.340 --> 00:26:01.640 appropriate in 00:26:01.640 --> 00:26:02.380 the sight of 00:26:02.380 --> 00:26:02.640 God. 00:26:02.720 --> 00:26:03.240 Well, you have 00:26:03.240 --> 00:26:04.519 two choices. 00:26:05.920 --> 00:26:07.080 You can close 00:26:07.080 --> 00:26:08.200 your Bible and 00:26:08.200 --> 00:26:09.160 ignore the 00:26:09.160 --> 00:26:10.259 teaching of God's 00:26:10.259 --> 00:26:11.080 word on this 00:26:11.079 --> 00:26:12.480 issue, or you 00:26:12.480 --> 00:26:13.579 can, by the 00:26:13.579 --> 00:26:14.460 power of the 00:26:14.460 --> 00:26:16.119 Holy Spirit, take 00:26:16.119 --> 00:26:16.980 steps to address 00:26:16.980 --> 00:26:17.500 your anger. 00:26:18.679 --> 00:26:20.220 In our passage, 00:26:20.379 --> 00:26:21.339 James makes 00:26:21.339 --> 00:26:22.399 clear which one 00:26:22.399 --> 00:26:23.220 of those is the 00:26:23.220 --> 00:26:24.619 appropriate response 00:26:24.619 --> 00:26:25.480 to God's word. 00:26:27.379 --> 00:26:28.159 And if we 00:26:28.159 --> 00:26:29.379 consider verses 00:26:29.379 --> 00:26:31.240 26 to 27 of 00:26:31.240 --> 00:26:31.960 our passage, where 00:26:31.960 --> 00:26:33.079 James, he teaches 00:26:33.079 --> 00:26:33.939 us that our 00:26:33.939 --> 00:26:34.839 behavior, it 00:26:34.839 --> 00:26:35.679 demonstrates the 00:26:35.679 --> 00:26:36.240 genuineness of 00:26:36.240 --> 00:26:36.779 our faith. 00:26:38.259 --> 00:26:39.019 I think that 00:26:39.019 --> 00:26:40.379 James' instruction 00:26:40.380 --> 00:26:41.580 in these verses, 00:26:41.860 --> 00:26:42.900 it highlights the 00:26:42.900 --> 00:26:44.300 need for self-reflection 00:26:44.300 --> 00:26:45.760 in our Christian 00:26:45.760 --> 00:26:46.640 lives. 00:26:48.300 --> 00:26:49.360 Because let's 00:26:49.360 --> 00:26:50.160 return just for a 00:26:50.160 --> 00:26:50.620 moment to that 00:26:50.620 --> 00:26:51.920 individual with an 00:26:51.920 --> 00:26:53.020 anger issue. 00:26:53.980 --> 00:26:55.220 What that person 00:26:55.220 --> 00:26:56.280 and every one of 00:26:56.280 --> 00:26:57.540 us needs to ask 00:26:57.540 --> 00:26:58.680 ourselves is, 00:26:59.080 --> 00:27:00.280 am I demonstrating 00:27:00.280 --> 00:27:01.780 that my faith is 00:27:01.780 --> 00:27:02.900 the real deal in 00:27:02.900 --> 00:27:03.620 the way I am 00:27:03.620 --> 00:27:04.540 living my life? 00:27:06.560 --> 00:27:08.040 Does my behavior 00:27:08.040 --> 00:27:08.860 indicate that I 00:27:08.860 --> 00:27:10.160 possess a genuine 00:27:10.160 --> 00:27:10.960 faith? 00:27:12.880 --> 00:27:13.700 Friends, let us 00:27:13.700 --> 00:27:14.779 strive by God's 00:27:14.779 --> 00:27:15.580 grace and the 00:27:15.580 --> 00:27:16.700 power of the 00:27:16.700 --> 00:27:17.640 Holy Spirit to 00:27:17.640 --> 00:27:18.060 be able to 00:27:18.060 --> 00:27:19.160 answer yes. 00:27:20.680 --> 00:27:21.300 Let's pray 00:27:21.300 --> 00:27:21.640 together. 00:27:26.120 --> 00:27:27.019 Dear God, would 00:27:27.019 --> 00:27:28.340 you confront us 00:27:28.340 --> 00:27:29.100 with the truth 00:27:29.100 --> 00:27:29.960 that we have met 00:27:29.960 --> 00:27:30.759 in this passage? 00:27:32.800 --> 00:27:33.420 Would you 00:27:33.420 --> 00:27:34.400 forgive us for 00:27:34.400 --> 00:27:35.240 the many times 00:27:35.240 --> 00:27:35.900 when we've acted 00:27:35.900 --> 00:27:36.680 like this man who 00:27:36.680 --> 00:27:38.080 looks into your 00:27:38.080 --> 00:27:39.480 word and immediately 00:27:39.480 --> 00:27:41.200 forgets what it 00:27:41.200 --> 00:27:41.559 says? 00:27:42.680 --> 00:27:43.420 God, forgive us 00:27:43.420 --> 00:27:44.579 for the times when 00:27:44.579 --> 00:27:45.900 our words indicated 00:27:45.900 --> 00:27:47.019 that our faith was 00:27:47.019 --> 00:27:48.740 genuine, but our 00:27:48.740 --> 00:27:50.220 actions told another 00:27:50.220 --> 00:27:51.360 story altogether. 00:27:53.120 --> 00:27:54.539 God, would you, by 00:27:54.539 --> 00:27:55.720 your grace, continue 00:27:55.720 --> 00:27:57.400 to sanctify us, 00:27:57.500 --> 00:27:59.019 making us more like 00:27:59.019 --> 00:28:00.680 Jesus every day? 00:28:01.500 --> 00:28:03.080 We ask all these 00:28:03.080 --> 00:28:04.380 things in his name. 00:28:05.380 --> 00:28:05.680 Amen. 00:28:05.680 --> 00:28:05.740 Amen. 00:28:06.060 --> 00:28:06.759 Amen. 00:28:06.759 --> 00:28:07.560 Amen. 00:28:07.560 --> 00:28:07.560 00:28:07.560 --> 00:28:07.560 00:28:07.560 --> 00:28:07.560 00:28:07.560 --> 00:28:07.560 00:28:07.560 --> 00:28:07.560 00:28:07.560 --> 00:28:07.560 00:28:07.560 --> 00:28:07.560 00:28:07.560 --> 00:28:07.560 00:28:07.560 --> 00:28:07.560 00:28:07.560 --> 00:28:07.560 00:28:07.560 --> 00:28:07.560 00:28:07.560 --> 00:28:07.560 00:28:07.560 --> 00:28:07.560 00:28:07.560 --> 00:28:07.560 00:28:07.560 --> 00:28:07.560 00:28:07.560 --> 00:28:07.560 00:28:07.560 --> 00:28:07.560 00:28:07.560 --> 00:28:07.560 00:28:07.560 --> 00:28:07.560 00:28:07.560 --> 00:28:07.560 00:28:07.560 --> 00:28:07.560 00:28:07.560 --> 00:28:07.560 00:28:07.560 --> 00:28:07.560 00:28:07.560 --> 00:28:07.560 00:28:07.560 --> 00:28:07.560 00:28:07.560 --> 00:28:07.560 00:28:07.560 --> 00:28:07.560 00:28:07.560 --> 00:28:07.560 00:28:07.560 --> 00:28:07.560 00:28:07.560 --> 00:28:07.560 00:28:07.560 --> 00:28:07.560 00:28:07.560 --> 00:28:07.560 00:28:07.560 --> 00:28:07.560 00:28:07.560 --> 00:28:07.560 00:28:07.560 --> 00:28:07.560 00:28:07.560 --> 00:28:07.560 00:28:07.560 --> 00:28:07.560 00:28:07.560 --> 00:28:07.560 00:28:07.560 --> 00:28:07.560 00:28:07.560 --> 00:28:07.560 00:28:07.560 --> 00:28:07.560 00:28:07.560 --> 00:28:07.560 00:28:07.560 --> 00:28:07.560 00:28:07.560 --> 00:28:07.560 00:28:07.560 --> 00:28:07.560 00:28:07.560 --> 00:28:07.560 00:28:07.560 --> 00:28:07.560 00:28:07.559 --> 00:28:20.619 Thank you.