WEBVTT

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 Do open your Bibles to James chapter 4.

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 We'll pick it up at verse 13.

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 And before we get there, let's pray one more time.

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!

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 Amen.

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 The 1942 film classic, Casablanca.

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 I wasn't there when it was first released.

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 But it opens with a voiceover.

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 If you've seen it, you'll know this.

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 It says this.

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 With the coming of the Second World War, many eyes in imprisoned Europe turned hopefully or desperately towards the freedom of the Americas.

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 The narrator then describes the journey that people took through France.

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 There's a little map that you can see and all of that.

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 And people went through France and across the Mediterranean through Casablanca where they had to wait before they moved further on.

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 But this is what we do when life is hard.

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 We look at others who seem to be thriving and we want what they have.

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 And we order our lives after that.

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 We head off in that direction.

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 When things get difficult, we look for a way out.

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 And this can be true in any area of life.

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 Work is hard.

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 Marriage is hard.

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 Relationships are hard.

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 And so we turn, hopefully or desperately in some cases, toward the freedom or perceived freedom of another option.

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 And of course, this moment in our culture, that is positively encouraged, isn't it?

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 Regardless of the consequences.

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 If you're not happy where you are or things aren't absolutely optimal, you're encouraged positively to go and look elsewhere regardless of the consequences.

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 That can also be true in the Christian life.

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 Especially in a world where being a Christian is viewed negatively.

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 When being a Christian is something that actually costs you in the context of life.

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 We find ourselves drawn to what we feel would be an easier, more comfortable, more straightforward, more fulfilling, it might seem, way of life.

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 And so we go quiet on our faith and we do what we're told in the workplace, no matter how compromised it makes us.

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 Or we adapt what we believe in order to accommodate what the culture is saying.

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 We'll do anything so that we're not ostracized.

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 So that things aren't unbearably difficult.

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 So that we don't fall the wrong side of the opinions of those whose opinions really matter to us.

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 If we can just change how we think and act, if we can just adopt the ways of the world around us, well the criticism then it dries up.

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 And when the criticism dries up, life gets a whole lot easier.

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 And we've studied this letter over the last couple of months.

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 We've seen that this is the mindset that James is challenging in his hearers.

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 If we could paraphrase our film, we might say this.

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 With the coming of Christ into the lives of these first believers and the opposition from the Jewish religious leadership that has followed,

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 many eyes in persecuted and scattered Christendom turned hopefully or desperately toward the freedom and recognition of the established religion.

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 That was the pull.

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 The pull was back to the old ways of Judaism.

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 And these Jewish zealots that are persecuting these Christians, making their life very difficult,

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 the trials that they are going through because of this, are trying to win them back.

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 Win them back to their cause.

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 And so what has happened is, many that James is writing to have adopted the same approach as the zealots.

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 So the zealots are going after them, persecuting them, making life difficult, haranguing them, giving them a hard time and all of that.

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 And James is saying that he sees this in the response of the Christians.

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 In their words and actions.

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 In the hope that they will be accepted.

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 They are trying to curry favor with the rich and influential religious leaders.

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 They are doing that also because they think that they can hold the two together.

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 They can be acceptable and they can achieve the righteousness of God.

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 They can fight the way the world fights and bring in the righteousness of God.

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 They are doing it on their terms.

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 And James has rebuked this behavior pretty directly up to this point.

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 If you have been with us, you will have heard him.

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 He does not pull his punches.

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 But this morning what we discover is that James is speaking to the opposition.

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 He is speaking to the opposing forces.

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 The Jewish oppressors.

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 It is a fascinating move.

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 The come now that opens verse 13.

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 Chapter 4 verse 13.

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 And again in 5.1.

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 They tie this section together.

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 James is using first of all a parable.

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 And then a prophecy directed towards the enemies of God's people.

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 And he is doing this as a warning to them.

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 They need to repent of their oppression.

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 But the fascinating thing is that James does this by speaking to these beleaguered Christians.

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 He gives them the parable and them the prophecy.

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 And what he is trying to do then is encourage them to stay the course.

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 Encourage them to endure with Christ no matter how painful it becomes.

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 He is trying to encourage them to see that it is worth it to keep going with Christ however difficult things get.

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 Because of where the alternative ultimately leads.

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 Sounds quite strange doesn't it initially when we hear that.

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 But this is actually a common method in the Old Testament with the prophets in the Old Testament.

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 So if you were to go to Isaiah chapter 13 verse 6.

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 God says this.

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 Wail for the day of the Lord is near.

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 It will come like destruction from the Almighty.

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 Sounds quite similar doesn't it?

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 Verse 1.

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 Weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you.

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 Wail for the day of the Lord is near and destruction is coming.

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 Now in this case he is speaking to Babylon.

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 Who are oppressing God's people.

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 But he is saying these words to Israel.

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 The prophecy is to Israel about Babylon.

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 Babylon so that they would see what judgment was coming to those who rejected their God.

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 And the traitors in this parable in 4.13.

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 And the rich in 5 verse 1 are the same people.

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 And he isn't introducing just a new category here of rich people.

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 We've been meeting the rich all the way through the letter.

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 The rich are the same group that James has referred to throughout.

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 The Jewish ruling leaders who have rejected Christ.

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 Chapter 2.

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 And blasphemed his name.

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 2 verses 6 and 7.

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 So James' logic in the letter has been this.

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 He said initially to this group of beleaguered Christians.

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 Your trials are sent by God in order to mature your faith and make you more like Christ.

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 Therefore don't respond to them by getting angry and trying to play your opponents at their own game.

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 Instead, humble yourselves in repentance.

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 Return to God and trust that he will exalt you in the end.

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 That repentance will affect how you speak to and about other people.

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 Don't stand above the law of neighbor love in the context of the community.

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 Pursue unity.

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 And now he says,

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 And don't forget what God will do to those who oppose you.

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 He's saying don't forget the end of the story.

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 And so what he's doing is reminding us all this morning that walking away from obedience to Christ,

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 whether it's for the sake of an easier life or for the sake of success or acceptance,

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 even if you think that by doing that you're very clever and you are going to serve the advance of God's kingdom,

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 James is saying it's not worth it.

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 It's not worth it.

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 Don't go there.

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 Here's why.

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 Three reasons.

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 Number one, the Lord sees.

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 The Lord sees.

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 4.13

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 Come now you who say today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make profit.

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 Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring.

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 It's like James is using a parable.

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 And he's describing God's enemies as traveling traders.

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 It's a picture that the Lord Jesus uses over and over again in the Gospels.

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 If you're familiar, he uses the image of business and trading and economic transaction in lots of his parables.

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 So Matthew 18.23

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 Matthew 21.33

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 Luke 16.13

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 Those who were authorized by the Sanhedrin to,

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 That's the context of the book of James.

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 Or chapter 9 verse 1 in the book of Acts.

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 Those who were authorized by the Sanhedrin to,

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 Bring any belonging to the way, that is, any who have become Christians, men and women, bound to Jerusalem.

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 Go and get them.

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 They've been scattered from Jerusalem.

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 Go and get them.

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 And if they won't renounce their Christian faith, bind them and bring them back to Jerusalem.

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 That's the context of James.

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 And what's happening then in this parable is,

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 These traveling men from Jerusalem are trying to reincorporate these new disciples of Jesus back into their apostate Jerusalem.

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 That is their prophet, so to speak.

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 The economic metaphor continues.

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 5 verse 3.

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 You have laid up treasure.

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 James says,

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 In the last days, behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you.

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 5 verse 5.

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 You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence.

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 You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter.

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 These leaders of old Israel have stored up for themselves the spiritual treasure of the gospel that they have been given.

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 They have also kept the gold and silver of the temple for themselves, verse 3.

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 They are rich in wealth because of that and in spiritual resources.

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 But instead of sharing those riches with others, as they were called to do,

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 instead of being a light to the world as they were called to be,

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 they oppress and they persecute the people of God and the Lord sees it all.

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 James is telling them what they have done.

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 The Lord knows.

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 He sees it.

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 They should have known that they are precarious.

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 Life is a mist, verse 14.

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 Their lives, they think they are so strong and yet he reminds them,

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 Your life is a mist, verse 14.

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 They should be asking whether the work that they do is really of the Lord, verse 15,

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 but instead they boast of their own strength.

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 Even though they have heard that Jesus is God's Messiah,

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 He is the Lord who has come,

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 even though they know that that is right, verse 17,

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 they serve themselves.

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 And the Lord sees it all.

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 James is warning the enemies.

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 But remember, apart from that one guy back in chapter 2,

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 mentioned with the robe and the ring who comes into their meetings,

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 the leaders of this persecuting regime are not necessarily going to hear what he's saying.

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 What he's doing here is reminding these oppressed Christians

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 that he understands what is going on.

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 And so when James is calling them to obedience,

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 when he is calling them to follow Christ and return to Him

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 rather than adopting the ways of their oppressors,

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 he isn't naive.

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 He knows how hard it is.

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 But more than that,

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 he is encouraging them that God sees what is happening

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 and God knows the arrogance of the powerful enemies of the church.

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 Whatever is going on in your life

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 in terms of opposition because you're a Christian,

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 the Lord sees it.

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 Nothing that the opponents of the church get up to

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 escapes the gaze of God.

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 But he doesn't just see.

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 Secondly,

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 the Lord judges.

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 5 verse 1,

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 Come now you rich,

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 weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you.

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 Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten.

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 Your gold and silver have corroded and their corrosion will be evidence against you

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 and will eat your flesh like fire.

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 You've fattened your hearts,

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 verse 5,

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 in a day of slaughter.

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 Now we've already seen that the rich in James,

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 as I said earlier,

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 aren't just people with a strong bottom line.

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 They are the ones who possess the ring and the robe that marks out their authority.

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 Chapter 2,

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 verse 2.

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 They are the ones who oppress this church and blaspheme Christ's name.

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 And here we are shown what James has already promised.

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 Do you remember back in chapter 1,

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 verses 9 to 11,

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 then these opponents will fade away in the midst of their pursuits.

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 This is how that will happen.

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 All of this imagery is Old Testament imagery of judgment.

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 The call to weep and wail echoes Isaiah 13, as I said.

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 Isaiah 14, it's there as well.

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 Isaiah 15.

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 They all speak like this when they promise the enemies of God's people that judgment is coming.

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 And the language of decay.

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 Do you notice that?

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 Your riches have rotted.

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 Your garments are moth-eaten.

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 That echoes Isaiah chapter 50, verse 9.

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 It says this,

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 Behold, the Lord God helps me,

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 who will declare me guilty.

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 Behold, all of them will wear out like a garment.

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 The moth will eat them up.

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 These are the words of the suffering servant in Isaiah chapter 50.

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 And James is applying them then to these exiled believers.

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 He's saying both that they're walking the same path as the Lord Jesus Christ,

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 the suffering servant.

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 But also that just as God judged Christ's enemies,

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 so he will judge the enemies of Christ's people.

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 These opponents would have looked so impressive.

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 They had all the prestige.

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 They had all the cultural capital.

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 They had all the influence.

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 All the wealth of the temple at their disposal.

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 All the power and influence of a religious establishment.

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 It was a heady mix of religion and politics,

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 all exercised in the name of God.

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 It would have felt impregnable,

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 completely impregnable,

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 to James' scattered flock.

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 In fact,

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 in many ways,

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 this system was impregnable.

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 No one would have had the ability to challenge the authority

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 or make any headway in bringing about change.

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 But just as Jesus offered His own denunciation

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 in the Gospels of this system,

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 remember in Luke,

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 Luke 23,

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 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!

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 Jesus says,

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 I send you prophets and wise men and scribes,

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 some of whom you will kill or crucify,

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 and some you will flog in your synagogues

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 and persecute from town to town.

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 Sounds like the parable just before.

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 Just as Jesus offered His denunciation of this group,

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 so James is doing the same.

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 Yet again,

00:16:30.719 --> 00:16:33.199
 we hear Him echoing the words of the Savior.

00:16:33.479 --> 00:16:34.839
 He's telling this beleaguered group,

00:16:35.039 --> 00:16:36.879
 remember what Jesus has said.

00:16:39.279 --> 00:16:40.019
 The leaders,

00:16:40.159 --> 00:16:41.759
 they were supposed to be a light to the world.

00:16:42.439 --> 00:16:44.819
 They were supposed to bring the gospel of Christ

00:16:44.819 --> 00:16:45.799
 to the nations.

00:16:46.099 --> 00:16:47.399
 They were supposed to bring out

00:16:47.399 --> 00:16:48.459
 and spread abroad

00:16:48.459 --> 00:16:50.079
 the riches of this good news.

00:16:50.080 --> 00:16:51.900
 But instead,

00:16:52.060 --> 00:16:54.280
 Israel opposed God's Son during His ministry,

00:16:54.420 --> 00:16:56.820
 and they are continuing to oppose His followers.

00:16:56.940 --> 00:16:58.920
 They have hoarded for themselves

00:16:58.920 --> 00:17:00.820
 these physical and spiritual blessings.

00:17:01.900 --> 00:17:02.360
 Verse 6,

00:17:02.420 --> 00:17:04.019
 They have even condemned and murdered

00:17:04.019 --> 00:17:05.579
 the righteous person.

00:17:08.120 --> 00:17:09.120
 Because of this,

00:17:09.200 --> 00:17:11.259
 the misery of God's judgment is coming to them.

00:17:11.259 --> 00:17:16.480
 Our context today is different.

00:17:17.740 --> 00:17:18.539
 The church in our day

00:17:18.539 --> 00:17:20.779
 doesn't face exactly the same

00:17:20.779 --> 00:17:23.559
 systemic opposition.

00:17:25.000 --> 00:17:26.799
 We do have a religious establishment.

00:17:27.859 --> 00:17:29.539
 We do have a state church

00:17:29.539 --> 00:17:31.319
 that at an institutional level

00:17:31.319 --> 00:17:32.839
 has put the treasure of the gospel

00:17:32.839 --> 00:17:33.920
 away somewhere

00:17:33.920 --> 00:17:35.460
 in a cupboard

00:17:35.460 --> 00:17:36.579
 or in a vault

00:17:36.579 --> 00:17:37.500
 or something like that.

00:17:37.500 --> 00:17:38.319
 It has forgotten

00:17:38.319 --> 00:17:39.099
 that it exists

00:17:39.099 --> 00:17:40.099
 for the sake of the world

00:17:40.099 --> 00:17:41.400
 and not for its own sake

00:17:41.400 --> 00:17:42.160
 as an institution.

00:17:42.880 --> 00:17:43.920
 And so the light of the gospel

00:17:43.920 --> 00:17:45.079
 doesn't shine as it should

00:17:45.079 --> 00:17:46.299
 and God will judge that.

00:17:47.779 --> 00:17:49.420
 As He will any church

00:17:49.420 --> 00:17:51.420
 that purports to be a church

00:17:51.420 --> 00:17:53.859
 but doesn't get the gospel out,

00:17:54.299 --> 00:17:56.359
 doesn't proclaim Christ and Him crucified,

00:17:57.200 --> 00:17:58.240
 keeps that gospel,

00:17:58.640 --> 00:17:59.400
 that richness,

00:17:59.839 --> 00:18:00.640
 the wealth

00:18:00.640 --> 00:18:01.500
 from others.

00:18:01.500 --> 00:18:02.299
 others.

00:18:05.299 --> 00:18:07.119
 God will also judge

00:18:07.119 --> 00:18:08.220
 every force

00:18:08.220 --> 00:18:10.140
 that stands against His church.

00:18:10.599 --> 00:18:11.799
 Every voice

00:18:11.799 --> 00:18:13.319
 that raises itself

00:18:13.319 --> 00:18:14.880
 arrogantly against His people

00:18:14.880 --> 00:18:16.559
 as they,

00:18:16.740 --> 00:18:17.319
 as you,

00:18:17.700 --> 00:18:18.500
 as we

00:18:18.500 --> 00:18:20.400
 seek to serve Him faithfully

00:18:20.400 --> 00:18:22.240
 wherever He has placed us.

00:18:25.140 --> 00:18:27.319
 So when the temptation comes

00:18:27.319 --> 00:18:29.420
 to step back from faithfulness

00:18:29.420 --> 00:18:32.200
 because the opposition

00:18:32.200 --> 00:18:34.560
 feels too intense.

00:18:35.200 --> 00:18:37.320
 It feels impossible

00:18:37.320 --> 00:18:38.680
 to you to do otherwise.

00:18:40.660 --> 00:18:41.060
 And look,

00:18:41.160 --> 00:18:42.140
 it is intense

00:18:42.140 --> 00:18:44.380
 when your job is on the line,

00:18:44.460 --> 00:18:45.580
 your means of providing

00:18:45.580 --> 00:18:46.560
 is on the line.

00:18:47.400 --> 00:18:48.279
 It is intense

00:18:48.279 --> 00:18:48.940
 when your children

00:18:48.940 --> 00:18:49.980
 are getting a hard time

00:18:49.980 --> 00:18:51.140
 at school for their faith

00:18:51.140 --> 00:18:53.340
 or when your church

00:18:53.340 --> 00:18:54.720
 gets its charitable status

00:18:54.720 --> 00:18:56.519
 revoked for hate speech

00:18:56.519 --> 00:18:59.180
 or when your PayPal account

00:18:59.180 --> 00:18:59.879
 gets shut down

00:18:59.879 --> 00:19:01.460
 because you hold extreme views

00:19:01.460 --> 00:19:04.379
 or you're not considered

00:19:04.379 --> 00:19:05.019
 for adoption

00:19:05.019 --> 00:19:05.940
 because you would raise

00:19:05.940 --> 00:19:07.279
 the child in the Christian faith.

00:19:09.900 --> 00:19:11.460
 The list could go on and on

00:19:11.460 --> 00:19:12.319
 in our day.

00:19:14.099 --> 00:19:14.980
 The temptation

00:19:14.980 --> 00:19:15.799
 to step back

00:19:15.799 --> 00:19:16.900
 from the cross-shaped

00:19:16.900 --> 00:19:18.119
 path of discipleship

00:19:18.119 --> 00:19:19.460
 when that is what it means

00:19:19.460 --> 00:19:20.740
 is significant.

00:19:23.680 --> 00:19:24.859
 So we have to remember

00:19:24.859 --> 00:19:25.660
 that that opposition

00:19:25.660 --> 00:19:26.480
 is on the clock.

00:19:27.920 --> 00:19:29.259
 It is time limited

00:19:29.259 --> 00:19:31.320
 and that time is ticking

00:19:31.320 --> 00:19:33.320
 and God will deal

00:19:33.320 --> 00:19:34.100
 with these opponents.

00:19:38.400 --> 00:19:39.180
 If we know

00:19:39.180 --> 00:19:39.820
 that that is where

00:19:39.820 --> 00:19:40.259
 we're headed,

00:19:40.360 --> 00:19:41.040
 if we know that

00:19:41.040 --> 00:19:42.060
 is what is going to happen,

00:19:43.200 --> 00:19:44.660
 don't choose to leave

00:19:44.660 --> 00:19:45.220
 the struggle

00:19:45.220 --> 00:19:46.040
 in the present

00:19:46.040 --> 00:19:48.580
 because it's quite simply

00:19:48.580 --> 00:19:49.259
 not worth it.

00:19:52.580 --> 00:19:53.519
 It isn't worth it

00:19:53.519 --> 00:19:54.040
 in the end.

00:19:54.039 --> 00:19:54.839
 Instead,

00:19:55.019 --> 00:19:55.940
 what must we do?

00:19:56.180 --> 00:19:56.319
 Well,

00:19:56.359 --> 00:19:56.960
 James tells us

00:19:56.960 --> 00:19:57.940
 we must lift our voices

00:19:57.940 --> 00:19:58.559
 to the Lord.

00:19:59.259 --> 00:20:00.079
 Cry out to Him

00:20:00.079 --> 00:20:00.619
 for mercy

00:20:00.619 --> 00:20:01.519
 because thirdly,

00:20:02.519 --> 00:20:02.920
 first,

00:20:03.379 --> 00:20:04.019
 the Lord sees.

00:20:04.319 --> 00:20:04.700
 Secondly,

00:20:04.940 --> 00:20:05.579
 the Lord judges.

00:20:05.779 --> 00:20:06.019
 Thirdly,

00:20:06.079 --> 00:20:06.879
 the Lord hears.

00:20:08.399 --> 00:20:08.740
 Behold,

00:20:08.799 --> 00:20:10.019
 the wages of the laborers

00:20:10.019 --> 00:20:11.000
 who mowed your fields

00:20:11.000 --> 00:20:11.839
 which you kept back

00:20:11.839 --> 00:20:12.319
 by fraud

00:20:12.319 --> 00:20:13.500
 are crying out against you

00:20:13.500 --> 00:20:14.299
 when the cries

00:20:14.299 --> 00:20:15.059
 of the harvesters

00:20:15.059 --> 00:20:15.920
 have reached the ears

00:20:15.920 --> 00:20:17.420
 of the Lord of hosts.

00:20:18.399 --> 00:20:18.799
 Again,

00:20:18.920 --> 00:20:19.659
 James is echoing

00:20:19.659 --> 00:20:20.559
 the language of Jesus.

00:20:20.559 --> 00:20:22.139
 I hope we've seen that

00:20:22.139 --> 00:20:23.980
 as a kind of melody

00:20:23.980 --> 00:20:24.899
 all the way through

00:20:24.899 --> 00:20:26.059
 this letter.

00:20:26.379 --> 00:20:27.240
 It's like He's saying,

00:20:27.339 --> 00:20:28.539
 remember what Jesus said.

00:20:29.480 --> 00:20:30.359
 You're in the midst

00:20:30.359 --> 00:20:31.419
 of what Jesus promised

00:20:31.419 --> 00:20:32.099
 was going to happen.

00:20:32.659 --> 00:20:33.519
 Remember what He said

00:20:33.519 --> 00:20:34.619
 about how to handle this.

00:20:36.619 --> 00:20:37.059
 Again,

00:20:37.119 --> 00:20:38.019
 it's the language

00:20:38.019 --> 00:20:38.799
 of laborers

00:20:38.799 --> 00:20:39.460
 and harvests

00:20:39.460 --> 00:20:40.359
 that Jesus used.

00:20:40.419 --> 00:20:40.819
 And again,

00:20:40.899 --> 00:20:41.619
 He has in view

00:20:41.619 --> 00:20:42.539
 spiritual labor

00:20:42.539 --> 00:20:44.419
 and spiritual harvest.

00:20:45.819 --> 00:20:46.220
 Remember,

00:20:46.339 --> 00:20:46.940
 when Jesus saw

00:20:46.940 --> 00:20:47.859
 the beleaguered crowds,

00:20:47.960 --> 00:20:48.700
 His heart was open

00:20:48.700 --> 00:20:49.480
 because they were like

00:20:49.480 --> 00:20:50.460
 sheep without a shepherd,

00:20:50.840 --> 00:20:51.200
 we're told.

00:20:51.299 --> 00:20:52.059
 And He said this,

00:20:52.319 --> 00:20:53.279
 the harvest is plentiful

00:20:53.279 --> 00:20:54.700
 but the laborers are few.

00:20:54.980 --> 00:20:55.740
 So pray earnestly

00:20:55.740 --> 00:20:56.840
 to the Lord of the harvest

00:20:56.840 --> 00:20:58.019
 to send out laborers

00:20:58.019 --> 00:20:59.160
 into the harvest.

00:20:59.259 --> 00:20:59.840
 Matthew 9.

00:21:01.140 --> 00:21:01.559
 And again,

00:21:01.620 --> 00:21:02.160
 in John 4,

00:21:02.200 --> 00:21:02.920
 He connects the work

00:21:02.920 --> 00:21:03.539
 of His disciples

00:21:03.539 --> 00:21:04.460
 in harvesting fields

00:21:04.460 --> 00:21:05.039
 when He says,

00:21:05.360 --> 00:21:06.160
 John 4.35,

00:21:06.360 --> 00:21:06.480
 Look,

00:21:06.539 --> 00:21:07.000
 I tell you,

00:21:07.100 --> 00:21:07.980
 lift up your eyes

00:21:07.980 --> 00:21:09.220
 and see that the fields

00:21:09.220 --> 00:21:10.519
 are white for harvest.

00:21:10.920 --> 00:21:12.080
 Already the one who reaps

00:21:12.080 --> 00:21:12.960
 is receiving wages

00:21:12.960 --> 00:21:13.779
 and gathering fruit

00:21:13.779 --> 00:21:14.640
 for eternal life

00:21:14.640 --> 00:21:15.680
 so that the sower

00:21:15.680 --> 00:21:16.120
 and reaper

00:21:16.120 --> 00:21:17.600
 may rejoice together.

00:21:18.700 --> 00:21:24.500
 That language from Jesus

00:21:24.500 --> 00:21:25.860
 is referring to the apostles

00:21:25.860 --> 00:21:26.480
 and the prophets

00:21:26.480 --> 00:21:27.380
 of the book of Acts,

00:21:27.460 --> 00:21:29.519
 that first wave of ministers.

00:21:30.380 --> 00:21:31.279
 And it is the cries

00:21:31.279 --> 00:21:32.319
 of these laborers,

00:21:32.600 --> 00:21:33.460
 these harvesters,

00:21:33.580 --> 00:21:35.259
 in the face of this opposition

00:21:35.259 --> 00:21:36.000
 and obstruction

00:21:36.000 --> 00:21:37.400
 by the Jewish leaders

00:21:37.400 --> 00:21:38.779
 that have reached the ears

00:21:38.779 --> 00:21:39.600
 of the Lord

00:21:39.600 --> 00:21:40.720
 of the heavenly armies.

00:21:44.039 --> 00:21:44.940
 There should have been

00:21:44.940 --> 00:21:45.860
 a harvest of souls

00:21:45.860 --> 00:21:46.700
 for these laborers

00:21:46.700 --> 00:21:47.240
 in the gospel.

00:21:48.700 --> 00:21:50.180
 But that harvest

00:21:50.180 --> 00:21:51.059
 has been held back

00:21:51.059 --> 00:21:52.059
 by the persecutors.

00:21:55.600 --> 00:21:58.000
 That activity itself

00:21:58.000 --> 00:21:59.039
 cries out to God,

00:21:59.120 --> 00:21:59.640
 verse 4.

00:22:01.580 --> 00:22:02.819
 Wages of the laborers

00:22:02.819 --> 00:22:03.580
 who mowed your fields

00:22:03.580 --> 00:22:04.420
 which you have kept back

00:22:04.420 --> 00:22:04.900
 by fraud

00:22:04.900 --> 00:22:06.480
 are crying out against you.

00:22:08.360 --> 00:22:09.519
 The Lord hears.

00:22:09.519 --> 00:22:14.019
 all the way through

00:22:14.019 --> 00:22:14.660
 the Old Testament

00:22:14.660 --> 00:22:15.440
 when God's people

00:22:15.440 --> 00:22:16.000
 are oppressed,

00:22:16.079 --> 00:22:16.960
 they would cry out

00:22:16.960 --> 00:22:17.519
 to Him

00:22:17.519 --> 00:22:19.180
 and He would deliver them.

00:22:19.440 --> 00:22:20.440
 Remember Genesis 4,

00:22:20.519 --> 00:22:20.980
 verse 10,

00:22:21.059 --> 00:22:21.779
 Abel's blood

00:22:21.779 --> 00:22:23.359
 cried out to God.

00:22:24.259 --> 00:22:25.400
 Exodus chapter 2,

00:22:25.839 --> 00:22:26.339
 God's people

00:22:26.339 --> 00:22:26.980
 are in slavery

00:22:26.980 --> 00:22:27.500
 to Pharaoh

00:22:27.500 --> 00:22:28.500
 and what do the people do?

00:22:28.579 --> 00:22:29.819
 They cry out to God

00:22:29.819 --> 00:22:30.720
 and He remembered

00:22:30.720 --> 00:22:31.200
 His covenant

00:22:31.200 --> 00:22:32.259
 and He rescued them.

00:22:32.599 --> 00:22:33.639
 When James uses

00:22:33.639 --> 00:22:35.460
 language of the cries

00:22:35.460 --> 00:22:37.099
 of these marginalized Christians

00:22:37.099 --> 00:22:38.819
 having reached the ears

00:22:38.819 --> 00:22:39.579
 of the Lord of hosts,

00:22:39.639 --> 00:22:40.419
 He is connecting them

00:22:40.419 --> 00:22:40.879
 to the history

00:22:40.879 --> 00:22:41.719
 of the people of God.

00:22:44.119 --> 00:22:45.439
 He is connecting them

00:22:45.439 --> 00:22:46.259
 to the history

00:22:46.259 --> 00:22:47.119
 of a people

00:22:47.119 --> 00:22:48.459
 who when they cry

00:22:48.459 --> 00:22:49.719
 to their heavenly Father,

00:22:50.119 --> 00:22:50.699
 He hears

00:22:50.699 --> 00:22:51.859
 and He answers.

00:22:54.859 --> 00:22:56.539
 James is telling this group

00:22:56.539 --> 00:22:58.019
 in the face of all

00:22:58.019 --> 00:22:59.319
 of the impressive strength

00:22:59.319 --> 00:23:00.480
 of this ruling

00:23:00.480 --> 00:23:01.879
 religious establishment

00:23:01.880 --> 00:23:03.080
 that is pursuing them

00:23:03.080 --> 00:23:04.200
 in the name of God

00:23:04.200 --> 00:23:05.760
 and doing so so forcefully,

00:23:06.720 --> 00:23:07.420
 James is telling them

00:23:07.420 --> 00:23:07.820
 that they are

00:23:07.820 --> 00:23:08.960
 the true people of God.

00:23:09.640 --> 00:23:10.780
 That as they cry out,

00:23:10.840 --> 00:23:12.060
 they are connecting themselves

00:23:12.060 --> 00:23:12.740
 to the history

00:23:12.740 --> 00:23:13.980
 of God's people

00:23:13.980 --> 00:23:16.060
 and they are serving

00:23:16.060 --> 00:23:17.580
 God's true King,

00:23:18.260 --> 00:23:19.320
 the Lord Jesus Christ.

00:23:20.880 --> 00:23:22.180
 The one who is Himself,

00:23:22.880 --> 00:23:24.500
 the God who rescues His people

00:23:24.500 --> 00:23:25.520
 when they call on His name.

00:23:25.519 --> 00:23:31.460
 And the wonder is

00:23:31.460 --> 00:23:34.039
 that in less than 40 years

00:23:34.039 --> 00:23:36.379
 from James' writing here,

00:23:36.460 --> 00:23:37.940
 the Lord acted on those cries.

00:23:39.619 --> 00:23:41.339
 He saw what was going on

00:23:41.339 --> 00:23:42.980
 and He judged the nation.

00:23:43.099 --> 00:23:43.879
 These oppressors

00:23:43.879 --> 00:23:44.900
 who lived on the earth

00:23:44.900 --> 00:23:45.359
 in luxury

00:23:45.359 --> 00:23:46.460
 and in self-indulgence

00:23:46.460 --> 00:23:48.220
 have fattened their hearts

00:23:48.220 --> 00:23:49.440
 and the day of slaughter

00:23:49.440 --> 00:23:50.900
 came in AD 70.

00:23:51.940 --> 00:23:52.819
 The Roman armies

00:23:52.819 --> 00:23:53.980
 burnt Jerusalem to the ground.

00:23:54.099 --> 00:23:55.160
 They destroyed the temple.

00:23:55.519 --> 00:23:56.259
 As the symbol

00:23:56.259 --> 00:23:58.259
 of old Israel's rebellion.

00:23:58.619 --> 00:23:59.500
 Jesus promised this

00:23:59.500 --> 00:24:00.339
 in Matthew 24

00:24:00.339 --> 00:24:01.519
 and it came to pass.

00:24:01.859 --> 00:24:02.940
 Jesus kept His word

00:24:02.940 --> 00:24:05.299
 and He will keep it again

00:24:05.299 --> 00:24:07.259
 when He comes

00:24:07.259 --> 00:24:08.259
 to vindicate His people.

00:24:08.539 --> 00:24:09.240
 When He comes

00:24:09.240 --> 00:24:10.259
 to destroy His enemies.

00:24:10.740 --> 00:24:11.240
 When He comes

00:24:11.240 --> 00:24:12.519
 to rescue His church

00:24:12.519 --> 00:24:14.319
 from their suffering.

00:24:16.920 --> 00:24:18.119
 God hears His people.

00:24:19.639 --> 00:24:20.839
 God responds

00:24:20.839 --> 00:24:22.319
 when His people

00:24:22.319 --> 00:24:23.200
 call on His name.

00:24:25.519 --> 00:24:26.319
 When the pressure

00:24:26.319 --> 00:24:27.579
 of the negative world

00:24:27.579 --> 00:24:28.960
 threatens to squeeze us

00:24:28.960 --> 00:24:30.039
 into its mold.

00:24:30.819 --> 00:24:31.720
 Don't forget this.

00:24:32.680 --> 00:24:34.759
 God hears the cries

00:24:34.759 --> 00:24:35.879
 of His people.

00:24:35.880 --> 00:24:38.620
 God hears the cries of His people.

00:24:38.620 --> 00:24:40.080
 So don't step back.

00:24:41.760 --> 00:24:43.000
 Don't be fearful.

00:24:44.680 --> 00:24:45.840
 Call on the God

00:24:45.840 --> 00:24:46.620
 who hears

00:24:46.620 --> 00:24:48.120
 and who will answer.

00:24:48.320 --> 00:24:49.120
 God comes

00:24:49.120 --> 00:24:50.240
 where He's wanted.

00:24:50.620 --> 00:24:51.400
 Do you want Him?

00:24:52.000 --> 00:24:52.700
 Do you see it

00:24:52.700 --> 00:24:53.340
 as a priority

00:24:53.340 --> 00:24:54.220
 to call on Him

00:24:54.220 --> 00:24:55.240
 in the daily battles

00:24:55.240 --> 00:24:56.140
 for faithfulness?

00:24:56.760 --> 00:24:57.460
 Some days

00:24:57.460 --> 00:24:58.020
 it feels like

00:24:58.020 --> 00:24:58.620
 there are moment

00:24:58.620 --> 00:24:59.360
 by moment

00:24:59.360 --> 00:25:00.100
 these battles

00:25:00.100 --> 00:25:00.860
 for faithfulness

00:25:00.859 --> 00:25:01.619
 because the pressure

00:25:01.619 --> 00:25:02.599
 to give in

00:25:02.599 --> 00:25:03.359
 the pressure

00:25:03.359 --> 00:25:05.359
 to concede

00:25:05.359 --> 00:25:07.719
 just to go with the flow

00:25:07.719 --> 00:25:08.319
 for the sake

00:25:08.319 --> 00:25:09.139
 of not being

00:25:09.139 --> 00:25:09.899
 that person

00:25:09.899 --> 00:25:14.159
 those battles

00:25:14.159 --> 00:25:15.819
 can just come

00:25:15.819 --> 00:25:16.599
 like rapid fire

00:25:16.599 --> 00:25:17.199
 some days.

00:25:18.619 --> 00:25:19.779
 If we will make it

00:25:19.779 --> 00:25:20.299
 as Christians

00:25:20.299 --> 00:25:20.899
 in these days

00:25:20.899 --> 00:25:21.559
 we need to go

00:25:21.559 --> 00:25:22.299
 to new levels

00:25:22.299 --> 00:25:22.759
 of prayer.

00:25:24.559 --> 00:25:25.579
 We need to fight

00:25:25.579 --> 00:25:26.479
 to make it a habit

00:25:26.479 --> 00:25:27.759
 that gets so ingrained

00:25:27.759 --> 00:25:28.559
 in us

00:25:28.559 --> 00:25:29.839
 that it almost becomes

00:25:29.839 --> 00:25:30.859
 a part of who you are.

00:25:34.459 --> 00:25:35.279
 But above all

00:25:35.279 --> 00:25:36.199
 as we listen in

00:25:36.199 --> 00:25:36.839
 on James'

00:25:37.000 --> 00:25:38.019
 prophetic rebuke

00:25:38.019 --> 00:25:39.159
 here of the oppressors

00:25:39.159 --> 00:25:39.819
 of this scattered

00:25:39.819 --> 00:25:40.859
 community of saints

00:25:40.859 --> 00:25:42.519
 let it remind you

00:25:42.519 --> 00:25:44.159
 that the alternative

00:25:44.159 --> 00:25:45.359
 to faithfulness

00:25:45.359 --> 00:25:47.279
 is just not worth it

00:25:47.279 --> 00:25:47.959
 in the end.

00:25:48.220 --> 00:25:48.819
 It isn't.

00:25:51.339 --> 00:25:52.359
 Whether you're tempted

00:25:52.359 --> 00:25:53.099
 to retaliate

00:25:53.099 --> 00:25:53.799
 to the persecution

00:25:53.799 --> 00:25:54.740
 with the same anger

00:25:54.740 --> 00:25:55.519
 and hostility

00:25:55.519 --> 00:25:56.220
 as the world

00:25:56.220 --> 00:25:57.980
 or you look

00:25:57.980 --> 00:25:58.359
 hopefully

00:25:58.359 --> 00:25:59.099
 or desperately

00:25:59.099 --> 00:26:00.439
 to the apparent

00:26:00.439 --> 00:26:01.259
 freedom of another

00:26:01.259 --> 00:26:01.879
 way of life

00:26:01.879 --> 00:26:03.019
 remember that God

00:26:03.019 --> 00:26:04.159
 sees and He judges

00:26:04.159 --> 00:26:04.819
 those who turn

00:26:04.819 --> 00:26:05.559
 their back on Him.

00:26:06.519 --> 00:26:07.839
 He sees and He judges

00:26:07.839 --> 00:26:08.839
 those who reject

00:26:08.839 --> 00:26:09.399
 His Son

00:26:09.399 --> 00:26:10.059
 the Lord Jesus.

00:26:10.959 --> 00:26:12.159
 It's not worth it.

00:26:14.980 --> 00:26:15.819
 But also

00:26:15.819 --> 00:26:16.859
 take heart

00:26:16.859 --> 00:26:19.179
 be encouraged

00:26:19.179 --> 00:26:21.059
 that in the midst

00:26:21.059 --> 00:26:21.779
 of your struggles

00:26:21.779 --> 00:26:22.579
 God hears

00:26:22.579 --> 00:26:23.099
 the cries

00:26:23.099 --> 00:26:23.719
 of His people.

00:26:23.720 --> 00:26:26.039
 when you put

00:26:26.039 --> 00:26:27.059
 your faith

00:26:27.059 --> 00:26:27.539
 in the Lord

00:26:27.539 --> 00:26:28.259
 Jesus Christ

00:26:28.259 --> 00:26:28.960
 for salvation

00:26:28.960 --> 00:26:30.039
 you are united

00:26:30.039 --> 00:26:31.039
 to His beloved

00:26:31.039 --> 00:26:31.500
 Son

00:26:31.500 --> 00:26:32.360
 and the Lord

00:26:32.360 --> 00:26:33.200
 looks on you

00:26:33.200 --> 00:26:34.600
 with love

00:26:34.600 --> 00:26:35.720
 and acceptance

00:26:35.720 --> 00:26:37.700
 and He delights

00:26:37.700 --> 00:26:38.740
 to hear your voice.

00:26:40.220 --> 00:26:41.240
 So as He is

00:26:41.240 --> 00:26:42.059
 growing you

00:26:42.059 --> 00:26:43.380
 in Christ-likeness

00:26:43.380 --> 00:26:44.299
 on the path

00:26:44.299 --> 00:26:45.319
 of cross-shaped

00:26:45.319 --> 00:26:45.980
 discipleship

00:26:45.980 --> 00:26:47.200
 as He's making you

00:26:47.200 --> 00:26:48.460
 take up your cross

00:26:48.460 --> 00:26:49.460
 daily and follow

00:26:49.460 --> 00:26:50.160
 the Lord Jesus

00:26:50.160 --> 00:26:51.880
 as Jesus told us

00:26:51.880 --> 00:26:53.800
 is page one

00:26:53.800 --> 00:26:54.540
 of discipleship

00:26:54.540 --> 00:26:55.420
 it is essential

00:26:55.420 --> 00:26:56.120
 if we are going

00:26:56.120 --> 00:26:56.620
 to be faithful

00:26:56.620 --> 00:26:57.160
 disciples

00:26:57.160 --> 00:26:58.600
 that we die

00:26:58.600 --> 00:26:59.120
 to ourselves

00:26:59.120 --> 00:26:59.960
 and we follow Him

00:26:59.960 --> 00:27:00.940
 on that path

00:27:00.940 --> 00:27:01.680
 of self-denial

00:27:01.680 --> 00:27:02.540
 and He sends

00:27:02.540 --> 00:27:03.720
 trials into our lives

00:27:03.720 --> 00:27:04.560
 to enable us

00:27:04.560 --> 00:27:05.100
 to do that

00:27:05.100 --> 00:27:06.000
 to force us

00:27:06.000 --> 00:27:06.880
 to have to do that

00:27:06.880 --> 00:27:07.360
 more and more

00:27:07.360 --> 00:27:08.180
 and to draw us

00:27:08.180 --> 00:27:08.580
 to Him

00:27:08.580 --> 00:27:10.000
 as He is making

00:27:10.000 --> 00:27:10.980
 you more like Jesus

00:27:10.980 --> 00:27:12.840
 remember that

00:27:12.840 --> 00:27:13.620
 you can cry out

00:27:13.620 --> 00:27:14.000
 to Him

00:27:14.000 --> 00:27:16.740
 and just as He did

00:27:16.740 --> 00:27:18.019
 with the Lord Jesus

00:27:18.019 --> 00:27:19.779
 He will lead us

00:27:19.779 --> 00:27:20.720
 through the suffering

00:27:20.720 --> 00:27:24.399
 and one day

00:27:24.399 --> 00:27:25.879
 having made us

00:27:25.879 --> 00:27:26.579
 more like Christ

00:27:26.579 --> 00:27:27.639
 He will vindicate us

00:27:27.639 --> 00:27:29.859
 and justice will be done

00:27:29.859 --> 00:27:32.059
 and He will bring us

00:27:32.059 --> 00:27:32.859
 into the peace

00:27:32.859 --> 00:27:33.639
 and security

00:27:33.639 --> 00:27:34.899
 of glory

00:27:34.899 --> 00:27:36.480
 slow down

00:27:36.480 --> 00:27:38.220
 look up

00:27:38.220 --> 00:27:39.579
 and keep on

00:27:39.579 --> 00:27:41.359
 let's pray together