WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.680 Please turn with me to the letter of James and to chapter 1. 00:00:04.660 --> 00:00:06.520 And this is how we're going to outline it. 00:00:07.000 --> 00:00:12.740 There are five chapters, and the translators of the NIV, the New International Version, 00:00:13.179 --> 00:00:16.280 have given headings to certain sections. 00:00:16.920 --> 00:00:20.859 So I'm going to take their headings, which are not, of course, part of God's Word, 00:00:20.859 --> 00:00:24.480 but they're helpful in dividing the material up. 00:00:24.480 --> 00:00:31.899 So we're going to take their headings as the subheadings of the five points of this presentation this morning. 00:00:32.020 --> 00:00:34.200 So here we go without any further delay. 00:00:34.340 --> 00:00:39.240 Chapter 1, and the first heading is Trials and Temptations. 00:00:39.539 --> 00:00:43.840 And I'll give you, as well as the heading, one key verse in that section. 00:00:44.019 --> 00:00:46.240 So now you know exactly what we're going to do. 00:00:46.240 --> 00:00:54.040 So in this first section, I'm going to take verses 2 and 3 as the key statement. 00:00:54.039 --> 00:01:01.259 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds. 00:01:01.359 --> 00:01:05.099 Now let me interrupt James for a moment and say, that already sounds strange. 00:01:05.879 --> 00:01:11.039 Count it joy when you face trials of many kinds. 00:01:11.379 --> 00:01:13.859 But James doesn't leave us hanging in the air. 00:01:13.859 --> 00:01:15.359 He gives a reason for it. 00:01:15.579 --> 00:01:20.400 Because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 00:01:20.400 --> 00:01:27.359 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 00:01:27.780 --> 00:01:30.460 Now here are two truths for the price of one. 00:01:30.980 --> 00:01:38.980 Firstly, trials are not to be seen as evil originating with Satan. 00:01:38.980 --> 00:01:46.180 Let me give you this and write it at least in the notebook of your mind, although I guess you'll be able to read it afterwards in the book. 00:01:47.400 --> 00:01:52.820 Trials, excuse me, temptations are sent by Satan to make us fall. 00:01:53.439 --> 00:01:57.180 Trials are sent by God to make us stand. 00:01:58.140 --> 00:02:05.600 But God is in complete control of all of the temptations and all of the trials. 00:02:05.599 --> 00:02:12.259 In other words, God is sovereign over everything that comes into your life. 00:02:12.879 --> 00:02:19.180 Paul tells the Ephesians, God works everything according to the counsel of His will. 00:02:19.840 --> 00:02:25.560 And we so often focus on the secondary cause of things that come into our life. 00:02:25.560 --> 00:02:37.699 So difficulty, a problem, a trial, a pain, a pressure comes into our lives and we focus on whoever brought it in or the circumstances that brought it into our lives there and then. 00:02:37.900 --> 00:02:39.819 But that's only the secondary issue. 00:02:40.120 --> 00:02:46.280 The primary issue is that God, sovereign over all, allowed that thing to happen. 00:02:46.280 --> 00:02:56.099 And instead of focusing on who or what brought it to us at that moment, our focus should be on who sent it or allowed it in the first place. 00:02:56.099 --> 00:03:10.560 The simplest illustration I know of how to demonstrate that is that when in the mail you find something deeply disturbing or hurtful or painful or sorrowful or in a phrase that is bad news, 00:03:10.920 --> 00:03:12.900 you don't find the mailman and kick him. 00:03:13.599 --> 00:03:14.879 It has nothing to do with him. 00:03:14.879 --> 00:03:16.419 He's simply the messenger. 00:03:17.180 --> 00:03:27.039 And when something is in the mail that's really a big surprise and hugely joyful, indeed a miracle like a rebate from the IRS, 00:03:27.699 --> 00:03:31.319 you don't go chasing the mailman and kiss him. 00:03:31.879 --> 00:03:34.819 And if he was my mailman, you certainly wouldn't want to do that. 00:03:35.759 --> 00:03:42.539 In other words, our focus always needs to be, look, God is in control of whatever comes into my life. 00:03:42.539 --> 00:03:50.419 And I must learn to respond primarily to God and to his wisdom in allowing this thing to happen. 00:03:51.419 --> 00:04:00.219 And this is something, incidentally, that is totally overlooked by one of the greatest religious plagues you have in this country, 00:04:00.419 --> 00:04:03.000 which is those who preach a prosperity gospel. 00:04:03.000 --> 00:04:11.580 That as long as you believe certain things, God intends you to be healthy and wealthy and all of those things and never to have problems and pressures, 00:04:11.939 --> 00:04:13.900 then why did he let Jesus down? 00:04:14.860 --> 00:04:22.680 If that's how God intends us all to be, to be for our lives to be without any trials, without any pressures, without any temptations, 00:04:22.680 --> 00:04:27.939 and to be healthy and wealthy throughout our lives, why did he let Jesus down? 00:04:29.639 --> 00:04:31.439 But this is how we should approach it. 00:04:31.860 --> 00:04:33.660 The second thing, we're going to have to move on. 00:04:33.879 --> 00:04:35.420 I know you want this to be developed. 00:04:35.740 --> 00:04:37.280 You can read it how it is afterwards. 00:04:37.740 --> 00:04:41.360 But we need to get to the second section, which is listening and doing. 00:04:42.139 --> 00:04:44.399 And the key verse here is verse 22. 00:04:44.399 --> 00:04:51.319 Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves. 00:04:51.919 --> 00:04:54.459 Do what it says. 00:04:54.959 --> 00:04:59.899 Look back to verse 29 where James says everyone should be quick to listen. 00:05:00.719 --> 00:05:05.739 We really should be eager to listen to God when he speaks to us. 00:05:06.179 --> 00:05:09.000 Whether it's at home in our own private Bible study, 00:05:09.459 --> 00:05:12.299 whether it's in a Sunday school class, a Bible study group, 00:05:12.300 --> 00:05:17.560 and especially when we come to church and listen to the preaching of God's word. 00:05:17.819 --> 00:05:22.939 We should be eager to hear what God is saying to us. 00:05:23.240 --> 00:05:29.860 I find it a very interesting thing that in our church circles and my church circles culturally 00:05:29.860 --> 00:05:33.860 are very much the same as here at First Baptist Pickens. 00:05:34.460 --> 00:05:36.939 Our emphasis is on the preacher. 00:05:37.639 --> 00:05:39.860 So here you have, I'll take a chance here, 00:05:39.860 --> 00:05:42.360 here you have a visiting preacher this morning. 00:05:42.819 --> 00:05:47.600 If you meet someone from another church during the week and you say to them, 00:05:47.740 --> 00:05:50.860 oh, we had a visiting preacher on Sunday, 00:05:51.060 --> 00:05:53.040 and they say, what was the service like? 00:05:53.180 --> 00:05:55.660 You will ignore everything that happened in the service, 00:05:56.000 --> 00:06:00.060 including this really wonderful singing that you have Sunday by Sunday 00:06:00.060 --> 00:06:01.939 with this man leading it, 00:06:02.480 --> 00:06:03.860 and you talk about me. 00:06:03.860 --> 00:06:06.020 I think you're making a mistake. 00:06:07.100 --> 00:06:10.100 The preacher is not really important at all. 00:06:10.860 --> 00:06:13.960 In our circles, we're always focusing on the preacher. 00:06:14.280 --> 00:06:18.100 I'll go to that conference, that meeting, because of that preacher. 00:06:18.939 --> 00:06:21.860 In the Bible, the emphasis is not on the preacher, 00:06:22.319 --> 00:06:23.379 it's on the listener, 00:06:24.240 --> 00:06:28.939 and how the listener responds to the ministry of God's word. 00:06:28.939 --> 00:06:32.500 So the most important thing when you've heard someone preach is, 00:06:33.180 --> 00:06:34.219 what was he like? 00:06:35.500 --> 00:06:37.180 Didn't like his voice very much. 00:06:37.379 --> 00:06:38.620 Couldn't understand his accent. 00:06:39.379 --> 00:06:41.660 Well, I'm not going to be taught lessons about accent 00:06:41.660 --> 00:06:44.199 from a country where they park their cars on the driveway 00:06:44.199 --> 00:06:45.439 and drive them on the parkway, 00:06:45.600 --> 00:06:46.899 but that's neither here nor there. 00:06:47.899 --> 00:06:50.180 Well, I don't like the way he did this, 00:06:50.199 --> 00:06:51.259 or he missed out on that, 00:06:51.319 --> 00:06:52.600 or why didn't he emphasize that? 00:06:52.600 --> 00:06:54.680 Listen, the point is, 00:06:55.160 --> 00:06:59.660 what did God say to me in this part of his word? 00:07:00.020 --> 00:07:00.980 Remember John Stott, 00:07:01.040 --> 00:07:02.960 one of the most revered preachers of our day, 00:07:03.580 --> 00:07:06.060 saying to me once that people would come to him sometimes 00:07:06.060 --> 00:07:07.860 at the end of a service and say, 00:07:08.540 --> 00:07:10.640 Dr. Stott, that was a wonderful sermon. 00:07:10.800 --> 00:07:11.580 Thank you for that. 00:07:12.760 --> 00:07:14.080 Stott's response was, 00:07:14.680 --> 00:07:15.620 what are you going to do with it? 00:07:17.960 --> 00:07:20.939 It's an interesting thing to say. 00:07:20.939 --> 00:07:23.439 I think it's a very appropriate thing to say 00:07:23.439 --> 00:07:25.959 at the end of a service. 00:07:26.639 --> 00:07:28.319 Somebody goes up to the preacher and says, 00:07:28.459 --> 00:07:29.939 that was a wonderful sermon. 00:07:30.079 --> 00:07:30.379 Thank you. 00:07:30.420 --> 00:07:31.420 Now, what do you say 00:07:31.420 --> 00:07:32.719 when somebody says, 00:07:32.939 --> 00:07:34.100 that was a wonderful sermon? 00:07:34.279 --> 00:07:35.360 I know that experience. 00:07:35.459 --> 00:07:37.060 I've had it twice in 55 years. 00:07:38.600 --> 00:07:39.720 What do you say? 00:07:40.680 --> 00:07:41.420 John Stott said, 00:07:41.500 --> 00:07:42.379 this is what I say. 00:07:42.720 --> 00:07:44.360 What are you going to do with it? 00:07:45.019 --> 00:07:46.759 So my question to you this morning, 00:07:47.159 --> 00:07:48.959 when we reach the end of the service, 00:07:49.459 --> 00:07:50.019 is not, 00:07:50.019 --> 00:07:51.699 well, what did you think of the preacher? 00:07:51.839 --> 00:07:53.259 I wouldn't dare ask you that. 00:07:54.379 --> 00:07:55.620 What are you going to do 00:07:55.620 --> 00:07:58.339 with whatever it is that God is saying to you? 00:07:58.479 --> 00:07:59.919 And he may not have said, 00:08:00.000 --> 00:08:01.479 at this moment in our service, 00:08:02.060 --> 00:08:04.000 the big thing that he's going to say to you 00:08:04.000 --> 00:08:05.199 before we end. 00:08:05.279 --> 00:08:06.240 So forget the preacher. 00:08:07.039 --> 00:08:08.279 Make sure that the sermon 00:08:08.279 --> 00:08:09.599 gets into your bloodstream, 00:08:09.719 --> 00:08:10.359 God's word, 00:08:10.659 --> 00:08:11.620 and into your DNA, 00:08:11.799 --> 00:08:13.120 and not just into your notebook. 00:08:13.120 --> 00:08:15.699 Well, now on to chapter 2, 00:08:16.160 --> 00:08:18.399 and the first section is called 00:08:18.399 --> 00:08:20.160 Favoritism Forbidden, 00:08:20.560 --> 00:08:23.259 and the key is right there in verse 1. 00:08:23.379 --> 00:08:23.959 My brothers, 00:08:24.480 --> 00:08:27.780 as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, 00:08:28.199 --> 00:08:31.139 don't show favoritism. 00:08:32.259 --> 00:08:33.779 Now, James, as you'll discover 00:08:33.779 --> 00:08:34.759 when you read the book later, 00:08:35.080 --> 00:08:36.340 is a great illustrator. 00:08:37.259 --> 00:08:38.259 He gives you a truth, 00:08:38.259 --> 00:08:40.080 and then he illustrates it 00:08:40.080 --> 00:08:42.100 and nowhere more clearly than this. 00:08:42.279 --> 00:08:43.519 Let me read the following verses. 00:08:43.860 --> 00:08:45.360 They hardly need a comment. 00:08:46.019 --> 00:08:47.039 His point is this. 00:08:47.379 --> 00:08:49.919 Don't show favoritism. 00:08:50.120 --> 00:08:51.200 Don't treat people 00:08:51.200 --> 00:08:54.399 on the basis of how wealthy they are 00:08:54.399 --> 00:08:55.600 is the point that he's making. 00:08:56.100 --> 00:08:56.639 Look at this. 00:08:57.159 --> 00:08:58.960 Suppose a man comes into your meeting 00:08:58.960 --> 00:09:00.879 wearing a gold ring 00:09:00.879 --> 00:09:02.679 and fine clothes. 00:09:03.059 --> 00:09:04.259 Interestingly, in the Greek, 00:09:04.360 --> 00:09:06.120 the original phrase could be translated, 00:09:06.120 --> 00:09:07.519 he is gold-fingered. 00:09:08.259 --> 00:09:09.899 He's got a nugget at every knuckle 00:09:09.899 --> 00:09:11.159 and a gem at every joint. 00:09:11.299 --> 00:09:12.399 I mean, he's loaded. 00:09:13.580 --> 00:09:15.500 I don't know what the Greek for loaded is, 00:09:15.580 --> 00:09:17.000 but that's what James means here. 00:09:17.899 --> 00:09:19.120 He comes into your meeting 00:09:19.120 --> 00:09:21.399 wearing a gold ring and fine clothes. 00:09:22.240 --> 00:09:23.120 Oh, and a poor man. 00:09:24.080 --> 00:09:25.899 Shabby clothes also comes in. 00:09:26.620 --> 00:09:28.340 If you show special attention 00:09:28.340 --> 00:09:30.919 to the man wearing fine clothes 00:09:30.919 --> 00:09:32.460 and say, 00:09:32.879 --> 00:09:34.620 here's a good seat for you, 00:09:35.460 --> 00:09:38.039 but you say to the poor man, 00:09:38.259 --> 00:09:39.799 you can stand there. 00:09:40.980 --> 00:09:42.819 You can sit on the floor if you like. 00:09:43.819 --> 00:09:45.759 If you do that, James says, 00:09:46.519 --> 00:09:50.240 have you not discriminated among yourselves 00:09:50.240 --> 00:09:54.120 and become judges with evil thoughts? 00:09:54.799 --> 00:09:56.299 And the word is dialogismus, 00:09:56.500 --> 00:09:58.039 from which we get the word dialogue. 00:09:58.779 --> 00:10:00.799 He said, if you treat people like that, 00:10:01.100 --> 00:10:03.159 a wealthy visitor comes to your church 00:10:03.159 --> 00:10:04.620 and you're all over him 00:10:04.620 --> 00:10:06.240 and the poor man comes in 00:10:06.240 --> 00:10:07.740 and you say, sit on the floor if you like, 00:10:08.579 --> 00:10:11.219 aren't there evil thoughts going on in your head? 00:10:12.000 --> 00:10:13.699 And what you are saying is, 00:10:14.339 --> 00:10:16.120 we better treat this rich man well 00:10:16.120 --> 00:10:17.360 because he could be worth 00:10:17.360 --> 00:10:19.639 a few thousand dollars to our church. 00:10:20.299 --> 00:10:22.719 But there's no point in treating the poor man well 00:10:22.719 --> 00:10:24.759 because there's nothing he can contribute 00:10:24.759 --> 00:10:27.559 to what is going on here in the church. 00:10:27.559 --> 00:10:29.699 Well, James says, don't do that. 00:10:30.239 --> 00:10:32.079 And the best example of all he gives us, 00:10:32.159 --> 00:10:34.119 of course, is Jesus, 00:10:34.339 --> 00:10:35.839 who never treated anybody 00:10:35.839 --> 00:10:37.679 on the basis of their position 00:10:37.679 --> 00:10:39.039 or their possessions. 00:10:40.539 --> 00:10:42.319 Then the second section in verse, 00:10:42.779 --> 00:10:43.919 excuse me, in chapter two, 00:10:44.339 --> 00:10:46.299 is called faith and deeds. 00:10:46.379 --> 00:10:48.139 And the keys here are two verses. 00:10:48.759 --> 00:10:49.859 Verse 14 first, 00:10:49.860 --> 00:10:51.240 What good is it, my brothers, 00:10:51.740 --> 00:10:53.919 if a man claims to have faith 00:10:53.919 --> 00:10:55.519 but has no deeds? 00:10:55.899 --> 00:10:57.220 Can such faith, 00:10:57.440 --> 00:10:58.639 notice the word such, 00:10:58.899 --> 00:11:00.440 can such faith save him? 00:11:00.800 --> 00:11:02.800 Then go over to verse 24 00:11:02.800 --> 00:11:04.759 and read this. 00:11:05.399 --> 00:11:06.159 You see, 00:11:06.279 --> 00:11:07.580 he gives an example of Abraham, 00:11:07.700 --> 00:11:09.919 we don't have time to develop that. 00:11:10.379 --> 00:11:12.379 You see that a person is justified 00:11:12.379 --> 00:11:14.039 by what he does 00:11:14.039 --> 00:11:15.879 and not by faith alone. 00:11:16.139 --> 00:11:17.139 Now, I can imagine 00:11:17.139 --> 00:11:20.419 a newish or relatively untaught Christian 00:11:20.419 --> 00:11:22.699 reading through the letter of James 00:11:22.699 --> 00:11:23.879 and he comes 00:11:23.879 --> 00:11:26.019 and this man has truly been born again. 00:11:26.279 --> 00:11:27.419 He is a new Christian 00:11:27.419 --> 00:11:29.639 and he reads James saying 00:11:29.639 --> 00:11:32.059 these particular words. 00:11:32.319 --> 00:11:33.819 And he can hardly believe 00:11:33.819 --> 00:11:35.360 what he is reading. 00:11:35.899 --> 00:11:37.240 That James should say this, 00:11:37.559 --> 00:11:39.000 a person is justified 00:11:39.000 --> 00:11:41.120 by what he does 00:11:41.120 --> 00:11:44.059 and not by faith alone. 00:11:44.679 --> 00:11:45.779 And I can just imagine 00:11:45.779 --> 00:11:47.439 a young Christian saying, 00:11:47.699 --> 00:11:48.319 but wait a minute. 00:11:49.959 --> 00:11:51.620 Now that I've become a Christian, 00:11:52.120 --> 00:11:54.360 I can see that I am justified 00:11:54.360 --> 00:11:56.039 not by what I've done 00:11:56.039 --> 00:11:59.240 but by faith in what Jesus has done 00:11:59.240 --> 00:12:00.139 for me. 00:12:00.759 --> 00:12:02.279 And maybe the words of Paul 00:12:02.279 --> 00:12:03.139 in Ephesians 2 00:12:03.139 --> 00:12:04.500 are resonating in his mind. 00:12:04.860 --> 00:12:06.519 By grace you've been saved, 00:12:06.720 --> 00:12:07.579 through faith. 00:12:08.059 --> 00:12:09.579 And that not of yourselves, 00:12:09.839 --> 00:12:11.000 it's the gift of God. 00:12:11.000 --> 00:12:12.419 And then specifically, 00:12:12.799 --> 00:12:14.620 not of works, 00:12:14.960 --> 00:12:16.379 so nobody can boast. 00:12:17.179 --> 00:12:19.019 So he turns up Ephesians 2 00:12:19.019 --> 00:12:19.659 and reads that, 00:12:19.879 --> 00:12:20.980 turns back to James 2 00:12:20.980 --> 00:12:21.259 and says, 00:12:21.500 --> 00:12:22.559 well, something's wrong here. 00:12:23.519 --> 00:12:24.440 Paul says, 00:12:25.000 --> 00:12:27.000 we are not saved by works, 00:12:27.080 --> 00:12:28.100 we're saved by faith. 00:12:28.840 --> 00:12:29.860 James says, 00:12:30.279 --> 00:12:31.200 well, you can see 00:12:31.200 --> 00:12:32.740 that you're not saved 00:12:32.740 --> 00:12:34.039 just by faith, 00:12:34.139 --> 00:12:35.960 but by works. 00:12:36.519 --> 00:12:38.220 Now, what is going wrong here? 00:12:38.220 --> 00:12:40.560 If they are disagreeing, 00:12:40.779 --> 00:12:41.600 we can throw away 00:12:41.600 --> 00:12:42.960 the whole of the New Testament 00:12:42.960 --> 00:12:44.560 as being unreliable. 00:12:44.960 --> 00:12:46.120 It may be one of the reasons 00:12:46.120 --> 00:12:47.139 why Martin Luther 00:12:47.139 --> 00:12:49.160 initially treated 00:12:49.160 --> 00:12:50.500 the letter of James 00:12:50.500 --> 00:12:52.340 with a bit of disdain 00:12:52.340 --> 00:12:53.820 or certainly with a lot of reserve, 00:12:54.399 --> 00:12:55.340 and he called it 00:12:55.340 --> 00:12:57.080 a right straw epistle. 00:12:57.420 --> 00:12:58.860 It's an epistle of straw. 00:12:59.480 --> 00:13:01.480 There's no real substance to it, 00:13:01.920 --> 00:13:03.600 but he understood better later, 00:13:03.980 --> 00:13:05.440 and we should understand better 00:13:05.440 --> 00:13:06.060 this morning. 00:13:06.059 --> 00:13:07.439 Here's the best way 00:13:07.439 --> 00:13:09.319 I can put it across to you. 00:13:10.019 --> 00:13:11.199 James and Paul 00:13:11.199 --> 00:13:12.779 are not facing each other, 00:13:13.159 --> 00:13:14.259 fighting each other. 00:13:14.799 --> 00:13:16.239 They are back to back, 00:13:16.839 --> 00:13:19.819 fighting two different enemies. 00:13:20.879 --> 00:13:22.539 Paul is facing the person 00:13:22.539 --> 00:13:23.159 who says, 00:13:23.899 --> 00:13:24.619 I am saved, 00:13:24.719 --> 00:13:25.799 I can become a Christian 00:13:25.799 --> 00:13:27.779 by what I do, 00:13:27.919 --> 00:13:29.899 by my own good deeds. 00:13:30.279 --> 00:13:31.879 I'm better than a lot of people 00:13:31.879 --> 00:13:32.759 I can think of. 00:13:33.239 --> 00:13:35.199 Surely God grades on a curve, 00:13:35.200 --> 00:13:36.720 that's a fair thing to do, 00:13:37.120 --> 00:13:38.259 and I go to church, 00:13:38.340 --> 00:13:39.340 and I read my Bible, 00:13:39.440 --> 00:13:40.020 well, a bit, 00:13:40.379 --> 00:13:41.400 and I pray a bit, 00:13:41.460 --> 00:13:42.300 and I give a bit, 00:13:42.660 --> 00:13:43.860 and I try to be good 00:13:43.860 --> 00:13:45.520 and decent in my life, 00:13:45.560 --> 00:13:46.580 and I pay my taxes, 00:13:46.680 --> 00:13:47.940 I'm trying to be a good citizen, 00:13:48.420 --> 00:13:51.640 and surely God will reward me 00:13:51.640 --> 00:13:54.300 as the result of what I have done. 00:13:54.759 --> 00:13:55.500 And Paul says, 00:13:55.580 --> 00:13:55.840 no. 00:13:56.840 --> 00:13:58.379 All our righteousnesses, 00:13:58.379 --> 00:13:58.800 he says, 00:13:58.879 --> 00:13:59.560 quoting Isaiah, 00:13:59.800 --> 00:14:01.200 all our righteousnesses 00:14:01.200 --> 00:14:03.100 are like filthy rags. 00:14:03.100 --> 00:14:05.240 If you believe that God 00:14:05.240 --> 00:14:06.240 grades on a curve, 00:14:06.560 --> 00:14:07.420 and you may be here 00:14:07.420 --> 00:14:08.899 in First Baptist Pickens 00:14:08.899 --> 00:14:09.740 this morning thinking, 00:14:10.300 --> 00:14:10.540 you know, 00:14:10.639 --> 00:14:12.460 if I try to be good enough, 00:14:12.740 --> 00:14:13.680 oh, I hear a lot of teaching 00:14:13.680 --> 00:14:14.820 about becoming a Christian 00:14:14.820 --> 00:14:16.360 and how important it is, 00:14:16.600 --> 00:14:18.379 but if I behave well enough, 00:14:18.580 --> 00:14:19.720 I'll reach that point, 00:14:19.980 --> 00:14:21.159 I'll have crossed the line, 00:14:21.440 --> 00:14:23.360 and be safely in the kingdom of God 00:14:23.360 --> 00:14:26.540 on the basis of how well I have done, 00:14:26.540 --> 00:14:28.180 how well I have lived. 00:14:28.340 --> 00:14:29.000 Paul says, 00:14:29.519 --> 00:14:31.379 if you're going down that route, 00:14:31.379 --> 00:14:32.600 you're in serious trouble 00:14:32.600 --> 00:14:34.659 because God requires perfection. 00:14:36.480 --> 00:14:38.299 So Paul is fighting the person 00:14:38.299 --> 00:14:38.840 who says, 00:14:39.179 --> 00:14:40.620 I can get right with God 00:14:40.620 --> 00:14:41.939 under my own steam. 00:14:43.480 --> 00:14:45.259 James is fighting the person 00:14:45.259 --> 00:14:45.860 who says, 00:14:46.159 --> 00:14:46.439 look, 00:14:46.799 --> 00:14:47.919 it doesn't really matter 00:14:47.919 --> 00:14:50.019 what kind of life I lead. 00:14:50.620 --> 00:14:52.879 I believe all the right things. 00:14:53.460 --> 00:14:55.159 I believe there's one true God. 00:14:55.159 --> 00:14:56.059 I believe that Jesus 00:14:56.059 --> 00:14:57.840 is the eternal Son of God. 00:14:57.940 --> 00:14:59.059 I believe that He was born 00:14:59.059 --> 00:14:59.879 of the Virgin Mary, 00:14:59.879 --> 00:15:01.419 that He lived a perfect life, 00:15:01.500 --> 00:15:02.879 that He died on the cross 00:15:02.879 --> 00:15:03.779 in the place of sinners, 00:15:03.879 --> 00:15:04.899 that He rose from the dead, 00:15:05.220 --> 00:15:05.799 that He's seated 00:15:05.799 --> 00:15:06.840 at the right hand of God, 00:15:06.899 --> 00:15:07.980 that He's coming back again 00:15:07.980 --> 00:15:08.659 in glory. 00:15:08.879 --> 00:15:10.799 I believe all those things. 00:15:10.899 --> 00:15:11.939 I've ticked every one 00:15:11.939 --> 00:15:12.620 of those boxes, 00:15:13.340 --> 00:15:15.399 and that makes me right with God. 00:15:15.919 --> 00:15:17.740 And the quality of life I have, 00:15:17.960 --> 00:15:18.939 the things I do, 00:15:19.299 --> 00:15:20.679 the way I treat my family 00:15:20.679 --> 00:15:21.939 and my business associates 00:15:21.939 --> 00:15:22.620 and my friends, 00:15:23.019 --> 00:15:24.220 that's immaterial. 00:15:24.220 --> 00:15:24.799 James says, 00:15:24.899 --> 00:15:26.279 you are totally wrong 00:15:26.279 --> 00:15:29.579 because it's when you have true faith 00:15:29.579 --> 00:15:31.480 that your life changes. 00:15:31.620 --> 00:15:34.339 Go back again to verse 14. 00:15:34.480 --> 00:15:35.699 What good is it, my brothers, 00:15:35.899 --> 00:15:38.039 if a man claims to have faith 00:15:38.039 --> 00:15:39.480 but has no deeds, 00:15:39.519 --> 00:15:39.939 in other words, 00:15:40.000 --> 00:15:41.039 there's nothing in his life 00:15:41.039 --> 00:15:41.740 to back it up. 00:15:42.120 --> 00:15:43.959 Notice why I asked you 00:15:43.959 --> 00:15:45.659 to notice the word such earlier. 00:15:45.980 --> 00:15:48.379 Can such faith save him? 00:15:49.179 --> 00:15:49.600 And he says, 00:15:49.659 --> 00:15:50.679 no, it can't. 00:15:50.679 --> 00:15:53.000 Faith that is all words 00:15:53.000 --> 00:15:54.639 will save nobody. 00:15:55.459 --> 00:15:57.279 There have got to be the deeds 00:15:57.279 --> 00:15:58.179 to back it up, 00:15:58.799 --> 00:16:00.839 which is why Paul writes 00:16:00.839 --> 00:16:02.019 in 2 Corinthians 5, 00:16:02.099 --> 00:16:03.319 if any man is in Christ, 00:16:03.899 --> 00:16:05.120 he is a new creation. 00:16:05.899 --> 00:16:06.779 The old has gone, 00:16:06.859 --> 00:16:07.739 the new has come. 00:16:08.599 --> 00:16:09.399 Paul is not saying 00:16:09.399 --> 00:16:10.459 that when you become a Christian, 00:16:10.599 --> 00:16:11.620 you become perfect, 00:16:11.859 --> 00:16:13.019 but he does mean 00:16:13.019 --> 00:16:14.419 that when you become a Christian, 00:16:14.419 --> 00:16:17.000 you become different. 00:16:17.000 --> 00:16:21.019 Then we move on to, 00:16:21.120 --> 00:16:21.879 I should say then 00:16:21.879 --> 00:16:23.320 that this is the heartbeat 00:16:23.320 --> 00:16:24.460 of the entire epistle. 00:16:24.759 --> 00:16:26.559 These verses, 14 through 24. 00:16:27.100 --> 00:16:28.600 If you grasp what James 00:16:28.600 --> 00:16:29.620 is saying here, 00:16:29.960 --> 00:16:30.879 then you've grasped 00:16:30.879 --> 00:16:32.059 what the whole of the epistle 00:16:32.059 --> 00:16:33.080 is all about. 00:16:33.259 --> 00:16:34.740 On then quickly to chapter 3. 00:16:36.139 --> 00:16:37.100 And the first section 00:16:37.100 --> 00:16:38.899 is taming the tongue. 00:16:39.679 --> 00:16:41.379 And the key is verse 10. 00:16:41.899 --> 00:16:43.120 Out of the same mouth 00:16:43.120 --> 00:16:44.740 come praise and cursing. 00:16:44.740 --> 00:16:45.860 My brothers, 00:16:46.279 --> 00:16:48.500 this should not be. 00:16:49.340 --> 00:16:50.539 Now James is dealing 00:16:50.539 --> 00:16:52.340 with a very slippery customer. 00:16:52.700 --> 00:16:54.139 Look at verses 3 and 4. 00:16:59.500 --> 00:17:00.779 When we put bits 00:17:00.779 --> 00:17:01.940 into the mouths of horses 00:17:01.940 --> 00:17:02.980 to make them obey us, 00:17:03.220 --> 00:17:04.559 we can turn the whole animal 00:17:04.559 --> 00:17:06.000 or take ships as an example. 00:17:06.319 --> 00:17:07.380 Though they are so large 00:17:07.380 --> 00:17:08.740 and are driven by strong winds, 00:17:09.019 --> 00:17:09.640 they are steered 00:17:09.640 --> 00:17:10.799 by a very small rudder, 00:17:11.019 --> 00:17:12.539 wherever the pilot wants to go. 00:17:12.880 --> 00:17:13.819 Likewise, the tongue 00:17:13.819 --> 00:17:14.899 is a very small part 00:17:14.899 --> 00:17:15.399 of the body, 00:17:15.619 --> 00:17:17.859 but it makes great boasts. 00:17:18.059 --> 00:17:19.439 And then on to verse 7. 00:17:19.859 --> 00:17:20.799 All kinds of animals, 00:17:20.939 --> 00:17:21.740 birds, reptiles, 00:17:21.819 --> 00:17:22.700 and creatures of the sea 00:17:22.700 --> 00:17:23.839 are being tamed 00:17:23.839 --> 00:17:26.019 and have been tamed by man, 00:17:26.159 --> 00:17:29.679 but no man can tame the tongue. 00:17:30.759 --> 00:17:33.279 It's a restless evil. 00:17:33.879 --> 00:17:36.579 I recall leading a Bible study group 00:17:36.579 --> 00:17:37.740 in Norway on one occasion. 00:17:38.119 --> 00:17:39.059 We were on a day trip 00:17:39.059 --> 00:17:40.539 down one of those lovely fjords. 00:17:40.539 --> 00:17:42.960 Huge mountains rising up 00:17:42.960 --> 00:17:43.700 on either side 00:17:43.700 --> 00:17:45.599 and covered in snow 00:17:45.599 --> 00:17:46.460 in the winter, of course. 00:17:46.599 --> 00:17:47.579 And I happened to say 00:17:47.579 --> 00:17:48.480 to the guide, 00:17:49.039 --> 00:17:50.319 when the spring comes 00:17:50.319 --> 00:17:51.940 and the snow begins to melt, 00:17:52.619 --> 00:17:53.779 surely the properties 00:17:53.779 --> 00:17:54.500 and the people 00:17:54.500 --> 00:17:55.839 living near the bottom 00:17:55.839 --> 00:17:56.399 of those mountains 00:17:56.399 --> 00:17:56.980 are going to be 00:17:56.980 --> 00:17:57.700 in great danger. 00:17:57.839 --> 00:17:58.220 He said, yes, 00:17:58.279 --> 00:17:58.819 and there have been. 00:17:59.059 --> 00:17:59.980 There's been great damage 00:17:59.980 --> 00:18:01.680 and sometimes great fatalities, too. 00:18:01.920 --> 00:18:02.980 And then he said this, 00:18:03.059 --> 00:18:04.000 words I will never, 00:18:04.359 --> 00:18:04.960 ever forget. 00:18:04.960 --> 00:18:06.160 He said, 00:18:06.380 --> 00:18:09.100 sometimes an avalanche 00:18:09.100 --> 00:18:10.059 can be caused 00:18:10.059 --> 00:18:11.360 by the sound 00:18:11.360 --> 00:18:12.960 of a single voice, 00:18:13.579 --> 00:18:14.299 by the sound 00:18:14.299 --> 00:18:15.240 of a human voice. 00:18:15.759 --> 00:18:16.600 Just enough, 00:18:16.720 --> 00:18:17.980 it's the last thing 00:18:17.980 --> 00:18:19.079 that triggers off 00:18:19.079 --> 00:18:20.000 a fall of snow 00:18:20.000 --> 00:18:21.160 with catastrophe 00:18:21.160 --> 00:18:21.759 to follow. 00:18:23.920 --> 00:18:24.600 And none of us 00:18:24.600 --> 00:18:25.120 is capable 00:18:25.120 --> 00:18:26.200 of quantifying 00:18:26.200 --> 00:18:28.000 the catastrophes 00:18:28.000 --> 00:18:28.960 that have been caused 00:18:28.960 --> 00:18:30.600 by the sounds 00:18:30.600 --> 00:18:31.539 of human voices 00:18:31.539 --> 00:18:34.359 and by our voices 00:18:34.359 --> 00:18:35.159 at times. 00:18:36.579 --> 00:18:37.500 Our tongues 00:18:37.500 --> 00:18:38.119 are weapons 00:18:38.119 --> 00:18:40.279 of mass destruction. 00:18:41.460 --> 00:18:42.240 We can destroy 00:18:42.240 --> 00:18:43.379 a person's reputation. 00:18:44.519 --> 00:18:45.539 We can destroy 00:18:45.539 --> 00:18:46.879 a person's home life. 00:18:47.940 --> 00:18:48.639 We can destroy 00:18:48.639 --> 00:18:49.279 their family. 00:18:49.399 --> 00:18:49.859 We can destroy 00:18:49.859 --> 00:18:50.740 their church 00:18:50.740 --> 00:18:53.180 by saying things 00:18:53.180 --> 00:18:54.180 that are untrue, 00:18:55.440 --> 00:18:55.940 unnecessary, 00:18:57.259 --> 00:18:57.899 unwise, 00:18:58.180 --> 00:18:59.779 and ungodly. 00:19:01.539 --> 00:19:03.980 Sometimes when you 00:19:03.980 --> 00:19:04.879 go to a physician, 00:19:06.079 --> 00:19:06.559 he will say 00:19:06.559 --> 00:19:07.039 in the course 00:19:07.039 --> 00:19:07.759 of an examination, 00:19:08.019 --> 00:19:08.759 show me your tongue. 00:19:10.119 --> 00:19:10.879 It wasn't an interesting 00:19:10.879 --> 00:19:11.460 thing to do. 00:19:12.019 --> 00:19:12.539 He used to see 00:19:12.539 --> 00:19:13.200 the same doctor 00:19:13.200 --> 00:19:13.559 every year 00:19:13.559 --> 00:19:13.839 and he'd say, 00:19:13.920 --> 00:19:14.519 show me your tongue 00:19:14.519 --> 00:19:15.399 and then give me 00:19:15.399 --> 00:19:16.240 a running commentary 00:19:16.240 --> 00:19:17.420 on what was going on 00:19:17.420 --> 00:19:18.879 in several other parts 00:19:18.879 --> 00:19:19.399 of my body 00:19:19.399 --> 00:19:21.019 because of what he could 00:19:21.019 --> 00:19:22.119 see in my tongue. 00:19:23.460 --> 00:19:25.220 And it's out of the heart 00:19:25.220 --> 00:19:26.980 that the mouth speaks 00:19:26.980 --> 00:19:28.619 and the tongue 00:19:28.619 --> 00:19:30.259 so often gives us away. 00:19:30.259 --> 00:19:32.279 Allow me to say this 00:19:32.279 --> 00:19:32.900 and I hope you won't 00:19:32.900 --> 00:19:33.680 find it too critical. 00:19:33.839 --> 00:19:35.000 I just hope you'll find it 00:19:35.000 --> 00:19:36.759 deeply searching. 00:19:37.480 --> 00:19:38.680 Most of us talk too much. 00:19:39.960 --> 00:19:41.579 Most of us talk too much. 00:19:42.519 --> 00:19:43.640 There are many occasions 00:19:43.640 --> 00:19:44.640 when we'd be better 00:19:44.640 --> 00:19:45.879 to keep our mouths shut 00:19:45.879 --> 00:19:47.079 and people would think 00:19:47.079 --> 00:19:47.879 we were fools 00:19:47.879 --> 00:19:49.019 than open them 00:19:49.019 --> 00:19:50.059 and remove all possible 00:19:50.059 --> 00:19:50.920 doubt on the subject. 00:19:53.519 --> 00:19:54.700 I've found this person 00:19:54.700 --> 00:19:55.700 as I studied James 00:19:55.700 --> 00:19:58.079 a very great challenge. 00:19:58.079 --> 00:19:59.799 Yes, there have been 00:19:59.799 --> 00:20:01.679 many times in my life 00:20:01.679 --> 00:20:03.539 when I kept my mouth shut 00:20:03.539 --> 00:20:04.679 and I should have opened it. 00:20:05.199 --> 00:20:06.319 I've missed the chance 00:20:06.319 --> 00:20:06.859 to witness, 00:20:06.980 --> 00:20:07.599 to say something, 00:20:07.919 --> 00:20:09.740 to make a positive contribution. 00:20:10.019 --> 00:20:11.139 I plead guilty 00:20:11.139 --> 00:20:11.839 to doing that 00:20:11.839 --> 00:20:12.740 more times 00:20:12.740 --> 00:20:13.699 than I could ever count. 00:20:13.980 --> 00:20:15.179 For every time 00:20:15.179 --> 00:20:16.019 when I have 00:20:16.019 --> 00:20:18.220 kept my mouth closed 00:20:18.220 --> 00:20:19.399 when I should have opened it, 00:20:19.799 --> 00:20:20.199 there have been 00:20:20.199 --> 00:20:21.000 ten occasions 00:20:21.000 --> 00:20:21.919 when I've opened it 00:20:21.919 --> 00:20:22.720 and I should have 00:20:22.720 --> 00:20:23.419 kept it closed. 00:20:24.559 --> 00:20:25.679 And only afterwards 00:20:25.680 --> 00:20:26.620 I've got home 00:20:26.620 --> 00:20:28.220 and I've just felt 00:20:28.220 --> 00:20:29.259 deeply ashamed. 00:20:29.860 --> 00:20:31.580 Why did you say that? 00:20:32.500 --> 00:20:33.660 Why did you add 00:20:33.660 --> 00:20:35.420 that extra word? 00:20:36.259 --> 00:20:37.180 Why did you feel 00:20:37.180 --> 00:20:37.980 you just needed 00:20:37.980 --> 00:20:38.740 to contribute 00:20:38.740 --> 00:20:40.240 to that situation? 00:20:41.880 --> 00:20:43.259 So James says, 00:20:43.660 --> 00:20:44.360 hold your time. 00:20:45.080 --> 00:20:45.539 Tame it. 00:20:47.320 --> 00:20:48.539 Is what you're about 00:20:48.539 --> 00:20:49.360 to say true? 00:20:50.080 --> 00:20:50.980 Is it honest? 00:20:51.560 --> 00:20:52.500 Is it fair? 00:20:52.500 --> 00:20:54.319 Is it helpful? 00:20:55.240 --> 00:20:56.579 And is it necessary? 00:20:57.980 --> 00:20:58.779 And then very quickly 00:20:58.779 --> 00:21:00.640 in two kinds of wisdom 00:21:00.640 --> 00:21:01.519 is the next section 00:21:01.519 --> 00:21:03.279 and the key is verse 13. 00:21:05.119 --> 00:21:06.099 Who is wise 00:21:06.099 --> 00:21:07.240 and understanding among you? 00:21:07.319 --> 00:21:07.940 Let him show it 00:21:07.940 --> 00:21:08.799 by his good life, 00:21:09.079 --> 00:21:09.819 by deeds done 00:21:09.819 --> 00:21:10.519 in the humility 00:21:10.519 --> 00:21:11.640 that comes from wisdom. 00:21:11.920 --> 00:21:12.500 The one thing 00:21:12.500 --> 00:21:13.039 very quickly 00:21:13.039 --> 00:21:13.559 that I want to say 00:21:13.559 --> 00:21:13.940 about this 00:21:13.940 --> 00:21:14.700 because we really do 00:21:14.700 --> 00:21:15.440 need to pass on 00:21:15.440 --> 00:21:16.160 is this. 00:21:16.920 --> 00:21:17.619 We all of us 00:21:17.619 --> 00:21:18.319 would like to think 00:21:18.319 --> 00:21:19.180 that we are wise. 00:21:19.319 --> 00:21:19.799 Most of us, 00:21:19.859 --> 00:21:20.079 I guess, 00:21:20.140 --> 00:21:20.640 would like to think 00:21:20.640 --> 00:21:21.700 we're also very smart. 00:21:22.680 --> 00:21:24.019 But we're not all 00:21:24.019 --> 00:21:26.480 intellectuals. 00:21:26.799 --> 00:21:27.440 We don't all 00:21:27.440 --> 00:21:28.680 have a great education. 00:21:29.420 --> 00:21:29.860 We're not all. 00:21:30.019 --> 00:21:31.100 There are so many things 00:21:31.100 --> 00:21:32.200 I know nothing about. 00:21:33.080 --> 00:21:34.440 But we like to think 00:21:34.440 --> 00:21:35.640 that we are wise. 00:21:36.700 --> 00:21:37.660 I think you use 00:21:37.660 --> 00:21:38.440 the word smart 00:21:38.440 --> 00:21:39.000 in America. 00:21:39.160 --> 00:21:39.500 I'm not sure 00:21:39.500 --> 00:21:40.440 that's the right word, 00:21:40.539 --> 00:21:41.400 but I'll forgive you. 00:21:42.259 --> 00:21:43.299 But, you know, 00:21:43.380 --> 00:21:44.799 we're just wise. 00:21:45.600 --> 00:21:46.799 Notice what James says 00:21:46.799 --> 00:21:48.019 is a mark of wisdom 00:21:48.019 --> 00:21:49.680 that you act 00:21:49.680 --> 00:21:50.460 in humility. 00:21:51.700 --> 00:21:53.900 I find that deeply 00:21:53.900 --> 00:21:55.319 searching and telling. 00:21:56.200 --> 00:21:57.279 The height of wisdom, 00:21:57.920 --> 00:21:58.380 here it is, 00:21:58.480 --> 00:22:00.140 deeds done in the humility 00:22:00.140 --> 00:22:02.140 that comes from wisdom. 00:22:03.200 --> 00:22:04.319 Let him show it, 00:22:04.460 --> 00:22:04.680 James. 00:22:04.799 --> 00:22:06.039 Actions do speak 00:22:06.039 --> 00:22:07.319 louder than words. 00:22:07.519 --> 00:22:07.700 Well, 00:22:08.080 --> 00:22:09.220 quickly on to chapter 4. 00:22:11.440 --> 00:22:12.660 And the first section 00:22:12.660 --> 00:22:13.039 is called 00:22:13.039 --> 00:22:14.340 Submit Yourselves to God. 00:22:14.339 --> 00:22:15.639 And the key is 00:22:15.639 --> 00:22:16.699 verse 7. 00:22:17.339 --> 00:22:18.220 Submit yourselves 00:22:18.220 --> 00:22:18.919 then to God, 00:22:19.039 --> 00:22:19.959 resist the devil, 00:22:20.379 --> 00:22:22.240 and he will flee 00:22:22.240 --> 00:22:23.399 from you. 00:22:23.720 --> 00:22:24.500 And we should add, 00:22:24.559 --> 00:22:25.379 come near to God, 00:22:25.500 --> 00:22:26.299 and he will come 00:22:26.299 --> 00:22:26.899 near to you. 00:22:26.939 --> 00:22:27.559 But the point here 00:22:27.559 --> 00:22:28.699 is about submission. 00:22:28.919 --> 00:22:29.519 One of the great 00:22:29.519 --> 00:22:30.519 open secrets 00:22:30.519 --> 00:22:32.199 of what used to be called, 00:22:32.279 --> 00:22:33.559 maybe still is in some circles, 00:22:33.679 --> 00:22:35.019 the victorious Christian life, 00:22:35.259 --> 00:22:36.399 what I would prefer to call 00:22:36.399 --> 00:22:37.799 the normal Christian life, 00:22:38.039 --> 00:22:38.699 is this. 00:22:38.779 --> 00:22:39.159 Firstly, 00:22:39.319 --> 00:22:40.059 to submit. 00:22:40.939 --> 00:22:42.199 Submit yourselves, 00:22:42.200 --> 00:22:43.039 therefore, 00:22:43.759 --> 00:22:44.259 to God. 00:22:46.580 --> 00:22:48.019 That's in direct contrast 00:22:48.019 --> 00:22:48.819 to the spirit 00:22:48.819 --> 00:22:49.680 of the age 00:22:49.680 --> 00:22:50.519 in which we live, 00:22:50.720 --> 00:22:52.200 which is always assert. 00:22:54.319 --> 00:22:56.319 Make your own presence felt. 00:22:57.140 --> 00:22:58.460 Show them that you're number one, 00:22:58.539 --> 00:22:59.620 that you're in charge. 00:23:00.279 --> 00:23:00.640 Instead, 00:23:01.220 --> 00:23:01.940 we should make 00:23:01.940 --> 00:23:03.480 knowing and doing God's will 00:23:03.480 --> 00:23:05.319 the overriding determination 00:23:05.319 --> 00:23:06.220 of our lives. 00:23:06.500 --> 00:23:07.279 And look at verse 6. 00:23:07.420 --> 00:23:10.480 God opposes the proud. 00:23:10.480 --> 00:23:12.960 We just mustn't miss 00:23:12.960 --> 00:23:14.099 what is being said there. 00:23:14.480 --> 00:23:15.360 Those four words, 00:23:15.480 --> 00:23:18.620 God opposes the proud. 00:23:18.720 --> 00:23:19.200 That word, 00:23:19.279 --> 00:23:19.819 opposes, 00:23:20.019 --> 00:23:21.059 is a military word. 00:23:21.319 --> 00:23:22.120 I want you to imagine 00:23:22.120 --> 00:23:22.960 in the days of 00:23:22.960 --> 00:23:24.380 pre-nuclear warfare, 00:23:24.880 --> 00:23:25.440 here is a, 00:23:25.680 --> 00:23:26.940 we'll call the podium 00:23:26.940 --> 00:23:27.680 a huge valley 00:23:27.680 --> 00:23:28.420 for the time being, 00:23:28.640 --> 00:23:30.120 and here's a big mountain range, 00:23:30.420 --> 00:23:31.940 and an army is set up 00:23:31.940 --> 00:23:33.860 on this side of the valley. 00:23:34.099 --> 00:23:35.059 On the other side, 00:23:35.519 --> 00:23:36.519 here is another army. 00:23:37.099 --> 00:23:37.980 And the intelligence 00:23:37.980 --> 00:23:39.819 from this army discovers 00:23:39.819 --> 00:23:41.120 that the enemy 00:23:41.120 --> 00:23:42.160 is about to attack 00:23:42.160 --> 00:23:42.860 on this wing 00:23:42.860 --> 00:23:44.500 and has moved his forces, 00:23:44.880 --> 00:23:45.960 most of them along here. 00:23:46.420 --> 00:23:48.360 The defender now moves 00:23:48.360 --> 00:23:49.880 his strongest forces there. 00:23:50.200 --> 00:23:51.099 He is matching 00:23:51.099 --> 00:23:52.160 the position 00:23:52.160 --> 00:23:53.759 of the attacking army. 00:23:54.000 --> 00:23:55.200 Then the attacking general 00:23:55.200 --> 00:23:56.180 changes his mind 00:23:56.180 --> 00:23:57.640 and moves most of his army 00:23:57.640 --> 00:23:58.079 this way. 00:23:58.259 --> 00:23:59.039 So the defender, 00:23:59.160 --> 00:23:59.960 who's got intelligence 00:23:59.960 --> 00:24:00.720 of what is happening, 00:24:01.079 --> 00:24:02.599 moves his army this way. 00:24:02.599 --> 00:24:04.240 So he's ready to defend it. 00:24:04.480 --> 00:24:05.720 Are you following me carefully? 00:24:06.100 --> 00:24:07.059 The proud person 00:24:07.059 --> 00:24:08.339 asserts himself here. 00:24:08.460 --> 00:24:08.880 Guess what? 00:24:09.240 --> 00:24:10.420 God moves his armies 00:24:10.420 --> 00:24:11.500 to oppose him. 00:24:11.980 --> 00:24:13.039 Antitaso is the word. 00:24:13.140 --> 00:24:14.019 It's an extraordinarily 00:24:14.019 --> 00:24:15.740 powerful and direct 00:24:15.740 --> 00:24:16.660 and immediate word. 00:24:16.920 --> 00:24:17.600 And when you think 00:24:17.600 --> 00:24:18.559 that God's army 00:24:18.559 --> 00:24:19.980 is the Lord of, 00:24:20.200 --> 00:24:21.860 is the hosts of heaven, 00:24:22.360 --> 00:24:23.600 everything in the universe 00:24:23.600 --> 00:24:24.900 is at God's disposal. 00:24:25.380 --> 00:24:27.140 And if you set yourself up 00:24:27.140 --> 00:24:28.120 to be proud, 00:24:28.640 --> 00:24:30.920 God will oppose you. 00:24:31.400 --> 00:24:33.319 God hates pride. 00:24:33.720 --> 00:24:34.660 It may well be, 00:24:34.660 --> 00:24:36.040 without going into detail, 00:24:36.320 --> 00:24:37.259 it was pride 00:24:37.259 --> 00:24:38.180 that caused Satan 00:24:38.180 --> 00:24:39.860 to fall in the first place. 00:24:41.080 --> 00:24:42.980 Pride dethrones God 00:24:42.980 --> 00:24:44.140 and puts man 00:24:44.140 --> 00:24:45.600 on the throne instead. 00:24:46.240 --> 00:24:47.580 And so James warns us 00:24:47.580 --> 00:24:48.900 in the strongest of language, 00:24:49.320 --> 00:24:51.259 God opposes the proud. 00:24:51.880 --> 00:24:52.700 And he adds, 00:24:52.840 --> 00:24:53.920 and resist the devil. 00:24:54.860 --> 00:24:55.540 Have you noticed 00:24:55.540 --> 00:24:56.620 that nowhere in the Bible 00:24:56.620 --> 00:24:57.160 are we told 00:24:57.160 --> 00:24:58.180 to attack the devil? 00:24:58.900 --> 00:24:59.420 Nowhere. 00:24:59.620 --> 00:25:00.200 There's no need 00:25:00.200 --> 00:25:00.920 to pick a fight 00:25:00.920 --> 00:25:01.460 with the devil. 00:25:02.740 --> 00:25:03.440 And the other thing 00:25:03.440 --> 00:25:03.779 is this, 00:25:03.860 --> 00:25:05.160 the more we submit to God, 00:25:05.220 --> 00:25:05.880 the more fights 00:25:05.880 --> 00:25:07.700 the devil will pick with us. 00:25:08.880 --> 00:25:09.900 And if you are here 00:25:09.900 --> 00:25:10.420 this morning 00:25:10.420 --> 00:25:11.680 and you're saying, 00:25:11.820 --> 00:25:11.940 well, 00:25:12.039 --> 00:25:13.680 the devil is attacking me 00:25:13.680 --> 00:25:15.980 so fiercely at the moment, 00:25:16.480 --> 00:25:18.100 and maybe directly 00:25:18.100 --> 00:25:19.559 I'm just being tempted 00:25:19.559 --> 00:25:21.559 so severely, 00:25:22.559 --> 00:25:24.559 and sadly in the same area 00:25:24.559 --> 00:25:25.100 where I've known 00:25:25.100 --> 00:25:26.000 so much temptation 00:25:26.000 --> 00:25:26.720 in the past, 00:25:27.120 --> 00:25:28.320 I feel that somehow 00:25:28.320 --> 00:25:29.700 there must be something 00:25:29.700 --> 00:25:30.680 wrong with me 00:25:30.680 --> 00:25:32.259 because I'm being tempted 00:25:32.259 --> 00:25:33.799 so much 00:25:33.799 --> 00:25:34.720 and so badly 00:25:34.720 --> 00:25:36.120 and so frequently. 00:25:36.779 --> 00:25:37.799 Hear me carefully. 00:25:39.000 --> 00:25:39.680 Temptation 00:25:39.680 --> 00:25:41.000 is not 00:25:41.000 --> 00:25:42.160 a sin. 00:25:44.340 --> 00:25:45.019 Constant, 00:25:45.440 --> 00:25:45.940 fierce, 00:25:46.640 --> 00:25:47.180 relentless, 00:25:47.560 --> 00:25:48.060 repeated 00:25:48.060 --> 00:25:48.980 temptation 00:25:48.980 --> 00:25:50.600 is not 00:25:50.600 --> 00:25:51.320 necessarily 00:25:51.320 --> 00:25:51.980 a sign 00:25:51.980 --> 00:25:52.700 that there's 00:25:52.700 --> 00:25:53.060 something 00:25:53.060 --> 00:25:54.400 specifically wrong 00:25:54.400 --> 00:25:55.180 with you. 00:25:55.400 --> 00:25:56.120 After all, 00:25:56.759 --> 00:25:57.920 Jesus was tempted 00:25:57.920 --> 00:25:59.620 in all ways, 00:25:59.720 --> 00:26:00.560 just as we are, 00:26:01.200 --> 00:26:01.860 but he was 00:26:01.860 --> 00:26:02.660 without sin. 00:26:03.600 --> 00:26:04.320 And the promise 00:26:04.320 --> 00:26:04.840 of James 00:26:04.840 --> 00:26:05.560 is this, 00:26:06.539 --> 00:26:07.400 resist the devil 00:26:07.400 --> 00:26:08.340 and he will 00:26:08.340 --> 00:26:09.360 flee from you. 00:26:09.440 --> 00:26:09.720 But, 00:26:10.720 --> 00:26:11.279 it doesn't say 00:26:11.279 --> 00:26:12.039 he'll flee from you 00:26:12.039 --> 00:26:12.460 permanently 00:26:12.460 --> 00:26:13.120 when Jesus 00:26:13.120 --> 00:26:14.320 had wiped 00:26:14.320 --> 00:26:14.800 the floor 00:26:14.800 --> 00:26:15.340 with the devil 00:26:15.340 --> 00:26:15.779 in that 00:26:15.779 --> 00:26:17.460 fantastic 00:26:17.460 --> 00:26:18.420 confrontation 00:26:18.420 --> 00:26:20.100 in the wilderness. 00:26:20.500 --> 00:26:20.700 Luke 00:26:20.700 --> 00:26:21.660 says this, 00:26:22.360 --> 00:26:23.000 when the devil 00:26:23.000 --> 00:26:23.660 had finished 00:26:23.660 --> 00:26:24.740 all this tempting, 00:26:25.140 --> 00:26:25.600 the devil 00:26:25.599 --> 00:26:26.379 left him 00:26:26.379 --> 00:26:27.299 until 00:26:27.299 --> 00:26:28.419 an opportune 00:26:28.419 --> 00:26:28.919 time. 00:26:29.379 --> 00:26:29.879 So, 00:26:29.959 --> 00:26:30.240 there were 00:26:30.240 --> 00:26:31.219 more temptations 00:26:31.219 --> 00:26:31.699 to follow. 00:26:32.779 --> 00:26:33.599 When you think 00:26:33.599 --> 00:26:34.000 that you've 00:26:34.000 --> 00:26:34.659 successfully 00:26:34.659 --> 00:26:35.959 beaten off 00:26:35.959 --> 00:26:36.319 the devil 00:26:36.319 --> 00:26:36.899 in a certain 00:26:36.899 --> 00:26:37.559 situation, 00:26:38.539 --> 00:26:39.399 he'll be back. 00:26:40.379 --> 00:26:41.139 The story is told 00:26:41.139 --> 00:26:41.819 of a young lady 00:26:41.819 --> 00:26:44.019 who was struggling 00:26:44.019 --> 00:26:44.599 with becoming 00:26:44.599 --> 00:26:45.059 a Christian 00:26:45.059 --> 00:26:45.599 and eventually 00:26:45.599 --> 00:26:46.480 did become one 00:26:46.480 --> 00:26:48.059 and someone 00:26:48.059 --> 00:26:49.240 fairly soon 00:26:49.240 --> 00:26:49.659 afterwards 00:26:49.659 --> 00:26:50.419 suggested that 00:26:50.419 --> 00:26:51.439 she should be 00:26:51.439 --> 00:26:51.959 baptized. 00:26:52.619 --> 00:26:53.019 And she said, 00:26:53.099 --> 00:26:53.139 well, 00:26:53.179 --> 00:26:53.319 no, 00:26:53.459 --> 00:26:54.299 I'd sooner 00:26:54.299 --> 00:26:55.019 just wait a little 00:26:55.019 --> 00:26:55.680 bit and feel 00:26:55.680 --> 00:26:56.319 secure and 00:26:56.319 --> 00:26:56.879 settled in my 00:26:56.879 --> 00:26:57.099 faith, 00:26:57.339 --> 00:26:57.900 which was a 00:26:57.900 --> 00:26:58.480 great thing 00:26:58.480 --> 00:26:58.900 to do, 00:26:59.279 --> 00:27:00.720 rather than 00:27:00.720 --> 00:27:01.740 be baptized 00:27:01.740 --> 00:27:02.500 prematurely 00:27:02.500 --> 00:27:02.960 and then for 00:27:02.960 --> 00:27:03.879 that not 00:27:03.879 --> 00:27:05.700 to go 00:27:05.700 --> 00:27:06.359 as it should. 00:27:07.500 --> 00:27:08.000 But a few 00:27:08.000 --> 00:27:08.460 months later, 00:27:08.519 --> 00:27:08.980 she came to 00:27:08.980 --> 00:27:09.379 the pastor 00:27:09.379 --> 00:27:09.680 and said, 00:27:09.759 --> 00:27:10.940 I feel I'm 00:27:10.940 --> 00:27:11.579 really making 00:27:11.579 --> 00:27:11.980 some good 00:27:11.980 --> 00:27:12.519 progress in 00:27:12.519 --> 00:27:12.920 the Christian 00:27:12.920 --> 00:27:13.240 life. 00:27:13.500 --> 00:27:13.960 I really 00:27:13.960 --> 00:27:14.359 would like 00:27:14.359 --> 00:27:14.639 to be 00:27:14.639 --> 00:27:14.940 baptized. 00:27:15.240 --> 00:27:15.440 Well, 00:27:15.500 --> 00:27:15.680 there was 00:27:15.680 --> 00:27:16.440 great rejoicing 00:27:16.440 --> 00:27:17.039 and she 00:27:17.039 --> 00:27:17.680 was baptized. 00:27:19.099 --> 00:27:19.559 And six 00:27:19.559 --> 00:27:20.019 months later, 00:27:20.059 --> 00:27:20.500 she came to 00:27:20.500 --> 00:27:20.900 the pastor 00:27:20.900 --> 00:27:21.259 and said, 00:27:21.339 --> 00:27:21.460 look, 00:27:21.500 --> 00:27:22.400 I really 00:27:22.400 --> 00:27:22.799 need some 00:27:22.799 --> 00:27:23.079 help. 00:27:23.079 --> 00:27:23.919 I'm just 00:27:23.919 --> 00:27:25.119 having a big 00:27:25.119 --> 00:27:25.859 struggle in my 00:27:25.859 --> 00:27:26.419 Christian life. 00:27:26.500 --> 00:27:27.019 Things are not 00:27:27.019 --> 00:27:27.559 the way they 00:27:27.559 --> 00:27:28.179 used to be. 00:27:29.000 --> 00:27:29.439 In fact, 00:27:29.519 --> 00:27:30.259 I feel less 00:27:30.259 --> 00:27:30.799 of a Christian, 00:27:30.919 --> 00:27:31.519 less effective 00:27:31.519 --> 00:27:32.699 as a Christian 00:27:32.699 --> 00:27:33.099 and making 00:27:33.099 --> 00:27:33.799 less progress 00:27:33.799 --> 00:27:34.379 than I used 00:27:34.379 --> 00:27:34.839 to before. 00:27:35.799 --> 00:27:36.899 And to make 00:27:36.899 --> 00:27:37.639 matters worse, 00:27:38.139 --> 00:27:39.059 I thought my 00:27:39.059 --> 00:27:40.019 baptism would put 00:27:40.019 --> 00:27:40.659 an end to all 00:27:40.659 --> 00:27:41.059 of that. 00:27:41.799 --> 00:27:42.379 And the pastor 00:27:42.379 --> 00:27:42.639 said, 00:27:42.720 --> 00:27:42.859 no, 00:27:42.939 --> 00:27:43.519 I didn't hold 00:27:43.519 --> 00:27:43.919 you under 00:27:43.919 --> 00:27:44.519 long enough. 00:27:44.519 --> 00:27:47.759 So if you 00:27:47.759 --> 00:27:48.319 as a Christian 00:27:48.319 --> 00:27:48.720 are looking 00:27:48.720 --> 00:27:49.079 for a 00:27:49.079 --> 00:27:49.879 post-conversion 00:27:49.879 --> 00:27:51.220 experience that 00:27:51.220 --> 00:27:51.700 will put an 00:27:51.700 --> 00:27:52.139 end to 00:27:52.139 --> 00:27:53.259 temptation and 00:27:53.259 --> 00:27:53.559 have you 00:27:53.559 --> 00:27:54.799 living triumphantly 00:27:54.799 --> 00:27:55.579 and gloriously 00:27:55.579 --> 00:27:56.099 forever, 00:27:56.720 --> 00:27:57.480 there is a 00:27:57.480 --> 00:27:58.200 post-conversion 00:27:58.200 --> 00:27:58.940 experience that 00:27:58.940 --> 00:27:59.619 you can have. 00:28:00.139 --> 00:28:00.599 And here it 00:28:00.599 --> 00:28:00.980 is. 00:28:02.480 --> 00:28:02.920 Die. 00:28:04.099 --> 00:28:04.720 That'll do 00:28:04.720 --> 00:28:04.920 it. 00:28:05.440 --> 00:28:06.139 Just die. 00:28:06.639 --> 00:28:07.200 All you have 00:28:07.200 --> 00:28:07.859 to do is die 00:28:07.859 --> 00:28:08.220 and your 00:28:08.220 --> 00:28:09.279 temptations are 00:28:09.279 --> 00:28:09.500 over. 00:28:10.500 --> 00:28:11.119 And I 00:28:11.119 --> 00:28:11.839 suspect that 00:28:11.839 --> 00:28:12.379 most of us 00:28:12.379 --> 00:28:12.980 would like to 00:28:12.980 --> 00:28:13.799 postpone that. 00:28:13.799 --> 00:28:16.319 So he will 00:28:16.319 --> 00:28:16.960 flee from you, 00:28:17.079 --> 00:28:17.759 but it's not 00:28:17.759 --> 00:28:18.139 permanently. 00:28:18.440 --> 00:28:19.259 So Peter tells 00:28:19.259 --> 00:28:20.200 us in 1 Peter 5, 00:28:20.319 --> 00:28:21.319 be self-controlled 00:28:21.319 --> 00:28:22.220 and alert. 00:28:22.839 --> 00:28:23.579 And then very, 00:28:23.659 --> 00:28:24.139 very briefly, 00:28:24.559 --> 00:28:25.659 the next section, 00:28:25.759 --> 00:28:26.399 boasting about 00:28:26.399 --> 00:28:27.559 tomorrow and 00:28:27.559 --> 00:28:28.379 the key verses, 00:28:28.539 --> 00:28:30.399 verses 13 and 00:28:30.399 --> 00:28:31.039 14. 00:28:32.599 --> 00:28:34.259 And addressed 00:28:34.259 --> 00:28:34.940 to businessmen, 00:28:35.000 --> 00:28:35.240 of course, 00:28:35.319 --> 00:28:35.980 today or tomorrow, 00:28:36.279 --> 00:28:36.960 we will go to 00:28:36.960 --> 00:28:37.700 this or that city, 00:28:37.799 --> 00:28:38.559 spend a year there, 00:28:38.680 --> 00:28:39.359 carry on business, 00:28:39.460 --> 00:28:39.940 make money. 00:28:40.259 --> 00:28:40.559 Why? 00:28:40.639 --> 00:28:41.240 You don't even 00:28:41.240 --> 00:28:41.799 know what will 00:28:41.799 --> 00:28:42.500 happen tomorrow. 00:28:42.740 --> 00:28:43.299 What is your 00:28:43.299 --> 00:28:43.559 life? 00:28:43.559 --> 00:28:44.200 You're a mist 00:28:44.200 --> 00:28:44.700 that appears 00:28:44.700 --> 00:28:45.279 for a little while 00:28:45.279 --> 00:28:46.919 and then vanishes. 00:28:47.099 --> 00:28:47.639 Some of us, 00:28:48.659 --> 00:28:49.279 now not least, 00:28:49.359 --> 00:28:49.980 are in the kind 00:28:49.980 --> 00:28:51.960 of work and 00:28:51.960 --> 00:28:52.599 ministry where 00:28:52.599 --> 00:28:53.240 a lot of 00:28:53.240 --> 00:28:54.039 long-term 00:28:54.039 --> 00:28:55.039 planning needs 00:28:55.039 --> 00:28:55.659 to be done. 00:28:56.700 --> 00:28:57.319 In the few 00:28:57.319 --> 00:28:58.419 days before 00:28:58.419 --> 00:28:59.619 Pam and I 00:28:59.619 --> 00:29:00.240 left home, 00:29:00.480 --> 00:29:01.059 just about 00:29:01.059 --> 00:29:01.759 three days ago 00:29:01.759 --> 00:29:02.319 to come here, 00:29:02.639 --> 00:29:03.200 I had to do 00:29:03.200 --> 00:29:03.659 so much 00:29:03.659 --> 00:29:05.319 forward planning 00:29:05.319 --> 00:29:06.440 to do with 00:29:06.440 --> 00:29:07.480 a big tour 00:29:07.480 --> 00:29:08.079 in Scotland 00:29:08.079 --> 00:29:08.960 and another 00:29:08.960 --> 00:29:09.799 in Northern Ireland 00:29:09.799 --> 00:29:10.399 and all of it 00:29:10.399 --> 00:29:11.059 had to be done 00:29:11.059 --> 00:29:11.960 before this trip 00:29:11.960 --> 00:29:12.799 because after 00:29:12.799 --> 00:29:13.559 we get back 00:29:13.559 --> 00:29:14.279 from this trip, 00:29:14.360 --> 00:29:15.519 I do a Bible 00:29:15.519 --> 00:29:16.279 conference in the 00:29:16.279 --> 00:29:17.759 middle of England 00:29:17.759 --> 00:29:19.079 and 48 hours later 00:29:19.079 --> 00:29:19.880 I'm in Portugal 00:29:19.880 --> 00:29:20.880 and it just would 00:29:20.880 --> 00:29:21.740 get all snarled up 00:29:21.740 --> 00:29:22.539 so I had to do 00:29:22.539 --> 00:29:23.059 all of that 00:29:23.059 --> 00:29:23.700 ahead of time. 00:29:26.039 --> 00:29:26.920 But James says, 00:29:27.079 --> 00:29:27.920 don't boast about it. 00:29:29.100 --> 00:29:30.180 Do what is sensible, 00:29:30.420 --> 00:29:30.799 of course, 00:29:30.900 --> 00:29:31.360 and proper, 00:29:32.160 --> 00:29:33.240 but don't count 00:29:33.240 --> 00:29:33.740 your days, 00:29:33.880 --> 00:29:34.779 just make sure 00:29:34.779 --> 00:29:35.559 that every day 00:29:35.559 --> 00:29:36.059 counts. 00:29:36.819 --> 00:29:37.940 That's the all-important 00:29:37.940 --> 00:29:38.299 thing. 00:29:39.180 --> 00:29:40.059 Pam and I pray 00:29:40.059 --> 00:29:40.559 every morning 00:29:40.559 --> 00:29:41.039 at the beginning 00:29:41.039 --> 00:29:41.740 of every day. 00:29:42.379 --> 00:29:43.319 We just pray 00:29:43.319 --> 00:29:44.200 that that day 00:29:44.200 --> 00:29:45.019 will count. 00:29:45.579 --> 00:29:46.379 We don't know 00:29:46.379 --> 00:29:47.179 what that day 00:29:47.179 --> 00:29:48.220 is going to bring forth. 00:29:48.399 --> 00:29:49.599 We have those days 00:29:49.599 --> 00:29:50.619 when there are big events 00:29:50.619 --> 00:29:51.839 in it and we cover 00:29:51.839 --> 00:29:52.619 those in prayer, 00:29:52.720 --> 00:29:53.539 but there are other times 00:29:53.539 --> 00:29:53.919 when we say, 00:29:54.039 --> 00:29:54.839 well, today's, 00:29:55.099 --> 00:29:56.099 it's all bits and pieces 00:29:56.099 --> 00:29:57.200 as far as we can see. 00:29:57.720 --> 00:29:59.220 No big appointment 00:29:59.220 --> 00:30:00.159 that I have to meet, 00:30:00.220 --> 00:30:01.500 no meeting I have to speak at. 00:30:02.500 --> 00:30:03.240 It's all kind of, 00:30:03.339 --> 00:30:04.059 you know what I'm saying, 00:30:04.099 --> 00:30:04.859 it's bits and pieces. 00:30:05.559 --> 00:30:06.659 But we cover them 00:30:06.659 --> 00:30:07.899 before the Lord 00:30:07.900 --> 00:30:09.800 and we try to make 00:30:09.800 --> 00:30:11.000 that day count for Him. 00:30:12.400 --> 00:30:13.540 And then we get 00:30:13.540 --> 00:30:14.780 to chapter 5 00:30:14.780 --> 00:30:15.480 and there are three 00:30:15.480 --> 00:30:15.980 headings here 00:30:15.980 --> 00:30:17.160 so we'll deal with them 00:30:17.160 --> 00:30:18.000 very, very quickly. 00:30:18.140 --> 00:30:18.620 The first is 00:30:18.620 --> 00:30:20.040 warnings to rich oppressors 00:30:20.040 --> 00:30:21.680 and the key is verse 4. 00:30:21.820 --> 00:30:21.980 Look, 00:30:22.300 --> 00:30:23.500 the wages you failed 00:30:23.500 --> 00:30:24.480 to pay the workmen 00:30:24.480 --> 00:30:25.840 who mowed your fields 00:30:25.840 --> 00:30:27.100 are crying out against you. 00:30:27.400 --> 00:30:28.800 The cries of the harvesters 00:30:28.800 --> 00:30:29.360 have reached 00:30:29.360 --> 00:30:31.180 the ears of the Lord 00:30:31.180 --> 00:30:32.240 all-powerful 00:30:32.240 --> 00:30:32.700 and you say, 00:30:33.000 --> 00:30:33.180 well, 00:30:33.460 --> 00:30:34.300 and serves them right 00:30:34.300 --> 00:30:34.740 to be told. 00:30:34.840 --> 00:30:36.060 They need to be told that. 00:30:36.320 --> 00:30:37.140 Here are employers 00:30:37.140 --> 00:30:39.000 and they're underpaying people. 00:30:39.340 --> 00:30:40.380 They need to be told 00:30:40.380 --> 00:30:42.920 God knows what you are doing. 00:30:43.320 --> 00:30:43.759 And you would say, 00:30:43.800 --> 00:30:43.860 well, 00:30:43.920 --> 00:30:45.140 I don't employ anybody 00:30:45.140 --> 00:30:46.560 so this doesn't apply to me. 00:30:46.640 --> 00:30:46.800 Yes, 00:30:46.840 --> 00:30:47.180 it does. 00:30:47.460 --> 00:30:48.160 The principle 00:30:48.160 --> 00:30:49.020 which applies 00:30:49.020 --> 00:30:49.680 is this. 00:30:50.980 --> 00:30:52.320 Everything you say 00:30:52.320 --> 00:30:53.440 enters the ears 00:30:53.440 --> 00:30:54.440 of the Lord Almighty. 00:30:55.259 --> 00:30:56.360 Everything you do, 00:30:57.040 --> 00:30:58.340 He sees and knows. 00:30:59.140 --> 00:31:00.560 And there was a monk 00:31:00.560 --> 00:31:01.520 centuries ago 00:31:01.520 --> 00:31:03.200 who came up with the phrase 00:31:03.200 --> 00:31:05.340 practicing the presence of God. 00:31:05.339 --> 00:31:07.039 And that's the way 00:31:07.039 --> 00:31:07.799 we should live 00:31:07.799 --> 00:31:09.259 our lives. 00:31:10.179 --> 00:31:10.740 And then secondly, 00:31:10.899 --> 00:31:11.799 patience and suffering 00:31:11.799 --> 00:31:12.859 and the key is verse 8 00:31:12.859 --> 00:31:14.539 where the word patient 00:31:14.539 --> 00:31:16.599 means long-tempered 00:31:16.599 --> 00:31:17.419 which is the opposite 00:31:17.419 --> 00:31:18.480 of being short-tempered. 00:31:19.359 --> 00:31:20.259 In Psalm 86, 00:31:20.579 --> 00:31:21.199 the Bible says, 00:31:21.359 --> 00:31:22.759 God is slow to anger. 00:31:23.539 --> 00:31:24.240 And my friends, 00:31:24.359 --> 00:31:25.299 if God is slow 00:31:25.299 --> 00:31:26.639 to anger with us, 00:31:27.399 --> 00:31:28.839 how slow we should be 00:31:28.839 --> 00:31:29.419 to anger, 00:31:30.139 --> 00:31:31.639 get angry with other people. 00:31:31.640 --> 00:31:33.800 If somebody says of you, 00:31:34.240 --> 00:31:34.700 boy, 00:31:34.780 --> 00:31:35.940 they've got a short fuse, 00:31:36.160 --> 00:31:37.040 they're not paying you 00:31:37.040 --> 00:31:37.560 a compliment. 00:31:38.120 --> 00:31:39.380 Thomas Jefferson used to say, 00:31:39.520 --> 00:31:40.240 if you get angry, 00:31:40.660 --> 00:31:41.220 count to 10. 00:31:42.000 --> 00:31:43.360 And if you're very angry, 00:31:43.720 --> 00:31:44.300 count to 100. 00:31:45.200 --> 00:31:46.460 That's not bad advice. 00:31:47.240 --> 00:31:47.400 Look, 00:31:47.460 --> 00:31:48.740 God is slow 00:31:48.740 --> 00:31:49.460 to get angry. 00:31:50.460 --> 00:31:51.700 And if we are quick 00:31:51.700 --> 00:31:52.400 to get angry, 00:31:52.780 --> 00:31:53.860 we're missing the boat 00:31:53.860 --> 00:31:54.240 somewhere. 00:31:54.800 --> 00:31:55.960 We're not acting 00:31:55.960 --> 00:31:57.600 as God would have us act 00:31:57.600 --> 00:31:59.900 or as He has acted 00:31:59.900 --> 00:32:00.620 towards us. 00:32:01.100 --> 00:32:01.820 And then finally, 00:32:03.040 --> 00:32:04.259 the prayer of faith 00:32:04.259 --> 00:32:06.960 and the key is verse 16. 00:32:10.480 --> 00:32:12.500 And the end of verse 16, 00:32:13.680 --> 00:32:16.340 the prayer of a righteous man 00:32:16.340 --> 00:32:18.140 is powerful 00:32:18.140 --> 00:32:20.360 and effective. 00:32:21.040 --> 00:32:22.380 But just before dealing with it 00:32:22.380 --> 00:32:23.420 in a moment as we close, 00:32:23.759 --> 00:32:25.300 just go back to verse 13 00:32:25.300 --> 00:32:26.600 which tells us 00:32:26.600 --> 00:32:27.620 when we should pray. 00:32:27.620 --> 00:32:29.560 At what point in our lives 00:32:29.559 --> 00:32:31.639 should we be coming 00:32:31.639 --> 00:32:32.559 to God in prayer? 00:32:33.220 --> 00:32:34.500 How much of our lives 00:32:34.500 --> 00:32:36.399 is related to our relationship 00:32:36.399 --> 00:32:36.879 with God? 00:32:37.139 --> 00:32:37.359 Look, 00:32:37.879 --> 00:32:38.440 here it is. 00:32:38.659 --> 00:32:39.779 Is anyone of you in trouble? 00:32:39.899 --> 00:32:40.579 He should pray. 00:32:41.159 --> 00:32:42.179 Is anyone happy? 00:32:42.399 --> 00:32:43.700 Let him sing songs of praise. 00:32:44.019 --> 00:32:45.679 So there is never a time 00:32:45.679 --> 00:32:47.299 when approaching God 00:32:47.299 --> 00:32:48.940 and consciously bringing Him 00:32:48.940 --> 00:32:49.940 into our lives 00:32:49.940 --> 00:32:52.079 is irrelevant. 00:32:53.240 --> 00:32:54.759 In Charles Dickens' great book, 00:32:54.759 --> 00:32:56.000 The Tale of Two Cities, 00:32:56.119 --> 00:32:57.559 it begins with this phrase, 00:32:57.559 --> 00:32:59.399 it was the best of times, 00:32:59.879 --> 00:33:01.779 it was the worst of times. 00:33:02.359 --> 00:33:03.339 And my friends, 00:33:03.460 --> 00:33:04.059 you and I, 00:33:04.819 --> 00:33:06.339 we have the best of times 00:33:06.339 --> 00:33:09.259 and we have the worst of times. 00:33:10.379 --> 00:33:11.879 And what James is saying, 00:33:12.240 --> 00:33:13.579 whether it's the best of times 00:33:13.579 --> 00:33:14.700 or the worst of times, 00:33:15.240 --> 00:33:16.419 take it to God in prayer. 00:33:17.419 --> 00:33:17.899 Thank Him 00:33:17.899 --> 00:33:19.019 and praise Him 00:33:19.019 --> 00:33:20.500 and seek to worship Him. 00:33:20.839 --> 00:33:21.379 Martin Luther, 00:33:21.500 --> 00:33:22.480 when he heard bad news, 00:33:22.519 --> 00:33:22.980 used to say, 00:33:23.259 --> 00:33:24.179 let's sing a psalm 00:33:24.180 --> 00:33:25.259 and spite the devil. 00:33:26.380 --> 00:33:28.140 There is no part of our lives 00:33:28.140 --> 00:33:28.960 that is irrelevant 00:33:28.960 --> 00:33:31.299 as far as God is concerned, 00:33:31.820 --> 00:33:34.240 no experience in our life 00:33:34.240 --> 00:33:36.080 when we can't come to God 00:33:36.080 --> 00:33:36.900 in praise 00:33:36.900 --> 00:33:38.500 and in prayer. 00:33:39.299 --> 00:33:39.660 Now, 00:33:39.799 --> 00:33:40.779 as you were looking 00:33:40.779 --> 00:33:42.400 at the end of this chapter, 00:33:43.180 --> 00:33:45.019 I imagine some of you 00:33:45.019 --> 00:33:45.440 were saying, 00:33:45.580 --> 00:33:46.660 now this will be important. 00:33:47.000 --> 00:33:48.460 I wonder if the key verses 00:33:48.460 --> 00:33:49.580 are going to be 00:33:49.580 --> 00:33:51.740 verses 14 and 15. 00:33:51.740 --> 00:33:53.839 Is any one of you sick? 00:33:54.759 --> 00:33:56.180 He should call the elders 00:33:56.180 --> 00:33:56.839 of the church 00:33:56.839 --> 00:33:57.799 to pray over him 00:33:57.799 --> 00:33:59.319 and anoint him with oil 00:33:59.319 --> 00:34:00.420 in the name of the Lord 00:34:00.420 --> 00:34:02.279 and the prayer offered in faith 00:34:02.279 --> 00:34:03.920 will make the sick person well. 00:34:04.400 --> 00:34:05.859 The Lord will raise him up. 00:34:06.180 --> 00:34:07.420 If he has sinned, 00:34:07.700 --> 00:34:08.840 he will be forgiven. 00:34:10.800 --> 00:34:11.920 And you may be saying, 00:34:12.019 --> 00:34:12.460 well now, 00:34:13.420 --> 00:34:15.099 what are you going to say 00:34:15.099 --> 00:34:15.780 about that? 00:34:15.940 --> 00:34:16.119 Now, 00:34:16.219 --> 00:34:17.079 those are verses 00:34:17.079 --> 00:34:17.820 that really 00:34:17.820 --> 00:34:18.820 at times 00:34:18.820 --> 00:34:20.179 would have a serious impact 00:34:20.179 --> 00:34:20.940 on our lives. 00:34:20.940 --> 00:34:21.679 So, 00:34:21.840 --> 00:34:22.579 what will you say 00:34:22.579 --> 00:34:23.320 about that 00:34:23.320 --> 00:34:24.400 this morning? 00:34:25.519 --> 00:34:26.700 The answer is 00:34:26.700 --> 00:34:28.740 nothing. 00:34:30.139 --> 00:34:30.559 But, 00:34:31.220 --> 00:34:32.119 in the book 00:34:32.119 --> 00:34:32.760 Truth for Life, 00:34:32.880 --> 00:34:33.260 I've spent, 00:34:33.500 --> 00:34:34.380 I cannot tell you 00:34:34.380 --> 00:34:34.940 how many hours 00:34:34.940 --> 00:34:35.420 I've spent 00:34:35.420 --> 00:34:36.599 studying that 00:34:36.599 --> 00:34:37.059 and writing, 00:34:37.220 --> 00:34:38.320 I think it's chapter 39. 00:34:38.800 --> 00:34:39.840 I even went at one stage, 00:34:39.940 --> 00:34:40.720 it was a coincidence, 00:34:41.280 --> 00:34:41.860 to Greece 00:34:41.860 --> 00:34:43.119 and spoke with Greek pastors 00:34:43.119 --> 00:34:44.500 there about the sense 00:34:44.500 --> 00:34:45.079 and the tense 00:34:45.079 --> 00:34:45.659 of the language 00:34:45.659 --> 00:34:46.559 that's being used here 00:34:46.559 --> 00:34:47.400 and what it really meant. 00:34:47.820 --> 00:34:48.360 And I believe 00:34:48.360 --> 00:34:49.340 I was greatly helped 00:34:49.340 --> 00:34:50.200 in being able 00:34:50.200 --> 00:34:50.980 to flesh out 00:34:50.980 --> 00:34:52.400 in great detail 00:34:52.400 --> 00:34:53.720 what James is meaning 00:34:53.720 --> 00:34:54.860 from this. 00:34:55.400 --> 00:34:56.360 And the same applies 00:34:56.360 --> 00:34:56.900 to the rest 00:34:56.900 --> 00:34:57.640 of what has been written 00:34:57.640 --> 00:34:59.000 because the book 00:34:59.000 --> 00:34:59.539 would contain 00:34:59.539 --> 00:35:00.519 about 50 times 00:35:00.519 --> 00:35:01.420 the amount of teaching 00:35:01.420 --> 00:35:02.300 that you've had 00:35:02.300 --> 00:35:02.740 this morning. 00:35:02.860 --> 00:35:04.039 But notice what follows 00:35:04.039 --> 00:35:04.920 in verse 17. 00:35:05.559 --> 00:35:07.340 Elijah was a man 00:35:07.340 --> 00:35:08.440 just like us. 00:35:08.559 --> 00:35:09.539 And many of you 00:35:09.539 --> 00:35:10.260 will know the story 00:35:10.260 --> 00:35:10.780 of Elijah 00:35:10.780 --> 00:35:11.940 and the incident 00:35:11.940 --> 00:35:12.620 to which James 00:35:12.620 --> 00:35:14.100 is particularly referring. 00:35:14.720 --> 00:35:15.400 He prayed, 00:35:15.480 --> 00:35:16.039 and as Elijah 00:35:16.039 --> 00:35:16.840 prayed earnestly, 00:35:16.840 --> 00:35:17.780 that it would not rain. 00:35:18.480 --> 00:35:19.539 And it didn't rain 00:35:19.539 --> 00:35:20.019 on the land 00:35:20.019 --> 00:35:21.100 for three and a half years. 00:35:21.440 --> 00:35:22.640 And again he prayed, 00:35:22.860 --> 00:35:24.220 and the heavens gave rain, 00:35:24.380 --> 00:35:25.059 and the earth 00:35:25.059 --> 00:35:26.700 produced its crops. 00:35:27.700 --> 00:35:28.880 And we can stand back 00:35:28.880 --> 00:35:29.559 from that and say, 00:35:29.780 --> 00:35:29.980 whoa, 00:35:30.480 --> 00:35:31.620 now that's the kind 00:35:31.620 --> 00:35:32.019 of person 00:35:32.019 --> 00:35:32.880 I would like to be. 00:35:33.700 --> 00:35:34.559 That's the kind 00:35:34.559 --> 00:35:35.160 of prayer 00:35:35.160 --> 00:35:37.340 I would like to be. 00:35:37.920 --> 00:35:39.380 That when the place 00:35:39.380 --> 00:35:40.019 was flooded 00:35:40.019 --> 00:35:40.680 and drenched, 00:35:41.120 --> 00:35:41.720 he prayed 00:35:41.720 --> 00:35:43.440 and there wasn't rain 00:35:43.440 --> 00:35:44.160 for years. 00:35:44.159 --> 00:35:46.239 And then when 00:35:46.239 --> 00:35:47.099 there was a drought 00:35:47.099 --> 00:35:48.039 and rain was needed, 00:35:48.139 --> 00:35:48.539 he prayed, 00:35:48.819 --> 00:35:49.679 and the rain came. 00:35:49.980 --> 00:35:50.920 Boy, if I could be 00:35:50.920 --> 00:35:52.019 that kind of Christian, 00:35:52.539 --> 00:35:53.639 that kind of prayer, 00:35:54.179 --> 00:35:55.019 what a difference 00:35:55.019 --> 00:35:55.699 that would make. 00:35:56.079 --> 00:35:56.879 And James 00:35:56.879 --> 00:35:58.139 hits us straight 00:35:58.139 --> 00:35:58.940 between the eyes 00:35:58.940 --> 00:35:59.379 and says, 00:36:01.379 --> 00:36:02.319 Elijah was a man 00:36:02.319 --> 00:36:03.139 just like us. 00:36:04.619 --> 00:36:05.379 He was no different 00:36:05.379 --> 00:36:05.899 from us. 00:36:07.099 --> 00:36:08.019 He had his strengths 00:36:08.019 --> 00:36:08.759 and his weaknesses, 00:36:08.940 --> 00:36:09.440 his faults 00:36:09.440 --> 00:36:10.219 and his failures, 00:36:11.219 --> 00:36:12.359 his flaws. 00:36:12.360 --> 00:36:14.480 The passage 00:36:14.480 --> 00:36:15.360 is not about 00:36:15.360 --> 00:36:16.460 the power of Elijah. 00:36:16.860 --> 00:36:17.820 It's the power 00:36:17.820 --> 00:36:19.180 of Elijah's God. 00:36:20.000 --> 00:36:20.800 And the point 00:36:20.800 --> 00:36:21.539 James is making 00:36:21.539 --> 00:36:22.800 is Elijah's God 00:36:22.800 --> 00:36:24.740 is our God. 00:36:25.000 --> 00:36:25.820 So we should 00:36:25.820 --> 00:36:27.120 never set any limit 00:36:27.120 --> 00:36:28.240 on what God 00:36:28.240 --> 00:36:28.800 may do 00:36:28.800 --> 00:36:30.000 in our lives 00:36:30.000 --> 00:36:33.780 or in our church. 00:36:34.920 --> 00:36:35.740 John Newton 00:36:35.740 --> 00:36:36.340 in one of his 00:36:36.340 --> 00:36:37.099 lovely hymns says, 00:36:37.200 --> 00:36:37.680 you are coming 00:36:37.680 --> 00:36:38.380 to a king. 00:36:39.460 --> 00:36:40.559 Large petitions 00:36:40.559 --> 00:36:41.340 with you bring 00:36:41.340 --> 00:36:42.620 for his grace 00:36:42.620 --> 00:36:43.180 and power 00:36:43.180 --> 00:36:43.760 are such, 00:36:44.140 --> 00:36:45.579 none can ever 00:36:45.579 --> 00:36:48.200 ask too much. 00:36:49.400 --> 00:36:50.920 The epistle of James 00:36:50.920 --> 00:36:52.340 is what I've called 00:36:52.340 --> 00:36:52.960 as a title 00:36:52.960 --> 00:36:53.720 to the book 00:36:53.720 --> 00:36:55.620 Truth for Life. 00:36:56.460 --> 00:36:57.360 And I pray 00:36:57.360 --> 00:36:58.260 that as you 00:36:58.260 --> 00:36:59.680 reflect on what 00:36:59.680 --> 00:37:00.280 you've heard 00:37:00.280 --> 00:37:02.519 and as you reflect 00:37:02.519 --> 00:37:03.079 on what 00:37:03.079 --> 00:37:04.780 later you will read, 00:37:05.559 --> 00:37:06.500 you will discover 00:37:06.500 --> 00:37:08.719 what James says 00:37:08.719 --> 00:37:10.199 is truth 00:37:10.199 --> 00:37:11.880 not just for 00:37:11.880 --> 00:37:12.440 other people 00:37:12.440 --> 00:37:13.920 but is truth 00:37:13.920 --> 00:37:14.699 for your 00:37:14.699 --> 00:37:16.000 life. 00:37:16.659 --> 00:37:17.840 Let's pray together. 00:37:17.840 --> 00:37:27.100 Our gracious God 00:37:27.100 --> 00:37:27.500 and Father, 00:37:27.579 --> 00:37:28.120 we thank you 00:37:28.120 --> 00:37:28.720 for your 00:37:28.720 --> 00:37:29.360 infallible, 00:37:29.980 --> 00:37:30.440 inerrant, 00:37:30.820 --> 00:37:31.260 perfect, 00:37:31.760 --> 00:37:32.400 up-to-date, 00:37:33.180 --> 00:37:33.840 and applicable 00:37:33.840 --> 00:37:34.920 and relevant word. 00:37:36.039 --> 00:37:36.920 Help us to 00:37:36.920 --> 00:37:37.579 understand 00:37:37.579 --> 00:37:38.559 this portion 00:37:38.559 --> 00:37:38.940 of it 00:37:38.940 --> 00:37:41.559 and give us 00:37:41.559 --> 00:37:42.539 the greater grace 00:37:42.539 --> 00:37:43.100 of obedience 00:37:43.100 --> 00:37:43.760 to it. 00:37:43.760 --> 00:37:45.920 and we ask 00:37:45.920 --> 00:37:46.540 it in Jesus' 00:37:46.760 --> 00:37:47.040 name. 00:37:48.360 --> 00:37:48.740 Amen.