WEBVTT 00:00:00.360 --> 00:00:00.820 Book of James. 00:00:00.860 --> 00:00:02.470 Let me give you a little bit of background to James. 00:00:03.160 --> 00:00:04.460 We've studied it last week. 00:00:04.720 --> 00:00:05.320 We just started. 00:00:05.380 --> 00:00:06.960 So if you weren't here it is. 00:00:07.380 --> 00:00:09.380 James is Jesus's brother. 00:00:10.240 --> 00:00:13.000 Now, if you wonder how that works in the family tree, Jesus came first. 00:00:13.040 --> 00:00:15.890 He had to because Mary was born of a virgin. 00:00:16.040 --> 00:00:16.160 Right? 00:00:16.460 --> 00:00:23.220 And so when you look in the New Testament, you find out that Jesus we looked at verses last week, Jesus had multiple brothers and sisters. 00:00:23.920 --> 00:00:31.110 In fact, church history tells us that James and then his brother Simon led the Jerusalem church after Jesus's crucifixion. 00:00:31.600 --> 00:00:37.220 James eventually saw his martyrdom being thrown off of the Temple in Jerusalem, and then beat to death because that didn't kill him. 00:00:37.560 --> 00:00:39.820 And then his brother Simon took over as pastor. 00:00:42.100 --> 00:00:49.420 James and Jude are two of Jesus's brothers or half brothers, I should say that wrote two books in our Bible. 00:00:49.760 --> 00:00:54.140 Those were men of few words, but wrote high impact, powerful when they said something. 00:00:54.420 --> 00:00:56.190 It was very short and to the point. 00:00:56.200 --> 00:01:03.800 In fact, when you study the book of James, over half of the verses are in the imperative form, meaning this is just what you do if 00:01:03.900 --> 00:01:04.459 you're a believer. 00:01:04.459 --> 00:01:11.560 This is how it reflects in your life, which is important for us as a church, because during the summer we involve ourselves heavily in 00:01:11.560 --> 00:01:11.920 outreach. 00:01:12.920 --> 00:01:19.440 The team that's coming this week to help us do ministry will be at the Lehi Roundup throughout the week, doing, running a booth. 00:01:19.440 --> 00:01:23.340 And then when they leave, we do booths in the community in different forms of outreach as well. 00:01:23.780 --> 00:01:31.200 James is all about living bold, and the reason he writes his book is because he's writing to a group of Jewish Christians 00:01:31.200 --> 00:01:34.200 who are being persecuted for their faith in Christ. 00:01:34.300 --> 00:01:39.820 And he's saying to them, if you really want your faith to count for Jesus, persevere in the midst of trials. 00:01:39.900 --> 00:01:46.940 In fact, the first thing that we looked at together in the first 12 verses of the book of James focused on the idea of trials, how 00:01:46.940 --> 00:01:53.160 to stand strong for Christ, how to live for what really matters in this life, how to be bold for Jesus. 00:01:53.220 --> 00:01:54.740 And James is not about playing around. 00:01:56.580 --> 00:02:00.660 It's to see the significance of who Christ is in your life and to do something about it. 00:02:02.780 --> 00:02:02.900 Faith. 00:02:04.180 --> 00:02:09.000 That produces life through Christ is never alone. 00:02:09.800 --> 00:02:13.220 Meaning, when Jesus comes into your life, you trust Him as Savior. 00:02:13.520 --> 00:02:17.840 He transforms your heart, and your heart should reflect his glory in this world. 00:02:18.920 --> 00:02:23.460 And James discusses in the imperative form what that means for us as believers. 00:02:24.060 --> 00:02:28.820 He starts with trials, and then he moves quickly into temptations. 00:02:29.240 --> 00:02:36.510 And so if you were to categorically think about this in the first chapter, the trials tend to be something that's happened to us externally. 00:02:37.120 --> 00:02:39.580 People persecute us because of our faith. 00:02:39.660 --> 00:02:43.320 You say you stand for Jesus and you're looked at like you're some sort of alien. 00:02:44.020 --> 00:02:47.360 But temptations are what take place from within. 00:02:48.240 --> 00:02:50.800 And James sets the outline for us. 00:02:50.800 --> 00:02:58.100 Between those trials and temptations he discussed last week our perspective on trials 00:02:58.100 --> 00:03:01.770 and this week, how to overcome temptation. 00:03:02.100 --> 00:03:09.420 If you're studying in your in James following along in chapter one and verse 12, when James begins the discussion 00:03:09.480 --> 00:03:16.560 on temptations, before I jump into the thought of temptation, let me, let me give a backdrop to the perseverance it 00:03:16.560 --> 00:03:17.720 takes to endure that. 00:03:19.180 --> 00:03:26.320 When James says in verse 12, he begins to discuss the attitude and the mind of the believer that sets 00:03:26.320 --> 00:03:30.280 our focus on the right place to handle the temptations and trials that we endure. 00:03:31.140 --> 00:03:34.780 And so he says this blessed is a man who perseveres under trial. 00:03:35.500 --> 00:03:42.640 For once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love 00:03:42.640 --> 00:03:42.740 him. 00:03:44.060 --> 00:03:48.580 What James is referring to in this passage is the rewarding of believers. 00:03:49.720 --> 00:03:54.780 When I was a young boy, four years old, I began the life of sports, right? 00:03:55.540 --> 00:04:00.100 I mean, everyone's got to play t ball at some point, and four years old was the perfect age for me. 00:04:00.180 --> 00:04:04.430 In fact, as a kid, if there was a sport, I think I played it, at least if it was offered. 00:04:05.240 --> 00:04:09.260 And I remember the first time in t ball signed up and I didn't know this at the time. 00:04:09.260 --> 00:04:10.050 I just wanted to play a sport. 00:04:10.300 --> 00:04:12.840 But at the end, at the end they give you trophies. 00:04:14.600 --> 00:04:16.620 And I didn't realize how much I would just love that. 00:04:17.140 --> 00:04:17.240 Right? 00:04:17.779 --> 00:04:23.220 And so as a kid, I would take my trophies and I would sit on shelves in my room and I would polish them and look at them. 00:04:23.220 --> 00:04:24.430 And they were just they were just beautiful. 00:04:24.820 --> 00:04:27.640 But something happened at the age of six. 00:04:27.640 --> 00:04:33.540 I was so successful in winning the trophies that my shelf broke, wasn't mounted very well, and it fell. 00:04:34.700 --> 00:04:36.840 And I picked up my trophies and I discovered something. 00:04:37.980 --> 00:04:41.160 To that point, I had thought six years old. 00:04:41.860 --> 00:04:43.370 My trophy was really made of gold. 00:04:44.720 --> 00:04:45.700 And the paint. 00:04:45.880 --> 00:04:48.700 I know it was paint at this point, but I would just appreciate it. 00:04:48.700 --> 00:04:53.820 I couldn't believe someone would give me this golden, beautiful trophy to have and to hold. 00:04:53.980 --> 00:04:59.980 And then when it fell off of my shelf and it scraped, I quickly realized that is just paint. 00:05:00.200 --> 00:05:01.890 I don't care about this thing anymore. 00:05:02.660 --> 00:05:09.240 But when it's talking about for us in heaven, the Lord's talking about rewarding to the believers a trophy. 00:05:09.260 --> 00:05:12.180 In First Peter chapter three it says that does not fade. 00:05:12.180 --> 00:05:12.830 It is incorruptible. 00:05:15.120 --> 00:05:20.680 But when he talks about trophies and scripture, the tendency in the language is that he uses is one of crowns. 00:05:21.200 --> 00:05:24.230 In fact, in this passage he uses the crown of life. 00:05:24.380 --> 00:05:28.500 In other passages he describes it in similar ways, but with different adjectives. 00:05:28.720 --> 00:05:31.180 Apparently there are at least five of them. 00:05:32.380 --> 00:05:37.640 Imperishable crown, the crown of rejoice, and the crown of righteousness, the crown of glory, the crown of life. 00:05:39.260 --> 00:05:44.320 When you study these crowns, this is what I'm at liberty to feel, to say about these things. 00:05:44.660 --> 00:05:49.280 When you read the word crown within these passages of Scripture, it's actually in reference to a laurel wreath. 00:05:49.280 --> 00:05:51.260 It's not necessarily a crown for your head. 00:05:51.260 --> 00:05:55.460 Maybe you'd be thinking in your mind, how am I going to get five crowns on this head, right? 00:05:55.460 --> 00:06:00.140 I mean, my mom always told me I had a big head when I was born, but I don't think I can fit five crowns. 00:06:00.760 --> 00:06:03.480 Well, when was talking about crowns, it's laurel wreath. 00:06:03.480 --> 00:06:08.380 But when Paul's describing these crowns, I don't think he's even talking about literal crowns necessarily. 00:06:09.700 --> 00:06:16.880 You do have a picture in revelation chapter four and verse four with the 24 elders casting a crown before Jesus and 00:06:16.880 --> 00:06:17.780 worship to him. 00:06:18.580 --> 00:06:20.780 But that description is only of the 24 elders. 00:06:21.720 --> 00:06:28.350 And so unless you can figure out how 24 elders are the church, then you have a hard time trying to figure out if whether or not we get a crown. 00:06:28.980 --> 00:06:30.840 Let me tell you what I think really the crown is. 00:06:31.940 --> 00:06:34.800 And then we'll decide whether or not we have a literal crown. 00:06:35.680 --> 00:06:42.700 But when you look at the description of the crowns that are discussed, all five of these talked in the Bible, they are qualities that Christ attributes 00:06:43.060 --> 00:06:44.520 to us because of our faith in him. 00:06:46.580 --> 00:06:46.580 Meaning. 00:06:46.580 --> 00:06:50.030 The reason that one crown is imperishable is because Jesus is imperishable. 00:06:50.700 --> 00:06:54.840 The only reason that heaven lasts for eternity is because Jesus lasts for eternity. 00:06:55.520 --> 00:07:01.660 The only thing that makes heaven good and the quality of being imperishable, is because Jesus is good and is imperishable. 00:07:02.740 --> 00:07:08.480 The only reason we find ourselves rejoicing isn't because of what we've done, but because of what Christ has done for us. 00:07:10.300 --> 00:07:17.340 The righteousness which we receive from the Lord isn't righteousness that we earn ourselves, but righteousness that's attributed to us because 00:07:17.340 --> 00:07:18.120 of Jesus. 00:07:19.320 --> 00:07:24.480 The crown of glory comes to us because of what Jesus has done for us, and therefore it gives us life. 00:07:25.900 --> 00:07:27.440 And so we think about these crowns. 00:07:28.020 --> 00:07:34.960 Christ is pouring these things on to our lives, not because of anything that we have done, but because of what he has done on our behalf. 00:07:36.120 --> 00:07:42.660 And so when Paul talks about these crowns, I don't necessarily look for a little literal crown being given to me. 00:07:42.680 --> 00:07:43.080 In heaven. 00:07:43.140 --> 00:07:45.480 I look for the ultimate crown that is Jesus. 00:07:47.360 --> 00:07:52.520 So when we talk about not going to hell but going to heaven, I think we misappropriate the whole point of what heaven is about. 00:07:52.840 --> 00:07:55.580 Heaven isn't heaven unless Jesus is there. 00:07:56.740 --> 00:08:01.220 The whole goal of heaven isn't to get to heaven, but to be in the presence of Christ. 00:08:02.420 --> 00:08:09.520 And when Paul talks about this crown of life that's given to us, he's recognizing what Jesus has done for us as the 00:08:09.580 --> 00:08:17.000 ultimate goal and prize in life, this crown of glory that's imperishable rejoicing and righteousness that offers 00:08:17.000 --> 00:08:17.680 us life. 00:08:17.900 --> 00:08:18.610 It is Jesus. 00:08:18.880 --> 00:08:20.320 And for that crown we live. 00:08:22.080 --> 00:08:29.320 And so when James talks about the ending of trials and the beginning of temptations, the reminder to us in this passage of Scripture is to 00:08:29.320 --> 00:08:35.000 recognize the joyous crown that we've been given because of what Christ has done for us. 00:08:38.320 --> 00:08:40.929 Unless Jesus is the crown of your eternity. 00:08:42.659 --> 00:08:47.520 Placing them on the shelf and looking at the gloriousness that he represents to you. 00:08:47.940 --> 00:08:50.510 We get sidetracked with the things of this world. 00:08:52.720 --> 00:08:57.120 The trials and temptations become what we live under and for. 00:08:58.120 --> 00:09:02.940 Rather than the glory that is to be given to us in Christ as we see him face to face. 00:09:05.340 --> 00:09:08.900 And it's on the backdrop of recognizing the importance of that crown. 00:09:10.300 --> 00:09:11.480 James then talks about temptations. 00:09:14.700 --> 00:09:18.000 He says in chapter one in verse 13. 00:09:18.660 --> 00:09:19.560 Give me a click there. 00:09:22.260 --> 00:09:25.460 It says let no one say when he is tempted. 00:09:26.480 --> 00:09:32.110 I'm being tempted by God, for God cannot be tempted by evil, and he himself does not tempt anyone. 00:09:32.600 --> 00:09:36.700 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. 00:09:37.660 --> 00:09:42.280 Then when lust is conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. 00:09:42.320 --> 00:09:44.720 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. 00:09:48.140 --> 00:09:53.460 James simply outlines for us this as believers, you are going to be tempted. 00:09:55.300 --> 00:09:58.730 Trials come from outside, but the temptation comes from within. 00:09:58.840 --> 00:10:03.880 And if you want to recognize where temptations come from, they do not originate with God. 00:10:04.060 --> 00:10:05.380 God tempts no one. 00:10:07.220 --> 00:10:08.060 God does not like sin. 00:10:10.000 --> 00:10:12.460 And therefore God doesn't tempt you towards sin. 00:10:15.660 --> 00:10:22.800 In fact, the Bible goes a little further in describing for us temptation in Hebrews chapter four and verse 15, it says this 00:10:22.800 --> 00:10:29.900 for we do not have a high priest talking about Christ, who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in all things as 00:10:29.920 --> 00:10:31.260 we are, yet without sin. 00:10:32.700 --> 00:10:36.370 And what it recognizes within this verse for us is that, yes, all of us will be temptation. 00:10:36.700 --> 00:10:40.160 But temptation in and of itself is not a sin. 00:10:41.960 --> 00:10:45.680 Temptation really points out to us that we are human beings. 00:10:47.160 --> 00:10:51.330 Temptation then births forth sin, as it tells us in the following passages. 00:10:52.300 --> 00:10:54.600 Not out of our own desires. 00:10:55.940 --> 00:10:59.100 Meaning, when God created the world, the things that he made in it were good. 00:11:00.000 --> 00:11:07.220 And the way that we make a temptation out of something is that when God creates something for good, we divorce it from God and use it for our own glory 00:11:07.220 --> 00:11:11.440 and worship and serve the idol rather than utilize it for God's goodness and glory. 00:11:13.020 --> 00:11:18.220 God, I want to do it for my own being because I am Lord rather than for you. 00:11:19.700 --> 00:11:21.720 And you can do that with anything when it comes to temptation. 00:11:23.060 --> 00:11:24.900 When it comes to money. 00:11:25.000 --> 00:11:30.220 Money can be used for God's glory and recognizing that you are the steward over it. 00:11:30.220 --> 00:11:34.920 Or when it comes to sex, God created that in marriage for his glory. 00:11:34.920 --> 00:11:37.030 But we can use it for our own selfish desires. 00:11:37.460 --> 00:11:44.040 When it comes to position, God gives us position to display his glory, but we can use it for our own selfish ambition. 00:11:44.620 --> 00:11:50.880 God made creation for his glory, but we can go into this world and worship and serve creature rather than creator. 00:11:52.200 --> 00:11:59.200 And the way that temptation is born is when we take things that God has created for us to promote his glory and recognizing his goodness 00:11:59.200 --> 00:11:59.680 in this world. 00:11:59.900 --> 00:12:07.320 And we divorce it from that God, and we use it for our own good and glory, and worship and serve creature and us as 00:12:07.320 --> 00:12:11.180 creator, creator versus God, who is the creator. 00:12:12.940 --> 00:12:16.740 Temptation becomes the lure to sin. 00:12:20.220 --> 00:12:24.760 God's desires for us to recognize the destruction of temptation. 00:12:27.060 --> 00:12:31.400 When temptation comes, temptation isn't just an opportunity to sin. 00:12:32.840 --> 00:12:37.140 But it's an opportunity to stand for the glory and goodness of God in the midst of the trials. 00:12:40.260 --> 00:12:47.080 God has given us all good things in this world, and determining whether or not we want to align it under his goodness is up to us. 00:12:47.220 --> 00:12:52.140 And when we separate it from that, temptation, births sin. 00:12:52.960 --> 00:13:00.000 When James talks about temptation in this passage of Scripture, he says in verse 14, but each one is tempted when he's carried away and enticed 00:13:00.000 --> 00:13:01.060 by his own lust. 00:13:02.060 --> 00:13:04.310 Meaning he's saying to us, when we are tempted. 00:13:04.360 --> 00:13:08.300 All of us have weaknesses, and our weaknesses vary from one another. 00:13:08.760 --> 00:13:10.990 But then when lust is conceived, it gives birth to sin. 00:13:11.560 --> 00:13:18.570 James James gives these two ideas, one of fishing and one of childbearing. 00:13:18.960 --> 00:13:20.860 Ugly babies and underwater fish. 00:13:20.920 --> 00:13:21.880 That's what he's saying here. 00:13:22.460 --> 00:13:23.740 No baby is ugly, right? 00:13:23.740 --> 00:13:23.860 They're all. 00:13:24.080 --> 00:13:24.980 They're all born pretty. 00:13:26.320 --> 00:13:31.740 In verse 14, when he talks about the lure, he says to us, it's like this. 00:13:31.800 --> 00:13:35.980 When you go fishing, you want the stupid fish, right? 00:13:36.620 --> 00:13:40.360 or at least the fish that gives in to the type of lure that you have. 00:13:41.420 --> 00:13:42.120 I love to fish. 00:13:42.180 --> 00:13:46.820 I think I've fished probably everywhere in the United States and some outside of the United States. 00:13:47.080 --> 00:13:54.220 And one of the first things I've learned to do when I get to a particular place is I want to learn what fish bites, what lure, and how deep I need to drop that baby to get 00:13:54.220 --> 00:13:55.520 that fish that I want on that lure. 00:13:57.440 --> 00:14:00.640 And when James talks about temptation, that's what he says to us. 00:14:01.680 --> 00:14:08.780 He says to us, there is some weakness in your life that you are so good at justifying being Lord of your own life rather 00:14:08.780 --> 00:14:11.570 than God, that you will bite that hook. 00:14:13.020 --> 00:14:13.620 And to us. 00:14:13.660 --> 00:14:15.080 When the temptation comes. 00:14:15.680 --> 00:14:17.940 The lure looks so beautiful, right? 00:14:19.360 --> 00:14:20.760 But we never look at the hook underneath. 00:14:22.560 --> 00:14:28.540 And so he says in verse 15, though temptation looks beneficial to us. 00:14:29.980 --> 00:14:31.840 When temptation is conceived. 00:14:33.280 --> 00:14:33.830 And we partake. 00:14:35.300 --> 00:14:37.000 It brings forth death. 00:14:39.640 --> 00:14:46.660 Temptation is Satan's appeal to the world that attracts the inner part of us as a man, to deny that God that we 00:14:46.660 --> 00:14:47.680 were created to worship. 00:14:49.940 --> 00:14:52.650 You know, as people, we were designed to worship something. 00:14:52.740 --> 00:14:58.800 It is impossible not to attribute worth towards something and live for something in this world. 00:15:00.340 --> 00:15:03.680 Whether it be a hobby or God you were designed to worship. 00:15:05.500 --> 00:15:08.370 To admire, reflect, and give praise to. 00:15:10.020 --> 00:15:17.140 And when it comes to temptation, the idea of that temptation is rather than give our worship to the one who created us, we 00:15:17.240 --> 00:15:20.520 give it to the things that he created to reflect his glory instead. 00:15:23.100 --> 00:15:24.600 And the advertising world. 00:15:24.940 --> 00:15:32.420 Have you ever noticed that when they come to deliver something to you on television, they play into one of the three temptations of man, right? 00:15:32.420 --> 00:15:35.120 The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. 00:15:35.460 --> 00:15:39.010 If you want to be a good advertiser, do those things. 00:15:40.140 --> 00:15:47.640 Appeal to the eyes, or appeal to the flesh to satisfy or appeal to the position where you make someone feel that 00:15:47.640 --> 00:15:55.800 a want is really a need, and when you feel like a want, then becomes a need, you can justify anything for 00:15:55.880 --> 00:15:57.780 your own purposes. 00:15:59.180 --> 00:16:01.290 Even the way that Adam did it in the Garden of Eden. 00:16:02.960 --> 00:16:04.940 When you think of, you think of Eve. 00:16:04.940 --> 00:16:11.240 When Satan comes before her, he says to her, Surely God didn't say that, Eve. 00:16:11.660 --> 00:16:14.440 I just questioned the truth of the one who created you. 00:16:14.560 --> 00:16:21.570 Surely you can justify some other means to this other than what God has said to you. 00:16:22.660 --> 00:16:29.920 I can tell you when temptation comes, the thing that we desire to think about is the pleasure being 00:16:29.920 --> 00:16:33.580 fulfilled and not the result of what that fulfillment will bring. 00:16:34.600 --> 00:16:37.220 I mean, there is temporal satisfaction in temptation. 00:16:37.260 --> 00:16:39.720 The Bible tells us sin is fun for a season. 00:16:39.720 --> 00:16:41.720 There is fun in sin. 00:16:41.900 --> 00:16:47.720 But on the back end of that, there is this hook that wants to rip your life apart. 00:16:49.500 --> 00:16:51.610 But for a moment you find yourself satisfied. 00:16:54.060 --> 00:16:55.480 Adam and Eve partake. 00:16:55.920 --> 00:16:56.350 And what happens? 00:16:58.040 --> 00:17:01.680 They justified the want as a need in pursuit it. 00:17:03.440 --> 00:17:08.369 And when we do that, when we see a want as a need, we can explain it away. 00:17:10.099 --> 00:17:16.300 So when God comes to the garden, the first thing Adam does is he says, well, God the woman, it was her fault, right? 00:17:16.579 --> 00:17:19.650 Had she not done that, then I would have never done what I what I did. 00:17:19.680 --> 00:17:25.800 So it's her fault or God, God, it's your fault because you gave her to me, right? 00:17:26.440 --> 00:17:29.240 And so obviously I'm not responsible. 00:17:30.580 --> 00:17:32.120 Or how about this? 00:17:32.300 --> 00:17:39.460 God, we wanted to have the knowledge of good and evil, which saying to you that we believe our version is 00:17:39.460 --> 00:17:40.800 better than what your version is. 00:17:42.000 --> 00:17:42.640 And that blows me away. 00:17:44.180 --> 00:17:48.420 You know, every culture does that with something related to God. 00:17:48.940 --> 00:17:57.560 If you go to the Middle East, those cultures are raised very well and understanding the justice and holiness of God. 00:17:57.720 --> 00:17:59.140 But when it comes to forgiveness and grace. 00:18:00.440 --> 00:18:01.040 Blows their mind. 00:18:02.300 --> 00:18:03.400 Our culture is the exact opposite. 00:18:04.860 --> 00:18:08.180 We understand the grace and goodness of God and His love. 00:18:08.200 --> 00:18:10.780 But when it comes to a holy God, well, that ain't him. 00:18:13.380 --> 00:18:14.040 And so we rewrite. 00:18:16.840 --> 00:18:24.060 As if God has spoken His word for thousands of years, and all of a sudden there raises up this generation who 00:18:24.060 --> 00:18:28.530 finally knows better than all the other generations who've been obedient to God's Word. 00:18:31.320 --> 00:18:32.600 When need becomes a want. 00:18:33.840 --> 00:18:36.100 And we can justify anything apart from God. 00:18:37.740 --> 00:18:40.120 But God created all things for his glory. 00:18:42.700 --> 00:18:48.010 James in this passage of Scripture, recognizes that God has called us for so much more than living for those empty pleasures. 00:18:49.640 --> 00:18:53.780 Because in the end of those empty pleasures, though, those lures look satisfying. 00:18:53.780 --> 00:18:57.040 There is a hook waiting just to rip your life apart. 00:18:57.720 --> 00:19:02.460 And he says in verse 15, and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. 00:19:04.280 --> 00:19:10.440 When the Bible talks about death, the first term that it tends to use in relation to that is our relationship to God. 00:19:10.440 --> 00:19:11.310 It is separated. 00:19:11.520 --> 00:19:11.860 It is dead. 00:19:12.220 --> 00:19:12.400 It is. 00:19:12.640 --> 00:19:13.090 It is non-existent. 00:19:13.960 --> 00:19:19.640 But in addition to that, there is sin that we partake of in this world that just destroys our bodies. 00:19:21.720 --> 00:19:23.520 It shortens our lives. 00:19:25.800 --> 00:19:32.880 And James is saying that God has called you to live in such a way in this world that Jesus is your trophy, and all pleasure and goodness 00:19:32.880 --> 00:19:38.400 is centered and focused on him, because true joy comes from that, and that lasts for eternity. 00:19:38.400 --> 00:19:43.540 Not the simplistic simplicity of sin that's only satisfying for just a moment. 00:19:43.540 --> 00:19:47.920 If you chase those dreams, you find yourself empty in the long run. 00:19:49.920 --> 00:19:50.180 In verse 16. 00:19:52.120 --> 00:19:52.770 Do not be deceived. 00:19:55.320 --> 00:19:58.740 But recognizing this as people, the Bible says that we are all sinners. 00:20:00.460 --> 00:20:05.400 And so when we talk about sin and temptation and the lure, we can say and raise our hands. 00:20:05.680 --> 00:20:06.500 That is me. 00:20:06.500 --> 00:20:13.660 There is something in my life that is just a weakness that I continue to falter in, and I feel like a failure before 00:20:13.660 --> 00:20:16.850 God and just participating in that. 00:20:18.500 --> 00:20:21.540 And James then turns to the idea of hope. 00:20:23.400 --> 00:20:29.190 He says this in verse 17 to us, knowing we live in a world full of temptation and faltering. 00:20:30.520 --> 00:20:34.600 This is every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above. 00:20:35.880 --> 00:20:38.660 So we've got to learn to use it as God has created it. 00:20:38.840 --> 00:20:45.960 Coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation of shifting or shifting shadow, and 00:20:45.960 --> 00:20:53.120 the exercise of his will, he brought us forth by the word of his truth that we would be a kind of first fruits among his creation. 00:20:53.600 --> 00:20:56.380 This you know, my beloved brethren. 00:20:59.760 --> 00:21:02.300 James says something significant to us in this passage of Scripture. 00:21:02.300 --> 00:21:08.000 You'll notice in the way that he ends verse 16, and the way that he begins verse 19, he refers to us as the beloved. 00:21:10.640 --> 00:21:14.900 I mean, when it comes to temptation, yes, we struggle and temptation in itself isn't a sin. 00:21:14.900 --> 00:21:16.280 Even Jesus was tempted. 00:21:16.280 --> 00:21:19.160 But the giving into the temptation is where sin is born. 00:21:21.540 --> 00:21:28.980 You talk in the idea of lust as it relates to men, pornographic viewing today is horrific, especially when you study the statistics within 00:21:28.980 --> 00:21:36.000 the church and you can say to men, God, God created you as men to find an attraction to women. 00:21:36.600 --> 00:21:44.380 But when you partake and indulge in the undressing of a lady in your mind, that's when temptation births sin. 00:21:45.700 --> 00:21:50.120 But James says this. 00:21:50.940 --> 00:21:51.500 As your loved. 00:21:54.420 --> 00:21:58.480 I think in the midst of trials that you face in your life, you just need to hear that. 00:22:00.720 --> 00:22:02.920 When you feel worthless and failures. 00:22:04.500 --> 00:22:05.390 You need to hear that. 00:22:07.040 --> 00:22:12.240 And verse 16 and verse 19, James says this you are beloved. 00:22:14.360 --> 00:22:16.260 Meaning in the midst of that struggle. 00:22:16.860 --> 00:22:21.280 Jesus knows and Jesus already knows your failures, and he came anyway. 00:22:21.660 --> 00:22:25.010 And he loves you and he's given his life for you. 00:22:25.360 --> 00:22:26.140 You are loved. 00:22:28.340 --> 00:22:30.200 Meaning when you fall away from God. 00:22:30.200 --> 00:22:37.220 It's not about running from him in worthlessness, but running to him, knowing that he is the ultimate prize in your 00:22:37.220 --> 00:22:37.520 life. 00:22:37.760 --> 00:22:40.220 You are loved, you are beloved in him. 00:22:40.240 --> 00:22:47.300 And so James says in verse 1718, every good thing is given from above, coming down from the father of lights and 00:22:47.300 --> 00:22:51.170 the Greek text it says this word coming down is in the present tense. 00:22:51.280 --> 00:22:58.660 So it's saying, even in these moments, even in our failures, even in temptation, God continues to pour his 00:22:58.660 --> 00:23:05.960 goodness in your life, that you may stand for him and what is good and pure and lovely, and brings you joy. 00:23:07.400 --> 00:23:08.580 He's the father of light. 00:23:10.160 --> 00:23:12.520 And there is no variation or shifting shadow. 00:23:12.980 --> 00:23:14.720 He is not going anywhere. 00:23:16.480 --> 00:23:17.580 He is here. 00:23:19.340 --> 00:23:22.200 For you pouring this on your life. 00:23:25.280 --> 00:23:29.700 He brought us forth in the word of truth that we could be the first fruits. 00:23:31.740 --> 00:23:37.000 Every good thing in Christ comes to us through him. 00:23:39.560 --> 00:23:46.940 Understanding how much God loves you in the midst of temptation becomes important for us, or when temptation is conceived 00:23:47.080 --> 00:23:47.740 into sin. 00:23:49.480 --> 00:23:51.560 When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness. 00:23:51.580 --> 00:23:58.320 In Matthew four, Satan comes to Jesus and raised the question, if your father loves you, why are you hungry? 00:24:00.060 --> 00:24:03.320 The thing that Satan desired for Jesus to question. 00:24:03.320 --> 00:24:10.560 And his relationship to the father was his love, because he understood that love set the precedent to the obedience of Jesus, 00:24:10.620 --> 00:24:12.460 following after the father's will while on earth. 00:24:14.640 --> 00:24:21.440 To understand that your position in Christ given to you not because of what you've done, but because of what Jesus has done. 00:24:21.840 --> 00:24:29.100 His love extended to you, not because of your worth, because of his worth upon you, that you aren't working for your position 00:24:29.100 --> 00:24:36.260 in Christ, but rather from your position in Christ, gives you such a glorious outlook to any temptation and trial that 00:24:36.260 --> 00:24:40.380 you discover, knowing that he as your ultimate trophy in him. 00:24:40.380 --> 00:24:44.560 All things work for the goodness and glory to those who are called to his purpose. 00:24:45.120 --> 00:24:46.330 He is that crown. 00:24:48.080 --> 00:24:50.480 It starts with understanding your position. 00:24:52.720 --> 00:24:58.880 Moses passes the message on to the nation of Israel, and Deuteronomy six he preaches a message to the children of Israel. 00:24:59.760 --> 00:25:05.760 Moses doesn't get the opportunity to go into the Promised Land, so he gives a sermon preparing the nation for what's ahead. 00:25:05.760 --> 00:25:10.540 And he says in chapter six, do not forget the goodness of God. 00:25:14.000 --> 00:25:17.100 God has given you his position in him. 00:25:18.840 --> 00:25:25.660 We have the opportunity in verse 17 to look ahead of all the good things that Christ brings upon us. 00:25:25.820 --> 00:25:33.160 And in verse 18, look within to the divine nature that he has brought into us by the power of His Spirit. 00:25:34.420 --> 00:25:36.790 And to say this you are loved. 00:25:38.900 --> 00:25:46.120 Hebrews chapter two and verse 18 says, for since he himself was tempted in that which he has suffered, he is able to come 00:25:46.120 --> 00:25:48.480 to the aid of those who are tempted. 00:25:51.040 --> 00:25:51.780 Jesus is near. 00:25:54.140 --> 00:25:59.800 In Jesus desires that you walk with him in the midst of this world. 00:26:01.200 --> 00:26:08.320 And so James ends with this thought, recognizing that we are living in Christ, that we have Christ with 00:26:08.320 --> 00:26:15.620 us, that we are loved in Christ, regardless of the temptation, as much as we want to justify it apart from the Lord recognizing that 00:26:15.620 --> 00:26:17.580 the lure brings us to destruction. 00:26:17.580 --> 00:26:24.660 James then in chapter one and verse 19, gives us the instruction to saturate our minds in the things of 00:26:24.660 --> 00:26:29.500 God, that we may pursue him in this life rather than justifying our own truth. 00:26:29.500 --> 00:26:33.840 To worship false idols, we look to what Christ offers us in him. 00:26:34.560 --> 00:26:41.600 And so he says in verse 19, but everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger, for 00:26:41.600 --> 00:26:45.860 the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. 00:26:45.880 --> 00:26:52.700 Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness and humility, receive the word implanted which is able to save your souls. 00:26:52.800 --> 00:26:58.540 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely merely hearers who delude themselves. 00:27:01.740 --> 00:27:03.450 James says to us, is this? 00:27:04.880 --> 00:27:12.680 To be empowered by the God who lives within you to receive what he desires to pour upon you begins with saturating 00:27:12.680 --> 00:27:15.500 your mind in the way of Christ. 00:27:16.880 --> 00:27:20.380 In verse 19 begins an explanation of preparing your heart from the Lord. 00:27:22.080 --> 00:27:23.900 It says, but everyone must be quick to speak. 00:27:25.160 --> 00:27:25.500 Excuse me. 00:27:25.500 --> 00:27:26.850 Quick to hear and slow to speak. 00:27:28.220 --> 00:27:35.580 The old Hebrew proverb says this God gave you two ears and one mouth for a reason, so that we listen twice as much as 00:27:35.600 --> 00:27:36.220 we communicate. 00:27:38.180 --> 00:27:43.000 Yeah, I think one of the first rules of being a good disciple or a follower of Jesus is just a willingness to listen. 00:27:44.700 --> 00:27:48.320 Giving God the opportunity to pour into our hearts the thing that matters. 00:27:48.640 --> 00:27:52.540 You recognize if you spend your whole life swimming in a pool and all you see is lures. 00:27:54.400 --> 00:27:57.160 There has to come a time in your life where you can recognize what the real bait is. 00:27:57.680 --> 00:28:00.440 What's the real food that saturates my life? 00:28:02.220 --> 00:28:06.140 And rather than give in to the lures, you find the nourishment that God has created you for. 00:28:06.500 --> 00:28:10.980 And so he says in verse 19, you've got to prepare your heart for the opportunity to listen. 00:28:11.180 --> 00:28:13.320 And here, here's what keeps you from listening anger. 00:28:14.600 --> 00:28:17.360 There isn't a person in this room that's good at listening when they're angry. 00:28:18.520 --> 00:28:20.220 All that we care about is our point. 00:28:21.900 --> 00:28:26.880 And James says in this passage, your anger will not achieve what God desires. 00:28:28.820 --> 00:28:31.200 Anger towards people is wrong. 00:28:31.220 --> 00:28:34.320 Usually when we talk in terms of anger, it happens in relationships. 00:28:36.060 --> 00:28:38.380 Anger almost always manifests itself in relationships. 00:28:38.660 --> 00:28:46.080 I would say this morning that when you talk about sin and when you talk about Satan, and when you talk about death, and there's things that Jesus desires to defeat, 00:28:46.920 --> 00:28:47.880 it can make you angry. 00:28:47.920 --> 00:28:49.040 Those are good things to hate. 00:28:50.200 --> 00:28:52.220 I hate those things that separate me from God. 00:28:53.540 --> 00:28:56.360 I hate those things that are contrary to the holiness of God. 00:28:57.860 --> 00:29:02.040 But when it talks about relationships to people, hating one another is not a good idea. 00:29:02.160 --> 00:29:07.700 Because what God has called us to in this world is truth, in unity, to walk in hand in hand. 00:29:07.700 --> 00:29:11.480 So anytime there's anger in a relationship, it's opportunity for temptation. 00:29:11.720 --> 00:29:14.660 And when temptation is born, then from that comes sin. 00:29:16.600 --> 00:29:20.770 And when Paul wrote Ephesians chapter six, he said this very clearly to us. 00:29:20.980 --> 00:29:24.460 We wrestle not against flesh and blood. 00:29:26.900 --> 00:29:28.200 But against powers and principalities. 00:29:31.040 --> 00:29:32.710 Our battle is not with one another. 00:29:34.920 --> 00:29:39.060 Our battle lies in what separates us from what Christ has called us to do together. 00:29:41.610 --> 00:29:47.300 Talk in terms of temptation and almost always rears itself in the form of relationships. 00:29:50.220 --> 00:29:54.340 And so he says in verse 20, for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. 00:29:54.680 --> 00:29:56.260 Let God carry the vengeance. 00:29:56.260 --> 00:29:59.950 Therefore put aside all filthiness, and all that remains of wickedness and humility. 00:30:00.360 --> 00:30:03.740 Receive the word implanted which is able to save your souls. 00:30:05.580 --> 00:30:10.860 Meaning when you come to God's Word, recognize that it's the glory, the crown of Christ that we are pursuing. 00:30:10.920 --> 00:30:15.420 It's not that what we've done in the midst of sin, but what Jesus has done pursuing us. 00:30:15.940 --> 00:30:23.020 And so in humility we come to him and we just give him opportunity to pour into our minds the things of Christ that even tells us in 00:30:23.240 --> 00:30:30.350 Romans chapter 12 and verse two, be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. 00:30:34.330 --> 00:30:36.280 When someone walks with Jesus. 00:30:38.420 --> 00:30:41.040 I find it impossible apart from his word. 00:30:43.640 --> 00:30:50.020 Being rooted and implanted in the Word of God gives us the opportunity to live. 00:30:50.020 --> 00:30:56.680 And so it says in verse 22, but prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. 00:30:58.280 --> 00:31:01.180 And then James goes on to give an example of hearers and doers. 00:31:02.920 --> 00:31:08.140 I think in American church today, a lot of us are educated beyond our obedience. 00:31:10.280 --> 00:31:10.620 Yeah. 00:31:10.760 --> 00:31:12.540 I think when God says things, it's really. 00:31:12.800 --> 00:31:14.280 It's simple. 00:31:14.300 --> 00:31:17.200 It's not easy because of temptation, but God. 00:31:17.360 --> 00:31:18.610 God has a way of making things simple. 00:31:20.000 --> 00:31:23.280 And when God writes things in His Word, the call to us is to do it. 00:31:24.760 --> 00:31:27.940 And so he gives this example in verse 23 of an ugly person. 00:31:28.420 --> 00:31:34.700 It literally it says, for if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at himself natural face in the mirror. 00:31:35.080 --> 00:31:36.440 For once he has looked at himself. 00:31:36.480 --> 00:31:37.740 I think he's describing a college student. 00:31:38.420 --> 00:31:40.390 For once he has looked at himself and gone away. 00:31:40.640 --> 00:31:42.820 He has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. 00:31:42.860 --> 00:31:43.160 But once who? 00:31:44.160 --> 00:31:51.100 One who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty abides in it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer. 00:31:51.200 --> 00:31:54.500 That man will be blessed if he does it. 00:31:56.620 --> 00:32:04.000 It's like a guy who wakes up in the morning, looks at himself in the mirror, sees dirt all over his face, and then walks away. 00:32:05.480 --> 00:32:07.600 I've heard this passage used like this a few times. 00:32:07.600 --> 00:32:08.440 Someone explaining it. 00:32:09.040 --> 00:32:09.440 It's like this. 00:32:10.620 --> 00:32:15.980 Dad writes a letter to his child and says, son or daughter, I want you to do this. 00:32:16.180 --> 00:32:17.980 Take out the trash on Sunday. 00:32:17.980 --> 00:32:23.840 I've got to go out of town for a couple of days and he leaves it on the on the table for the kid to see when he comes by. 00:32:24.500 --> 00:32:25.520 And the kid grabs it. 00:32:25.980 --> 00:32:27.660 And so the kid grabs it and he looks at it and he reads it. 00:32:27.660 --> 00:32:30.760 He's like, man, this is a great, well written letter from dad. 00:32:30.820 --> 00:32:32.380 I want to call my friends over and we're going to read this. 00:32:32.880 --> 00:32:34.420 So they all get together and they start reading it. 00:32:34.840 --> 00:32:42.040 Such an enjoyable thing that they decide then to look at the original meaning of each letter contained, or each word contained in the letter, and they all begin to 00:32:42.040 --> 00:32:44.610 splice it according to its original languages. 00:32:45.140 --> 00:32:46.580 And they explain it away. 00:32:46.580 --> 00:32:50.010 And so then when the father comes home, he says to them, did you see my letter? 00:32:51.000 --> 00:32:51.820 Yeah, I saw it, dad. 00:32:51.820 --> 00:32:52.310 It was great. 00:32:52.440 --> 00:32:59.300 It was the way that you talked about it from beginning to end, how your words flowed together, you punctuality, it was just perfect. 00:32:59.340 --> 00:33:00.860 There was no grammatical mistakes. 00:33:01.440 --> 00:33:04.000 It said everything that you wanted us to understand clearly. 00:33:04.360 --> 00:33:07.660 We walked away knowing exactly what you wanted us to do. 00:33:07.860 --> 00:33:10.980 We even invited everyone in the neighborhood around to study it. 00:33:11.660 --> 00:33:12.220 We read it. 00:33:12.300 --> 00:33:13.460 We looked at the original meeting. 00:33:13.500 --> 00:33:15.780 I can spell every word on that page now. 00:33:15.780 --> 00:33:18.420 As a matter of fact, I can recite it from beginning to end. 00:33:18.420 --> 00:33:20.740 And then the dad says, well, did you do it? 00:33:22.380 --> 00:33:23.500 Oh, no! 00:33:23.740 --> 00:33:23.980 Do it! 00:33:25.500 --> 00:33:26.480 Never crossed my mind. 00:33:28.900 --> 00:33:30.420 What James is saying in this passage. 00:33:32.980 --> 00:33:35.590 So we have the ability to fool ourselves in that way. 00:33:37.480 --> 00:33:43.690 That we can walk away understanding God's Word clearly within our lives, but we don't live it as if it has the power to transform. 00:33:46.580 --> 00:33:53.580 We can say things like Jesus is our joy and Jesus is our strength, and Jesus is my everything, and 00:33:53.580 --> 00:33:55.520 he is my crown. 00:33:57.920 --> 00:33:59.180 But never live that way. 00:34:02.120 --> 00:34:07.360 James concludes this passage by just saying to us in the final two verses, let's just have a test. 00:34:08.860 --> 00:34:16.139 Well, let's let's see if you live the word rather rather than just read the word. 00:34:17.360 --> 00:34:24.440 And so he says in verse 26, if anyone thinks himself to be religious and yet does not bridle his tongue, but deceives 00:34:24.440 --> 00:34:28.780 his own heart, this man's religion is worthless. 00:34:30.040 --> 00:34:32.500 I don't know why, but every time I read that verse I just say Facebook. 00:34:34.280 --> 00:34:40.719 If anyone thinks himself to be religious and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart. 00:34:42.280 --> 00:34:43.520 This man's religion is worthless. 00:34:46.560 --> 00:34:48.150 Do you know what your words communicate? 00:34:51.040 --> 00:34:54.420 Your words communicate where the focus of your heart really lies. 00:34:58.120 --> 00:35:03.660 Meaning I don't want to get too pounding on this, but if you come to church on Sunday. 00:35:05.820 --> 00:35:09.580 But your words don't acknowledge Jesus on Monday. 00:35:11.500 --> 00:35:12.080 You're fooling yourself. 00:35:14.520 --> 00:35:17.140 Your words reflect your heart. 00:35:18.780 --> 00:35:26.520 And when your words communicate negativity and rip things apart and cause disunity among relationships 00:35:26.520 --> 00:35:34.240 that God has called you not to fight against and but fight against principalities and powers, it's reflecting what's 00:35:34.300 --> 00:35:35.780 happening in the heart. 00:35:38.600 --> 00:35:42.080 Can I tell you that the solution to that this morning is not try harder. 00:35:44.640 --> 00:35:46.320 But rather give your life over to Christ. 00:35:48.580 --> 00:35:53.260 What it's ultimately pointing to us is that we're not in line with Jesus being our Lord. 00:35:53.380 --> 00:36:00.620 But when we are in line with Jesus as our Lord, Jesus then pours his life into our lives and transforms 00:36:00.620 --> 00:36:02.200 our heart from the inside out. 00:36:04.880 --> 00:36:12.100 A good way to recognize whether or not you've fooled yourself in the way that you're pursuing your relationship with Jesus is just to pay attention 00:36:12.100 --> 00:36:12.880 to the words you say. 00:36:15.280 --> 00:36:16.360 Does it speak truth? 00:36:17.620 --> 00:36:18.820 Now the truth comes at a cost. 00:36:18.940 --> 00:36:19.670 But does it speak truth? 00:36:21.280 --> 00:36:28.380 And when it speaks truth, when we're talking about relationships within the body of Christ or in your own family, is it desiring to unite 00:36:28.380 --> 00:36:29.700 you in the cause of Christ? 00:36:29.840 --> 00:36:35.190 Or are you creating division over words that cut deep in someone's heart? 00:36:37.320 --> 00:36:44.400 Verse 27, he says this but pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this to visit orphans, orphans, and widows in their 00:36:44.400 --> 00:36:47.920 distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. 00:36:49.360 --> 00:36:56.720 I should probably clarify you and say here at church, when we talk about religion, when we deny religion, we deny religion 00:36:56.720 --> 00:37:03.780 of the world and religion of the world, says says this by what you do, you then put God in 00:37:03.780 --> 00:37:07.780 a place where he is forced to do what you command him to do. 00:37:07.840 --> 00:37:14.940 Meaning you obey these rules and then God is obligated to do what he has promised because you have been obedient to 00:37:14.960 --> 00:37:15.650 these rules. 00:37:15.780 --> 00:37:15.880 God. 00:37:16.300 --> 00:37:20.300 God is in your hand and you manipulate God because of your obedience and religion. 00:37:21.420 --> 00:37:28.420 And what relationship is about is not the manipulation of God, but to recognize that God has already pursued us in 00:37:28.570 --> 00:37:33.180 relationship and that we in though we are sinful, we don't earn his favor. 00:37:33.180 --> 00:37:35.380 He has given it to us and we come to him. 00:37:35.380 --> 00:37:38.020 Enjoy the relationship for which he has created us. 00:37:38.080 --> 00:37:41.920 It's not about religious manipulation, but enjoying relationship to God. 00:37:43.000 --> 00:37:50.180 But when James is talking about religion in this passage of Scripture, he's talking about the word literally means outward practice or the 00:37:50.320 --> 00:37:51.520 service of God. 00:37:51.540 --> 00:37:54.030 And some passages of Scripture. 00:37:54.140 --> 00:37:56.000 Colossians 218. 00:37:56.080 --> 00:37:58.660 This word religion is actually translated worship. 00:38:00.020 --> 00:38:03.200 This outward display of the worth of God in your life. 00:38:05.120 --> 00:38:07.220 Only made possible because of relationship. 00:38:09.320 --> 00:38:14.540 And James is looking at religious people and he's saying, you think you think you live religion, right? 00:38:14.580 --> 00:38:17.400 Well, let me tell you really what godly religion would look like, okay? 00:38:17.800 --> 00:38:19.300 It's pure and it's undefiled. 00:38:19.600 --> 00:38:21.220 It's not based on what you do. 00:38:21.240 --> 00:38:22.500 It has not your flavor in it. 00:38:22.640 --> 00:38:24.600 Because when it does, you will fall short. 00:38:24.840 --> 00:38:29.350 But it's pure and undefiled because of what Christ has done, and this is what it reflects in the sight of our God and Father. 00:38:29.500 --> 00:38:34.460 Is this to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. 00:38:34.460 --> 00:38:41.520 Meaning, when you do things religiously, the reason that you do things religiously is to earn favor 00:38:41.520 --> 00:38:42.160 from God. 00:38:43.460 --> 00:38:50.360 But when you talk about serving widows and orphans, you're talking about serving people that have nothing to give back to you. 00:38:51.060 --> 00:38:55.580 So the motivation of your heart has nothing to do with what you might get in return. 00:38:56.920 --> 00:39:00.600 But everything out of the joy because of what Christ has done for you. 00:39:02.680 --> 00:39:05.260 So James in this passage uses widows and orphans. 00:39:07.000 --> 00:39:10.300 I would say in our lives the motivation is what we check. 00:39:12.760 --> 00:39:18.730 Are you doing things out of obligation to manipulate God, to have to give you something? 00:39:20.780 --> 00:39:24.880 Do you do things only because on the back end you get something in return. 00:39:26.820 --> 00:39:28.020 I want status, right? 00:39:29.720 --> 00:39:31.080 Or I want money on this. 00:39:33.600 --> 00:39:36.360 What James is saying to those who really love Jesus. 00:39:36.680 --> 00:39:42.100 See their satisfaction so much in Christ that their motivation isn't about what they're getting back. 00:39:43.360 --> 00:39:48.320 Their motivation is all about recognizing the goodness and glory of God in everything that they do. 00:39:50.160 --> 00:39:54.480 Even so much so that you go to the ones who have nothing to give in return. 00:39:54.820 --> 00:39:59.660 And you just love because of the love that Christ has poured into your life. 00:40:04.460 --> 00:40:06.230 And this morning we're thinking of this thought. 00:40:08.680 --> 00:40:09.760 We think about temptations. 00:40:11.520 --> 00:40:18.900 It has the ability to get us off track from what God has called us to in this world when we indulge in those temptations, having separated them 00:40:18.900 --> 00:40:22.680 from the one who has created them, ultimately for his glory to begin with. 00:40:24.480 --> 00:40:28.240 We take something of the goodness of God and use it for our own glory and worship. 00:40:28.960 --> 00:40:32.200 That temptation then births sin and it brings death. 00:40:32.640 --> 00:40:36.500 And that is something separate from what the experience of God and relationship to him is all about. 00:40:37.020 --> 00:40:41.680 But what God has called us to is something far more glorious in this life. 00:40:41.960 --> 00:40:49.070 Having a crown of life represented in Christ and he in the midst of your temptation, 00:40:49.740 --> 00:40:49.900 loves you. 00:40:52.480 --> 00:40:58.860 And regardless of how broken you may feel, he desires to pour his goodness upon you. 00:40:58.880 --> 00:41:01.080 If you, in humility, would just. 00:41:01.560 --> 00:41:08.660 Just close your mouth and open your ears and get next to him reading his word rather than looking at the lures 00:41:08.660 --> 00:41:09.440 of temptation. 00:41:10.160 --> 00:41:14.380 Look at the feeding that Christ desires to do in you and through you. 00:41:14.380 --> 00:41:21.460 And as he transforms your life, the impact that you make on this world is not one of religion and status, but one of 00:41:21.460 --> 00:41:29.250 relationship to God and to one another, giving all that we are for him and blessing the world because of it. 00:41:30.340 --> 00:41:31.100 And this is how. 00:41:32.780 --> 00:41:39.440 To recognize above and beyond in all things, that Jesus alone is the crown of life.