WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.960 James 4, at the beginning, James, inspired by the Spirit, writes, 00:00:06.500 --> 00:00:09.660 What causes fights and quarrels among you? 00:00:10.460 --> 00:00:13.320 Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? 00:00:14.040 --> 00:00:16.120 You want something but don't get it. 00:00:16.600 --> 00:00:20.280 You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. 00:00:20.859 --> 00:00:22.400 You quarrel and fight. 00:00:22.600 --> 00:00:25.420 You do not have because you do not ask God. 00:00:25.900 --> 00:00:29.960 When you ask, you do not receive because you ask with wrong motives. 00:00:30.420 --> 00:00:33.039 That you may spend what you get on your pleasures. 00:00:34.200 --> 00:00:40.179 You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred towards God? 00:00:40.880 --> 00:00:45.460 Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 00:00:46.019 --> 00:00:51.840 Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the Spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely, 00:00:51.840 --> 00:00:54.579 but he gives us more grace? 00:00:54.579 --> 00:01:01.659 That is why Scripture says God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. 00:01:02.579 --> 00:01:04.659 Submit yourselves then to God. 00:01:05.280 --> 00:01:08.439 Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 00:01:08.959 --> 00:01:12.079 Come near to God and he will come near to you. 00:01:12.780 --> 00:01:17.700 Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 00:01:17.700 --> 00:01:20.200 Grieve, mourn, and wail. 00:01:20.880 --> 00:01:24.480 Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 00:01:25.299 --> 00:01:30.439 Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will lift you up. 00:01:31.480 --> 00:01:31.920 Amen. 00:01:31.920 --> 00:01:36.579 And we'll turn back to that section of God's Word in just a few moments. 00:01:36.579 --> 00:01:41.700 Chapter 4 and those first 10 verses. 00:01:41.700 --> 00:01:50.379 I want us to imagine this evening James as cardiologist. 00:01:50.780 --> 00:01:54.079 James as spiritual heart doctor. 00:01:54.219 --> 00:01:56.900 As he comes to examine this church. 00:01:57.540 --> 00:02:03.320 Comes to discover and diagnose the problem that's going on in this church. 00:02:03.320 --> 00:02:08.080 And then point to the gospel as the cure. 00:02:08.080 --> 00:02:13.860 And as we do that, hopefully we'll be examining ourselves as well. 00:02:14.560 --> 00:02:17.880 Letting the Word of God examine our own hearts. 00:02:19.260 --> 00:02:23.860 So let's begin in the first three verses there. 00:02:23.960 --> 00:02:27.720 We can call this the initial examination. 00:02:28.360 --> 00:02:31.080 And as James writes of this church, 00:02:31.080 --> 00:02:38.000 we immediately see there are some presenting symptoms that he can recognize. 00:02:38.080 --> 00:02:43.200 Dr. James has already been examining the church. 00:02:43.840 --> 00:02:46.560 He's not actually a doctor, but he is for the purposes of this evening. 00:02:47.000 --> 00:02:58.000 And he's been saying often the problem is the pool as Christians between love for God and love for the world. 00:02:58.360 --> 00:03:02.280 Do we receive the values and the wisdom of God? 00:03:02.540 --> 00:03:06.500 Or do we take in the values and wisdom of our culture? 00:03:06.500 --> 00:03:12.719 And as we see him examining this church that he's writing to still further, 00:03:12.719 --> 00:03:16.659 we see this presenting problem right at the beginning of verse 1. 00:03:17.719 --> 00:03:20.379 There's fights and quarrels. 00:03:21.060 --> 00:03:28.740 In verse 2, we see the extent of their anger and the extent of their coveting, 00:03:28.740 --> 00:03:32.400 their quarreling and fighting. 00:03:32.400 --> 00:03:34.379 It's not clear why. 00:03:35.680 --> 00:03:38.900 We can take some guesses from the contents of the letter. 00:03:38.980 --> 00:03:43.099 Perhaps they are fighting for influence and position in the church. 00:03:44.020 --> 00:03:50.040 Perhaps they are fighting for wealth or to gain the favor of those who are wealthy. 00:03:51.300 --> 00:03:57.540 Perhaps they are responding to words that have been said to them. 00:03:57.539 --> 00:04:00.679 So in bitterness, they are fighting and quarreling to get even. 00:04:01.159 --> 00:04:03.159 Perhaps they're simply fighting to be heard. 00:04:03.620 --> 00:04:08.340 We're not sure, but we can know for certain that this is a serious problem in a church. 00:04:09.359 --> 00:04:12.519 When Christians are fighting together, this is not good. 00:04:12.520 --> 00:04:22.480 But James, our heart doctor, is quick to point out these are fruits and not roots. 00:04:23.439 --> 00:04:28.060 This is symptoms, not the deep underlying cause. 00:04:29.060 --> 00:04:32.620 And so he then moves from this presenting problem of fights and quarrels 00:04:32.620 --> 00:04:37.699 to identify the deeper heart problem that's going on. 00:04:37.699 --> 00:04:47.420 Second part of verse 1, don't these fights and quarrels come from your desires that battle within you? 00:04:48.500 --> 00:04:55.399 So there is that desire to love God, but there is this other desire to love and value 00:04:55.399 --> 00:04:57.300 and to gain status for self. 00:04:57.300 --> 00:05:02.699 And it's leading them towards what Augustine called disordered loves, 00:05:03.460 --> 00:05:07.920 where instead of putting God first, they are putting themselves first. 00:05:08.379 --> 00:05:12.460 And that's having an impact on their relationships within the church. 00:05:13.620 --> 00:05:18.199 So we see that in verse 1, there's these desires battling within them. 00:05:18.199 --> 00:05:26.899 And then at the end of verse 3, we see that they are looking to pursue selfish pleasure. 00:05:27.819 --> 00:05:32.620 Now, there is nothing wrong with desire and there is nothing wrong with pleasure. 00:05:33.060 --> 00:05:37.980 But as Christians, we must be careful that we are channeling that in the right direction. 00:05:37.980 --> 00:05:46.300 That we are to take pleasure in the things of God, that our deepest desire is to be for God and his glory, 00:05:46.759 --> 00:05:49.280 for Jesus as our Savior. 00:05:49.560 --> 00:05:54.720 But what's happening here is the same self-promotion, 00:05:55.319 --> 00:06:00.560 the same selfish ambition that James spoke about in chapter 3. 00:06:01.439 --> 00:06:03.720 They are adopting the wisdom of the world, 00:06:03.720 --> 00:06:07.220 which in their day was saying, well, you need to get ahead. 00:06:07.980 --> 00:06:10.500 You know, we need to look after number one. 00:06:11.080 --> 00:06:14.819 That message that we still hear loud and clear today. 00:06:15.379 --> 00:06:18.700 And what we see is as James probes under the surface, 00:06:19.040 --> 00:06:24.140 he begins to also identify how this is impacting their relationship. 00:06:24.340 --> 00:06:26.980 So we've seen the problem relating to other people. 00:06:27.460 --> 00:06:28.900 If somebody is getting ahead of me, 00:06:29.000 --> 00:06:31.460 therefore I will fight and quarrel to try and get on top. 00:06:31.759 --> 00:06:35.759 But we also see James talking about the problems 00:06:35.759 --> 00:06:38.500 that they are having in relating to God. 00:06:39.899 --> 00:06:44.279 This battle, this desire that lies inside them 00:06:44.279 --> 00:06:46.060 and then being pulled in the wrong direction 00:06:46.060 --> 00:06:48.459 is having an impact on their prayer life. 00:06:50.219 --> 00:06:53.060 So at the end of verse 2, he will say to them, 00:06:53.579 --> 00:06:57.699 you do not have because you do not ask God. 00:06:57.699 --> 00:07:01.579 Perhaps they have forgotten the Christian life 00:07:01.579 --> 00:07:03.399 is one of dependence on God. 00:07:04.279 --> 00:07:06.060 And instead they're believing their own hype, 00:07:06.120 --> 00:07:07.699 so I don't need to pray, perhaps. 00:07:08.899 --> 00:07:12.539 We also see in verse 3 that when they do ask, 00:07:12.620 --> 00:07:13.439 they don't get. 00:07:14.060 --> 00:07:14.800 Why is that? 00:07:15.480 --> 00:07:17.120 When you ask, you do not receive 00:07:17.120 --> 00:07:19.519 because you ask with wrong motives 00:07:19.519 --> 00:07:23.919 that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. 00:07:23.920 --> 00:07:28.160 So they want God to give them things 00:07:28.160 --> 00:07:31.900 to fuel their own personal pleasure. 00:07:32.580 --> 00:07:36.000 So they have forgotten that God is good 00:07:36.000 --> 00:07:38.360 and that he can have no part 00:07:38.360 --> 00:07:43.480 in their evil, unhelpful, misguided pleasure plan. 00:07:44.960 --> 00:07:46.780 Now it's important for us to recognize 00:07:46.780 --> 00:07:48.540 the teaching of Jesus. 00:07:49.460 --> 00:07:50.120 Jesus said, 00:07:50.120 --> 00:07:51.580 Ask and it will be given. 00:07:51.740 --> 00:07:53.319 Seek and you will by knocking the door. 00:07:53.319 --> 00:07:54.779 We will be open to you. 00:07:55.079 --> 00:07:57.040 And we remember immediately after that, 00:07:57.379 --> 00:07:58.180 Jesus says, 00:07:58.339 --> 00:07:59.939 God is a generous father, 00:08:00.060 --> 00:08:02.379 way more generous than any earthly father. 00:08:02.500 --> 00:08:04.379 He delights to give good gifts. 00:08:04.439 --> 00:08:06.219 So we need to recognize that. 00:08:06.639 --> 00:08:10.339 James is not putting a dampener on the spirit 00:08:10.339 --> 00:08:12.139 to pray and to ask. 00:08:12.379 --> 00:08:13.680 Rather, he is saying, 00:08:14.159 --> 00:08:15.439 when we pray, 00:08:16.639 --> 00:08:17.939 our motive matters. 00:08:17.939 --> 00:08:22.300 God will answer prayers 00:08:22.300 --> 00:08:23.939 that are aiming for his glory, 00:08:24.060 --> 00:08:24.519 absolutely, 00:08:24.719 --> 00:08:27.819 that are concerned with doing his will in the world. 00:08:28.860 --> 00:08:31.220 God delights to answer and to give 00:08:31.220 --> 00:08:33.320 so that we might be a blessing to others, 00:08:33.320 --> 00:08:36.240 but he will not hear those selfish prayers 00:08:36.240 --> 00:08:39.279 that are all about personal desire and pleasure. 00:08:39.279 --> 00:08:49.000 So James is beginning to identify the underlying problem. 00:08:49.220 --> 00:08:53.740 Their heart is aiming for love of self 00:08:53.740 --> 00:08:56.139 rather than love of God. 00:08:56.620 --> 00:08:58.360 And because of that, 00:08:59.500 --> 00:09:01.159 and this is true for any of us, 00:09:01.199 --> 00:09:04.639 when we place ourselves at the center of our life 00:09:04.639 --> 00:09:06.620 and we think that we are the most important, 00:09:06.840 --> 00:09:07.659 inevitably, 00:09:08.480 --> 00:09:12.720 it will lead us to a mistreatment of other people, 00:09:13.500 --> 00:09:15.220 a lack of love for others, 00:09:15.919 --> 00:09:18.860 and a lack of love for God. 00:09:19.939 --> 00:09:22.699 And so James wants to show that to the church 00:09:22.699 --> 00:09:24.500 very clearly. 00:09:26.500 --> 00:09:29.919 We all aim for pleasure and happiness 00:09:29.919 --> 00:09:32.759 that motivates our lives, 00:09:33.240 --> 00:09:33.759 absolutely. 00:09:34.639 --> 00:09:37.139 The question we need to ask ourselves 00:09:37.139 --> 00:09:39.899 is deep down in our heart, 00:09:41.139 --> 00:09:43.460 do I think that pleasure and happiness 00:09:43.460 --> 00:09:45.580 is found in living for myself, 00:09:46.120 --> 00:09:50.000 or do I believe it's found in living for God? 00:09:51.679 --> 00:09:55.559 Is my joy found in pursuing my pleasure 00:09:55.559 --> 00:09:59.480 or delighting in the pleasures of God? 00:09:59.480 --> 00:10:05.139 He goes on with his diagnosis. 00:10:06.080 --> 00:10:07.840 In verses four and five, 00:10:08.300 --> 00:10:12.600 we see the problem being exposed to the church, 00:10:13.259 --> 00:10:14.340 and it's this. 00:10:14.500 --> 00:10:16.279 It's that there are at least some 00:10:16.279 --> 00:10:19.000 who have a divided heart. 00:10:19.000 --> 00:10:22.720 Now, there's a serious problem we see all through the Bible, 00:10:22.720 --> 00:10:24.679 and it comes with many names, 00:10:24.759 --> 00:10:27.840 and James uses a couple or three, actually, 00:10:27.899 --> 00:10:29.200 in this short section. 00:10:29.299 --> 00:10:31.759 The first, at the beginning of verse four, 00:10:32.259 --> 00:10:36.580 is that language of spiritual adultery. 00:10:36.580 --> 00:10:39.920 You adulterous people. 00:10:40.920 --> 00:10:44.480 So again, we think about the imagery that God uses in the Bible, 00:10:44.480 --> 00:10:47.740 and one of those images is of God as husband, 00:10:48.740 --> 00:10:53.180 entering into a covenant of marriage with his people. 00:10:53.179 --> 00:10:56.379 And again, Jesus in the New Testament picks up on that. 00:10:56.519 --> 00:11:00.239 He is the bridegroom, and he has come to win his bride. 00:11:00.339 --> 00:11:04.259 He has come to die to secure a bride for himself 00:11:04.259 --> 00:11:06.759 as his father's gift to him. 00:11:06.799 --> 00:11:09.539 And so there is this covenant language. 00:11:09.719 --> 00:11:12.979 There is this marriage language within the Bible. 00:11:13.379 --> 00:11:16.259 In verse five, there's also the language 00:11:16.259 --> 00:11:19.319 that it calls to mind jealousy. 00:11:19.320 --> 00:11:23.620 God is a God who is jealous for his people's heart and love. 00:11:24.780 --> 00:11:30.520 Like any good husband, jealous for his wife's affection. 00:11:33.260 --> 00:11:36.560 But what we are seeing here in the church 00:11:36.560 --> 00:11:40.620 that James is writing to is that just like Old Testament Israel, 00:11:41.440 --> 00:11:44.240 here is a community of God's people 00:11:44.240 --> 00:11:47.860 that are trying, as it were, to have a foot in both camps. 00:11:47.860 --> 00:11:50.240 So in the Old Testament, it looked like, well, 00:11:50.460 --> 00:11:52.379 on the Sabbath, we'll go to the temple 00:11:52.379 --> 00:11:54.800 and we'll bring our sacrifices when we're supposed to, 00:11:54.820 --> 00:11:59.080 and we'll do that worship, but also we will set up idols. 00:12:00.120 --> 00:12:02.019 And if we imagine the gods of the nations 00:12:02.019 --> 00:12:04.259 are giving prosperity and giving security, 00:12:04.419 --> 00:12:06.300 then we'll chase after those gods too. 00:12:06.560 --> 00:12:11.740 We'll hedge our bets rather than showing covenant faithfulness. 00:12:13.120 --> 00:12:14.320 In the New Testament, 00:12:14.320 --> 00:12:17.680 Jesus spoke against this kind of attitude 00:12:17.680 --> 00:12:22.160 when he said that you cannot serve both God and money. 00:12:23.240 --> 00:12:28.100 Money, that idol that people imagine gives security and status 00:12:28.100 --> 00:12:31.420 that actually leads to a divided heart 00:12:31.420 --> 00:12:34.280 among the people of God. 00:12:35.300 --> 00:12:38.840 And so James is bringing to the attention of this church 00:12:38.840 --> 00:12:43.040 the horror that while God has been absolutely faithful to them, 00:12:43.639 --> 00:12:46.879 gracious to them, having made promises to them, 00:12:47.879 --> 00:12:49.600 this church has been unfaithful, 00:12:50.160 --> 00:12:52.580 like a wife unfaithful to a husband. 00:12:53.540 --> 00:12:56.540 So spiritual adultery is one of the ways 00:12:56.540 --> 00:12:59.480 of talking about this divided heart. 00:13:00.280 --> 00:13:02.860 But there's also the idea in verse four as well 00:13:02.860 --> 00:13:05.360 of friendship with the world. 00:13:05.840 --> 00:13:06.800 He says that a couple of times. 00:13:06.799 --> 00:13:08.939 Don't you know that friendship with the world 00:13:08.939 --> 00:13:11.859 is hatred towards God? 00:13:12.859 --> 00:13:15.539 Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world 00:13:15.539 --> 00:13:19.659 becomes an enemy of God. 00:13:21.159 --> 00:13:25.039 Now James is not saying here it is wrong to have friends 00:13:25.039 --> 00:13:26.559 who aren't Christians. 00:13:27.179 --> 00:13:29.179 That's not what he's talking about here, 00:13:29.339 --> 00:13:32.459 but he is saying it is wrong for a Christian 00:13:32.459 --> 00:13:35.359 to take on the values of the world. 00:13:35.360 --> 00:13:37.899 In particular, what he's been addressing 00:13:37.899 --> 00:13:40.159 in the last sections of the letter 00:13:40.159 --> 00:13:45.300 is it's wrong to take on pride and selfish ambition. 00:13:47.659 --> 00:13:50.279 Because then we are living for self 00:13:50.279 --> 00:13:53.120 rather than living for God. 00:13:55.060 --> 00:13:57.220 He's writing New Testament wisdom, 00:13:57.379 --> 00:14:00.440 and so he's presenting that stark contrast. 00:14:00.600 --> 00:14:02.759 There are two ways for us to live. 00:14:02.759 --> 00:14:05.840 We are either choosing friendship with God 00:14:05.840 --> 00:14:10.080 or we are choosing to become enemies of God 00:14:10.080 --> 00:14:12.659 in the way that we are treating him. 00:14:15.460 --> 00:14:19.039 And so here is James delivering a diagnosis 00:14:19.039 --> 00:14:23.200 to the church on the health of their heart. 00:14:24.500 --> 00:14:26.120 Now for us, we know physically, 00:14:26.600 --> 00:14:28.279 when we think about the health of our own hearts, 00:14:28.279 --> 00:14:30.539 there's many factors that contribute to that, 00:14:30.659 --> 00:14:33.799 diet, exercise, genetics, and so on. 00:14:35.159 --> 00:14:37.039 Spiritually, what are the factors 00:14:37.039 --> 00:14:40.000 that determine whether our hearts are healthy or not? 00:14:41.500 --> 00:14:42.519 Well, we need to think about 00:14:42.519 --> 00:14:45.939 who or what do I love most? 00:14:46.899 --> 00:14:47.299 Truly. 00:14:49.220 --> 00:14:53.079 You know, we may acknowledge that we love God, 00:14:53.080 --> 00:14:54.700 but when it comes to it, 00:14:54.759 --> 00:14:57.000 is that how our lives go? 00:14:58.800 --> 00:15:02.759 What gives me a sense of value? 00:15:03.660 --> 00:15:05.980 Feeling like I am somebody. 00:15:07.759 --> 00:15:10.560 Again, like this church, we can acknowledge, 00:15:11.120 --> 00:15:13.120 well, it's knowing I'm a child of God, 00:15:13.200 --> 00:15:16.020 but is that really what gives us value? 00:15:16.759 --> 00:15:19.060 Or are we looking to our job or to our family 00:15:19.059 --> 00:15:21.639 or to our financial security to give us that? 00:15:22.579 --> 00:15:23.899 What drives us? 00:15:24.539 --> 00:15:25.779 What excites us? 00:15:26.500 --> 00:15:28.500 What gives us true hope? 00:15:30.459 --> 00:15:33.319 Is Christ your life? 00:15:33.399 --> 00:15:35.279 Is Christ my life? 00:15:35.399 --> 00:15:37.859 Or is it something else? 00:15:40.239 --> 00:15:42.739 James' warning about the danger 00:15:42.739 --> 00:15:44.500 of having a divided heart. 00:15:44.500 --> 00:15:49.200 But then, just as any good doctor 00:15:49.200 --> 00:15:51.200 having given a diagnosis, 00:15:51.759 --> 00:15:56.080 he then moves on to show there is a cure. 00:15:57.600 --> 00:16:02.200 So maybe today we are sitting, being examined, 00:16:02.399 --> 00:16:04.419 and when we see this problem is real, 00:16:04.879 --> 00:16:07.220 we recognize that temptation within ourselves 00:16:07.220 --> 00:16:09.179 towards a divided heart, 00:16:09.259 --> 00:16:10.139 and so maybe we're asking, 00:16:10.240 --> 00:16:11.360 well, what's the treatment plan? 00:16:12.139 --> 00:16:12.860 Is there hope? 00:16:12.860 --> 00:16:15.259 I recognize that so often I'm pulled 00:16:15.259 --> 00:16:16.300 in a different direction 00:16:16.300 --> 00:16:18.200 other than living for the glory of God. 00:16:18.259 --> 00:16:18.980 What should I do? 00:16:21.560 --> 00:16:22.500 Let's hear James. 00:16:24.019 --> 00:16:26.480 It focuses largely on God's grace 00:16:26.480 --> 00:16:28.500 and us having humble hearts. 00:16:29.320 --> 00:16:30.720 And see there in verse six, 00:16:32.300 --> 00:16:34.840 but he gives us more grace. 00:16:35.620 --> 00:16:37.100 That is why scripture says, 00:16:37.139 --> 00:16:38.659 and he quotes from Proverbs 3, 00:16:38.659 --> 00:16:41.059 God opposes the proud, 00:16:41.059 --> 00:16:45.139 but gives grace to the humble. 00:16:46.500 --> 00:16:49.779 Our hope begins not with ourselves, 00:16:50.379 --> 00:16:54.559 but with God's mercy and kindness towards us. 00:16:54.959 --> 00:16:59.500 The grace of God says that you and I can change. 00:17:01.100 --> 00:17:03.879 If this diagnosis is bang on the money 00:17:03.879 --> 00:17:05.599 and we have this divided heart, 00:17:05.599 --> 00:17:06.719 there is grace, 00:17:06.839 --> 00:17:09.839 there is more grace for us. 00:17:11.139 --> 00:17:12.939 So if we're here today 00:17:12.939 --> 00:17:14.480 and we're not a Christian 00:17:14.480 --> 00:17:16.199 thinking about the language of the Bible, 00:17:16.579 --> 00:17:19.199 we find ourselves needing a heart transplant, 00:17:19.939 --> 00:17:22.379 and that's God's grace in offering that. 00:17:22.439 --> 00:17:25.519 That's the promise of the Old Testament, 00:17:25.740 --> 00:17:27.059 thinking about the new covenant. 00:17:27.219 --> 00:17:27.939 What would it be like? 00:17:28.000 --> 00:17:29.599 Well, it would look like God replacing 00:17:30.279 --> 00:17:32.399 a heart of stone with a heart of flesh, 00:17:32.400 --> 00:17:34.500 one that is alive to God, 00:17:35.240 --> 00:17:37.420 one that beats with love for Father, 00:17:37.920 --> 00:17:39.080 Son, and Spirit, 00:17:39.420 --> 00:17:42.420 one that by faith responds to God 00:17:42.420 --> 00:17:44.860 as the Spirit works in us. 00:17:46.640 --> 00:17:48.840 But as Christians also, 00:17:49.660 --> 00:17:53.900 we need God's grace to change. 00:17:53.900 --> 00:17:58.820 We don't fight the battle for desires, 00:17:59.140 --> 00:18:02.460 or we shouldn't fight those battle against our desires, 00:18:02.540 --> 00:18:05.120 that battle that rages in our heart on our own 00:18:05.120 --> 00:18:06.740 and in our own strength. 00:18:06.800 --> 00:18:10.080 No, we need to rely on God's grace, 00:18:10.540 --> 00:18:13.759 that God would keep showing us the glory of Jesus, 00:18:14.759 --> 00:18:16.820 that he would show us how far superior 00:18:16.820 --> 00:18:20.320 the glory of Jesus is compared to those things 00:18:20.320 --> 00:18:22.380 that our hearts so often run to. 00:18:22.380 --> 00:18:28.060 And what we see in the next verses 00:18:28.060 --> 00:18:31.720 is that this grace that God supplies 00:18:31.720 --> 00:18:36.220 also leads the people of God towards action. 00:18:37.220 --> 00:18:41.000 There's lots of active words in verses 7 to 10, 00:18:41.500 --> 00:18:44.060 but remember that it's as we are led 00:18:44.060 --> 00:18:46.440 and as we are empowered by God 00:18:46.440 --> 00:18:50.700 that these lifestyle changes take place. 00:18:50.700 --> 00:18:54.519 first in verse 7, 00:18:56.160 --> 00:18:58.759 as God gives us grace, 00:18:59.380 --> 00:19:03.319 we submit ourselves to God. 00:19:03.319 --> 00:19:09.460 We need with God's help to submit our desires, 00:19:10.000 --> 00:19:12.460 to be willing to pray like Jesus, 00:19:12.659 --> 00:19:16.460 not my will, but yours be done. 00:19:17.460 --> 00:19:22.059 We need to be willing to leave self-promoting plans behind 00:19:22.059 --> 00:19:25.779 because we recognize how much better it is 00:19:25.779 --> 00:19:29.059 to live for God's glory and greatness 00:19:29.059 --> 00:19:30.519 and not our own. 00:19:31.460 --> 00:19:35.619 We need to submit in terms of having him as our master, 00:19:35.779 --> 00:19:36.480 as our king, 00:19:36.559 --> 00:19:38.440 and as a consequence of that, 00:19:39.079 --> 00:19:42.079 as we submit ourselves to God in verse 7, 00:19:42.079 --> 00:19:45.559 we will also need to resist the devil, 00:19:47.899 --> 00:19:50.839 to stop believing his lies, 00:19:51.899 --> 00:19:53.259 to determine, 00:19:53.779 --> 00:19:56.439 to not believe the lie of me first, 00:19:56.440 --> 00:20:02.220 to fight against that pride that wells up in us, 00:20:02.259 --> 00:20:04.600 to fight against those evil desires 00:20:04.600 --> 00:20:06.039 that want to promote ourselves 00:20:06.039 --> 00:20:08.240 rather than honoring Jesus. 00:20:11.000 --> 00:20:13.460 And when we think about what's happening in this church 00:20:13.460 --> 00:20:15.240 where they're fighting and quarreling, 00:20:16.240 --> 00:20:17.880 one practical implication of this 00:20:17.880 --> 00:20:19.539 is that we should be so busy 00:20:19.539 --> 00:20:22.120 fighting sin in our own hearts and lives 00:20:22.119 --> 00:20:24.799 that we get no time to fight with one another. 00:20:26.559 --> 00:20:28.659 So we resist the devil. 00:20:28.659 --> 00:20:30.599 And then in verse 8, 00:20:30.699 --> 00:20:34.279 there is this call to return to God. 00:20:34.359 --> 00:20:37.699 And again, that's God's grace that draws us. 00:20:37.939 --> 00:20:39.119 Come near to God 00:20:39.119 --> 00:20:42.739 and he will come near to you. 00:20:43.559 --> 00:20:46.919 Again, pictured so wonderfully by Jesus 00:20:46.919 --> 00:20:49.839 as he told the parable of the prodigal son, 00:20:49.839 --> 00:20:54.339 that son returning with his sense of shame and disgrace 00:20:54.339 --> 00:20:56.220 and having dishonored his father 00:20:56.220 --> 00:20:59.559 and sinned against his father and against God. 00:20:59.639 --> 00:21:02.659 But as he gets close to home, 00:21:03.399 --> 00:21:04.500 the father comes running. 00:21:05.500 --> 00:21:07.679 The father surrounds him with love 00:21:07.679 --> 00:21:08.919 and clothes him with honor 00:21:08.919 --> 00:21:11.299 and throws a feast for him. 00:21:11.559 --> 00:21:12.919 And the message of the Bible 00:21:12.919 --> 00:21:15.759 is that when we return to God, 00:21:15.759 --> 00:21:18.660 we discover a God who offers 00:21:18.660 --> 00:21:22.460 a loving, welcoming embrace 00:21:22.460 --> 00:21:26.539 when we choose to leave the old behind. 00:21:27.779 --> 00:21:30.059 And when we choose to leave behind 00:21:30.059 --> 00:21:33.299 selfish pleasures for the better way 00:21:33.299 --> 00:21:35.879 of living to enjoy God, 00:21:36.440 --> 00:21:38.420 we find a God who welcomes. 00:21:38.420 --> 00:21:44.320 We also need to be involved 00:21:44.320 --> 00:21:47.620 in repenting of sin. 00:21:48.200 --> 00:21:52.500 And we see that in verse 8 and verse 9. 00:21:53.360 --> 00:21:55.860 We see there is in repentance 00:21:55.860 --> 00:21:58.840 a change of behavior. 00:21:59.840 --> 00:22:02.080 Wash your hands, you sinners. 00:22:02.759 --> 00:22:04.940 There are external changes 00:22:04.940 --> 00:22:07.220 that need to take place. 00:22:07.920 --> 00:22:09.660 A part of repentance, 00:22:09.900 --> 00:22:11.600 that turning away from sin 00:22:11.600 --> 00:22:12.980 and turning towards God 00:22:12.980 --> 00:22:15.980 means turning towards the ways of God. 00:22:16.960 --> 00:22:18.200 So again, as we've looked 00:22:18.200 --> 00:22:19.500 through James' letter, 00:22:20.500 --> 00:22:21.920 stop fighting with one another. 00:22:23.000 --> 00:22:24.559 Stop being jealous of each other. 00:22:25.420 --> 00:22:27.420 Stop those self-promoting patterns 00:22:27.420 --> 00:22:28.080 of behavior. 00:22:28.900 --> 00:22:30.259 Stop showing favoritism. 00:22:30.440 --> 00:22:32.420 Stop lacking mercy. 00:22:32.420 --> 00:22:34.920 So there's external change 00:22:34.920 --> 00:22:35.800 that needs to happen 00:22:35.800 --> 00:22:37.080 as we repent, 00:22:37.220 --> 00:22:38.480 as God shows us 00:22:38.480 --> 00:22:41.160 our wrong words and actions. 00:22:41.279 --> 00:22:42.240 But there's also 00:22:42.240 --> 00:22:44.440 an internal change. 00:22:44.800 --> 00:22:46.519 And James shows us that in verse 8. 00:22:47.220 --> 00:22:49.440 Purify your hearts, 00:22:50.259 --> 00:22:51.220 you double-minded. 00:22:52.019 --> 00:22:53.480 There's another way of speaking 00:22:53.480 --> 00:22:55.140 about a divided heart, 00:22:55.240 --> 00:22:57.860 a double-minded person. 00:22:58.360 --> 00:22:59.660 There needs to be this 00:22:59.660 --> 00:23:02.279 deep internal change. 00:23:02.420 --> 00:23:03.660 So instead of wondering, 00:23:03.800 --> 00:23:04.820 well, shall I live for God 00:23:04.820 --> 00:23:06.420 or shall I live for money 00:23:06.420 --> 00:23:08.340 or popularity or power? 00:23:10.500 --> 00:23:12.779 Repentance looks like loyalty to God. 00:23:14.340 --> 00:23:17.100 Repentance looks like covenant faithfulness. 00:23:18.340 --> 00:23:20.600 Repentance looks like faithfulness 00:23:20.600 --> 00:23:21.920 in a marriage, 00:23:22.000 --> 00:23:24.420 to pick up on the earlier language. 00:23:24.420 --> 00:23:27.400 It's dealing with the divided heart 00:23:27.400 --> 00:23:28.340 that we have. 00:23:31.779 --> 00:23:34.820 There's a mood to that in verse 9. 00:23:34.940 --> 00:23:37.940 There's a sorrow over sin. 00:23:37.940 --> 00:23:40.980 Not because we've been found out, 00:23:41.100 --> 00:23:42.320 but because we know 00:23:42.320 --> 00:23:44.660 that we have hurt the one 00:23:44.660 --> 00:23:46.400 who loves us most. 00:23:47.600 --> 00:23:49.140 Sorrow because of 00:23:49.140 --> 00:23:50.700 our rebellion 00:23:50.700 --> 00:23:52.900 against our Redeemer, 00:23:53.380 --> 00:23:55.000 our Father. 00:23:56.700 --> 00:23:57.840 So there is repentance. 00:23:58.120 --> 00:23:59.880 And then in verse 10, 00:24:00.259 --> 00:24:01.460 returning back 00:24:01.460 --> 00:24:03.299 to the language of verse 6, 00:24:03.440 --> 00:24:04.440 there is humility. 00:24:05.440 --> 00:24:06.480 Humble yourselves 00:24:06.480 --> 00:24:07.840 before the Lord 00:24:07.840 --> 00:24:09.539 and He 00:24:09.539 --> 00:24:12.160 will lift you up. 00:24:12.680 --> 00:24:14.019 Rather than seeking 00:24:14.019 --> 00:24:15.480 to exalt ourselves, 00:24:15.480 --> 00:24:17.740 we want God 00:24:17.740 --> 00:24:19.039 to give us honour 00:24:19.039 --> 00:24:21.220 and to give us glory 00:24:21.220 --> 00:24:23.940 through being His, 00:24:24.440 --> 00:24:25.759 being one of His. 00:24:26.599 --> 00:24:27.480 So we've been told 00:24:27.480 --> 00:24:28.460 God gives grace 00:24:28.460 --> 00:24:29.059 to the humble, 00:24:29.240 --> 00:24:30.140 therefore we need 00:24:30.140 --> 00:24:32.039 humble hearts. 00:24:33.799 --> 00:24:35.039 If we are to deal 00:24:35.039 --> 00:24:35.779 with the problem 00:24:35.779 --> 00:24:36.680 that comes 00:24:36.680 --> 00:24:37.920 of a divided heart, 00:24:38.019 --> 00:24:39.400 we need humility 00:24:39.400 --> 00:24:41.259 that runs to God 00:24:41.259 --> 00:24:42.299 for fresh supplies 00:24:42.299 --> 00:24:42.960 of grace. 00:24:42.960 --> 00:24:45.120 we need a humility 00:24:45.120 --> 00:24:45.980 that will weep 00:24:45.980 --> 00:24:46.920 over our sin 00:24:46.920 --> 00:24:48.539 and that will also 00:24:48.539 --> 00:24:49.640 sing for joy 00:24:49.640 --> 00:24:52.779 because of our salvation. 00:24:56.200 --> 00:24:58.140 So James has 00:24:58.140 --> 00:25:00.740 very clearly 00:25:00.740 --> 00:25:02.819 directed the church 00:25:02.819 --> 00:25:03.720 to consider 00:25:03.720 --> 00:25:05.380 what's wrong 00:25:05.380 --> 00:25:06.559 in their behaviour, 00:25:07.000 --> 00:25:07.960 but that's just a symptom 00:25:07.960 --> 00:25:08.860 of what's wrong 00:25:08.860 --> 00:25:10.100 in their hearts 00:25:10.100 --> 00:25:11.420 and he's shown them 00:25:11.420 --> 00:25:13.100 the way to respond. 00:25:15.279 --> 00:25:17.039 How will we respond 00:25:17.039 --> 00:25:18.000 today? 00:25:18.480 --> 00:25:19.500 How will we respond 00:25:19.500 --> 00:25:21.279 this week? 00:25:22.720 --> 00:25:24.000 Perhaps it would do us good 00:25:24.000 --> 00:25:24.880 to take some time 00:25:24.880 --> 00:25:25.400 this week 00:25:25.400 --> 00:25:27.759 to read slowly 00:25:27.759 --> 00:25:29.100 and prayerfully 00:25:29.100 --> 00:25:31.000 this section. 00:25:31.120 --> 00:25:31.300 Again, 00:25:31.360 --> 00:25:31.600 to think, 00:25:31.700 --> 00:25:32.580 how am I tempted 00:25:32.580 --> 00:25:34.440 towards a divided heart? 00:25:35.360 --> 00:25:36.900 Where do I struggle 00:25:36.900 --> 00:25:38.539 to be faithful to God? 00:25:38.640 --> 00:25:39.400 Where do I not want 00:25:39.400 --> 00:25:40.700 to be faithful to God? 00:25:41.420 --> 00:25:43.000 How is that revealing 00:25:43.000 --> 00:25:44.160 itself in a lack 00:25:44.160 --> 00:25:44.700 of love? 00:25:45.200 --> 00:25:46.200 A lack of love 00:25:46.200 --> 00:25:47.200 towards other people, 00:25:47.279 --> 00:25:48.259 perhaps in my family 00:25:48.259 --> 00:25:49.240 or my circle of friends 00:25:49.240 --> 00:25:50.400 or within my church. 00:25:51.420 --> 00:25:52.600 How is it showing it 00:25:52.600 --> 00:25:53.500 in a lack of love 00:25:53.500 --> 00:25:54.460 towards God? 00:25:55.380 --> 00:25:56.180 Do we detect 00:25:56.180 --> 00:25:56.940 that our worship 00:25:56.940 --> 00:25:58.180 is going through the motions, 00:25:58.340 --> 00:25:59.500 that we have no real desire 00:25:59.500 --> 00:26:00.440 to read the Bible 00:26:00.440 --> 00:26:01.180 and to pray? 00:26:01.180 --> 00:26:05.500 And as we allow God 00:26:05.500 --> 00:26:06.519 by his word 00:26:06.519 --> 00:26:07.279 and by his spirit 00:26:07.279 --> 00:26:08.720 to examine our hearts, 00:26:09.640 --> 00:26:10.480 remember to take 00:26:10.480 --> 00:26:11.660 the gospel remedy. 00:26:13.120 --> 00:26:13.880 First of all, 00:26:13.920 --> 00:26:15.420 to consider the perfect life 00:26:15.420 --> 00:26:16.799 of Christ for you. 00:26:20.000 --> 00:26:21.680 We struggle to submit, 00:26:22.920 --> 00:26:24.460 but Jesus perfectly submitted 00:26:24.460 --> 00:26:25.560 to the will of his Father, 00:26:25.820 --> 00:26:26.539 even to the extent 00:26:26.539 --> 00:26:27.779 of going to the cross 00:26:27.779 --> 00:26:28.940 for us. 00:26:31.359 --> 00:26:33.220 We struggle with pride 00:26:33.220 --> 00:26:36.519 that Jesus was the humble servant. 00:26:38.099 --> 00:26:39.879 We are guilty of friendship 00:26:39.879 --> 00:26:40.740 with the world, 00:26:40.879 --> 00:26:42.740 but Jesus always lived 00:26:42.740 --> 00:26:43.779 to enjoy friendship 00:26:43.779 --> 00:26:45.899 with his Father. 00:26:46.559 --> 00:26:47.859 And so Jesus is perfect 00:26:47.859 --> 00:26:49.879 where we have failed to be, 00:26:49.880 --> 00:26:51.700 and then Jesus died 00:26:51.700 --> 00:26:52.800 on the cross 00:26:52.800 --> 00:26:54.780 for you and for me, 00:26:54.920 --> 00:26:57.400 for our spiritual adultery, 00:26:58.040 --> 00:27:01.400 for our misplaced love, 00:27:02.160 --> 00:27:03.820 so that by faith 00:27:03.820 --> 00:27:05.800 that we might be washed clean 00:27:05.800 --> 00:27:07.160 and welcomed 00:27:07.160 --> 00:27:09.240 by the Father. 00:27:10.440 --> 00:27:12.300 And then led by the Spirit, 00:27:13.620 --> 00:27:16.540 take this daily medicine, 00:27:16.539 --> 00:27:20.240 be submitting to God, 00:27:21.240 --> 00:27:23.259 be resisting the devil, 00:27:24.460 --> 00:27:26.440 return and keep returning 00:27:26.440 --> 00:27:26.960 to him, 00:27:27.480 --> 00:27:29.559 repent and keep repenting 00:27:29.559 --> 00:27:31.159 of sin, 00:27:31.759 --> 00:27:34.079 that we might not have 00:27:34.079 --> 00:27:35.220 a divided heart, 00:27:35.920 --> 00:27:37.099 but we might have a heart 00:27:37.099 --> 00:27:38.779 that loves and longs 00:27:38.779 --> 00:27:40.539 for our Father 00:27:40.539 --> 00:27:42.159 and our Savior 00:27:42.159 --> 00:27:44.039 and the Holy Spirit 00:27:44.039 --> 00:27:45.079 in us. 00:27:45.079 --> 00:27:46.460 Let's pray. 00:27:46.460 --> 00:27:46.480 Let's pray.