WEBVTT

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 Thank you.

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 Well, let us pray that the Lord would open our hearts

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 to what he's just spoken to us in his precious word.

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 Loving Father, we thank you that we can hear you speak to us.

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 We ask, Father, that you would open our hearts

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 and we ask, Father, that your word would dwell in us

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 and enrich us in every way this morning.

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 We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

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 Well, Graham has a week up his sleeve

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 at the end of each sermon series

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 and I thought it might be helpful in these filler weeks

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 if we would have a look at the letter of James

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 because you can delve into James every now and then quite easily.

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 James' letter doesn't really build up an argument

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 the way that Paul's letters often do.

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 It's a bit more like a grab bag of reflections on the Christian life

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 and the very first aspect of the Christian life

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 that James wants to reflect on

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 is actually the first point that Graham raised in his sermon last week.

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 So thematically it connects quite nicely.

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 Now who can remember the first point of Graham's sermon last week?

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 Time to put somebody on the spot

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 and see how much we listen to sermons.

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 Maybe I should ask one of the elders.

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 So, anybody?

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 What was Graham's first point from last week?

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 No hands.

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 The elders are starting to sweat.

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 So, who could remember?

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 Oh.

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 To stand firm and cry.

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 In order to wait.

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 Almost.

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 Almost.

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 Graham's first point was to rejoice.

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 To be joyful.

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 That's right.

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 Rejoice.

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 The Apostle Paul was indeed telling the Philippians

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 to rejoice and stand firm in their trials

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 and to rejoice always.

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 He was commanding us to rejoice

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 not just according to the circumstances

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 that we find ourselves in

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 but because what God has done for us in the Lord Jesus

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 is so amazing.

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 But let's just think about that for a minute.

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 If you had to write a list of your all-time moments of pure joy,

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 what would go down on paper?

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 Perhaps it would include Scotland's glorious defeat of Australia

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 a few weeks ago.

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 Particularly sweet,

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 given what happened in the 2015 world final, quarterfinal.

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 I was on the other side of the globe

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 so that wasn't quite so painful for me.

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 Perhaps it would include signing on the dotted line

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 of your first home

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 or a reunion perhaps with a long-lost friend.

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 But what about a difficult job?

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 What about getting cancer?

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 What about a very strained marriage?

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 Would any of these things make it onto your list?

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 Of course not.

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 These things aren't sources of joy.

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 They're unpleasant.

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 They're painful.

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 But astonishingly,

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 James begins his letter by saying

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 that they should make it onto such a list.

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 In verse 2, James says,

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 consider it pure joy,

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 my brothers,

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 whenever you face trials of many kinds.

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 Now what kind of jerk writes that?

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 It's completely insensitive.

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 What pastor says that?

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 Wouldn't it be a bit more pastoral to say,

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 I'm sorry,

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 I'm so sorry to hear

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 that you're going through such a rough time?

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 Wouldn't that be the properly Christian response

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 to a trial,

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 a serious trial of our faith?

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 The thing is,

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 it's actually hard to imagine anyone better qualified

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 to offer a more properly Christian response.

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 The James who wrote this letter knew Jesus better than anyone.

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 He spent many more years alongside Jesus

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 than any of the disciples.

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 As far as we know,

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 this is the James who grew up in the same home as Jesus.

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 More than anyone,

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 James knew the Lord Jesus best.

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 And perhaps that's why James actually became

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 the most prominent leader of the early church.

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 Well, that doesn't seem like it at first glance.

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 What James is saying here is in fact

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 a profoundly Christian response

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 to the sufferings and difficulties

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 that we face in life.

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 And I think if we don't try to get to grips with this,

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 if we don't try to get to grips with it,

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 we stand to lose a lot.

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 But in order to do that,

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 we've got to slow down.

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 We've got to slow down

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 to think very carefully about the what

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 and the why and the how

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 of this very short sentence

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 to consider it pure joy

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 when we face trials of many kinds.

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 And the what, I think,

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 is like to suggest the what

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 is especially easy to get wrong.

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 It's very easy to get wrong.

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 And I think a lot of Christians

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 actually do get it wrong.

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 And it's very easy to misunderstand

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 what James is saying.

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 It's easy to hear him getting a bit zen,

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 as if James is telling us

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 to convince ourselves

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 that what is painful

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 is actually not painful after all.

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 That we just pretend it away,

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 to turn pain off like a tap

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 and pretend that trials are fun.

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 This reminds me of a series

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 of children's books

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 that I had as a child.

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 Maybe some of you might have had them.

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 They were written by Monroe Leaf.

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 He's actually a British author,

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 so maybe some of the people here

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 have seen them.

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 Has anyone come across them?

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 No?

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 The titles of these books

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 all end in Can Be Fun.

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 So manners can be fun.

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 Safety can be fun.

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 And they have this bizarre

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 psychological agenda.

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 They're full of pictures

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 like this one.

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 It's kind of South Park

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 meets Pilgrim's Progress.

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 And if I show any more

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 it'll completely distract you

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 and you won't listen to anything

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 more I've said in the sermon.

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 But the point is fairly clear.

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 I mean, how is this going to work?

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 Trying to convince a child

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 that something is fun

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 when it isn't

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 is madness.

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 I mean, what six-year-old boy

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 having read one of these books

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 is going to think

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 that manners are fun

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 or safety for that fact?

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 Anyway, the problem is, of course,

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 a lot of Christians

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 read James' letter

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 as if it were, in fact,

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 written by Monroe Leaf.

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 They hear James

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 trying to convince them

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 really that getting sick

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 or going through

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 some other kind of crisis

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 can be fun.

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 That's not at all

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 what James is saying.

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 James is not saying

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 that trials can be fun.

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 More than anyone,

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 James knew that trials

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 are painful

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 and unpleasant.

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 According to tradition,

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 James himself

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 was martyred in Jerusalem

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 by being thrown off

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 the roof of the temple

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 and then clubbed to death.

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 I'm sure that wasn't fun.

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 So we need to take care

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 with what James is saying.

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 Trials are not fun

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 and he's not trying

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 to convince us

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 that they are.

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 He's actually saying

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 something quite different.

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 He's talking about

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 what trials achieve for us.

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 He's telling us

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 that as painful

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 as they may be,

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 they are, in fact,

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 a means to a glorious end.

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 We are to consider it joy

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 when we face trials

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 of many kinds

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 because of what

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 they bring about for us.

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 And he's calling us

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 to a shift of mindset

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 in that.

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 But before we go any further,

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 I want to suggest

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 this is a shift of mindset

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 that's actually not

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 all that unfamiliar.

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 Perhaps you've made it yourself

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 and if you haven't,

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 I'm sure you've observed

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 it in others.

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 Take, for example, running.

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 I honestly can't ever imagine

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 wanting to run a marathon.

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 I enjoy running in moderation.

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 I usually run up and down

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 the Union Canal

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 on a Sunday morning,

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 depending on how my aging knees

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 and hamstrings are holding up.

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 I'll happily run five miles.

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 I have no desire whatsoever

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 to run 26.

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 Although I know there are

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 a few people here that do,

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 so you're mad and I'm not.

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 But in any case,

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 the bandmaster of our children's

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 former school back in Sydney,

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 he really, really, really does.

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 In fact, he's run 50 of them.

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 Noel even has a blog

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 on the internet about his running

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 and recounting a recent

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 ultra-marathon.

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 So ultra-marathons,

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 that's in another level.

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 He writes,

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 if I have a weakness

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 in these kinds of events,

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 it would have to be a cramp

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 around the four-hour mark.

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 Four-hour mark.

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 In so many cases,

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 I've suffered excruciating

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 cramps in my upper legs.

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 Today would be no different.

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 Will I do it again?

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 Yep.

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 Count me in.

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 Noel simply loves it.

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 He ran from Newcastle to Sydney,

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 which was about from Edinburgh

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 to London, I think.

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 But anyway, who cares?

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 He loves running.

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 And does he love the pain?

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 Of course not.

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 He really suffers.

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 But he makes a mind shift

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 about that pain,

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 which is very similar

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 to the one that James

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 is talking about.

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 Noel loves the end

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 that the pain achieves for him.

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 He loves the glorious end

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 of finishing the race.

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 And this is the same

00:09:11.199 --> 00:09:12.419
 as what James is saying.

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 James is saying that

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 if we fix our eyes

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 on the glorious end

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 that our trials are achieving for us,

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 it will transform

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 our experience of pain.

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 And the key thing, therefore,

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 is that we understand

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 what this end is.

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 And thankfully,

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 James tells us

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 exactly what it is.

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 Consider it pure joy,

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 my brothers,

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 whenever you face

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 trials of many kinds,

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 because you know

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 that the testing of your faith

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 develops perseverance.

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 Perseverance must finish

00:09:43.519 --> 00:09:44.979
 its work so that what?

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 So that you may be mature

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 and complete,

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 not lacking anything.

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 Mature and complete.

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 This is the glorious end

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 for those who entrust themselves

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 to the Lord Jesus.

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 More literally,

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 James says,

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 perfect and complete.

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 See, James isn't talking here

00:10:07.259 --> 00:10:10.340
 about just a basic Christian maturity

00:10:10.340 --> 00:10:10.980
 where you leave

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 your gross sins behind

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 and you learn more

00:10:14.179 --> 00:10:14.819
 about Jesus.

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 No,

00:10:15.439 --> 00:10:16.339
 he has something much,

00:10:16.579 --> 00:10:17.839
 much bigger in mind.

00:10:18.679 --> 00:10:19.439
 James speaks of

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 a glorious hope,

00:10:21.120 --> 00:10:22.019
 the hope of becoming

00:10:22.019 --> 00:10:22.719
 a perfect

00:10:22.719 --> 00:10:24.159
 and complete

00:10:24.159 --> 00:10:25.439
 human being.

00:10:26.439 --> 00:10:27.120
 Right now,

00:10:27.159 --> 00:10:28.120
 we're very imperfect

00:10:28.120 --> 00:10:29.659
 and very incomplete

00:10:29.659 --> 00:10:30.759
 human beings,

00:10:30.939 --> 00:10:31.360
 aren't we?

00:10:31.360 --> 00:10:33.240
 we've been forgiven

00:10:33.240 --> 00:10:34.539
 if we put our trust

00:10:34.539 --> 00:10:35.039
 in Jesus,

00:10:35.460 --> 00:10:36.379
 but we fail

00:10:36.379 --> 00:10:37.399
 on a daily basis.

00:10:37.919 --> 00:10:39.019
 We fall down

00:10:39.019 --> 00:10:39.539
 and sin.

00:10:40.560 --> 00:10:41.320
 We might have

00:10:41.320 --> 00:10:42.580
 changed a bit,

00:10:43.360 --> 00:10:44.500
 but we still drift back

00:10:44.500 --> 00:10:45.399
 into that place

00:10:45.399 --> 00:10:46.360
 where we came from.

00:10:46.580 --> 00:10:47.600
 We might be growing

00:10:47.600 --> 00:10:47.980
 a bit,

00:10:48.740 --> 00:10:49.960
 but we barely come up

00:10:49.960 --> 00:10:50.899
 to Jesus' waist.

00:10:53.060 --> 00:10:53.919
 Kate bought some

00:10:53.919 --> 00:10:54.659
 high-heeled boots

00:10:54.659 --> 00:10:55.840
 the other day

00:10:55.840 --> 00:10:57.379
 because our

00:10:57.379 --> 00:10:58.159
 eldest son,

00:10:58.240 --> 00:10:58.480
 Joe,

00:10:58.560 --> 00:10:59.820
 who's growing so fast,

00:10:59.820 --> 00:11:01.180
 Joe,

00:11:01.440 --> 00:11:02.260
 is growing into

00:11:02.260 --> 00:11:03.020
 his full

00:11:03.020 --> 00:11:03.960
 physical stature

00:11:03.960 --> 00:11:04.760
 and the Lord willing

00:11:04.760 --> 00:11:05.840
 in the course of his life,

00:11:06.460 --> 00:11:07.520
 he will also attain

00:11:07.520 --> 00:11:08.360
 to the full stature

00:11:08.360 --> 00:11:09.000
 of Christ.

00:11:10.220 --> 00:11:11.280
 And that is the glorious

00:11:11.280 --> 00:11:12.560
 end of the Christian life.

00:11:13.520 --> 00:11:14.280
 God changes us

00:11:14.280 --> 00:11:15.400
 from the inside out

00:11:15.400 --> 00:11:16.720
 until we attain

00:11:16.720 --> 00:11:17.540
 to the full stature

00:11:17.540 --> 00:11:18.120
 of Christ.

00:11:18.980 --> 00:11:19.640
 And irrespective

00:11:19.640 --> 00:11:20.560
 of how much progress

00:11:20.560 --> 00:11:21.540
 we actually make

00:11:21.540 --> 00:11:22.540
 in this,

00:11:22.680 --> 00:11:23.600
 in the course of our life,

00:11:23.700 --> 00:11:24.800
 God will bring this

00:11:24.800 --> 00:11:25.400
 to completion

00:11:25.400 --> 00:11:26.720
 on the day

00:11:26.720 --> 00:11:27.580
 that he raises us

00:11:27.580 --> 00:11:28.140
 from the dead

00:11:28.140 --> 00:11:29.400
 and transforms us

00:11:29.399 --> 00:11:30.059
 in glory.

00:11:31.659 --> 00:11:32.480
 On that day,

00:11:32.559 --> 00:11:33.319
 we won't be raised

00:11:33.319 --> 00:11:34.019
 as incomplete

00:11:34.019 --> 00:11:35.419
 and imperfect

00:11:35.419 --> 00:11:36.159
 human beings

00:11:36.159 --> 00:11:36.959
 that we are now.

00:11:37.980 --> 00:11:39.019
 We will resemble

00:11:39.019 --> 00:11:39.720
 the Lord Jesus

00:11:39.720 --> 00:11:40.519
 in every way.

00:11:41.860 --> 00:11:43.240
 This is the maturity

00:11:43.240 --> 00:11:44.840
 and completeness

00:11:44.840 --> 00:11:46.220
 that James is talking about.

00:11:47.120 --> 00:11:49.279
 This is the glorious end

00:11:49.279 --> 00:11:50.159
 for which trials

00:11:50.159 --> 00:11:50.759
 are the means.

00:11:52.220 --> 00:11:53.720
 And James resumes

00:11:53.720 --> 00:11:54.779
 his train of thought

00:11:54.779 --> 00:11:56.059
 in verse 12

00:11:56.059 --> 00:11:58.839
 to flesh this out

00:11:58.839 --> 00:12:00.019
 where he writes again,

00:12:00.079 --> 00:12:00.879
 blessed is the man

00:12:00.879 --> 00:12:01.819
 who perseveres

00:12:01.819 --> 00:12:03.059
 under trial

00:12:03.059 --> 00:12:04.799
 because

00:12:04.799 --> 00:12:05.639
 when he has

00:12:05.639 --> 00:12:06.500
 stood the test

00:12:06.500 --> 00:12:08.059
 he will receive

00:12:08.059 --> 00:12:09.179
 the crown of life

00:12:09.179 --> 00:12:10.319
 that God has promised

00:12:10.319 --> 00:12:11.479
 to those

00:12:11.479 --> 00:12:12.199
 who love him.

00:12:15.779 --> 00:12:16.859
 The crown of life

00:12:16.859 --> 00:12:17.639
 is the glorious

00:12:17.639 --> 00:12:18.399
 perfection

00:12:18.399 --> 00:12:19.379
 and completeness

00:12:19.379 --> 00:12:20.559
 that God will bestow

00:12:20.559 --> 00:12:21.179
 on those

00:12:21.179 --> 00:12:22.859
 who love him,

00:12:22.860 --> 00:12:24.080
 on those

00:12:24.080 --> 00:12:24.659
 who have entrusted

00:12:24.659 --> 00:12:25.220
 themselves

00:12:25.220 --> 00:12:26.620
 to Jesus

00:12:26.620 --> 00:12:27.779
 who will raise

00:12:27.779 --> 00:12:28.419
 him from the dead.

00:12:29.519 --> 00:12:30.300
 On that day

00:12:30.300 --> 00:12:31.060
 they will resemble

00:12:31.060 --> 00:12:31.500
 Jesus

00:12:31.500 --> 00:12:32.180
 in all his

00:12:32.180 --> 00:12:33.279
 magnificent beauty.

00:12:33.940 --> 00:12:34.899
 We will be raised

00:12:34.899 --> 00:12:36.039
 as Jesus is raised.

00:12:36.039 --> 00:12:38.059
 And I think

00:12:38.059 --> 00:12:38.799
 James actually

00:12:38.799 --> 00:12:39.339
 had someone

00:12:39.339 --> 00:12:39.860
 very much

00:12:39.860 --> 00:12:40.500
 like Noel

00:12:40.500 --> 00:12:41.379
 in mind

00:12:41.379 --> 00:12:42.579
 when he chose

00:12:42.579 --> 00:12:43.079
 the metaphor

00:12:43.079 --> 00:12:43.779
 of a crown

00:12:43.779 --> 00:12:45.299
 because it's

00:12:45.299 --> 00:12:46.279
 running imagery.

00:12:48.899 --> 00:12:50.279
 When James

00:12:50.279 --> 00:12:51.579
 uses the word

00:12:51.579 --> 00:12:52.059
 crown

00:12:52.059 --> 00:12:52.919
 it refers to

00:12:52.919 --> 00:12:53.879
 the laurel wreath

00:12:53.879 --> 00:12:55.339
 presented to

00:12:55.339 --> 00:12:56.019
 the winning athlete

00:12:56.019 --> 00:12:57.299
 in the ancient games.

00:12:58.759 --> 00:12:59.860
 Standing firm

00:12:59.860 --> 00:13:00.620
 through trials

00:13:00.620 --> 00:13:01.399
 James says

00:13:01.399 --> 00:13:03.059
 is just like that.

00:13:03.139 --> 00:13:03.959
 It's like a race

00:13:03.960 --> 00:13:06.100
 with lots of pain

00:13:06.100 --> 00:13:07.600
 but at the end

00:13:07.600 --> 00:13:09.540
 you are crowned

00:13:09.540 --> 00:13:10.759
 with eternal life.

00:13:12.540 --> 00:13:13.259
 There's a bit of

00:13:13.259 --> 00:13:13.780
 difference between

00:13:13.780 --> 00:13:14.600
 the Olympic games

00:13:14.600 --> 00:13:15.820
 and the Christian life.

00:13:16.160 --> 00:13:16.680
 The metaphor

00:13:16.680 --> 00:13:17.420
 kind of falls down

00:13:17.420 --> 00:13:17.660
 a bit

00:13:17.660 --> 00:13:18.180
 as all

00:13:18.180 --> 00:13:19.240
 preaching metaphors

00:13:19.240 --> 00:13:19.620
 do

00:13:19.620 --> 00:13:21.379
 because we're not

00:13:21.379 --> 00:13:22.200
 exactly competing

00:13:22.200 --> 00:13:23.000
 against each other

00:13:23.000 --> 00:13:23.879
 for this crown.

00:13:24.580 --> 00:13:25.120
 There's more

00:13:25.120 --> 00:13:25.600
 than one of them.

00:13:26.259 --> 00:13:27.280
 In the Christian life

00:13:27.280 --> 00:13:28.139
 you just need to

00:13:28.139 --> 00:13:29.100
 finish to get the crown.

00:13:29.980 --> 00:13:30.519
 You don't need

00:13:30.519 --> 00:13:31.160
 to come first.

00:13:31.379 --> 00:13:31.740
 So I guess

00:13:31.740 --> 00:13:32.379
 James' crown

00:13:32.379 --> 00:13:33.019
 is more like

00:13:33.019 --> 00:13:33.560
 the t-shirt

00:13:33.559 --> 00:13:34.139
 that you get

00:13:34.139 --> 00:13:35.019
 at the end

00:13:35.019 --> 00:13:35.639
 of finishing

00:13:35.639 --> 00:13:36.399
 a modern marathon.

00:13:37.139 --> 00:13:37.839
 In any case

00:13:37.839 --> 00:13:39.339
 James' point

00:13:39.339 --> 00:13:39.959
 is pretty clear.

00:13:40.519 --> 00:13:41.399
 There is a glorious

00:13:41.399 --> 00:13:42.419
 end for us

00:13:42.419 --> 00:13:44.079
 if we stand firm

00:13:44.079 --> 00:13:44.799
 through the trials

00:13:44.799 --> 00:13:45.500
 of our faith.

00:13:46.619 --> 00:13:47.479
 That glorious end

00:13:47.479 --> 00:13:48.139
 is the perfection

00:13:48.139 --> 00:13:48.899
 and completion

00:13:48.899 --> 00:13:50.319
 that we await

00:13:50.319 --> 00:13:50.939
 at the resurrection.

00:13:51.199 --> 00:13:52.039
 And when you get this

00:13:52.039 --> 00:13:54.519
 what James is saying

00:13:54.519 --> 00:13:56.579
 about joy

00:13:56.579 --> 00:13:57.459
 starts to become

00:13:57.459 --> 00:13:59.039
 a little bit

00:13:59.039 --> 00:13:59.539
 more clear.

00:13:59.699 --> 00:14:00.159
 It starts to make

00:14:00.159 --> 00:14:00.759
 more sense.

00:14:02.059 --> 00:14:02.759
 We are to consider

00:14:02.759 --> 00:14:04.899
 trials as pure joy

00:14:04.899 --> 00:14:05.819
 not because they're fun

00:14:05.819 --> 00:14:07.879
 but because they are

00:14:07.879 --> 00:14:09.080
 a means to a glorious

00:14:09.080 --> 00:14:09.720
 end.

00:14:10.539 --> 00:14:11.240
 And if you see that

00:14:11.240 --> 00:14:12.639
 the what makes

00:14:12.639 --> 00:14:13.220
 more sense

00:14:13.220 --> 00:14:15.419
 but if you're

00:14:15.419 --> 00:14:16.179
 really honest

00:14:16.179 --> 00:14:18.200
 you'll admit

00:14:18.200 --> 00:14:19.000
 that a new problem

00:14:19.000 --> 00:14:20.279
 actually starts

00:14:20.279 --> 00:14:20.939
 to arise.

00:14:21.939 --> 00:14:22.879
 And that's the problem

00:14:22.879 --> 00:14:23.460
 of the why.

00:14:23.460 --> 00:14:26.940
 why would trials

00:14:26.940 --> 00:14:28.400
 be God's means

00:14:28.400 --> 00:14:31.200
 for our perfection

00:14:31.200 --> 00:14:31.980
 and completion?

00:14:34.240 --> 00:14:35.280
 Why would he do that?

00:14:36.280 --> 00:14:37.120
 Why would God

00:14:37.120 --> 00:14:38.660
 choose terrible experiences

00:14:38.660 --> 00:14:39.800
 as the means

00:14:39.800 --> 00:14:40.740
 of our transformation?

00:14:44.480 --> 00:14:45.519
 Who here hasn't

00:14:45.519 --> 00:14:46.519
 asked that question?

00:14:48.080 --> 00:14:49.180
 Perhaps only the people

00:14:49.180 --> 00:14:50.420
 who have never experienced

00:14:50.420 --> 00:14:51.960
 what James is talking about.

00:14:51.960 --> 00:14:53.040
 James is not silly.

00:14:53.980 --> 00:14:54.940
 He knows that this

00:14:54.940 --> 00:14:56.060
 is a very serious question

00:14:56.060 --> 00:14:56.740
 and so he wants

00:14:56.740 --> 00:14:57.860
 to offer an answer to it.

00:14:58.840 --> 00:14:59.740
 We can be tempted

00:14:59.740 --> 00:15:00.620
 to blame God

00:15:00.620 --> 00:15:01.360
 or even wonder

00:15:01.360 --> 00:15:03.060
 whether God somehow

00:15:03.060 --> 00:15:04.280
 enjoys our suffering.

00:15:04.580 --> 00:15:05.700
 These are dark thoughts

00:15:05.700 --> 00:15:07.400
 and James wants

00:15:07.400 --> 00:15:08.500
 to protect us from them.

00:15:09.560 --> 00:15:10.300
 But to understand

00:15:10.300 --> 00:15:10.780
 his answer

00:15:10.780 --> 00:15:11.600
 a very brief

00:15:11.600 --> 00:15:12.220
 Greek lesson

00:15:12.220 --> 00:15:12.920
 is necessary.

00:15:13.700 --> 00:15:14.280
 There's a connection

00:15:14.280 --> 00:15:15.340
 between verse 13

00:15:15.340 --> 00:15:16.700
 and verse 2

00:15:16.700 --> 00:15:18.580
 which is invisible

00:15:18.580 --> 00:15:20.100
 in our English Bibles.

00:15:20.100 --> 00:15:21.259
 unless that is

00:15:21.259 --> 00:15:21.779
 you're following

00:15:21.779 --> 00:15:23.320
 on with

00:15:23.320 --> 00:15:24.540
 one of the very few

00:15:24.540 --> 00:15:25.060
 translations

00:15:25.060 --> 00:15:25.960
 that preserves

00:15:25.960 --> 00:15:26.659
 this connection.

00:15:27.379 --> 00:15:28.100
 Has anybody here

00:15:28.100 --> 00:15:28.580
 grown up

00:15:28.580 --> 00:15:29.519
 with the King James

00:15:29.519 --> 00:15:30.519
 version?

00:15:31.620 --> 00:15:31.879
 No?

00:15:32.700 --> 00:15:33.480
 I know that this fellow

00:15:33.480 --> 00:15:34.340
 was reading it

00:15:34.340 --> 00:15:35.440
 until a little while ago.

00:15:36.100 --> 00:15:36.720
 The King James

00:15:36.720 --> 00:15:37.580
 actually preserves

00:15:37.580 --> 00:15:38.100
 this connection

00:15:38.100 --> 00:15:39.120
 between verse 13

00:15:39.120 --> 00:15:40.540
 and verse 2

00:15:40.540 --> 00:15:41.420
 and this connection

00:15:41.420 --> 00:15:42.320
 holds the key

00:15:42.320 --> 00:15:43.720
 to warding off

00:15:43.720 --> 00:15:44.160
 the feeling

00:15:44.160 --> 00:15:44.899
 that creeps up

00:15:44.899 --> 00:15:45.360
 on us

00:15:45.360 --> 00:15:45.980
 the feeling of

00:15:45.980 --> 00:15:46.620
 blaming God

00:15:46.620 --> 00:15:47.279
 for the trials

00:15:47.279 --> 00:15:47.920
 we face.

00:15:47.919 --> 00:15:49.039
 and the key

00:15:49.039 --> 00:15:49.599
 is seeing

00:15:49.599 --> 00:15:50.139
 how there is

00:15:50.139 --> 00:15:50.559
 an element

00:15:50.559 --> 00:15:51.519
 of temptation

00:15:51.519 --> 00:15:53.500
 in every trial.

00:15:54.459 --> 00:15:55.279
 Think about it.

00:15:56.360 --> 00:15:57.199
 Every difficulty

00:15:57.199 --> 00:15:58.039
 challenge

00:15:58.039 --> 00:15:58.860
 and instance

00:15:58.860 --> 00:15:59.399
 of suffering

00:15:59.399 --> 00:16:00.899
 presents a powerful

00:16:00.899 --> 00:16:02.240
 temptation

00:16:02.240 --> 00:16:03.099
 to give up

00:16:03.099 --> 00:16:03.500
 on God.

00:16:04.459 --> 00:16:05.199
 Many of us

00:16:05.199 --> 00:16:05.559
 will be able

00:16:05.559 --> 00:16:05.979
 to think of

00:16:05.979 --> 00:16:06.919
 a difficult time

00:16:06.919 --> 00:16:07.459
 in our life

00:16:07.459 --> 00:16:08.299
 which nearly

00:16:08.299 --> 00:16:08.740
 brought us

00:16:08.740 --> 00:16:09.240
 to give up

00:16:09.240 --> 00:16:09.839
 on God

00:16:09.839 --> 00:16:11.379
 and that temptation

00:16:11.379 --> 00:16:12.019
 was every bit

00:16:12.019 --> 00:16:12.459
 as real

00:16:12.459 --> 00:16:13.879
 as being tempted

00:16:13.879 --> 00:16:14.299
 to sin

00:16:14.299 --> 00:16:15.139
 in some other way.

00:16:16.519 --> 00:16:17.480
 Every trial

00:16:17.480 --> 00:16:18.519
 is a temptation

00:16:18.519 --> 00:16:19.019
 to give up

00:16:19.019 --> 00:16:19.460
 on God

00:16:19.460 --> 00:16:20.460
 and if you're

00:16:20.460 --> 00:16:21.120
 being persecuted

00:16:21.120 --> 00:16:21.960
 for your faith

00:16:21.960 --> 00:16:23.539
 you can be tempted

00:16:23.539 --> 00:16:24.960
 to stop trusting God

00:16:24.960 --> 00:16:26.620
 especially in that situation.

00:16:27.019 --> 00:16:27.740
 If you're suffering

00:16:27.740 --> 00:16:28.560
 a terrible physical

00:16:28.560 --> 00:16:29.539
 or mental illness

00:16:29.539 --> 00:16:30.620
 you can be tempted

00:16:30.620 --> 00:16:32.220
 to stop trusting God

00:16:32.220 --> 00:16:33.920
 in that situation.

00:16:34.279 --> 00:16:34.899
 Whatever the trial

00:16:34.899 --> 00:16:35.440
 might be

00:16:35.440 --> 00:16:36.879
 it tempts us

00:16:36.879 --> 00:16:37.379
 to give up

00:16:37.379 --> 00:16:37.920
 on God

00:16:37.920 --> 00:16:39.279
 and it's exactly

00:16:39.279 --> 00:16:39.879
 the same

00:16:39.879 --> 00:16:40.680
 as being tempted

00:16:40.680 --> 00:16:41.399
 to sin

00:16:41.399 --> 00:16:41.920
 in lust

00:16:41.920 --> 00:16:42.600
 or anger

00:16:42.600 --> 00:16:44.320
 or envy.

00:16:44.320 --> 00:16:46.680
 we are tempted

00:16:46.680 --> 00:16:47.240
 to put faith

00:16:47.240 --> 00:16:47.960
 to one side

00:16:47.960 --> 00:16:49.879
 just in a different way.

00:16:50.840 --> 00:16:51.660
 As Paul says

00:16:51.660 --> 00:16:52.920
 in Romans 14

00:16:52.920 --> 00:16:53.680
 verse 23

00:16:53.680 --> 00:16:54.640
 whatever does not

00:16:54.640 --> 00:16:55.780
 proceed from faith

00:16:55.780 --> 00:16:57.120
 is sin.

00:16:59.860 --> 00:17:00.760
 So when trials

00:17:00.760 --> 00:17:01.560
 do bring us

00:17:01.560 --> 00:17:03.340
 to want to give up

00:17:03.340 --> 00:17:03.640
 on God

00:17:03.640 --> 00:17:04.360
 it's very easy

00:17:04.360 --> 00:17:04.900
 to blame him

00:17:04.900 --> 00:17:05.200
 for that

00:17:05.200 --> 00:17:05.960
 and that's why

00:17:05.960 --> 00:17:06.840
 James reminds us

00:17:06.840 --> 00:17:07.700
 in verse 13

00:17:07.700 --> 00:17:10.600
 when tempted

00:17:10.600 --> 00:17:14.100
 no one should say

00:17:14.100 --> 00:17:15.140
 God is tempting me

00:17:15.140 --> 00:17:16.660
 for God cannot

00:17:16.660 --> 00:17:17.680
 be tempted by evil

00:17:17.680 --> 00:17:18.559
 nor does he tempt

00:17:18.559 --> 00:17:19.299
 anyone.

00:17:20.779 --> 00:17:21.299
 Difficulties

00:17:21.299 --> 00:17:22.680
 challenges

00:17:22.680 --> 00:17:24.559
 sufferings

00:17:24.559 --> 00:17:25.440
 might bring us

00:17:25.440 --> 00:17:27.220
 to resent him

00:17:27.220 --> 00:17:28.039
 for bringing these things

00:17:28.039 --> 00:17:28.559
 into our lives

00:17:28.559 --> 00:17:29.299
 but we must never

00:17:29.299 --> 00:17:30.340
 blame God for that.

00:17:30.860 --> 00:17:31.559
 He isn't trying

00:17:31.559 --> 00:17:32.160
 to deliberately

00:17:32.160 --> 00:17:33.279
 undermine our faith.

00:17:33.960 --> 00:17:34.580
 Pain and suffering

00:17:34.580 --> 00:17:35.940
 come as part

00:17:35.940 --> 00:17:36.980
 of the consequences

00:17:36.980 --> 00:17:38.039
 of humanity's

00:17:38.039 --> 00:17:38.860
 disobedience

00:17:38.860 --> 00:17:39.539
 and rejection

00:17:39.539 --> 00:17:40.120
 of God

00:17:40.120 --> 00:17:41.079
 wholesale.

00:17:42.140 --> 00:17:42.720
 We're the ones

00:17:42.720 --> 00:17:43.099
 who opened

00:17:43.099 --> 00:17:44.039
 Pandora's box.

00:17:44.980 --> 00:17:45.579
 We're the ones

00:17:45.579 --> 00:17:46.200
 who brought pain

00:17:46.200 --> 00:17:46.640
 and suffering

00:17:46.640 --> 00:17:47.299
 into the world

00:17:47.299 --> 00:17:49.019
 and this is

00:17:49.019 --> 00:17:49.819
 James' answer

00:17:49.819 --> 00:17:50.400
 to the why.

00:17:52.740 --> 00:17:53.259
 But James

00:17:53.259 --> 00:17:53.980
 also knows

00:17:53.980 --> 00:17:54.420
 that this is

00:17:54.420 --> 00:17:55.620
 fairly cold comfort.

00:17:56.920 --> 00:17:57.420
 James knows

00:17:57.420 --> 00:17:58.680
 that by itself

00:17:58.680 --> 00:17:59.480
 this why

00:17:59.480 --> 00:18:00.160
 actually isn't

00:18:00.160 --> 00:18:00.799
 really going

00:18:00.799 --> 00:18:01.980
 to bring us

00:18:01.980 --> 00:18:02.579
 any closer

00:18:02.579 --> 00:18:04.839
 to considering

00:18:04.839 --> 00:18:05.940
 trials as joy

00:18:05.940 --> 00:18:07.160
 and that is

00:18:07.160 --> 00:18:07.500
 why he's

00:18:07.500 --> 00:18:08.240
 careful also

00:18:08.240 --> 00:18:08.600
 to say

00:18:08.600 --> 00:18:09.279
 something about

00:18:09.279 --> 00:18:10.200
 the how.

00:18:12.779 --> 00:18:13.559
 Coming to grips

00:18:13.559 --> 00:18:14.440
 with what

00:18:14.440 --> 00:18:15.500
 holds the key

00:18:15.500 --> 00:18:20.420
 to this mind

00:18:20.420 --> 00:18:20.860
 shift

00:18:20.860 --> 00:18:23.059
 is what James

00:18:23.059 --> 00:18:23.860
 is talking about

00:18:23.860 --> 00:18:24.660
 when he goes on

00:18:24.660 --> 00:18:25.980
 in verses 16

00:18:25.980 --> 00:18:26.519
 and 17

00:18:26.519 --> 00:18:27.140
 to say

00:18:27.140 --> 00:18:29.059
 don't be deceived

00:18:29.059 --> 00:18:29.880
 my dear brothers.

00:18:30.059 --> 00:18:30.700
 Every good

00:18:30.700 --> 00:18:31.779
 and perfect gift

00:18:31.779 --> 00:18:33.200
 comes from above

00:18:33.200 --> 00:18:35.160
 coming down

00:18:35.160 --> 00:18:35.820
 from the father.

00:18:37.080 --> 00:18:38.300
 Don't be deceived

00:18:38.300 --> 00:18:39.740
 James says.

00:18:40.380 --> 00:18:41.040
 Adam and Eve

00:18:41.040 --> 00:18:41.779
 brought the paper

00:18:41.779 --> 00:18:43.320
 but God is using

00:18:43.320 --> 00:18:43.900
 it to wrap

00:18:43.900 --> 00:18:44.920
 a glorious gift.

00:18:45.640 --> 00:18:46.640
 By themselves

00:18:46.640 --> 00:18:47.600
 trials are bad

00:18:47.600 --> 00:18:48.040
 news

00:18:48.040 --> 00:18:49.880
 but God takes

00:18:49.880 --> 00:18:50.320
 them and he

00:18:50.320 --> 00:18:51.000
 uses them

00:18:51.000 --> 00:18:51.620
 as a means

00:18:51.620 --> 00:18:52.320
 of bestowing

00:18:52.320 --> 00:18:52.740
 on us

00:18:52.740 --> 00:18:53.340
 a good

00:18:53.340 --> 00:18:54.500
 and perfect

00:18:54.500 --> 00:18:54.920
 gift.

00:18:55.460 --> 00:18:56.040
 The crown

00:18:56.040 --> 00:18:56.420
 of life

00:18:56.420 --> 00:18:56.820
 that he was

00:18:56.820 --> 00:18:57.340
 just speaking

00:18:57.340 --> 00:18:57.800
 about in

00:18:57.800 --> 00:18:58.480
 verse 12

00:18:58.480 --> 00:19:00.600
 and the how

00:19:00.600 --> 00:19:01.540
 simply consists

00:19:01.540 --> 00:19:02.400
 in focusing

00:19:02.400 --> 00:19:03.320
 on the gift

00:19:03.320 --> 00:19:03.700
 and not

00:19:03.700 --> 00:19:04.200
 the paper

00:19:04.200 --> 00:19:05.280
 in not

00:19:05.280 --> 00:19:05.740
 allowing the

00:19:05.740 --> 00:19:06.160
 challenges

00:19:06.160 --> 00:19:06.820
 these trials

00:19:06.820 --> 00:19:07.500
 pose to our

00:19:07.500 --> 00:19:07.800
 faith

00:19:07.800 --> 00:19:08.840
 to deceive

00:19:08.840 --> 00:19:09.300
 us into

00:19:09.300 --> 00:19:09.800
 thinking that

00:19:09.800 --> 00:19:10.180
 the crown

00:19:10.180 --> 00:19:10.620
 of life

00:19:10.620 --> 00:19:11.680
 is actually

00:19:11.680 --> 00:19:12.060
 a fairly

00:19:12.060 --> 00:19:12.900
 average gift.

00:19:14.240 --> 00:19:14.500
 The how

00:19:14.500 --> 00:19:15.440
 simply consists

00:19:15.440 --> 00:19:16.360
 in seeing

00:19:16.360 --> 00:19:17.540
 really seeing

00:19:17.540 --> 00:19:18.940
 the glory

00:19:18.940 --> 00:19:19.900
 of the end

00:19:19.900 --> 00:19:20.800
 to which God

00:19:20.800 --> 00:19:21.360
 calls us

00:19:21.360 --> 00:19:22.019
 in his gospel.

00:19:23.019 --> 00:19:23.540
 If we

00:19:23.540 --> 00:19:24.860
 really see

00:19:24.860 --> 00:19:26.680
 what we

00:19:26.680 --> 00:19:27.160
 will be

00:19:27.160 --> 00:19:27.980
 it will

00:19:27.980 --> 00:19:28.740
 kindle a joy

00:19:28.740 --> 00:19:29.200
 that cannot

00:19:29.200 --> 00:19:29.740
 be quenched

00:19:29.740 --> 00:19:30.620
 by any pain

00:19:30.619 --> 00:19:31.279
 or difficulty.

00:19:32.259 --> 00:19:33.159
 The transformation

00:19:33.159 --> 00:19:33.719
 that God

00:19:33.719 --> 00:19:34.299
 holds out

00:19:34.299 --> 00:19:34.699
 for us

00:19:34.699 --> 00:19:35.279
 in his gospel

00:19:35.279 --> 00:19:36.159
 is so

00:19:36.159 --> 00:19:37.000
 immeasurably

00:19:37.000 --> 00:19:37.500
 great

00:19:37.500 --> 00:19:39.179
 it defies

00:19:39.179 --> 00:19:39.759
 all description.

00:19:40.839 --> 00:19:41.199
 No eye

00:19:41.199 --> 00:19:41.819
 has seen

00:19:41.819 --> 00:19:43.759
 no ear

00:19:43.759 --> 00:19:44.319
 has heard

00:19:44.319 --> 00:19:44.879
 no mind

00:19:44.879 --> 00:19:45.639
 has conceived

00:19:45.639 --> 00:19:46.879
 what God

00:19:46.879 --> 00:19:47.519
 has prepared

00:19:47.519 --> 00:19:48.119
 for those

00:19:48.119 --> 00:19:48.759
 who love

00:19:48.759 --> 00:19:49.039
 him.

00:19:49.899 --> 00:19:50.139
 But

00:19:50.139 --> 00:19:52.579
 God

00:19:52.579 --> 00:19:53.559
 has revealed

00:19:53.559 --> 00:19:54.259
 it to us

00:19:54.259 --> 00:19:55.219
 by his

00:19:55.219 --> 00:19:55.699
 spirit.

00:19:56.919 --> 00:19:57.500
 So says

00:19:57.500 --> 00:19:57.919
 Paul

00:19:57.919 --> 00:19:59.259
 God has

00:19:59.259 --> 00:19:59.819
 revealed it

00:19:59.819 --> 00:20:00.279
 to us

00:20:00.279 --> 00:20:01.379
 what we

00:20:01.379 --> 00:20:01.980
 shall be.

00:20:03.359 --> 00:20:03.819
 In the

00:20:03.819 --> 00:20:04.039
 scriptures

00:20:04.039 --> 00:20:04.440
 God has

00:20:04.440 --> 00:20:05.079
 revealed to

00:20:05.079 --> 00:20:05.420
 us that

00:20:05.420 --> 00:20:05.740
 the Lord

00:20:05.740 --> 00:20:06.279
 of glory

00:20:06.279 --> 00:20:06.980
 the crucified

00:20:06.980 --> 00:20:07.420
 one

00:20:07.420 --> 00:20:08.399
 now risen

00:20:08.399 --> 00:20:08.779
 from the

00:20:08.779 --> 00:20:08.960
 dead

00:20:08.960 --> 00:20:09.379
 and seated

00:20:09.379 --> 00:20:09.960
 in glory.

00:20:11.019 --> 00:20:11.500
 God

00:20:11.500 --> 00:20:12.279
 has revealed

00:20:12.279 --> 00:20:12.660
 Jesus

00:20:12.660 --> 00:20:13.240
 Christ

00:20:13.240 --> 00:20:14.200
 and the

00:20:14.200 --> 00:20:14.599
 promise of

00:20:14.599 --> 00:20:14.940
 the gospel

00:20:14.940 --> 00:20:15.319
 is that

00:20:15.319 --> 00:20:15.759
 we shall

00:20:15.759 --> 00:20:16.299
 be like

00:20:16.299 --> 00:20:16.619
 him

00:20:16.619 --> 00:20:18.420
 and that

00:20:18.420 --> 00:20:18.859
 we shall

00:20:18.859 --> 00:20:20.240
 share with

00:20:20.240 --> 00:20:20.720
 him in

00:20:20.720 --> 00:20:21.139
 his glory.

00:20:21.500 --> 00:20:22.180
 2 Thessalonians

00:20:22.180 --> 00:20:22.859
 2.14

00:20:22.859 --> 00:20:23.720
 God called

00:20:23.720 --> 00:20:24.139
 you to be

00:20:24.139 --> 00:20:24.720
 saved through

00:20:24.720 --> 00:20:25.279
 the gospel

00:20:25.279 --> 00:20:26.819
 that you

00:20:26.819 --> 00:20:27.519
 might share

00:20:27.519 --> 00:20:28.379
 in the glory

00:20:28.380 --> 00:20:29.480
 of the

00:20:29.480 --> 00:20:30.080
 Lord Jesus

00:20:30.080 --> 00:20:30.660
 Christ.

00:20:32.220 --> 00:20:33.180
 God has

00:20:33.180 --> 00:20:34.000
 revealed what

00:20:34.000 --> 00:20:34.980
 God has

00:20:34.980 --> 00:20:35.620
 prepared for

00:20:35.620 --> 00:20:36.360
 those who

00:20:36.360 --> 00:20:36.820
 love him.

00:20:36.940 --> 00:20:37.180
 He has

00:20:37.180 --> 00:20:37.600
 shown us

00:20:37.600 --> 00:20:38.180
 his good

00:20:38.180 --> 00:20:38.820
 and perfect

00:20:38.820 --> 00:20:40.080
 gift which

00:20:40.080 --> 00:20:40.720
 awaits us

00:20:40.720 --> 00:20:41.300
 at Christ's

00:20:41.300 --> 00:20:41.660
 return.

00:20:42.160 --> 00:20:43.020
 All we need

00:20:43.020 --> 00:20:43.780
 to do is

00:20:43.780 --> 00:20:44.320
 fix our

00:20:44.320 --> 00:20:45.600
 eyes on

00:20:45.600 --> 00:20:46.160
 the horizon

00:20:46.160 --> 00:20:46.500
 of our

00:20:46.500 --> 00:20:46.800
 faith.

00:20:48.200 --> 00:20:48.900
 The problem

00:20:48.900 --> 00:20:49.380
 is though that

00:20:49.380 --> 00:20:49.880
 in times of

00:20:49.880 --> 00:20:50.400
 trials our

00:20:50.400 --> 00:20:51.200
 horizon becomes

00:20:51.200 --> 00:20:52.180
 so foreshortened

00:20:52.180 --> 00:20:52.880
 that we can

00:20:52.880 --> 00:20:53.580
 barely see two

00:20:53.580 --> 00:20:54.020
 feet in front

00:20:54.020 --> 00:20:54.360
 of us.

00:20:55.040 --> 00:20:55.440
 It's like when

00:20:55.440 --> 00:20:55.960
 the horror

00:20:55.960 --> 00:20:56.920
 comes in.

00:20:57.080 --> 00:20:57.400
 I was quite

00:20:57.400 --> 00:20:57.960
 surprised in

00:20:57.960 --> 00:20:58.440
 St Andrews

00:20:58.440 --> 00:20:58.920
 recently at

00:20:58.920 --> 00:20:59.400
 a conference

00:20:59.400 --> 00:21:00.920
 someone turned

00:21:00.920 --> 00:21:01.380
 a smoke

00:21:01.380 --> 00:21:02.039
 machine on

00:21:02.039 --> 00:21:03.019
 outside St

00:21:03.019 --> 00:21:03.380
 Mary's

00:21:03.380 --> 00:21:04.480
 College and

00:21:04.480 --> 00:21:04.900
 then I had

00:21:04.900 --> 00:21:05.340
 to remind

00:21:05.340 --> 00:21:05.840
 myself that

00:21:05.840 --> 00:21:06.160
 I was in

00:21:06.160 --> 00:21:06.420
 Scotland.

00:21:07.580 --> 00:21:08.240
 But this

00:21:08.240 --> 00:21:09.279
 is exactly

00:21:09.279 --> 00:21:09.799
 what happens

00:21:09.799 --> 00:21:10.100
 in our

00:21:10.100 --> 00:21:10.500
 trials.

00:21:10.620 --> 00:21:10.820
 We can

00:21:10.820 --> 00:21:11.360
 see nothing

00:21:11.360 --> 00:21:11.820
 of what

00:21:11.820 --> 00:21:12.860
 lies beyond

00:21:12.860 --> 00:21:13.519
 our trials

00:21:13.519 --> 00:21:13.900
 when we're

00:21:13.900 --> 00:21:14.259
 in the midst

00:21:14.259 --> 00:21:14.640
 of them,

00:21:15.080 --> 00:21:15.519
 let alone

00:21:15.519 --> 00:21:16.120
 the eternity

00:21:16.120 --> 00:21:17.320
 that stretches

00:21:17.320 --> 00:21:18.100
 out for us

00:21:18.100 --> 00:21:18.440
 in the

00:21:18.440 --> 00:21:18.860
 resurrection.

00:21:19.799 --> 00:21:20.200
 The trials

00:21:20.200 --> 00:21:21.019
 block everything

00:21:21.019 --> 00:21:21.340
 out.

00:21:22.180 --> 00:21:22.559
 The pain

00:21:22.559 --> 00:21:22.759
 and the

00:21:22.759 --> 00:21:23.039
 difficulty

00:21:23.039 --> 00:21:23.420
 of what we're

00:21:23.420 --> 00:21:23.980
 experiencing

00:21:23.980 --> 00:21:25.420
 simply clouds

00:21:25.420 --> 00:21:26.120
 our vision.

00:21:27.860 --> 00:21:28.680
 But we can

00:21:28.680 --> 00:21:29.940
 rejoice in

00:21:29.940 --> 00:21:31.759
 trials if

00:21:31.759 --> 00:21:33.100
 only we

00:21:33.100 --> 00:21:34.160
 gain a

00:21:34.160 --> 00:21:34.779
 fresh glimpse

00:21:34.779 --> 00:21:36.019
 of what lies

00:21:36.019 --> 00:21:36.340
 ahead.

00:21:37.920 --> 00:21:38.279
 In this

00:21:38.279 --> 00:21:39.620
 respect it's

00:21:39.620 --> 00:21:39.920
 a bit like

00:21:39.920 --> 00:21:40.480
 driving on

00:21:40.480 --> 00:21:41.180
 the autobahn.

00:21:42.240 --> 00:21:42.740
 There's no

00:21:42.740 --> 00:21:43.380
 speed limit on

00:21:43.380 --> 00:21:43.820
 those things

00:21:43.820 --> 00:21:44.360
 which means

00:21:44.360 --> 00:21:44.920
 you have to

00:21:44.920 --> 00:21:45.460
 look a very

00:21:45.460 --> 00:21:45.900
 long way

00:21:45.900 --> 00:21:47.200
 forwards and

00:21:47.200 --> 00:21:48.820
 back because

00:21:48.820 --> 00:21:49.360
 the cars are

00:21:49.360 --> 00:21:49.960
 travelling so

00:21:49.960 --> 00:21:50.460
 fast.

00:21:51.519 --> 00:21:51.779
 And it's

00:21:51.779 --> 00:21:52.360
 exactly the

00:21:52.360 --> 00:21:52.820
 same when we

00:21:52.820 --> 00:21:53.100
 go through

00:21:53.100 --> 00:21:53.700
 trials we

00:21:53.700 --> 00:21:54.060
 need to be

00:21:54.060 --> 00:21:54.480
 looking a

00:21:54.480 --> 00:21:54.820
 long way

00:21:54.820 --> 00:21:55.120
 back.

00:21:55.420 --> 00:21:55.860
 And a

00:21:55.860 --> 00:21:56.140
 long way

00:21:56.140 --> 00:21:57.140
 forward we

00:21:57.140 --> 00:21:57.380
 need to be

00:21:57.380 --> 00:21:57.800
 looking back

00:21:57.800 --> 00:21:58.060
 to the

00:21:58.060 --> 00:21:58.519
 resurrection

00:21:58.519 --> 00:21:59.920
 and forwards

00:21:59.920 --> 00:22:01.300
 to Christ's

00:22:01.300 --> 00:22:02.539
 return if we

00:22:02.539 --> 00:22:03.100
 are to rejoice

00:22:03.100 --> 00:22:03.460
 in our

00:22:03.460 --> 00:22:03.880
 trials.

00:22:05.200 --> 00:22:05.900
 If we can

00:22:05.900 --> 00:22:06.300
 lift our

00:22:06.300 --> 00:22:07.300
 eyes from

00:22:07.300 --> 00:22:08.100
 our trials to

00:22:08.100 --> 00:22:08.720
 see what lies

00:22:08.720 --> 00:22:09.380
 ahead, even

00:22:09.380 --> 00:22:10.100
 for a moment

00:22:10.100 --> 00:22:11.960
 we will see

00:22:11.960 --> 00:22:12.620
 things that can

00:22:12.620 --> 00:22:13.860
 move us in a

00:22:13.860 --> 00:22:14.440
 very different

00:22:14.440 --> 00:22:14.759
 way.

00:22:15.860 --> 00:22:16.480
 If we can

00:22:16.480 --> 00:22:16.960
 gain a glimpse

00:22:16.960 --> 00:22:17.539
 of the risen

00:22:17.539 --> 00:22:18.360
 Christ reigning

00:22:18.360 --> 00:22:18.779
 at the right

00:22:18.779 --> 00:22:19.140
 hand of the

00:22:19.140 --> 00:22:19.720
 Father in

00:22:19.720 --> 00:22:21.220
 glory, it

00:22:21.220 --> 00:22:21.560
 will stir

00:22:21.560 --> 00:22:22.000
 something.

00:22:22.000 --> 00:22:22.059
 joy.

00:22:23.599 --> 00:22:24.380
 If we look

00:22:24.380 --> 00:22:24.920
 long enough

00:22:24.920 --> 00:22:27.000
 and see in

00:22:27.000 --> 00:22:27.440
 him the

00:22:27.440 --> 00:22:27.940
 promise of

00:22:27.940 --> 00:22:28.359
 what we

00:22:28.359 --> 00:22:28.880
 shall be,

00:22:29.880 --> 00:22:30.579
 it might

00:22:30.579 --> 00:22:31.079
 even become

00:22:31.079 --> 00:22:31.400
 joy.

00:22:33.880 --> 00:22:34.579
 Seeing in

00:22:34.579 --> 00:22:35.039
 Christ a

00:22:35.039 --> 00:22:35.559
 reflection of

00:22:35.559 --> 00:22:35.980
 our future

00:22:35.980 --> 00:22:36.660
 selves is

00:22:36.660 --> 00:22:37.140
 what holds

00:22:37.140 --> 00:22:39.019
 the key to

00:22:39.019 --> 00:22:39.519
 making the

00:22:39.519 --> 00:22:40.119
 mind shift

00:22:40.119 --> 00:22:40.940
 James is

00:22:40.940 --> 00:22:41.559
 speaking about.

00:22:41.559 --> 00:22:44.319
 unless we

00:22:44.319 --> 00:22:44.839
 see Christ

00:22:44.839 --> 00:22:45.159
 in his

00:22:45.159 --> 00:22:46.500
 glory, we

00:22:46.500 --> 00:22:46.759
 will not

00:22:46.759 --> 00:22:47.159
 be moved

00:22:47.159 --> 00:22:49.059
 to joy by

00:22:49.059 --> 00:22:49.559
 the prospect

00:22:49.559 --> 00:22:49.960
 of being

00:22:49.960 --> 00:22:50.519
 like him.

00:22:52.440 --> 00:22:53.039
 Unless we

00:22:53.039 --> 00:22:53.700
 are transfixed

00:22:53.700 --> 00:22:54.220
 by his

00:22:54.220 --> 00:22:56.139
 beauty, we

00:22:56.139 --> 00:22:56.519
 will not be

00:22:56.519 --> 00:22:57.399
 moved to joy

00:22:57.399 --> 00:22:57.919
 at the thought

00:22:57.919 --> 00:22:58.419
 of attaining

00:22:58.419 --> 00:22:59.039
 to his full

00:22:59.039 --> 00:22:59.419
 stature.

00:23:00.759 --> 00:23:01.419
 The key to

00:23:01.419 --> 00:23:02.240
 considering trials

00:23:02.240 --> 00:23:04.059
 as joy consists

00:23:04.059 --> 00:23:04.779
 in this one

00:23:04.779 --> 00:23:07.480
 thing, constantly,

00:23:08.220 --> 00:23:08.659
 regularly,

00:23:09.119 --> 00:23:09.619
 repeatedly,

00:23:10.700 --> 00:23:11.279
 regaining a

00:23:11.279 --> 00:23:12.139
 glimpse of

00:23:12.139 --> 00:23:12.500
 who we

00:23:12.500 --> 00:23:12.879
 shall be.

00:23:13.879 --> 00:23:14.279
 And this

00:23:14.279 --> 00:23:14.899
 is why we

00:23:14.899 --> 00:23:15.319
 need to be

00:23:15.319 --> 00:23:16.200
 soaking ourselves

00:23:16.200 --> 00:23:17.599
 in all that

00:23:17.599 --> 00:23:18.000
 the scriptures

00:23:18.000 --> 00:23:19.339
 tell us of

00:23:19.339 --> 00:23:19.660
 this.

00:23:20.240 --> 00:23:20.980
 This is why we

00:23:20.980 --> 00:23:21.680
 need to be

00:23:21.680 --> 00:23:22.639
 scouring the

00:23:22.639 --> 00:23:23.259
 word of God

00:23:23.259 --> 00:23:23.879
 to fill out

00:23:23.879 --> 00:23:24.599
 an identikit

00:23:24.599 --> 00:23:25.960
 of our future

00:23:25.960 --> 00:23:26.759
 selves in the

00:23:26.759 --> 00:23:27.619
 face of Christ

00:23:27.619 --> 00:23:29.460
 so that we

00:23:29.460 --> 00:23:30.299
 can recall this

00:23:30.299 --> 00:23:30.879
 in the midst

00:23:30.879 --> 00:23:31.559
 of our trials.

00:23:32.460 --> 00:23:32.899
 When we're

00:23:32.899 --> 00:23:33.500
 feeling weakened

00:23:33.500 --> 00:23:34.200
 in our faith

00:23:34.200 --> 00:23:35.519
 and vulnerable

00:23:35.519 --> 00:23:36.059
 to sin,

00:23:36.920 --> 00:23:37.460
 who Christ

00:23:37.460 --> 00:23:38.059
 is must be

00:23:38.059 --> 00:23:38.500
 at the very

00:23:38.500 --> 00:23:39.220
 front of our

00:23:39.220 --> 00:23:40.460
 minds so

00:23:40.460 --> 00:23:40.899
 that we can

00:23:40.900 --> 00:23:41.440
 cast our

00:23:41.440 --> 00:23:41.860
 eyes on

00:23:41.860 --> 00:23:42.519
 his features,

00:23:43.120 --> 00:23:43.860
 on his

00:23:43.860 --> 00:23:44.360
 majesty,

00:23:44.940 --> 00:23:45.480
 on his

00:23:45.480 --> 00:23:45.880
 mercy,

00:23:47.280 --> 00:23:47.620
 and allow

00:23:47.620 --> 00:23:48.220
 something of

00:23:48.220 --> 00:23:48.740
 his glory

00:23:48.740 --> 00:23:50.200
 to displace

00:23:50.200 --> 00:23:51.780
 the anger

00:23:51.780 --> 00:23:52.580
 or the

00:23:52.580 --> 00:23:53.019
 despair

00:23:53.019 --> 00:23:54.540
 or whatever

00:23:54.540 --> 00:23:55.060
 it is

00:23:55.060 --> 00:23:56.460
 that may

00:23:56.460 --> 00:23:56.840
 have robbed

00:23:56.840 --> 00:23:57.360
 us of that

00:23:57.360 --> 00:23:57.640
 joy.

00:23:59.640 --> 00:24:00.220
 In our

00:24:00.220 --> 00:24:00.640
 congregation

00:24:00.640 --> 00:24:01.080
 back in

00:24:01.080 --> 00:24:01.280
 Sydney,

00:24:01.400 --> 00:24:01.759
 there was a

00:24:01.759 --> 00:24:02.120
 retired

00:24:02.120 --> 00:24:02.720
 minister who

00:24:02.720 --> 00:24:03.300
 once told me

00:24:03.300 --> 00:24:03.759
 how when he

00:24:03.759 --> 00:24:04.300
 was feeling

00:24:04.300 --> 00:24:04.960
 overwhelmed by

00:24:04.960 --> 00:24:05.460
 the difficulties

00:24:05.460 --> 00:24:05.820
 of his

00:24:05.820 --> 00:24:06.220
 ministry,

00:24:06.759 --> 00:24:07.100
 and there

00:24:07.100 --> 00:24:07.480
 were many,

00:24:07.480 --> 00:24:09.019
 things like

00:24:09.019 --> 00:24:09.180
 he might be

00:24:09.180 --> 00:24:09.680
 driving in

00:24:09.680 --> 00:24:10.180
 his car to

00:24:10.180 --> 00:24:10.799
 some meeting,

00:24:11.440 --> 00:24:12.319
 which would

00:24:12.319 --> 00:24:12.860
 really put him

00:24:12.860 --> 00:24:13.299
 to the test.

00:24:13.380 --> 00:24:13.559
 He would

00:24:13.559 --> 00:24:14.099
 recall the

00:24:14.099 --> 00:24:14.500
 vision of

00:24:14.500 --> 00:24:16.259
 Christ in

00:24:16.259 --> 00:24:16.660
 Revelation

00:24:16.660 --> 00:24:17.339
 chapter 1,

00:24:17.860 --> 00:24:18.599
 and fill his

00:24:18.599 --> 00:24:19.099
 mind with

00:24:19.099 --> 00:24:20.019
 John's

00:24:20.019 --> 00:24:20.819
 astonishing

00:24:20.819 --> 00:24:22.160
 description of

00:24:22.160 --> 00:24:22.460
 the Lord

00:24:22.460 --> 00:24:22.839
 Jesus.

00:24:23.779 --> 00:24:24.160
 What's

00:24:24.160 --> 00:24:24.559
 spiritual

00:24:24.559 --> 00:24:24.920
 wisdom?

00:24:27.500 --> 00:24:28.240
 Don knew

00:24:28.240 --> 00:24:28.700
 in a very

00:24:28.700 --> 00:24:29.799
 deeply practical

00:24:29.799 --> 00:24:31.039
 way the

00:24:31.039 --> 00:24:31.980
 how of this

00:24:31.980 --> 00:24:32.620
 mind shift

00:24:32.619 --> 00:24:33.899
 James is

00:24:33.899 --> 00:24:34.479
 speaking of.

00:24:34.939 --> 00:24:35.299
 But he

00:24:35.299 --> 00:24:35.719
 could make

00:24:35.719 --> 00:24:36.239
 this mind

00:24:36.239 --> 00:24:37.439
 shift only

00:24:37.439 --> 00:24:37.919
 because he

00:24:37.919 --> 00:24:38.379
 had etched

00:24:38.379 --> 00:24:39.039
 the detail

00:24:39.039 --> 00:24:39.679
 of what God

00:24:39.679 --> 00:24:40.139
 has revealed

00:24:40.139 --> 00:24:40.500
 in his

00:24:40.500 --> 00:24:41.959
 word onto

00:24:41.959 --> 00:24:42.719
 his mind.

00:24:43.759 --> 00:24:44.119
 He could

00:24:44.119 --> 00:24:44.619
 recall this

00:24:44.619 --> 00:24:45.039
 because he

00:24:45.039 --> 00:24:45.399
 had looked

00:24:45.399 --> 00:24:46.079
 so long

00:24:46.079 --> 00:24:46.659
 at Christ's

00:24:46.659 --> 00:24:47.859
 features so

00:24:47.859 --> 00:24:48.639
 many times.

00:24:49.479 --> 00:24:50.139
 You cannot

00:24:50.139 --> 00:24:50.879
 recall what

00:24:50.879 --> 00:24:51.459
 you have not

00:24:51.459 --> 00:24:53.079
 seen, and

00:24:53.079 --> 00:24:53.639
 you can recall

00:24:53.639 --> 00:24:54.259
 only in very

00:24:54.259 --> 00:24:55.159
 poor detail

00:24:55.159 --> 00:24:56.719
 what you've

00:24:56.719 --> 00:24:57.099
 seen in the

00:24:57.099 --> 00:24:57.859
 distant past.

00:24:59.099 --> 00:24:59.899
 To see the

00:24:59.899 --> 00:25:00.439
 reflection of

00:25:00.439 --> 00:25:00.819
 our future

00:25:00.819 --> 00:25:01.299
 selves in

00:25:01.299 --> 00:25:01.839
 Christ, we

00:25:01.839 --> 00:25:02.559
 must study

00:25:02.559 --> 00:25:03.720
 him like

00:25:03.720 --> 00:25:04.139
 the artist

00:25:04.139 --> 00:25:05.639
 studies their

00:25:05.639 --> 00:25:06.039
 subject.

00:25:06.919 --> 00:25:07.559
 We must

00:25:07.559 --> 00:25:08.279
 study Christ

00:25:08.279 --> 00:25:09.119
 if we are

00:25:09.119 --> 00:25:09.519
 to allow

00:25:09.519 --> 00:25:10.119
 his glorious

00:25:10.119 --> 00:25:10.740
 features to

00:25:10.740 --> 00:25:11.259
 move us to

00:25:11.259 --> 00:25:11.759
 joy in the

00:25:11.759 --> 00:25:12.139
 midst of

00:25:12.139 --> 00:25:13.960
 trials and

00:25:13.960 --> 00:25:14.399
 make this

00:25:14.399 --> 00:25:14.940
 mind shift

00:25:14.940 --> 00:25:15.419
 that James

00:25:15.419 --> 00:25:15.960
 is speaking

00:25:15.960 --> 00:25:16.339
 of.

00:25:18.700 --> 00:25:19.419
 It's at this

00:25:19.419 --> 00:25:19.839
 point though

00:25:19.839 --> 00:25:20.419
 that we may

00:25:20.419 --> 00:25:21.220
 need to pause

00:25:21.220 --> 00:25:22.000
 for a moment

00:25:22.000 --> 00:25:22.779
 and consider

00:25:22.779 --> 00:25:23.440
 briefly whether

00:25:23.440 --> 00:25:24.139
 God is not

00:25:24.139 --> 00:25:24.799
 actually calling

00:25:24.799 --> 00:25:25.139
 you to a

00:25:25.139 --> 00:25:25.779
 more fundamental

00:25:25.779 --> 00:25:27.200
 mind shift.

00:25:28.200 --> 00:25:28.960
 It's possible

00:25:28.960 --> 00:25:29.519
 that you attend

00:25:29.519 --> 00:25:30.059
 church and

00:25:30.059 --> 00:25:31.039
 even identify

00:25:31.039 --> 00:25:31.779
 as a Christian

00:25:31.779 --> 00:25:33.259
 but may have

00:25:33.259 --> 00:25:33.899
 never seen

00:25:33.899 --> 00:25:34.759
 Christ's glory.

00:25:36.160 --> 00:25:36.619
 It's possible

00:25:36.619 --> 00:25:37.039
 that you have

00:25:37.039 --> 00:25:37.539
 heard that

00:25:37.539 --> 00:25:38.220
 Jesus died

00:25:38.220 --> 00:25:38.579
 and rose

00:25:38.579 --> 00:25:39.859
 again but

00:25:39.859 --> 00:25:40.220
 have never

00:25:40.220 --> 00:25:41.279
 internalized the

00:25:41.279 --> 00:25:41.759
 fact that he

00:25:41.759 --> 00:25:44.099
 died and

00:25:44.099 --> 00:25:45.160
 rose for you.

00:25:46.839 --> 00:25:47.599
 It's possible

00:25:47.599 --> 00:25:48.019
 that you have

00:25:48.019 --> 00:25:48.559
 heard Jesus'

00:25:48.759 --> 00:25:49.259
 words but have

00:25:49.259 --> 00:25:49.759
 never really

00:25:49.759 --> 00:25:50.680
 taken him at

00:25:50.680 --> 00:25:51.240
 his word.

00:25:53.420 --> 00:25:54.200
 If that's you

00:25:54.200 --> 00:25:54.599
 this morning,

00:25:54.700 --> 00:25:55.359
 God is calling

00:25:55.359 --> 00:25:56.259
 you to a more

00:25:56.259 --> 00:25:57.059
 fundamental mind

00:25:57.059 --> 00:25:57.359
 shift.

00:25:57.359 --> 00:25:59.240
 God is calling

00:25:59.240 --> 00:25:59.799
 you to turn

00:25:59.799 --> 00:26:00.919
 to him in

00:26:00.919 --> 00:26:01.500
 repentance and

00:26:01.500 --> 00:26:01.819
 faith.

00:26:04.240 --> 00:26:04.899
 For without

00:26:04.899 --> 00:26:05.399
 this mind

00:26:05.399 --> 00:26:05.959
 shift there is

00:26:05.959 --> 00:26:06.399
 no crown

00:26:06.399 --> 00:26:06.699
 of life.

00:26:09.419 --> 00:26:09.959
 You are

00:26:09.959 --> 00:26:10.619
 running a race

00:26:10.619 --> 00:26:11.179
 where there is

00:26:11.179 --> 00:26:11.939
 no finish line

00:26:11.939 --> 00:26:13.839
 and you remain

00:26:13.839 --> 00:26:14.399
 in your sins.

00:26:16.339 --> 00:26:17.059
 If that's you

00:26:17.059 --> 00:26:17.459
 this morning,

00:26:17.539 --> 00:26:18.139
 God is calling

00:26:18.139 --> 00:26:18.759
 you to entrust

00:26:18.759 --> 00:26:19.279
 yourself to

00:26:19.279 --> 00:26:19.979
 Christ for the

00:26:19.979 --> 00:26:20.559
 forgiveness of

00:26:20.559 --> 00:26:21.039
 your sins.

00:26:21.439 --> 00:26:21.919
 God is calling

00:26:21.919 --> 00:26:22.579
 you to receive

00:26:22.579 --> 00:26:23.199
 the promise

00:26:23.199 --> 00:26:24.559
 of life,

00:26:24.959 --> 00:26:25.579
 the crown of

00:26:25.579 --> 00:26:26.619
 life that he

00:26:26.619 --> 00:26:27.199
 holds out in

00:26:27.199 --> 00:26:27.679
 his gospel.

00:26:30.000 --> 00:26:30.599
 But to those

00:26:30.599 --> 00:26:31.039
 of us who

00:26:31.039 --> 00:26:31.419
 have made

00:26:31.419 --> 00:26:32.179
 this more

00:26:32.179 --> 00:26:32.679
 fundamental

00:26:32.679 --> 00:26:33.779
 mind shift

00:26:33.779 --> 00:26:35.419
 and received

00:26:35.419 --> 00:26:35.899
 what Christ

00:26:35.899 --> 00:26:36.299
 promises,

00:26:36.559 --> 00:26:37.199
 God is calling

00:26:37.199 --> 00:26:37.879
 us again once

00:26:37.879 --> 00:26:38.519
 more to see

00:26:38.519 --> 00:26:40.079
 the beauty and

00:26:40.079 --> 00:26:40.839
 glory of this

00:26:40.839 --> 00:26:41.220
 promise.

00:26:43.099 --> 00:26:43.819
 He's calling

00:26:43.819 --> 00:26:44.599
 us to see the

00:26:44.599 --> 00:26:45.399
 goodness and

00:26:45.399 --> 00:26:45.960
 the perfection

00:26:45.960 --> 00:26:47.960
 of his gift

00:26:47.960 --> 00:26:49.119
 once more so

00:26:49.119 --> 00:26:49.599
 that it might

00:26:49.599 --> 00:26:51.139
 begin us a

00:26:51.139 --> 00:26:52.319
 movement that

00:26:52.319 --> 00:26:52.960
 will bring us

00:26:52.960 --> 00:26:53.839
 to regard trials

00:26:53.839 --> 00:26:54.359
 with joy.

00:26:55.579 --> 00:26:57.220
 So in

00:26:57.220 --> 00:26:57.720
 closing I

00:26:57.720 --> 00:26:58.220
 invite you

00:26:58.220 --> 00:26:58.799
 to meditate

00:26:58.799 --> 00:27:00.059
 now quietly

00:27:00.059 --> 00:27:00.500
 on where you

00:27:00.500 --> 00:27:01.019
 may need to

00:27:01.019 --> 00:27:01.460
 make this

00:27:01.460 --> 00:27:02.079
 mind shift

00:27:02.079 --> 00:27:03.500
 in your

00:27:03.500 --> 00:27:03.879
 life.

00:27:04.639 --> 00:27:04.859
 There will

00:27:04.859 --> 00:27:05.139
 be a

00:27:05.139 --> 00:27:05.500
 tremendous

00:27:05.500 --> 00:27:06.119
 range of

00:27:06.119 --> 00:27:06.740
 experiences

00:27:06.740 --> 00:27:08.639
 in a group

00:27:08.639 --> 00:27:09.079
 of people

00:27:09.079 --> 00:27:09.759
 this large.

00:27:11.539 --> 00:27:12.019
 There will

00:27:12.019 --> 00:27:12.779
 be people who

00:27:12.779 --> 00:27:13.699
 feel like it's

00:27:13.699 --> 00:27:14.519
 an impossibility,

00:27:15.480 --> 00:27:16.619
 that joy is

00:27:16.619 --> 00:27:17.339
 an impossibility,

00:27:17.480 --> 00:27:17.740
 that they're

00:27:17.740 --> 00:27:18.319
 being stretched

00:27:18.319 --> 00:27:19.299
 so far beyond

00:27:19.299 --> 00:27:20.460
 their capacity

00:27:20.460 --> 00:27:21.159
 to rejoice

00:27:21.159 --> 00:27:23.039
 in their

00:27:23.039 --> 00:27:23.500
 salvation.

00:27:23.500 --> 00:27:25.420
 others will

00:27:25.420 --> 00:27:25.779
 have perhaps

00:27:25.779 --> 00:27:26.380
 gone through

00:27:26.380 --> 00:27:27.539
 trials in

00:27:27.539 --> 00:27:28.200
 their past

00:27:28.200 --> 00:27:29.859
 and remember

00:27:29.859 --> 00:27:30.480
 this difficulty

00:27:30.480 --> 00:27:31.880
 well, and

00:27:31.880 --> 00:27:32.119
 there will be

00:27:32.119 --> 00:27:32.720
 yet others

00:27:32.720 --> 00:27:33.519
 for whom

00:27:33.519 --> 00:27:34.119
 these difficulties

00:27:34.119 --> 00:27:34.720
 lie in the

00:27:34.720 --> 00:27:35.019
 future.

00:27:36.720 --> 00:27:37.460
 Wherever God's

00:27:37.460 --> 00:27:38.140
 word meets us

00:27:38.140 --> 00:27:38.720
 this morning,

00:27:39.839 --> 00:27:40.819
 let us allow

00:27:40.819 --> 00:27:41.400
 to bring our

00:27:41.400 --> 00:27:42.039
 eyes to us

00:27:42.039 --> 00:27:43.960
 once more on

00:27:43.960 --> 00:27:44.420
 the perfection

00:27:44.420 --> 00:27:44.980
 and completion

00:27:44.980 --> 00:27:45.519
 of the crown

00:27:45.519 --> 00:27:46.059
 of life.

00:27:47.019 --> 00:27:47.799
 Let us gain a

00:27:47.799 --> 00:27:48.759
 fresh glimpse

00:27:48.759 --> 00:27:49.880
 of Christ in

00:27:49.880 --> 00:27:51.420
 his glory so

00:27:51.420 --> 00:27:52.059
 that we will be

00:27:52.059 --> 00:27:53.279
 moved to the

00:27:53.279 --> 00:27:54.119
 prospect of

00:27:54.119 --> 00:27:54.599
 being like

00:27:54.599 --> 00:27:54.799
 him.

00:27:56.559 --> 00:27:57.159
 Let us

00:27:57.159 --> 00:27:57.859
 allow ourselves

00:27:57.859 --> 00:27:58.539
 once more to

00:27:58.539 --> 00:27:59.200
 be transfixed

00:27:59.200 --> 00:27:59.819
 by his beauty

00:27:59.819 --> 00:28:00.379
 so that we

00:28:00.379 --> 00:28:01.099
 will be moved

00:28:01.099 --> 00:28:02.659
 at the joy

00:28:02.659 --> 00:28:03.299
 of attaining

00:28:03.299 --> 00:28:03.919
 to his full

00:28:03.919 --> 00:28:04.299
 stature.

00:28:05.279 --> 00:28:06.099
 Let us pray.

00:28:10.139 --> 00:28:10.619
 Loving

00:28:10.619 --> 00:28:11.079
 Father, we

00:28:11.079 --> 00:28:11.599
 thank you that

00:28:11.599 --> 00:28:11.940
 you have

00:28:11.940 --> 00:28:12.659
 revealed your

00:28:12.659 --> 00:28:12.919
 Son.

00:28:15.819 --> 00:28:16.519
 We thank

00:28:16.519 --> 00:28:17.079
 you that we

00:28:17.079 --> 00:28:19.799
 see him in

00:28:19.799 --> 00:28:20.200
 the precious

00:28:20.200 --> 00:28:20.799
 words of his

00:28:20.799 --> 00:28:21.139
 gospel.

00:28:22.059 --> 00:28:23.720
 Lord, we

00:28:23.720 --> 00:28:24.179
 ask that you

00:28:24.179 --> 00:28:24.740
 would bring us

00:28:24.740 --> 00:28:25.379
 to see once

00:28:25.379 --> 00:28:26.839
 again a

00:28:26.839 --> 00:28:27.440
 reflection of

00:28:27.440 --> 00:28:27.879
 our future

00:28:27.879 --> 00:28:29.539
 selves in

00:28:29.539 --> 00:28:30.759
 his face and

00:28:30.759 --> 00:28:31.419
 sustain us,

00:28:31.559 --> 00:28:33.500
 Lord, and

00:28:33.500 --> 00:28:34.000
 bring us to

00:28:34.000 --> 00:28:34.679
 the joy of

00:28:34.679 --> 00:28:35.319
 our salvation,

00:28:36.960 --> 00:28:37.539
 which as

00:28:37.539 --> 00:28:38.000
 Nehemiah

00:28:38.000 --> 00:28:38.659
 reminds us,

00:28:38.700 --> 00:28:39.039
 is our

00:28:39.039 --> 00:28:39.440
 strength.

00:28:40.440 --> 00:28:40.740
 And we

00:28:40.740 --> 00:28:41.259
 ask this for

00:28:41.259 --> 00:28:41.779
 the glory of

00:28:41.779 --> 00:28:42.200
 your Son

00:28:42.200 --> 00:28:43.980
 until the day

00:28:43.980 --> 00:28:44.659
 he returns.

00:28:45.179 --> 00:28:45.500
 Amen.