1 00:00:00,560 --> 00:00:04,240 Open your Bibles to the Book of James. 2 00:00:05,200 --> 00:00:07,480 We are starting a new study this morning. 3 00:00:07,480 --> 00:00:10,840 We finished the book of Numbers last week and we are going to be 4 00:00:10,840 --> 00:00:14,040 starting a new study in the book of James. 5 00:00:14,440 --> 00:00:17,560 So I got to find it myself. I don't have my my bookmark 6 00:00:17,560 --> 00:00:21,880 there this morning. We're going to be looking at 7 00:00:21,880 --> 00:00:25,560 James chapter 1 and just the first 4 verses. 8 00:00:26,320 --> 00:00:29,160 We'll be going through James at a much slower pace than we went 9 00:00:29,160 --> 00:00:30,800 through numbers where we, you know, we would go to whole 10 00:00:30,800 --> 00:00:33,560 chapters at a time due to the content. 11 00:00:33,560 --> 00:00:36,600 It's it's dense with theology and application. 12 00:00:36,840 --> 00:00:39,120 James is one of the most applicable books in the New 13 00:00:39,120 --> 00:00:42,120 Testament. And so I'm, I'm pretty excited 14 00:00:42,120 --> 00:00:44,440 to preach on this. I've preached sermons from this 15 00:00:44,440 --> 00:00:46,600 book, but never preached through the whole entire book before. 16 00:00:47,440 --> 00:00:50,320 So James one one to four. The title of the sermon is this 17 00:00:50,360 --> 00:00:55,400 of faith that is tested. So let's read the text open as a 18 00:00:55,400 --> 00:01:00,280 word of prayer and then we'll jump into the sermon beginning 19 00:01:00,280 --> 00:01:06,360 in verse 1. James, a servant of God and of 20 00:01:06,360 --> 00:01:11,760 the Lord Jesus Christ to the 12 tribes in the dispersion. 21 00:01:12,400 --> 00:01:16,520 Greetings. Count it all joy, my brothers, 22 00:01:16,840 --> 00:01:21,040 when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the 23 00:01:21,040 --> 00:01:26,080 testing of your faith produces steadfastness, and let 24 00:01:26,080 --> 00:01:30,240 steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect 25 00:01:30,640 --> 00:01:37,040 and complete, lacking in nothing if you will. 26 00:01:37,040 --> 00:01:50,160 Pray, Father, as we start this new study, I pray over the next 27 00:01:50,160 --> 00:01:54,000 several months or could be a year or longer that we will be 28 00:01:54,000 --> 00:01:59,920 in this book that Lord, all that you desire to teach us, that you 29 00:01:59,920 --> 00:02:02,560 would give us ears to hear every bit of it. 30 00:02:04,080 --> 00:02:08,560 That we would receive the, the implanted word and we would 31 00:02:08,560 --> 00:02:12,480 receive it with meekness and that the truth of it would 32 00:02:12,480 --> 00:02:15,000 change us and conform us to the image of Christ. 33 00:02:16,680 --> 00:02:19,600 God, this morning as we specifically look about our look 34 00:02:19,600 --> 00:02:23,840 at the, the text where our faith is being tested, where we are in 35 00:02:23,840 --> 00:02:29,400 counting trials, I pray God that you would help us to count it as 36 00:02:29,400 --> 00:02:34,520 joy. So, Lord, would you help me as I 37 00:02:34,520 --> 00:02:38,480 teach it this morning, to teach it with clarity and would you 38 00:02:38,480 --> 00:02:45,360 help all of us to to listen well and to apply it, knowing good 39 00:02:45,360 --> 00:02:49,240 and well that we will surely face trials in the coming days 40 00:02:49,240 --> 00:02:51,960 or weeks. I pray this all in the name of 41 00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:53,120 Jesus. Amen. 42 00:02:53,120 --> 00:03:00,880 Do you remember the movie Cars? The animated movie Cars? 43 00:03:02,800 --> 00:03:06,960 Thanks. Where each car is personified 44 00:03:06,960 --> 00:03:11,200 and has a personality. I wonder why they didn't have a 45 00:03:11,200 --> 00:03:15,600 character named Crash. Who does the crash test? 46 00:03:15,640 --> 00:03:19,160 You know, cars. They do the crash test with the 47 00:03:19,160 --> 00:03:23,360 dummies inside and they crash. Yes, they didn't want cars dying 48 00:03:23,360 --> 00:03:27,800 in a kids movie. Before a car gets put on the 49 00:03:27,800 --> 00:03:31,960 road, it goes through several tests, one of them being 50 00:03:31,960 --> 00:03:35,760 Crashes. They have to test this car. 51 00:03:35,760 --> 00:03:38,000 They have to and purposely crash it. 52 00:03:38,720 --> 00:03:40,960 Why? Because the engineers need to 53 00:03:40,960 --> 00:03:48,400 know if it's going to hold up in a real crash, they have to test 54 00:03:48,400 --> 00:03:51,240 it. They need to know that if 55 00:03:51,240 --> 00:03:57,680 someone gets in a crash, are they going to die or potentially 56 00:03:57,680 --> 00:04:02,880 live. And so they have to test it. 57 00:04:04,800 --> 00:04:08,000 Nobody should get into a car or an airplane for that matter, 58 00:04:08,400 --> 00:04:13,680 that's never been tested. And nobody should want to stand 59 00:04:13,680 --> 00:04:17,440 before the judgment having never been tested. 60 00:04:20,959 --> 00:04:24,680 God is faithful to not only give us faith in this life, but He is 61 00:04:24,680 --> 00:04:27,840 faithful to give us a faith that is tested. 62 00:04:29,440 --> 00:04:33,280 That's what the sermon is about this morning, a faith that is 63 00:04:33,560 --> 00:04:36,320 tested. We're going to look at the next 64 00:04:36,320 --> 00:04:39,040 position of the text. There are 4 verses. 65 00:04:39,040 --> 00:04:42,880 I'm going to break it down into 8 sections, 2 sections for each 66 00:04:42,880 --> 00:04:46,480 verse for a total of 8 sections, and then I'll give us 67 00:04:46,480 --> 00:04:49,520 application. We do have 10 points of 68 00:04:49,520 --> 00:04:52,800 application this morning from these 4 verses. 69 00:04:52,800 --> 00:04:55,280 There is a lot in these four, so let's jump right in. 70 00:04:55,600 --> 00:05:03,440 Starting in verse one, A James, a servant of God and of the Lord 71 00:05:03,600 --> 00:05:07,200 Jesus Christ. Let's start by asking the 72 00:05:07,200 --> 00:05:11,440 question James. The title of the book is James, 73 00:05:11,440 --> 00:05:14,360 the letter of James. Well, who is James? 74 00:05:14,720 --> 00:05:16,840 There are three James's in the New Testament. 75 00:05:17,200 --> 00:05:19,360 The first is James, the son of Zebedee. 76 00:05:19,640 --> 00:05:22,560 He is one of the 12. He is also John's brother. 77 00:05:23,080 --> 00:05:25,320 The second is James, the son of Alpheus. 78 00:05:25,920 --> 00:05:29,760 He is also one of the 12. And the third is James, the 79 00:05:29,760 --> 00:05:34,600 brother of Jesus. This last James is the author of 80 00:05:34,600 --> 00:05:37,280 this letter, the brother of Jesus. 81 00:05:37,280 --> 00:05:41,560 He is mentioned in Galatians 119 where Paul says, I saw none of 82 00:05:41,560 --> 00:05:44,960 the other apostles except James, the Lord's brother. 83 00:05:45,520 --> 00:05:48,440 He's also mentioned in the 1st Corinthians 15, seven, where 84 00:05:48,440 --> 00:05:51,280 Jesus said that he Paul said that he appeared to 500 people 85 00:05:51,280 --> 00:05:54,800 including James. And he's also mentioned in Acts 86 00:05:54,800 --> 00:05:59,720 12, Acts 15, and Acts 21, where it's clear from the book of Acts 87 00:05:59,720 --> 00:06:02,840 that he is a leader in the early church in the Jerusalem church. 88 00:06:02,840 --> 00:06:04,520 He's one of the leaders. Now. 89 00:06:04,520 --> 00:06:10,720 What's more important though, then who James is, is what James 90 00:06:10,720 --> 00:06:13,800 is. Look at how James describes 91 00:06:13,800 --> 00:06:19,880 himself. James, a servant of God and of 92 00:06:19,880 --> 00:06:22,360 the Lord Jesus Christ. That word servant is the Greek 93 00:06:22,360 --> 00:06:25,440 word doulos. Some translate, prefer to 94 00:06:25,440 --> 00:06:27,480 translate it as servant. Some prefer to translate it as 95 00:06:27,480 --> 00:06:29,840 bond servant. Some will even translate it as 96 00:06:29,840 --> 00:06:32,360 slave. Those will all work. 97 00:06:33,600 --> 00:06:37,840 Look at verse 1B to the 12 tribes in the dispersion. 98 00:06:38,160 --> 00:06:41,320 Greetings. Now this is an epistle, which 99 00:06:41,320 --> 00:06:43,760 means it's a letter. An epistle is a letter, which 100 00:06:43,760 --> 00:06:48,640 means that if James is the author, who is the audience who 101 00:06:48,640 --> 00:06:50,640 was the recipient of this letter? 102 00:06:50,640 --> 00:06:55,160 James writes to the 12 tribes in the dispersion. 103 00:06:55,480 --> 00:06:57,200 Now this statement raises 2 questions. 104 00:06:57,200 --> 00:06:59,800 Number one, who are the 12 tribes? 105 00:07:00,240 --> 00:07:03,120 Well, this or this refers to the original 12 tribes of Israel. 106 00:07:03,280 --> 00:07:05,280 We've been looking at that in the Book of Numbers. 107 00:07:05,720 --> 00:07:08,880 So what's what this means is that James is primarily writing 108 00:07:08,880 --> 00:07:12,000 to Jewish Christians. Obviously Gentiles are going to 109 00:07:12,000 --> 00:07:15,600 read this, but he's primarily writing to Jewish Christians #2 110 00:07:15,800 --> 00:07:19,120 what is the dispersion? He says to the 12 tribes in the 111 00:07:19,120 --> 00:07:21,480 dispersion. The Greek word there is 112 00:07:21,480 --> 00:07:23,560 diaspora. We sometimes use that word in 113 00:07:23,560 --> 00:07:27,360 English, the diaspora. It means a state or condition of 114 00:07:27,360 --> 00:07:31,120 being dispersed. This term came to refer to any 115 00:07:31,120 --> 00:07:34,440 Jews who lived outside of the Promised Land and lived among 116 00:07:34,440 --> 00:07:36,760 the Gentiles. So if you were a Jew and you did 117 00:07:36,760 --> 00:07:38,840 not live in the Promised Land and you were living among the 118 00:07:38,840 --> 00:07:41,680 Gentiles, you were in the diaspora. 119 00:07:42,320 --> 00:07:45,720 Now some of this dispersion came through natural means. 120 00:07:45,840 --> 00:07:49,840 Many people just moved by as as anybody moves, but much of it 121 00:07:50,600 --> 00:07:54,920 came through persecution. In Acts 8 and in Acts 11, Luke 122 00:07:54,920 --> 00:07:58,280 talks about a scattering of Christians because of 123 00:07:58,280 --> 00:08:00,720 persecution that broke out in the early church. 124 00:08:01,440 --> 00:08:04,560 What this also tells us the fact that James is not writing to a 125 00:08:04,560 --> 00:08:06,840 specific church. He's writing to the dispersion. 126 00:08:07,040 --> 00:08:09,440 What this means is that James intended this letter to be read 127 00:08:09,440 --> 00:08:12,520 by multiple churches. It was intended to be circulated 128 00:08:12,520 --> 00:08:15,440 again testifying that this is the word of God, that James 129 00:08:15,440 --> 00:08:18,360 views us as authoritative not just for one church, but all 130 00:08:18,360 --> 00:08:20,600 churches. Look at verse 2A. 131 00:08:21,920 --> 00:08:26,480 Count it all. Joy, my brothers, we'll stop 132 00:08:26,480 --> 00:08:28,720 right there. Count it all. 133 00:08:29,040 --> 00:08:34,159 Joy, my brothers, What is the first thing that James wants to 134 00:08:34,159 --> 00:08:37,320 stress in this letter? There are Christians living 135 00:08:37,320 --> 00:08:40,280 abroad because of persecution. And James, when he writes this 136 00:08:40,280 --> 00:08:42,880 letter after his greeting, what is primary? 137 00:08:42,960 --> 00:08:47,120 What does he want to emphasize? Joy. 138 00:08:48,600 --> 00:08:52,840 Joy, and specifically joy in the midst of trials. 139 00:08:53,360 --> 00:08:57,840 James starts off with the command count it all, joy that 140 00:08:57,840 --> 00:08:59,760 is an imperative, that is a command. 141 00:09:00,120 --> 00:09:01,920 Now this raises at least three questions. 142 00:09:01,920 --> 00:09:05,000 Number one, what does count it mean? 143 00:09:05,400 --> 00:09:08,360 He says count it. What does that word count it 144 00:09:08,360 --> 00:09:11,280 mean? The the verb for count is the 145 00:09:11,280 --> 00:09:14,520 Greek word Hague, Oh my Hague, Oh my. 146 00:09:14,720 --> 00:09:18,960 It means to engage in an intellectual process, to think, 147 00:09:19,280 --> 00:09:24,680 to consider, to regard. It is like I look at something 148 00:09:24,880 --> 00:09:28,840 and I, I, I intellectually consider what it is. 149 00:09:29,040 --> 00:09:33,240 I regard it as something. I size it up and say that's what 150 00:09:33,240 --> 00:09:36,680 this is. It's it's one of Paul's favorite 151 00:09:36,680 --> 00:09:41,440 words in Philippians 2 and 3. And humility count others more 152 00:09:41,440 --> 00:09:45,280 significant than yourself. He did not consider, He did not 153 00:09:45,280 --> 00:09:48,400 count equality with God a thing to be grasped. 154 00:09:49,040 --> 00:09:52,160 Whatever gain I had, I counted as lost. 155 00:09:52,160 --> 00:09:57,160 Those are all the same, Hagay O my same word #2 What does James 156 00:09:57,160 --> 00:10:01,320 mean by all count it all joy. What does all mean there? 157 00:10:01,400 --> 00:10:05,680 Some translate as pure joy, some translated as nothing but joy, 158 00:10:06,080 --> 00:10:09,000 some translated as great joy. All of those will work. 159 00:10:09,800 --> 00:10:14,240 All joy, pure joy, nothing but joy, great joy, they all will 160 00:10:14,240 --> 00:10:17,320 work. And then #3 what is joy? 161 00:10:17,320 --> 00:10:20,240 Count it all joy. What is joy? 162 00:10:20,240 --> 00:10:22,240 Well, we could plant right there and spend the rest of the sermon 163 00:10:22,240 --> 00:10:24,960 on that topic. So for time's sake, I'll answer 164 00:10:24,960 --> 00:10:28,840 it this way. Joy, in this context, is the 165 00:10:28,840 --> 00:10:34,760 fruit of the Spirit. It is the kind of happiness that 166 00:10:34,760 --> 00:10:40,600 God's Spirit produces in US. Joy is a unique, specific 167 00:10:40,600 --> 00:10:44,040 happiness that God's Spirit produces in our hearts. 168 00:10:45,240 --> 00:10:47,240 And notice how James addresses his audience here. 169 00:10:47,240 --> 00:10:54,520 He says my brothers, not just brothers, my brothers 19 times 170 00:10:54,520 --> 00:10:58,040 in this short letter. Does James refer to them as 171 00:10:58,040 --> 00:11:04,840 brothers? Now what is the antecedent of 172 00:11:04,920 --> 00:11:10,480 it? Count it all joy. 173 00:11:10,480 --> 00:11:13,160 What is the antecedent of it? What is it referring to? 174 00:11:13,360 --> 00:11:22,960 Look at to be when you meet trials of various kinds when you 175 00:11:22,960 --> 00:11:25,960 meet trials of various kinds. I want to point out four pieces 176 00:11:25,960 --> 00:11:29,000 of this statement. Number one, notice James doesn't 177 00:11:29,000 --> 00:11:34,880 say if count it all join my brothers if you meet trials of 178 00:11:35,120 --> 00:11:41,080 notice he says when, when you meet trials, meaning trials are 179 00:11:41,400 --> 00:11:47,680 promised #2 that word meat is probably better translated fall 180 00:11:47,680 --> 00:11:49,120 into. That's how the net Bible 181 00:11:49,120 --> 00:11:52,040 translates it. The word literally means to fall 182 00:11:52,040 --> 00:11:56,520 in with or fall into. Think of it a trials like being 183 00:11:56,520 --> 00:11:58,320 a pitch where you're walking along a path. 184 00:11:58,480 --> 00:12:00,880 There's a pit that you don't realize it's covered by brush. 185 00:12:01,080 --> 00:12:03,760 All of a sudden you step into it and you fall into it. 186 00:12:04,120 --> 00:12:06,840 That's the idea. That's the word that James uses. 187 00:12:07,080 --> 00:12:14,640 Counted all joy when you meet, when you fall into trials #3 The 188 00:12:14,640 --> 00:12:19,200 Greek word for trial here is the same Greek word for temptation. 189 00:12:19,200 --> 00:12:20,840 It's the same Greek word for test. 190 00:12:21,040 --> 00:12:24,360 The Greek word for trial, test, and temptation are all the same 191 00:12:24,360 --> 00:12:28,520 word, pay rosmos. Context has to determine how we 192 00:12:28,520 --> 00:12:31,760 translate that term, whether pay rosmos is translated as a trial, 193 00:12:31,920 --> 00:12:36,000 as a test, or as a temptation. Now here's why this matters. 194 00:12:37,680 --> 00:12:45,880 All trials are a test, and they all present temptations, and all 195 00:12:45,880 --> 00:12:50,040 temptations are a test, and they often lead to trials. 196 00:12:52,640 --> 00:12:57,200 And #4 trials come in various forms. 197 00:12:57,560 --> 00:13:01,720 Notice when you meet trials of various kinds. 198 00:13:01,920 --> 00:13:03,680 Now we know this from experience, don't we? 199 00:13:04,920 --> 00:13:07,320 There are physical trials. There are mental trials. 200 00:13:07,320 --> 00:13:09,760 There are emotional trials. There's work trials. 201 00:13:09,880 --> 00:13:12,920 There's relationship trials. There's financial trials. 202 00:13:13,360 --> 00:13:15,320 There is persecution. There's discipline. 203 00:13:15,320 --> 00:13:17,520 There is waiting. There is opposition. 204 00:13:17,640 --> 00:13:22,920 There's spiritual warfare. God likes to change it up for a 205 00:13:22,920 --> 00:13:27,160 purpose. Now let's put these together. 206 00:13:27,160 --> 00:13:32,160 Let's put 2A and 2B together. Here's what James is saying. 207 00:13:32,560 --> 00:13:36,360 As we go along in the Christian life, as you just live your life 208 00:13:36,360 --> 00:13:42,440 as a Christian, it is certain that we will fall into a variety 209 00:13:42,440 --> 00:13:46,520 of trials. Nobody intrinsically likes 210 00:13:46,520 --> 00:13:50,280 trials. By definition, it's called a 211 00:13:50,280 --> 00:13:54,560 trial. If you liked it, you wouldn't 212 00:13:54,560 --> 00:14:00,160 call it a trial. Nobody intrinsically likes 213 00:14:00,160 --> 00:14:03,120 trials. We usually consider them to be 214 00:14:03,120 --> 00:14:10,640 unfortunate, undesired, unwelcome, unpleasant, maybe 215 00:14:10,640 --> 00:14:16,320 even unnecessary. But James is exhorting the 216 00:14:16,360 --> 00:14:23,720 Church to consider these trials as unbelievable joy. 217 00:14:27,880 --> 00:14:29,520 Now why in the world would we do that? 218 00:14:32,440 --> 00:14:36,840 Why in the world would I consider this trial that I am 219 00:14:36,840 --> 00:14:46,000 going through to be great joy? Look at verse 3A for you know 220 00:14:46,480 --> 00:14:54,240 that the testing of your faith. I like how James says for you 221 00:14:54,240 --> 00:14:57,520 know, which is probably better translated knowing because it's 222 00:14:57,520 --> 00:15:01,360 a participle in Greek. Knowing, knowing what? 223 00:15:01,360 --> 00:15:03,720 Knowing the testing of your faith. 224 00:15:04,280 --> 00:15:08,440 I want you to see that the testing of your faith is 225 00:15:08,440 --> 00:15:12,120 synonymous with trials. If you write in your Bible, you 226 00:15:12,120 --> 00:15:15,400 could even circle testing of your faith and draw an arrow to 227 00:15:15,400 --> 00:15:18,120 trials because they're being used synonymously. 228 00:15:18,440 --> 00:15:22,760 They're one in the same. James is saying that this trial 229 00:15:23,160 --> 00:15:27,200 is testing your faith. Now, that word for testing there 230 00:15:27,360 --> 00:15:30,600 is not the Greek word pay rosmos that we looked at earlier. 231 00:15:30,800 --> 00:15:35,280 It's dokim, dokimian. It's the process or means of 232 00:15:35,280 --> 00:15:37,280 determining the genuineness of something. 233 00:15:38,920 --> 00:15:42,240 In other words, if you want to know whether something is real 234 00:15:42,240 --> 00:15:47,120 or fake, what do you do? You run a test, right? 235 00:15:48,040 --> 00:15:51,080 If somebody hands you $100 bill or a piece of gold, there are 236 00:15:51,080 --> 00:15:54,080 tests that you can run to determine whether it is real or 237 00:15:54,080 --> 00:15:55,320 it's phony. It's a fake. 238 00:15:57,200 --> 00:16:02,200 And James is saying here that God uses trials for two 239 00:16:02,200 --> 00:16:05,800 purposes. God has two main purposes for 240 00:16:05,800 --> 00:16:08,320 trials. Number one, to test our faith, 241 00:16:09,480 --> 00:16:17,360 to show us if our faith is real or it's fake, whether it's a 242 00:16:17,360 --> 00:16:22,720 phony. And the second purpose, look at 243 00:16:22,720 --> 00:16:29,840 3B, the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 244 00:16:31,400 --> 00:16:33,920 James is saying that trials don't just try. 245 00:16:34,440 --> 00:16:39,440 They don't just tempt, they don't just test, they also 246 00:16:39,440 --> 00:16:42,640 produce. They produce. 247 00:16:43,120 --> 00:16:46,080 Produce what? They produce Steadfastness. 248 00:16:46,840 --> 00:16:48,840 Now what is that? What is steadfastness? 249 00:16:49,080 --> 00:16:50,720 This is one of my favorite Greek words. 250 00:16:50,920 --> 00:16:54,560 Hoopo Monet. One year we had a basketball 251 00:16:54,560 --> 00:16:56,200 team. I wanted to name it Hupo Monet, 252 00:16:56,240 --> 00:17:01,080 but it didn't pass. I love this word. 253 00:17:02,280 --> 00:17:03,760 Here's the definition of the Greek word. 254 00:17:03,760 --> 00:17:08,400 The capacity to hold out or bear up in the face of difficulty. 255 00:17:08,800 --> 00:17:14,720 Patience, endurance, fortitude, steadfastness, perseverance. 256 00:17:15,839 --> 00:17:18,400 Now I'm going to use this Greek word in the rest of the sermon, 257 00:17:18,599 --> 00:17:21,800 not to sound intellectual, but because the word Hoopa, Monet 258 00:17:21,800 --> 00:17:25,800 contains all of those ideas. All of those ideas are contained 259 00:17:25,800 --> 00:17:31,200 in that word. Look at verse 4A and let 260 00:17:31,360 --> 00:17:36,200 steadfastness have its full effect. 261 00:17:36,720 --> 00:17:38,240 James here gives his second command. 262 00:17:38,240 --> 00:17:39,920 This is the second command in the text. 263 00:17:40,640 --> 00:17:43,560 Let steadfastness have its full effect. 264 00:17:43,560 --> 00:17:46,600 Now what does that mean? Some translated as let it have 265 00:17:46,600 --> 00:17:50,880 its perfect results, let it have its perfect effect, let it have 266 00:17:50,880 --> 00:17:54,320 its perfect work, let it finish its work. 267 00:17:55,120 --> 00:17:56,840 What does that mean? Let me give a very basic 268 00:17:56,840 --> 00:18:01,200 analogy. You ever download something and 269 00:18:01,200 --> 00:18:04,360 you're waiting and you're waiting and you're waiting, and 270 00:18:04,920 --> 00:18:08,120 let's say that it's the other downloads. 50% done right and 271 00:18:08,120 --> 00:18:10,520 you get tired of waiting so you just cancel the download. 272 00:18:11,240 --> 00:18:14,800 Now if you cancel the download, do you get 50% of the download? 273 00:18:16,880 --> 00:18:22,160 You don't. You either get all of it or none 274 00:18:22,160 --> 00:18:27,640 of it. You have to let it finish to get 275 00:18:27,640 --> 00:18:31,400 the download. The same ideas here. 276 00:18:33,840 --> 00:18:37,440 What James is saying is that because trials are difficult, 277 00:18:38,160 --> 00:18:42,800 when you when God puts you into a trial, the temptation will be 278 00:18:43,920 --> 00:18:50,360 to end it prematurely. James is saying don't do that. 279 00:18:51,960 --> 00:18:55,920 Don't do that. Let God's download of 280 00:18:55,920 --> 00:19:00,560 steadfastness in your life be completed. 281 00:19:02,120 --> 00:19:09,880 Don't cut it short. Looking for 4B that you may be 282 00:19:09,880 --> 00:19:14,480 perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 283 00:19:15,320 --> 00:19:17,720 I want you to notice the subjunctive mood of this 284 00:19:17,720 --> 00:19:22,200 statement that you may be. That's a subjunctive mood that 285 00:19:22,200 --> 00:19:25,960 you may be verse 4B. It's subjunctive because it is 286 00:19:25,960 --> 00:19:30,600 contingent on verse 4A. In other words, the only way to 287 00:19:30,600 --> 00:19:36,440 be perfect and complete is if we let steadfastness have its full 288 00:19:36,440 --> 00:19:39,520 effect. James says that you may be 289 00:19:39,520 --> 00:19:41,240 perfect and complete. What does that mean? 290 00:19:41,240 --> 00:19:43,520 Perfect and complete? Let me first state I think these 291 00:19:43,520 --> 00:19:45,880 two terms are hand deities. I don't think they're two 292 00:19:45,880 --> 00:19:48,280 separate things. I think they're saying the same 293 00:19:48,280 --> 00:19:50,640 thing. They're stating the same thing. 294 00:19:50,640 --> 00:19:52,400 Perfect, complete are being used synonymously here. 295 00:19:52,880 --> 00:19:57,120 The Greek word for perfect is the same Greek word that Jesus 296 00:19:57,120 --> 00:19:59,800 uses when he says in the Sermon on the Mount. 297 00:19:59,800 --> 00:20:02,840 You therefore must be what Perfect. 298 00:20:03,360 --> 00:20:06,800 As your heavenly Father is perfect, remember what Jesus 299 00:20:06,800 --> 00:20:10,720 said to the rich young ruler. If you would be what perfect? 300 00:20:11,320 --> 00:20:13,600 Go and sell all that you have and give to the poor. 301 00:20:14,240 --> 00:20:17,320 Same exact term. It doesn't mean sinless. 302 00:20:19,000 --> 00:20:20,320 Let's be clear on that. Perfect here. 303 00:20:20,320 --> 00:20:23,080 It does not mean sinless. It doesn't mean without flaws. 304 00:20:24,400 --> 00:20:30,040 But it does mean mature, complete, finished. 305 00:20:32,040 --> 00:20:33,720 Let me give another analogy to illustrate this. 306 00:20:34,040 --> 00:20:38,720 Suppose you were building a sculpture out of marble or 307 00:20:38,720 --> 00:20:41,120 something. You work on it for three years, 308 00:20:42,160 --> 00:20:47,720 slowly, just chiseling it away. When you finish, you pull the 309 00:20:47,720 --> 00:20:51,280 cover back. Your friend looks at it and says 310 00:20:52,240 --> 00:20:56,800 it's perfect. It doesn't mean it's flawless. 311 00:20:57,920 --> 00:20:59,320 It could always be better, right? 312 00:21:01,680 --> 00:21:06,960 What it means is this. It's finished, it's complete, 313 00:21:08,320 --> 00:21:14,960 the work is done, and as James writes, it lacks nothing. 314 00:21:17,760 --> 00:21:25,880 When God finishes sculpting us into the image of Christ, not 315 00:21:25,880 --> 00:21:31,360 only will we be finished and complete, we will lack nothing. 316 00:21:34,640 --> 00:21:37,720 We'll stop there with the exposition application. 317 00:21:38,720 --> 00:21:44,400 I have 10 points of application, and I know that's a lot, but it 318 00:21:44,400 --> 00:21:55,760 was going to be 15. Whittle it down #1 even Jesus's 319 00:21:55,760 --> 00:21:59,000 brothers did not initially believe in Him. 320 00:22:00,720 --> 00:22:04,800 Even Jesus's brothers did not initially believe in him. 321 00:22:06,760 --> 00:22:10,360 CS Lewis was a Christian writer and apologist and arguably one 322 00:22:10,360 --> 00:22:12,680 of the greatest, if not the greatest writer of the 20th 323 00:22:12,680 --> 00:22:15,240 century. But did you know that he was 324 00:22:15,240 --> 00:22:21,080 originally an atheist? Lee Strobel, who wrote The Case 325 00:22:21,080 --> 00:22:26,600 for Christ, was an atheist, and he actually set out to disprove 326 00:22:26,600 --> 00:22:29,120 Christianity. And in his effort to disprove 327 00:22:29,120 --> 00:22:35,400 it, he became converted. And Augustine, held by many to 328 00:22:35,400 --> 00:22:37,760 be the greatest Christian theologian in the history of the 329 00:22:37,760 --> 00:22:42,840 church, was originally a secularist and a skeptic. 330 00:22:45,000 --> 00:22:48,720 And this morning we are reminded that James, the apostle James, 331 00:22:48,960 --> 00:22:53,960 who is the brother of Jesus, did not initially believe in his 332 00:22:53,960 --> 00:22:59,640 brother John 75 for not even his brothers believed in him. 333 00:23:01,560 --> 00:23:05,680 And yet here is James writing this letter. 334 00:23:05,960 --> 00:23:10,640 Why? Because his brother changed his 335 00:23:10,880 --> 00:23:16,520 life. Let this be an encouragement to 336 00:23:16,520 --> 00:23:21,880 all of us that if God can bring water from a rock, then Jesus 337 00:23:21,880 --> 00:23:24,520 can bring salvation from a heart of stone. 338 00:23:27,440 --> 00:23:33,480 James is living proof that no one is beyond the grasp of our 339 00:23:33,480 --> 00:23:38,440 Lord. Not your mom, not your dad, not 340 00:23:38,440 --> 00:23:42,040 your grandma, not your grandpa, not your brother, not your 341 00:23:42,040 --> 00:23:44,800 sister, not your daughter, not your son. 342 00:23:45,800 --> 00:23:58,520 No one is beyond the grasp of our Lord #2 On your name badge, 343 00:23:59,600 --> 00:24:05,760 what is the title say? Everybody has a name badge, a 344 00:24:05,760 --> 00:24:10,480 life name badge. What does your title say? 345 00:24:12,800 --> 00:24:15,120 When I used to work at UPS, before I was at this church, 346 00:24:15,120 --> 00:24:17,680 when I was at seminary, my position had a title. 347 00:24:18,480 --> 00:24:24,840 It was PTPCS, part time package center supervisor. 348 00:24:26,600 --> 00:24:29,760 You know what that title taught me That titles me nothing. 349 00:24:33,440 --> 00:24:36,960 There are a lot of titles in this world, lot of titles in the 350 00:24:36,960 --> 00:24:45,120 workplace. CEOCOOCFOCTOCM President, VP, 351 00:24:45,280 --> 00:24:52,560 director, GMOMPMSM, supervisor, operator, technician, and on and 352 00:24:52,560 --> 00:24:59,240 on and on. What title is written on James's 353 00:24:59,240 --> 00:25:03,040 name badge? Here's how it reads. 354 00:25:03,440 --> 00:25:10,480 James Doulos. James. 355 00:25:10,760 --> 00:25:14,440 Servant. James, Slave. 356 00:25:17,920 --> 00:25:20,040 Notice how James doesn't describe himself. 357 00:25:21,440 --> 00:25:25,240 He does not say James, the brother of the Lord Jesus 358 00:25:25,240 --> 00:25:30,800 Christ. He does not say James, a leader 359 00:25:30,800 --> 00:25:36,680 in the Jerusalem church. He does not say James, an 360 00:25:36,680 --> 00:25:39,200 eyewitness to the resurrected Christ. 361 00:25:41,160 --> 00:25:48,000 Those are all true, but James prefers to think of himself as a 362 00:25:48,000 --> 00:25:53,920 servant. You see, those who have had 363 00:25:53,920 --> 00:26:03,240 their feet washed by Christ, including you and me, feel most 364 00:26:03,240 --> 00:26:17,120 comfortable washing the feet of the Saints. #3 God uproots us 365 00:26:17,120 --> 00:26:21,720 from comfort before our roots grow too comfortable. 366 00:26:23,280 --> 00:26:27,720 God uproots us from comfort before our roots grow too 367 00:26:27,720 --> 00:26:30,760 comfortable. You ever had that, that 368 00:26:30,760 --> 00:26:34,960 experience where you just get comfortable and then somebody 369 00:26:34,960 --> 00:26:40,360 asks you to do something? Maybe you get a shower, climb 370 00:26:40,360 --> 00:26:46,080 into bed, you get under the covers and then your spouse says 371 00:26:46,200 --> 00:26:48,680 can you take the trash out before you go to bed. 372 00:26:52,600 --> 00:27:01,480 I just got comfortable. God does that all the time. 373 00:27:05,000 --> 00:27:09,920 The church was growing 3000 were saved on one day. 374 00:27:10,680 --> 00:27:13,520 The number quickly blossomed to 5000. 375 00:27:14,760 --> 00:27:17,840 And the temptation for the early church is the same temptation 376 00:27:17,840 --> 00:27:21,120 for every church, including this church, and for every Christian. 377 00:27:21,200 --> 00:27:24,240 And it is this. It is a temptation to grow 378 00:27:24,240 --> 00:27:29,160 comfortable. You see, God loves to uproot us 379 00:27:29,160 --> 00:27:33,360 from our comfort before our roots grow too comfortable. 380 00:27:35,160 --> 00:27:39,760 James is writing to the 12 tribes in the Dispersion. 381 00:27:40,960 --> 00:27:44,240 Part of the reason they are dispersed is because of 382 00:27:44,240 --> 00:27:49,720 persecution. God would not allow the church 383 00:27:49,840 --> 00:27:51,920 to grow comfortable. Why? 384 00:27:52,040 --> 00:27:55,040 Because comfort breeds complacency. 385 00:27:58,840 --> 00:28:01,000 You see, we plant our roots down in the soil. 386 00:28:01,320 --> 00:28:03,680 We might even plant them deep down in the soil. 387 00:28:03,680 --> 00:28:06,000 Why? Because it's safe there, it's 388 00:28:06,000 --> 00:28:11,080 warm, It's predictable. And the gardener comes and 389 00:28:11,080 --> 00:28:17,760 uproots us and transplants us to new soil where it's not quite so 390 00:28:17,760 --> 00:28:23,680 safe, it's not quite so warm, it's not quite so predictable. 391 00:28:26,360 --> 00:28:29,560 Why does he do that? Why does the gardener do that? 392 00:28:29,760 --> 00:28:33,320 Because the gardener looks at this plant and he sees that 393 00:28:33,320 --> 00:28:41,160 fruit is lacking and he knows the exact soil that is needed to 394 00:28:41,160 --> 00:28:44,600 produce the fruit that he is looking for. 395 00:28:47,800 --> 00:29:01,130 And so he uproots us and put some new soil #4 Trials are 396 00:29:01,130 --> 00:29:05,130 promised. Unexpected and come in the 397 00:29:05,130 --> 00:29:10,840 variety pack. Trials are promised unexpected 398 00:29:11,600 --> 00:29:13,280 and they come in the variety pack. 399 00:29:15,440 --> 00:29:18,800 That short phrase when you meet trials of various kinds tells us 400 00:29:18,800 --> 00:29:21,040 3 aspects of trials and that short little phrase there are 401 00:29:21,040 --> 00:29:22,360 three aspects of trials that are given here. 402 00:29:22,560 --> 00:29:28,520 Number one, trials are promised. James says when, not if, when 403 00:29:28,520 --> 00:29:30,200 you meet trials. We know this to be true from 404 00:29:30,200 --> 00:29:33,160 other scriptures. Even Jesus said in the world you 405 00:29:33,160 --> 00:29:36,760 will have tribulation. Paul says through many 406 00:29:36,760 --> 00:29:40,840 tribulations we must enter the Kingdom of God for yourselves. 407 00:29:40,840 --> 00:29:42,920 Know that we are destined for afflictions. 408 00:29:43,400 --> 00:29:47,200 All who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be 409 00:29:47,280 --> 00:29:51,760 persecuted over and over again. The New Testament affirms to us 410 00:29:51,840 --> 00:29:59,880 that trials are promised #2 trials are unexpected, which is 411 00:30:00,400 --> 00:30:02,640 seems kind of a contradiction. If they're promised, why are 412 00:30:02,640 --> 00:30:07,240 they unexpected? James writes, When you fall into 413 00:30:07,240 --> 00:30:10,560 trials, it's like falling into a pit, right? 414 00:30:11,320 --> 00:30:13,280 Every time, I mean, every time you fall into a pit, it was 415 00:30:13,280 --> 00:30:15,760 unexpected, right? If you're walking along, 416 00:30:17,560 --> 00:30:20,200 nobody's like, well, I expected to do that. 417 00:30:20,360 --> 00:30:24,600 You know? Trials often feel that way, 418 00:30:24,600 --> 00:30:26,520 don't it? Doesn't it? 419 00:30:29,840 --> 00:30:33,200 You didn't see it coming, Peter writes. 420 00:30:33,200 --> 00:30:36,240 Do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to 421 00:30:36,240 --> 00:30:39,800 test you as though something strange were happening to you. 422 00:30:40,000 --> 00:30:45,400 Why does Peter write that? Because our bent is to be 423 00:30:45,400 --> 00:30:50,840 surprised. Our bent is to think that 424 00:30:50,840 --> 00:30:56,520 something strange is happening. You know how we know this to be 425 00:30:56,520 --> 00:30:59,000 true? When a trial happens, do we not 426 00:30:59,360 --> 00:31:04,440 all ask the exact same question? Why? 427 00:31:07,480 --> 00:31:21,770 Why is this happening? Trials are promised, trials are 428 00:31:21,770 --> 00:31:25,930 unexpected, and three trials come in the variety pack. 429 00:31:28,730 --> 00:31:31,250 I was watching a video of Arnold Schwarzenegger talk about 430 00:31:31,250 --> 00:31:33,330 lifting weights, which is quite humorous. 431 00:31:35,880 --> 00:31:39,080 He was saying this, that if you do the exact same workout 432 00:31:39,080 --> 00:31:42,240 everyday, your muscles will grow accustomed to it. 433 00:31:43,040 --> 00:31:45,800 They will learn how to handle the stress that's put on them. 434 00:31:47,080 --> 00:31:51,280 And so he was exhorting people to do what he calls to shock the 435 00:31:51,280 --> 00:31:54,760 muscle. In other words, throw something 436 00:31:54,760 --> 00:32:01,000 at it that it doesn't expect because that's how it will grow. 437 00:32:04,800 --> 00:32:10,440 God does the same thing with us. You see, God doesn't just give 438 00:32:10,440 --> 00:32:14,200 us physical trials, He also gives us emotional ones. 439 00:32:16,640 --> 00:32:19,840 God doesn't just give U.S. financial trials, He also gives 440 00:32:19,840 --> 00:32:24,840 us relational ones. God mixes it up. 441 00:32:25,800 --> 00:32:30,080 Why? He knows what trial to give to 442 00:32:30,080 --> 00:32:32,920 achieve the outcome that He desires. 443 00:32:38,760 --> 00:32:44,720 Five, God gives us the ability to not only be joyful, but to be 444 00:32:44,720 --> 00:32:50,200 joyful in the midst. God gives us the ability to not 445 00:32:50,200 --> 00:32:54,160 only be joyful, but to be joyful right in the midst of trials. 446 00:32:55,240 --> 00:32:57,800 There's nothing Christian about being a joyful person. 447 00:32:59,640 --> 00:33:02,720 Nothing. There are plenty of lost people 448 00:33:02,720 --> 00:33:08,640 out there who are happy. If the goal in life is to be 449 00:33:08,640 --> 00:33:13,000 happy, you don't need Christianity for that. 450 00:33:13,880 --> 00:33:18,520 You don't. But God doesn't just give us the 451 00:33:18,520 --> 00:33:22,280 ability to be joyful, He also gives us the ability to be 452 00:33:22,280 --> 00:33:28,720 joyful right in the midst of trials, James writes. 453 00:33:28,720 --> 00:33:34,920 Count it all joy when you fall into trials. 454 00:33:36,240 --> 00:33:38,800 Now, the fact that this is a command and it is a command 455 00:33:39,000 --> 00:33:43,520 means that it's possible. God always empowers what He 456 00:33:43,520 --> 00:33:45,600 commands. If He commands it, it's 457 00:33:45,600 --> 00:33:51,320 possible. Which means there is no trial in 458 00:33:51,320 --> 00:33:56,960 your life, brother and sister, none where God is not willing to 459 00:33:56,960 --> 00:34:00,280 give you the grace to count it as joy. 460 00:34:03,280 --> 00:34:08,239 There are no exceptions to this. Job's experience is not an 461 00:34:08,239 --> 00:34:12,360 exception. Paul's experience is not an 462 00:34:12,360 --> 00:34:15,120 exception. Neither is Jeremiah's or 463 00:34:15,120 --> 00:34:18,600 Joseph's or David's. None of them are an exception. 464 00:34:23,239 --> 00:34:26,840 Hear me when I say this. God doesn't just make us happy. 465 00:34:28,840 --> 00:34:30,960 Salt and straw can make you happy. 466 00:34:34,440 --> 00:34:38,480 Investing in NVIDIA five years ago can make you happy. 467 00:34:45,500 --> 00:34:50,780 God makes us happy. When the fig tree should not 468 00:34:50,780 --> 00:34:56,060 blossom nor fruit beyond the vines, the produce of the olive 469 00:34:56,060 --> 00:35:00,620 fail and the fields yield no food and the flock be cut off 470 00:35:00,620 --> 00:35:05,140 from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls. 471 00:35:07,620 --> 00:35:13,240 Even the then God makes us happy. 472 00:35:19,260 --> 00:35:29,100 He gives the grace to count it as joy. 6 Trials are God's way 473 00:35:29,540 --> 00:35:33,220 of keeping Matthew 722 from happening to us. 474 00:35:34,980 --> 00:35:39,140 Trials are God's way of keeping Matthew 722 from happening to 475 00:35:39,180 --> 00:35:42,080 us. You ever been fearful that a 476 00:35:42,080 --> 00:35:45,000 product or service you were buying was either faulty or 477 00:35:45,000 --> 00:35:47,360 fake? Right? 478 00:35:48,680 --> 00:35:51,720 Every time I get my car fixed, even if it's just tires, like if 479 00:35:51,720 --> 00:35:54,400 I if I go and just get new tires or get them rotated or 480 00:35:54,400 --> 00:35:57,520 something, I always think, man, I hope they do this correctly. 481 00:35:58,920 --> 00:36:01,520 Because if I go on the the Interstate going 60 miles an 482 00:36:01,520 --> 00:36:04,840 hour and they didn't put this on correctly, my family might die. 483 00:36:08,960 --> 00:36:12,160 Or you ever buy a product and you think, what if it's a fake? 484 00:36:12,920 --> 00:36:14,440 Especially if you bought like an expensive one. 485 00:36:15,440 --> 00:36:18,560 Like imagine you bought a Louis Vuitton bag and when you got it, 486 00:36:18,560 --> 00:36:27,720 it said Louis Button. My disciple used to say that 487 00:36:27,720 --> 00:36:30,760 Matthew 722 was the scariest verse in the Bible. 488 00:36:32,240 --> 00:36:34,240 On that day. Many will say to me, Lord, Lord, 489 00:36:34,240 --> 00:36:36,960 did we not prophecy in your name and cast out demons in your name 490 00:36:36,960 --> 00:36:38,880 and do many mighty works in your name? 491 00:36:39,160 --> 00:36:45,640 And then I will declare to you, I never knew you. 492 00:36:49,880 --> 00:36:55,240 How do we know that on the day of Judgment, we won't find out 493 00:36:55,240 --> 00:36:59,600 that we were a fake, We were a phony. 494 00:37:02,200 --> 00:37:11,920 Trials, trials. James says that trials test our 495 00:37:12,080 --> 00:37:15,960 faith. They reveal cracks. 496 00:37:18,240 --> 00:37:22,560 They reveal cracks that can be dealt with in this life. 497 00:37:25,960 --> 00:37:29,120 Brother, sister, before you begin to resent the trials in 498 00:37:29,120 --> 00:37:34,200 your life, before you begin to grow bitter at the trials in 499 00:37:34,200 --> 00:37:39,960 your life, remember this. They are keeping you from 500 00:37:39,960 --> 00:37:50,480 Matthew 722. 7 Joy is not found in the trial itself. 501 00:37:51,240 --> 00:37:54,520 It's found in what the trial produces. 502 00:37:55,760 --> 00:37:59,240 Joy is not found in the trial itself. 503 00:37:59,640 --> 00:38:02,720 It's found and what the trial produces. 504 00:38:03,000 --> 00:38:06,160 Now I put this point here because sometimes I think we get 505 00:38:06,160 --> 00:38:09,760 confused as to what exactly James is telling us to do here. 506 00:38:10,120 --> 00:38:15,200 When James says count it all joy, he's not commanding us to 507 00:38:15,200 --> 00:38:23,320 find joy in the trial itself. In meaning the source of it, he 508 00:38:23,320 --> 00:38:29,040 means through it, not source, we find joy and what the trial 509 00:38:29,160 --> 00:38:31,840 produces. Now, let me give an obvious 510 00:38:31,840 --> 00:38:35,440 example to make this point. Suppose while a woman was in 511 00:38:35,440 --> 00:38:40,360 hard labor, right in the middle of like excruciating hard long 512 00:38:40,360 --> 00:38:46,160 labor, she's in excruciating pain and her husband comes to 513 00:38:46,160 --> 00:38:50,640 her bedside and he says to her, count it all, Joy. 514 00:38:55,800 --> 00:38:58,520 The nurse probably needs to put duct tape on his mouth. 515 00:39:01,800 --> 00:39:10,080 The joy is not found in the labor itself, but in what the 516 00:39:10,080 --> 00:39:18,000 labor produces. This is so important that we get 517 00:39:18,000 --> 00:39:20,600 this because through the years I've had people to ask me this 518 00:39:20,600 --> 00:39:24,800 and they're like, you're telling me to find joy like this is so 519 00:39:24,800 --> 00:39:28,080 painful. This this is so hurtful. 520 00:39:28,320 --> 00:39:31,400 This is so difficult. And and what you're telling me 521 00:39:31,400 --> 00:39:34,960 to count this as joy, It seems like it's logically impossible. 522 00:39:35,880 --> 00:39:40,200 And if I were telling you or God were telling you to find the joy 523 00:39:40,200 --> 00:39:43,840 in that trial, yes, that's logically impossible. 524 00:39:44,040 --> 00:39:48,040 It's like telling a person who was in pain, fine, pain 525 00:39:48,040 --> 00:39:52,440 pleasurable. You can't. 526 00:39:52,480 --> 00:39:57,360 By definition, it's pain You can't find pain pleasurable. 527 00:39:59,000 --> 00:40:05,360 God is not commanding us to find joy in the trial itself. 528 00:40:05,600 --> 00:40:11,720 He's commanding us to find joy in what the trial produces. 529 00:40:14,800 --> 00:40:18,720 So what does it produce? Hoopa. 530 00:40:18,720 --> 00:40:29,880 Monet. #8 Final salvation requires Hoopa Monet, and Hoopa 531 00:40:29,880 --> 00:40:32,840 Monet only comes from one source. 532 00:40:34,320 --> 00:40:40,880 Final salvation requires Hoopa Monet and Hoopa Monet only comes 533 00:40:40,880 --> 00:40:45,680 from one source. You know, maybe we think I read 534 00:40:45,680 --> 00:40:47,040 this text and you think I get it. 535 00:40:47,040 --> 00:40:49,880 I get it, brother. Trials produce Hoopa Monet, all 536 00:40:49,920 --> 00:40:51,120 right. Good. 537 00:40:51,600 --> 00:40:55,280 Why should I find joy in that? What's so great about Hoopa 538 00:40:55,280 --> 00:41:01,760 Monet, Matt? This Nobody is finally saved 539 00:41:02,040 --> 00:41:09,400 without it. The only seed that made it in 540 00:41:09,400 --> 00:41:13,120 the parable of the sower is the one that bore fruit. 541 00:41:13,120 --> 00:41:18,880 With what? Hoopa Monet, that word patience. 542 00:41:18,880 --> 00:41:21,960 There that word perseverance, there is hoop O Monet. 543 00:41:24,240 --> 00:41:28,840 Jesus said to you, the disciples, By your hoop O Monet 544 00:41:29,400 --> 00:41:36,720 you will gain your lives. You see justification. 545 00:41:37,600 --> 00:41:44,400 Justification requires faith and faith alone, but final salvation 546 00:41:44,840 --> 00:41:51,880 requires Hoop O Monet and Hoopa. Monet only comes from one 547 00:41:51,880 --> 00:41:58,200 source. If I am driving a gasoline 548 00:41:58,200 --> 00:42:05,320 powered car across the country, I must stop at a gas station to 549 00:42:05,320 --> 00:42:10,840 fill up my vehicle. I cannot stop at a water filling 550 00:42:10,840 --> 00:42:15,040 station and put water into it and think this will work. 551 00:42:16,880 --> 00:42:22,520 I cannot stop at fast food and put a bunch of Big Macs in it 552 00:42:23,240 --> 00:42:29,640 and think this will work. I can't even stop at a gas 553 00:42:29,640 --> 00:42:34,280 station and put diesel in it and think this will work. 554 00:42:36,920 --> 00:42:45,360 I must put gasoline in it. It's the only thing that will 555 00:42:45,360 --> 00:42:52,520 keep this car running. Brothers and sisters, we need 556 00:42:52,680 --> 00:42:55,680 Hoopa Monet to make it to the finish line. 557 00:42:57,440 --> 00:43:04,520 And the only station that serves Hoopa Monet is the trial 558 00:43:04,520 --> 00:43:08,560 station. That's it. 559 00:43:10,840 --> 00:43:14,120 Paul confirms this. What produces endurance? 560 00:43:14,760 --> 00:43:17,200 Same word. What produces hoopoe in a 561 00:43:17,360 --> 00:43:32,510 Anybody suffering. Suffering produces endurance. 9 562 00:43:34,550 --> 00:43:37,630 Have a holy discontent with your steadfastness. 563 00:43:39,150 --> 00:43:43,640 Have a holy discontent with your steadfastness, James writes. 564 00:43:43,640 --> 00:43:46,600 Let's steadfastness have its full effect. 565 00:43:47,240 --> 00:43:49,080 This is the second command in our passage today. 566 00:43:49,560 --> 00:43:51,000 Now why does he give this command? 567 00:43:51,400 --> 00:43:54,480 As I mentioned earlier, because the temptation is to be content 568 00:43:55,080 --> 00:43:58,040 with the amount of steadfastness that we have achieved. 569 00:43:58,440 --> 00:44:03,600 Isn't that the the temptation to be content with how much 570 00:44:03,600 --> 00:44:08,160 steadfastness I have in my life? Suppose someone went to the 571 00:44:08,160 --> 00:44:11,960 doctor and the doctor said to them you are at an immediate 572 00:44:11,960 --> 00:44:14,560 risk of having a heart attack and dying. 573 00:44:15,520 --> 00:44:18,040 Like you could die at any point. You're at immediate risk of 574 00:44:18,040 --> 00:44:21,720 having a heart attack and dying. Suppose this person heard this, 575 00:44:21,880 --> 00:44:24,880 they took it to heart and they so much so they actually did 576 00:44:24,880 --> 00:44:30,200 something about it and after one year they lost £100. 577 00:44:31,560 --> 00:44:32,600 That would be great, wouldn't it? 578 00:44:33,800 --> 00:44:38,080 That would be great, £100 in a year, That would be amazing. 579 00:44:38,440 --> 00:44:42,120 They should be very, very pleased with their progress. 580 00:44:44,720 --> 00:44:48,680 But suppose their starting weight was £600. 581 00:44:52,720 --> 00:44:55,480 Should they be content with losing 100 lbs? 582 00:44:59,440 --> 00:45:03,320 No, no. Why? 583 00:45:03,600 --> 00:45:06,160 Because they have a lot more to go. 584 00:45:10,320 --> 00:45:12,080 You see, the same can happen in the Christian walk. 585 00:45:14,600 --> 00:45:18,160 God, I've gone through a lot of trials and and you've really 586 00:45:18,160 --> 00:45:20,960 persevered me through them. Praise God. 587 00:45:22,400 --> 00:45:24,520 And to be honest, I think I'm good. 588 00:45:24,520 --> 00:45:29,320 I've grown a lot. I'm persevering. 589 00:45:29,320 --> 00:45:34,240 Well, brothers and sisters, there's still a long way to go. 590 00:45:37,120 --> 00:45:44,000 Don't cut the download short. Don't settle for a 50% download. 591 00:45:46,000 --> 00:45:50,400 Let steadfastness have its full effect in your life. 592 00:45:52,640 --> 00:45:57,320 Let it fully download. Let the Lord teach you 593 00:45:57,560 --> 00:45:59,520 everything that He wants to teach you. 594 00:46:03,680 --> 00:46:12,360 Have a holy discontent with your steadfastness. 10 Last point. 595 00:46:13,280 --> 00:46:18,440 God will make sure that on the day of judgment His children 596 00:46:18,440 --> 00:46:23,320 lack nothing. God will make sure that on the 597 00:46:23,320 --> 00:46:27,040 day of judgment His children lack nothing. 598 00:46:29,520 --> 00:46:31,880 Remember when the rich young ruler came to Jesus and said to 599 00:46:31,880 --> 00:46:33,840 him, What must I do to inherit eternal life? 600 00:46:34,880 --> 00:46:39,320 Jesus said keep the commandments and the ruler said I've done 601 00:46:39,320 --> 00:46:43,160 that. Did you notice that rather than 602 00:46:43,160 --> 00:46:46,280 affirm his obedience, you think that Jesus would affirm his 603 00:46:46,280 --> 00:46:48,560 obedience? Good job well done, good and 604 00:46:48,560 --> 00:46:50,440 faithful servant for keeping the commandments. 605 00:46:50,800 --> 00:46:53,920 Rather than affirm his obedience, Do you remember what 606 00:46:53,920 --> 00:47:03,800 Jesus said to him? One thing you still lack Go sell 607 00:47:03,840 --> 00:47:07,080 everything you have and give to the poor. 608 00:47:09,720 --> 00:47:14,440 You see, selling everything was a trial that he was not willing 609 00:47:14,440 --> 00:47:19,600 to undergo. It was a trial that he could not 610 00:47:19,600 --> 00:47:26,360 count as joy. James tells us that on the day 611 00:47:26,360 --> 00:47:32,480 of judgment, God will make sure that His children will be 612 00:47:32,480 --> 00:47:37,560 perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 613 00:47:40,800 --> 00:47:51,160 You see, trials are God's chisel and He will keep chiseling until 614 00:47:51,160 --> 00:47:59,160 we look like Christ, and then he'll say you're finished. 615 00:48:01,040 --> 00:48:02,720 Enter into the joy of your Master. 616 00:48:05,760 --> 00:48:06,120 Let's pray.