WEBVTT 00:00:00.420 --> 00:00:05.580 Father, pour out the Holy Spirit upon us with might and power and deep conviction, we ask in the name of Jesus. 00:00:06.560 --> 00:00:13.359 Father, pour out the Holy Spirit not only upon us who are gathered here in person, but also those who are joining us through Zoom, 00:00:14.120 --> 00:00:18.420 those who will end up entering into worship later on at a different time. 00:00:19.039 --> 00:00:29.640 Father, we give you an unconditional invitation and unconditional permission to speak into our hearts. 00:00:31.000 --> 00:00:40.780 And into the depths, the height, the width, the breadth of our heart, we give you unconditional permission and unconditional invitation to speak into our hearts. 00:00:41.320 --> 00:00:45.439 And this we ask in the name of Jesus, your Son and our Savior. Amen. 00:00:46.120 --> 00:00:47.019 Please be seated. 00:00:50.539 --> 00:00:55.060 So there used to be a joke about churches that when they were looking for a new pastor, 00:00:55.260 --> 00:00:58.960 that they wanted somebody who was 30 years old with 50 years experience. 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:05.159 And, actually, the second one I've actually had happen to me at different times. 00:01:05.799 --> 00:01:11.379 People want their pastors to be proactive, out talking to people, doing things, 00:01:11.460 --> 00:01:15.659 but they also want them to be always available on the phone at the same time. 00:01:16.120 --> 00:01:21.579 And, of course, those are contradictory desires, just as it is to have a 30-year-old man who's 50 years experience. 00:01:21.579 --> 00:01:26.560 I've been told that one of the problems that financial planners have in dealing with people, 00:01:26.659 --> 00:01:28.400 not that they have this with every person, 00:01:28.500 --> 00:01:34.840 but it's not unusual that a financial planner has a problem talking about finances with people 00:01:34.840 --> 00:01:36.819 because they have contradictory desires. 00:01:37.900 --> 00:01:39.280 Well, they have two types of things. 00:01:39.359 --> 00:01:42.459 First of all, that they have contradictory desires, that they want to get this, 00:01:42.459 --> 00:01:47.199 they want to be able to maybe buy a house or have renovations. 00:01:47.799 --> 00:01:50.619 They also want to be able to set aside money for the future. 00:01:50.799 --> 00:01:59.060 They want to be able to retire young, die at 95, leave an inheritance, do lots of traveling, fix the house, etc., etc. 00:01:59.060 --> 00:02:04.359 And on top of that, when actually the financial planner starts to work with people, 00:02:04.439 --> 00:02:10.199 it's not unusual that people have one or more areas of their finances where they have no control over them. 00:02:10.560 --> 00:02:13.340 By that, I don't mean that in terms of the rent set at a certain thing, 00:02:13.460 --> 00:02:18.360 but they spend too much money on alcohol or they spend too much money on shoes 00:02:18.360 --> 00:02:21.020 or they spend too much money on boats or whatever it is. 00:02:21.500 --> 00:02:24.580 They have a compulsion to spend that can't be controlled. 00:02:24.780 --> 00:02:27.980 And so sometimes financial planners have problems dealing with those two things, 00:02:27.979 --> 00:02:34.079 contradictory desires or ends, and areas of your life where the passion overwhelms 00:02:34.079 --> 00:02:38.599 whatever you should be doing and you spend too much money in certain areas. 00:02:39.579 --> 00:02:45.459 The Bible text that we're going to look at talks about these types of things in a very, very profound way. 00:02:45.899 --> 00:02:50.359 In fact, the one example that I've just given you 00:02:50.359 --> 00:02:55.979 connects to two of the most common self-help approaches in North America today, 00:02:55.979 --> 00:03:01.379 which is a re-appreciation of Stoicism and different westernized forms of Buddhism. 00:03:01.379 --> 00:03:09.400 And both of these types of self-help movements are addressing a problem that you can see in a tiny way with finances, 00:03:09.400 --> 00:03:15.240 but the Bible actually has something very profound to say about this human condition and how to move forward. 00:03:15.599 --> 00:03:21.379 So it would be a great help to me if you would take your Bibles and turn it into James 4, verses 1 to 6. 00:03:22.159 --> 00:03:24.460 James 4, verses 1 to 6. 00:03:24.460 --> 00:03:29.599 And if you're joining us online for the first time, or you're maybe here, I can't tell with masks, 00:03:30.159 --> 00:03:34.360 if you're a first-time visitor or whatever, I apologize about that. 00:03:35.480 --> 00:03:37.300 But we preach through books of the Bible. 00:03:37.580 --> 00:03:39.920 That's what we do here primarily at Church of the Messiah. 00:03:40.060 --> 00:03:44.719 So we're going through the book of James, and now we come to chapter 4, verses 1 to 6. 00:03:45.620 --> 00:03:47.360 And here's what it says. 00:03:47.740 --> 00:03:52.159 It sort of begins with a bit of a familiar situation. 00:03:52.159 --> 00:03:57.000 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? 00:03:57.359 --> 00:04:01.900 Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 00:04:02.359 --> 00:04:05.340 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? 00:04:05.379 --> 00:04:09.539 Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 00:04:10.060 --> 00:04:15.539 Now, the Bible has lots to say about fights and has lots to say about passions, 00:04:15.639 --> 00:04:19.439 and I'm going to say something very important about passion a little bit further on in the sermon, 00:04:19.439 --> 00:04:21.480 when it sort of fits better. 00:04:22.540 --> 00:04:26.800 The Bible here isn't giving a complete description of what causes fights. 00:04:27.740 --> 00:04:31.240 There would be other places in the Bible where, in fact, it would be acknowledged 00:04:31.240 --> 00:04:37.040 that there are times when you do need to fight for that which is good and true and beautiful and just, 00:04:37.680 --> 00:04:40.779 that you need to resist evil and enter into conflict. 00:04:40.779 --> 00:04:47.979 But what the Bible here is addressing is the fact that the number of times that we are able to engage in a fight, 00:04:48.039 --> 00:04:55.739 so to speak, with no self-interest and no sin is actually very hard. 00:04:55.740 --> 00:05:02.400 That it's, in fact, far more common that an aspect of self, even when it's something very, very clear, 00:05:02.500 --> 00:05:06.780 you need to speak out against the racism, you need to confront the racism in your office, 00:05:07.480 --> 00:05:13.180 you need to support a victim of sexual abuse, and you're going to support them. 00:05:13.220 --> 00:05:17.040 And it's a very, very clear-cut issue of dealing with a real evil, 00:05:17.040 --> 00:05:28.819 but it's very, very hard to persist in that, in a sense, pure, non-self-centered, non-self-interested. 00:05:29.060 --> 00:05:32.820 It's just, it's easy to let things get extreme, to get exaggerated, 00:05:33.100 --> 00:05:35.680 and so that the Bible here is going to have us just think about 00:05:35.680 --> 00:05:39.800 the more common types of things that goes on in our fights and quarrels, 00:05:39.879 --> 00:05:44.960 and from that, bury into basically the human condition. 00:05:44.959 --> 00:05:47.019 And so just read verse 1 again, it says, 00:05:47.180 --> 00:05:49.759 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? 00:05:49.819 --> 00:05:53.719 Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 00:05:54.359 --> 00:05:57.099 Now, this is going to be a, this is a very, very important idea, 00:05:57.299 --> 00:06:01.719 and this begins to get at the things that Stoicism and Buddhism often try to, 00:06:01.799 --> 00:06:04.099 or at least a westernized form of Buddhism, 00:06:04.579 --> 00:06:06.579 attempts to try to get us, give us help with. 00:06:07.599 --> 00:06:12.060 We like to think of ourselves, or we'd like to move towards, 00:06:12.060 --> 00:06:14.599 if we aren't, that they're already thinking of ourselves as, 00:06:14.600 --> 00:06:16.640 well, like a still, quiet lake. 00:06:16.760 --> 00:06:19.200 You know, you go to somebody's cottage, or you have your own cottage, 00:06:19.580 --> 00:06:22.560 and it happens to be one of those days when the winds have died down, 00:06:22.920 --> 00:06:25.240 and everything is just smooth as glass, 00:06:25.480 --> 00:06:27.900 and there's just something beautiful and peaceful about it. 00:06:27.960 --> 00:06:30.780 The smooth water, smooth as glass, it's peaceful. 00:06:31.300 --> 00:06:32.420 And we like to think of ourselves as, 00:06:32.480 --> 00:06:34.320 That's me, or that will be me. 00:06:34.960 --> 00:06:37.860 Or maybe we want to think of ourselves as a bubbling brook. 00:06:37.900 --> 00:06:39.240 We don't want to be just so static, 00:06:39.240 --> 00:06:41.120 but we want something that has a bit of melody, 00:06:41.280 --> 00:06:43.600 a bit of movement, but still very constrained, 00:06:43.879 --> 00:06:45.240 and just very lovely. 00:06:45.340 --> 00:06:47.460 And we want to think of ourselves as like a bubbling brook. 00:06:47.939 --> 00:06:50.019 Or maybe like a spring, if you get, 00:06:50.160 --> 00:06:53.040 I still remember, I'm a city kid, 00:06:53.560 --> 00:06:55.860 and I still remember when I was around eight or nine, 00:06:55.920 --> 00:06:57.379 and we went to somebody's cottage, 00:06:57.920 --> 00:07:01.180 and they showed me water coming out of a rock face, 00:07:01.740 --> 00:07:03.319 like out of the rock face, 00:07:03.319 --> 00:07:04.579 and that you could drink it. 00:07:04.899 --> 00:07:06.060 And I still remember that. 00:07:06.120 --> 00:07:08.879 It was like a magical moment for me, 00:07:08.980 --> 00:07:11.599 because, you know, water comes out of a faucet, right? 00:07:12.379 --> 00:07:15.680 You know, meat comes wrapped in cellophane, 00:07:15.879 --> 00:07:16.920 and not cutting up, 00:07:17.000 --> 00:07:18.399 and it was just like magical. 00:07:18.540 --> 00:07:20.360 What, there's water that can come out of a rock, 00:07:20.439 --> 00:07:20.819 and you can drink? 00:07:20.819 --> 00:07:23.060 I can picture it perfectly in my mind, even today. 00:07:23.379 --> 00:07:25.219 And some of us like to think of ourselves as that, 00:07:25.279 --> 00:07:27.399 like fresh spring cold water 00:07:27.399 --> 00:07:29.120 coming out of a rock face that's drinking. 00:07:29.579 --> 00:07:30.740 But the fact of the matter is, 00:07:30.800 --> 00:07:32.300 and this is what the Bible here is saying, 00:07:32.300 --> 00:07:33.759 and it says, what causes quarrels, 00:07:33.819 --> 00:07:35.199 and what causes fights among you? 00:07:35.240 --> 00:07:39.379 Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 00:07:40.079 --> 00:07:42.439 And what it's saying is that the fact of the matter is, 00:07:42.460 --> 00:07:45.639 is that most of us aren't really self-aware enough 00:07:45.639 --> 00:07:49.180 to realize that we are more like a nice big pot 00:07:49.180 --> 00:07:51.340 put on a hot stove, 00:07:51.639 --> 00:07:54.040 and you add enough oil at the bottom, 00:07:54.160 --> 00:07:56.360 and then you throw in a whole pile of popping corn, 00:07:56.639 --> 00:07:58.500 and you don't even put on a lid. 00:07:59.480 --> 00:08:00.860 But the fact of the matter is, 00:08:00.860 --> 00:08:05.060 is that that's actually what describes what most of us are really like, 00:08:05.600 --> 00:08:08.360 that the popping corn is popping all over the place, 00:08:08.400 --> 00:08:09.180 and there's no lid, 00:08:09.259 --> 00:08:10.939 so it's popping out of the pan, 00:08:11.360 --> 00:08:13.020 and it's popping at different times, 00:08:13.060 --> 00:08:15.139 and it's just going completely and utterly crazy. 00:08:15.580 --> 00:08:16.980 And the fact of the matter is, 00:08:17.240 --> 00:08:20.460 is that that's actually what our inner life is more like, 00:08:20.900 --> 00:08:22.259 although maybe in slow motion. 00:08:22.379 --> 00:08:24.680 But sometimes, maybe some of you are sitting here right now, 00:08:24.699 --> 00:08:26.819 and you can hardly even pay attention to what I'm saying, 00:08:26.819 --> 00:08:28.579 because that's what's going on inside of you. 00:08:28.639 --> 00:08:31.060 These things just popping like crazy. 00:08:31.180 --> 00:08:32.720 But if you just think about it for a second, 00:08:33.179 --> 00:08:36.059 just imagine a young man in university, 00:08:36.379 --> 00:08:38.659 and he'd like to have more money, 00:08:39.179 --> 00:08:41.120 which would normally mean getting a job. 00:08:41.679 --> 00:08:44.200 But he also wants to have more time for himself, 00:08:44.700 --> 00:08:47.019 and he also wants to have more time to study. 00:08:47.559 --> 00:08:48.100 One moment. 00:08:48.559 --> 00:08:50.539 He wants to work to have more money, 00:08:50.620 --> 00:08:51.980 he wants to have more time for himself, 00:08:51.980 --> 00:08:53.659 and he wants to have more time for study. 00:08:54.100 --> 00:08:55.779 Well, those are three contradictory things. 00:08:56.100 --> 00:08:57.860 He wants to have lots of friends, 00:08:58.240 --> 00:09:00.440 but he doesn't want to look like he's needy, 00:09:00.440 --> 00:09:02.180 and needing to have lots of friends. 00:09:02.500 --> 00:09:04.259 He wants to be able to do well at sports, 00:09:04.259 --> 00:09:05.820 but he'd like to have lots of times 00:09:05.820 --> 00:09:08.379 when he can sit around and play video games or watch Netflix. 00:09:09.120 --> 00:09:12.039 He'd like to be thought of as wise, 00:09:12.620 --> 00:09:13.480 yet at the same time, 00:09:13.539 --> 00:09:15.080 he'd like to be thought of as edgy. 00:09:15.440 --> 00:09:17.279 He'd like to be thought of as a risk taker. 00:09:17.379 --> 00:09:18.960 He'd like to be thought of as dependable. 00:09:19.340 --> 00:09:21.360 He'd like to be thought of as steady. 00:09:21.360 --> 00:09:23.360 He'd like to be thought of as a free spirit. 00:09:23.919 --> 00:09:26.940 He'd like to have girls to find him attractive. 00:09:27.080 --> 00:09:30.460 He'd like men to find him like a manly type of man, 00:09:30.539 --> 00:09:32.960 whatever that's going to look like at the exact same time. 00:09:33.279 --> 00:09:34.659 He'd also like to be able to act 00:09:34.659 --> 00:09:37.340 as if he doesn't notice their attention or need it. 00:09:37.779 --> 00:09:38.820 He'd like to have a girlfriend. 00:09:39.039 --> 00:09:40.659 He'd also like to be able to play the field. 00:09:40.800 --> 00:09:41.779 He'd like to be a feminist. 00:09:41.940 --> 00:09:43.220 He'd also like to watch porn. 00:09:43.600 --> 00:09:45.139 He'd like to be a life of the party. 00:09:45.240 --> 00:09:47.779 He'd also like to be the guy who can sit with a good book, 00:09:47.860 --> 00:09:49.120 not needing to go to a party. 00:09:49.460 --> 00:09:51.220 He'd like to be thought of as quiet. 00:09:51.480 --> 00:09:53.000 He'd like to be able to live for the moment. 00:09:53.139 --> 00:09:54.940 He'd also like to be able to plan for the future. 00:09:55.360 --> 00:09:57.680 He'd like to be able to know what's going on in social media, 00:09:57.860 --> 00:10:00.120 but he'd also like to not to be one of those shallow people 00:10:00.120 --> 00:10:01.919 who's always into social media. 00:10:02.279 --> 00:10:03.600 He'd like to be able to study. 00:10:03.740 --> 00:10:04.500 He'd like to be flight. 00:10:04.539 --> 00:10:05.800 He wouldn't like to be flighty. 00:10:05.919 --> 00:10:07.639 He'd like to know what all the current trends are, 00:10:07.700 --> 00:10:09.139 but he doesn't want to be one of those shallow people 00:10:09.139 --> 00:10:10.539 who knows what all the trends are. 00:10:10.899 --> 00:10:13.080 He wants approval, but he wants to be above approval. 00:10:13.399 --> 00:10:14.639 He doesn't want to be ignored. 00:10:14.740 --> 00:10:15.740 He wants to be the center, 00:10:16.019 --> 00:10:17.840 but he doesn't want to be thought of as being at the center 00:10:17.840 --> 00:10:19.320 because that's pride, and that's why. 00:10:19.399 --> 00:10:21.920 At the same time, he'd be able to read his Bible more and pray more 00:10:21.920 --> 00:10:23.639 and be more Christian and be more godly, 00:10:23.700 --> 00:10:25.759 but at the other time, he doesn't want to be stuffy and religious, 00:10:26.019 --> 00:10:28.820 and too bad that doesn't describe anybody. 00:10:34.300 --> 00:10:35.600 And I could go on. 00:10:37.720 --> 00:10:38.940 And probably you could. 00:10:38.940 --> 00:10:41.680 In fact, we had a little contest to write a little essay. 00:10:42.220 --> 00:10:44.700 Some of you might say, Georgia can't be a little essay. 00:10:44.700 --> 00:10:48.680 Because that's, in fact, what goes on in us. 00:10:49.300 --> 00:10:50.780 You see, the fact of the matter is, 00:10:50.800 --> 00:10:52.400 is that whether we're aware of it or not, 00:10:52.440 --> 00:10:55.580 and most of us aren't aware of it most of the time, 00:10:56.020 --> 00:10:58.660 we are not the quiet lake. 00:10:58.940 --> 00:11:02.460 We are not the bubbling brook. 00:11:02.720 --> 00:11:08.120 We are a nice big pot put on a hot stove with some oil 00:11:08.120 --> 00:11:10.780 and lots of popping corn and no lid. 00:11:10.779 --> 00:11:15.600 That, in fact, describes us, our inner life, far better. 00:11:16.199 --> 00:11:18.379 That is, in fact, the human condition. 00:11:19.059 --> 00:11:20.399 And that's what the Bible says. 00:11:20.879 --> 00:11:22.839 The Bible has more to say about this, 00:11:22.939 --> 00:11:24.339 because it's not just that. 00:11:24.500 --> 00:11:26.839 It actually gets, in a sense, more... 00:11:26.839 --> 00:11:28.339 I guess you could either say it gets worse 00:11:28.339 --> 00:11:29.500 or it gets more interesting, 00:11:29.759 --> 00:11:31.519 because this is what also goes on. 00:11:31.519 --> 00:11:34.419 And you look at what it says in verses 2 and 3. 00:11:34.559 --> 00:11:35.159 It develops it. 00:11:35.259 --> 00:11:36.839 It gives, in a sense, a fact and a result, 00:11:36.980 --> 00:11:38.539 a fact and a result, a fact and a reason, 00:11:38.659 --> 00:11:40.360 a fact and a result, and then the full reason. 00:11:40.779 --> 00:11:41.959 In a very, very interesting way. 00:11:42.000 --> 00:11:43.379 The first one sounds a bit extreme. 00:11:43.500 --> 00:11:43.740 It says, 00:11:43.839 --> 00:11:48.419 You desire and you do not have, so you murder. 00:11:49.299 --> 00:11:50.919 Okay, that sounds a little bit extreme. 00:11:51.319 --> 00:11:53.120 But what the Bible here is talking about, 00:11:53.360 --> 00:11:55.220 James is doing the exact same thing 00:11:55.220 --> 00:11:58.199 that he learned from Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount 00:11:58.199 --> 00:12:00.059 and in other places in the Gospels. 00:12:00.500 --> 00:12:03.899 So James is just taking what Jesus has talked about. 00:12:04.139 --> 00:12:05.419 You know, when he talks about things like 00:12:05.419 --> 00:12:07.319 if you look at a woman lustfully, 00:12:07.459 --> 00:12:09.259 it's as if you've committed adultery with her. 00:12:09.259 --> 00:12:11.120 And Jesus looks at the heart. 00:12:11.200 --> 00:12:13.279 And what Jesus is doing in all of those situations 00:12:13.279 --> 00:12:16.379 is he's letting you know where you aim. 00:12:18.179 --> 00:12:20.759 Now, not where you hit, but where you aim. 00:12:21.819 --> 00:12:23.059 And the fact of the matter is, 00:12:23.080 --> 00:12:25.740 is if you think about a certain woman, 00:12:26.000 --> 00:12:27.960 not your wife, in a certain type of way, 00:12:28.019 --> 00:12:30.240 what you're aiming at is adultery. 00:12:30.439 --> 00:12:32.740 You don't hit it, but you're aiming at it. 00:12:32.740 --> 00:12:35.659 If somebody does something because you want something 00:12:35.659 --> 00:12:37.100 and you get mad at it, 00:12:37.399 --> 00:12:41.060 well, what you're aiming at in your emotional response 00:12:41.060 --> 00:12:42.980 and your desires is murderous. 00:12:43.419 --> 00:12:44.620 Well, the fact of the matter is, 00:12:44.659 --> 00:12:48.039 is that your husband or your wife gets in and intervenes, 00:12:48.259 --> 00:12:51.580 and you realize that, in my case, 00:12:51.680 --> 00:12:54.200 that guy looks like Daniel Avitan on steroids, 00:12:54.340 --> 00:12:55.220 and I look like me, 00:12:55.279 --> 00:12:57.120 so maybe I shouldn't mouth off to him 00:12:57.120 --> 00:12:58.120 because I'm going to lose. 00:12:58.560 --> 00:13:02.000 Like, you know, self-preservation comes your way, 00:13:02.100 --> 00:13:03.460 but you're aiming at it. 00:13:03.539 --> 00:13:04.620 And that's what the Bible says. 00:13:04.659 --> 00:13:05.820 You have these desires, 00:13:06.820 --> 00:13:08.960 and you do not have. 00:13:09.060 --> 00:13:11.120 You're desiring things you can't possibly have. 00:13:11.179 --> 00:13:14.480 The young man who wants to lust after 23 different women, 00:13:14.600 --> 00:13:16.500 he's by definition not going to have them. 00:13:17.240 --> 00:13:18.980 Even Hugh Hefner didn't have that, right? 00:13:19.940 --> 00:13:23.240 So he has desires that he's not going to actually be able to have, 00:13:23.240 --> 00:13:24.879 but there's still strong desires, 00:13:25.200 --> 00:13:27.139 and it's aiming at something. 00:13:27.220 --> 00:13:29.500 In this case, he uses the example of a murderous aim. 00:13:29.980 --> 00:13:30.740 Then the next one is, 00:13:30.820 --> 00:13:33.120 you covet and cannot obtain, 00:13:33.680 --> 00:13:35.200 so you fight and quarrel. 00:13:36.940 --> 00:13:38.060 It's another type of thing, 00:13:38.240 --> 00:13:40.399 a desiring what the other person has. 00:13:40.980 --> 00:13:42.639 You desire what the other person has. 00:13:42.720 --> 00:13:43.980 It's not even as if it's just around, 00:13:44.060 --> 00:13:45.159 but you want what they have, 00:13:45.480 --> 00:13:46.460 and you can't have any quarrel. 00:13:46.960 --> 00:13:48.379 Louise and I just finished watching, 00:13:48.480 --> 00:13:49.279 a couple of nights ago, 00:13:49.320 --> 00:13:50.940 a movie that we both really enjoyed 00:13:50.940 --> 00:13:52.440 called The Concrete Cowboy. 00:13:53.240 --> 00:13:55.460 And it stars Idris Elba, 00:13:55.639 --> 00:13:57.039 and we both really enjoyed it. 00:13:57.080 --> 00:13:58.560 It's a moving movie, 00:13:59.139 --> 00:14:02.560 and it's on one level a very classic form of, 00:14:02.639 --> 00:14:04.919 it's a form of a very classic story, 00:14:05.039 --> 00:14:05.720 a ghetto youth, 00:14:05.779 --> 00:14:07.159 a black ghetto youth, 00:14:07.620 --> 00:14:10.000 caught between his love for the street, 00:14:10.139 --> 00:14:12.580 but not in fact completely in love with the street 00:14:12.580 --> 00:14:13.259 and the drugs 00:14:13.259 --> 00:14:16.100 and all of the things that would be involved with it, 00:14:16.100 --> 00:14:18.259 and having to live with a dad, 00:14:18.379 --> 00:14:19.840 and it's mixed in with a slum, 00:14:19.919 --> 00:14:22.279 a real slum in a slum area, 00:14:22.279 --> 00:14:24.259 a very poor area of northern Philly, 00:14:24.500 --> 00:14:26.500 where not only are there all the gang wars and everything, 00:14:26.620 --> 00:14:27.959 but a lot of people own horses. 00:14:29.659 --> 00:14:30.839 So anyway, 00:14:31.259 --> 00:14:32.860 but a very moving scene in it, 00:14:33.659 --> 00:14:34.019 where, 00:14:34.240 --> 00:14:36.159 without giving away any scenes about it, 00:14:36.179 --> 00:14:37.299 is an older guy, 00:14:37.379 --> 00:14:38.179 but not like old, 00:14:38.279 --> 00:14:39.679 I mean the kid's a 15-year-old, 00:14:39.720 --> 00:14:41.539 so the older guy's like 23, right? 00:14:42.179 --> 00:14:43.240 25 or something, 00:14:43.299 --> 00:14:44.319 and he's just talking about, 00:14:44.399 --> 00:14:44.559 you know, 00:14:44.600 --> 00:14:45.120 how he was, 00:14:45.220 --> 00:14:46.839 the older guy was like the young guy, 00:14:47.079 --> 00:14:47.419 and he said, 00:14:47.419 --> 00:14:48.039 it's just crazy, 00:14:48.159 --> 00:14:48.259 you know, 00:14:48.299 --> 00:14:49.539 you fight over a corner, 00:14:50.639 --> 00:14:50.899 you know, 00:14:51.000 --> 00:14:52.679 one gang has a corner 00:14:52.679 --> 00:14:53.959 where they sell their drugs, 00:14:54.059 --> 00:14:55.860 and another gang is fighting for it, 00:14:55.879 --> 00:14:57.899 and you get caught up in fighting for that corner, 00:14:58.360 --> 00:15:00.479 and he tells about a particular corner, 00:15:00.639 --> 00:15:01.159 and he said, 00:15:01.219 --> 00:15:01.360 you know, 00:15:01.419 --> 00:15:02.279 people get shot, 00:15:02.419 --> 00:15:03.159 they get beat up, 00:15:03.219 --> 00:15:04.019 they get knifed, 00:15:04.299 --> 00:15:05.120 people die, 00:15:05.299 --> 00:15:05.500 people, 00:15:05.699 --> 00:15:07.159 lives are completely ruined, 00:15:07.360 --> 00:15:08.579 fighting over that corner, 00:15:08.759 --> 00:15:10.399 and he's talking about a particular corner, 00:15:10.479 --> 00:15:11.480 and the fact of the matter is, 00:15:11.500 --> 00:15:13.019 is nobody even owns that corner, 00:15:13.019 --> 00:15:13.579 and today, 00:15:13.759 --> 00:15:14.840 because of gentrification, 00:15:15.000 --> 00:15:16.399 there's a Starbucks there, 00:15:16.860 --> 00:15:19.600 and there's no fighting over that corner, 00:15:19.779 --> 00:15:21.079 you're fighting over things, 00:15:21.139 --> 00:15:22.120 and quarreling over things, 00:15:22.199 --> 00:15:23.220 you covet that corner, 00:15:23.379 --> 00:15:24.879 and you can't even obtain it, 00:15:24.899 --> 00:15:26.079 you can't even have it, 00:15:28.159 --> 00:15:29.720 and it's said quietly, 00:15:29.860 --> 00:15:31.279 but it's a very powerful part of, 00:15:31.620 --> 00:15:32.259 I think, 00:15:32.319 --> 00:15:33.000 quite a good movie, 00:15:33.360 --> 00:15:34.279 The Concrete Cowboy, 00:15:34.879 --> 00:15:36.620 and that's what James is saying here, 00:15:36.919 --> 00:15:38.500 and then look what it says next, 00:15:38.620 --> 00:15:39.480 you do not have, 00:15:39.559 --> 00:15:40.819 because you do not ask, 00:15:41.059 --> 00:15:42.919 and here it's referring to prayer, 00:15:43.899 --> 00:15:44.360 in fact, 00:15:44.699 --> 00:15:44.939 actually, 00:15:45.000 --> 00:15:45.860 we'll just add the next thing, 00:15:45.919 --> 00:15:46.519 so that's the fact, 00:15:46.579 --> 00:15:47.159 you do not have, 00:15:47.220 --> 00:15:47.759 the reason, 00:15:48.500 --> 00:15:50.000 is because you do not act, 00:15:50.399 --> 00:15:50.819 ask, 00:15:51.100 --> 00:15:52.199 and then if you ask, 00:15:52.340 --> 00:15:52.879 it goes next, 00:15:52.939 --> 00:15:53.620 you ask, 00:15:53.980 --> 00:15:54.659 another fact, 00:15:55.139 --> 00:15:56.279 but you do not receive, 00:15:56.480 --> 00:15:57.220 that's the result, 00:15:57.319 --> 00:15:58.419 and then the full reason is, 00:15:58.480 --> 00:16:00.000 because you ask wrongly, 00:16:00.000 --> 00:16:01.699 to spend it on your passions, 00:16:02.620 --> 00:16:02.960 now, 00:16:03.159 --> 00:16:04.919 here's where the word passion, 00:16:04.919 --> 00:16:05.860 has to come in, 00:16:06.960 --> 00:16:08.059 it's the Bible here, 00:16:08.059 --> 00:16:09.960 is saying something very profound, 00:16:10.079 --> 00:16:10.240 you see, 00:16:10.319 --> 00:16:11.059 you take these verses, 00:16:11.199 --> 00:16:12.600 you just read over them very quickly, 00:16:12.600 --> 00:16:14.100 but if they're actually verses, 00:16:14.279 --> 00:16:15.580 that the Bible is asking us, 00:16:15.580 --> 00:16:16.460 to meditate upon, 00:16:17.080 --> 00:16:17.480 or to have, 00:16:17.560 --> 00:16:18.279 start to form us, 00:16:18.300 --> 00:16:19.120 at a deeper level, 00:16:20.620 --> 00:16:21.420 but the word, 00:16:21.580 --> 00:16:23.100 that is translated here, 00:16:23.139 --> 00:16:23.740 as passion, 00:16:23.960 --> 00:16:24.460 is really, 00:16:24.659 --> 00:16:25.620 is the word, 00:16:25.820 --> 00:16:26.320 basically, 00:16:26.480 --> 00:16:27.580 for self-pleasure, 00:16:28.519 --> 00:16:30.620 most of us know, 00:16:30.720 --> 00:16:31.720 of a particular form, 00:16:31.759 --> 00:16:32.420 of self-pleasure, 00:16:32.500 --> 00:16:33.200 and I won't say anything, 00:16:33.379 --> 00:16:33.980 more about that, 00:16:34.120 --> 00:16:34.259 but, 00:16:34.820 --> 00:16:36.779 what the word is saying here, 00:16:36.860 --> 00:16:37.660 is that the problem, 00:16:37.659 --> 00:16:38.679 isn't just that we have, 00:16:38.740 --> 00:16:40.059 contradictory desires, 00:16:41.259 --> 00:16:42.759 and multiple desires, 00:16:43.240 --> 00:16:43.779 that we're like, 00:16:43.860 --> 00:16:45.740 the popcorn in the pot, 00:16:45.839 --> 00:16:46.639 with the oil going, 00:16:46.759 --> 00:16:47.980 but the fact of the matter is, 00:16:48.019 --> 00:16:48.519 is that we, 00:16:48.959 --> 00:16:50.559 these pleasures that we have, 00:16:51.000 --> 00:16:52.319 these passions that we have, 00:16:52.379 --> 00:16:54.759 are in a form of self-pleasuring, 00:16:54.759 --> 00:16:58.639 and so the Bible is saying, 00:16:58.799 --> 00:16:59.159 that's actually, 00:16:59.200 --> 00:17:00.159 what's really going on, 00:17:00.159 --> 00:17:00.720 within you, 00:17:00.899 --> 00:17:01.059 you know, 00:17:01.139 --> 00:17:01.759 whether it's for, 00:17:01.919 --> 00:17:03.139 even for intellectual things, 00:17:03.200 --> 00:17:04.339 not just physical things, 00:17:04.440 --> 00:17:05.980 but that this self-pleasuring, 00:17:06.400 --> 00:17:08.119 is a very powerful thing, 00:17:08.160 --> 00:17:09.180 that's driving you, 00:17:09.640 --> 00:17:10.500 and so what it, 00:17:10.579 --> 00:17:11.480 what it means is, 00:17:11.579 --> 00:17:12.839 that in our prayer life, 00:17:12.900 --> 00:17:13.859 it means that often, 00:17:13.980 --> 00:17:14.619 what happens, 00:17:15.299 --> 00:17:16.000 well first of all, 00:17:16.079 --> 00:17:16.779 either that we, 00:17:17.000 --> 00:17:17.539 don't even think, 00:17:17.599 --> 00:17:18.579 we can begin to pray, 00:17:18.680 --> 00:17:20.319 because we're just so filled, 00:17:20.400 --> 00:17:21.579 with self-pleasuring, 00:17:22.319 --> 00:17:23.299 and self-pleasuring, 00:17:23.400 --> 00:17:24.420 in contradictory ways, 00:17:24.420 --> 00:17:25.460 that we just can't even, 00:17:25.640 --> 00:17:26.420 bring ourselves to pray, 00:17:27.060 --> 00:17:29.039 or if we think to ourselves, 00:17:29.160 --> 00:17:29.880 that what I'm going to do, 00:17:29.920 --> 00:17:30.660 before I can pray, 00:17:30.700 --> 00:17:31.680 is I got to wrestle, 00:17:31.820 --> 00:17:32.680 the self-pleasuring, 00:17:32.880 --> 00:17:33.840 and I need to wrestle them, 00:17:33.880 --> 00:17:34.500 to the ground, 00:17:34.620 --> 00:17:35.940 and get them under control, 00:17:36.039 --> 00:17:36.560 myself, 00:17:37.080 --> 00:17:38.000 and then I say, 00:17:38.060 --> 00:17:39.180 a non-realistic, 00:17:39.320 --> 00:17:40.420 non-honest prayer, 00:17:40.560 --> 00:17:41.580 to God, 00:17:42.640 --> 00:17:45.380 like I don't try to tell them, 00:17:45.519 --> 00:17:45.740 you know, 00:17:45.880 --> 00:17:46.279 it's, 00:17:46.500 --> 00:17:46.720 you know, 00:17:46.820 --> 00:17:47.300 but by the way, 00:17:47.340 --> 00:17:48.400 I'm holding all these, 00:17:48.400 --> 00:17:49.420 different things down, 00:17:49.560 --> 00:17:50.720 but let me talk to you, 00:17:50.720 --> 00:17:51.900 about how much, 00:17:52.000 --> 00:17:52.840 I'd like to have, 00:17:52.920 --> 00:17:53.380 I don't know, 00:17:53.420 --> 00:17:54.120 whatever it is, 00:17:54.420 --> 00:17:55.759 you know, 00:17:55.840 --> 00:17:56.120 more, 00:17:56.240 --> 00:17:58.259 more time to read the Bible, 00:17:58.460 --> 00:17:59.360 and maybe that's, 00:17:59.440 --> 00:18:01.120 that's an honest prayer, 00:18:01.200 --> 00:18:01.820 squeaking out, 00:18:01.980 --> 00:18:02.120 but, 00:18:02.400 --> 00:18:04.080 but the fundamental thing is this, 00:18:04.460 --> 00:18:05.120 that if in fact, 00:18:05.200 --> 00:18:06.800 what you really would like, 00:18:07.920 --> 00:18:08.279 is to, 00:18:08.440 --> 00:18:08.920 is to, 00:18:09.019 --> 00:18:10.340 is to have that person, 00:18:10.440 --> 00:18:11.480 get humiliated, 00:18:11.480 --> 00:18:12.980 so you could have their job, 00:18:13.259 --> 00:18:14.120 and that's really, 00:18:14.120 --> 00:18:15.400 what's going on in your mind, 00:18:15.860 --> 00:18:17.259 but you don't want to tell God that, 00:18:17.259 --> 00:18:21.640 so you give some other non-realistic prayer, 00:18:21.859 --> 00:18:22.879 because it's pious, 00:18:23.379 --> 00:18:25.640 but the fact of the matter is, 00:18:25.680 --> 00:18:28.079 is that sometimes you even do let out these prayers, 00:18:28.680 --> 00:18:28.940 and then, 00:18:29.019 --> 00:18:29.619 and then if, 00:18:29.680 --> 00:18:32.839 if you understand that what we are is a mass of differing desires, 00:18:33.039 --> 00:18:33.859 and if in fact, 00:18:33.960 --> 00:18:35.160 a lot of what is happening, 00:18:35.660 --> 00:18:37.220 that we have in ourselves, 00:18:37.400 --> 00:18:40.720 different types of self-pleasuring desires, 00:18:40.720 --> 00:18:42.500 then if you think about it for a second, 00:18:42.600 --> 00:18:44.079 how can God answer that prayer? 00:18:45.640 --> 00:18:46.039 Like, 00:18:46.880 --> 00:18:49.420 how can I answer that prayer? 00:18:50.680 --> 00:18:52.259 If I answer their prayer, 00:18:52.420 --> 00:18:55.180 it's just feeding their self-pleasuring, 00:18:58.579 --> 00:19:00.160 which is also just, 00:19:00.279 --> 00:19:01.200 but at the same time, 00:19:01.259 --> 00:19:03.600 it's going to just continue to have them pursue things, 00:19:03.660 --> 00:19:05.220 they can't actually even have, 00:19:05.960 --> 00:19:07.180 and covet things, 00:19:07.440 --> 00:19:07.480 and, 00:19:07.480 --> 00:19:07.680 and, 00:19:07.680 --> 00:19:08.360 and fighting, 00:19:08.539 --> 00:19:08.680 like, 00:19:08.799 --> 00:19:10.400 so how does God answer that prayer? 00:19:11.579 --> 00:19:11.799 Like, 00:19:11.799 --> 00:19:12.660 how does he answer it? 00:19:18.600 --> 00:19:20.360 Because these passions, 00:19:20.799 --> 00:19:22.339 which is translated in passions, 00:19:22.519 --> 00:19:22.640 but, 00:19:22.720 --> 00:19:23.339 like, 00:19:23.420 --> 00:19:23.640 really, 00:19:23.799 --> 00:19:24.039 literally, 00:19:24.180 --> 00:19:25.519 it means self-pleasures, 00:19:26.200 --> 00:19:27.240 self-pleasuring, 00:19:28.000 --> 00:19:30.180 and then in, 00:19:30.180 --> 00:19:30.839 in verse four, 00:19:30.940 --> 00:19:31.079 he, 00:19:31.079 --> 00:19:32.000 he continues on, 00:19:32.059 --> 00:19:33.039 you adulterous people, 00:19:33.200 --> 00:19:34.000 do you not know 00:19:34.000 --> 00:19:36.240 that friendship 00:19:36.240 --> 00:19:37.600 with the world 00:19:37.600 --> 00:19:38.640 is enmity with God, 00:19:38.759 --> 00:19:39.019 therefore, 00:19:39.160 --> 00:19:40.700 whoever wishes to be a friend of the world, 00:19:40.700 --> 00:19:42.779 makes himself an enemy of God. 00:19:42.880 --> 00:19:43.480 This is a, 00:19:43.480 --> 00:19:46.200 a bit more of this particular type of thing, 00:19:46.259 --> 00:19:47.080 because in a sense, 00:19:47.240 --> 00:19:47.519 what, 00:19:47.580 --> 00:19:48.680 what the Bible understands, 00:19:48.819 --> 00:19:50.940 and it's going to talk about it in a very important way, 00:19:50.980 --> 00:19:51.640 just in a moment, 00:19:51.700 --> 00:19:52.240 is that the, 00:19:52.240 --> 00:19:55.299 the primary sin underneath human beings is, 00:19:55.299 --> 00:19:56.039 is pride. 00:19:56.039 --> 00:19:56.899 and, 00:19:56.899 --> 00:19:57.480 and, 00:19:57.480 --> 00:19:58.059 and in the, 00:19:58.079 --> 00:19:59.599 the part just before this, 00:19:59.599 --> 00:20:01.079 in the book of James, 00:20:01.119 --> 00:20:05.359 it was talking about the fact that we have this constant self-satisfaction, 00:20:05.539 --> 00:20:06.599 self-centeredness, 00:20:07.000 --> 00:20:08.460 self-preoccupation, 00:20:08.659 --> 00:20:09.220 and, 00:20:09.279 --> 00:20:09.480 and, 00:20:09.559 --> 00:20:10.559 and before that, 00:20:10.599 --> 00:20:12.819 it was talking about the fact that we had this, 00:20:12.920 --> 00:20:15.480 this problem that we're, 00:20:15.819 --> 00:20:16.180 we're, 00:20:16.180 --> 00:20:16.480 we're, 00:20:16.659 --> 00:20:16.799 you know, 00:20:16.839 --> 00:20:17.019 we, 00:20:17.099 --> 00:20:18.859 we can do good things and bad things, 00:20:18.859 --> 00:20:19.099 and, 00:20:19.379 --> 00:20:19.599 and, 00:20:19.599 --> 00:20:20.980 and we're just not natural, 00:20:20.980 --> 00:20:28.960 And so now it's just talking about the fact that when you are living for your self-pleasuring, it's feeding your pride. 00:20:30.339 --> 00:20:39.480 And pride is a way of living so that you either make God tame, you can pretend that you've tamed God, or you ignore God. 00:20:39.819 --> 00:20:47.799 And the world is, in a sense, the system, a social system, a group of friends, or a society, or a group, or an office place, or a work. 00:20:47.799 --> 00:20:54.639 The world here means social situations organized to keep God either tame or at a distance, or ignore him. 00:20:54.940 --> 00:21:06.579 And so, once again, if what's really going on within you is a way to either tame God or to ignore him, you're pretending, but not being realistic with him. 00:21:06.779 --> 00:21:12.799 And really what's going on are these desires that often are turned into self-pleasuring. 00:21:12.799 --> 00:21:15.500 And how exactly is God going to answer the prayer? 00:21:17.799 --> 00:21:24.720 Now, those of you who are following along with your own Bible, and I'm not going to say this so you all tell me, oh yeah, we read your blog. 00:21:24.859 --> 00:21:30.220 I mean, I write the blog, and I don't know if two people read it or no people read it or 500 people read it. 00:21:30.220 --> 00:21:30.839 I have no idea. 00:21:30.839 --> 00:21:42.039 But I'm going to do something which I never do in a sermon, which is I've been reading from the ESV for verses 1 to 4, and I'm going to read the ESV for verse 6, but I'm going to read a different translation for verse 5. 00:21:42.679 --> 00:21:45.720 And if you're curious about why I'm doing that, I wrote a whole blog on it. 00:21:45.759 --> 00:21:49.879 So you can go back and read the blog, and it explains why I'm doing what I'm doing. 00:21:49.880 --> 00:21:54.260 But verse 5 in the ESV goes like this. 00:21:55.040 --> 00:22:04.120 Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the Spirit he caused to dwell in us envies intensely? 00:22:05.240 --> 00:22:09.260 And those of you who are looking at your ESV will see that that's not what the ESV says. 00:22:09.340 --> 00:22:14.220 And if you're curious, you can read my blog where I explain why I have just done what I have just done. 00:22:14.220 --> 00:22:21.720 Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the Spirit he caused to dwell in us envies intensely? 00:22:22.819 --> 00:22:28.860 What it actually says literally is that it longs towards envy. 00:22:30.000 --> 00:22:38.240 And we're going to talk about this more next week because in some ways what happens here is that chapter 3 and the first part of chapter 4, 00:22:38.240 --> 00:22:46.079 in some ways verse 5 summarizes what has just been talked about in chapter 3 and up until now. 00:22:46.740 --> 00:22:51.059 And in some ways verse 6 is a summary of the solution. 00:22:51.819 --> 00:22:54.539 So verse 5 is in some way a summary of the problem. 00:22:54.680 --> 00:22:56.200 Verse 6 is a summary of the solution. 00:22:56.759 --> 00:22:59.640 7, 8, 9, and 10 are going to have a bit more to say about the solution. 00:22:59.839 --> 00:23:02.620 So next week we're going to look at verse 5 to 10. 00:23:03.380 --> 00:23:06.299 And this week I'm just going to deal with a bit of the summary. 00:23:06.299 --> 00:23:13.200 And one of the things we see it is that in the Bible generally speaking, in fact overwhelmingly the word for longing is positive. 00:23:14.000 --> 00:23:19.579 And in the New Testament and in almost all Greek literature the word for envy is seen as a sin. 00:23:20.619 --> 00:23:24.579 And so what the text is saying here is that this is part of the human problem. 00:23:25.419 --> 00:23:26.759 That God has built within us. 00:23:26.839 --> 00:23:29.139 Human beings aren't just physical, we're also spiritual. 00:23:29.740 --> 00:23:31.339 That there's a spirit or a soul. 00:23:31.339 --> 00:23:35.199 And that God created the spirit or the soul to long. 00:23:37.480 --> 00:23:40.099 That's how God created the human spirit. 00:23:40.259 --> 00:23:40.859 To long. 00:23:41.439 --> 00:23:42.139 To yearn. 00:23:43.559 --> 00:23:47.379 And that can be seen if you go back and read Genesis chapter 1, 2, and 3. 00:23:47.919 --> 00:23:51.579 And you'll see that God created human beings in his own image. 00:23:51.659 --> 00:23:54.259 He created male and female in his image. 00:23:54.259 --> 00:23:57.619 So man and woman are equally in the image and likeness of God. 00:23:58.039 --> 00:24:02.400 And he gave us a task that we are to have dominion over the earth. 00:24:02.480 --> 00:24:03.859 That we are to subdue the earth. 00:24:03.980 --> 00:24:05.319 That we are to fill the earth. 00:24:05.400 --> 00:24:06.819 That we are to tend the earth. 00:24:07.279 --> 00:24:09.920 That in a sense we are in a sense represent the earth. 00:24:10.019 --> 00:24:13.500 That we are in a sense garden the earth under God's leadership. 00:24:13.500 --> 00:24:17.940 And it means that we are in a sense to write poetry and to sing songs. 00:24:18.279 --> 00:24:21.279 And to take a big patch of wilderness. 00:24:21.700 --> 00:24:23.680 And just to make it into a garden. 00:24:23.839 --> 00:24:25.220 And to make beautiful buildings. 00:24:25.960 --> 00:24:27.779 And so there's a... 00:24:27.779 --> 00:24:28.920 If that's the case. 00:24:29.119 --> 00:24:29.920 If we are... 00:24:29.920 --> 00:24:32.319 And that we were built to have a longing. 00:24:32.640 --> 00:24:35.799 To be able to at the end of the day of fruitful labor. 00:24:36.059 --> 00:24:37.619 Of being fruitful. 00:24:37.779 --> 00:24:38.640 And of multiplying. 00:24:38.859 --> 00:24:39.839 And of filling the earth. 00:24:39.900 --> 00:24:40.880 And of tending the garden. 00:24:40.880 --> 00:24:41.720 And the end of that. 00:24:41.820 --> 00:24:44.140 That we also long to be able to walk with God. 00:24:44.180 --> 00:24:44.960 In the cool of the day. 00:24:45.020 --> 00:24:46.280 As the Holy Spirit moves. 00:24:46.460 --> 00:24:47.280 Like a breeze. 00:24:47.380 --> 00:24:48.520 And to be able to walk with him. 00:24:48.560 --> 00:24:49.400 And talk with him. 00:24:49.980 --> 00:24:52.040 And be completely and utterly transparent. 00:24:52.160 --> 00:24:54.040 As he is completely and utterly present for him. 00:24:54.060 --> 00:24:55.500 And so we have a longing for God. 00:24:55.560 --> 00:24:57.140 A longing to create. 00:24:57.220 --> 00:24:58.360 A longing to plant. 00:24:58.440 --> 00:24:59.400 A longing to garden. 00:24:59.400 --> 00:25:01.620 And God has made the human spirit to long. 00:25:04.200 --> 00:25:05.540 But the problem is. 00:25:05.640 --> 00:25:06.740 Is that envy. 00:25:07.700 --> 00:25:09.000 Shapes our longing. 00:25:10.880 --> 00:25:15.040 Our longing is now proud. 00:25:16.840 --> 00:25:18.760 And so envy. 00:25:20.080 --> 00:25:21.620 Which leads to the hatred. 00:25:21.960 --> 00:25:23.200 And feels anger. 00:25:23.520 --> 00:25:24.460 And quarrels. 00:25:24.840 --> 00:25:27.900 And is wanting to not only put others down. 00:25:27.980 --> 00:25:29.880 But at the same time self-pleasure yourself. 00:25:30.180 --> 00:25:32.240 That now shapes our longing. 00:25:32.240 --> 00:25:35.620 Now it's in here. 00:25:36.779 --> 00:25:38.700 That our Buddhist friends. 00:25:38.779 --> 00:25:39.940 And our Stoic friends. 00:25:40.039 --> 00:25:40.319 Will say. 00:25:40.400 --> 00:25:41.859 George that's very very interesting. 00:25:41.940 --> 00:25:44.140 I didn't know that the Bible said all of those types of things. 00:25:44.539 --> 00:25:45.980 And if those of you who know anybody. 00:25:45.980 --> 00:25:47.019 Who are into Stoicism. 00:25:47.220 --> 00:25:47.440 They say. 00:25:47.500 --> 00:25:48.380 Gosh that's amazing. 00:25:48.539 --> 00:25:49.799 Do you know that's exactly the sort of thing. 00:25:49.880 --> 00:25:51.099 That the Stoics describe. 00:25:51.839 --> 00:25:52.500 And some of you. 00:25:52.579 --> 00:25:53.920 If you have any friends who are Buddhists. 00:25:54.079 --> 00:25:56.299 Like at least especially more Western type of Buddhists. 00:25:56.359 --> 00:25:56.539 And say. 00:25:56.579 --> 00:25:57.380 You know that's exactly. 00:25:57.380 --> 00:26:00.140 Or therapists who are very influenced by Buddhist techniques. 00:26:00.880 --> 00:26:01.260 Will say. 00:26:01.360 --> 00:26:01.880 That's exactly. 00:26:02.040 --> 00:26:02.420 Like that's a. 00:26:02.640 --> 00:26:02.800 Boy. 00:26:02.940 --> 00:26:03.220 Really? 00:26:03.320 --> 00:26:04.180 That's all in the Bible? 00:26:04.240 --> 00:26:06.300 I never thought that they had stuff like that in the Bible. 00:26:06.440 --> 00:26:08.360 Like I thought it was just a whole pile of thou shalt not. 00:26:08.480 --> 00:26:09.480 And waving your finger. 00:26:09.580 --> 00:26:11.320 And then of course the common phrase. 00:26:11.420 --> 00:26:12.360 Of it's going to be biblical. 00:26:12.360 --> 00:26:14.540 Which means there'll be lots of explosions. 00:26:14.980 --> 00:26:15.760 Death and destruction. 00:26:16.520 --> 00:26:18.040 And so it's a bit of a surprise. 00:26:18.160 --> 00:26:20.140 That the Bible actually has a very sophisticated. 00:26:20.780 --> 00:26:22.040 Both sophisticated modern. 00:26:22.200 --> 00:26:23.460 But also very ancient. 00:26:24.160 --> 00:26:25.720 Analysis of the human condition. 00:26:26.320 --> 00:26:27.080 And then they'll say. 00:26:27.079 --> 00:26:27.460 But you see. 00:26:27.539 --> 00:26:29.259 That's exactly why you need to learn. 00:26:29.619 --> 00:26:31.159 Different types of Buddhist techniques. 00:26:31.299 --> 00:26:32.359 You need to learn mindfulness. 00:26:32.619 --> 00:26:33.539 You need to be able to. 00:26:33.980 --> 00:26:35.799 Separate yourself from your experience. 00:26:35.899 --> 00:26:36.799 And look at yourself. 00:26:36.939 --> 00:26:38.839 As an observer of your experience. 00:26:38.839 --> 00:26:39.980 And you need to learn how to. 00:26:40.199 --> 00:26:41.279 To kill desire. 00:26:41.720 --> 00:26:42.419 Because in fact. 00:26:42.500 --> 00:26:43.220 The desire is going to. 00:26:43.240 --> 00:26:44.919 And we'll show you with our techniques. 00:26:44.980 --> 00:26:45.859 How to kill desire. 00:26:45.960 --> 00:26:48.059 How to be able to stand as an outsider to you. 00:26:48.099 --> 00:26:48.960 And look at yourself. 00:26:49.399 --> 00:26:50.439 And the Stoics will say. 00:26:50.500 --> 00:26:52.039 Well we're going to show you a series of. 00:26:52.240 --> 00:26:54.379 Of important meditations and truths. 00:26:54.379 --> 00:26:55.419 Which will allow you. 00:26:55.419 --> 00:26:56.500 You don't have to actually. 00:26:56.500 --> 00:26:57.299 Kill desire. 00:26:57.460 --> 00:26:58.079 If you're a Stoic. 00:26:58.140 --> 00:26:59.279 They have a bit of a different answer. 00:26:59.279 --> 00:26:59.960 Than the Buddhists. 00:27:00.160 --> 00:27:01.000 But what you need to do. 00:27:01.039 --> 00:27:02.720 Is you need to be able to tame the desires. 00:27:02.839 --> 00:27:03.819 And order the desires. 00:27:03.960 --> 00:27:05.299 And to get them in a particular way. 00:27:05.339 --> 00:27:07.099 And we'll show you a series of exercises. 00:27:07.460 --> 00:27:09.980 That will help you to do those particular things. 00:27:11.259 --> 00:27:12.799 And that's now where our Stoic. 00:27:12.960 --> 00:27:14.119 Our modern Stoic. 00:27:14.680 --> 00:27:17.859 And our Buddhist therapist friends. 00:27:17.859 --> 00:27:18.559 Will step in. 00:27:18.619 --> 00:27:19.519 But here's the thing. 00:27:20.119 --> 00:27:21.319 They have a big problem. 00:27:21.319 --> 00:27:21.799 You see. 00:27:21.799 --> 00:27:25.019 They share with Christians the analysis. 00:27:26.379 --> 00:27:30.019 But their solution has a big, big problem. 00:27:31.019 --> 00:27:31.419 In fact. 00:27:31.480 --> 00:27:33.619 Their solution can't solve the problem. 00:27:34.379 --> 00:27:35.599 What their solution is. 00:27:35.599 --> 00:27:36.159 Is like this. 00:27:36.200 --> 00:27:37.579 I hate movies like this. 00:27:37.639 --> 00:27:39.279 So you know I like action movies. 00:27:39.279 --> 00:27:40.220 And adventure movies. 00:27:40.460 --> 00:27:40.480 But. 00:27:40.960 --> 00:27:41.879 And I'm not going to name. 00:27:41.960 --> 00:27:43.740 I'm not going to out any particular movie. 00:27:43.839 --> 00:27:45.720 But there's certain types of action movies. 00:27:45.720 --> 00:27:47.259 Or superhero movies even. 00:27:47.259 --> 00:27:50.859 That have this very, very common fault. 00:27:51.400 --> 00:27:53.079 For the first half of the movie. 00:27:53.200 --> 00:27:55.900 The bad guy is invincible. 00:27:56.799 --> 00:27:59.039 And if the bad guy has henchmen. 00:27:59.119 --> 00:28:00.200 When the henchmen shoot. 00:28:00.339 --> 00:28:01.379 They don't miss. 00:28:01.819 --> 00:28:03.660 And when the bad guy has a plan. 00:28:03.779 --> 00:28:05.000 The plan works. 00:28:05.379 --> 00:28:06.420 And for half the movie. 00:28:06.519 --> 00:28:07.640 Three quarters of the movie. 00:28:07.740 --> 00:28:08.640 It's unfailing. 00:28:08.819 --> 00:28:09.759 The bad guys. 00:28:09.839 --> 00:28:10.180 Henchmen. 00:28:10.279 --> 00:28:12.220 Their shots always hit the target. 00:28:12.700 --> 00:28:14.480 And the plans always work. 00:28:14.480 --> 00:28:15.319 Now because. 00:28:15.859 --> 00:28:17.240 If the movie ends like that. 00:28:17.259 --> 00:28:20.000 That will be the world's most depressing movie. 00:28:20.140 --> 00:28:22.799 The bad guy kills everybody. 00:28:23.759 --> 00:28:25.059 And is triumphant. 00:28:25.519 --> 00:28:27.700 And it will get five stars from the critics. 00:28:28.019 --> 00:28:30.519 And 23 people in the world will watch it. 00:28:30.759 --> 00:28:31.039 Okay. 00:28:31.420 --> 00:28:34.180 So filmmakers don't like to make movies like that. 00:28:34.200 --> 00:28:35.680 Unless they want to have critics love it. 00:28:35.720 --> 00:28:36.599 So they make movies. 00:28:36.700 --> 00:28:37.400 And what happens. 00:28:37.680 --> 00:28:39.900 Is for no reason whatsoever. 00:28:41.960 --> 00:28:43.720 Completely and utterly out of the blue. 00:28:43.720 --> 00:28:45.980 So you have a good ending to the story. 00:28:46.660 --> 00:28:47.920 All of a sudden. 00:28:48.240 --> 00:28:49.519 The henchmen's bullets. 00:28:49.720 --> 00:28:51.559 Can't hit the good guys anymore. 00:28:53.240 --> 00:28:54.319 Early in the movie. 00:28:54.539 --> 00:28:55.920 The bad guy with a pistol. 00:28:55.920 --> 00:28:57.019 Can hit the guy. 00:28:57.180 --> 00:28:58.480 A hundred yards away. 00:28:58.940 --> 00:29:00.880 But three quarters of the way into the movie. 00:29:01.059 --> 00:29:03.019 The bad guy with a machine gun. 00:29:03.140 --> 00:29:04.140 Can't hit the good guy. 00:29:04.240 --> 00:29:05.220 Ten yards away. 00:29:05.779 --> 00:29:06.740 For no reason. 00:29:06.920 --> 00:29:07.599 And all of a sudden. 00:29:07.720 --> 00:29:08.240 For no reason. 00:29:08.240 --> 00:29:09.380 The plans don't work. 00:29:10.019 --> 00:29:10.339 Why? 00:29:10.480 --> 00:29:12.279 Because you have to have a good ending to the movie. 00:29:12.899 --> 00:29:14.039 So it just comes. 00:29:14.799 --> 00:29:15.960 And so here's the problem. 00:29:16.220 --> 00:29:17.180 For our Buddhists. 00:29:17.299 --> 00:29:18.539 And our stoic friends. 00:29:19.779 --> 00:29:20.599 One moment. 00:29:22.399 --> 00:29:23.779 We're a pot. 00:29:23.879 --> 00:29:24.379 A pop. 00:29:24.559 --> 00:29:25.099 We're a hot. 00:29:25.299 --> 00:29:26.339 We're a pot. 00:29:26.539 --> 00:29:27.660 On a hot stove. 00:29:28.019 --> 00:29:29.200 With some oil. 00:29:29.379 --> 00:29:30.579 And a lot of popping corn. 00:29:31.019 --> 00:29:31.879 And all of a sudden. 00:29:31.980 --> 00:29:33.160 You're saying that's not us. 00:29:33.420 --> 00:29:34.160 All of a sudden. 00:29:34.220 --> 00:29:36.759 You're saying that one of the little popcorn corns. 00:29:36.759 --> 00:29:37.859 Can go in the oil. 00:29:38.480 --> 00:29:39.279 And fly. 00:29:39.839 --> 00:29:41.799 And control the popping corn. 00:29:41.940 --> 00:29:42.379 And in fact. 00:29:42.559 --> 00:29:43.319 Jump out. 00:29:43.539 --> 00:29:44.339 Of the pot. 00:29:44.519 --> 00:29:45.839 And turn the heat down. 00:29:45.960 --> 00:29:46.279 And then. 00:29:46.579 --> 00:29:47.099 Jump back. 00:29:47.180 --> 00:29:48.660 And push the pot to the side. 00:29:48.740 --> 00:29:49.579 That there's some little. 00:29:50.200 --> 00:29:50.940 Kernel of corn. 00:29:51.019 --> 00:29:51.980 That can do that. 00:29:53.379 --> 00:29:53.740 What? 00:29:54.480 --> 00:29:55.599 Except we don't say what. 00:29:56.099 --> 00:29:56.740 But that's what we should say. 00:29:56.799 --> 00:29:57.200 What? 00:29:59.559 --> 00:30:00.319 Like how on earth. 00:30:00.379 --> 00:30:01.099 Is that possible? 00:30:01.180 --> 00:30:02.119 That doesn't make any sense. 00:30:02.180 --> 00:30:02.799 Just all of a sudden. 00:30:02.879 --> 00:30:03.299 Out of nowhere. 00:30:03.420 --> 00:30:04.019 That happens. 00:30:04.200 --> 00:30:04.940 You just do that. 00:30:04.980 --> 00:30:06.259 To have a good ending to the story. 00:30:06.940 --> 00:30:08.859 But you haven't actually accounted for anything. 00:30:08.980 --> 00:30:09.660 Other than the fact. 00:30:09.740 --> 00:30:10.480 That the pot is there. 00:30:10.519 --> 00:30:11.579 And the popcorn is there. 00:30:11.900 --> 00:30:12.200 You see. 00:30:12.279 --> 00:30:13.059 What they in fact. 00:30:13.879 --> 00:30:14.240 Imply. 00:30:15.180 --> 00:30:15.859 Is that there's a. 00:30:15.980 --> 00:30:16.140 You know. 00:30:16.160 --> 00:30:16.460 One of the. 00:30:16.519 --> 00:30:17.039 One of the ways. 00:30:17.039 --> 00:30:17.700 That Aristotle. 00:30:18.859 --> 00:30:19.259 Described. 00:30:19.599 --> 00:30:21.279 And if you look at Thomas Aquinas. 00:30:21.400 --> 00:30:22.579 And some of the older arguments. 00:30:22.700 --> 00:30:23.700 For the existence of God. 00:30:23.819 --> 00:30:24.400 What they say. 00:30:24.519 --> 00:30:27.059 Is that God is the unmoved mover. 00:30:28.359 --> 00:30:29.400 Some of you have heard of that. 00:30:29.480 --> 00:30:30.180 Some of you haven't. 00:30:30.299 --> 00:30:32.460 God is the unmoved mover. 00:30:32.680 --> 00:30:33.140 In other words. 00:30:33.220 --> 00:30:34.279 God can't be moved. 00:30:34.339 --> 00:30:35.619 But he can move other things. 00:30:36.259 --> 00:30:37.019 And that was. 00:30:37.019 --> 00:30:38.879 One of Aristotle's definitions of God. 00:30:38.940 --> 00:30:39.240 And in fact. 00:30:39.299 --> 00:30:39.619 Actually. 00:30:39.759 --> 00:30:41.059 It's one of the ways to understand. 00:30:41.259 --> 00:30:42.140 Part of the Christian. 00:30:42.440 --> 00:30:42.839 Understanding. 00:30:43.119 --> 00:30:43.539 Of God. 00:30:44.279 --> 00:30:45.700 Is that God is the unmoved mover. 00:30:46.099 --> 00:30:47.119 But what all of a sudden. 00:30:47.279 --> 00:30:48.200 Stoics and Buddhists. 00:30:48.319 --> 00:30:48.839 Have to imply. 00:30:48.940 --> 00:30:50.099 Is that somewhere within me. 00:30:50.180 --> 00:30:51.220 Is an unmoved mover. 00:30:54.019 --> 00:30:54.859 That in fact. 00:30:54.859 --> 00:30:55.700 There is that little. 00:30:55.980 --> 00:30:56.900 Kernel of corn. 00:30:56.900 --> 00:30:57.799 That can in fact. 00:30:57.799 --> 00:30:58.619 Not be moved. 00:30:58.700 --> 00:30:59.339 By the hot oil. 00:30:59.440 --> 00:31:00.460 And jump around. 00:31:00.579 --> 00:31:01.339 And do all of those. 00:31:01.339 --> 00:31:02.119 Types of things. 00:31:02.579 --> 00:31:03.480 But what happens. 00:31:03.480 --> 00:31:05.259 If there is no unmoved mover. 00:31:05.259 --> 00:31:05.720 In you. 00:31:05.720 --> 00:31:06.439 If in fact. 00:31:06.439 --> 00:31:07.379 The matter is. 00:31:07.379 --> 00:31:08.339 Is that you are. 00:31:08.339 --> 00:31:09.240 I am. 00:31:09.240 --> 00:31:10.579 Just like. 00:31:10.579 --> 00:31:11.319 A pot. 00:31:11.319 --> 00:31:12.639 On a hot stove. 00:31:12.639 --> 00:31:13.799 With popping corn. 00:31:13.799 --> 00:31:17.399 Now if the Bible. 00:31:17.559 --> 00:31:18.399 Just stopped right there. 00:31:18.480 --> 00:31:18.940 It would be. 00:31:19.180 --> 00:31:20.599 The world's most depressing. 00:31:21.220 --> 00:31:22.299 Religious system. 00:31:24.940 --> 00:31:25.659 And in fact. 00:31:25.759 --> 00:31:26.399 Part of the problem. 00:31:26.500 --> 00:31:27.059 That people have. 00:31:27.139 --> 00:31:27.879 With Christianity. 00:31:28.000 --> 00:31:28.720 Is that. 00:31:28.960 --> 00:31:29.399 It is. 00:31:29.960 --> 00:31:30.440 Vastly. 00:31:30.839 --> 00:31:31.960 More pessimistic. 00:31:31.960 --> 00:31:33.059 About the human condition. 00:31:33.180 --> 00:31:34.379 Than just about anybody else. 00:31:35.200 --> 00:31:36.759 But it doesn't end with that. 00:31:36.980 --> 00:31:37.619 Verse five. 00:31:37.980 --> 00:31:39.319 Summarizes the problem. 00:31:39.919 --> 00:31:40.639 That envy. 00:31:40.879 --> 00:31:41.259 Shapes. 00:31:41.500 --> 00:31:42.200 The good thing. 00:31:42.200 --> 00:31:42.680 Within us. 00:31:42.740 --> 00:31:43.460 Which is longing. 00:31:43.799 --> 00:31:46.500 If you lose your spirit. 00:31:46.599 --> 00:31:47.059 You die. 00:31:47.639 --> 00:31:48.519 That's what death is. 00:31:48.579 --> 00:31:49.000 The spirit. 00:31:49.099 --> 00:31:50.119 Separating from the body. 00:31:50.299 --> 00:31:50.819 The spirit. 00:31:50.819 --> 00:31:52.059 Is made to long. 00:31:53.099 --> 00:31:53.740 And yet. 00:31:53.839 --> 00:31:54.619 There is a problem. 00:31:54.619 --> 00:31:55.539 That the longings. 00:31:55.639 --> 00:31:56.159 Have been shaped. 00:31:56.319 --> 00:31:56.859 By envy. 00:31:56.980 --> 00:31:57.579 And pride. 00:31:59.299 --> 00:32:00.379 So verse six. 00:32:00.480 --> 00:32:01.180 Gives a summary. 00:32:01.299 --> 00:32:01.919 Of the answer. 00:32:02.460 --> 00:32:02.879 And it just. 00:32:03.079 --> 00:32:04.220 With just a few more minutes. 00:32:04.319 --> 00:32:04.779 It just has. 00:32:04.879 --> 00:32:05.659 Three very. 00:32:05.759 --> 00:32:06.399 Very important. 00:32:06.399 --> 00:32:07.639 Pieces of news. 00:32:08.379 --> 00:32:09.319 And these three. 00:32:09.419 --> 00:32:10.539 Important pieces of news. 00:32:10.599 --> 00:32:11.539 That will be unpacked. 00:32:11.559 --> 00:32:12.279 In verses seven. 00:32:12.379 --> 00:32:12.779 Through ten. 00:32:12.839 --> 00:32:13.599 And in some ways. 00:32:13.599 --> 00:32:14.399 If you look at it. 00:32:14.419 --> 00:32:15.699 Verses six to ten. 00:32:16.279 --> 00:32:17.119 Of chapter four. 00:32:17.119 --> 00:32:17.799 Is the heart. 00:32:17.799 --> 00:32:19.219 Of the whole book of James. 00:32:20.819 --> 00:32:21.899 And captures. 00:32:21.899 --> 00:32:23.039 How you to go back. 00:32:23.099 --> 00:32:24.000 And understand wisdom. 00:32:24.000 --> 00:32:25.240 And other types of things. 00:32:25.799 --> 00:32:27.379 And if you look at what it is. 00:32:27.379 --> 00:32:28.139 There's these three. 00:32:28.339 --> 00:32:29.579 Very important things. 00:32:29.579 --> 00:32:30.299 In chapter four. 00:32:30.379 --> 00:32:30.659 Three. 00:32:30.659 --> 00:32:31.659 And very important. 00:32:31.659 --> 00:32:32.619 Pieces of news. 00:32:32.619 --> 00:32:33.959 And it is this. 00:32:33.960 --> 00:32:36.980 Get my Bible here close. 00:32:36.980 --> 00:32:38.539 So I can read it properly. 00:32:39.500 --> 00:32:41.539 But notice there's an adversative. 00:32:41.759 --> 00:32:41.920 Sorry. 00:32:42.079 --> 00:32:43.000 Grammar geek moment. 00:32:43.099 --> 00:32:43.680 Big word. 00:32:44.839 --> 00:32:45.660 Verse five. 00:32:45.720 --> 00:32:46.099 In a way. 00:32:46.500 --> 00:32:48.180 Summarizes the bad news. 00:32:48.400 --> 00:32:49.700 Summarizes the human condition. 00:32:49.860 --> 00:32:50.319 Verse six. 00:32:50.400 --> 00:32:50.599 Says. 00:32:50.860 --> 00:32:52.599 But he gives more grace. 00:32:53.380 --> 00:32:54.319 Therefore it says. 00:32:54.319 --> 00:32:55.740 God opposes the proud. 00:32:55.860 --> 00:32:57.059 But gives grace to the humble. 00:32:57.460 --> 00:32:59.079 That's our memory verse for the week. 00:32:59.200 --> 00:33:00.360 If you get the pastor's blog. 00:33:00.440 --> 00:33:02.680 I always have a suggested memory verse for the week. 00:33:03.120 --> 00:33:04.600 This is your memory verse for the week. 00:33:04.660 --> 00:33:06.060 It's my memory verse for the week. 00:33:06.299 --> 00:33:09.299 And it says three very very important pieces of news. 00:33:09.720 --> 00:33:10.880 The first one is this. 00:33:10.940 --> 00:33:12.100 And they're all good news. 00:33:12.759 --> 00:33:15.440 But he gives more grace. 00:33:19.180 --> 00:33:20.700 I now often. 00:33:20.920 --> 00:33:22.820 During the lockdowns and everything like that. 00:33:22.940 --> 00:33:25.519 I often work on the ground floor of the Bible house. 00:33:26.220 --> 00:33:28.019 I just get a fold out table. 00:33:28.140 --> 00:33:28.600 And I have it. 00:33:28.759 --> 00:33:31.000 You know about a fifth of the way into the room. 00:33:31.299 --> 00:33:32.279 With the lights on. 00:33:32.279 --> 00:33:33.200 And because of that. 00:33:33.259 --> 00:33:34.339 And I'll sit there and work. 00:33:35.599 --> 00:33:36.279 But because of that. 00:33:36.379 --> 00:33:37.119 About anywhere. 00:33:37.279 --> 00:33:37.720 Every week. 00:33:37.819 --> 00:33:38.539 I have one. 00:33:38.700 --> 00:33:38.799 Two. 00:33:38.960 --> 00:33:39.839 Three conversations. 00:33:39.839 --> 00:33:42.039 With somebody who comes and knocks on the glass. 00:33:43.019 --> 00:33:44.819 And just this particular week. 00:33:44.920 --> 00:33:45.480 I had a guy. 00:33:45.660 --> 00:33:46.740 A young man. 00:33:46.819 --> 00:33:47.539 30 year old man. 00:33:47.579 --> 00:33:48.399 Knock on the glass. 00:33:48.480 --> 00:33:50.119 To have a conversation with me. 00:33:50.720 --> 00:33:52.000 And he just shared. 00:33:52.379 --> 00:33:53.420 He shared. 00:33:53.639 --> 00:33:56.119 That he'd had some success. 00:33:56.460 --> 00:33:58.920 In a type of an industry. 00:33:59.680 --> 00:34:00.980 He'd had a woman. 00:34:00.980 --> 00:34:02.740 That he'd been with for 10 years. 00:34:03.360 --> 00:34:04.680 But the fact of the matter is. 00:34:04.759 --> 00:34:05.779 Is that his different. 00:34:05.920 --> 00:34:06.759 I'm not making this up. 00:34:06.799 --> 00:34:07.640 His passions. 00:34:08.280 --> 00:34:09.740 Have destroyed his life. 00:34:09.820 --> 00:34:11.000 And left him with nowhere to go. 00:34:12.079 --> 00:34:13.320 That he'd gotten involved. 00:34:13.679 --> 00:34:14.460 With drugs. 00:34:14.579 --> 00:34:15.940 He'd gotten involved with hookers. 00:34:16.079 --> 00:34:18.159 He'd gotten involved with lots of different things. 00:34:18.159 --> 00:34:19.199 Which were very bad. 00:34:19.320 --> 00:34:20.840 It's ruined his relationship. 00:34:21.039 --> 00:34:22.300 Ruined himself with his family. 00:34:22.300 --> 00:34:24.360 His finances are in complete and utter ruin. 00:34:24.360 --> 00:34:25.620 And. 00:34:26.380 --> 00:34:26.640 And. 00:34:28.559 --> 00:34:29.880 And he wanted to talk to me. 00:34:30.900 --> 00:34:32.800 We talked for about 20-25 minutes. 00:34:34.340 --> 00:34:35.200 And one of the things. 00:34:35.300 --> 00:34:35.420 I mean. 00:34:35.460 --> 00:34:37.780 I've been meditating upon this text all this week. 00:34:38.480 --> 00:34:39.900 This is like I think Thursday. 00:34:41.200 --> 00:34:42.400 And one of the things I told him is. 00:34:42.480 --> 00:34:43.680 But God's grace is greater. 00:34:45.280 --> 00:34:46.440 God's grace is greater. 00:34:47.860 --> 00:34:48.539 See that's this. 00:34:49.140 --> 00:34:49.500 Profound. 00:34:49.500 --> 00:34:49.619 One. 00:34:49.940 --> 00:34:51.559 First piece of good news. 00:34:52.440 --> 00:34:54.320 That doesn't matter if your pot. 00:34:54.659 --> 00:34:56.800 Only has 10 kernels of corn. 00:34:56.860 --> 00:34:57.579 Which is popping. 00:34:58.340 --> 00:35:00.000 Doesn't matter if it has a thousand. 00:35:00.920 --> 00:35:01.960 It doesn't matter if. 00:35:02.019 --> 00:35:04.400 If every single one of those popcorns. 00:35:04.480 --> 00:35:06.780 Has an unbelievably terrible aim. 00:35:06.880 --> 00:35:08.599 That's aiming at horrible things. 00:35:08.719 --> 00:35:09.480 It doesn't matter. 00:35:10.019 --> 00:35:11.500 That for every single one. 00:35:11.579 --> 00:35:12.559 God's grace is greater. 00:35:12.559 --> 00:35:13.760 For the whole shebang. 00:35:13.900 --> 00:35:15.119 God's grace is greater. 00:35:15.800 --> 00:35:18.019 For the things that you've done in the past. 00:35:18.139 --> 00:35:19.380 God's grace is greater. 00:35:19.500 --> 00:35:20.699 For the worries that you have. 00:35:20.820 --> 00:35:21.099 And the. 00:35:21.179 --> 00:35:22.739 The inabilities to control. 00:35:22.900 --> 00:35:23.000 The. 00:35:23.119 --> 00:35:24.840 The fact that you're still this pot. 00:35:24.940 --> 00:35:25.039 On. 00:35:25.159 --> 00:35:25.539 Of oil. 00:35:25.599 --> 00:35:26.079 And the pop. 00:35:26.179 --> 00:35:27.119 The corn is popping. 00:35:27.199 --> 00:35:28.900 And you have no control over it. 00:35:28.940 --> 00:35:29.159 And you. 00:35:29.300 --> 00:35:29.699 You have. 00:35:29.900 --> 00:35:31.199 And you're just ashamed of it. 00:35:31.219 --> 00:35:32.159 And you're embarrassed of it. 00:35:32.179 --> 00:35:33.559 And it's completely ruined your life. 00:35:33.719 --> 00:35:35.199 God's grace is greater. 00:35:37.179 --> 00:35:38.800 God's grace is greater. 00:35:39.059 --> 00:35:40.739 That's the good news. 00:35:41.280 --> 00:35:42.559 And we know it's true. 00:35:42.559 --> 00:35:43.940 It's not a story. 00:35:44.460 --> 00:35:47.380 God's grace isn't just an attitude that he had. 00:35:47.480 --> 00:35:48.980 But it came flesh. 00:35:48.980 --> 00:35:50.559 It walked amongst us. 00:35:50.619 --> 00:35:51.960 It entered into history. 00:35:52.380 --> 00:35:53.360 It died on a. 00:35:53.740 --> 00:35:54.500 God's grace. 00:35:54.840 --> 00:35:56.340 He is God's grace. 00:35:56.639 --> 00:35:58.059 He died on a cross. 00:35:58.360 --> 00:36:00.460 He tasted all there is to taste of death. 00:36:00.760 --> 00:36:02.000 He rose from the dead. 00:36:02.280 --> 00:36:03.360 He will come again. 00:36:03.719 --> 00:36:05.500 God's grace is greater. 00:36:07.019 --> 00:36:08.099 And it's real. 00:36:08.260 --> 00:36:11.280 And it's not just an attitude and a disposition to you. 00:36:11.380 --> 00:36:13.300 It is a power from God. 00:36:13.300 --> 00:36:15.039 That will change you. 00:36:15.160 --> 00:36:16.240 And it is greater. 00:36:16.940 --> 00:36:18.960 God's grace is greater. 00:36:20.160 --> 00:36:26.240 And the second piece of really good news is that God opposes the proud. 00:36:26.239 --> 00:36:29.259 This is profoundly good news. 00:36:30.119 --> 00:36:30.719 He always. 00:36:30.919 --> 00:36:32.599 He's always the same. 00:36:32.879 --> 00:36:35.019 He's never overwhelmed by evil. 00:36:35.199 --> 00:36:37.099 He never is frustrated by evil. 00:36:37.219 --> 00:36:39.059 He never surrenders to evil. 00:36:40.399 --> 00:36:43.519 He never decides he's going to call evil good. 00:36:43.679 --> 00:36:44.579 Or he never. 00:36:44.739 --> 00:36:46.819 He always opposes the proud. 00:36:46.959 --> 00:36:48.659 He always opposes evil. 00:36:49.000 --> 00:36:51.359 He always opposes our self-pleasuring. 00:36:51.479 --> 00:36:53.259 He always opposes our envy. 00:36:53.619 --> 00:36:55.699 There is no end to his opposition. 00:36:55.699 --> 00:36:57.059 He is always God. 00:36:57.179 --> 00:36:58.519 And this is very good. 00:37:03.539 --> 00:37:05.279 And the third piece of news. 00:37:05.639 --> 00:37:07.480 But he gives grace to the humble. 00:37:08.119 --> 00:37:10.219 He gives grace to the humble. 00:37:10.399 --> 00:37:12.480 He is the giver of grace. 00:37:13.019 --> 00:37:14.339 He is ever generous. 00:37:14.679 --> 00:37:16.899 He is unstoppingly generous. 00:37:17.939 --> 00:37:23.199 He knows every single thing about me from the moment of my conception to the moment of my death. 00:37:23.199 --> 00:37:27.779 I don't know if my death will be this afternoon when I'm driving home or if it's going to be in 50 years. 00:37:27.879 --> 00:37:32.439 But he knows every single thing about me from the moment of my conception to the moment of my death. 00:37:32.779 --> 00:37:38.539 He knows every kernel, every corn kernel that's ever been popped in my life. 00:37:39.699 --> 00:37:41.079 He knows everyone. 00:37:41.480 --> 00:37:43.019 He knows the ones in the future. 00:37:43.439 --> 00:37:44.359 He knows them all. 00:37:44.360 --> 00:37:45.660 But his grace is greater. 00:37:45.660 --> 00:37:50.940 And knowing all of that, still he died on the cross for me, loving me. 00:37:51.099 --> 00:37:53.059 Still he died for me. 00:37:53.860 --> 00:37:56.720 Still he desires to give me grace. 00:37:56.719 --> 00:38:03.079 But I have to humble myself. 00:38:04.379 --> 00:38:06.579 And in a sense, partly what this is an invitation here. 00:38:06.579 --> 00:38:12.579 What the Bible is saying here is that to being humbled, to receive grace is not just the way you enter into the Christian life, 00:38:12.659 --> 00:38:14.839 but it is in fact the entire Christian life. 00:38:15.239 --> 00:38:19.059 That even if right now you have to say, you know, if you just pause and say, 00:38:19.059 --> 00:38:27.820 Lord, if it's hard for me to believe, I can hardly even say a word to you, Jesus, because my inner life is popping like crazy. 00:38:27.920 --> 00:38:34.599 If people around me knew just how crazy my inside was with popping and going and thinking and all, 00:38:34.659 --> 00:38:36.500 I can hardly even say a word to you. 00:38:37.099 --> 00:38:42.539 And it's hard to know, Lord, that you want me to, it's hard for me to believe that you want me to just humble myself and say to you, 00:38:42.579 --> 00:38:48.759 I can hardly even say two words to you because my inner life is so crazy and I feel so powerless over it. 00:38:48.760 --> 00:38:54.460 And even my power over it, just it's help. 00:38:58.600 --> 00:38:59.580 Have mercy. 00:39:04.620 --> 00:39:05.820 I need mercy. 00:39:08.300 --> 00:39:09.540 I need grace. 00:39:12.180 --> 00:39:13.840 I needed it to become a Christian. 00:39:13.960 --> 00:39:14.940 I need it right now, Lord. 00:39:15.600 --> 00:39:16.520 I need it now. 00:39:18.760 --> 00:39:23.720 The Lord hears every prayer. 00:39:23.840 --> 00:39:25.460 Most of our prayers, he says no to them. 00:39:25.520 --> 00:39:31.400 And in heaven, we'll go up, we'll be high five in God saying, I'm so happy you always opposed pride. 00:39:32.120 --> 00:39:35.760 I'm so happy you said no to that, no to that, no to that, no to that, no to that. 00:39:36.440 --> 00:39:38.040 Gosh, it's embarrassing right now. 00:39:38.039 --> 00:39:47.699 The only thing that covers the embarrassment is that we're all covered in the, washed in Jesus's blood, clothed in his righteousness. 00:39:48.000 --> 00:39:49.739 And all of us are saying, yeah, that's me. 00:39:49.860 --> 00:39:50.559 That could have been me. 00:39:50.659 --> 00:39:51.259 That could have been me. 00:39:51.320 --> 00:39:52.639 Wait till you see me next. 00:39:54.179 --> 00:39:55.779 But that we just need mercy. 00:39:55.920 --> 00:39:56.659 That's the news. 00:39:56.739 --> 00:39:58.460 And the news is to begin to form us. 00:39:58.460 --> 00:40:04.240 And that's what's going to be impacted more in the next week when we come and look at verses 5 to 10 again. 00:40:05.000 --> 00:40:06.280 God opposes the proud. 00:40:06.519 --> 00:40:08.019 God always gives grace. 00:40:08.119 --> 00:40:13.699 He gives grace more than is ever anything in your life or anything in your present, anything in your past, anything in your future. 00:40:13.820 --> 00:40:14.820 He gives more grace. 00:40:15.619 --> 00:40:16.320 More grace. 00:40:16.960 --> 00:40:17.619 And it's real. 00:40:18.240 --> 00:40:19.220 And the grace is a power. 00:40:19.219 --> 00:40:24.059 And he gives, he opposes your pride, but he'll give grace to the humble. 00:40:24.819 --> 00:40:25.599 Let's stand. 00:40:36.179 --> 00:40:40.480 Father, we're so happy you don't weigh our merits, but pardon our offenses. 00:40:40.480 --> 00:40:53.480 We're so glad that you see the real us and you actually want us to be real before you and humble ourselves to be real before you and humble ourselves to acknowledge our need for mercy and grace from you. 00:40:54.579 --> 00:41:02.320 Father, it's, we confess that we keep thinking that we can fix things up with, you know, I don't know, this Buddhist technique sounds wiser. 00:41:02.460 --> 00:41:04.320 This Stoic technique sounds wiser. 00:41:04.519 --> 00:41:10.460 This self-help thing sounds like it's, well, and I, that I, Father, we give you thanks and praise. 00:41:10.480 --> 00:41:11.940 That you always oppose the proud. 00:41:12.900 --> 00:41:14.260 Your grace is always greater. 00:41:14.639 --> 00:41:16.800 And you give grace to us when we humble ourselves. 00:41:17.019 --> 00:41:18.099 And, Father, we come to you. 00:41:18.619 --> 00:41:21.139 And we know that we can't even humble ourselves without your grace. 00:41:23.000 --> 00:41:25.400 We can't even humble ourselves without your grace, Father. 00:41:26.260 --> 00:41:27.500 And so we ask for your grace. 00:41:27.619 --> 00:41:28.559 We thank you for it. 00:41:29.219 --> 00:41:34.099 We ask for the grace to humble ourselves in a way which is the right way. 00:41:35.820 --> 00:41:37.519 And that you will give us grace. 00:41:37.619 --> 00:41:38.719 We thank you for it, Father. 00:41:38.719 --> 00:41:44.779 And we thank you that our identity and destiny is secure in Jesus when we call out to you. 00:41:44.899 --> 00:41:48.980 Father, help us to live each day humbling ourselves to receive grace from you. 00:41:50.399 --> 00:41:54.959 And we ask all these things in the name of Jesus and all God's people said, Amen. 00:41:54.959 --> 00:41:55.159 Amen. 00:41:55.159 --> 00:41:55.179 Amen. 00:41:55.179 --> 00:41:55.259 Amen. 00:41:55.259 --> 00:41:57.179 Amen. 00:41:57.179 --> 00:41:57.259 Amen. 00:41:57.259 --> 00:41:59.179 Amen. 00:41:59.179 --> 00:41:59.259 Amen. 00:41:59.259 --> 00:42:01.179 Amen. 00:42:01.179 --> 00:42:03.179 Amen. 00:42:03.179 --> 00:42:05.179 Amen. 00:42:05.179 --> 00:42:05.239 Amen. 00:42:05.239 --> 00:42:05.259 Amen. 00:42:05.259 --> 00:42:05.299 Amen.