Jeff Gelineau – Class 6: This & That

1
00:00:01,500 –> 00:00:05,600
This is the 2007 Florida
christadelphians Bible School.

2
00:00:07,400 –> 00:00:09,500
Our speaker.
This morning is brother, Jeff.

3
00:00:09,500 –> 00:00:13,800
Gelineau of the Simi Hills,
Ecclesia in California, his

4
00:00:13,800 –> 00:00:16,900
subject.
This week has been be ye doers

5
00:00:16,900 –> 00:00:21,100
of the word, which is a study in
the Book of James.

6
00:00:21,600 –> 00:00:27,200
This is class number 6.
The class title is this end that

7
00:00:27,500 –> 00:00:29,100
we ask for the Jeff to come
forward.

8
00:00:44,400 –> 00:00:48,000
But I hope that we’ve been able
to see this week is that

9
00:00:48,000 –> 00:00:51,500
sometimes facing the message of
the truth.

10
00:00:52,500 –> 00:00:55,400
Requires us to look at our
beliefs and a radical and

11
00:00:55,400 –> 00:00:59,800
different way.
The while we are grateful to

12
00:00:59,800 –> 00:01:05,099
those that went before us We do
not base our beliefs on the

13
00:01:05,099 –> 00:01:09,100
traditions of men.
Our doctrines are founded and

14
00:01:09,100 –> 00:01:13,900
based on solid scriptural
Concepts, and we do well to

15
00:01:13,900 –> 00:01:17,600
protect them with vigor.
But we need to be sure that

16
00:01:17,600 –> 00:01:22,400
we’re not becoming entrenched.
Or dogmatic.

17
00:01:23,700 –> 00:01:26,700
Or legalistic.
And our dealings with the

18
00:01:26,700 –> 00:01:31,000
members of Arc lygia.
Christ, radical and different

19
00:01:31,000 –> 00:01:38,800
message was a message of Grace.
Of forgiveness and inclusion and

20
00:01:38,900 –> 00:01:46,900
working through these Concepts
in a messy flawed, human life is

21
00:01:46,900 –> 00:01:49,500
hard.
And sometimes very

22
00:01:49,500 –> 00:01:52,800
uncomfortable.
That’s what were called to do.

23
00:01:54,200 –> 00:01:58,300
That is the message of James.
I hope we’ve seen that a correct

24
00:01:58,300 –> 00:02:00,700
understanding of faith and
works.

25
00:02:01,100 –> 00:02:04,300
Can be a motivating and
inspiring factor in our

26
00:02:04,300 –> 00:02:08,600
spiritual eyes.
We don’t believe, like, like

27
00:02:08,600 –> 00:02:12,100
many modern day Christians at
all we have to do is is believe

28
00:02:12,200 –> 00:02:16,300
and we’re saved. but we also
don’t fall into the natural

29
00:02:16,500 –> 00:02:19,400
human tendency to somehow start
thinking that we can earn our

30
00:02:19,400 –> 00:02:24,900
salvation by checking the boxes
and some Eternal checklist of

31
00:02:24,900 –> 00:02:29,700
Good Deeds Neither extreme is
correct and both are dangerous.

32
00:02:30,700 –> 00:02:33,600
We need to understand that our
lives need to be full of good

33
00:02:33,600 –> 00:02:37,300
deeds.
But not because we think we’re

34
00:02:37,300 –> 00:02:40,100
unfavorable in God’s sight,
unless we do.

35
00:02:41,400 –> 00:02:44,700
We didn’t understand that God
chose us and loved us as

36
00:02:44,700 –> 00:02:47,200
Sinners.
And even though we were Sinners,

37
00:02:47,200 –> 00:02:50,900
he loved us so much.
He gave his only son to die for

38
00:02:50,900 –> 00:02:55,000
us.
Understanding and believing and

39
00:02:55,000 –> 00:02:59,900
actually having faith and that
simple fact is what will

40
00:02:59,900 –> 00:03:04,100
motivate our life motivate us to
fill our lives with good deeds.

41
00:03:06,100 –> 00:03:09,200
I also hope that we’ve come to
look at rules and regulations in

42
00:03:09,200 –> 00:03:12,600
a little different way.
The scriptures are abundantly

43
00:03:12,600 –> 00:03:15,800
clear that rules really have no
value in checking the

44
00:03:15,800 –> 00:03:19,800
indulgences of the flesh.
Although it’s a natural reaction

45
00:03:19,800 –> 00:03:23,600
for us to want to set rules.
We can’t regulate righteousness,

46
00:03:24,200 –> 00:03:26,600
and regardless of how many rules
we make for ourselves?

47
00:03:27,100 –> 00:03:31,300
And for others, the rules
themselves will never stop us

48
00:03:31,300 –> 00:03:34,600
from sinning.
I hope that we’ve shown is only

49
00:03:34,600 –> 00:03:37,900
one really true way to control
sinful Behavior.

50
00:03:38,700 –> 00:03:42,500
By transforming yourself from
the inside out by connecting

51
00:03:42,500 –> 00:03:46,600
with God, in an intimate and
personal relationship.

52
00:03:48,000 –> 00:03:50,800
The only hope we ever have a
controlling ourselves.

53
00:03:52,300 –> 00:03:55,600
And it’s only through effectual
and fervent prayer that we can

54
00:03:55,600 –> 00:03:58,900
really change things in our
lives, only by confessing our

55
00:03:58,900 –> 00:04:03,100
sins to a person that we see is
acting righteous and an area

56
00:04:03,400 –> 00:04:07,900
that we are having problems with
would be able to feel God’s

57
00:04:07,900 –> 00:04:11,300
power, changing us for the
better, God’s willing, and able

58
00:04:11,300 –> 00:04:14,600
to perform miracles in the lives
of Believers.

59
00:04:14,700 –> 00:04:19,000
But we have to ask believing
we’ve received For him to act.

60
00:04:20,100 –> 00:04:24,400
And even the effectual fervent
prayer of a righteous man isn’t

61
00:04:24,400 –> 00:04:30,300
always answered the way we want.
We have to remember that God is

62
00:04:31,100 –> 00:04:36,300
more concerned about
transforming us through our

63
00:04:36,300 –> 00:04:39,600
problems.
Then he is concerned about

64
00:04:39,600 –> 00:04:42,900
transform, transporting us out
of our problems.

65
00:04:45,000 –> 00:04:48,400
It’s hard for us, not to receive
the healing, or the answer that

66
00:04:48,400 –> 00:04:51,900
we want.
But the eye of Faith sees that

67
00:04:51,900 –> 00:04:55,200
God knows best and he is active
in our life.

68
00:04:57,400 –> 00:05:00,900
I hope we’ve been reminded that
out of the same mouth comes

69
00:05:00,900 –> 00:05:05,600
forth, bitter and sweet.
And these things ought not to be

70
00:05:07,400 –> 00:05:11,200
We talked about how the tongue
is, a small member, but the rude

71
00:05:11,200 –> 00:05:13,800
and the source of many terrible
and wicked sins.

72
00:05:15,500 –> 00:05:22,800
My brother said to me yesterday,
And it’s a medical fact that the

73
00:05:22,800 –> 00:05:27,400
tongue has more germs.
It’s the most foul part of the

74
00:05:27,400 –> 00:05:31,400
whole body.
And that’s true in a spiritual

75
00:05:31,400 –> 00:05:34,300
sense isn’t in.
Also the ton has a great

76
00:05:34,300 –> 00:05:38,300
potential to condemn us, but if
you can control the tongue,

77
00:05:39,900 –> 00:05:42,100
Through the assistance of her of
God.

78
00:05:42,800 –> 00:05:45,800
If you control the greatest
sinner in your body, then by by

79
00:05:45,800 –> 00:05:48,300
virtue of controlling the
greater, you can gain control

80
00:05:48,300 –> 00:05:52,700
over the Lesser.
The tongue is wild and untamed

81
00:05:52,700 –> 00:05:56,200
and Savage, uncivilized
undisciplined.

82
00:05:58,300 –> 00:06:01,600
So we need to turn to God for
help and controlling our tongue.

83
00:06:02,500 –> 00:06:04,800
True Believers speak with a
tongue that is under control

84
00:06:04,900 –> 00:06:07,600
under the control of a loving,
God that wants the best for us

85
00:06:08,800 –> 00:06:11,200
to look to some of these.
These wonderful themes and

86
00:06:11,200 –> 00:06:14,400
James, we have one more class
together.

87
00:06:15,700 –> 00:06:17,500
I have about 10 more things to
say.

88
00:06:19,000 –> 00:06:20,100
There are so many different
topics.

89
00:06:20,100 –> 00:06:25,200
I wanted to explore James talks
quite a bit about favoritism and

90
00:06:25,200 –> 00:06:28,100
discrimination.
So, I want to spend a moment

91
00:06:28,100 –> 00:06:31,900
today.
Looking at that. another topic

92
00:06:31,900 –> 00:06:36,200
that James, teach treats with
much importance, is the concept

93
00:06:36,200 –> 00:06:42,800
of rich and poor We really can’t
ignore that message either James

94
00:06:42,800 –> 00:06:47,600
speaks of worldliness and
godliness and chapter 4 and want

95
00:06:47,600 –> 00:06:50,800
to touch on that too.
And I love the section on today

96
00:06:50,800 –> 00:06:52,800
and tomorrow we’ll go into such
and such a city.

97
00:06:53,700 –> 00:06:58,000
I want to talk about that.
And we’ll end up with the same

98
00:06:58,000 –> 00:07:00,300
verse.
We started out with James

99
00:07:00,300 –> 00:07:02,800
discussion and how we’re
supposed to treat the fatherless

100
00:07:02,800 –> 00:07:06,600
and the widows.
So now you understand why I have

101
00:07:06,600 –> 00:07:11,400
such an enigmatic title as this
and that because James is often

102
00:07:11,400 –> 00:07:15,500
referred to as the Proverbs of
the New Testament is full of

103
00:07:15,500 –> 00:07:17,900
these Little Gems that just
can’t be left.

104
00:07:17,900 –> 00:07:22,000
Untouched.
I don’t think I’ll probably do

105
00:07:22,008 –> 00:07:24,600
any of them justice, but I’m
tempted to try not to leave

106
00:07:24,600 –> 00:07:27,100
anything undone.
So let’s begin our discussion on

107
00:07:27,300 –> 00:07:30,200
the idea of favoritism and
discrimination.

108
00:07:31,300 –> 00:07:34,700
James begins chapter 2 with this
important topic.

109
00:07:34,700 –> 00:07:39,300
He says, in verse 1, my
brother’s as Believers and the

110
00:07:39,308 –> 00:07:43,500
Glorious, Lord Jesus Christ.
Don’t show favoritism.

111
00:07:44,800 –> 00:07:48,000
Suppose a man comes into your
meeting wearing a gold ring in

112
00:07:48,000 –> 00:07:51,400
fine clothes and a poor man in
shabby clothes.

113
00:07:51,500 –> 00:07:54,900
Also comes in.
If you show special attention to

114
00:07:54,900 –> 00:07:57,900
the man wearing fine clothes and
say here, here’s a good seat for

115
00:07:57,900 –> 00:08:00,600
you.
But send the poor man you stand

116
00:08:00,600 –> 00:08:03,500
there or sit on the floor by my
feet.

117
00:08:04,500 –> 00:08:08,400
Have you not discriminated among
yourselves and become judges

118
00:08:08,400 –> 00:08:12,700
with evil thoughts?
The message that James points

119
00:08:12,700 –> 00:08:16,500
out in several places through
his book is is the importance of

120
00:08:16,500 –> 00:08:19,800
applying the word of God to your
everyday life.

121
00:08:20,300 –> 00:08:22,800
Remember he said whoso looketh
into the perfect.

122
00:08:22,800 –> 00:08:25,500
Perfect law of Liberty and
continueth therein.

123
00:08:26,100 –> 00:08:30,700
He being not a forgetful hearer
but a doer of the work, this man

124
00:08:30,700 –> 00:08:35,000
shall be blessed in his deed.
A great place, I think for us to

125
00:08:35,000 –> 00:08:37,900
apply the word of God in our
lives is in his area of

126
00:08:37,900 –> 00:08:41,700
favoritism.
As the leader of the Ecclesia

127
00:08:41,700 –> 00:08:44,600
and Jerusalem James argument is
directed towards the special

128
00:08:44,600 –> 00:08:48,500
treatment being received by the
early Christians, to the

129
00:08:48,500 –> 00:08:51,900
wealthy.
James admonished the church to

130
00:08:52,200 –> 00:08:56,000
avoid the divisive distinctions
of social class.

131
00:08:57,100 –> 00:08:59,000
Which can destroy True
Fellowship.

132
00:08:59,400 –> 00:09:02,500
When one group won’t associate
with another group, because

133
00:09:02,500 –> 00:09:05,700
they’re not of the same social
class, how can you ever have

134
00:09:05,700 –> 00:09:11,200
real Fellowship?
Those social distinctions aren’t

135
00:09:11,200 –> 00:09:15,400
as readily apparent today and
our middle class Society.

136
00:09:16,100 –> 00:09:19,100
But this concept of favoritism
still exists and I want to look

137
00:09:19,100 –> 00:09:23,600
at four different ways that we
show favoritism today.

138
00:09:24,000 –> 00:09:27,800
First, we show favoritism
strictly because of a person’s

139
00:09:27,800 –> 00:09:31,900
appearance. we often
discriminate simply because the

140
00:09:31,908 –> 00:09:37,900
way someone looks Beauty is very
important in our society and

141
00:09:37,900 –> 00:09:41,000
it’s very natural that doesn’t
make it right.

142
00:09:42,500 –> 00:09:45,200
The tendency is true.
Even from an early age studies

143
00:09:45,200 –> 00:09:50,100
show that that infants respond
more positively to Attractive

144
00:09:50,100 –> 00:09:52,300
people.
Then they do to those that are

145
00:09:52,300 –> 00:09:56,100
considered homely.
But we’re no longer children,

146
00:09:56,100 –> 00:09:59,600
right?
As we mature, we have to learn

147
00:09:59,700 –> 00:10:03,200
not to respond with our natural
inclination.

148
00:10:04,500 –> 00:10:07,100
We have to learn not to respond
the way.

149
00:10:07,100 –> 00:10:10,800
We would naturally react, but to
respond in a Godly Manner.

150
00:10:10,800 –> 00:10:14,300
And we know that God doesn’t
look at the features of the

151
00:10:14,300 –> 00:10:18,500
face.
God looks at the heart, not the

152
00:10:18,500 –> 00:10:21,700
hair color, not the shape of the
body.

153
00:10:24,500 –> 00:10:27,100
The second reason we show
favoritism is because of

154
00:10:27,100 –> 00:10:31,100
ancestry the Dred, Scott
decision.

155
00:10:33,300 –> 00:10:38,400
Of 1856 Reeves but it is too
clear for dispute.

156
00:10:40,400 –> 00:10:44,800
That the African race was not
intended to be included and

157
00:10:44,800 –> 00:10:47,700
forms.
No, part of the people.

158
00:10:48,700 –> 00:10:53,000
Who framed and adopted the
Declaration of Independence.

159
00:10:56,400 –> 00:11:00,300
It’s been 150 years and
fortunately, a lot of that kind

160
00:11:00,300 –> 00:11:05,200
of reasoning has eventually
changed, but a lot of it Still

161
00:11:05,200 –> 00:11:06,400
Remains today.
Doesn’t it?

162
00:11:07,700 –> 00:11:10,600
There’s still discrimination in
our country even after the Civil

163
00:11:10,600 –> 00:11:13,000
Rights Movement.
And they’re still

164
00:11:13,000 –> 00:11:18,300
discrimination, are kaliesha.
On paper, we believe, and teach

165
00:11:18,300 –> 00:11:21,600
and confess that everyone of
every race deserves to hear the

166
00:11:21,600 –> 00:11:26,400
saving message of Christ.
But in reality doesn’t work out

167
00:11:26,400 –> 00:11:30,200
that way, does it?
Thirteen percent of the United

168
00:11:30,200 –> 00:11:34,000
States is black.
Fourteen percent is Hispanic.

169
00:11:35,200 –> 00:11:41,900
Five percent is Asian.
Of the 5000 christadelphians.

170
00:11:42,800 –> 00:11:45,400
Do you think there are 650,
black, brother and sisters?

171
00:11:47,200 –> 00:11:56,200
700 Hispanic. 250 Asians.
There’s a there’s a sociological

172
00:11:56,200 –> 00:12:02,500
principle called homogeneity.
The says were drawn naturally to

173
00:12:02,500 –> 00:12:05,100
associate with people who are
like us.

174
00:12:06,000 –> 00:12:08,900
It’s a fact, it’s a, it’s a
physical law.

175
00:12:10,600 –> 00:12:13,000
But we don’t leave physical
lives do.

176
00:12:13,000 –> 00:12:16,300
We were supposed to live
spiritual lives?

177
00:12:17,100 –> 00:12:19,800
It’s natural to gravitate
towards those.

178
00:12:19,800 –> 00:12:24,100
You have a cultural Affinity
with, but we’re called to do

179
00:12:24,100 –> 00:12:27,300
something spiritual with these
80 years.

180
00:12:27,300 –> 00:12:33,900
Not not something natural.
A life that we’re called to

181
00:12:33,900 –> 00:12:38,400
live.
Is in many ways opposite of what

182
00:12:38,400 –> 00:12:42,100
comes natural.
So as we mature and Christ,

183
00:12:42,200 –> 00:12:45,700
let’s Reach Out beyond our
comfort zone and try to include

184
00:12:45,700 –> 00:12:50,200
people of all Races.
Because we know that God doesn’t

185
00:12:50,200 –> 00:12:55,700
look at the color of the skin.
we also show favoritism because

186
00:12:55,700 –> 00:12:59,300
of people’s age, I can tell you
right now that in the business

187
00:12:59,300 –> 00:13:02,400
World, many companies
discriminate against older

188
00:13:02,400 –> 00:13:05,900
workers.
Because they usually cost more

189
00:13:05,900 –> 00:13:10,700
to pay and they have left years
of productivity, left offer the

190
00:13:10,700 –> 00:13:13,600
company.
And don’t even get me started.

191
00:13:13,600 –> 00:13:17,000
You, you know, enough about the
cost of health insurance on

192
00:13:17,000 –> 00:13:22,000
older workers, In our society,
in general there, just seems to

193
00:13:22,000 –> 00:13:25,500
be a waning level of regard for
the elderly.

194
00:13:26,700 –> 00:13:31,000
Respect for our elders.
Seems to have been lost on

195
00:13:31,000 –> 00:13:36,600
younger Generations.
And the Ecclesia.

196
00:13:37,500 –> 00:13:39,100
It almost seems like it’s the
opposite.

197
00:13:40,700 –> 00:13:44,200
Of course, there are, there are
no statistics and

198
00:13:44,200 –> 00:13:48,600
christadelphians we don’t even
know how many there are, but I

199
00:13:48,600 –> 00:13:52,300
can say that in Mainline
denominations, the average age

200
00:13:52,300 –> 00:13:57,900
of members in churches and
United States today is over 60.

201
00:14:00,300 –> 00:14:03,100
And we all know many occasions,
that that find themselves in

202
00:14:03,100 –> 00:14:08,400
that and that same situation.
Since brothers and sisters,

203
00:14:08,900 –> 00:14:12,500
since human beings tend to cater
to their own needs.

204
00:14:15,000 –> 00:14:18,500
And their own interest in in
worship style and church

205
00:14:18,500 –> 00:14:22,200
activities.
The needs and interests of the

206
00:14:22,200 –> 00:14:25,400
youth, especially those that
they currently don’t.

207
00:14:25,400 –> 00:14:27,900
Even go to meeting, are
neglected.

208
00:14:29,500 –> 00:14:32,700
And Ecclesia full of young.
People needs to be sensitive

209
00:14:33,000 –> 00:14:35,600
that they’re not discriminating
against their older members

210
00:14:35,600 –> 00:14:40,600
simply because of their age.
But a Collegiate full of older.

211
00:14:40,600 –> 00:14:43,600
People also needs to be aware of
the same peril.

212
00:14:45,300 –> 00:14:48,600
We might feel more comfortable,
wearing suits, and ties and and

213
00:14:48,600 –> 00:14:52,300
singing hymns that were written
in the 1800’s, but we might also

214
00:14:52,300 –> 00:14:56,800
be alienating entire generations
of potentially new brothers and

215
00:14:56,800 –> 00:15:00,600
sisters.
You see age discrimination goes

216
00:15:00,600 –> 00:15:02,400
both ways.
And it’s, it’s wrong.

217
00:15:02,400 –> 00:15:06,600
Either way because we know that
God doesn’t look at the age of a

218
00:15:06,600 –> 00:15:11,600
person. and the fourth thing, I
think that we see you in

219
00:15:11,600 –> 00:15:17,500
favoritism Is affluence.
The Jews believed in what was

220
00:15:17,500 –> 00:15:20,400
referred to as as wealth
righteousness.

221
00:15:21,400 –> 00:15:24,700
If you’re wealthy, then that
must mean that God has blessed,

222
00:15:24,700 –> 00:15:27,900
you God, only blesses, the
righteous.

223
00:15:28,500 –> 00:15:32,500
So, therefore being wealthy is a
sign of your righteousness.

224
00:15:33,500 –> 00:15:36,400
That’s why it was so hard for
them to understand why a rich

225
00:15:36,400 –> 00:15:39,400
man would have a hard time
getting into the kingdom of God.

226
00:15:40,700 –> 00:15:43,300
If a rich man a righteous man
can’t do it.

227
00:15:43,300 –> 00:15:49,400
How can we And that thinking was
revived with the calvinist and

228
00:15:49,400 –> 00:15:51,800
the Puritans and it forms the
basis.

229
00:15:51,800 –> 00:15:55,900
I think of the formation of our
entire country America was

230
00:15:55,900 –> 00:15:59,400
formed on the belief that that
working hard no matter.

231
00:15:59,400 –> 00:16:02,600
Whether the job is digging
ditches or building a business

232
00:16:02,900 –> 00:16:07,600
by engaging in self discipline
sacrifice and obedience by

233
00:16:07,600 –> 00:16:11,500
depriving yourself of indulgent
Pleasures by enduring hardship

234
00:16:11,500 –> 00:16:14,700
by Saving what you make by
reinvesting your profits.

235
00:16:15,000 –> 00:16:17,900
You can Increase your wealth.
And in do.

236
00:16:17,900 –> 00:16:22,400
So you’re acting virtuously
acting, righteously and godly

237
00:16:24,100 –> 00:16:25,900
And I think that, wow, that’s
true.

238
00:16:27,100 –> 00:16:29,800
The reverse is not necessarily
true.

239
00:16:31,100 –> 00:16:34,900
Those who have not succeeded by
the world’s Financial standards

240
00:16:35,300 –> 00:16:40,200
are not necessarily unrighteous.
We all know many wealthy people

241
00:16:40,200 –> 00:16:44,300
who give no thought to pleasing
the god that created them.

242
00:16:45,700 –> 00:16:50,500
Don’t we also know many who are
dirt poor but thank God daily

243
00:16:50,800 –> 00:16:51,800
for everything.
He’s given them.

244
00:16:53,500 –> 00:16:55,500
God doesn’t, look at a person’s
balance sheet.

245
00:16:56,400 –> 00:16:59,900
He doesn’t look at the model of
import they drive or the cut of

246
00:16:59,908 –> 00:17:03,600
the suit that they buy.
And we shouldn’t either.

247
00:17:06,099 –> 00:17:08,200
Because favoritism and
discrimination.

248
00:17:09,599 –> 00:17:11,900
Are not a part of a servant of
Christ.

249
00:17:13,500 –> 00:17:15,200
Makes a good Segway.
I think into her.

250
00:17:15,700 –> 00:17:20,200
The next topic that James spends
time with the rich and the poor

251
00:17:21,700 –> 00:17:25,300
Continue reading in Chapter 2,
he says Harkin my beloved

252
00:17:25,300 –> 00:17:28,500
Brethren has not God.
Chosen the poor of this world

253
00:17:29,300 –> 00:17:32,600
rich in faith and Heirs of the
Kingdom, which he has promised

254
00:17:32,600 –> 00:17:36,400
to them, that love him.
You despise the poor.

255
00:17:37,700 –> 00:17:40,100
Do not rich men oppress you and
draw you before the Judgment

256
00:17:40,100 –> 00:17:42,300
seats.
Do not, they blaspheme that

257
00:17:42,300 –> 00:17:45,400
worthy Name by which you are
called if you fulfill the Royal

258
00:17:45,400 –> 00:17:47,000
law.
According to the scripture Thou

259
00:17:47,000 –> 00:17:50,600
shalt love, thy Neighbour as
thyself, thou do well. but if

260
00:17:50,600 –> 00:17:56,500
you have respect of persons, you
commit sin and are convinced of

261
00:17:56,500 –> 00:18:02,400
the law as transgressors.
God has blessed me with a great

262
00:18:02,400 –> 00:18:04,000
job.
A job.

263
00:18:04,000 –> 00:18:05,800
That provides me more money than
I need.

264
00:18:07,300 –> 00:18:10,500
So, I have a special interest in
trying to understand what this

265
00:18:10,500 –> 00:18:15,700
verse is saying to me.
I had to think long and hard

266
00:18:15,700 –> 00:18:19,500
about it, and I honestly do not
believe that James is saying

267
00:18:19,500 –> 00:18:26,200
that God dislikes, rich people.
Abraham the patriarch of Israel

268
00:18:26,400 –> 00:18:30,000
and chosen of God was incredibly
wealthy David.

269
00:18:30,000 –> 00:18:33,100
A man, after God’s Own Heart was
also in a position of wealth and

270
00:18:33,100 –> 00:18:36,200
not even Bill Gates Compares
with David’s, son, Solomon.

271
00:18:37,400 –> 00:18:41,100
My favorite example, that was
always job a perfect example of

272
00:18:41,100 –> 00:18:44,800
man whose whose Faith was not
tied to his purse strings.

273
00:18:45,800 –> 00:18:49,200
But wealth can be an impediment
to Faith.

274
00:18:50,500 –> 00:18:55,500
Wealth buys things like like
good Medical Care, find Food

275
00:18:56,200 –> 00:19:01,000
Services, and comfortable homes
and all of these can tend to

276
00:19:01,000 –> 00:19:05,800
insulate us from the turmoil and
the hunger, and the disease,

277
00:19:05,800 –> 00:19:07,800
that is the lot of the majority
of human race.

278
00:19:08,900 –> 00:19:11,700
Wealth, makes it easier for us
to delude ourselves.

279
00:19:12,900 –> 00:19:15,000
And deem ourselves
self-sufficient.

280
00:19:16,800 –> 00:19:21,200
The poor have no such illusions.
And therefore, they’re more open

281
00:19:21,200 –> 00:19:26,300
to God and to his power working
in their lives. so I don’t think

282
00:19:26,300 –> 00:19:31,500
that God dislikes, the rich I do
think that God prefers to poor.

283
00:19:32,800 –> 00:19:36,800
Our God is a god of the poor, a
god of the underdog, a god of

284
00:19:36,800 –> 00:19:38,900
those who are trodden Under
Foot.

285
00:19:41,900 –> 00:19:47,700
People that rely on their money
think of themselves as wise. but

286
00:19:47,700 –> 00:19:51,800
the Bible teaches that God has
chosen chosen the foolish things

287
00:19:51,800 –> 00:19:56,100
of this world, to confound the
wise and God hath, chosen the

288
00:19:56,100 –> 00:19:59,500
weak things of the world to
confound the things which are

289
00:19:59,500 –> 00:20:05,000
mighty Those without status and
wealth seemed to be the very

290
00:20:05,000 –> 00:20:11,000
ones that respond more readily.
And Faith towards the gospel.

291
00:20:13,200 –> 00:20:17,100
We live in a society here in
North America that even the

292
00:20:17,100 –> 00:20:21,800
poorest are wealthy by Third
World standards.

293
00:20:22,900 –> 00:20:25,900
We live in a society where it’s
it’s fairly easy to become

294
00:20:25,900 –> 00:20:28,600
wealthy.
We have to remember that the

295
00:20:28,600 –> 00:20:32,800
purpose of working is not to
obtain wealth for your own

296
00:20:32,800 –> 00:20:39,700
personal gratification.
Purpose of working, is to obtain

297
00:20:39,700 –> 00:20:43,600
wealth.
So that you can help out those

298
00:20:44,200 –> 00:20:45,800
who were less fortunate than
yourself.

299
00:20:49,600 –> 00:20:53,700
James warns about those who
obtain wealth and then exploit

300
00:20:53,700 –> 00:20:56,700
the poor, taking advantage of
them for the purpose of

301
00:20:56,700 –> 00:20:58,900
increasing their own personal
wealth.

302
00:20:59,000 –> 00:21:01,300
And it doesn’t sound pretty the
things that he says.

303
00:21:01,800 –> 00:21:05,200
Now, listen, you rich, people,
weep and wail because of the

304
00:21:05,200 –> 00:21:09,800
misery that is coming upon you.
Your wealth has rotted and moths

305
00:21:09,800 –> 00:21:13,200
of eating, your clothes, your
gold, and silver of corroded

306
00:21:13,200 –> 00:21:16,600
their corrosion will testify
against you and eat your flesh

307
00:21:16,600 –> 00:21:19,500
like fire.
You have hoarded wealth in the

308
00:21:19,500 –> 00:21:23,900
last days in verse 4, he says,
look the wages you failed to pay

309
00:21:23,900 –> 00:21:26,900
the workmen who mowed your
fields are crying out against

310
00:21:26,900 –> 00:21:29,100
you.
The cries of the Harvesters have

311
00:21:29,100 –> 00:21:32,800
reached the ears of the Lord
Almighty, you have lived on

312
00:21:32,800 –> 00:21:35,400
Earth in luxury and
self-indulgence.

313
00:21:35,400 –> 00:21:38,100
You have fattened yourselves in
the day of Slaughter, you’ve

314
00:21:38,100 –> 00:21:41,800
condemned and murdered innocent
men who are not opposing you.

315
00:21:43,200 –> 00:21:47,200
Now sure, maybe none of us are
guilty of murdering innocent

316
00:21:47,200 –> 00:21:51,100
men, but the exhortation, I
think to those of us who’ve been

317
00:21:51,100 –> 00:21:54,600
blessed, with more than we need
is clear, that we shouldn’t hurt

318
00:21:54,600 –> 00:21:57,900
hoard, it to the hurt of those
around us.

319
00:21:59,300 –> 00:22:03,300
We need to be generous and give
to those that we come across,

320
00:22:03,300 –> 00:22:08,100
who are in need.
It’s a, it’s a liberating and

321
00:22:08,300 –> 00:22:14,700
and freeing concept that took
me. 25 years to realize that

322
00:22:14,700 –> 00:22:21,900
we’re not limited in our giving
You’re not limited to a tithe

323
00:22:23,400 –> 00:22:26,500
like every other, the
Commandments of the law, 10% was

324
00:22:26,500 –> 00:22:32,100
just the minimum required of a
servant of God, not the maximum

325
00:22:32,100 –> 00:22:36,900
allowed.
I heard a couple stories

326
00:22:36,900 –> 00:22:41,600
recently of people, I know who
the deer they were Mary gave

327
00:22:41,600 –> 00:22:45,400
decided to give 10% and the
decided to increase it one

328
00:22:45,400 –> 00:22:49,900
percent every year a couple that
just celebrated their 50th

329
00:22:49,900 –> 00:22:53,900
anniversary and giveaway, 60% of
all their money.

330
00:22:56,000 –> 00:23:01,000
Give until it hurts.
Not just until you’ve met your

331
00:23:01,000 –> 00:23:04,000
obligation.
You’re also not limited to a

332
00:23:04,000 –> 00:23:07,100
tax-deductible donation.
This I didn’t figure this out

333
00:23:07,100 –> 00:23:11,700
till three years ago.
Can you buy means literally it’s

334
00:23:11,700 –> 00:23:15,300
a blessing that we live in such
a wonderful Christian country

335
00:23:15,400 –> 00:23:18,700
that they encourage good works
by giving us a tax deduction for

336
00:23:18,700 –> 00:23:22,500
certain gifts.
But that doesn’t mean that you

337
00:23:22,500 –> 00:23:26,500
can’t help out someone who’s in
need even when it’s not

338
00:23:26,500 –> 00:23:28,500
convenient to funnel it through
a charity.

339
00:23:32,400 –> 00:23:34,500
And you’re not limited to
brothers and sisters either.

340
00:23:36,300 –> 00:23:41,600
Do good until almond do, good
unto all men, especially those

341
00:23:41,600 –> 00:23:44,400
rule the household of faith.
If we run across brothers and

342
00:23:44,400 –> 00:23:47,400
sisters, who are in need, then
it’s Our obligation to help them

343
00:23:47,400 –> 00:23:50,000
out.
But if everyone else in your

344
00:23:50,000 –> 00:23:54,200
Ecclesia is has more than enough
just like you do then you’re not

345
00:23:54,200 –> 00:23:57,900
restricted from from giving it
to those in your community who

346
00:23:57,900 –> 00:24:01,600
are truly needy.
Or looking out for other

347
00:24:01,600 –> 00:24:05,200
eclipses across the world.
We’re brothers and sisters, need

348
00:24:05,200 –> 00:24:08,700
help.
God loves both the rich and the

349
00:24:08,700 –> 00:24:11,300
poor.
And he wants all of us in his

350
00:24:11,300 –> 00:24:14,300
kingdom.
The rich have more challenges.

351
00:24:15,400 –> 00:24:18,700
But they can overcome them.
And the poor have more

352
00:24:18,700 –> 00:24:22,500
obstacles.
But God wants to help them.

353
00:24:25,100 –> 00:24:28,700
Let’s talk about the idea of
worldliness and godliness.

354
00:24:29,200 –> 00:24:32,200
Here’s a verse that our young
people have heard many times.

355
00:24:32,200 –> 00:24:36,400
But I believe that this little
gem of a verse shouldn’t be

356
00:24:36,400 –> 00:24:39,700
limited just to those in their
teams and we can all learn

357
00:24:39,700 –> 00:24:42,800
something from it.
You adulterous people.

358
00:24:42,800 –> 00:24:47,600
Don’t you know, that friendship
with the world is hatred toward

359
00:24:47,600 –> 00:24:50,200
God.
Anyone who chooses to be a

360
00:24:50,200 –> 00:24:52,200
friend of the world becomes an
enemy of God?

361
00:24:53,400 –> 00:24:55,400
One of the beauties that him
James writing, one of the things

362
00:24:55,400 –> 00:24:59,100
that appealed to me so much
about is his ability to stay

363
00:24:59,100 –> 00:25:03,600
clearly.
What should be obvious to all of

364
00:25:03,600 –> 00:25:07,600
us?
Such as the truth that if we get

365
00:25:07,600 –> 00:25:11,300
too friendly with the world, we
will increasingly distance

366
00:25:11,300 –> 00:25:16,500
herself from God.
Spending our life and pursuit of

367
00:25:16,500 –> 00:25:21,000
prison possessions and and
Pleasures is a sure recipe to

368
00:25:21,400 –> 00:25:26,000
becoming Haggard and stressed
and Restless.

369
00:25:28,000 –> 00:25:31,700
Experiencing a kind of
frustration that no teenager

370
00:25:31,700 –> 00:25:35,900
would ever comprehend.
You cannot be a friend of God

371
00:25:35,900 –> 00:25:40,500
and a friend of this world and
all of its Fallen values, you’re

372
00:25:40,500 –> 00:25:41,900
cheating on.
God is what he says.

373
00:25:42,100 –> 00:25:45,800
You’re acting like an adulterer
and adulteress if you try to

374
00:25:45,800 –> 00:25:49,400
maintain a relationship with the
world while you’re being

375
00:25:49,400 –> 00:25:53,700
espoused to Christ, God is a
jealous.

376
00:25:53,700 –> 00:25:55,600
God.
Verse 5 says that.

377
00:25:55,600 –> 00:25:57,700
God cares about the spirit, we
serve him with.

378
00:25:57,900 –> 00:26:02,400
And look at verse 6.
And he gives us more grace.

379
00:26:02,900 –> 00:26:06,800
That is why the scripture says
God opposes the proud, but gives

380
00:26:06,800 –> 00:26:13,100
grace to the humble.
It takes humility to approach,

381
00:26:13,100 –> 00:26:16,200
God.
The only way to break this cycle

382
00:26:16,200 –> 00:26:20,800
of double mindedness is, is
total submission of oneself to

383
00:26:20,800 –> 00:26:24,300
God, continue reading in verses,
7 through 10 submit yourself,

384
00:26:24,300 –> 00:26:27,700
then to God, resist the devil
and he will flee from you.

385
00:26:28,100 –> 00:26:30,700
Come near to God and he will
come near to you, wash your

386
00:26:30,700 –> 00:26:33,000
hands, you Sinners, and purify
your hearts.

387
00:26:33,000 –> 00:26:35,900
You double-minded, grieve, moan
and wail.

388
00:26:36,000 –> 00:26:39,500
Change your laughter to mourning
and your joy to Gloom humble

389
00:26:39,500 –> 00:26:43,100
yourselves before the Lord, and
He will lift you up.

390
00:26:43,800 –> 00:26:47,800
You see self helpers is not
going to take you as far as you

391
00:26:47,808 –> 00:26:51,600
need to go.
We need to come near to God for

392
00:26:51,600 –> 00:26:57,100
him to come near to us purify
your hearts and your mind will

393
00:26:57,100 –> 00:27:00,900
become centered on godliness.
We sometimes call this this

394
00:27:00,900 –> 00:27:03,800
double mindedness by a different
name.

395
00:27:05,000 –> 00:27:10,300
Sometimes call it fence sitting.
Straddling a fence allows a

396
00:27:10,308 –> 00:27:12,900
person to keep a foot in both
places at the same time.

397
00:27:13,700 –> 00:27:17,100
And in a culture that insist on
having a multitude of choices

398
00:27:18,000 –> 00:27:20,800
like fence, straddling is never
been more popular.

399
00:27:22,800 –> 00:27:26,100
But the downside is it
absolutely paralyzes.

400
00:27:26,100 –> 00:27:29,400
You for making a concrete
choice?

401
00:27:31,400 –> 00:27:34,800
anyone who chooses to have one
foot mired in the worldliness

402
00:27:35,100 –> 00:27:39,000
but wants to have one foot
standing firm in godliness will

403
00:27:39,000 –> 00:27:45,900
surely fall Lord willing.
If I have time, I want to

404
00:27:45,900 –> 00:27:48,800
continue on the subject of today
and tomorrow.

405
00:27:49,900 –> 00:27:52,500
You know why we always say, Lord
willing, it comes right there

406
00:27:52,500 –> 00:27:55,200
from James, look at it, chapter
4, go to.

407
00:27:55,200 –> 00:27:57,800
Now ye that say today or
tomorrow, we will go into such

408
00:27:57,800 –> 00:28:01,000
and such a city and continue
their a year and buy and sell

409
00:28:01,000 –> 00:28:04,600
and get game.
Whereas, you know, not what

410
00:28:04,600 –> 00:28:06,900
shall be on the morrow for, what
is your life?

411
00:28:06,900 –> 00:28:09,500
It’s even a vapor that appears
for a little time and then

412
00:28:09,500 –> 00:28:14,000
vanishes away for you ought to
say, if the Lord will we shall

413
00:28:14,000 –> 00:28:18,300
live and do this or do that.
It’s an interesting set of

414
00:28:18,300 –> 00:28:21,600
verses James’s is speaking to
people who are making a plan.

415
00:28:21,900 –> 00:28:24,000
Look at the plan.
They’re making right.

416
00:28:24,300 –> 00:28:28,700
He says they’re planning a time
today or tomorrow.

417
00:28:29,700 –> 00:28:34,600
They’re planning the location.
Oh, can will go into such a

418
00:28:34,600 –> 00:28:39,200
city, they’re planning the
duration, continue their a year.

419
00:28:40,600 –> 00:28:45,200
They’re planning a course of
action will buy and sell and

420
00:28:45,200 –> 00:28:48,100
they’re planning an outcome.
To get game.

421
00:28:50,700 –> 00:28:52,500
Looks like a pretty good plan to
me.

422
00:28:54,200 –> 00:28:56,400
I do.
I do a lot of planning in my

423
00:28:56,400 –> 00:28:59,900
life.
I’m and I do all the long-term

424
00:28:59,900 –> 00:29:04,000
planning on my business and
we’re currently on on year three

425
00:29:04,600 –> 00:29:12,400
of our existing 10-year plan.
Plan 2015 is referred to the

426
00:29:12,400 –> 00:29:17,200
replaced plan 2005, which was A
Five-Year Plan and that replaced

427
00:29:17,200 –> 00:29:19,600
plan 2000, which was a ten year
plan.

428
00:29:21,800 –> 00:29:27,200
Plan 2015 comes to its
conclusion on December 31st 2015

429
00:29:28,000 –> 00:29:32,400
and and we’re already have
Vision plans for the years after

430
00:29:32,400 –> 00:29:39,000
that 20 25 and 2035.
Is planning wrong.

431
00:29:40,100 –> 00:29:42,800
Is this, is this another topic
I’m going to have to feel guilty

432
00:29:42,800 –> 00:29:47,800
about after having read James.
No, no, no.

433
00:29:47,800 –> 00:29:50,400
Verse verse 15 clears that up,
right?

434
00:29:51,000 –> 00:29:56,000
As long as you just say if the
Lord Wills, Then everything’s

435
00:29:56,000 –> 00:29:58,800
okay with the plans that you
make, right?

436
00:30:00,500 –> 00:30:03,700
No.
Now it’s a little deeper than

437
00:30:03,700 –> 00:30:06,400
that.
I think saying saying, Lord

438
00:30:06,400 –> 00:30:10,300
willing isn’t some kind of magic
Talisman that makes all of your

439
00:30:10,300 –> 00:30:13,900
planning.
Okay take a look at the verse in

440
00:30:13,900 –> 00:30:17,500
the middle of verse 14.
He says, whereas you know what

441
00:30:17,500 –> 00:30:20,900
shall be on the morrow for?
What is your life?

442
00:30:22,800 –> 00:30:25,600
It’s nothing but a vapor that
appeareth for a little while and

443
00:30:25,600 –> 00:30:28,700
vanish away.
In other words, in all of your

444
00:30:28,700 –> 00:30:34,100
planning, you have to take God’s
view of life into account.

445
00:30:34,400 –> 00:30:38,700
If we take a true view of life
into account, and that is that

446
00:30:38,700 –> 00:30:42,100
your life is a vapor.
The question you really need to

447
00:30:42,108 –> 00:30:45,500
consider is what practical
difference, does it make in your

448
00:30:45,500 –> 00:30:48,900
planning?
Whether or not you believe that

449
00:30:48,900 –> 00:30:52,100
your life is a vapor, that’s the
real question.

450
00:30:53,400 –> 00:30:57,800
Do we stop planning altogether
because simply you don’t know

451
00:30:57,800 –> 00:30:59,700
that your what your life is
going to happen.

452
00:30:59,800 –> 00:31:03,800
You know, your life may be short
or uncertain so you shouldn’t

453
00:31:03,800 –> 00:31:06,200
bother to plan.
I don’t think so.

454
00:31:06,200 –> 00:31:08,300
You’ve all heard the saying
before and I think it’s true.

455
00:31:09,300 –> 00:31:11,600
He the fails to plan plans to
fail.

456
00:31:13,000 –> 00:31:15,300
I don’t think the James is
saying you should stop planning.

457
00:31:15,800 –> 00:31:18,800
James, is an encouraging us to
drop out of society, to become a

458
00:31:18,800 –> 00:31:22,100
Hermit to sit around waiting,
for a little Vapor of life to

459
00:31:22,100 –> 00:31:24,800
disappear.
For James.

460
00:31:24,800 –> 00:31:28,300
And for God, though it matters
whether or not a true view of

461
00:31:28,300 –> 00:31:33,900
life and forms and shapes the
way you think, and how you speak

462
00:31:33,900 –> 00:31:39,000
about your plans, your mindset
matters, how do you talk about

463
00:31:39,000 –> 00:31:42,100
your plans?
Why, why does it matter because

464
00:31:42,400 –> 00:31:46,300
God created us, not just to do
things and go places with our

465
00:31:46,300 –> 00:31:48,500
bodies.
But to have certain attitudes

466
00:31:48,500 –> 00:31:52,200
and convictions and verbal
descriptions, that reflect the

467
00:31:52,200 –> 00:31:55,200
truth.
A true view of life.

468
00:31:57,300 –> 00:32:01,300
God means for the truth about
him and about life to be known

469
00:32:01,300 –> 00:32:06,800
and felt and spoken part of your
reasoning and part of your plan.

470
00:32:09,000 –> 00:32:12,000
God wants you to keep in mind
that we really have no firm

471
00:32:12,000 –> 00:32:16,000
substance here on Earth.
Where as fragile as Mist.

472
00:32:16,000 –> 00:32:20,900
Fragile is a vapor keep in mind
you have no, no durability.

473
00:32:20,900 –> 00:32:23,800
You appear just for a little
while, your time is short, you

474
00:32:23,800 –> 00:32:28,000
will disappear.
Not trying to depress you.

475
00:32:29,600 –> 00:32:33,000
Probably succeeding.
I’m not trying to press you but

476
00:32:33,000 –> 00:32:36,500
it does matter.
God says that we have to keep

477
00:32:36,500 –> 00:32:39,100
this view of life in mind and
verse 15.

478
00:32:39,100 –> 00:32:42,700
He tells us that the true view
of life that we have in our

479
00:32:42,700 –> 00:32:46,100
minds and our mouths have, we
should have this true view as we

480
00:32:46,100 –> 00:32:49,500
plan for the future.
God tells us to very important,

481
00:32:49,500 –> 00:32:52,200
things about himself in verse 15
and pay attention to him.

482
00:32:52,200 –> 00:32:56,100
One is contained.
In the words, if the Lord Wills,

483
00:32:57,000 –> 00:33:00,200
we will live the others
contained in the rest of that

484
00:33:00,200 –> 00:33:04,400
sentence have Lord Wills.
We will do this or that.

485
00:33:05,800 –> 00:33:10,200
The duration of our lives are in
the hands of God.

486
00:33:11,900 –> 00:33:15,300
God governs.
How long were going to live?

487
00:33:17,100 –> 00:33:20,000
We may not know how long our
Vapor like life will linger in

488
00:33:20,000 –> 00:33:25,000
the air but God does because God
decides how long we live?

489
00:33:26,300 –> 00:33:29,700
James is trying to tell us that
if this is a true view of life

490
00:33:29,700 –> 00:33:33,400
than it would, it should shape
our mindset and shape our way of

491
00:33:33,400 –> 00:33:34,900
thinking.
If we truly believe that our

492
00:33:34,900 –> 00:33:38,300
lives are in the hands of God
and God will decide how long we

493
00:33:38,300 –> 00:33:42,000
live, and when we die and,
doesn’t that change our

494
00:33:42,000 –> 00:33:47,700
impression of death Worry and
stress about death, should

495
00:33:47,700 –> 00:33:52,200
decrease as our faith in this,
in his belief increases.

496
00:33:53,400 –> 00:33:58,100
Because not only is there life
in God’s hands but God is good.

497
00:33:59,200 –> 00:34:02,100
God wants the best for us.
He controls every part of our

498
00:34:02,100 –> 00:34:04,600
Lives including this most
important part.

499
00:34:05,800 –> 00:34:09,900
Turn that over to him.
Rest in the faith of his love.

500
00:34:10,800 –> 00:34:14,100
The other truth about God, in
verse 15 is at the activities

501
00:34:14,100 –> 00:34:18,000
and the accomplishments of our
lives are also in God’s hands.

502
00:34:18,900 –> 00:34:21,199
God, governs.
What we accomplished?

503
00:34:22,300 –> 00:34:26,300
Not only Our Lives themselves in
God’s hands, but our success is

504
00:34:26,300 –> 00:34:30,100
in his hands as well.
If the Lord does not, will we

505
00:34:30,100 –> 00:34:36,699
will not do this or that we will
not buy or sell or get game and

506
00:34:36,699 –> 00:34:39,000
the stress of success and
failure.

507
00:34:39,100 –> 00:34:43,800
And what we do should also
decrease when we come to really

508
00:34:43,800 –> 00:34:49,000
believe that truth This doesn’t
give us permission to be lazy,

509
00:34:49,699 –> 00:34:51,300
but it should remove some of our
worries.

510
00:34:52,600 –> 00:34:58,000
Because God is good.
God wants to bless his children

511
00:34:58,000 –> 00:35:01,600
with good things.
He wants to see us happy and

512
00:35:01,600 –> 00:35:04,700
he’s in a position to do.
So as he controls whether or not

513
00:35:04,700 –> 00:35:10,200
our plans succeed or fail, So in
simple terms, God wants to make

514
00:35:10,200 –> 00:35:14,000
sure that we understand these
two things God governs, how long

515
00:35:14,000 –> 00:35:16,900
you live and what you
accomplished.

516
00:35:18,800 –> 00:35:20,500
But there’s more of the issue
than just that they look at the

517
00:35:20,508 –> 00:35:25,100
next verse for a 16, but now you
rejoice in your boastings and

518
00:35:25,100 –> 00:35:29,500
such rejoicing is evil.
Why does James bring up boasting

519
00:35:29,500 –> 00:35:32,200
all of a sudden the root problem
at play here?

520
00:35:32,200 –> 00:35:36,600
I think is arrogance and pride.
And that is what causes us, not

521
00:35:36,600 –> 00:35:40,300
to look at our life with the
trueview boasting, is simply the

522
00:35:40,300 –> 00:35:44,200
expression of that arrogance.
When you don’t look at life for

523
00:35:44,200 –> 00:35:48,400
the truth, you then you begin to
think that you are the one

524
00:35:48,800 –> 00:35:50,500
that’s in control over your
life.

525
00:35:50,500 –> 00:35:52,400
You are the one that’s
responsible for your own

526
00:35:52,400 –> 00:35:55,200
successes.
It’s through your hard works in

527
00:35:55,200 –> 00:35:57,100
your efforts that you’ve
succeeded.

528
00:35:58,100 –> 00:36:00,400
You give me start thinking if
you take your vitamins and

529
00:36:00,400 –> 00:36:03,300
exercise and eat, right?
You can somehow control how long

530
00:36:03,300 –> 00:36:07,300
you live?
You can start to get arrogant

531
00:36:08,000 –> 00:36:12,800
and the face of God, the one who
really controls those things.

532
00:36:14,300 –> 00:36:17,000
So when we talk about today and
tomorrow, when we say Lord

533
00:36:17,000 –> 00:36:19,200
willing, it’s not just a nice
thing to say.

534
00:36:20,200 –> 00:36:22,800
It’s the acknowledgment of an
important and valuable truth

535
00:36:22,800 –> 00:36:28,100
about who God is and the faith
that we have that he’s in

536
00:36:28,100 –> 00:36:31,800
control of Our Lives.
That god holds our entire life

537
00:36:31,800 –> 00:36:34,200
in his hand.
He decides how long we live, he

538
00:36:34,200 –> 00:36:40,500
decides how we succeed, or fail
I want to close by going back to

539
00:36:40,508 –> 00:36:43,700
that verse.
We began the week with want to

540
00:36:43,700 –> 00:36:47,800
close our thoughts on a
discussion of the fatherless and

541
00:36:47,800 –> 00:36:58,100
the widows pure religion.
Stuff that really matters.

542
00:37:03,800 –> 00:37:07,400
Is visiting the fatherless and
the widows in their affliction.

543
00:37:08,800 –> 00:37:10,900
You keeping yourself unspotted
from the world.

544
00:37:13,400 –> 00:37:16,300
I want to first kind of Define
what James means by pure

545
00:37:16,300 –> 00:37:19,000
religion.
I think that by seeing using the

546
00:37:19,000 –> 00:37:23,500
word religion, usually, talking
about our faith, our faith in

547
00:37:23,500 –> 00:37:27,000
Christ.
This word religion is the same

548
00:37:27,200 –> 00:37:28,800
word, they use is in the
previous verse.

549
00:37:28,800 –> 00:37:31,800
Do you back up to verse 26?
He says if any man among you

550
00:37:31,800 –> 00:37:35,700
seem to be religious and bridle
if not his tongue but deceiveth

551
00:37:35,700 –> 00:37:40,000
his own heart, this man’s
religion is vain The reason I

552
00:37:40,000 –> 00:37:43,100
think that James means faith and
Jesus, when he uses the word

553
00:37:43,100 –> 00:37:48,400
religion is what comes and the
next first, see there’s no break

554
00:37:48,400 –> 00:37:56,200
in the floe here between 26 and
27 and 2:1 look what the first

555
00:37:56,200 –> 00:37:58,800
verse of the next.
The next chapter says, my

556
00:37:58,800 –> 00:38:01,600
brethren have not the Faith of
Our Lord.

557
00:38:01,600 –> 00:38:06,000
Jesus Christ, the lord of Glory
with respect of persons I think

558
00:38:06,000 –> 00:38:08,100
what he’s trying to say is if
you’re religious or if you say

559
00:38:08,100 –> 00:38:12,600
you have the faith of Jesus then
don’t Bridle an unloving lying

560
00:38:12,600 –> 00:38:19,500
gossiping cursing tongue.
And your faith and your religion

561
00:38:19,600 –> 00:38:23,300
is worthless.
We talked about it already.

562
00:38:23,300 –> 00:38:25,900
It’s the, it’s the faith that
saves us.

563
00:38:27,700 –> 00:38:31,900
But whether our faith, our
religion is real, or not as

564
00:38:31,900 –> 00:38:35,100
shown by the change.
It brings about in our hearts

565
00:38:35,100 –> 00:38:39,800
and our lives.
Now, in verse 27, James gives us

566
00:38:39,800 –> 00:38:42,500
another very concrete example of
that.

567
00:38:42,500 –> 00:38:48,000
Same point. notice the two kind
of effects that pure religion

568
00:38:48,000 –> 00:38:52,300
and your, and your life has
First one is practical

569
00:38:52,300 –> 00:38:56,400
compassion.
Towards orphans and widows.

570
00:38:59,200 –> 00:39:03,200
And personal purity.
Personal purity of your own life

571
00:39:03,900 –> 00:39:08,000
like, like Christ’s instruction
to the Pharisees of his day.

572
00:39:09,200 –> 00:39:12,600
We need to do the one without
leaving the other undone.

573
00:39:14,800 –> 00:39:16,100
Too often.
I’m afraid that.

574
00:39:17,300 –> 00:39:20,300
We fall off the horse on one
side of the other.

575
00:39:21,800 –> 00:39:25,400
Some fall off by saying, what
matters is personal purity.

576
00:39:26,400 –> 00:39:30,900
Sexual Purity, Financial
Integrity, a clean thought life

577
00:39:30,900 –> 00:39:36,300
and and on and on but they’re
weak and the Practical Deeds of

578
00:39:36,300 –> 00:39:39,300
compassion for the poor and the
helpless.

579
00:39:41,200 –> 00:39:43,000
In some fall off, the horse, on
the other side.

580
00:39:44,000 –> 00:39:46,500
By saying what matters is
reaching out and having

581
00:39:46,500 –> 00:39:49,300
compassion and helping people.
And what you do with your mind

582
00:39:49,300 –> 00:39:52,400
and your body are in your
private personal life is not

583
00:39:52,400 –> 00:39:56,900
really significant.
But James says, that pure and

584
00:39:56,900 –> 00:40:02,000
undefiled religion, true faith
in the Lord, Jesus Christ, stays

585
00:40:02,000 –> 00:40:05,900
on the horse.
Pure religion is to visit the

586
00:40:05,900 –> 00:40:09,200
orphans and widows in their
distress and to keep oneself

587
00:40:09,200 –> 00:40:15,300
unspotted from the world.
Not either or but both, public

588
00:40:15,300 –> 00:40:23,100
compassion and personal purity.
Proactive steps of kindness and

589
00:40:23,100 –> 00:40:28,600
love and grace to those around
us and protective vigilance

590
00:40:28,900 –> 00:40:34,100
against sin in our life. there
were two thousand verses in the

591
00:40:34,100 –> 00:40:39,300
Bible that deal with protecting
the poor and the oppressed

592
00:40:41,800 –> 00:40:44,400
Clearly this is an issue.
It’s important to God.

593
00:40:46,000 –> 00:40:48,800
If I’m afraid, we spent too much
time thinking about the ladder

594
00:40:49,500 –> 00:40:52,400
and not the former.
I fear.

595
00:40:52,400 –> 00:40:55,800
We’ve been too concerned about
personal Purity that we’ve

596
00:40:55,800 –> 00:40:58,500
neglected this important
instruction from God.

597
00:41:00,100 –> 00:41:02,800
We’ve been too concerned about
keeping ourselves unspotted from

598
00:41:02,800 –> 00:41:05,800
the world that we’ve neglected.
The requirement to go out there

599
00:41:05,800 –> 00:41:09,200
and help people for fear that
somehow we might get dirty in

600
00:41:09,200 –> 00:41:13,000
the process.
I fear, we become so concerned

601
00:41:13,000 –> 00:41:15,700
about not sinning.
We haven’t done enough, good

602
00:41:15,700 –> 00:41:20,300
works and I think I can prove it
and three simple statements.

603
00:41:22,100 –> 00:41:30,300
First before we go to sleep last
tonight. 30,000 children, will

604
00:41:30,300 –> 00:41:34,400
die of starvation.
Second.

605
00:41:36,000 –> 00:41:41,200
Most of us, don’t give a damn.
And third and what’s worse, is

606
00:41:41,200 –> 00:41:43,700
there right now, you’re more
uncomfortable with the fact that

607
00:41:43,700 –> 00:41:46,900
I swore then the fact that
30,000 kids are gonna die

608
00:41:46,900 –> 00:41:51,000
tonight.
Do the one and don’t leave the

609
00:41:51,000 –> 00:41:54,100
other undone.
If I religion is real, if our

610
00:41:54,100 –> 00:41:57,400
faith is alive, we need to do
something about the suffering

611
00:41:57,400 –> 00:41:59,700
and the pain that goes on around
us.

612
00:42:00,900 –> 00:42:04,000
I don’t need to remind you about
the millions of children in

613
00:42:04,000 –> 00:42:08,500
sub-Saharan Africa where made
orphans each year by the rampant

614
00:42:08,500 –> 00:42:11,500
spread of AIDS.
And that country, I don’t need

615
00:42:11,500 –> 00:42:13,900
to remind you about the millions
of children in Eastern Europe,

616
00:42:14,200 –> 00:42:16,000
who are abandoned due to
poverty.

617
00:42:17,400 –> 00:42:19,800
It’s easy.
It’s easy to see where you can

618
00:42:19,800 –> 00:42:25,700
help once you start looking.
I just want us to try looking.

619
00:42:27,800 –> 00:42:30,900
God has been concerned about the
fatherless and the widows since

620
00:42:30,900 –> 00:42:34,400
the beginning of time.
Although his methods have

621
00:42:34,400 –> 00:42:37,900
changed over the years, his his
message is still the same.

622
00:42:39,500 –> 00:42:43,100
What’s what he says and an exit.
As he said You shall not afflict

623
00:42:43,100 –> 00:42:46,800
and he any Widow her father’s
child if thou afflict them in

624
00:42:46,800 –> 00:42:48,400
any wise and they cry.
It onto me.

625
00:42:48,400 –> 00:42:54,900
I will surely hear their cry.
My wrath shall wax Wax Hot and I

626
00:42:54,900 –> 00:42:58,300
will kill you with the sword and
your wife shall be widows and

627
00:42:58,300 –> 00:43:03,900
your children fatherless.
The law of Moses simply punished

628
00:43:03,900 –> 00:43:09,800
you for not doing what’s right?
The law of Christ encourages us

629
00:43:10,500 –> 00:43:13,500
to be righteous.
Which one’s going to work.

630
00:43:14,700 –> 00:43:18,800
It’s God’s tried the stick.
He’s now trying the carrot.

631
00:43:19,700 –> 00:43:22,200
What if we don’t respond better
than the Israelites did?

632
00:43:22,700 –> 00:43:24,400
Who knows what he’s going to try
next?

633
00:43:29,300 –> 00:43:31,100
I’ve brought up a lot of things
this morning.

634
00:43:31,100 –> 00:43:34,400
I’ve lectured you about trying
harder to live this life that

635
00:43:34,400 –> 00:43:39,000
James describes My goal was to
try to push, you try to push

636
00:43:39,000 –> 00:43:43,600
myself out of our comfort zones
into the kind of service that

637
00:43:43,600 –> 00:43:48,300
James calls us to.
If I’ve offended you, I I pray

638
00:43:48,300 –> 00:43:52,500
you’ll get over it quickly, but
don’t forget the message quite

639
00:43:52,500 –> 00:43:56,200
as quickly.
I want to leave you with one

640
00:43:56,400 –> 00:43:59,800
simple suggestion, about how to
care for the follow this in the

641
00:43:59,808 –> 00:44:03,800
Widow’s.
It’s a verse that Jesus spoke in

642
00:44:03,800 –> 00:44:06,800
Luke 14, it’s really captured my
attention lately, and it’s

643
00:44:06,800 –> 00:44:10,500
convicted my soul.
I hope this verse moves you as

644
00:44:10,500 –> 00:44:15,000
much as it did me.
Jesus said to his host.

645
00:44:16,300 –> 00:44:19,900
When you give a luncheon or
dinner, don’t invite your

646
00:44:19,900 –> 00:44:24,000
friends.
So what about your brothers?

647
00:44:26,100 –> 00:44:28,600
Don’t invite your relatives, or
your Rich Neighbors.

648
00:44:30,100 –> 00:44:33,700
If you do, they may invite you
back and sell you’ll be repaid.

649
00:44:34,900 –> 00:44:38,000
when you give a banquet, invite
the poor.

650
00:44:39,300 –> 00:44:43,000
The crippled, the lame, the
blind.

651
00:44:45,300 –> 00:44:48,600
And you will be blessed,
although they cannot repay you

652
00:44:48,800 –> 00:44:52,500
will be repaid at the
resurrection of the righteous.

653
00:44:54,700 –> 00:44:58,900
so you can see this class really
wasn’t about this, and that This

654
00:44:58,900 –> 00:45:02,400
whole week has really been more
about God.

655
00:45:04,500 –> 00:45:09,700
And you.
The father who has called us to

656
00:45:09,707 –> 00:45:13,600
live lives of faith.
And James gives us plenty of

657
00:45:13,600 –> 00:45:17,800
plenty, of practical examples of
what it means to live lives of

658
00:45:17,800 –> 00:45:22,400
faith.
My prayer will continue that

659
00:45:22,500 –> 00:45:26,100
these classes have helped us all
see James message a little

660
00:45:26,100 –> 00:45:29,600
clearer.
And we all leave here a little

661
00:45:29,600 –> 00:45:32,500
more motivated to follow that
message.

662
00:45:33,500 –> 00:45:48,500
Thanks.
On behalf of everyone here.

663
00:45:48,600 –> 00:45:52,200
I would like to thank our
brother Jeff for bringing some

664
00:45:52,200 –> 00:45:55,400
very good thought-provoking
classes to us this week.

665
00:45:57,100 –> 00:46:02,000
We will have a short break.
It is 946 by my watch, and by

666
00:46:02,000 –> 00:46:05,400
the clock back there, there have
to be back in our seats by 10.

667
00:46:05,400 –> 00:46:05,900
Thank you.