WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:13.679 And receive the word which is able to save your souls but be doers of the word and not hearers only deceiving yourselves and so on. 00:00:16.920 --> 00:00:17.480 ! 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:38.439 And we saw something of the way in which God works in order to secure that and to achieve that in the life of his own people. 00:00:39.019 --> 00:00:43.480 And we have seen that through the trials of faith come maturity of faith. 00:00:43.480 --> 00:00:47.600 We have seen that there is a proper response to these trials. 00:00:48.500 --> 00:00:54.120 And we've also seen the importance of understanding temptation when we are faced with it. 00:00:54.119 --> 00:01:00.699 And laterally at verse number 16 we notice the way in which good gifts come from God. 00:01:00.939 --> 00:01:08.719 And these good gifts actually include the very testings and the trials that we face along life's way. 00:01:09.659 --> 00:01:17.859 And of course when we come to verse 19 it won't surprise us that at this stage James wants to focus on the word of God itself. 00:01:18.459 --> 00:01:22.840 And of course the word of God is at the very centre of the life of faith. 00:01:22.840 --> 00:01:28.560 And James makes it central to what he is doing and what he is saying here. 00:01:29.380 --> 00:01:41.320 And when we look at these verses we see especially that James is introducing the idea of his word in the context of people's way of life and their behaviour. 00:01:41.319 --> 00:01:57.119 And introducing us to the whole idea that the word of God should change our lives, should influence our behaviour and should through our behaviour prove us to be the children of God if that's indeed who we are. 00:01:57.799 --> 00:02:05.459 So I want to look at these verses in verse 21 especially and to think of the hearing of God's word and the Christian life. 00:02:05.459 --> 00:02:12.259 I want to think first of all of the relationship that we find in these verses. 00:02:13.199 --> 00:02:22.019 And the relationship not in particular a relationship with other people and perhaps not even a relationship with God himself or with the Lord himself. 00:02:22.439 --> 00:02:25.740 But a relationship with the word of God. 00:02:25.740 --> 00:02:33.000 And the word of God is introduced to us here in verse 21 as the implanted word. 00:02:33.000 --> 00:02:44.259 We understand our salvation and the work of God's grace to be the way in which the spirit of God dwells in our hearts. 00:02:44.259 --> 00:02:50.500 And we understand that there is the fruit of the spirit which shows itself in our lives. 00:02:51.379 --> 00:02:58.159 But in this case instead of focusing on the spirit of God which is that living presence of God in our hearts. 00:02:58.579 --> 00:03:03.479 He speaks of the word that is implanted in our hearts. 00:03:04.419 --> 00:03:10.859 In other words the word of God becomes part of our very being and nature. 00:03:10.860 --> 00:03:23.940 And it's planted in our inner beings as a seed that is going to bear fruit and that must bear fruit and that will bear fruit for those who are the children of God. 00:03:24.800 --> 00:03:34.680 And it connects in some ways with the promise given by Jeremiah in chapter 31 that the new covenant that God is going to make with his people. 00:03:34.920 --> 00:03:40.180 That he will put his law within them and that he will write it on their hearts. 00:03:40.860 --> 00:03:47.860 There is an internalizing of the word of God and the law of God in the hearts of the people of God. 00:03:48.280 --> 00:03:54.320 And it is there as a living and powerful word that is going to influence and change their lives. 00:03:55.460 --> 00:04:01.120 And James qualifies that that very word is able to save your souls. 00:04:01.120 --> 00:04:05.659 And of course we do understand that we are saved by the grace of God. 00:04:06.180 --> 00:04:09.539 That we are brought alive by the word of God, by the spirit of God. 00:04:10.259 --> 00:04:18.720 But the salvation here is in particular with regard to being saved from the very things that are a challenge to us in our lives. 00:04:19.259 --> 00:04:20.480 Even in our behavior. 00:04:21.100 --> 00:04:24.079 Things that we may think we cannot overcome or change. 00:04:24.079 --> 00:04:30.120 And there is a reference to things like that in verse number 19 and 20. 00:04:30.539 --> 00:04:34.359 There is the anger that we show sometimes to others. 00:04:34.839 --> 00:04:37.740 There is the sense of filthiness, rampant wickedness. 00:04:38.339 --> 00:04:42.779 There is that sense of behavior that is not consistent with the word of God. 00:04:43.139 --> 00:04:47.060 That is not consistent with Christian living and behavior. 00:04:47.060 --> 00:04:56.040 And we understand that it is challenging to overcome all of these things as they arise in our sinful hearts. 00:04:57.019 --> 00:04:58.800 Here is the implanted word. 00:04:59.340 --> 00:05:07.379 And it is this word that is able to save us, to help us overcome the very things that are such a challenge to us. 00:05:07.379 --> 00:05:20.659 And when you think of that relationship and the word of God, there is a preparation that is absolutely necessary for the child of God and coming to the word of God. 00:05:21.659 --> 00:05:25.959 And the preparation begins with putting away certain things. 00:05:26.939 --> 00:05:33.399 It is like entering into a changing room and preparing to step into action. 00:05:33.399 --> 00:05:38.919 And here they are called upon to put away all of these things that should not be there. 00:05:39.379 --> 00:05:41.399 The filthiness and rampant wickedness. 00:05:42.839 --> 00:05:45.319 It is stopping doing these things. 00:05:46.339 --> 00:05:52.899 And it is the prerequisite and the precondition of our coming to benefit from the word of God. 00:05:53.219 --> 00:05:56.759 That we ensure that we put all of these things aside. 00:05:56.759 --> 00:06:02.839 And we come in to worship God in our prayer meeting and Bible study. 00:06:03.240 --> 00:06:05.659 We come in to worship God on the Lord's Day. 00:06:06.339 --> 00:06:10.680 And it is so important for us to benefit from the word of God. 00:06:10.819 --> 00:06:12.599 That we leave things aside. 00:06:13.039 --> 00:06:14.539 That we put things aside. 00:06:15.079 --> 00:06:22.459 That we empty our minds of all of the wrong things that we have carried with us perhaps during the day or during the week. 00:06:22.459 --> 00:06:35.180 That we must rid ourselves as far as possible from these things with the assurance that the word of God itself is able, gives us the ability and the power to overcome them. 00:06:35.819 --> 00:06:38.359 There must be that putting away. 00:06:39.519 --> 00:06:47.859 And in having put away, there is the sense of receiving with meekness the word of God. 00:06:47.860 --> 00:06:53.460 And there are two things that arise from this expression that James uses here. 00:06:54.080 --> 00:07:02.180 There is a sense of receiving and in everyday life, it's a sense of giving hospitality to someone. 00:07:03.680 --> 00:07:10.259 In the sense of the word of God and a relationship with the word of God, it's welcoming the word of God. 00:07:10.259 --> 00:07:17.060 And again, that's so central to the way in which we are to benefit from the word of God. 00:07:18.060 --> 00:07:26.599 That we do come to hear the word of God and that we do so with a sense of a readiness to welcome what God is saying. 00:07:27.259 --> 00:07:31.500 To give hospitality to the word of God in our hearts and in our lives. 00:07:31.959 --> 00:07:36.360 And to embrace it as something that we truly welcome into our lives. 00:07:36.360 --> 00:07:41.819 We are to receive the word of God, to welcome the word of God. 00:07:42.480 --> 00:07:46.540 And we are to do so with meekness. 00:07:46.540 --> 00:07:59.800 And I guess in everyday terms and in the world around us, we think of meekness as perhaps being a doormat for everyone else. 00:08:00.939 --> 00:08:05.700 That we let everyone else walk all over us and they do exactly that. 00:08:06.180 --> 00:08:07.600 That is not meekness. 00:08:08.280 --> 00:08:14.000 The meekness that the Bible speaks of, it comes from the experience of the people of God in the Old Testament. 00:08:14.000 --> 00:08:24.600 And we see, for example, in Isaiah chapter 57, that the holy God dwells with those who have a contrite and lowly spirit. 00:08:25.459 --> 00:08:32.799 In other words, they have learned through life's experience that they are poor and they are needy before God. 00:08:33.379 --> 00:08:36.419 They have learned from life's experience that they need God. 00:08:36.419 --> 00:08:43.839 And because they have learned that they need God, their hearts are wide open to receive the word of God. 00:08:44.519 --> 00:08:49.899 It is the meekness, the readiness, the submission to the word of God. 00:08:50.899 --> 00:09:02.339 And in simple terms, it is as simple as going to the word of God and being ready to say yes to whatever the word of God teaches. 00:09:02.340 --> 00:09:15.060 And again, we think of coming to the word of God and you and I am sure at times we have come to the word of God, not in the way in which James describes here. 00:09:15.059 --> 00:09:40.199 Perhaps we have come not with a sense of welcoming God's word, not with a sense of being ready to say yes to whatever God has to say to us, but instead to take the position of assessing and of judging what God is saying to us before we begin to think of how much of the word of God we're going to let into our lives. 00:09:40.200 --> 00:09:48.020 And as the children of God, we cannot come to the word of God like that. 00:09:48.780 --> 00:10:10.180 It's something that we have to fight against and overcome and seek prayerfully to come to the place where we are ready to let the word of God, which is planted in our hearts, permeate our whole beings and work out in our lives so as to transform our lives. 00:10:10.200 --> 00:10:27.420 And whenever I come and whenever you come to the word of God, it's important to think about the relationship with God and the relationship with the word of God and to ensure that there are no barriers. 00:10:27.419 --> 00:10:40.459 There are no obstacles so that I don't come away from the word of God and concluding and stating that there was nothing there for me when it is the word of God. 00:10:40.460 --> 00:10:56.660 And when that kind of response comes simply because of my own relationship with the word of God and not preparing myself and having this relationship with the word before I come to hear it. 00:10:57.600 --> 00:11:02.580 And so there is a relationship, the precondition. 00:11:02.960 --> 00:11:07.340 I come to the word of God, ensuring the relationship is what it should be. 00:11:07.340 --> 00:11:12.759 Secondly, there is a responsibility. 00:11:14.200 --> 00:11:21.139 And as the responsibility is with regard to the word of God and coming to hear the word of God. 00:11:22.080 --> 00:11:32.139 And as we move on to verse 22, we see the way in which he speaks of hearing the word of God. 00:11:32.139 --> 00:11:36.360 And we can hear words from many people. 00:11:37.080 --> 00:11:38.360 We can hear what they say. 00:11:38.439 --> 00:11:39.960 We can choose to ignore what they say. 00:11:40.500 --> 00:11:43.199 We don't need even to pay attention to what they are saying. 00:11:44.159 --> 00:11:55.399 But the background to what James is raising before the people here is the sense of coming together in the public worship of God. 00:11:55.399 --> 00:12:01.259 He is coming with an Old Testament understanding of what worship is. 00:12:01.939 --> 00:12:08.919 He is coming with an Old Testament understanding of what is at the centre of the life of the community of faith. 00:12:09.740 --> 00:12:13.919 And at the centre of their life is the worship of God. 00:12:13.919 --> 00:12:22.559 And we go to a great statement in Deuteronomy chapter 6 where God is calling to his people. 00:12:23.939 --> 00:12:25.679 Calling them to remember who he is. 00:12:26.299 --> 00:12:27.620 Calling them to worship his name. 00:12:28.299 --> 00:12:29.620 Hear, O Israel. 00:12:30.719 --> 00:12:33.099 The Lord of God, the Lord is one. 00:12:33.100 --> 00:12:43.720 There is a statement at the heading of that, the introduction of that book of Deuteronomy that sets the tone for the rest of the book. 00:12:44.379 --> 00:12:51.399 That the audience must hear every single word that God is going to speak because he is one Lord. 00:12:51.540 --> 00:12:53.240 He is their God. 00:12:53.680 --> 00:12:56.220 And they must listen to what he has to say. 00:12:56.220 --> 00:13:05.680 And we think of Exodus 24 where Moses reads the book of the covenant to the people. 00:13:06.139 --> 00:13:08.000 The word of God he reads to the people. 00:13:09.100 --> 00:13:11.440 And the response of the people in that moment. 00:13:11.960 --> 00:13:14.840 All that the Lord has spoken we will do. 00:13:16.680 --> 00:13:18.800 Hearers of the word of God. 00:13:18.799 --> 00:13:29.839 The community of faith is marked by the fact that they are regular in the public worship of God. 00:13:31.519 --> 00:13:34.139 It is an expression of who they are. 00:13:34.979 --> 00:13:37.339 It's an expression of their relationship with God. 00:13:38.399 --> 00:13:47.439 And it's coming to the worship and the preaching of the word of God to hear what God the Lord has to say. 00:13:48.799 --> 00:13:57.599 And so when we read the word hearing, we want to see that word as a window into what worship really is. 00:13:58.799 --> 00:14:06.500 And coming face to face with God and coming ear to what God has to say to us. 00:14:07.120 --> 00:14:18.019 And if you and I lose this characteristic out of our life of faith, then there is something fundamentally and seriously wrong. 00:14:18.799 --> 00:14:22.559 Because the people of God are a worshiping people. 00:14:23.339 --> 00:14:25.459 They worship the only true and living God. 00:14:26.279 --> 00:14:32.799 And they come with ready hearts to hear what God the Lord has to say. 00:14:32.799 --> 00:14:52.939 If I'm the child of God, a Christian believer, that will be evident and I will be known as the person, the kind of person that is always ready to gather, to worship with the people of God in the public worship of his name. 00:14:52.940 --> 00:14:59.520 But my responsibility does not come to an end there. 00:15:01.260 --> 00:15:08.600 My coming to hear what God has to say should lead to conformity to that very word. 00:15:09.760 --> 00:15:11.660 And that's what James is focusing on here. 00:15:12.380 --> 00:15:13.820 There is the imperative. 00:15:13.820 --> 00:15:20.000 Be doers of the word and do not hearers only. 00:15:21.600 --> 00:15:29.500 And the way he is speaking to them, it gives the sense and the suggestion that this is something they weren't doing. 00:15:30.600 --> 00:15:35.340 They were to begin to do this very thing that was absent from their lives. 00:15:35.340 --> 00:15:38.200 They were doing the hearing. 00:15:38.600 --> 00:15:39.940 They were doing the worshiping. 00:15:40.000 --> 00:15:41.000 They were doing the gathering. 00:15:41.660 --> 00:15:48.700 But there was this fundamental aspect missing from their lives as the people of God. 00:15:48.960 --> 00:15:52.480 To be doers of the word. 00:15:53.220 --> 00:15:58.460 To put the word of God into practice. 00:15:58.460 --> 00:16:02.580 To give hands and feet to what the word of God says. 00:16:03.740 --> 00:16:10.580 To be visible as somebody who walks the walk as well as talks the talk of the people of God. 00:16:11.440 --> 00:16:15.240 It's being a doer of the word of God. 00:16:17.420 --> 00:16:25.600 And my failure to do so, being a hearer only, I deceive myself. 00:16:25.600 --> 00:16:38.320 And it draws attention to the way in which we can actually go through a process of reckoning in our own minds. 00:16:39.519 --> 00:16:41.720 That we have done what we should. 00:16:42.580 --> 00:16:44.240 When we have done the public worship. 00:16:44.800 --> 00:16:46.500 And when we have heard the word of God. 00:16:47.279 --> 00:16:50.200 And we deceive ourselves into thinking that that's it. 00:16:51.220 --> 00:16:53.560 I've done what God requires of me. 00:16:53.559 --> 00:16:55.819 I've given expression to my faith. 00:16:56.379 --> 00:16:58.079 And I can now go and fold my hands. 00:16:58.579 --> 00:16:59.919 And park myself. 00:17:00.479 --> 00:17:03.779 And not do anything with the word that I have heard. 00:17:06.159 --> 00:17:09.639 And it's striking that I may. 00:17:10.339 --> 00:17:11.039 And I can. 00:17:11.319 --> 00:17:11.940 And we can. 00:17:12.759 --> 00:17:13.919 Deceive other people. 00:17:15.399 --> 00:17:18.919 But it's worth pausing and thinking. 00:17:19.339 --> 00:17:22.460 That you and I can actually deceive ourselves. 00:17:23.559 --> 00:17:26.319 That we can be so convinced tonight. 00:17:27.319 --> 00:17:31.200 That worship and hearing is all I need to do. 00:17:32.399 --> 00:17:35.279 And I can be so convinced of that. 00:17:35.559 --> 00:17:37.519 That my life will confirm that. 00:17:37.519 --> 00:17:46.639 And I have lost sight of this key and final element in my relationship with God. 00:17:47.299 --> 00:17:48.740 That I come to worship. 00:17:49.160 --> 00:17:50.359 That I come to hear. 00:17:50.359 --> 00:17:57.079 And that I come to go and put it into practice. 00:17:58.439 --> 00:17:59.519 Cheating myself. 00:18:01.359 --> 00:18:02.419 Cheating God. 00:18:03.479 --> 00:18:05.959 Keeping from God what God requires of me. 00:18:06.339 --> 00:18:13.519 Keeping from God the very thing that should flow from my faith and my relationship with him. 00:18:13.519 --> 00:18:17.319 Jesus says about abiding in him. 00:18:18.400 --> 00:18:19.779 And abiding in his word. 00:18:20.879 --> 00:18:21.980 And abiding in his love. 00:18:22.579 --> 00:18:26.039 That is that sense of being at home and living. 00:18:26.879 --> 00:18:27.920 Giving hospitality. 00:18:28.420 --> 00:18:29.680 Receiving the word of God. 00:18:29.680 --> 00:18:34.519 And going and living out of that word of God. 00:18:36.440 --> 00:18:39.440 And we read in Ezekiel chapter 33. 00:18:40.660 --> 00:18:43.080 The people of God who had rebelled against God. 00:18:44.120 --> 00:18:48.039 The people of God who were taken away captive to Babylon. 00:18:48.039 --> 00:18:53.119 The people of God who were hanging on by their fingernails. 00:18:53.740 --> 00:18:55.879 To the things that belong to their faith. 00:18:57.220 --> 00:18:59.159 And we read in that chapter. 00:19:00.220 --> 00:19:01.460 That they talk together. 00:19:02.500 --> 00:19:03.779 We read in that chapter. 00:19:04.299 --> 00:19:06.980 That they hear that there is a word coming from the Lord. 00:19:08.259 --> 00:19:10.379 We read in verse 31. 00:19:10.859 --> 00:19:12.159 They come to you as my people. 00:19:12.680 --> 00:19:14.299 They hear what you say. 00:19:15.299 --> 00:19:17.519 But will not do it. 00:19:18.659 --> 00:19:20.839 With lustful talk in their mouths they act. 00:19:21.259 --> 00:19:24.299 Their heart is set on their own gain. 00:19:26.700 --> 00:19:27.980 What we're describing here. 00:19:28.059 --> 00:19:29.159 What James is describing here. 00:19:29.519 --> 00:19:30.899 It's not something new. 00:19:31.960 --> 00:19:34.460 It's something that comes to light. 00:19:34.460 --> 00:19:36.079 In the history of faith. 00:19:36.180 --> 00:19:38.319 In the history of the community of faith. 00:19:39.139 --> 00:19:39.899 Here it is. 00:19:40.139 --> 00:19:41.319 In these trying days. 00:19:41.639 --> 00:19:43.139 In exile in Babylon. 00:19:44.920 --> 00:19:45.839 And tonight. 00:19:45.839 --> 00:19:48.099 We have to be alert. 00:19:48.099 --> 00:19:49.059 To the fact. 00:19:50.259 --> 00:19:51.480 That we ourselves. 00:19:51.480 --> 00:19:53.339 May be in line with. 00:19:53.799 --> 00:19:54.959 This group of people here. 00:19:55.459 --> 00:19:56.819 Who are saying the right things. 00:19:57.119 --> 00:19:58.579 Who are going to the right places. 00:19:58.579 --> 00:20:00.740 But in their minds. 00:20:01.539 --> 00:20:02.639 In their thinking. 00:20:03.879 --> 00:20:04.859 They were saying. 00:20:05.019 --> 00:20:06.139 I will not do it. 00:20:07.319 --> 00:20:08.460 And the fact that they. 00:20:08.679 --> 00:20:09.939 Had stopped doing it. 00:20:10.000 --> 00:20:10.720 Is what's leaving them. 00:20:10.799 --> 00:20:11.559 Where they are. 00:20:12.559 --> 00:20:13.220 And they have. 00:20:13.679 --> 00:20:14.919 Carried on that way of thinking. 00:20:15.439 --> 00:20:16.619 Despite the many ways. 00:20:16.759 --> 00:20:18.419 In which God has spoken to them. 00:20:18.799 --> 00:20:19.179 And. 00:20:20.460 --> 00:20:21.919 Broad his judgment upon them. 00:20:21.919 --> 00:20:22.720 And sent them away. 00:20:22.720 --> 00:20:23.700 Despite that. 00:20:24.640 --> 00:20:25.360 They are still. 00:20:25.940 --> 00:20:26.400 Saying. 00:20:27.339 --> 00:20:27.960 We will not. 00:20:28.900 --> 00:20:29.480 Do it. 00:20:32.360 --> 00:20:33.259 And it is. 00:20:33.500 --> 00:20:34.539 A searching question. 00:20:36.180 --> 00:20:37.480 I'm sure none of us actually. 00:20:38.120 --> 00:20:38.380 Say. 00:20:39.559 --> 00:20:40.480 Openly and plainly. 00:20:40.559 --> 00:20:40.720 I mean. 00:20:40.779 --> 00:20:41.400 Say to ourselves. 00:20:41.720 --> 00:20:42.680 We're not going to do it. 00:20:42.680 --> 00:20:44.799 But. 00:20:44.920 --> 00:20:45.560 But it's. 00:20:45.560 --> 00:20:45.880 It's. 00:20:46.100 --> 00:20:47.000 What we don't do. 00:20:47.799 --> 00:20:48.840 And it's when we don't. 00:20:48.980 --> 00:20:49.440 Follow through. 00:20:49.539 --> 00:20:50.539 What the word of God says. 00:20:50.960 --> 00:20:52.460 And what God requires of us. 00:20:53.759 --> 00:20:54.880 And we deceive ourselves. 00:20:55.120 --> 00:20:55.500 And we. 00:20:55.980 --> 00:20:56.740 Do our hearing. 00:20:58.980 --> 00:20:59.720 But then. 00:21:00.259 --> 00:21:00.539 Nothing. 00:21:00.900 --> 00:21:01.360 Happens. 00:21:02.420 --> 00:21:02.779 Afterwards. 00:21:04.560 --> 00:21:05.080 And James. 00:21:05.180 --> 00:21:05.620 Wants them. 00:21:05.759 --> 00:21:06.600 And God wants us. 00:21:07.000 --> 00:21:07.400 This evening. 00:21:07.539 --> 00:21:08.880 To be on our guard. 00:21:10.100 --> 00:21:11.259 At doing the hearing. 00:21:11.440 --> 00:21:12.620 And doing the receiving. 00:21:13.620 --> 00:21:14.440 But not. 00:21:14.840 --> 00:21:15.640 The doing of. 00:21:15.900 --> 00:21:16.700 Putting it into. 00:21:17.440 --> 00:21:17.840 Action. 00:21:18.960 --> 00:21:20.019 And I speak to myself. 00:21:20.279 --> 00:21:20.920 As I speak to. 00:21:21.000 --> 00:21:21.500 To all of you. 00:21:21.539 --> 00:21:21.920 This evening. 00:21:22.759 --> 00:21:24.019 This is a challenge. 00:21:24.019 --> 00:21:25.080 For us all. 00:21:25.880 --> 00:21:27.180 As the people of God. 00:21:28.259 --> 00:21:29.539 How we can be lulled. 00:21:29.539 --> 00:21:29.920 Into. 00:21:30.500 --> 00:21:31.279 A way of. 00:21:31.279 --> 00:21:32.460 Of worshipful life. 00:21:33.640 --> 00:21:35.220 And stop short of. 00:21:35.560 --> 00:21:36.820 Of having the word of God. 00:21:37.640 --> 00:21:38.120 Influence. 00:21:38.299 --> 00:21:38.720 Our whole. 00:21:39.000 --> 00:21:39.440 Behavior. 00:21:39.700 --> 00:21:40.340 And being. 00:21:40.840 --> 00:21:41.900 So that we can be. 00:21:41.900 --> 00:21:43.200 The children of God. 00:21:43.300 --> 00:21:44.380 That we ought to be. 00:21:44.759 --> 00:21:46.060 And so that we will practice. 00:21:46.960 --> 00:21:48.019 The very things. 00:21:48.220 --> 00:21:48.860 That God brings. 00:21:48.960 --> 00:21:49.680 Before us. 00:21:50.360 --> 00:21:51.300 Follow the example. 00:21:51.300 --> 00:21:51.820 Of Jesus. 00:21:51.980 --> 00:21:52.800 Be disciples. 00:21:53.820 --> 00:21:54.400 Be salt. 00:21:54.480 --> 00:21:55.040 And be light. 00:21:55.440 --> 00:21:55.880 Be the things. 00:21:55.920 --> 00:21:56.740 That we ought to be. 00:21:57.180 --> 00:21:58.000 In practice. 00:21:58.660 --> 00:21:59.460 Every day. 00:21:59.460 --> 00:21:59.559 Be. 00:22:00.559 --> 00:22:01.279 So there is. 00:22:01.420 --> 00:22:01.980 A relationship. 00:22:02.680 --> 00:22:03.079 And there is. 00:22:03.180 --> 00:22:04.039 A responsibility. 00:22:05.900 --> 00:22:06.680 And finally. 00:22:06.819 --> 00:22:07.180 There is. 00:22:07.819 --> 00:22:08.759 A reflection. 00:22:10.759 --> 00:22:11.519 And James. 00:22:11.799 --> 00:22:12.220 Uses. 00:22:12.279 --> 00:22:13.460 A kind of parable here. 00:22:14.420 --> 00:22:15.380 Where there is. 00:22:15.640 --> 00:22:16.360 An encounter. 00:22:16.519 --> 00:22:17.680 With the word of God. 00:22:17.680 --> 00:22:20.120 And he uses. 00:22:20.120 --> 00:22:21.259 The idea of. 00:22:21.880 --> 00:22:22.200 A mirror. 00:22:22.420 --> 00:22:23.680 In this parable. 00:22:24.640 --> 00:22:25.259 If anyone is. 00:22:25.340 --> 00:22:26.080 A hearer of the word. 00:22:26.180 --> 00:22:26.740 And not a doer. 00:22:27.120 --> 00:22:27.960 He is like a man. 00:22:28.000 --> 00:22:28.820 Who looks intently. 00:22:29.320 --> 00:22:30.660 At his natural face. 00:22:30.920 --> 00:22:31.100 In. 00:22:32.200 --> 00:22:33.019 The glass. 00:22:36.740 --> 00:22:37.440 It's probably. 00:22:37.779 --> 00:22:38.380 Fair to say. 00:22:38.539 --> 00:22:38.660 That. 00:22:39.740 --> 00:22:40.519 At some point. 00:22:40.519 --> 00:22:40.840 Today. 00:22:41.019 --> 00:22:41.840 That all of us. 00:22:41.940 --> 00:22:42.740 Will have looked in the mirror. 00:22:43.700 --> 00:22:44.039 For us. 00:22:44.080 --> 00:22:44.420 Before we. 00:22:44.600 --> 00:22:45.220 Came out here. 00:22:45.220 --> 00:22:46.980 Or first thing in the morning. 00:22:48.220 --> 00:22:48.700 Mirror. 00:22:48.839 --> 00:22:49.720 Is at the center. 00:22:49.839 --> 00:22:50.720 Of our lives. 00:22:51.539 --> 00:22:52.920 We come face to face. 00:22:53.039 --> 00:22:53.460 With the mirror. 00:22:53.779 --> 00:22:54.839 We come face to face. 00:22:54.960 --> 00:22:55.799 With ourselves. 00:22:56.819 --> 00:22:58.120 And what we see. 00:22:58.220 --> 00:22:58.559 In the mirror. 00:22:59.039 --> 00:23:00.079 Should bring us. 00:23:00.519 --> 00:23:01.339 To bring about. 00:23:01.500 --> 00:23:02.079 Some kind of. 00:23:02.180 --> 00:23:02.600 Remedial. 00:23:02.720 --> 00:23:03.860 Or corrective action. 00:23:04.559 --> 00:23:04.920 To. 00:23:05.960 --> 00:23:06.980 Address the things. 00:23:06.980 --> 00:23:07.860 That the mirror. 00:23:08.120 --> 00:23:09.100 Has highlighted. 00:23:10.380 --> 00:23:11.640 That's why we have the mirror. 00:23:12.600 --> 00:23:13.380 And that's why we go. 00:23:13.519 --> 00:23:14.539 And look in the mirror. 00:23:15.220 --> 00:23:16.120 So that we see. 00:23:16.240 --> 00:23:17.519 If things are out of place. 00:23:17.920 --> 00:23:18.779 That we need to address. 00:23:19.220 --> 00:23:19.980 And make sure. 00:23:20.100 --> 00:23:20.759 We address them. 00:23:21.360 --> 00:23:22.059 Before we. 00:23:22.440 --> 00:23:23.100 Go and. 00:23:24.279 --> 00:23:24.559 Meet. 00:23:24.900 --> 00:23:25.720 And present ourselves. 00:23:25.920 --> 00:23:26.799 To the public. 00:23:27.079 --> 00:23:27.380 Eye. 00:23:29.380 --> 00:23:30.380 And here is. 00:23:31.500 --> 00:23:32.500 Looking intently. 00:23:32.700 --> 00:23:33.120 At his. 00:23:33.339 --> 00:23:34.160 Natural face. 00:23:34.319 --> 00:23:34.940 In the mirror. 00:23:36.120 --> 00:23:37.079 And it's the. 00:23:37.319 --> 00:23:38.039 It's just the. 00:23:38.180 --> 00:23:38.920 Idea of. 00:23:39.980 --> 00:23:41.180 My natural face. 00:23:41.339 --> 00:23:41.579 Or. 00:23:41.960 --> 00:23:43.180 The face of my origin. 00:23:43.360 --> 00:23:44.640 Or the face of my genesis. 00:23:44.640 --> 00:23:45.100 It is. 00:23:45.440 --> 00:23:46.360 The natural face. 00:23:46.440 --> 00:23:46.900 That I have. 00:23:46.960 --> 00:23:47.360 Of somebody. 00:23:47.920 --> 00:23:49.140 Created by God. 00:23:50.100 --> 00:23:50.540 Somebody. 00:23:50.680 --> 00:23:51.160 Who's created. 00:23:51.360 --> 00:23:51.500 To. 00:23:51.820 --> 00:23:52.960 To live in the service. 00:23:52.960 --> 00:23:53.460 Of God. 00:23:53.660 --> 00:23:54.259 And somebody. 00:23:54.400 --> 00:23:54.620 Who has. 00:23:54.940 --> 00:23:55.540 Fallen off. 00:23:55.860 --> 00:23:56.100 From. 00:23:56.480 --> 00:23:57.180 That relationship. 00:23:57.340 --> 00:23:57.820 With God. 00:23:59.180 --> 00:23:59.600 And so. 00:23:59.700 --> 00:24:00.320 I come to. 00:24:00.400 --> 00:24:00.900 To the mirror. 00:24:01.980 --> 00:24:02.780 And this is what. 00:24:02.840 --> 00:24:03.040 The mirror. 00:24:03.120 --> 00:24:03.940 Wants me to see. 00:24:04.640 --> 00:24:05.280 This is what I. 00:24:05.400 --> 00:24:06.259 Should see in the mirror. 00:24:06.680 --> 00:24:07.759 I see myself. 00:24:07.759 --> 00:24:08.400 As the person. 00:24:08.800 --> 00:24:09.940 Who was made by God. 00:24:10.500 --> 00:24:11.140 I see myself. 00:24:11.240 --> 00:24:11.620 As the person. 00:24:11.660 --> 00:24:12.140 Who was made. 00:24:12.140 --> 00:24:13.300 To enjoy. 00:24:13.600 --> 00:24:14.460 Commune with God. 00:24:14.860 --> 00:24:15.640 I see myself. 00:24:15.640 --> 00:24:16.180 As the person. 00:24:16.180 --> 00:24:17.380 Who has sinned. 00:24:17.440 --> 00:24:18.200 Against God. 00:24:18.920 --> 00:24:19.580 I take. 00:24:19.720 --> 00:24:20.200 Account. 00:24:20.880 --> 00:24:21.940 Of what I see. 00:24:22.240 --> 00:24:22.380 In. 00:24:23.200 --> 00:24:23.620 The mirror. 00:24:24.740 --> 00:24:25.740 It would be foolish. 00:24:25.740 --> 00:24:26.160 Of me. 00:24:26.660 --> 00:24:27.040 Not. 00:24:27.380 --> 00:24:28.040 To do so. 00:24:28.920 --> 00:24:29.420 And taking. 00:24:29.540 --> 00:24:30.100 Account of it. 00:24:30.600 --> 00:24:30.960 Taking. 00:24:31.680 --> 00:24:32.400 Appropriate. 00:24:33.280 --> 00:24:33.720 Action. 00:24:33.720 --> 00:24:36.799 We see. 00:24:37.259 --> 00:24:37.579 Perhaps. 00:24:37.880 --> 00:24:38.319 Metaphorically. 00:24:38.400 --> 00:24:38.680 Ourselves. 00:24:38.759 --> 00:24:39.039 We see. 00:24:39.799 --> 00:24:40.579 To somebody. 00:24:40.700 --> 00:24:41.380 Who does something. 00:24:41.799 --> 00:24:42.640 That they shouldn't do. 00:24:43.220 --> 00:24:43.980 Take a good look. 00:24:44.000 --> 00:24:44.440 At yourself. 00:24:45.600 --> 00:24:46.720 And it's that idea. 00:24:46.860 --> 00:24:46.940 Of. 00:24:47.620 --> 00:24:48.539 Taking a good look. 00:24:48.539 --> 00:24:49.100 At ourselves. 00:24:49.759 --> 00:24:50.380 In the mirror. 00:24:50.860 --> 00:24:51.100 Of. 00:24:51.539 --> 00:24:52.100 The word. 00:24:52.980 --> 00:24:53.559 Of God. 00:24:54.759 --> 00:24:55.460 And the person. 00:24:55.579 --> 00:24:56.500 Who deceives. 00:24:56.559 --> 00:24:56.880 Himself. 00:24:57.000 --> 00:24:57.200 Here. 00:24:57.720 --> 00:24:58.460 Is the person. 00:24:58.900 --> 00:24:59.480 Who looks. 00:25:00.120 --> 00:25:00.759 In the mirror. 00:25:01.400 --> 00:25:02.579 And goes away. 00:25:02.579 --> 00:25:03.259 And at once. 00:25:04.460 --> 00:25:04.819 Forgets. 00:25:06.480 --> 00:25:07.699 What he is like. 00:25:09.379 --> 00:25:10.579 There's an instant. 00:25:12.199 --> 00:25:12.679 Forgetfulness. 00:25:12.679 --> 00:25:14.119 Of what the person. 00:25:14.119 --> 00:25:14.759 Has seen. 00:25:16.059 --> 00:25:16.359 And. 00:25:16.559 --> 00:25:17.539 That's the person. 00:25:17.919 --> 00:25:18.460 Who is. 00:25:18.639 --> 00:25:19.439 A hearer only. 00:25:20.980 --> 00:25:21.799 The word. 00:25:21.899 --> 00:25:22.559 That has been heard. 00:25:22.679 --> 00:25:22.960 Hasn't. 00:25:23.359 --> 00:25:24.819 Penetrated the person's mind. 00:25:24.960 --> 00:25:25.539 Or heart. 00:25:26.460 --> 00:25:27.519 It's had no impact. 00:25:27.639 --> 00:25:28.220 On the person. 00:25:28.299 --> 00:25:28.699 Whatsoever. 00:25:29.679 --> 00:25:30.439 And the. 00:25:30.559 --> 00:25:31.199 The person. 00:25:31.699 --> 00:25:32.399 Walks away. 00:25:33.559 --> 00:25:34.279 And nothing. 00:25:35.359 --> 00:25:35.919 Changes. 00:25:40.399 --> 00:25:41.480 One of the commentators. 00:25:41.659 --> 00:25:41.899 In. 00:25:43.099 --> 00:25:43.899 Describing this. 00:25:44.399 --> 00:25:44.639 Says. 00:25:44.779 --> 00:25:45.659 As for the man. 00:25:45.740 --> 00:25:46.159 With the mirror. 00:25:47.119 --> 00:25:48.240 Off he goes. 00:25:48.960 --> 00:25:49.899 But his friends. 00:25:50.019 --> 00:25:50.480 Meeting him. 00:25:50.619 --> 00:25:51.099 On his way. 00:25:51.599 --> 00:25:52.240 Could tell him. 00:25:52.740 --> 00:25:53.339 That the mirror. 00:25:53.500 --> 00:25:53.859 Is not. 00:25:53.859 --> 00:25:55.359 Not the comb. 00:25:55.599 --> 00:25:56.799 Or the face fland. 00:25:57.379 --> 00:25:57.799 And that. 00:25:57.879 --> 00:25:58.679 Without these aids. 00:25:58.799 --> 00:25:59.480 To gracious living. 00:25:59.879 --> 00:26:00.439 His devotion. 00:26:00.679 --> 00:26:01.059 To the mirror. 00:26:01.059 --> 00:26:02.019 Is in itself. 00:26:02.200 --> 00:26:03.039 Without value. 00:26:04.240 --> 00:26:04.919 In other words. 00:26:06.639 --> 00:26:07.539 If I have something. 00:26:07.639 --> 00:26:08.419 All over my face. 00:26:09.000 --> 00:26:09.859 I see it in the mirror. 00:26:09.960 --> 00:26:10.960 I do nothing about it. 00:26:11.779 --> 00:26:12.460 If I see. 00:26:12.960 --> 00:26:13.559 A person. 00:26:13.659 --> 00:26:14.139 On the street. 00:26:14.140 --> 00:26:16.000 And they can tell. 00:26:16.520 --> 00:26:16.800 That. 00:26:17.640 --> 00:26:18.460 They can question. 00:26:18.560 --> 00:26:19.180 Did I look in the mirror. 00:26:19.240 --> 00:26:19.700 At all. 00:26:20.520 --> 00:26:21.400 And if I did. 00:26:21.500 --> 00:26:22.240 They can tell. 00:26:22.320 --> 00:26:22.700 That I've just. 00:26:22.880 --> 00:26:23.200 Ignored. 00:26:23.300 --> 00:26:24.180 What I've seen. 00:26:25.520 --> 00:26:26.220 And that's the. 00:26:26.220 --> 00:26:27.420 The danger. 00:26:27.420 --> 00:26:28.460 Of neglecting. 00:26:28.460 --> 00:26:29.120 The word. 00:26:29.120 --> 00:26:29.880 Of God. 00:26:30.840 --> 00:26:31.680 That for you. 00:26:31.720 --> 00:26:32.240 And for me. 00:26:32.560 --> 00:26:33.240 We come away. 00:26:33.240 --> 00:26:34.340 From the worship of God. 00:26:34.539 --> 00:26:35.340 From hearing. 00:26:35.460 --> 00:26:36.320 The word of God. 00:26:36.920 --> 00:26:37.400 And. 00:26:37.840 --> 00:26:38.460 We go and put it. 00:26:38.580 --> 00:26:39.400 Into practice. 00:26:39.620 --> 00:26:39.960 Because. 00:26:41.440 --> 00:26:42.340 In our witness. 00:26:42.980 --> 00:26:44.080 It becomes evident. 00:26:44.779 --> 00:26:45.820 Whether we are Jewish. 00:26:46.200 --> 00:26:46.759 Or not. 00:26:48.259 --> 00:26:49.060 Does the word. 00:26:49.180 --> 00:26:49.779 Change us. 00:26:50.180 --> 00:26:50.779 Has the word. 00:26:50.900 --> 00:26:51.539 Changed us. 00:26:52.060 --> 00:26:52.900 Is our behavior. 00:26:53.620 --> 00:26:54.180 Consistent. 00:26:54.180 --> 00:26:55.320 With the word of God. 00:26:55.940 --> 00:26:56.759 In conformity. 00:26:57.299 --> 00:26:58.340 To the law of God. 00:26:59.700 --> 00:27:00.900 Or is there no sign. 00:27:01.640 --> 00:27:02.420 In my life. 00:27:03.660 --> 00:27:03.980 Of. 00:27:04.980 --> 00:27:06.259 The genuine marks. 00:27:06.259 --> 00:27:07.380 And characteristics. 00:27:08.060 --> 00:27:08.460 Of being. 00:27:09.100 --> 00:27:10.120 A child of God. 00:27:11.759 --> 00:27:13.080 On the other hand. 00:27:15.299 --> 00:27:16.340 There's a person. 00:27:17.539 --> 00:27:19.220 Who is not deceiving him. 00:27:19.279 --> 00:27:19.799 Or herself. 00:27:21.460 --> 00:27:22.279 The person. 00:27:22.400 --> 00:27:23.039 Who is probably. 00:27:23.220 --> 00:27:23.860 Concerned. 00:27:23.859 --> 00:27:24.639 That they may be. 00:27:24.639 --> 00:27:25.439 Deceiving themselves. 00:27:26.939 --> 00:27:27.939 But they are not. 00:27:28.799 --> 00:27:29.500 They come. 00:27:31.279 --> 00:27:31.979 To look. 00:27:32.059 --> 00:27:33.199 Into the perfect law. 00:27:33.339 --> 00:27:34.139 The law of liberty. 00:27:34.779 --> 00:27:35.579 And they persevere. 00:27:36.159 --> 00:27:36.919 Being no hearer. 00:27:36.979 --> 00:27:37.639 Who forgets. 00:27:37.799 --> 00:27:38.379 But a doer. 00:27:38.959 --> 00:27:39.599 Who acts. 00:27:41.359 --> 00:27:42.199 Peering down. 00:27:43.059 --> 00:27:43.899 If I want to look. 00:27:44.139 --> 00:27:44.919 At something closely. 00:27:45.039 --> 00:27:46.240 And examine something closely. 00:27:47.639 --> 00:27:48.339 Not only. 00:27:48.559 --> 00:27:48.899 Do I. 00:27:48.979 --> 00:27:50.099 Do I need my glasses. 00:27:50.099 --> 00:27:50.679 To do so. 00:27:50.759 --> 00:27:50.899 But. 00:27:50.899 --> 00:27:52.299 I'll come down close. 00:27:52.519 --> 00:27:52.979 This because. 00:27:52.980 --> 00:27:53.799 I want to peer. 00:27:53.799 --> 00:27:55.400 Into this thing. 00:27:55.500 --> 00:27:56.759 That's a matter of interest. 00:27:56.759 --> 00:27:57.220 To me. 00:27:57.860 --> 00:27:59.019 I want to make sure. 00:27:59.680 --> 00:28:01.039 That I know all the detail. 00:28:02.519 --> 00:28:04.140 And that's what genuine faith does. 00:28:04.200 --> 00:28:04.620 That's the. 00:28:04.759 --> 00:28:05.420 The image. 00:28:05.559 --> 00:28:05.660 That. 00:28:06.000 --> 00:28:06.360 That. 00:28:06.359 --> 00:28:07.759 James has here. 00:28:07.759 --> 00:28:08.159 I. 00:28:08.159 --> 00:28:09.839 I come to the mirror. 00:28:11.019 --> 00:28:12.539 And I want to come close. 00:28:12.539 --> 00:28:13.099 To the mirror. 00:28:13.419 --> 00:28:15.039 I want to examine myself. 00:28:15.379 --> 00:28:16.019 In the mirror. 00:28:16.019 --> 00:28:17.099 Of the word of God. 00:28:17.659 --> 00:28:19.119 I want to take to heart. 00:28:19.459 --> 00:28:20.699 Everything that the word of God. 00:28:20.819 --> 00:28:21.179 Says. 00:28:21.619 --> 00:28:22.539 About my journey. 00:28:22.679 --> 00:28:23.959 From being in the image of God. 00:28:24.019 --> 00:28:24.319 To being. 00:28:24.659 --> 00:28:25.799 A sinner that is lost. 00:28:26.799 --> 00:28:27.379 And then. 00:28:27.380 --> 00:28:31.420 I will see the law of God. 00:28:31.920 --> 00:28:33.880 As the perfect law of liberty. 00:28:34.740 --> 00:28:36.040 That there is freedom. 00:28:38.100 --> 00:28:38.860 And that means. 00:28:39.920 --> 00:28:40.440 That. 00:28:42.340 --> 00:28:43.600 In the gospel. 00:28:44.740 --> 00:28:46.600 And in the message of God's word. 00:28:46.660 --> 00:28:47.620 And God's kingdom. 00:28:47.619 --> 00:28:47.779 Freedom. 00:28:50.079 --> 00:28:51.000 The freedom. 00:28:51.279 --> 00:28:52.039 Is mine. 00:28:52.039 --> 00:28:52.559 Because. 00:28:52.819 --> 00:28:54.500 Of the work of God's grace. 00:28:54.619 --> 00:28:55.139 In my heart. 00:28:56.819 --> 00:28:57.759 For freedom. 00:28:57.959 --> 00:28:58.519 Says Paul. 00:28:58.639 --> 00:28:59.299 In Galatians 5. 00:28:59.339 --> 00:28:59.539 1. 00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:00.759 For freedom. 00:29:00.899 --> 00:29:02.139 Christ has set me free. 00:29:03.099 --> 00:29:04.119 In Romans 8. 00:29:05.279 --> 00:29:06.979 The law of the spirit of life. 00:29:07.019 --> 00:29:07.659 In Christ Jesus. 00:29:07.899 --> 00:29:08.839 Has set me free. 00:29:09.119 --> 00:29:10.500 From the law of sin and death. 00:29:11.779 --> 00:29:13.419 The freedom is secured. 00:29:13.979 --> 00:29:15.659 By the very death of Christ. 00:29:16.759 --> 00:29:17.459 And that. 00:29:17.899 --> 00:29:18.859 Freedom finds. 00:29:19.500 --> 00:29:19.979 Expression. 00:29:20.259 --> 00:29:20.379 In. 00:29:20.639 --> 00:29:20.859 In. 00:29:21.199 --> 00:29:22.099 The freedom now. 00:29:22.219 --> 00:29:22.319 To. 00:29:23.500 --> 00:29:24.719 Fulfill the law of God. 00:29:24.879 --> 00:29:25.000 To. 00:29:25.239 --> 00:29:25.639 To. 00:29:25.639 --> 00:29:27.159 Walk in the paths of God. 00:29:27.579 --> 00:29:28.659 To go and. 00:29:29.099 --> 00:29:29.579 Practice. 00:29:30.379 --> 00:29:31.159 The very thing. 00:29:31.779 --> 00:29:32.959 That God has said. 00:29:33.559 --> 00:29:35.359 And that God has commanded me to do. 00:29:36.500 --> 00:29:38.439 And that's what God did with the children of us. 00:29:38.479 --> 00:29:39.199 In the Old Testament. 00:29:40.299 --> 00:29:41.799 In Exodus chapter 20. 00:29:42.619 --> 00:29:43.939 Where he gives them the commandments. 00:29:44.699 --> 00:29:45.959 I am the Lord your God. 00:29:46.379 --> 00:29:47.459 Who brought you out. 00:29:47.619 --> 00:29:49.019 Of the land of Egypt. 00:29:49.500 --> 00:29:49.939 Freedom. 00:29:52.439 --> 00:29:54.739 You shall have no other gods before me. 00:29:55.739 --> 00:29:57.519 Go and give expression to your freedom. 00:29:58.139 --> 00:29:59.739 By keeping my commands. 00:30:00.459 --> 00:30:01.539 And there's the conformity. 00:30:01.539 --> 00:30:04.579 And that's the person. 00:30:04.579 --> 00:30:05.339 That James. 00:30:05.859 --> 00:30:06.220 Says. 00:30:06.359 --> 00:30:07.799 Is blessed in his doing. 00:30:08.759 --> 00:30:09.859 Empowered by God. 00:30:10.819 --> 00:30:12.720 Sensing the power of God in our lives. 00:30:13.559 --> 00:30:14.159 Sensing God. 00:30:14.240 --> 00:30:15.180 Working in our lives. 00:30:15.819 --> 00:30:16.420 Sensing God. 00:30:16.480 --> 00:30:17.139 Helping us to. 00:30:17.200 --> 00:30:18.139 To overcome the. 00:30:18.359 --> 00:30:18.839 The. 00:30:18.839 --> 00:30:19.879 The misbehavior. 00:30:20.099 --> 00:30:22.039 And the sins that lead to misbehavior. 00:30:22.039 --> 00:30:23.359 Sensing the power of God. 00:30:23.359 --> 00:30:24.460 Sensing the power of God. 00:30:24.639 --> 00:30:25.359 And our own weakness. 00:30:27.539 --> 00:30:28.379 And there we find. 00:30:29.279 --> 00:30:30.599 The genuine Christian. 00:30:30.720 --> 00:30:31.559 The child of God. 00:30:32.659 --> 00:30:34.159 Having a right relationship. 00:30:34.559 --> 00:30:35.740 With the word of God. 00:30:35.839 --> 00:30:36.759 Coming to hear it. 00:30:37.619 --> 00:30:39.220 Recognizing responsibility. 00:30:39.220 --> 00:30:42.480 Ensuring that the hearing. 00:30:42.900 --> 00:30:43.839 Works out in life. 00:30:44.900 --> 00:30:45.700 And then. 00:30:46.319 --> 00:30:46.640 Knowing. 00:30:47.600 --> 00:30:48.620 The blessing of God. 00:30:49.799 --> 00:30:50.960 And how often do we say. 00:30:51.279 --> 00:30:51.460 That. 00:30:52.539 --> 00:30:53.799 We're looking for the blessing. 00:30:54.000 --> 00:30:55.079 And we didn't get the blessing. 00:30:55.279 --> 00:30:56.420 And the blessing is not there. 00:30:58.380 --> 00:30:59.759 Well it begs a question. 00:30:59.940 --> 00:31:01.140 Which is obvious from the passage. 00:31:02.259 --> 00:31:02.920 But the person. 00:31:03.640 --> 00:31:04.579 Who is doing what. 00:31:05.380 --> 00:31:06.440 They should be doing. 00:31:06.579 --> 00:31:07.339 With the word of God. 00:31:07.819 --> 00:31:08.319 Is the person. 00:31:08.319 --> 00:31:09.639 Who is blessed. 00:31:10.460 --> 00:31:11.159 And the freedom. 00:31:11.319 --> 00:31:12.819 To give obedience. 00:31:12.819 --> 00:31:14.639 To the law of God. 00:31:15.099 --> 00:31:16.399 Does not mean freedom. 00:31:16.399 --> 00:31:17.399 From testings. 00:31:17.539 --> 00:31:18.200 And from trials. 00:31:18.279 --> 00:31:19.039 Or from difficulties. 00:31:20.159 --> 00:31:21.339 But it means enjoying. 00:31:21.919 --> 00:31:22.700 The power of God. 00:31:23.059 --> 00:31:23.879 In our lives. 00:31:24.439 --> 00:31:25.200 And may God grant. 00:31:25.319 --> 00:31:26.539 That it will be so for ourselves. 00:31:26.720 --> 00:31:28.319 And may we learn every day. 00:31:28.439 --> 00:31:29.220 To overcome. 00:31:30.119 --> 00:31:31.099 The obstacles. 00:31:31.339 --> 00:31:31.839 In a way. 00:31:31.980 --> 00:31:34.000 To the proper worship of God. 00:31:34.419 --> 00:31:35.939 And to the proper way of living. 00:31:36.339 --> 00:31:37.179 Our Christian lives. 00:31:37.439 --> 00:31:38.059 In the world. 00:31:38.539 --> 00:31:39.819 May God bless his word to us. 00:31:41.819 --> 00:31:42.439 So we're not going to.