WEBVTT

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 Father, we ask that your Holy Spirit would come with might and power and deep conviction upon each of us,

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 that you would help us to understand who we really are, that you would grant us honesty about who we are in the real world,

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 in the presence of you, the real God.

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 And Father, as you bring us to better and truer self-knowledge,

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 that you would grant us first and foremost a better and truer knowledge of you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,

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 three persons, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

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 So, a bit of a trigger warning, I guess, or a bit of a heads up.

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 I'm going to be talking about money today.

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 Not talking about money because of anything to do with the church finances or anything like that.

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 We're starting a new book in the Bible.

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 Well, it's not a new book. We're starting a book that was written a long time ago.

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 It wasn't just written and put in the Bible a few days ago.

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 As if, oh yeah, there's a new book to put in the Bible.

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 No, we're going to be studying the book of James.

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 We're going to go through it from beginning to the end, take a bit of a break for Easter and Holy Week.

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 And the reason that I'm going to talk a little bit about money is because the book of James talks about money.

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 If you are at all, if this is maybe one of the first times that you've watched one of these services

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 or entered into one of these services, we preach through books of the Bible.

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 And if you're a seeker, that should be a really good and important thing for you

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 because it shows that we don't try to hide anything.

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 We don't just look at the good texts.

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 The texts that all say that God has a wonderful plan for your life

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 and don't look at the texts that tell you you have to give up certain things or stop doing certain things.

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 Or as a friend of mine used to say, they tell you that God had a wonderful plan for your life

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 and not tell you that 10 years after you'd become a Christian,

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 you were getting killed by cannibals in some distant place.

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 So we look at different things.

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 We go from the beginning to the end.

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 And our text today is also going to be talking about not just about money,

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 but identity, life, allegiance, and hope.

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 But money is one of the topics.

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 So let's get into it.

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 If you have your Bibles, it's James chapter 1.

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 We will have the words on the screen for most of it.

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 But it's also very good to have a Bible of your own,

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 to be able to look and read it for yourself.

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 And I'll be using the English Standard Version for this.

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 And the Bible doesn't begin with talking about money.

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 James doesn't begin by talking about money.

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 It sort of gives a bit of an introduction.

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 But this is one of these cases where the introduction is actually really important

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 for the entire rest of the book.

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 Here's how it begins.

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 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,

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 to the twelve tribes in the dispersion, greetings.

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 And some of you, your versions of the Bible might have begun,

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 James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.

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 And others of you will have a Bible that has a little footnote.

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 And if you go down, if it said slave, it'll say servant and vice versa.

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 And so James introduces himself, gives his name, a servant of God

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 and of the Lord Jesus Christ to the twelve tribes in the dispersion, greetings.

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 You just sort of have to trust me in this.

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 It's basically the twelve tribes of the dispersion.

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 It's a letter for Christians.

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 It's a sort of symbolic type of language, a bit of a metaphor which is used.

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 But some of you might be wondering right off the bat,

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 especially if you're trying to figure out a little bit about the Christian faith

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 and you've stumbled across this video,

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 and you might say to yourself or to the person you're with,

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 here we go.

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 It's sort of very interesting.

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 This is one of the reasons why I would never be a Christian.

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 Like, how weird is it that people in Ottawa in the year 2021

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 would actually sort of like the idea that somebody is a slave?

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 In fact, actually, I'm going to actually say that part of the significance of this text

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 is that the Bible is calling us to a secure identity,

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 a secure, true, individual identity for you and me in Jesus,

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 if we understand that we are his doulos, his servant slash slave.

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 So if you're thinking this is exactly one of the reasons why I don't like the Christian faith is,

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 I mean, George, gosh, some of you might even be saying,

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 where can I even begin to show you where this is all wrong?

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 Like, life should be about figuring out who you are.

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 Life should be all about being the captain of your own destiny.

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 Life should be all about not letting other people tell you what to do or what to think.

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 It should be all about not getting your identity from somebody else,

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 but making your own.

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 Like, George, everything about this is just wrong.

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 And if you're thinking that, those are, I mean, if that's what you think, that's what you think.

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 And it's, in fact, a very honest way.

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 Christians often aren't very honest when we talk about this type of language,

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 and it's actually very, very hard for us to try to live it.

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 So what's going on here with this text?

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 Well, first of all, I guess I want to just challenge the idea

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 that we actually ever create our own identity.

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 And the identity, if we do create our own identity,

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 I mean, obviously people do create their own identity,

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 but it's not really everybody's serving somebody,

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 everybody's getting their identity from somebody else.

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 And you say, no, that's George, that might be true of other people.

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 It's not.

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 No, no, no, no, no.

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 Just you think about it for a second.

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 One of the ways that we see this is how we think about others.

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 One of the things that people would say that was so terrible about Trump supporters

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 is they were getting their identity from terrible things.

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 And we don't think of that as a good example of getting your own identity.

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 All of a sudden we say, no, no, no, no, no, no.

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 There's things that can give you your identity which are very, very bad.

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 And the other thing that we don't necessarily,

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 if you just think about it for a second,

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 depending on whatever age you are,

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 or maybe if you're only eight, this won't make any sense to you.

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 Although even maybe at eight it will.

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 One of the things that we understand about how transient identity is

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 and how foolish it is,

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 is when we think not only of, let's say, Trump supporters make American great again,

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 but when we think of people who are younger than us.

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 So, you know, maybe you're a very mature 21 or 22 year old

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 and, you know, the orange thing happens on Tuesday,

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 you're actually able to see some family

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 and you go see, you know, maybe your next door neighbors

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 or maybe you go see some cousins and they're only 13 or 14

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 and you see what they're getting their identity around

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 and you think to yourself very superior,

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 in a very superior way, how foolish they are.

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 You know, how foolish you are to get your identity from a K-pop band

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 or this particular YouTube influencer.

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 But you say that because why you have a better band

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 or a better Instagram or social media influencer

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 and you don't think of the fact

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 that you used to actually have these different phases

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 and you will continue to have them.

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 That in fact the matter is,

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 is that we don't actually,

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 nobody actually looks inside

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 and gets their identity completely and utterly from themselves.

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 We're getting our identity from influencers

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 and it changes over time in all sorts of different ways

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 and we don't understand that.

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 But the fact is, we always have some type of identity.

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 And that identity, in a sense,

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 is by allowing others to speak into our lives

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 and have some type of control

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 or by putting their hope in certain things.

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 So it's not the case that somehow or another,

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 the person, if you're making this comment

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 about how weird Christians are,

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 that somehow or another,

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 everybody is getting their identity

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 from some other source.

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 So the issue is,

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 what on earth about this particular,

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 like why would this be the,

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 so part of what is so, in fact,

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 wise about the Christian faith

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 is that Christians acknowledge this.

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 Like we understand it.

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 Many people are completely blind to it.

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 We understand it.

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 Or at least the Bible understands it.

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 Christians can be just as foolish.

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 I am just as foolish.

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 Sorry, if I slip in and making it sound

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 as if somehow Christians are elite,

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 you all know that's not true.

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 We are definitely not.

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 In fact, the Bible even reminds us

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 that God chooses the weak

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 and the foolish of the world

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 to shame the wise.

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 But the Bible understands it.

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 And that's what the Bible is saying.

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 And so it's actually very interesting.

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 Look again at what it says.

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 James, a servant or a slave of God

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 and of the Lord Jesus Christ.

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 And whether you use the word servant or slave,

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 the reason that,

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 the actual Greek word is the word doulos,

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 and there's no real good English translation for it.

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 But if you use the word servant,

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 I don't know,

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 those of you who remember

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 the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

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 or a whole pile of movies,

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 the servants have snotty English accents,

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 actually run the house

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 and are smarter than the people.

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 On the other hand,

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 if you think of the slavery

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 as it exists,

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 it still exists in parts of the world

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 and has existed in North America,

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 that's sort of too harsh.

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 But the key idea is

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 that you belong to somebody else.

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 You're actually somebody else's property

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 and they can tell you what to do.

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 In the ancient world,

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 doulos could be quite powerful, actually.

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 They could even make money

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 and buy their own freedom.

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 So there's no perfect word in English.

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 But the idea that you belong to somebody else

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 and that they have power and authority over you

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 to tell you what to do,

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 that is definitely in the text.

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 But it's interesting.

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 Here we have James introducing himself

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 as a servant of God

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 and of the Lord Jesus Christ.

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 Here's what's so significant about him.

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 James could have introduced himself this way.

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 He could have been sitting,

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 good suit, good tie,

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 really expensive glass of wine right there,

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 some very expensive nibblies

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 to go along with the expensive glass of wine.

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 And he could be saying,

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 by the way, did I mention

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 that I'm actually the head of the church in Jerusalem?

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 You know?

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 And by the way,

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 if you're the head of the church in Jerusalem,

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 it really means you're the head of the church

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 in the entire world.

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 Oh, and by the way,

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 did I happen to mention

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 that Jesus is my brother?

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 I don't mean like brother in a spiritual way.

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 I mean actually,

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 after Jesus had his birth,

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 Mary and Joseph had other children

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 and I'm one of them.

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 I'm Jesus' half-brother.

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 Did I happen to mention that?

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 Some of you know you think you know Jesus,

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 but I actually,

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 I know what his poop smells like

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 because I grew up with him.

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 He could have said all that stuff,

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 but he didn't.

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 In fact,

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 this is actually one of the things

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 which is very, very interesting

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 about this text

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 and why,

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 in a sense,

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 it's one of those cases

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 where the introduction

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 casts a light

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 on the entire rest of the book.

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 Because if you go back

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 and you read any of the ancient biographies

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 of Jesus

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 and they actually exist,

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 if you read any of the ancient biographies

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 of Jesus that actually exist,

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 what you'll see

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 is that Jesus is,

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 that the children

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 that Mary and Joseph had

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 after Jesus was born,

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 that those children,

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 that they actually thought

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 Jesus was nuts.

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 They didn't believe him.

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 They thought he was an imposter.

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 They mocked him.

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 And they,

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 James wasn't at the crucifixion.

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 And what,

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 so what another,

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 what completely and utterly

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 changed James' life?

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 You see,

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 the fact of the matter is,

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 is that James knew

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 Jesus very well.

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 And James understood

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 that Jesus really did die,

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 like he really knew

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 that Jesus died.

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 And he knew that Jesus

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 really was buried.

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 And he knew the tomb

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 where Jesus was buried.

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 And he knew where that was.

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 And he knew

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 that on the third day

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 the tomb was empty.

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 And he knew

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 from personal experience,

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 like literal

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 personal experience,

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 that Jesus had risen

00:12:06.340 --> 00:12:06.980
 from the dead.

00:12:06.980 --> 00:12:08.259
 because James

00:12:08.259 --> 00:12:09.500
 was an eyewitness

00:12:09.500 --> 00:12:11.700
 of Jesus's,

00:12:12.039 --> 00:12:12.560
 of Jesus

00:12:12.560 --> 00:12:13.720
 after he was resurrected.

00:12:16.259 --> 00:12:17.320
 And the resurrection

00:12:17.320 --> 00:12:18.940
 changes everything.

00:12:21.820 --> 00:12:22.220
 Like,

00:12:22.320 --> 00:12:23.060
 you might not think

00:12:23.060 --> 00:12:23.279
 it does

00:12:23.279 --> 00:12:23.580
 because,

00:12:23.720 --> 00:12:23.920
 you know,

00:12:23.940 --> 00:12:24.899
 it's not the case

00:12:24.899 --> 00:12:25.500
 that somehow

00:12:25.500 --> 00:12:26.420
 or another history,

00:12:26.580 --> 00:12:27.639
 historians have proved

00:12:27.639 --> 00:12:28.620
 that Jesus didn't rise

00:12:28.620 --> 00:12:29.120
 from the dead.

00:12:29.120 --> 00:12:30.539
 and that it,

00:12:30.899 --> 00:12:31.200
 in fact,

00:12:31.279 --> 00:12:31.560
 actually,

00:12:31.639 --> 00:12:31.899
 it's very,

00:12:32.019 --> 00:12:32.539
 very interesting.

00:12:32.679 --> 00:12:33.299
 You can see time

00:12:33.299 --> 00:12:33.639
 and time

00:12:33.639 --> 00:12:34.279
 and time again,

00:12:34.399 --> 00:12:35.080
 Frank Morrison,

00:12:35.080 --> 00:12:35.539
 I think,

00:12:35.600 --> 00:12:36.500
 was in the 50s.

00:12:37.039 --> 00:12:37.820
 There's another fellow,

00:12:38.039 --> 00:12:38.539
 I can't remember

00:12:38.539 --> 00:12:39.360
 his name right now,

00:12:39.519 --> 00:12:40.799
 J. Warner Wallace,

00:12:41.019 --> 00:12:42.379
 who was a cold,

00:12:42.639 --> 00:12:43.419
 a detective

00:12:43.419 --> 00:12:43.940
 who specialized

00:12:43.940 --> 00:12:44.980
 in cold cases.

00:12:45.659 --> 00:12:47.200
 And he went to study

00:12:47.200 --> 00:12:47.720
 to prove

00:12:47.720 --> 00:12:48.480
 that Jesus didn't

00:12:48.480 --> 00:12:49.279
 rise from the dead.

00:12:49.659 --> 00:12:50.360
 The fellow who wrote

00:12:50.360 --> 00:12:50.639
 the book,

00:12:50.720 --> 00:12:51.500
 The Case for Christ,

00:12:51.639 --> 00:12:52.679
 he went to study

00:12:52.679 --> 00:12:53.139
 to prove

00:12:53.139 --> 00:12:53.299
 that,

00:12:53.399 --> 00:12:53.620
 in fact,

00:12:53.700 --> 00:12:54.600
 Jesus had risen from the dead.

00:12:54.600 --> 00:12:55.060
 And everybody

00:12:55.060 --> 00:12:56.220
 who studies the issue

00:12:56.220 --> 00:12:57.860
 ends up becoming

00:12:57.860 --> 00:12:59.740
 a follower of Christ.

00:13:00.460 --> 00:13:00.920
 Because,

00:13:01.060 --> 00:13:01.320
 in fact,

00:13:01.460 --> 00:13:02.480
 the historical evidence

00:13:02.480 --> 00:13:03.700
 is quite substantial.

00:13:04.700 --> 00:13:05.220
 And if,

00:13:05.320 --> 00:13:05.680
 in fact,

00:13:05.720 --> 00:13:06.540
 it is the case

00:13:06.540 --> 00:13:07.279
 that there was a man

00:13:07.279 --> 00:13:08.660
 who did actually die,

00:13:09.879 --> 00:13:11.580
 and then on the third day

00:13:11.580 --> 00:13:12.460
 he didn't just

00:13:12.460 --> 00:13:14.019
 sort of get resuscitated,

00:13:14.120 --> 00:13:15.779
 but actually defeated death,

00:13:16.820 --> 00:13:18.360
 if that has actually

00:13:18.360 --> 00:13:19.399
 happened in history

00:13:19.399 --> 00:13:20.139
 and it's happened

00:13:20.139 --> 00:13:20.639
 in history

00:13:20.639 --> 00:13:21.519
 in such a way

00:13:21.519 --> 00:13:22.220
 that it's part of

00:13:22.220 --> 00:13:23.220
 a larger story

00:13:23.220 --> 00:13:23.840
 and narrative

00:13:23.840 --> 00:13:25.519
 and that it can include

00:13:25.519 --> 00:13:26.419
 and make a difference

00:13:26.419 --> 00:13:27.079
 for you

00:13:27.079 --> 00:13:28.179
 and your life

00:13:28.179 --> 00:13:29.679
 for not only today

00:13:29.679 --> 00:13:30.539
 but for all eternity,

00:13:30.740 --> 00:13:32.199
 that changes everything.

00:13:32.460 --> 00:13:33.740
 And that truth

00:13:33.740 --> 00:13:35.340
 of the true death

00:13:35.340 --> 00:13:35.860
 of Jesus

00:13:35.860 --> 00:13:37.860
 and the true resurrection

00:13:37.860 --> 00:13:38.439
 of Jesus

00:13:38.439 --> 00:13:39.659
 and the true meaning

00:13:39.659 --> 00:13:40.759
 of what it means,

00:13:41.259 --> 00:13:44.939
 that changes everything.

00:13:45.980 --> 00:13:46.199
 See,

00:13:46.259 --> 00:13:47.299
 the fact of the matter is

00:13:47.299 --> 00:13:49.120
 Jesus knew

00:13:49.120 --> 00:13:49.919
 what James' poop

00:13:49.919 --> 00:13:50.679
 smelled like

00:13:50.679 --> 00:13:52.279
 because they grew up together.

00:13:52.779 --> 00:13:53.819
 And Jesus knew

00:13:53.819 --> 00:13:55.039
 what James thought about him.

00:13:55.519 --> 00:13:56.519
 And Jesus knew

00:13:56.519 --> 00:13:57.779
 all of the terrible things

00:13:57.779 --> 00:13:58.779
 that James would have said

00:13:58.779 --> 00:13:59.220
 about him.

00:13:59.600 --> 00:14:00.399
 And Jesus knew

00:14:00.399 --> 00:14:01.139
 all of that stuff,

00:14:01.240 --> 00:14:02.659
 but Jesus died for James.

00:14:03.279 --> 00:14:05.019
 And Jesus rose for James.

00:14:05.699 --> 00:14:06.799
 And Jesus came

00:14:06.799 --> 00:14:07.740
 to save James

00:14:07.740 --> 00:14:08.419
 just as he came

00:14:08.419 --> 00:14:09.039
 to save you.

00:14:09.120 --> 00:14:09.699
 He comes

00:14:09.699 --> 00:14:11.240
 so that ordinary people

00:14:11.240 --> 00:14:11.980
 like you and me

00:14:11.980 --> 00:14:12.779
 can put our faith

00:14:12.779 --> 00:14:13.659
 and trust in him.

00:14:14.539 --> 00:14:15.720
 And it makes a difference

00:14:15.720 --> 00:14:16.460
 for all eternity.

00:14:17.500 --> 00:14:18.620
 And you can't put

00:14:18.620 --> 00:14:19.480
 your faith and trust

00:14:19.480 --> 00:14:19.960
 in Jesus

00:14:19.960 --> 00:14:20.699
 as the one

00:14:20.699 --> 00:14:22.000
 who actually knows

00:14:22.000 --> 00:14:23.639
 the truth about God,

00:14:23.639 --> 00:14:24.960
 the truth about creation,

00:14:25.139 --> 00:14:26.319
 the truth about sin,

00:14:26.439 --> 00:14:27.639
 the truth about eternity,

00:14:28.059 --> 00:14:29.299
 the truth about you

00:14:29.299 --> 00:14:30.879
 and all your particularity.

00:14:30.960 --> 00:14:32.000
 And he loved you so much

00:14:32.000 --> 00:14:32.860
 that he died for you

00:14:32.860 --> 00:14:33.819
 and rose from the dead.

00:14:36.639 --> 00:14:37.740
 To know him

00:14:37.740 --> 00:14:41.299
 is to belong to him,

00:14:41.899 --> 00:14:43.199
 to become his doulos.

00:14:45.120 --> 00:14:46.399
 And so all the rest

00:14:46.399 --> 00:14:47.639
 of the way

00:14:47.639 --> 00:14:48.539
 through the book of James

00:14:48.539 --> 00:14:49.179
 as we read it,

00:14:49.220 --> 00:14:49.600
 you have to,

00:14:49.659 --> 00:14:49.939
 in a sense,

00:14:50.019 --> 00:14:51.419
 keep toggling back

00:14:51.419 --> 00:14:51.879
 to the beginning.

00:14:51.879 --> 00:14:52.399
 There's a couple

00:14:52.399 --> 00:14:53.000
 of other places.

00:14:53.100 --> 00:14:53.580
 I'm going to mention

00:14:53.580 --> 00:14:54.360
 one of them a little bit

00:14:54.360 --> 00:14:55.179
 in a moment

00:14:55.179 --> 00:14:55.759
 to remember,

00:14:55.899 --> 00:14:56.159
 okay,

00:14:56.679 --> 00:14:57.759
 all of this flows

00:14:57.759 --> 00:14:58.840
 out of this real

00:14:58.840 --> 00:14:59.799
 defeat of death,

00:14:59.879 --> 00:15:00.960
 the real defeat of hell,

00:15:01.059 --> 00:15:02.379
 the real defeat of judgment,

00:15:02.559 --> 00:15:03.559
 the real defeat

00:15:03.559 --> 00:15:05.019
 of the shame

00:15:05.019 --> 00:15:06.100
 and the dishonor

00:15:06.100 --> 00:15:07.639
 and everything

00:15:07.639 --> 00:15:08.779
 which is just wrong

00:15:08.779 --> 00:15:09.419
 about death

00:15:09.419 --> 00:15:10.559
 and wrong about my life.

00:15:10.580 --> 00:15:11.960
 That has been defeated,

00:15:12.139 --> 00:15:13.039
 has been dealt with

00:15:13.039 --> 00:15:13.639
 by Jesus

00:15:13.639 --> 00:15:14.600
 in a way that means

00:15:14.600 --> 00:15:16.399
 that I can be in him

00:15:16.399 --> 00:15:17.519
 and be right with God

00:15:17.519 --> 00:15:18.500
 and the end of my story

00:15:18.500 --> 00:15:18.960
 is going to be

00:15:18.960 --> 00:15:20.139
 completely and utterly different.

00:15:20.259 --> 00:15:20.620
 How on earth

00:15:20.620 --> 00:15:21.299
 should I now live?

00:15:22.519 --> 00:15:23.460
 That's what the whole book

00:15:23.460 --> 00:15:23.879
 is about.

00:15:25.740 --> 00:15:26.100
 So,

00:15:26.220 --> 00:15:27.600
 the very first thing

00:15:27.600 --> 00:15:28.740
 that we're going to look at then

00:15:28.740 --> 00:15:29.639
 after we have this

00:15:29.639 --> 00:15:30.720
 as a bit of a beginning

00:15:30.720 --> 00:15:31.919
 is some of you might say,

00:15:32.039 --> 00:15:32.439
 well, okay,

00:15:32.620 --> 00:15:33.860
 that's very interesting.

00:15:33.919 --> 00:15:34.100
 In fact,

00:15:34.139 --> 00:15:36.259
 this is a perennial mistake

00:15:36.259 --> 00:15:37.279
 made by Christians,

00:15:37.939 --> 00:15:39.179
 even Christians today.

00:15:39.740 --> 00:15:39.939
 See,

00:15:40.039 --> 00:15:41.220
 the problem we have

00:15:41.220 --> 00:15:41.679
 as Christians

00:15:41.679 --> 00:15:43.100
 is we forget the gospel,

00:15:43.240 --> 00:15:44.320
 we forget who Jesus is

00:15:44.320 --> 00:15:45.340
 and we forget his word.

00:15:45.740 --> 00:15:46.340
 It's one of the reasons

00:15:46.340 --> 00:15:48.559
 why a church like ours,

00:15:48.559 --> 00:15:50.179
 we preach through books

00:15:50.179 --> 00:15:50.779
 of the Bible

00:15:50.779 --> 00:15:51.439
 so that,

00:15:51.559 --> 00:15:51.899
 you know,

00:15:51.899 --> 00:15:52.579
 we don't just pick

00:15:52.579 --> 00:15:53.519
 and choose little verses.

00:15:53.699 --> 00:15:54.459
 We look at the things

00:15:54.459 --> 00:15:55.000
 which are going to be

00:15:55.000 --> 00:15:55.539
 very hard,

00:15:55.639 --> 00:15:56.319
 very challenging,

00:15:56.479 --> 00:15:57.059
 very frightening,

00:15:57.059 --> 00:15:57.959
 and the things

00:15:57.959 --> 00:16:00.000
 which will elicit huge hope.

00:16:00.199 --> 00:16:01.419
 We try to look at it all.

00:16:02.399 --> 00:16:02.839
 And so,

00:16:03.000 --> 00:16:04.259
 people might say,

00:16:04.339 --> 00:16:04.459
 okay,

00:16:04.539 --> 00:16:04.759
 wow,

00:16:04.839 --> 00:16:06.559
 if you actually now belong

00:16:06.559 --> 00:16:07.219
 to somebody

00:16:07.219 --> 00:16:08.399
 who's defeated death

00:16:08.399 --> 00:16:09.379
 and defeated hell,

00:16:10.459 --> 00:16:13.019
 defeated whatever whole demonic

00:16:13.019 --> 00:16:15.100
 or hostile spiritual powers

00:16:15.100 --> 00:16:15.539
 have on you,

00:16:15.559 --> 00:16:16.480
 they've all been defeated.

00:16:16.600 --> 00:16:17.079
 You now belong,

00:16:17.179 --> 00:16:17.819
 you put your faith

00:16:17.819 --> 00:16:18.679
 and trust in Jesus.

00:16:19.159 --> 00:16:19.899
 He doesn't count

00:16:19.899 --> 00:16:20.720
 how good you are.

00:16:20.799 --> 00:16:21.679
 He accepts you

00:16:21.679 --> 00:16:23.539
 and he's the one

00:16:23.539 --> 00:16:24.519
 who makes you right with God.

00:16:24.620 --> 00:16:25.360
 He now becomes,

00:16:25.460 --> 00:16:25.779
 in a sense,

00:16:25.840 --> 00:16:26.500
 your owner.

00:16:27.019 --> 00:16:27.139
 Like,

00:16:27.259 --> 00:16:28.220
 surely that means

00:16:28.220 --> 00:16:29.340
 that life will be easy.

00:16:31.000 --> 00:16:31.600
 And many,

00:16:31.699 --> 00:16:33.039
 many people make that connection.

00:16:33.360 --> 00:16:34.279
 Life will be easy.

00:16:35.299 --> 00:16:35.539
 Well,

00:16:36.059 --> 00:16:36.399
 in fact,

00:16:36.740 --> 00:16:37.639
 let's look and see

00:16:37.639 --> 00:16:39.019
 the next three verses,

00:16:39.220 --> 00:16:40.220
 verses two to four.

00:16:40.460 --> 00:16:41.240
 It goes like this.

00:16:41.439 --> 00:16:42.519
 I have to watch my time

00:16:42.519 --> 00:16:43.579
 running around out of time.

00:16:44.480 --> 00:16:45.259
 Count it all joy,

00:16:45.360 --> 00:16:46.340
 my brothers and sisters,

00:16:46.439 --> 00:16:47.600
 when you meet trials

00:16:47.600 --> 00:16:49.819
 of various kinds.

00:16:51.299 --> 00:16:51.539
 Okay,

00:16:51.679 --> 00:16:51.779
 now,

00:16:51.939 --> 00:16:52.559
 but here's,

00:16:52.620 --> 00:16:54.139
 it gets actually a bit odder.

00:16:54.539 --> 00:16:56.860
 It goes against this idea

00:16:56.860 --> 00:16:57.819
 that if you know Jesus,

00:16:57.980 --> 00:16:58.720
 life will get easier.

00:16:58.819 --> 00:16:58.960
 Look,

00:16:59.559 --> 00:17:01.000
 when you meet trials

00:17:01.000 --> 00:17:01.699
 of various kinds,

00:17:01.799 --> 00:17:02.259
 verse three,

00:17:02.379 --> 00:17:02.919
 for you know

00:17:02.919 --> 00:17:04.339
 that the testing of your faith

00:17:04.339 --> 00:17:05.859
 produces steadfastness

00:17:05.859 --> 00:17:07.779
 and let steadfastness

00:17:07.779 --> 00:17:08.799
 have its full effect

00:17:08.799 --> 00:17:10.059
 that you may be perfect

00:17:10.059 --> 00:17:11.460
 and complete,

00:17:11.460 --> 00:17:12.799
 lacking in nothing.

00:17:13.720 --> 00:17:14.759
 And the word perfect there

00:17:14.759 --> 00:17:15.980
 is a telos word.

00:17:16.160 --> 00:17:17.720
 It's an end word.

00:17:18.120 --> 00:17:18.600
 In other words,

00:17:18.680 --> 00:17:20.000
 it has this idea

00:17:20.000 --> 00:17:22.559
 that there's this proper end for you.

00:17:22.799 --> 00:17:22.819
 This,

00:17:23.259 --> 00:17:23.680
 in a sense,

00:17:24.100 --> 00:17:24.680
 if you have,

00:17:24.840 --> 00:17:25.000
 you know,

00:17:25.120 --> 00:17:25.880
 everybody,

00:17:26.220 --> 00:17:26.500
 many,

00:17:26.620 --> 00:17:27.720
 many people have this sense

00:17:27.720 --> 00:17:28.620
 that we despair

00:17:28.620 --> 00:17:29.519
 when we lose it,

00:17:29.559 --> 00:17:29.779
 right?

00:17:30.299 --> 00:17:31.779
 But when we don't lose it,

00:17:31.799 --> 00:17:32.559
 we have this sense

00:17:32.559 --> 00:17:33.019
 that there's like

00:17:33.019 --> 00:17:34.000
 a type of a destiny,

00:17:34.140 --> 00:17:34.579
 an end,

00:17:34.680 --> 00:17:35.279
 a summing up,

00:17:35.319 --> 00:17:36.059
 a completeness,

00:17:36.200 --> 00:17:37.860
 a direction,

00:17:37.859 --> 00:17:39.219
 that life isn't just

00:17:39.219 --> 00:17:40.179
 one dang thing

00:17:40.179 --> 00:17:40.879
 after another

00:17:40.879 --> 00:17:41.899
 and then you die.

00:17:43.199 --> 00:17:43.879
 You know,

00:17:43.959 --> 00:17:44.599
 and maybe

00:17:44.599 --> 00:17:46.179
 if it's during COVID-19,

00:17:46.279 --> 00:17:47.319
 you die all alone

00:17:47.319 --> 00:17:49.339
 with people

00:17:49.339 --> 00:17:50.419
 who don't even know you.

00:17:52.119 --> 00:17:53.539
 And this perfect is,

00:17:53.699 --> 00:17:54.279
 in other words,

00:17:54.339 --> 00:17:55.299
 you come to that

00:17:55.299 --> 00:17:56.719
 for which you were made.

00:17:58.000 --> 00:17:59.579
 And the implication

00:17:59.579 --> 00:18:00.199
 of the text

00:18:00.199 --> 00:18:01.240
 is that there's always

00:18:01.240 --> 00:18:02.339
 going to be things

00:18:02.339 --> 00:18:03.839
 that are trials.

00:18:03.839 --> 00:18:05.699
 And the trials

00:18:05.699 --> 00:18:06.439
 can be both

00:18:06.439 --> 00:18:07.879
 surprising things

00:18:07.879 --> 00:18:08.299
 that come out

00:18:08.299 --> 00:18:09.240
 of the Christian worldview.

00:18:09.439 --> 00:18:10.240
 They can be things

00:18:10.240 --> 00:18:10.740
 that happen

00:18:10.740 --> 00:18:12.519
 like obvious trials

00:18:12.519 --> 00:18:14.079
 like ill health,

00:18:14.240 --> 00:18:15.159
 bad finances,

00:18:16.000 --> 00:18:16.699
 loneliness,

00:18:17.779 --> 00:18:19.199
 job setbacks,

00:18:19.459 --> 00:18:21.740
 relational setbacks,

00:18:22.079 --> 00:18:23.019
 many other problems

00:18:23.019 --> 00:18:23.779
 that come with aging

00:18:23.779 --> 00:18:25.379
 if you live long enough.

00:18:25.759 --> 00:18:26.379
 But it's also

00:18:26.379 --> 00:18:27.319
 other different types

00:18:27.319 --> 00:18:27.819
 of trials,

00:18:27.939 --> 00:18:28.619
 things that reveal

00:18:28.619 --> 00:18:29.259
 who you are,

00:18:29.419 --> 00:18:30.099
 things that reveal

00:18:30.099 --> 00:18:31.159
 how you've treated people,

00:18:31.319 --> 00:18:31.959
 things that reveal

00:18:31.959 --> 00:18:32.659
 your character.

00:18:32.660 --> 00:18:32.740
 character.

00:18:33.279 --> 00:18:34.519
 It's a very, very general

00:18:34.519 --> 00:18:35.880
 and all-encompassing word.

00:18:35.960 --> 00:18:37.060
 And the Bible here says

00:18:37.060 --> 00:18:38.320
 that this is something

00:18:38.320 --> 00:18:39.480
 which is going to be

00:18:39.480 --> 00:18:41.480
 with you all of your life.

00:18:42.360 --> 00:18:42.580
 In fact,

00:18:43.220 --> 00:18:44.580
 I felt like saying

00:18:44.580 --> 00:18:45.140
 at the beginning

00:18:45.140 --> 00:18:46.040
 and I decided

00:18:46.040 --> 00:18:46.960
 I'd talk about money,

00:18:47.540 --> 00:18:49.440
 the book of James

00:18:49.440 --> 00:18:50.840
 is only 108 verses,

00:18:51.120 --> 00:18:53.240
 but there's 59 commands

00:18:53.240 --> 00:18:54.920
 in the 108 verses.

00:18:55.420 --> 00:18:56.680
 So here's the good news.

00:18:56.759 --> 00:18:57.920
 At the end of the book of James,

00:18:57.980 --> 00:18:59.220
 you have 59 new things

00:18:59.220 --> 00:19:00.200
 on your to-do list.

00:19:00.200 --> 00:19:03.220
 Nobody likes hearing that.

00:19:03.580 --> 00:19:05.660
 We like having small to-do lists.

00:19:06.500 --> 00:19:07.420
 But it's not going to be,

00:19:07.500 --> 00:19:08.400
 these to-dos aren't things

00:19:08.400 --> 00:19:09.299
 that are going to crush us.

00:19:09.400 --> 00:19:10.860
 They're things to meditate upon

00:19:10.860 --> 00:19:12.840
 to help us to make,

00:19:13.120 --> 00:19:14.420
 to reach that end

00:19:14.420 --> 00:19:15.880
 that fits with the uniqueness

00:19:15.880 --> 00:19:16.600
 that we are,

00:19:16.900 --> 00:19:18.600
 that have been woven into us

00:19:18.600 --> 00:19:19.259
 in our creation

00:19:19.259 --> 00:19:20.779
 and that have been redeemed

00:19:20.779 --> 00:19:22.259
 into us through Christ.

00:19:23.000 --> 00:19:24.960
 But here's the thing.

00:19:24.960 --> 00:19:26.200
 In self-help books,

00:19:27.299 --> 00:19:28.420
 generally what happens

00:19:28.420 --> 00:19:29.460
 in self-help books

00:19:29.460 --> 00:19:31.019
 is they'll obviously talk

00:19:31.019 --> 00:19:31.799
 about difficulties

00:19:31.799 --> 00:19:32.579
 and obstacles.

00:19:33.539 --> 00:19:34.960
 But the inherent message

00:19:35.840 --> 00:19:37.700
 often in self-help books

00:19:37.700 --> 00:19:39.180
 is that as you master

00:19:39.180 --> 00:19:40.579
 the self-help books,

00:19:41.220 --> 00:19:42.940
 these things will happen

00:19:42.940 --> 00:19:43.880
 less and less.

00:19:44.840 --> 00:19:45.120
 You know,

00:19:45.180 --> 00:19:46.140
 because you just become

00:19:46.140 --> 00:19:47.860
 smoother at seeing ahead,

00:19:48.500 --> 00:19:50.900
 you get better at

00:19:50.900 --> 00:19:53.039
 forming your own future,

00:19:53.039 --> 00:19:53.639
 you know,

00:19:53.759 --> 00:19:54.599
 you have your own

00:19:54.599 --> 00:19:55.440
 preferred future

00:19:55.440 --> 00:19:56.700
 that you move towards,

00:19:56.799 --> 00:19:57.599
 you get better at

00:19:57.599 --> 00:20:00.220
 handling comments,

00:20:00.359 --> 00:20:01.599
 at handling feedback,

00:20:01.920 --> 00:20:02.839
 you just get better

00:20:02.839 --> 00:20:03.740
 and better and better

00:20:03.740 --> 00:20:04.680
 at all of these things

00:20:04.680 --> 00:20:05.180
 if you follow

00:20:05.180 --> 00:20:06.139
 the self-help book.

00:20:06.700 --> 00:20:07.139
 And even though

00:20:07.139 --> 00:20:07.539
 you're going to have

00:20:07.539 --> 00:20:08.259
 to face things

00:20:08.259 --> 00:20:08.819
 and there'll be maybe

00:20:08.819 --> 00:20:09.920
 a lot of stuff at first

00:20:09.920 --> 00:20:10.720
 and it's going to reveal

00:20:10.720 --> 00:20:11.460
 things about you

00:20:11.460 --> 00:20:12.500
 that have to be dealt with,

00:20:12.740 --> 00:20:13.700
 but the idea is

00:20:13.700 --> 00:20:14.879
 that once you master

00:20:14.879 --> 00:20:16.399
 the things in the self-help book

00:20:16.399 --> 00:20:18.299
 that life gets better,

00:20:18.460 --> 00:20:19.279
 it gets easier,

00:20:19.480 --> 00:20:20.899
 in a sense there's fewer obstacles.

00:20:21.379 --> 00:20:22.059
 And in this sense,

00:20:22.059 --> 00:20:23.799
 the book of James

00:20:23.799 --> 00:20:24.159
 is saying,

00:20:24.240 --> 00:20:25.419
 that's the complete opposite

00:20:25.419 --> 00:20:26.339
 of what, in fact,

00:20:26.619 --> 00:20:27.440
 the Christian life is.

00:20:27.500 --> 00:20:28.179
 And the fact of the matter

00:20:28.179 --> 00:20:29.379
 is it's actually the opposite

00:20:29.379 --> 00:20:30.659
 of what life is really like.

00:20:31.559 --> 00:20:32.480
 See, the reason we keep

00:20:32.480 --> 00:20:33.919
 going back to self-help books

00:20:33.919 --> 00:20:34.839
 is because, in fact,

00:20:34.879 --> 00:20:36.240
 they don't tell us the truth.

00:20:37.480 --> 00:20:38.839
 There constantly ends up

00:20:38.839 --> 00:20:39.579
 being things.

00:20:40.039 --> 00:20:41.019
 And part of the thing

00:20:41.019 --> 00:20:41.879
 about self-help books

00:20:41.879 --> 00:20:42.759
 is they end up making,

00:20:42.940 --> 00:20:43.419
 many of us,

00:20:43.440 --> 00:20:44.679
 at first they're very exciting

00:20:44.679 --> 00:20:45.919
 and at first they might work,

00:20:46.159 --> 00:20:48.359
 but then crap happens to us.

00:20:48.359 --> 00:20:51.000
 And we feel even more

00:20:51.000 --> 00:20:52.240
 depressed afterwards.

00:20:53.639 --> 00:20:54.899
 So the Bible actually has,

00:20:55.240 --> 00:20:55.799
 here's the thing

00:20:55.799 --> 00:20:56.699
 which is so wonderful

00:20:56.699 --> 00:20:57.599
 about the gospel,

00:20:58.039 --> 00:20:59.240
 is when you understand

00:20:59.240 --> 00:21:01.119
 that Jesus has died for you,

00:21:01.159 --> 00:21:02.159
 he loves you so much

00:21:02.159 --> 00:21:03.059
 that he died for you,

00:21:03.099 --> 00:21:03.839
 that he knows everything

00:21:03.839 --> 00:21:04.819
 there is to know about you

00:21:04.819 --> 00:21:06.219
 and still he died for you.

00:21:06.819 --> 00:21:08.519
 And he not only,

00:21:08.899 --> 00:21:09.740
 in his death,

00:21:09.839 --> 00:21:10.740
 deals with everything

00:21:10.740 --> 00:21:11.899
 that's wrong with you,

00:21:11.939 --> 00:21:12.839
 but at the same time,

00:21:13.099 --> 00:21:14.139
 he doesn't present you

00:21:14.139 --> 00:21:15.659
 in terms of the one or two

00:21:15.659 --> 00:21:16.479
 little good things

00:21:16.480 --> 00:21:17.079
 that are in your life

00:21:17.079 --> 00:21:18.220
 or the 15 good things

00:21:18.220 --> 00:21:18.940
 that are in your life.

00:21:20.059 --> 00:21:21.220
 He actually says,

00:21:21.339 --> 00:21:21.940
 I'm going to give you,

00:21:22.019 --> 00:21:22.279
 in a sense,

00:21:22.360 --> 00:21:23.579
 all of my destiny

00:21:23.579 --> 00:21:24.380
 I give to you.

00:21:24.440 --> 00:21:25.460
 Not only do I take your doom,

00:21:25.500 --> 00:21:26.440
 I give you my destiny

00:21:26.440 --> 00:21:27.839
 and you're presented

00:21:27.839 --> 00:21:28.519
 for all eternity,

00:21:29.000 --> 00:21:29.319
 in a sense,

00:21:29.440 --> 00:21:31.319
 covered with his perfect life.

00:21:32.559 --> 00:21:33.259
 But the thing,

00:21:33.339 --> 00:21:33.700
 here's the thing

00:21:33.700 --> 00:21:34.380
 which is so wonderful

00:21:34.380 --> 00:21:35.079
 about the Bible,

00:21:35.240 --> 00:21:35.819
 it is both,

00:21:36.160 --> 00:21:36.880
 gives you,

00:21:37.799 --> 00:21:38.839
 it gives you,

00:21:38.940 --> 00:21:39.819
 at the same time,

00:21:39.980 --> 00:21:41.380
 a realistic assessment

00:21:41.380 --> 00:21:42.500
 of each day

00:21:42.500 --> 00:21:45.640
 and a realistic hope

00:21:45.640 --> 00:21:46.360
 for the end

00:21:46.360 --> 00:21:47.040
 of the story

00:21:47.040 --> 00:21:47.820
 of your life.

00:21:48.960 --> 00:21:49.460
 And that's what,

00:21:49.500 --> 00:21:50.280
 that's what James

00:21:50.280 --> 00:21:51.100
 is talking about.

00:21:51.340 --> 00:21:52.180
 On one hand,

00:21:52.460 --> 00:21:53.780
 here's the realistic thing

00:21:53.780 --> 00:21:54.520
 about your life.

00:21:54.580 --> 00:21:55.220
 You're always going to be

00:21:55.220 --> 00:21:56.180
 dealing with selfishness,

00:21:56.240 --> 00:21:57.180
 you're always going to be dealing,

00:21:57.280 --> 00:21:57.400
 you know,

00:21:57.420 --> 00:21:58.259
 those of you who are married,

00:21:58.320 --> 00:21:59.100
 if you think there's going

00:21:59.100 --> 00:21:59.780
 to be a time

00:21:59.780 --> 00:22:01.700
 where you actually never say

00:22:01.700 --> 00:22:02.520
 something cutting

00:22:02.520 --> 00:22:03.640
 or hurting to your spouse,

00:22:04.040 --> 00:22:04.980
 ha, ha, ha,

00:22:05.220 --> 00:22:06.980
 you believe that myth.

00:22:08.420 --> 00:22:09.360
 It ain't going to happen.

00:22:09.560 --> 00:22:10.320
 Where you're never going to have

00:22:10.320 --> 00:22:11.540
 to struggle with selfishness,

00:22:11.620 --> 00:22:12.220
 there's never going to be

00:22:12.220 --> 00:22:13.040
 issues around money,

00:22:13.140 --> 00:22:14.060
 there's never going to be issues,

00:22:14.059 --> 00:22:16.119
 yeah, forget about it.

00:22:16.200 --> 00:22:17.319
 If you read some book

00:22:17.319 --> 00:22:18.599
 that tells you you can do that,

00:22:19.059 --> 00:22:19.859
 throw it away.

00:22:20.059 --> 00:22:21.899
 It's only going to make you depressed,

00:22:22.220 --> 00:22:22.539
 okay?

00:22:23.059 --> 00:22:23.980
 By the way, as well,

00:22:24.039 --> 00:22:24.740
 you want to increase

00:22:24.740 --> 00:22:25.740
 your wisdom quotient,

00:22:25.859 --> 00:22:27.359
 stop looking at Facebook

00:22:27.359 --> 00:22:28.240
 and Instagram.

00:22:28.679 --> 00:22:29.960
 Maybe make it that you spend

00:22:29.960 --> 00:22:30.819
 one minute a day

00:22:30.819 --> 00:22:32.059
 or five minutes a day,

00:22:32.299 --> 00:22:33.359
 because all it does

00:22:33.359 --> 00:22:34.819
 is show you everybody else's

00:22:34.819 --> 00:22:35.480
 perfect life

00:22:35.480 --> 00:22:36.879
 and depresses you,

00:22:37.519 --> 00:22:38.099
 right?

00:22:39.359 --> 00:22:39.879
 So,

00:22:40.240 --> 00:22:41.539
 so the Bible here

00:22:41.539 --> 00:22:42.159
 is very,

00:22:42.240 --> 00:22:42.460
 very,

00:22:42.559 --> 00:22:43.399
 very realistic.

00:22:43.400 --> 00:22:43.560
 realistic.

00:22:44.140 --> 00:22:45.100
 Your life is going to be

00:22:45.100 --> 00:22:46.080
 filled with trials.

00:22:46.360 --> 00:22:47.060
 That's realistic.

00:22:47.259 --> 00:22:48.019
 But here's the thing,

00:22:48.140 --> 00:22:48.840
 in Jesus,

00:22:49.540 --> 00:22:50.440
 in Jesus,

00:22:51.040 --> 00:22:51.820
 it gives you

00:22:51.820 --> 00:22:53.200
 a realistic hope

00:22:53.200 --> 00:22:54.500
 that the end,

00:22:54.600 --> 00:22:55.580
 for the end of the story

00:22:55.580 --> 00:22:56.300
 of your life,

00:22:56.840 --> 00:22:57.700
 which is that you come

00:22:57.700 --> 00:22:58.540
 to your telos.

00:22:58.620 --> 00:22:58.940
 In fact,

00:22:59.300 --> 00:23:00.480
 if you were to skip down

00:23:00.480 --> 00:23:01.240
 to verse 12,

00:23:01.320 --> 00:23:02.320
 which we'll just read briefly

00:23:02.320 --> 00:23:02.820
 at the end,

00:23:02.860 --> 00:23:04.100
 it says that the end of life,

00:23:04.160 --> 00:23:05.440
 you have this crown of life,

00:23:05.560 --> 00:23:06.800
 which is bestowed upon you

00:23:06.800 --> 00:23:07.380
 by Jesus.

00:23:07.380 --> 00:23:08.860
 It's already waiting for you.

00:23:08.920 --> 00:23:10.320
 That's the end of your life.

00:23:10.319 --> 00:23:11.200
 And it gives you

00:23:11.200 --> 00:23:12.559
 a profound energy

00:23:12.559 --> 00:23:14.319
 to persevere

00:23:14.319 --> 00:23:15.480
 through these trials

00:23:15.480 --> 00:23:16.960
 and to create

00:23:16.960 --> 00:23:18.139
 the type of personality

00:23:18.139 --> 00:23:19.259
 which is steadfast,

00:23:19.339 --> 00:23:20.079
 which can handle

00:23:20.079 --> 00:23:20.879
 the setbacks

00:23:20.879 --> 00:23:22.960
 that begins to have,

00:23:23.059 --> 00:23:24.059
 the steadfastness

00:23:24.059 --> 00:23:24.559
 means you have

00:23:24.559 --> 00:23:25.039
 the maturity

00:23:25.039 --> 00:23:25.879
 to apologize

00:23:25.879 --> 00:23:27.159
 when you do make

00:23:27.159 --> 00:23:28.099
 those cutting comments

00:23:28.099 --> 00:23:28.839
 or you apologize

00:23:28.839 --> 00:23:29.759
 because you should have

00:23:29.759 --> 00:23:30.259
 done something

00:23:30.259 --> 00:23:31.240
 and you didn't

00:23:31.240 --> 00:23:32.759
 and to deal with

00:23:32.759 --> 00:23:33.899
 the health issues

00:23:33.899 --> 00:23:35.179
 and the financial issues

00:23:35.179 --> 00:23:36.359
 and the relational issues

00:23:36.359 --> 00:23:38.339
 that God is building

00:23:38.339 --> 00:23:39.539
 into you

00:23:39.539 --> 00:23:41.319
 as you walk

00:23:41.319 --> 00:23:42.059
 with his son,

00:23:42.139 --> 00:23:43.359
 this steadfastness

00:23:43.359 --> 00:23:44.279
 to be able to walk

00:23:44.279 --> 00:23:45.500
 and endure with it.

00:23:46.759 --> 00:23:47.639
 Now here there's going

00:23:47.639 --> 00:23:48.119
 to be a little bit

00:23:48.119 --> 00:23:48.619
 of a problem

00:23:48.619 --> 00:23:49.419
 and I'm going to probably

00:23:49.419 --> 00:23:50.059
 have to say this

00:23:50.059 --> 00:23:50.559
 every week

00:23:50.559 --> 00:23:51.459
 in the book of James.

00:23:52.139 --> 00:23:53.240
 And one of the things,

00:23:53.419 --> 00:23:54.519
 if you go and you look,

00:23:54.879 --> 00:23:56.539
 basically there's very little

00:23:56.539 --> 00:23:57.879
 structure to the book of James.

00:23:58.000 --> 00:23:58.399
 Those of you

00:23:58.399 --> 00:23:58.799
 who are familiar

00:23:58.799 --> 00:23:59.419
 with the Bible

00:23:59.419 --> 00:24:00.859
 are familiar with books

00:24:00.859 --> 00:24:01.959
 like the book of Proverbs.

00:24:02.819 --> 00:24:03.759
 And in the book of Proverbs

00:24:03.759 --> 00:24:04.759
 there's lots of different

00:24:04.759 --> 00:24:06.099
 individual proverbs.

00:24:06.099 --> 00:24:06.980
 Sometimes they're grouped,

00:24:07.079 --> 00:24:07.879
 sometimes they're not.

00:24:08.439 --> 00:24:09.000
 In fact, if you wanted

00:24:09.000 --> 00:24:09.959
 to look at all the Proverbs

00:24:09.959 --> 00:24:10.679
 in money,

00:24:10.779 --> 00:24:11.339
 you'd have to look,

00:24:11.379 --> 00:24:11.539
 you know,

00:24:11.599 --> 00:24:12.500
 here in chapter 3

00:24:12.500 --> 00:24:13.500
 and chapter 7

00:24:13.500 --> 00:24:14.339
 and chapter 10

00:24:14.339 --> 00:24:15.279
 and chapter 15

00:24:15.279 --> 00:24:16.159
 and chapter 20

00:24:16.159 --> 00:24:17.000
 and chapter 31

00:24:17.000 --> 00:24:17.559
 or whatever

00:24:17.559 --> 00:24:18.759
 to try to see it

00:24:18.759 --> 00:24:19.399
 because it just sort of

00:24:19.399 --> 00:24:20.019
 goes in and out

00:24:20.019 --> 00:24:21.039
 of all these different ideas

00:24:21.039 --> 00:24:21.819
 and the same thing here

00:24:21.819 --> 00:24:22.639
 with the book of James.

00:24:23.279 --> 00:24:24.279
 In many ways,

00:24:24.359 --> 00:24:24.939
 the book of James

00:24:24.939 --> 00:24:26.159
 is closer to the book

00:24:26.159 --> 00:24:27.000
 of Proverbs

00:24:27.000 --> 00:24:28.819
 where the book

00:24:28.819 --> 00:24:29.699
 is a series

00:24:29.699 --> 00:24:31.059
 of wisdom commands

00:24:31.059 --> 00:24:32.699
 and wisdom insights

00:24:32.699 --> 00:24:35.599
 that every one of them

00:24:35.599 --> 00:24:36.159
 is something

00:24:36.159 --> 00:24:37.679
 or a little group

00:24:37.679 --> 00:24:38.000
 of them

00:24:38.000 --> 00:24:38.599
 is something

00:24:38.599 --> 00:24:39.980
 for you to meditate upon,

00:24:40.119 --> 00:24:40.619
 to memorize

00:24:40.619 --> 00:24:42.699
 and to pray into.

00:24:43.879 --> 00:24:44.379
 And so now

00:24:44.379 --> 00:24:45.179
 the Bible seems

00:24:45.179 --> 00:24:45.959
 to take a bit of a,

00:24:46.179 --> 00:24:47.079
 James seems to take

00:24:47.079 --> 00:24:48.079
 a little bit of a jump

00:24:48.079 --> 00:24:49.539
 because it's now

00:24:49.539 --> 00:24:50.240
 going to talk about

00:24:50.240 --> 00:24:51.279
 something which actually

00:24:51.279 --> 00:24:52.500
 touches on one

00:24:52.500 --> 00:24:53.039
 of the fears

00:24:53.039 --> 00:24:54.219
 that many non-Christians

00:24:54.219 --> 00:24:55.579
 have about the Christian faith

00:24:55.579 --> 00:24:56.219
 which is that

00:24:56.219 --> 00:24:57.079
 the Christian faith

00:24:57.079 --> 00:24:59.139
 encourages intellectual suicide,

00:25:00.079 --> 00:25:01.039
 blind faith,

00:25:01.039 --> 00:25:02.420
 and a refusal

00:25:02.420 --> 00:25:03.500
 to deal with doubts.

00:25:03.899 --> 00:25:04.480
 Like, let's look

00:25:04.480 --> 00:25:05.279
 and see what it says

00:25:05.279 --> 00:25:07.420
 in verses 5 to 8.

00:25:08.420 --> 00:25:08.899
 If any of you

00:25:08.899 --> 00:25:09.720
 lacks wisdom,

00:25:10.019 --> 00:25:11.639
 let him ask

00:25:11.639 --> 00:25:12.139
 or her,

00:25:12.279 --> 00:25:12.899
 ask God,

00:25:13.339 --> 00:25:14.379
 who gives generously

00:25:14.379 --> 00:25:16.019
 to all without reproach.

00:25:17.019 --> 00:25:17.539
 Need to make,

00:25:17.680 --> 00:25:18.940
 and it will be given him,

00:25:19.019 --> 00:25:19.200
 just,

00:25:19.500 --> 00:25:19.859
 or her.

00:25:19.940 --> 00:25:20.740
 You have to hear that,

00:25:20.799 --> 00:25:20.960
 right?

00:25:21.039 --> 00:25:23.119
 That if you lack wisdom,

00:25:23.680 --> 00:25:26.059
 if you ask God,

00:25:26.220 --> 00:25:27.359
 he will start to give you

00:25:27.359 --> 00:25:28.399
 wisdom without reproach.

00:25:28.480 --> 00:25:29.000
 He won't say,

00:25:29.000 --> 00:25:30.039
 without reproach means

00:25:30.039 --> 00:25:30.420
 it's like,

00:25:30.460 --> 00:25:30.839
 I don't know,

00:25:31.339 --> 00:25:31.759
 you know,

00:25:31.779 --> 00:25:32.619
 somebody wants to

00:25:32.619 --> 00:25:33.859
 borrow some money from you.

00:25:33.940 --> 00:25:34.039
 You say,

00:25:34.119 --> 00:25:34.420
 what do you mean

00:25:34.420 --> 00:25:35.319
 you want to borrow money from you?

00:25:35.319 --> 00:25:35.839
 You haven't paid back

00:25:35.839 --> 00:25:36.480
 the last money.

00:25:36.559 --> 00:25:36.640
 Like,

00:25:36.660 --> 00:25:37.759
 all you do is waste the money.

00:25:38.500 --> 00:25:38.960
 You know,

00:25:39.380 --> 00:25:40.819
 your kid comes and says,

00:25:40.900 --> 00:25:41.019
 you know,

00:25:41.099 --> 00:25:42.640
 can you lend me 20 bucks,

00:25:42.759 --> 00:25:42.940
 dad,

00:25:43.039 --> 00:25:44.059
 or mom?

00:25:44.099 --> 00:25:44.519
 And you say,

00:25:44.880 --> 00:25:45.059
 fine,

00:25:45.079 --> 00:25:45.640
 you just wasted

00:25:45.640 --> 00:25:47.059
 the last 20 bucks I gave.

00:25:47.160 --> 00:25:47.440
 You're like,

00:25:47.460 --> 00:25:48.119
 where is it going?

00:25:48.180 --> 00:25:49.019
 You're just wasting it

00:25:49.019 --> 00:25:49.900
 on Uber Eats

00:25:49.900 --> 00:25:50.059
 or,

00:25:50.180 --> 00:25:50.559
 I don't know,

00:25:50.720 --> 00:25:51.799
 something like that.

00:25:53.660 --> 00:25:54.400
 God gives you

00:25:54.400 --> 00:25:55.180
 without reproach.

00:25:55.880 --> 00:25:56.819
 He doesn't even tell you,

00:25:56.880 --> 00:25:57.059
 yeah,

00:25:57.160 --> 00:25:58.240
 I've been waiting for it

00:25:58.240 --> 00:25:58.740
 because you've been

00:25:58.740 --> 00:25:59.980
 an unbelievable fool

00:25:59.980 --> 00:26:00.779
 for a long time,

00:26:00.859 --> 00:26:01.859
 so I'm glad you're fine.

00:26:01.940 --> 00:26:02.220
 No,

00:26:02.660 --> 00:26:03.599
 without reproach.

00:26:04.500 --> 00:26:05.220
 I read it to you again.

00:26:05.299 --> 00:26:06.059
 If any of you

00:26:06.059 --> 00:26:07.279
 lacks wisdom,

00:26:07.539 --> 00:26:09.000
 let him or her ask God

00:26:09.000 --> 00:26:09.880
 who gives generously

00:26:09.880 --> 00:26:11.200
 to all without reproach

00:26:11.200 --> 00:26:12.180
 and it will be given to them.

00:26:12.740 --> 00:26:13.859
 But let the person

00:26:13.859 --> 00:26:14.900
 ask in faith

00:26:14.900 --> 00:26:16.039
 with no doubting

00:26:16.039 --> 00:26:17.599
 for the one who doubts

00:26:17.599 --> 00:26:18.819
 is like a wave of the sea

00:26:18.819 --> 00:26:19.420
 that is driven

00:26:19.420 --> 00:26:20.500
 and tossed by the wind.

00:26:20.960 --> 00:26:22.099
 For that person

00:26:22.099 --> 00:26:23.519
 must not suppose

00:26:23.519 --> 00:26:25.359
 that he or she

00:26:25.359 --> 00:26:26.440
 will receive anything

00:26:26.440 --> 00:26:27.160
 from the Lord.

00:26:27.160 --> 00:26:29.240
 They are a double-minded man,

00:26:29.360 --> 00:26:31.200
 unstable in all their ways.

00:26:32.180 --> 00:26:32.720
 And you can see

00:26:32.720 --> 00:26:33.060
 how this,

00:26:33.580 --> 00:26:34.860
 on a superficial reading,

00:26:35.019 --> 00:26:35.640
 makes it sound

00:26:35.640 --> 00:26:35.960
 as if,

00:26:36.120 --> 00:26:36.400
 once again,

00:26:36.480 --> 00:26:37.380
 Christians are very,

00:26:37.480 --> 00:26:39.560
 very anti-intellectual

00:26:39.560 --> 00:26:40.240
 because,

00:26:40.380 --> 00:26:40.580
 in fact,

00:26:40.660 --> 00:26:41.640
 most of us would say

00:26:41.640 --> 00:26:42.420
 that doubt is good.

00:26:42.500 --> 00:26:42.740
 In fact,

00:26:42.800 --> 00:26:43.500
 for most people,

00:26:43.580 --> 00:26:44.320
 a sign of wisdom

00:26:44.320 --> 00:26:44.940
 is doubting.

00:26:46.120 --> 00:26:46.980
 And the Bible's actually

00:26:46.980 --> 00:26:47.660
 not going to disagree

00:26:47.660 --> 00:26:48.800
 completely with that.

00:26:49.580 --> 00:26:50.340
 One of the things,

00:26:50.620 --> 00:26:51.140
 if those of you

00:26:51.140 --> 00:26:52.160
 have heard me preach before,

00:26:52.279 --> 00:26:52.400
 say,

00:26:52.400 --> 00:26:52.920
 if you go back

00:26:52.920 --> 00:26:53.960
 and look at the Gospels,

00:26:54.060 --> 00:26:57.259
 the ancient biographies

00:26:57.259 --> 00:26:57.759
 of Jesus,

00:26:57.940 --> 00:26:58.759
 you'll see that Jesus

00:26:58.759 --> 00:27:00.480
 actually never

00:27:00.480 --> 00:27:02.380
 dismissed a good question.

00:27:02.700 --> 00:27:04.160
 He welcomed good questions.

00:27:05.160 --> 00:27:06.600
 And if you go back

00:27:06.600 --> 00:27:07.320
 and you read

00:27:07.320 --> 00:27:08.680
 part of what we call

00:27:08.680 --> 00:27:09.280
 the Old Testament

00:27:09.280 --> 00:27:10.100
 or our Jewish friends

00:27:10.100 --> 00:27:10.840
 call the Tanakh,

00:27:10.960 --> 00:27:12.100
 books like Habakkuk

00:27:12.100 --> 00:27:13.400
 are all organized

00:27:13.400 --> 00:27:14.940
 around really good questions.

00:27:14.940 --> 00:27:15.800
 We just went through

00:27:15.800 --> 00:27:17.000
 the book of Lamentations,

00:27:17.180 --> 00:27:18.820
 which has people

00:27:18.820 --> 00:27:19.660
 asking God

00:27:19.660 --> 00:27:20.880
 really good questions.

00:27:20.880 --> 00:27:22.700
 So it's not a matter

00:27:22.700 --> 00:27:23.900
 that there should be

00:27:23.900 --> 00:27:24.540
 no questions.

00:27:24.740 --> 00:27:26.340
 So what's going on

00:27:26.340 --> 00:27:27.840
 here in this particular text?

00:27:29.380 --> 00:27:30.680
 And what it is,

00:27:30.700 --> 00:27:31.120
 is this.

00:27:32.080 --> 00:27:32.760
 First of all,

00:27:33.280 --> 00:27:34.420
 the word faith here,

00:27:34.500 --> 00:27:35.500
 we have to begin with that.

00:27:35.620 --> 00:27:36.920
 Faith isn't a power

00:27:36.920 --> 00:27:38.100
 that you have.

00:27:38.880 --> 00:27:39.660
 It's not like

00:27:39.660 --> 00:27:40.360
 the little train

00:27:40.360 --> 00:27:40.940
 that could.

00:27:42.060 --> 00:27:42.660
 That, you know,

00:27:42.680 --> 00:27:43.340
 you've got to make it,

00:27:43.380 --> 00:27:43.840
 got to make it,

00:27:43.860 --> 00:27:44.260
 got to make it.

00:27:44.280 --> 00:27:45.080
 I can do it.

00:27:45.080 --> 00:27:45.540
 I can do it.

00:27:45.560 --> 00:27:45.980
 I can do it.

00:27:45.980 --> 00:27:46.420
 I have faith.

00:27:46.500 --> 00:27:46.900
 I have faith.

00:27:47.480 --> 00:27:49.220
 Faith is not a description

00:27:49.220 --> 00:27:51.059
 about your own

00:27:51.059 --> 00:27:52.460
 particular power.

00:27:53.039 --> 00:27:53.299
 Okay?

00:27:53.680 --> 00:27:54.799
 It's not as if

00:27:54.799 --> 00:27:56.380
 the world is divided

00:27:56.380 --> 00:27:58.500
 between, you know,

00:27:58.519 --> 00:27:59.000
 those of us

00:27:59.000 --> 00:27:59.740
 who have really

00:27:59.740 --> 00:28:01.460
 strong abilities

00:28:01.460 --> 00:28:03.200
 to have this faith power

00:28:03.200 --> 00:28:04.519
 and be persistent in it,

00:28:04.660 --> 00:28:05.539
 and those who are weak,

00:28:05.579 --> 00:28:06.079
 although obviously

00:28:06.079 --> 00:28:07.000
 some of us differ

00:28:07.000 --> 00:28:08.160
 in those types of things.

00:28:08.920 --> 00:28:10.140
 The second thing

00:28:10.140 --> 00:28:11.799
 is that it's not about,

00:28:12.059 --> 00:28:12.480
 once again,

00:28:12.519 --> 00:28:12.900
 it's connected

00:28:12.900 --> 00:28:13.640
 to not being a power,

00:28:13.779 --> 00:28:14.880
 but in the Bible,

00:28:15.000 --> 00:28:15.539
 the word faith

00:28:15.539 --> 00:28:16.900
 is always relational.

00:28:16.900 --> 00:28:19.000
 It's inherently

00:28:19.000 --> 00:28:20.259
 a relational word.

00:28:20.360 --> 00:28:21.240
 It's more to do

00:28:21.240 --> 00:28:22.420
 with the idea

00:28:22.420 --> 00:28:24.100
 of who you trust,

00:28:24.740 --> 00:28:26.080
 who you hope in,

00:28:26.880 --> 00:28:28.019
 who you see

00:28:28.019 --> 00:28:29.700
 as being significant

00:28:29.700 --> 00:28:31.280
 in terms of

00:28:31.280 --> 00:28:31.900
 providing meaning,

00:28:32.900 --> 00:28:34.360
 and, you know,

00:28:34.400 --> 00:28:35.360
 there's a bit of

00:28:35.360 --> 00:28:36.740
 a group of words

00:28:36.740 --> 00:28:37.000
 around it,

00:28:37.000 --> 00:28:37.660
 but it's always

00:28:37.660 --> 00:28:38.900
 connected to

00:28:39.420 --> 00:28:41.300
 a personal reality.

00:28:42.240 --> 00:28:43.240
 And the third thing

00:28:43.240 --> 00:28:45.920
 is that the word power,

00:28:45.920 --> 00:28:46.500
 you see,

00:28:46.600 --> 00:28:47.360
 we tend to think

00:28:47.360 --> 00:28:47.860
 of power,

00:28:48.180 --> 00:28:49.120
 North Americans

00:28:49.120 --> 00:28:50.380
 tend to think of faith

00:28:50.380 --> 00:28:51.700
 as something in a sense

00:28:51.700 --> 00:28:52.860
 which is a type of power,

00:28:52.960 --> 00:28:53.500
 that if you just have

00:28:53.500 --> 00:28:53.960
 the faith,

00:28:54.039 --> 00:28:54.560
 you can overcome

00:28:54.560 --> 00:28:55.160
 the obstacles.

00:28:55.320 --> 00:28:56.220
 If you have the faith,

00:28:56.320 --> 00:28:57.680
 you can climb that hill.

00:28:57.759 --> 00:28:58.640
 If you have the faith,

00:28:58.720 --> 00:28:59.480
 you can make it

00:28:59.480 --> 00:29:00.580
 to the top of Mount Everest.

00:29:00.980 --> 00:29:02.400
 You can get that job.

00:29:02.480 --> 00:29:03.700
 You can get that guy.

00:29:03.800 --> 00:29:04.840
 You can get that girl.

00:29:05.140 --> 00:29:06.320
 You've got to have faith,

00:29:06.360 --> 00:29:06.880
 and it's as if

00:29:06.880 --> 00:29:07.580
 it's your power.

00:29:08.080 --> 00:29:08.940
 But in the Bible,

00:29:09.519 --> 00:29:11.200
 the more important issue

00:29:11.200 --> 00:29:11.860
 than the strength

00:29:11.860 --> 00:29:12.460
 of your faith

00:29:12.460 --> 00:29:13.320
 is the object

00:29:13.320 --> 00:29:14.200
 of your faith.

00:29:14.200 --> 00:29:17.279
 So here's the thing.

00:29:17.819 --> 00:29:19.000
 I've known several people,

00:29:19.019 --> 00:29:20.080
 still know several people

00:29:20.080 --> 00:29:21.380
 who are terrified of flying.

00:29:21.779 --> 00:29:23.279
 I mean terrified of flying.

00:29:23.960 --> 00:29:24.600
 One of the people

00:29:24.600 --> 00:29:25.000
 that I know

00:29:25.000 --> 00:29:25.920
 who's terrified of flying,

00:29:26.039 --> 00:29:27.440
 basically he had to get

00:29:27.440 --> 00:29:28.279
 a little buzz on

00:29:28.279 --> 00:29:28.900
 before he got

00:29:28.900 --> 00:29:29.580
 into the plane,

00:29:29.700 --> 00:29:30.279
 and then he had to

00:29:30.279 --> 00:29:31.759
 magnify his buzz

00:29:31.759 --> 00:29:33.319
 once he was on the plane,

00:29:33.380 --> 00:29:34.539
 otherwise he couldn't fly.

00:29:35.059 --> 00:29:36.100
 Others just basically

00:29:36.100 --> 00:29:38.400
 just white-knuckle it

00:29:38.400 --> 00:29:39.319
 if there's some reason

00:29:39.319 --> 00:29:39.860
 that they just

00:29:39.860 --> 00:29:40.920
 cannot avoid flying.

00:29:41.160 --> 00:29:42.000
 But they have

00:29:42.000 --> 00:29:43.279
 no faith in flying.

00:29:43.279 --> 00:29:44.319
 But what matters

00:29:44.319 --> 00:29:45.940
 isn't their faith

00:29:45.940 --> 00:29:48.180
 but the plane.

00:29:49.980 --> 00:29:50.160
 I mean,

00:29:50.200 --> 00:29:50.960
 if you think about it,

00:29:51.099 --> 00:29:52.039
 if you met somebody

00:29:52.039 --> 00:29:52.420
 who said,

00:29:52.559 --> 00:29:53.480
 I can fly,

00:29:53.879 --> 00:29:54.859
 I can fly.

00:29:54.980 --> 00:29:56.299
 My faith is through the roof.

00:29:56.559 --> 00:29:57.960
 I read this self-help guru.

00:29:58.119 --> 00:29:59.019
 I've done the yoga.

00:29:59.240 --> 00:30:00.319
 I've got the guru,

00:30:00.740 --> 00:30:01.279
 the book.

00:30:01.819 --> 00:30:02.759
 I'm pumped,

00:30:02.940 --> 00:30:03.940
 and they run off

00:30:03.940 --> 00:30:05.160
 the edge of the Grand Canyon.

00:30:05.299 --> 00:30:05.819
 It doesn't matter

00:30:05.819 --> 00:30:07.240
 how strong their faith is.

00:30:07.500 --> 00:30:08.559
 Their faith is completely

00:30:08.559 --> 00:30:09.279
 and utterly foolish,

00:30:10.279 --> 00:30:12.319
 foolish, foolish, foolish.

00:30:12.319 --> 00:30:13.319
 They plunge to their death.

00:30:14.059 --> 00:30:14.539
 You see that?

00:30:14.839 --> 00:30:15.500
 So the person

00:30:15.500 --> 00:30:16.939
 who has huge faith

00:30:16.939 --> 00:30:18.639
 but it's a stupid object,

00:30:18.839 --> 00:30:19.519
 foolish object,

00:30:19.619 --> 00:30:20.379
 they plunge to their death.

00:30:20.439 --> 00:30:20.960
 The person with

00:30:20.960 --> 00:30:22.319
 virtually no faith

00:30:22.319 --> 00:30:23.299
 but it's the right object

00:30:23.299 --> 00:30:23.899
 that the plane,

00:30:24.000 --> 00:30:24.259
 in fact,

00:30:24.319 --> 00:30:24.779
 is good,

00:30:25.700 --> 00:30:26.859
 they fly.

00:30:27.079 --> 00:30:27.439
 They make it

00:30:27.439 --> 00:30:28.279
 to the other end of it.

00:30:29.439 --> 00:30:30.599
 And so if you understand that,

00:30:30.659 --> 00:30:31.500
 you start to understand

00:30:31.500 --> 00:30:32.220
 what's going on

00:30:32.220 --> 00:30:32.839
 in the text.

00:30:33.559 --> 00:30:34.339
 That what the Bible

00:30:34.339 --> 00:30:35.960
 is actually saying here,

00:30:36.099 --> 00:30:37.359
 it's warning us

00:30:37.359 --> 00:30:37.960
 about something

00:30:37.960 --> 00:30:38.619
 which is very,

00:30:38.619 --> 00:30:39.559
 very true in life

00:30:39.559 --> 00:30:40.119
 all the time

00:30:40.119 --> 00:30:41.339
 but it's also just as true

00:30:41.339 --> 00:30:41.940
 when it comes to

00:30:41.940 --> 00:30:43.159
 our relationship with Christ.

00:30:44.819 --> 00:30:45.740
 How do you think

00:30:45.740 --> 00:30:46.419
 it would work

00:30:46.419 --> 00:30:47.440
 if you love two women

00:30:47.440 --> 00:30:48.440
 at the same time?

00:30:49.059 --> 00:30:50.000
 Do you think that will help you

00:30:50.000 --> 00:30:50.659
 to grow in love

00:30:50.659 --> 00:30:51.299
 for one of them?

00:30:52.200 --> 00:30:53.220
 How would it work

00:30:53.220 --> 00:30:53.919
 if you decided

00:30:53.919 --> 00:30:54.519
 that you were going

00:30:54.519 --> 00:30:55.879
 to both be a fully committed

00:30:55.879 --> 00:30:56.919
 agent of China

00:30:56.919 --> 00:30:57.819
 and a fully committed

00:30:57.819 --> 00:30:58.740
 agent of Canada

00:30:58.740 --> 00:30:59.599
 at the same time?

00:30:59.679 --> 00:31:00.720
 How is that going to work?

00:31:02.200 --> 00:31:03.460
 How is it going to work

00:31:03.460 --> 00:31:04.000
 if you say

00:31:04.000 --> 00:31:04.759
 you're going to devote

00:31:04.759 --> 00:31:06.160
 your entire time

00:31:06.160 --> 00:31:07.720
 everything you do

00:31:07.720 --> 00:31:09.700
 in your time

00:31:09.700 --> 00:31:10.420
 to being the best

00:31:10.420 --> 00:31:11.140
 rock climber

00:31:11.140 --> 00:31:12.140
 you can possibly be

00:31:12.140 --> 00:31:13.079
 but at the other time

00:31:13.079 --> 00:31:13.859
 you also think

00:31:13.859 --> 00:31:14.980
 that your basic goal

00:31:14.980 --> 00:31:15.440
 in life

00:31:15.440 --> 00:31:16.339
 is to make

00:31:16.339 --> 00:31:17.700
 a million dollars

00:31:17.700 --> 00:31:19.079
 through some type

00:31:19.079 --> 00:31:20.180
 of scientific innovation.

00:31:20.339 --> 00:31:20.859
 Well, you know,

00:31:20.879 --> 00:31:21.460
 some of those things

00:31:21.460 --> 00:31:21.879
 you might be able

00:31:21.879 --> 00:31:22.799
 to manage it a little bit

00:31:22.799 --> 00:31:23.640
 and dial some up

00:31:23.640 --> 00:31:24.440
 and dial some down

00:31:24.440 --> 00:31:25.599
 but the fact of the matter is

00:31:25.599 --> 00:31:26.400
 is if you have

00:31:26.400 --> 00:31:27.339
 two different faiths,

00:31:27.400 --> 00:31:28.000
 two different hopes,

00:31:28.119 --> 00:31:28.859
 two different trusts

00:31:28.859 --> 00:31:29.200
 and they go

00:31:29.200 --> 00:31:30.660
 in opposite directions,

00:31:33.059 --> 00:31:33.319
 I mean,

00:31:33.879 --> 00:31:34.700
 right?

00:31:34.879 --> 00:31:35.839
 That's what the text

00:31:35.839 --> 00:31:36.359
 is saying here.

00:31:36.420 --> 00:31:37.180
 That's the significance

00:31:37.180 --> 00:31:38.039
 of this idea

00:31:38.039 --> 00:31:39.960
 of being a double-minded man

00:31:39.960 --> 00:31:41.819
 unstable in all your ways.

00:31:43.119 --> 00:31:43.420
 And so,

00:31:44.460 --> 00:31:45.819
 and so the point is,

00:31:45.859 --> 00:31:46.140
 you see,

00:31:46.379 --> 00:31:47.279
 that if in fact,

00:31:47.379 --> 00:31:48.379
 here's the Christian claim,

00:31:48.440 --> 00:31:49.559
 you go back to what James said

00:31:49.559 --> 00:31:50.519
 at the beginning of his book,

00:31:50.879 --> 00:31:52.299
 there is a person

00:31:52.299 --> 00:31:53.839
 who actually left

00:31:53.839 --> 00:31:55.180
 the splendor

00:31:55.180 --> 00:31:55.920
 and the glory

00:31:55.920 --> 00:31:57.339
 and the majesty of heaven

00:31:57.339 --> 00:31:58.660
 took into himself

00:31:58.660 --> 00:31:59.960
 our human nature

00:31:59.960 --> 00:32:01.240
 was so willing

00:32:01.240 --> 00:32:02.940
 to become weak for you

00:32:02.940 --> 00:32:04.980
 that he became

00:32:04.980 --> 00:32:05.940
 a fertilized egg

00:32:05.940 --> 00:32:06.380
 in the womb

00:32:06.380 --> 00:32:07.360
 of the Virgin Mary

00:32:07.360 --> 00:32:09.100
 and lived a normal

00:32:09.100 --> 00:32:09.840
 human life,

00:32:10.620 --> 00:32:11.340
 suffered the trials

00:32:11.340 --> 00:32:12.100
 and temptations

00:32:12.100 --> 00:32:12.820
 that you and I do

00:32:12.820 --> 00:32:13.799
 only without sin,

00:32:13.940 --> 00:32:15.320
 actually died on the cross

00:32:15.320 --> 00:32:16.519
 not for anything he did

00:32:16.519 --> 00:32:17.660
 but for you and for me,

00:32:18.019 --> 00:32:18.660
 that in a sense,

00:32:19.019 --> 00:32:19.720
 his death

00:32:19.720 --> 00:32:20.980
 is all of the things,

00:32:21.180 --> 00:32:22.500
 all of the stuff

00:32:22.500 --> 00:32:24.019
 that justice demands

00:32:24.019 --> 00:32:24.420
 of you

00:32:24.420 --> 00:32:25.480
 was laid on him

00:32:25.480 --> 00:32:27.720
 and he does all of that,

00:32:27.839 --> 00:32:28.860
 he takes all there is to it,

00:32:28.900 --> 00:32:30.000
 he rises from the dead,

00:32:30.059 --> 00:32:30.819
 he does it all

00:32:30.819 --> 00:32:31.920
 and completely

00:32:31.920 --> 00:32:32.519
 and utterly

00:32:32.519 --> 00:32:33.380
 out of love

00:32:33.380 --> 00:32:34.299
 for you

00:32:34.299 --> 00:32:36.059
 in the hope

00:32:36.059 --> 00:32:36.960
 that you would put

00:32:36.960 --> 00:32:37.940
 your trust in him,

00:32:38.319 --> 00:32:38.980
 that he could be

00:32:38.980 --> 00:32:39.839
 your Lord and Savior,

00:32:40.000 --> 00:32:40.759
 he could be your Lord

00:32:40.759 --> 00:32:41.360
 and Christ.

00:32:42.259 --> 00:32:43.339
 Who better is there

00:32:43.339 --> 00:32:44.400
 to put your trust in

00:32:44.400 --> 00:32:45.240
 for facing life

00:32:45.240 --> 00:32:45.660
 than him?

00:32:47.440 --> 00:32:48.200
 But you know what,

00:32:48.259 --> 00:32:48.599
 we know,

00:32:48.720 --> 00:32:49.279
 we understand,

00:32:49.420 --> 00:32:49.839
 well, you know,

00:32:49.880 --> 00:32:50.380
 I can put my,

00:32:50.460 --> 00:32:50.819
 but I know,

00:32:50.960 --> 00:32:51.759
 oh, there's money,

00:32:51.920 --> 00:32:52.759
 oh, there's sex,

00:32:52.920 --> 00:32:53.740
 oh, there's power,

00:32:53.920 --> 00:32:54.759
 oh, there's prestige,

00:32:54.759 --> 00:32:55.859
 oh, there's the house,

00:32:55.980 --> 00:32:56.660
 oh, there's this,

00:32:57.019 --> 00:32:57.799
 oh, there's that,

00:32:58.319 --> 00:32:59.259
 there's my body,

00:32:59.920 --> 00:33:01.140
 there's my leisure time,

00:33:01.200 --> 00:33:02.339
 there's all these things

00:33:02.339 --> 00:33:04.019
 and so Jesus knows

00:33:04.019 --> 00:33:05.220
 that we waffle.

00:33:06.000 --> 00:33:06.900
 See, part of the purpose

00:33:06.900 --> 00:33:07.599
 of these texts

00:33:07.599 --> 00:33:08.599
 is that on one hand

00:33:08.599 --> 00:33:10.240
 it's a profound call

00:33:10.240 --> 00:33:11.180
 for us to meditate

00:33:11.180 --> 00:33:12.019
 about the fact

00:33:12.019 --> 00:33:12.900
 that we can be

00:33:12.900 --> 00:33:13.619
 going,

00:33:13.720 --> 00:33:14.140
 trying to go

00:33:14.140 --> 00:33:14.819
 in different ends

00:33:14.819 --> 00:33:15.099
 at the,

00:33:15.279 --> 00:33:16.640
 going in different directions

00:33:16.640 --> 00:33:17.599
 at the same time.

00:33:18.200 --> 00:33:19.099
 Try going forward

00:33:19.099 --> 00:33:19.619
 and backwards

00:33:19.619 --> 00:33:20.579
 at the same time.

00:33:22.539 --> 00:33:23.059
 You know,

00:33:23.079 --> 00:33:23.660
 imagine somebody

00:33:23.660 --> 00:33:24.579
 could fool with your car

00:33:24.579 --> 00:33:25.220
 that they could put it

00:33:25.220 --> 00:33:25.559
 in park,

00:33:25.699 --> 00:33:26.240
 you could put it

00:33:26.240 --> 00:33:27.159
 in drive and reverse

00:33:27.159 --> 00:33:28.059
 at the same time

00:33:28.059 --> 00:33:28.879
 and then you stepped

00:33:28.879 --> 00:33:29.399
 on the gas,

00:33:29.460 --> 00:33:30.339
 how's that going to work?

00:33:30.679 --> 00:33:31.699
 It's not going to move you

00:33:31.699 --> 00:33:32.740
 either forward or backward.

00:33:33.199 --> 00:33:34.259
 You're going to be unstable,

00:33:34.639 --> 00:33:34.879
 right?

00:33:35.279 --> 00:33:35.939
 And in a sense

00:33:35.939 --> 00:33:36.599
 the human being

00:33:36.599 --> 00:33:37.579
 is able to have

00:33:37.579 --> 00:33:38.059
 in a sense

00:33:38.059 --> 00:33:38.879
 their body,

00:33:39.059 --> 00:33:40.579
 their foot on the gas

00:33:40.579 --> 00:33:41.619
 and they can press

00:33:41.619 --> 00:33:42.399
 the gas harder

00:33:42.399 --> 00:33:43.059
 and harder and harder

00:33:43.059 --> 00:33:43.659
 while the car's

00:33:43.659 --> 00:33:44.059
 trying to go

00:33:44.059 --> 00:33:44.720
 both forward,

00:33:44.879 --> 00:33:45.939
 backwards and sideways

00:33:45.939 --> 00:33:46.980
 all at the same time

00:33:46.980 --> 00:33:48.240
 and it just makes

00:33:48.240 --> 00:33:48.859
 it unstable.

00:33:49.439 --> 00:33:50.019
 And so part of the

00:33:50.019 --> 00:33:50.619
 point of the book

00:33:50.619 --> 00:33:51.279
 is if you just

00:33:51.279 --> 00:33:52.179
 flip through,

00:33:53.019 --> 00:33:53.579
 it's not going to be

00:33:53.579 --> 00:33:54.000
 on the screen,

00:33:54.079 --> 00:33:54.539
 you just have to

00:33:54.539 --> 00:33:54.939
 trust me,

00:33:55.319 --> 00:33:56.240
 James 4, 6,

00:33:56.299 --> 00:33:56.819
 it's a verse

00:33:56.819 --> 00:33:57.199
 that you need

00:33:57.199 --> 00:33:57.839
 to remember.

00:33:58.439 --> 00:33:59.139
 In a sense

00:33:59.139 --> 00:33:59.839
 if you remember

00:33:59.839 --> 00:34:00.839
 James 1, 1

00:34:00.839 --> 00:34:01.419
 and the light

00:34:01.419 --> 00:34:01.859
 it shines

00:34:01.859 --> 00:34:02.839
 and James 4, 6

00:34:02.839 --> 00:34:03.399
 shines light

00:34:03.399 --> 00:34:03.779
 it helps you

00:34:03.779 --> 00:34:04.139
 to understand

00:34:04.139 --> 00:34:04.819
 what's going on

00:34:04.819 --> 00:34:06.279
 and James 4, 6

00:34:06.279 --> 00:34:07.419
 tells you this,

00:34:07.799 --> 00:34:08.380
 but he gives

00:34:08.380 --> 00:34:09.159
 more grace,

00:34:09.420 --> 00:34:10.199
 therefore it says

00:34:10.199 --> 00:34:10.980
 God opposes

00:34:10.980 --> 00:34:11.519
 the proud

00:34:11.519 --> 00:34:12.179
 but gives grace

00:34:12.179 --> 00:34:12.759
 to the humble.

00:34:13.420 --> 00:34:14.119
 See, part of these

00:34:14.119 --> 00:34:15.299
 texts is to humble us.

00:34:16.759 --> 00:34:17.539
 To humble us

00:34:17.539 --> 00:34:17.900
 to say,

00:34:18.420 --> 00:34:18.639
 Lord,

00:34:18.739 --> 00:34:19.799
 I really need wisdom.

00:34:19.800 --> 00:34:21.260
 I don't know

00:34:21.260 --> 00:34:21.800
 how to handle

00:34:21.800 --> 00:34:22.240
 this thing

00:34:22.240 --> 00:34:22.760
 which has just

00:34:22.760 --> 00:34:23.220
 come to me.

00:34:23.300 --> 00:34:24.140
 I need wisdom.

00:34:25.640 --> 00:34:26.280
 And Lord,

00:34:27.600 --> 00:34:28.680
 I need to have

00:34:28.680 --> 00:34:29.920
 a purity of will,

00:34:30.120 --> 00:34:31.300
 a purity of heart,

00:34:31.760 --> 00:34:32.880
 a purity of direction.

00:34:33.200 --> 00:34:34.519
 I am just so torn.

00:34:34.640 --> 00:34:35.300
 I renounce

00:34:35.300 --> 00:34:36.000
 those things.

00:34:36.620 --> 00:34:37.539
 Please help me

00:34:37.539 --> 00:34:38.840
 to not be double-minded

00:34:38.840 --> 00:34:39.740
 or triple-minded

00:34:39.740 --> 00:34:40.780
 or quadruple-minded

00:34:40.780 --> 00:34:42.500
 but to be single-minded

00:34:42.500 --> 00:34:43.460
 and following you

00:34:43.460 --> 00:34:44.420
 and allow you

00:34:44.420 --> 00:34:45.220
 to put those other

00:34:45.220 --> 00:34:46.080
 things in my life

00:34:46.080 --> 00:34:47.080
 because he cares about it.

00:34:47.080 --> 00:34:47.400
 That's why

00:34:47.400 --> 00:34:48.400
 the book of James

00:34:48.400 --> 00:34:48.960
 is going to talk

00:34:48.960 --> 00:34:49.519
 about money.

00:34:49.639 --> 00:34:50.039
 It's going to talk

00:34:50.039 --> 00:34:50.619
 about power.

00:34:50.780 --> 00:34:51.160
 It's going to talk

00:34:51.160 --> 00:34:52.059
 about prejudice.

00:34:52.320 --> 00:34:52.780
 It's going to talk

00:34:52.780 --> 00:34:53.539
 about privilege.

00:34:53.820 --> 00:34:54.280
 It's going to talk

00:34:54.280 --> 00:34:55.039
 about how you use

00:34:55.039 --> 00:34:55.579
 your tongue.

00:34:55.660 --> 00:34:56.119
 It's going to talk

00:34:56.119 --> 00:34:56.900
 about sickness.

00:34:57.500 --> 00:34:58.280
 It's going to talk

00:34:58.280 --> 00:34:59.019
 about how you spend

00:34:59.019 --> 00:34:59.740
 time with others.

00:34:59.780 --> 00:35:00.440
 It's talking about

00:35:00.440 --> 00:35:01.500
 the real world.

00:35:02.460 --> 00:35:03.420
 And you look at it

00:35:03.420 --> 00:35:03.860
 and you say,

00:35:03.940 --> 00:35:04.059
 Lord,

00:35:04.099 --> 00:35:05.260
 I really need your wisdom.

00:35:05.380 --> 00:35:06.260
 I really need you

00:35:06.260 --> 00:35:07.260
 to put these things

00:35:07.260 --> 00:35:08.260
 in their proper order

00:35:08.260 --> 00:35:09.000
 and hierarchy

00:35:09.000 --> 00:35:11.300
 that I might live well

00:35:11.300 --> 00:35:12.599
 for your glory.

00:35:14.700 --> 00:35:15.660
 So that text

00:35:15.660 --> 00:35:16.079
 is there

00:35:16.079 --> 00:35:16.680
 in a sense

00:35:16.680 --> 00:35:17.420
 that when we come

00:35:17.420 --> 00:35:19.039
 to James 4, 6,

00:35:19.079 --> 00:35:19.300
 we say,

00:35:19.360 --> 00:35:20.099
 that's me, Lord,

00:35:20.480 --> 00:35:21.639
 standing in need of prayer.

00:35:22.639 --> 00:35:23.420
 Help me to get off

00:35:23.420 --> 00:35:24.240
 my high horse.

00:35:24.440 --> 00:35:25.400
 Help me to get off

00:35:25.400 --> 00:35:26.039
 my pride.

00:35:26.139 --> 00:35:26.860
 Help me to acknowledge.

00:35:26.860 --> 00:35:27.599
 Help me to be like

00:35:27.599 --> 00:35:28.300
 a little child

00:35:28.300 --> 00:35:28.760
 and just say,

00:35:28.860 --> 00:35:29.440
 I need help.

00:35:29.980 --> 00:35:31.099
 I need help, Lord.

00:35:32.000 --> 00:35:32.840
 I need help.

00:35:34.340 --> 00:35:34.700
 Well,

00:35:34.940 --> 00:35:35.860
 I just have a few minutes

00:35:35.860 --> 00:35:36.559
 to talk about

00:35:36.559 --> 00:35:37.200
 the money bit,

00:35:37.280 --> 00:35:37.840
 which I mentioned

00:35:37.840 --> 00:35:38.340
 at the beginning

00:35:38.340 --> 00:35:39.260
 because now the text

00:35:39.260 --> 00:35:40.099
 goes in this other

00:35:40.099 --> 00:35:42.220
 completely different way.

00:35:43.159 --> 00:35:43.639
 And the text

00:35:43.639 --> 00:35:44.079
 is going to sound

00:35:44.079 --> 00:35:44.880
 a little bit odd,

00:35:45.420 --> 00:35:46.220
 but let's read it.

00:35:46.219 --> 00:35:49.339
 It's verses 9 to 11.

00:35:50.599 --> 00:35:51.839
 Let the lowly brother

00:35:51.839 --> 00:35:52.980
 or sister boast

00:35:52.980 --> 00:35:54.459
 in their exaltation.

00:35:55.159 --> 00:35:56.239
 Lowly here means

00:35:56.239 --> 00:35:56.739
 poor,

00:35:57.659 --> 00:35:58.379
 no power,

00:35:59.099 --> 00:36:00.419
 lower working class,

00:36:00.679 --> 00:36:01.319
 very, very,

00:36:01.439 --> 00:36:02.099
 not even lower

00:36:02.099 --> 00:36:02.779
 working class,

00:36:02.839 --> 00:36:03.259
 like low.

00:36:04.439 --> 00:36:06.000
 And let the rich

00:36:06.000 --> 00:36:07.799
 brother or sister

00:36:07.799 --> 00:36:08.879
 in their humiliate,

00:36:09.099 --> 00:36:09.319
 sorry,

00:36:09.759 --> 00:36:10.339
 so let the low,

00:36:10.439 --> 00:36:11.019
 verse 9 again,

00:36:11.059 --> 00:36:11.919
 let the lowly brother

00:36:11.919 --> 00:36:13.959
 boast in his exaltation

00:36:13.960 --> 00:36:14.740
 and the rich

00:36:14.740 --> 00:36:16.139
 in his or her

00:36:16.139 --> 00:36:17.119
 humiliation.

00:36:18.340 --> 00:36:19.360
 Because like a flower

00:36:19.360 --> 00:36:20.119
 of the grass,

00:36:20.720 --> 00:36:21.940
 they will pass away.

00:36:22.039 --> 00:36:23.059
 For the sun rises

00:36:23.059 --> 00:36:24.360
 with its scorching heat

00:36:24.360 --> 00:36:25.460
 and withers the grass,

00:36:25.519 --> 00:36:26.619
 its flower falls

00:36:26.619 --> 00:36:27.800
 and its beauty perishes,

00:36:28.179 --> 00:36:29.559
 so also will the rich

00:36:29.559 --> 00:36:30.960
 man or woman

00:36:30.960 --> 00:36:32.000
 fade away

00:36:32.000 --> 00:36:32.760
 in the midst

00:36:32.760 --> 00:36:34.720
 of their pursuits.

00:36:34.719 --> 00:36:36.799
 So it's obviously

00:36:36.799 --> 00:36:37.599
 talking about money

00:36:37.599 --> 00:36:39.099
 and it sort of sounds

00:36:39.099 --> 00:36:40.039
 very, very odd.

00:36:40.119 --> 00:36:40.480
 It says,

00:36:41.059 --> 00:36:42.099
 to the poor person,

00:36:43.019 --> 00:36:43.439
 listen,

00:36:43.939 --> 00:36:45.119
 what you need to remember,

00:36:46.199 --> 00:36:47.000
 actually if we just

00:36:47.000 --> 00:36:48.119
 jump up to verse 12

00:36:48.119 --> 00:36:48.819
 and then we'll go back

00:36:48.819 --> 00:36:49.939
 to verses 9 to 11.

00:36:50.599 --> 00:36:51.379
 Verse 12 said,

00:36:51.459 --> 00:36:52.419
 blessed is the man

00:36:52.419 --> 00:36:53.039
 or the woman

00:36:53.039 --> 00:36:53.839
 who remains

00:36:53.839 --> 00:36:55.319
 steadfast under trial,

00:36:56.219 --> 00:36:57.619
 for when he or she

00:36:57.619 --> 00:36:58.739
 has stood the test,

00:36:59.219 --> 00:37:00.339
 they will receive

00:37:00.339 --> 00:37:01.480
 the crown of life

00:37:01.480 --> 00:37:02.659
 which God has promised

00:37:02.659 --> 00:37:03.639
 for those who love him.

00:37:03.639 --> 00:37:05.199
 So on one hand,

00:37:05.279 --> 00:37:06.319
 remember the Bible

00:37:06.319 --> 00:37:07.019
 is giving us

00:37:07.019 --> 00:37:08.339
 a realistic assessment

00:37:08.339 --> 00:37:08.980
 of the life

00:37:08.980 --> 00:37:10.199
 that we live right now,

00:37:10.379 --> 00:37:11.579
 but it does it

00:37:11.579 --> 00:37:12.460
 in the context

00:37:12.460 --> 00:37:14.559
 of a realistic hope

00:37:14.559 --> 00:37:15.639
 for what the end

00:37:15.639 --> 00:37:16.359
 of this story

00:37:16.359 --> 00:37:17.460
 of your life will be.

00:37:18.599 --> 00:37:19.179
 And so if you're

00:37:19.179 --> 00:37:19.879
 watching this,

00:37:19.960 --> 00:37:20.639
 and the fact of the matter

00:37:20.639 --> 00:37:22.019
 is you don't even have,

00:37:22.739 --> 00:37:24.319
 I guess they still

00:37:24.319 --> 00:37:24.960
 make nickels,

00:37:24.980 --> 00:37:25.779
 you don't have two nickels

00:37:25.779 --> 00:37:26.440
 to rub together,

00:37:27.420 --> 00:37:29.219
 you're not even living

00:37:29.219 --> 00:37:30.219
 paycheck to paycheck,

00:37:30.440 --> 00:37:31.159
 you're sort of hoping

00:37:31.159 --> 00:37:32.159
 that by the end of the year

00:37:32.159 --> 00:37:33.119
 you'll end up being

00:37:33.119 --> 00:37:34.319
 sort of around the place

00:37:34.319 --> 00:37:35.299
 you were a year before,

00:37:36.679 --> 00:37:37.199
 you're just,

00:37:37.339 --> 00:37:38.059
 you're low income,

00:37:38.259 --> 00:37:40.699
 and the Bible actually

00:37:40.699 --> 00:37:42.139
 never says that that's a sin

00:37:42.139 --> 00:37:43.019
 or anything like that,

00:37:43.079 --> 00:37:44.639
 that that's a sign

00:37:44.639 --> 00:37:45.859
 that there's something

00:37:45.859 --> 00:37:46.739
 wrong with you,

00:37:47.339 --> 00:37:49.199
 but we're going to be

00:37:49.199 --> 00:37:50.099
 talking at other places

00:37:50.099 --> 00:37:50.739
 about how you might

00:37:50.739 --> 00:37:52.019
 deal with some of this stuff,

00:37:52.179 --> 00:37:52.679
 but it says,

00:37:52.739 --> 00:37:52.859
 you know,

00:37:52.859 --> 00:37:53.380
 the thing for you

00:37:53.380 --> 00:37:53.859
 to remember

00:37:53.859 --> 00:37:54.900
 is the end of your story.

00:37:56.539 --> 00:37:56.980
 You know,

00:37:57.019 --> 00:37:57.819
 your mom and your dad

00:37:57.819 --> 00:37:58.799
 might look down on you,

00:37:58.859 --> 00:37:59.319
 your neighbors

00:37:59.319 --> 00:38:00.420
 might look down on you,

00:38:00.460 --> 00:38:01.779
 the rich might look down at you,

00:38:01.780 --> 00:38:02.800
 no political party

00:38:02.800 --> 00:38:04.240
 really cares about you,

00:38:04.780 --> 00:38:06.720
 even the so-called

00:38:06.720 --> 00:38:07.700
 left-wing parties

00:38:07.700 --> 00:38:08.220
 in Canada

00:38:08.220 --> 00:38:09.080
 have fundamentally

00:38:09.080 --> 00:38:10.200
 given up on the poor,

00:38:10.300 --> 00:38:11.260
 they're all consumed

00:38:11.260 --> 00:38:13.100
 with identity politics,

00:38:13.580 --> 00:38:15.140
 which is a middle class,

00:38:15.220 --> 00:38:16.019
 upper middle class,

00:38:16.160 --> 00:38:18.280
 and an upper class pursuit,

00:38:19.880 --> 00:38:21.100
 and so,

00:38:21.340 --> 00:38:22.400
 but Jesus hasn't

00:38:22.400 --> 00:38:23.180
 forgotten about you,

00:38:23.240 --> 00:38:24.040
 and this is the end

00:38:24.040 --> 00:38:24.700
 of your story.

00:38:26.640 --> 00:38:27.100
 You think,

00:38:27.180 --> 00:38:28.040
 think about that,

00:38:28.039 --> 00:38:30.320
 how much he loves you,

00:38:30.900 --> 00:38:31.900
 how much he loved you,

00:38:32.400 --> 00:38:34.000
 and one day,

00:38:34.860 --> 00:38:36.159
 you know,

00:38:36.219 --> 00:38:37.079
 the funny thing is,

00:38:37.340 --> 00:38:38.980
 this text is completely correct,

00:38:39.119 --> 00:38:39.900
 because one second

00:38:39.900 --> 00:38:40.699
 after death,

00:38:41.079 --> 00:38:41.759
 poor person,

00:38:41.880 --> 00:38:42.800
 you and Bill Gates

00:38:42.800 --> 00:38:44.480
 have exactly the same

00:38:44.480 --> 00:38:45.440
 amount of resources

00:38:45.440 --> 00:38:46.440
 under your control,

00:38:46.980 --> 00:38:50.039
 but if Bill Gates

00:38:50.039 --> 00:38:51.400
 or any rich person,

00:38:52.039 --> 00:38:53.159
 any tech magnate

00:38:53.159 --> 00:38:54.800
 has died with their back

00:38:54.800 --> 00:38:56.179
 in rebellion against Jesus,

00:38:56.179 --> 00:38:58.500
 they've lost everything

00:38:58.500 --> 00:39:00.219
 with more to lose.

00:39:00.759 --> 00:39:01.099
 You,

00:39:02.219 --> 00:39:02.899
 crown of life.

00:39:04.559 --> 00:39:05.239
 Jesus saying,

00:39:05.899 --> 00:39:06.859
 I am so glad,

00:39:07.019 --> 00:39:07.239
 Bob,

00:39:07.319 --> 00:39:08.079
 I am so glad,

00:39:08.239 --> 00:39:08.379
 Sue,

00:39:08.440 --> 00:39:09.059
 that you are here.

00:39:09.139 --> 00:39:09.960
 I died for you,

00:39:10.019 --> 00:39:10.599
 I loved you,

00:39:10.639 --> 00:39:11.440
 I've walked with you

00:39:11.440 --> 00:39:12.059
 all these years,

00:39:12.119 --> 00:39:13.139
 and now you can see me

00:39:13.139 --> 00:39:13.960
 face to face.

00:39:14.779 --> 00:39:15.399
 That's the end

00:39:15.399 --> 00:39:16.039
 of your story.

00:39:18.319 --> 00:39:19.279
 And the message

00:39:19.279 --> 00:39:21.179
 to the rich

00:39:21.179 --> 00:39:23.440
 is a very interesting thing.

00:39:23.859 --> 00:39:25.099
 If you look at it again,

00:39:25.099 --> 00:39:28.420
 and the rich,

00:39:28.599 --> 00:39:29.819
 let the lowly brother,

00:39:29.920 --> 00:39:30.319
 verse 9,

00:39:30.460 --> 00:39:31.860
 boast in his

00:39:31.860 --> 00:39:33.619
 or her exaltate,

00:39:33.739 --> 00:39:34.579
 that they're exalted,

00:39:35.039 --> 00:39:36.059
 and the rich

00:39:36.059 --> 00:39:38.219
 in his humiliation.

00:39:40.819 --> 00:39:41.940
 Because like a flower

00:39:41.940 --> 00:39:42.619
 of the grass,

00:39:42.880 --> 00:39:44.239
 he or she will pass away,

00:39:44.299 --> 00:39:45.139
 for the sun rises

00:39:45.139 --> 00:39:46.179
 with its scorching heat

00:39:46.179 --> 00:39:47.099
 and withers the grass,

00:39:47.219 --> 00:39:49.519
 its flower falls

00:39:49.519 --> 00:39:50.480
 and its beauty perishes,

00:39:50.619 --> 00:39:51.679
 so also will the rich

00:39:51.679 --> 00:39:52.759
 man or woman

00:39:52.759 --> 00:39:53.339
 fade away

00:39:53.340 --> 00:39:54.120
 in the midst

00:39:54.120 --> 00:39:55.519
 of their pursuits.

00:39:56.840 --> 00:39:57.420
 So what are they

00:39:57.420 --> 00:39:58.039
 to boast in?

00:39:58.160 --> 00:39:58.460
 Remember,

00:39:58.559 --> 00:39:59.240
 this is talking about

00:39:59.240 --> 00:40:00.160
 those who are in Jesus.

00:40:01.400 --> 00:40:01.800
 It's,

00:40:01.980 --> 00:40:02.400
 in a sense,

00:40:02.820 --> 00:40:03.700
 helping us to try

00:40:03.700 --> 00:40:04.559
 to have a proper

00:40:04.559 --> 00:40:05.840
 eternal perspective

00:40:05.840 --> 00:40:07.800
 on riches.

00:40:08.519 --> 00:40:08.780
 Now,

00:40:08.840 --> 00:40:09.380
 it's very,

00:40:09.519 --> 00:40:10.059
 very interesting.

00:40:10.160 --> 00:40:11.140
 The Bible never says

00:40:11.140 --> 00:40:11.940
 that money or riches

00:40:11.940 --> 00:40:12.539
 are wrong.

00:40:13.100 --> 00:40:14.019
 It never says

00:40:14.019 --> 00:40:15.220
 that money or riches

00:40:15.220 --> 00:40:16.000
 are evil.

00:40:16.340 --> 00:40:17.880
 It's not like Marxism,

00:40:17.940 --> 00:40:19.640
 it's not like cultural Marxism,

00:40:19.639 --> 00:40:20.679
 which delights

00:40:20.679 --> 00:40:21.900
 in creating the other.

00:40:22.460 --> 00:40:23.319
 It's very interesting.

00:40:23.480 --> 00:40:24.500
 Cultural Marxism,

00:40:24.599 --> 00:40:25.420
 which drives so much

00:40:25.420 --> 00:40:26.079
 in our society,

00:40:26.139 --> 00:40:26.779
 it always talks

00:40:26.779 --> 00:40:27.480
 about inclusion,

00:40:27.699 --> 00:40:28.599
 but it actually

00:40:28.599 --> 00:40:29.440
 is the opposite

00:40:29.440 --> 00:40:30.179
 of inclusion.

00:40:30.559 --> 00:40:31.759
 It's entirely based

00:40:31.759 --> 00:40:32.799
 on a narrative

00:40:32.799 --> 00:40:33.759
 of inclusion

00:40:33.759 --> 00:40:35.219
 and exclusion,

00:40:35.859 --> 00:40:36.839
 that the other,

00:40:37.199 --> 00:40:37.759
 the rich,

00:40:38.019 --> 00:40:38.559
 the white,

00:40:38.759 --> 00:40:39.639
 the whatever,

00:40:39.920 --> 00:40:41.239
 that they're the bad ones,

00:40:41.339 --> 00:40:42.099
 the evil ones,

00:40:42.139 --> 00:40:42.980
 you can do anything

00:40:42.980 --> 00:40:43.500
 to them,

00:40:43.519 --> 00:40:44.460
 and they deserve it

00:40:44.460 --> 00:40:45.420
 because it's terrible.

00:40:45.920 --> 00:40:47.219
 And the Bible never says

00:40:47.219 --> 00:40:47.699
 there's something

00:40:47.699 --> 00:40:48.460
 inherently wrong

00:40:48.460 --> 00:40:48.940
 with riches.

00:40:49.039 --> 00:40:49.519
 It never says

00:40:49.519 --> 00:40:49.900
 there's something

00:40:49.900 --> 00:40:50.559
 inherently wrong

00:40:50.559 --> 00:40:51.039
 with wealth.

00:40:51.639 --> 00:40:52.760
 Christians in the years,

00:40:53.099 --> 00:40:53.619
 like one of the,

00:40:53.679 --> 00:40:55.220
 some of my French-Canadian friends

00:40:55.220 --> 00:40:55.720
 remember,

00:40:56.019 --> 00:40:57.300
 or remember the stories

00:40:57.300 --> 00:40:58.420
 within French culture

00:40:58.420 --> 00:40:59.420
 about how the priests

00:40:59.420 --> 00:41:01.000
 and the Catholic,

00:41:01.440 --> 00:41:01.619
 you know,

00:41:01.639 --> 00:41:02.440
 whether it's true or not,

00:41:02.519 --> 00:41:03.280
 that they wanted

00:41:03.280 --> 00:41:05.320
 to keep the Catholics

00:41:05.320 --> 00:41:06.460
 ignorant and poor,

00:41:07.440 --> 00:41:08.760
 talking about poverty

00:41:08.760 --> 00:41:09.780
 if it's some type

00:41:09.780 --> 00:41:11.119
 of a virtue.

00:41:12.019 --> 00:41:13.360
 The Bible never says that.

00:41:14.220 --> 00:41:14.440
 In fact,

00:41:14.480 --> 00:41:14.940
 even here,

00:41:15.059 --> 00:41:15.619
 it's not saying,

00:41:15.840 --> 00:41:17.500
 it's not saying to you

00:41:17.500 --> 00:41:18.079
 if you're,

00:41:18.139 --> 00:41:18.380
 you know,

00:41:18.460 --> 00:41:19.380
 a 20-year-old,

00:41:19.440 --> 00:41:20.039
 a 30-year-old,

00:41:20.079 --> 00:41:20.659
 a 40-year-old

00:41:20.659 --> 00:41:21.559
 trying to change

00:41:21.559 --> 00:41:22.740
 your financial fortunes,

00:41:22.800 --> 00:41:23.639
 trying to make more money,

00:41:23.720 --> 00:41:24.260
 try to provide

00:41:24.260 --> 00:41:24.980
 for your family.

00:41:25.420 --> 00:41:26.039
 The Bible's not saying

00:41:26.039 --> 00:41:27.300
 anything against that.

00:41:27.840 --> 00:41:28.780
 It really isn't.

00:41:28.920 --> 00:41:29.920
 It's very realistic.

00:41:30.920 --> 00:41:31.119
 In fact,

00:41:31.139 --> 00:41:32.159
 you can look at other texts

00:41:32.159 --> 00:41:32.780
 that's going to talk

00:41:32.780 --> 00:41:33.599
 about the significance

00:41:33.599 --> 00:41:34.340
 and the importance

00:41:34.340 --> 00:41:34.740
 of being able

00:41:34.740 --> 00:41:35.599
 to provide and care.

00:41:36.019 --> 00:41:37.099
 The message of the Bible,

00:41:37.179 --> 00:41:38.300
 it goes beyond this text,

00:41:38.380 --> 00:41:39.059
 I'm just sort of giving you

00:41:39.059 --> 00:41:39.639
 a big summary,

00:41:39.800 --> 00:41:40.800
 is earn as much as you can

00:41:40.800 --> 00:41:42.039
 and give as much as you can

00:41:42.039 --> 00:41:42.320
 because,

00:41:42.480 --> 00:41:42.619
 you see,

00:41:42.679 --> 00:41:43.519
 the problem is

00:41:43.519 --> 00:41:44.940
 that money does,

00:41:45.079 --> 00:41:45.900
 that the big problem

00:41:45.900 --> 00:41:46.639
 is money is one

00:41:46.639 --> 00:41:47.519
 of the main things

00:41:47.519 --> 00:41:48.380
 that rules you.

00:41:48.500 --> 00:41:49.480
 You think you rule it,

00:41:49.539 --> 00:41:50.179
 but it rules you.

00:41:50.259 --> 00:41:51.500
 You think it serves you,

00:41:51.579 --> 00:41:52.320
 but you serve it.

00:41:52.699 --> 00:41:53.259
 How do you know?

00:41:54.199 --> 00:41:54.659
 Do you remember,

00:41:54.759 --> 00:41:55.119
 you know what,

00:41:55.340 --> 00:41:57.000
 in 2019,

00:41:57.239 --> 00:41:58.139
 the inflation rate

00:41:58.139 --> 00:41:58.980
 in Venezuela

00:41:58.980 --> 00:42:01.519
 was 300,000%.

00:42:01.519 --> 00:42:04.800
 You had lots of money?

00:42:05.679 --> 00:42:06.119
 None.

00:42:06.119 --> 00:42:08.219
 impoverished you.

00:42:09.779 --> 00:42:10.179
 2008,

00:42:10.259 --> 00:42:11.239
 housing prices fell

00:42:11.239 --> 00:42:11.940
 by one-third,

00:42:12.019 --> 00:42:13.119
 as did the stock market.

00:42:13.839 --> 00:42:14.480
 You folks here

00:42:14.480 --> 00:42:15.139
 who own a home

00:42:15.139 --> 00:42:15.599
 and you're maybe

00:42:15.599 --> 00:42:16.539
 counting the dollars,

00:42:16.679 --> 00:42:18.380
 $750,000 house,

00:42:19.000 --> 00:42:20.219
 that something like 2008

00:42:20.219 --> 00:42:20.920
 happens again,

00:42:21.319 --> 00:42:21.679
 boom, boom,

00:42:21.779 --> 00:42:22.519
 ka-ching, ka-ching,

00:42:22.639 --> 00:42:23.219
 ka-ching, ka-ching,

00:42:23.299 --> 00:42:23.559
 ka-ching,

00:42:23.639 --> 00:42:23.859
 ka-ching,

00:42:23.859 --> 00:42:24.639
 in a bad way,

00:42:24.739 --> 00:42:25.599
 $500,000.

00:42:26.759 --> 00:42:28.279
 And maybe even less than that

00:42:28.279 --> 00:42:29.059
 because if you actually

00:42:29.059 --> 00:42:29.739
 tried to sell it,

00:42:29.759 --> 00:42:30.299
 who knows if you could

00:42:30.299 --> 00:42:32.159
 even get $500,000 for it.

00:42:32.400 --> 00:42:32.980
 And if you bought

00:42:32.980 --> 00:42:34.259
 that house for $650,000

00:42:34.260 --> 00:42:34.960
 and you're counting on

00:42:34.960 --> 00:42:35.680
 the $100,000

00:42:35.680 --> 00:42:36.520
 you just made

00:42:36.520 --> 00:42:37.720
 in the housing market crash,

00:42:38.060 --> 00:42:39.480
 you now own the bank,

00:42:39.580 --> 00:42:40.760
 you now owe the bank

00:42:40.760 --> 00:42:41.960
 $150,000.

00:42:42.380 --> 00:42:43.000
 You've gotten poorer,

00:42:43.080 --> 00:42:43.580
 not richer.

00:42:44.060 --> 00:42:45.120
 And if I talk about that,

00:42:45.180 --> 00:42:46.100
 does that make you anxious?

00:42:46.220 --> 00:42:47.080
 Does that make you upset?

00:42:47.700 --> 00:42:48.600
 We have a problem

00:42:48.600 --> 00:42:49.460
 with money, friend.

00:42:52.460 --> 00:42:53.460
 We put our hope

00:42:53.460 --> 00:42:53.980
 and our trust

00:42:53.980 --> 00:42:54.860
 and our faith in money.

00:42:57.380 --> 00:42:58.500
 We get our identity

00:42:58.500 --> 00:42:59.120
 from money.

00:43:00.620 --> 00:43:00.820
 You know,

00:43:00.880 --> 00:43:01.800
 one of the things,

00:43:02.040 --> 00:43:03.000
 it's so funny,

00:43:03.380 --> 00:43:03.920
 movie stars

00:43:03.920 --> 00:43:04.559
 who are rich,

00:43:04.920 --> 00:43:05.460
 they'll give us

00:43:05.460 --> 00:43:06.440
 all this advice

00:43:06.440 --> 00:43:07.200
 on politics,

00:43:07.519 --> 00:43:08.280
 on this and that.

00:43:08.340 --> 00:43:08.860
 They all think

00:43:08.860 --> 00:43:09.639
 they're wise.

00:43:10.619 --> 00:43:10.920
 You know?

00:43:12.400 --> 00:43:13.460
 What is it about

00:43:13.460 --> 00:43:14.220
 having money

00:43:14.220 --> 00:43:14.900
 that makes you

00:43:14.900 --> 00:43:16.000
 think you're wise?

00:43:20.099 --> 00:43:21.079
 That you're wiser

00:43:21.079 --> 00:43:22.000
 than poor people.

00:43:22.740 --> 00:43:23.519
 That you're better

00:43:23.519 --> 00:43:24.360
 than poor people.

00:43:26.820 --> 00:43:27.340
 I mean,

00:43:27.460 --> 00:43:29.059
 that's just life, folks.

00:43:29.180 --> 00:43:29.920
 And what is this text

00:43:29.920 --> 00:43:31.099
 saying which is so wise?

00:43:31.900 --> 00:43:32.559
 What you need

00:43:32.559 --> 00:43:33.180
 to remember

00:43:33.179 --> 00:43:34.399
 George?

00:43:34.899 --> 00:43:35.759
 Let's say you become

00:43:35.759 --> 00:43:36.679
 very, very wealthy.

00:43:37.460 --> 00:43:38.519
 You're going to lose it all.

00:43:40.079 --> 00:43:40.719
 That's what you need

00:43:40.719 --> 00:43:41.399
 to boast in.

00:43:42.339 --> 00:43:43.099
 That, you know,

00:43:43.619 --> 00:43:45.219
 to sit lightly with it.

00:43:46.019 --> 00:43:46.559
 And by the way,

00:43:46.659 --> 00:43:47.579
 just sort of in closing,

00:43:47.699 --> 00:43:48.219
 one of the ways

00:43:48.219 --> 00:43:48.699
 that you learn

00:43:48.699 --> 00:43:49.799
 to sit lightly with it,

00:43:49.839 --> 00:43:50.679
 you can't learn

00:43:50.679 --> 00:43:51.440
 how to sit lightly

00:43:51.440 --> 00:43:52.859
 with it by speaking

00:43:52.859 --> 00:43:53.460
 in tongues,

00:43:53.579 --> 00:43:54.719
 by having a vision.

00:43:54.719 --> 00:43:55.599
 The only way

00:43:55.599 --> 00:43:56.579
 it can become lighter

00:43:56.579 --> 00:43:56.960
 to you

00:43:56.960 --> 00:43:58.079
 is by giving money away.

00:43:58.079 --> 00:44:01.460
 If you wait

00:44:01.460 --> 00:44:02.299
 to have enough money

00:44:02.299 --> 00:44:02.960
 to be generous,

00:44:03.139 --> 00:44:04.239
 you will never be generous.

00:44:05.619 --> 00:44:06.739
 They've done surveys

00:44:06.739 --> 00:44:07.579
 after surveys

00:44:07.579 --> 00:44:08.420
 where people say,

00:44:08.519 --> 00:44:10.159
 if I only had $10,000 more,

00:44:10.239 --> 00:44:10.819
 my life would be

00:44:10.819 --> 00:44:11.480
 more comfortable.

00:44:11.900 --> 00:44:12.579
 That doesn't matter

00:44:12.579 --> 00:44:13.779
 if you're making $40,000

00:44:13.779 --> 00:44:15.139
 or $120,000.

00:44:15.900 --> 00:44:17.039
 It's always just

00:44:17.039 --> 00:44:18.019
 beyond the horizon.

00:44:18.519 --> 00:44:19.279
 Which is why

00:44:19.279 --> 00:44:20.239
 the biblical teaching

00:44:20.239 --> 00:44:20.860
 of, you know what,

00:44:21.000 --> 00:44:22.319
 you have this secure hope

00:44:22.319 --> 00:44:22.799
 in Christ,

00:44:22.900 --> 00:44:23.779
 the end of your story

00:44:23.779 --> 00:44:24.799
 is known in Christ,

00:44:24.800 --> 00:44:25.860
 He loves you so much

00:44:25.860 --> 00:44:26.960
 He died for you.

00:44:28.400 --> 00:44:29.300
 Money is all,

00:44:29.380 --> 00:44:30.340
 it's all going to be gone.

00:44:30.420 --> 00:44:30.960
 It's really good.

00:44:31.019 --> 00:44:31.660
 It's really important.

00:44:31.860 --> 00:44:32.740
 Eating is good.

00:44:32.900 --> 00:44:33.480
 Having a roof

00:44:33.480 --> 00:44:34.600
 over your head is good.

00:44:34.820 --> 00:44:36.380
 Clothes, good things.

00:44:36.780 --> 00:44:37.280
 Make money.

00:44:38.080 --> 00:44:39.160
 You have lots of kids

00:44:39.160 --> 00:44:39.800
 or you just have

00:44:39.800 --> 00:44:40.800
 lots of dependents

00:44:40.800 --> 00:44:41.480
 or whatever,

00:44:41.680 --> 00:44:42.260
 make money.

00:44:43.340 --> 00:44:43.940
 But the way

00:44:43.940 --> 00:44:44.620
 you need to be

00:44:44.620 --> 00:44:45.720
 more light-handed

00:44:45.720 --> 00:44:46.160
 with it

00:44:46.160 --> 00:44:47.660
 or having this other,

00:44:48.000 --> 00:44:48.780
 it's by giving.

00:44:48.860 --> 00:44:49.440
 I remember when

00:44:49.440 --> 00:44:50.120
 my wife and I

00:44:50.120 --> 00:44:50.760
 started to try to

00:44:50.760 --> 00:44:51.440
 move towards

00:44:51.440 --> 00:44:52.300
 financial tithing,

00:44:52.340 --> 00:44:53.060
 it was really hard.

00:44:54.060 --> 00:44:54.200
 You know,

00:44:54.199 --> 00:44:55.159
 increasing $5

00:44:55.159 --> 00:44:56.059
 and then $10

00:44:56.059 --> 00:44:56.500
 and then $20

00:44:56.500 --> 00:44:57.379
 and then a bigger jump.

00:44:57.460 --> 00:44:58.659
 But it's the only way

00:44:58.659 --> 00:44:59.579
 to begin to get

00:44:59.579 --> 00:45:00.179
 free of money.

00:45:00.259 --> 00:45:00.859
 Am I completely

00:45:00.859 --> 00:45:01.399
 free of money?

00:45:01.500 --> 00:45:02.119
 Absolutely not.

00:45:02.199 --> 00:45:03.119
 Do I get anxious about it?

00:45:03.339 --> 00:45:03.939
 Sure I do.

00:45:05.500 --> 00:45:06.259
 What do I need more

00:45:06.259 --> 00:45:06.699
 if I need more

00:45:06.699 --> 00:45:07.480
 of a hope in Jesus?

00:45:07.879 --> 00:45:08.699
 And I need to remember

00:45:08.699 --> 00:45:10.079
 that it's always worthwhile

00:45:10.079 --> 00:45:11.819
 to give money away

00:45:11.819 --> 00:45:12.859
 for the sake of the gospel

00:45:12.859 --> 00:45:13.439
 and for the help

00:45:13.439 --> 00:45:13.899
 of the poor.

00:45:15.679 --> 00:45:17.059
 Just close with verse 12

00:45:17.059 --> 00:45:17.799
 and then we'll pray.

00:45:19.679 --> 00:45:20.659
 Here's what it says.

00:45:20.659 --> 00:45:21.919
 Blessed is the man

00:45:21.919 --> 00:45:22.419
 or the woman

00:45:22.419 --> 00:45:23.619
 who remains steadfast

00:45:23.619 --> 00:45:24.299
 under trial

00:45:24.299 --> 00:45:25.440
 for when he or she

00:45:25.440 --> 00:45:26.420
 has stood the test,

00:45:27.039 --> 00:45:27.779
 they will receive

00:45:27.779 --> 00:45:28.719
 the crown of life

00:45:28.719 --> 00:45:29.719
 which God has promised

00:45:29.719 --> 00:45:30.639
 for those who love him.

00:45:30.759 --> 00:45:31.039
 Friends,

00:45:31.119 --> 00:45:32.019
 there is no one here

00:45:32.019 --> 00:45:32.659
 watching this

00:45:32.659 --> 00:45:33.380
 who is so bad

00:45:33.380 --> 00:45:34.380
 that Jesus does not

00:45:34.380 --> 00:45:35.359
 love them and died for them,

00:45:35.679 --> 00:45:36.359
 that he does not want

00:45:36.359 --> 00:45:36.980
 to be your savior.

00:45:37.239 --> 00:45:37.679
 Let's pray.

00:45:38.679 --> 00:45:38.980
 Father,

00:45:39.119 --> 00:45:39.980
 we thank you

00:45:39.980 --> 00:45:40.960
 for the practical

00:45:40.960 --> 00:45:41.880
 gospel wisdom

00:45:41.880 --> 00:45:42.900
 in the book of James.

00:45:43.539 --> 00:45:43.920
 Father,

00:45:44.039 --> 00:45:44.839
 you know some of us

00:45:44.839 --> 00:45:45.539
 we really need,

00:45:45.639 --> 00:45:46.460
 we need help

00:45:46.460 --> 00:45:47.099
 because we have

00:45:47.099 --> 00:45:48.159
 these double minds

00:45:48.159 --> 00:45:49.699
 and issues in life

00:45:49.699 --> 00:45:50.579
 or relationships

00:45:50.579 --> 00:45:51.460
 or direction.

00:45:52.199 --> 00:45:52.599
 Father,

00:45:52.719 --> 00:45:53.319
 many of us,

00:45:53.460 --> 00:45:54.239
 we think we're way

00:45:54.239 --> 00:45:55.340
 wiser than we are.

00:45:55.500 --> 00:45:56.400
 People around us

00:45:56.400 --> 00:45:57.039
 think we're foolish

00:45:57.039 --> 00:45:58.159
 but we think we're wise.

00:45:58.319 --> 00:45:58.420
 Father,

00:45:58.460 --> 00:45:59.639
 we can't even see that.

00:46:00.159 --> 00:46:00.259
 Father,

00:46:00.340 --> 00:46:01.079
 we really need

00:46:01.079 --> 00:46:02.219
 your wisdom for life

00:46:02.219 --> 00:46:03.019
 and most of all,

00:46:03.079 --> 00:46:03.239
 Father,

00:46:03.299 --> 00:46:04.159
 we need to be gripped

00:46:04.159 --> 00:46:04.920
 by the gospel.

00:46:05.420 --> 00:46:06.559
 Help us to understand

00:46:06.559 --> 00:46:07.360
 that our identity

00:46:07.360 --> 00:46:08.739
 is secure in Jesus,

00:46:08.940 --> 00:46:09.980
 that when he is

00:46:09.980 --> 00:46:10.980
 our savior and lord

00:46:10.980 --> 00:46:12.400
 and we are his doulos,

00:46:12.519 --> 00:46:13.079
 his servant,

00:46:13.219 --> 00:46:13.779
 his slave,

00:46:13.880 --> 00:46:14.539
 that our identity

00:46:14.539 --> 00:46:15.259
 is secure,

00:46:15.260 --> 00:46:16.700
 the end of our story

00:46:16.700 --> 00:46:17.440
 is secure

00:46:17.440 --> 00:46:19.800
 and that we can walk

00:46:19.800 --> 00:46:20.380
 with him

00:46:20.380 --> 00:46:21.280
 as we manage

00:46:21.280 --> 00:46:22.860
 the real issues

00:46:22.860 --> 00:46:23.420
 of life

00:46:23.420 --> 00:46:24.400
 from day to day

00:46:24.400 --> 00:46:25.160
 to day to day

00:46:25.160 --> 00:46:26.160
 with a realistic

00:46:26.160 --> 00:46:27.740
 solid hope

00:46:27.740 --> 00:46:29.020
 about what the end

00:46:29.020 --> 00:46:29.540
 of the story

00:46:29.540 --> 00:46:30.440
 of our life will be.

00:46:30.600 --> 00:46:30.720
 Father,

00:46:30.840 --> 00:46:31.620
 grant us wisdom,

00:46:31.780 --> 00:46:32.620
 grant us humility,

00:46:33.200 --> 00:46:34.520
 grant us generosity

00:46:34.520 --> 00:46:35.740
 all for your glory

00:46:35.740 --> 00:46:37.480
 and we pray this

00:46:37.480 --> 00:46:38.240
 in the name of Jesus.

00:46:38.560 --> 00:46:38.780
 Amen.