1 00:00:01,440 --> 00:00:05,400 Please turn in your Bibles with me to the Book of James chapter 2 00:00:05,800 --> 00:00:12,040 5. Now I'm a little off this 3 00:00:12,040 --> 00:00:21,760 morning because I'm used to. I'm used to Carrie or Karen or 4 00:00:21,760 --> 00:00:26,760 Diane or somebody being able to come up here and do this, be 5 00:00:26,920 --> 00:00:30,200 while I'm sitting there praying and asking the Lord to please 6 00:00:30,200 --> 00:00:34,560 help me to do this. But I didn't get that this 7 00:00:34,560 --> 00:00:37,240 morning. So they're just throwing me 8 00:00:37,240 --> 00:00:38,560 right into the water this morning. 9 00:00:41,960 --> 00:00:44,080 Well, I do want to welcome everybody. 10 00:00:44,080 --> 00:00:47,360 And again, use the carrier or whoever does the announcements 11 00:00:47,360 --> 00:00:50,080 does this, but I do want to welcome everybody. 12 00:00:50,080 --> 00:00:54,120 Thank you so much for coming. New faces, love to see new 13 00:00:54,120 --> 00:00:56,720 faces, and I got a chance to see something this morning on the 14 00:00:56,720 --> 00:00:58,840 way in. Thank you so much for choosing 15 00:00:58,840 --> 00:01:01,480 the warship with us this morning here at Calvary Chapel 16 00:01:01,840 --> 00:01:04,879 Westmoreland. And of course, we always have 17 00:01:04,879 --> 00:01:07,040 some old friends who come as well. 18 00:01:07,040 --> 00:01:11,320 And we always thank God when you guys come back to see us here at 19 00:01:11,320 --> 00:01:14,960 Calvary Chapel. If you're listening on Facebook 20 00:01:14,960 --> 00:01:19,080 or YouTube or whatever platform that you chose to listen to us 21 00:01:19,080 --> 00:01:21,280 this morning, we want to welcome you as well. 22 00:01:21,800 --> 00:01:24,320 And of course, all of those who are listening behind prison 23 00:01:24,320 --> 00:01:28,640 walls who have chosen to tune into us this morning, we want to 24 00:01:28,640 --> 00:01:31,880 thank you as well. We're just praying that the Lord 25 00:01:31,880 --> 00:01:34,840 will move as He sees fit this morning. 26 00:01:36,000 --> 00:01:42,080 I do want to say that there's a lot. 27 00:01:42,080 --> 00:01:45,520 Of. Sickness right now going around 28 00:01:45,520 --> 00:01:48,920 a lot of people with flus and different bugs and, and even 29 00:01:48,920 --> 00:01:53,200 more serious conditions. This really has been a season 30 00:01:53,200 --> 00:01:57,960 of, of, of, of illness and medical challenges here at 31 00:01:57,960 --> 00:02:03,040 Calvary Chapel. And I just want to remind you to 32 00:02:03,040 --> 00:02:07,160 please continue to pray for each other during this time. 33 00:02:07,160 --> 00:02:13,000 We really need to pray with and for one another. 34 00:02:13,680 --> 00:02:15,480 Bible tells that we're going to be getting into that a little 35 00:02:15,480 --> 00:02:19,320 bit in James, this section of James, but the Bible tells us to 36 00:02:19,640 --> 00:02:22,720 to do that. But there's a need for us to 37 00:02:22,720 --> 00:02:26,000 pray for one another and to keep each other encouraged, 38 00:02:26,000 --> 00:02:29,440 particularly as we go into this new year to keep each other 39 00:02:29,440 --> 00:02:32,840 encouraged to continue to hold on to the plow. 40 00:02:32,840 --> 00:02:35,920 You know, don't, don't turn to the right or to the left as my 41 00:02:35,920 --> 00:02:39,120 brother prayed this morning. But let us continue to keep our 42 00:02:39,120 --> 00:02:44,720 eyes on Jesus Christ, the author and the finisher of our faith. 43 00:02:45,720 --> 00:02:50,280 So let's do that. So what I'm going to do, I'm 44 00:02:50,280 --> 00:02:53,280 going to go ahead and read what we're going to cover this 45 00:02:53,280 --> 00:02:57,040 morning, and then I'm going to go back, We're going to pray and 46 00:02:57,040 --> 00:03:04,480 then go back and make comment. OK, so we're in James Chapter 7. 47 00:03:04,480 --> 00:03:12,040 I'm sorry, chapter 5, verse 7. And also before I even start to 48 00:03:12,040 --> 00:03:14,840 read, I do want to mention that Pastor Clark, you might notice 49 00:03:14,840 --> 00:03:17,000 that Pastor Clark is not here this morning. 50 00:03:17,000 --> 00:03:21,080 He's not feeling well. And he and Cindy are both not 51 00:03:21,080 --> 00:03:23,920 feeling well with Cindy's in the hospital and we're we're praying 52 00:03:23,920 --> 00:03:27,440 for her. But Pastor Clark is, is, is 53 00:03:27,440 --> 00:03:29,040 under the weather a little bit this morning. 54 00:03:29,040 --> 00:03:32,040 So please keep him in our prayers as well. 55 00:03:32,040 --> 00:03:33,600 I want to remember to, to do that. 56 00:03:35,040 --> 00:03:37,640 Verse 7. Therefore be patient, brethren, 57 00:03:38,120 --> 00:03:41,880 until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the 58 00:03:41,880 --> 00:03:45,920 precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until 59 00:03:45,920 --> 00:03:48,640 it receives the early in the latter rain. 60 00:03:49,320 --> 00:03:52,120 You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the 61 00:03:52,120 --> 00:03:56,720 coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble against one 62 00:03:56,720 --> 00:03:59,640 another, brethren, lest you be condemned. 63 00:03:59,920 --> 00:04:02,440 Behold, the judge is standing at the door. 64 00:04:02,960 --> 00:04:06,320 My brethren, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the 65 00:04:06,320 --> 00:04:09,800 Lord, as an example of suffering impatience. 66 00:04:10,200 --> 00:04:13,160 Indeed, we count them blessed who endure. 67 00:04:14,240 --> 00:04:18,120 You have heard of the perseverance of Job, and seen 68 00:04:18,120 --> 00:04:21,800 the end intended by the Lord, that the Lord is very 69 00:04:21,800 --> 00:04:26,600 compassionate and merciful. But above all, my brethren, do 70 00:04:26,600 --> 00:04:32,400 not swear either by heaven or by earth, or with any other oath. 71 00:04:32,640 --> 00:04:38,320 But let your yes be yes and your no no, lest you fall into 72 00:04:38,320 --> 00:04:41,920 judgement. Is anyone among you suffering? 73 00:04:42,160 --> 00:04:44,960 Let them pray. Is anyone cheerful? 74 00:04:45,160 --> 00:04:49,440 Let them sing psalms. Is anyone among you sick? 75 00:04:49,440 --> 00:04:51,840 Let them call for the. Elders of the church. 76 00:04:52,080 --> 00:04:56,320 And let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the 77 00:04:56,320 --> 00:05:00,520 name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will 78 00:05:00,640 --> 00:05:04,960 save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has 79 00:05:04,960 --> 00:05:07,640 committed sins, he will be forgiven. 80 00:05:08,040 --> 00:05:12,440 Confess your trespasses to one another and pray for one another 81 00:05:12,440 --> 00:05:14,880 that. You may be healed. 82 00:05:15,840 --> 00:05:21,120 The effective fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. 83 00:05:21,640 --> 00:05:25,080 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed 84 00:05:25,080 --> 00:05:28,560 earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the 85 00:05:28,560 --> 00:05:32,320 land for three years and six months. 86 00:05:32,720 --> 00:05:36,760 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth 87 00:05:36,760 --> 00:05:41,080 produced its fruit. Brethren, if anyone among you 88 00:05:41,080 --> 00:05:46,360 wanders from the truth and someone turns him back, let him 89 00:05:46,360 --> 00:05:51,840 know that he who turns a Sinner from the air of his way will 90 00:05:51,840 --> 00:05:58,120 save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins. 91 00:05:58,160 --> 00:06:06,080 Let's pray, Father, Your word is so precious to us because it's 92 00:06:06,080 --> 00:06:10,520 true, because it comes from the only source which is true. 93 00:06:11,680 --> 00:06:15,920 We thank you, Father, for you giving us your word. 94 00:06:16,760 --> 00:06:20,920 What a gift it is. What a wonder it is to be able 95 00:06:20,920 --> 00:06:24,680 to. Hold the Word of God. 96 00:06:25,840 --> 00:06:30,480 And as we said so many times, this Bible doesn't just contain 97 00:06:31,040 --> 00:06:36,080 God's Word. It is God's Word, everything in 98 00:06:36,080 --> 00:06:38,600 it. So, Father, we thank you for 99 00:06:38,600 --> 00:06:40,960 that. We thank you for the opportunity 100 00:06:40,960 --> 00:06:45,080 to gather, to have fellowship one with another, to worship, to 101 00:06:45,080 --> 00:06:47,760 praise and worship one with another. 102 00:06:48,480 --> 00:06:53,240 But Father, we're grateful to be able to sit under your Word with 103 00:06:53,320 --> 00:06:56,440 another. Lord, speak to us this morning. 104 00:06:58,080 --> 00:07:02,040 Open your mouth from heaven, Lord, and speak to us. 105 00:07:02,480 --> 00:07:07,400 Speak to our hearts directly to each and everyone of us, both 106 00:07:07,400 --> 00:07:12,480 corporately and individually. Lord, you know exactly what it 107 00:07:12,480 --> 00:07:14,360 is that we need to hear this morning. 108 00:07:14,960 --> 00:07:18,160 You know, oh God, what our needs are. 109 00:07:18,640 --> 00:07:23,160 You know where our hearts are. Father, speak to those things. 110 00:07:23,720 --> 00:07:26,880 Even to those darkest things that no one knows, we may not 111 00:07:26,880 --> 00:07:29,040 even realize that they're there ourselves. 112 00:07:29,040 --> 00:07:32,680 Lords unearth those things and speak to us concerning them. 113 00:07:33,720 --> 00:07:37,080 Lord, we pray for healing for one another. 114 00:07:37,880 --> 00:07:40,640 We pray for healing for those who are here and those who are 115 00:07:40,640 --> 00:07:44,000 not here. We pray that your healing hand, 116 00:07:44,000 --> 00:07:47,080 Lord, will come down from heaven, and that you will heal 117 00:07:47,080 --> 00:07:50,960 us from the very crowns of our heads to the very soles of. 118 00:07:51,080 --> 00:07:55,520 Our feet. So we ask you for these things 119 00:07:55,520 --> 00:08:02,800 Lord, in the name of our Savior and our Lord in Jesus name we we 120 00:08:02,800 --> 00:08:07,600 pray, Amen. Amen. 121 00:08:07,600 --> 00:08:12,040 What a blessed time it is to be able to look as we go on into 122 00:08:12,040 --> 00:08:16,960 the new season, going into a new year and we, we do with 123 00:08:16,960 --> 00:08:20,120 anticipation to everyone's wondering what is the new year 124 00:08:20,120 --> 00:08:22,560 going to bring? And, and, and we, and we 125 00:08:22,560 --> 00:08:25,040 celebrated Christmas. We just celebrated Christmas 126 00:08:25,040 --> 00:08:27,920 with each other. And, and I do thank God for 127 00:08:28,040 --> 00:08:31,000 every opportunity that we have to get with our families and to 128 00:08:31,000 --> 00:08:35,520 be able to, to, to eat and have fellowship and laugh and do all 129 00:08:35,520 --> 00:08:37,760 those things that we do over the Christmas season. 130 00:08:37,919 --> 00:08:42,799 But most of all. I pray and I know that because 131 00:08:42,799 --> 00:08:48,480 you are the House of God, you are those who are in Christ 132 00:08:48,480 --> 00:08:51,280 Jesus, that it's more than just the gifts. 133 00:08:51,280 --> 00:08:54,960 It's more than just the the fellowship over food. 134 00:08:54,960 --> 00:08:58,320 It's more than just meeting and greeting and and sitting down 135 00:08:58,320 --> 00:09:00,360 with people. But you are the ones who 136 00:09:00,360 --> 00:09:06,000 understand and carry the message that this is about the birth of 137 00:09:06,000 --> 00:09:11,080 our Lord and Savior. It's about the birth of our Lord 138 00:09:11,080 --> 00:09:13,040 and Savior. And that has to be first and 139 00:09:13,200 --> 00:09:16,960 foremost as we celebrate this this season. 140 00:09:16,960 --> 00:09:18,640 And we can rejoice. Over that. 141 00:09:19,000 --> 00:09:22,560 We can rejoice over that one with another because without 142 00:09:22,560 --> 00:09:27,040 him, where would we be? Where would we be? 143 00:09:27,680 --> 00:09:30,360 And, and it's a matter. It's amazing because even as we 144 00:09:30,360 --> 00:09:33,640 go into this part of the Scripture, it's almost like 145 00:09:33,640 --> 00:09:40,880 James is even anticipating the the, the continuation of that 146 00:09:40,920 --> 00:09:44,160 birth. We we know that Jesus, when he 147 00:09:44,160 --> 00:09:47,520 came into this world, he came into a Dark World just like it 148 00:09:47,520 --> 00:09:48,360 is now. It's a very. 149 00:09:48,600 --> 00:09:52,120 Dark World and then it's a world that was contrary to 150 00:09:52,120 --> 00:09:55,360 righteousness and goodness and and all those things. 151 00:09:55,360 --> 00:09:58,440 He he, he came into a world that was full of sin. 152 00:10:00,080 --> 00:10:04,240 But when the time came. Or, as the Bible says in 153 00:10:04,240 --> 00:10:08,600 Galatians 4, that at the time, at the when the fullness of the 154 00:10:08,600 --> 00:10:17,760 time had come, or when God's perfect timing had come, he sent 155 00:10:17,760 --> 00:10:20,640 his Son into the world. It was his perfect. 156 00:10:20,640 --> 00:10:22,520 Timing. Good morning, brother. 157 00:10:22,520 --> 00:10:24,080 How are you? Good. 158 00:10:24,160 --> 00:10:26,720 Good to see you. He came. 159 00:10:26,840 --> 00:10:30,280 He came into the world, He sent his son into the world at the 160 00:10:30,280 --> 00:10:37,200 perfect time, at the perfect moment, and he came in with the 161 00:10:37,200 --> 00:10:41,560 purpose to redeem men, Pablo says. 162 00:10:41,560 --> 00:10:44,560 In the beginning was the word, and the word was with. 163 00:10:44,560 --> 00:10:46,280 God. The Word was God. 164 00:10:46,280 --> 00:10:51,400 He was in the beginning with God, and the Word was made 165 00:10:51,440 --> 00:10:55,000 flesh. Thank God that we had that 166 00:10:55,000 --> 00:10:57,280 birth. The word was made flesh. 167 00:10:58,000 --> 00:11:01,320 And so the people who sat in darkness had seen a great light. 168 00:11:01,720 --> 00:11:04,800 Just like you know when we got saved, we are set in darkness 169 00:11:04,800 --> 00:11:07,240 and we and we and we and we saw a great light. 170 00:11:07,400 --> 00:11:11,960 Those who were sitting in the in the regions and in the valley of 171 00:11:11,960 --> 00:11:15,920 death upon them light had dawned. 172 00:11:16,800 --> 00:11:19,520 So when this life, who was Jesus Christ? 173 00:11:19,840 --> 00:11:24,320 Because if you go back to John one, it literally says that in 174 00:11:24,320 --> 00:11:34,560 him was life, in him was life. And this life was the light of 175 00:11:34,600 --> 00:11:38,600 all men. And it was that light that came 176 00:11:38,600 --> 00:11:42,680 in and, and it shone upon those who were sitting in darkness. 177 00:11:42,840 --> 00:11:46,960 Just like the light that came into my life at one time when I 178 00:11:46,960 --> 00:11:50,480 was sitting in darkness and serving darkness and worshipping 179 00:11:50,480 --> 00:11:54,960 darkness and living in darkness. And then when the word of God 180 00:11:54,960 --> 00:11:58,920 was preached to me, the gospel was preached and the light came 181 00:11:58,920 --> 00:12:02,320 in and it shined upon and the darkness could not overcome it. 182 00:12:03,720 --> 00:12:07,000 We couldn't help but to see the light of Jesus Christ in our 183 00:12:07,000 --> 00:12:08,800 lives. And I thank God for what about 184 00:12:08,800 --> 00:12:11,960 you am I thank God for that moment that that the that the 185 00:12:11,960 --> 00:12:16,240 word of God came into our hearts and and shed light on the place 186 00:12:16,240 --> 00:12:23,040 where it was dark glory to God. So just the other day we 187 00:12:23,040 --> 00:12:26,360 celebrated that birthright. We celebrated that and Pastor 188 00:12:26,360 --> 00:12:31,400 Clark did a wonderful job, you know, presenting that birth with 189 00:12:31,400 --> 00:12:35,480 clarity as he went through those scriptures that we, you know, 190 00:12:35,840 --> 00:12:41,840 we, we, we commonly know that. In fact, it's my favorite story 191 00:12:41,840 --> 00:12:44,920 concerning the Christmas story. And that's in, in Luke 2. 192 00:12:45,120 --> 00:12:48,840 And he went through that with clarity and he began to speak 193 00:12:48,840 --> 00:12:50,480 about it. And I remember a statement that 194 00:12:50,480 --> 00:12:52,400 he made. He said, you know, the Bible 195 00:12:52,400 --> 00:12:53,920 doesn't put a whole lot of emphasis. 196 00:12:53,920 --> 00:12:57,040 It's not about a whole lot of emphasis on the birth, but the 197 00:12:57,040 --> 00:13:01,000 resurrection of Jesus Christ, Amen. 198 00:13:02,000 --> 00:13:04,880 That that is fulfilling. That's the that's the thing that 199 00:13:04,880 --> 00:13:09,080 we, you know, that that that that gives us hope is the thing 200 00:13:09,080 --> 00:13:12,680 that we can count on. And one day we too will be 201 00:13:12,680 --> 00:13:15,280 resurrected like our Lord was resurrected. 202 00:13:16,160 --> 00:13:19,600 So now as we we we now Fast forward all the way to. 203 00:13:19,600 --> 00:13:23,160 James and James being the brother or the half brother of 204 00:13:23,320 --> 00:13:26,800 Jesus Christ. James being the the the son of 205 00:13:26,800 --> 00:13:30,120 Mary as well. And I'm sure he spoke to his 206 00:13:30,120 --> 00:13:33,440 mother and, and had and rehearsed those things over and 207 00:13:33,440 --> 00:13:35,440 over again. Mom, tell me about my Big 208 00:13:35,440 --> 00:13:38,640 Brother Jesus one more time. How is it that you, you, you 209 00:13:38,640 --> 00:13:41,880 found yourself with the birth of, you know, being pregnant 210 00:13:42,040 --> 00:13:45,640 with the by the Holy Spirit and, and when he was born, mom, what 211 00:13:45,640 --> 00:13:49,160 was that like when he was born? What was it like when, when all 212 00:13:49,160 --> 00:13:52,960 the shepherds came and, and what was it like when, you know, when 213 00:13:52,960 --> 00:13:56,760 they, when the, the, the, the, the, the, the moment that the 214 00:13:56,960 --> 00:14:01,720 angels sang and, and, and told the shepherds that your Lord, 215 00:14:01,720 --> 00:14:04,800 your Savior is born and they all came the same Lord. 216 00:14:04,920 --> 00:14:10,640 Mom, what was that like? What was that like? 217 00:14:13,160 --> 00:14:14,880 So I'm sure she rehearsed that with him. 218 00:14:15,040 --> 00:14:19,440 And now James, who now is in, like I said, we're in chapter 5 219 00:14:19,440 --> 00:14:21,240 now and we're going to look at verse 7. 220 00:14:21,480 --> 00:14:24,720 And he says therefore be patient, wait a minute, 221 00:14:24,720 --> 00:14:26,200 therefore be patient. Why? 222 00:14:26,800 --> 00:14:29,600 Why? Therefore, he said be patient. 223 00:14:29,600 --> 00:14:32,680 Because if you remember just a couple weeks ago, we just talked 224 00:14:32,680 --> 00:14:38,000 about how the, the, the, the rich were oppressing the, the, 225 00:14:38,080 --> 00:14:42,080 the poor, the rich were oppressing them and was 226 00:14:42,080 --> 00:14:46,320 mistreating them, was defrauding them. 227 00:14:47,160 --> 00:14:50,520 And it seemed like those who were wicked and those who were 228 00:14:51,240 --> 00:14:54,400 that were rich, they are the ones that were the privilege. 229 00:14:54,400 --> 00:14:56,640 They are the ones that had the advantage. 230 00:14:58,960 --> 00:15:04,160 And James says be patient, be patient. 231 00:15:05,360 --> 00:15:08,640 Same thing he's saying to us. If you're in a situation where 232 00:15:08,640 --> 00:15:11,560 you feel like the, you know, like those who are wicked have 233 00:15:11,560 --> 00:15:13,560 more privilege. Those who are wicked seem to 234 00:15:13,560 --> 00:15:16,360 have the best time. Those who are wicked have the 235 00:15:16,360 --> 00:15:18,960 best things. Those who are wicked seem to be 236 00:15:18,960 --> 00:15:20,560 able to get away with everything. 237 00:15:23,080 --> 00:15:28,040 Be patient, be patient, James said. 238 00:15:28,040 --> 00:15:29,920 Be patient, brother. Until when? 239 00:15:29,920 --> 00:15:32,480 How long until the coming of the Lord? 240 00:15:33,440 --> 00:15:36,800 Amen. One of the things that we should 241 00:15:36,800 --> 00:15:40,560 be thinking about in this year as we move forward going into 242 00:15:40,560 --> 00:15:43,080 26, we should be thinking about the fact that we are. 243 00:15:43,080 --> 00:15:47,560 Closer to the Lord's return than what we were in 25, right? 244 00:15:47,560 --> 00:15:54,440 And if, Lord willing, and we see the end of 26, we'll be even 245 00:15:54,440 --> 00:15:58,080 closer. To the Lord returning be 246 00:15:58,080 --> 00:16:04,640 patient, be patient and he gives an example here about that about 247 00:16:04,640 --> 00:16:09,040 those that that that patient he says look at the farmer, look at 248 00:16:09,040 --> 00:16:12,560 the farmer. Look at how he how he waits for 249 00:16:12,560 --> 00:16:16,160 the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it into it 250 00:16:16,160 --> 00:16:19,760 receives the early in the latter rain. 251 00:16:20,760 --> 00:16:25,400 And the farmer is a very good example of one who patiently 252 00:16:25,400 --> 00:16:28,560 waits. I mean, I don't know if patience 253 00:16:28,560 --> 00:16:30,400 is something I struggle with. I don't know about you, but 254 00:16:30,400 --> 00:16:31,960 patience is something I kind of struggle with. 255 00:16:31,960 --> 00:16:34,760 You know, I'm, I, I guess I'm like a microwave kind of 256 00:16:34,760 --> 00:16:38,040 generation guy, You know, I mean, I want things kind of 257 00:16:38,040 --> 00:16:39,680 quick. You. 258 00:16:39,920 --> 00:16:43,760 Know if I'm working on something because I'm not the most 259 00:16:43,760 --> 00:16:45,400 mechanical. You may not have known this, but 260 00:16:45,400 --> 00:16:46,920 I'm not the most mechanical person. 261 00:16:47,320 --> 00:16:49,160 If you didn't know, just act like you didn't know it. 262 00:16:49,160 --> 00:16:53,000 OK? So if I'm working on something 263 00:16:53,000 --> 00:16:55,600 and it doesn't come together quickly, I get impatient. 264 00:16:56,720 --> 00:16:59,400 I get impatient. So patience is something that I 265 00:16:59,400 --> 00:17:03,760 really, really need. But the farmer James said you 266 00:17:03,760 --> 00:17:05,280 want to see patience? Look. 267 00:17:05,280 --> 00:17:09,440 At the farmer. He has to be patient first of 268 00:17:09,440 --> 00:17:12,119 all. There's a planning process and 269 00:17:12,119 --> 00:17:16,040 then there's the soil prep and then there's the plowing and the 270 00:17:16,040 --> 00:17:19,800 tilling that goes into farming. And then there's the the the 271 00:17:19,800 --> 00:17:23,960 sowing of the seeds. So he cast the seeds and and 272 00:17:23,960 --> 00:17:27,040 then there's the ongoing crop management. 273 00:17:27,319 --> 00:17:30,280 That means taking care of the field and making sure that 274 00:17:30,280 --> 00:17:32,600 there's that the weeds are pulled and making sure that 275 00:17:32,600 --> 00:17:35,960 there's nothing in it that would be able to hinder the growth of 276 00:17:35,960 --> 00:17:37,960 the crops. Nothing that will stop the crops 277 00:17:37,960 --> 00:17:43,640 from growing. Then there's the establishing of 278 00:17:43,640 --> 00:17:47,440 the, of the, of the field and the irrigation process and the 279 00:17:47,440 --> 00:17:51,000 fertilizing and, and then you wait for the germ, you know, for 280 00:17:51,000 --> 00:17:53,400 the, the, the, the sea to germinate. 281 00:17:53,880 --> 00:17:56,920 You wait for the sea to germinate and, and, and then 282 00:17:59,720 --> 00:18:01,960 with time, there's the harvesting. 283 00:18:02,480 --> 00:18:06,840 Once the crop comes, there's the harvesting and they even talk 284 00:18:06,840 --> 00:18:09,640 about the latter rain with that latter the early rain and the 285 00:18:09,640 --> 00:18:13,680 latter rain, the early rain comes around late October, early 286 00:18:13,680 --> 00:18:18,080 November in the Palestine area. And it comes to soften up the 287 00:18:18,080 --> 00:18:21,920 ground so that they can dig into it until it and begin to and, 288 00:18:21,920 --> 00:18:24,880 and to begin to plan on it. And then there's the latter rain 289 00:18:24,880 --> 00:18:29,200 that comes somewhere around April and and, and May that 290 00:18:29,200 --> 00:18:33,400 begins to mature the crop or or helps the crop to come along so 291 00:18:33,400 --> 00:18:37,360 that when it when it's harvest, it'll be ready, it'll be good. 292 00:18:39,160 --> 00:18:43,960 So that's the latter and the early in the latter rain, it 293 00:18:43,960 --> 00:18:47,000 matures the crops. See, we too, as you hear about 294 00:18:47,000 --> 00:18:50,120 it right here in verse 8, it says you also be patient, 295 00:18:50,120 --> 00:18:52,600 establish your heart for the coming of the Lord. 296 00:18:52,680 --> 00:18:57,000 So we too have to be patient as we prepare for his return. 297 00:18:57,920 --> 00:19:01,880 We have to be patient, but in the process of waiting for him 298 00:19:01,880 --> 00:19:04,600 to come, we have to manage our hearts. 299 00:19:04,600 --> 00:19:07,880 We have to manage our lives through the help of the Holy 300 00:19:07,880 --> 00:19:10,360 Spirit. We can keep the weeds out of our 301 00:19:10,360 --> 00:19:13,800 heart and keep the, the, the, the, the things that are not 302 00:19:13,800 --> 00:19:17,480 necessary, the things that are not good that will hinder our 303 00:19:17,480 --> 00:19:20,960 spiritual growth. We get rid of those things. 304 00:19:20,960 --> 00:19:25,160 We manage our hearts, we cleanse our hearts, we cleanse our 305 00:19:25,160 --> 00:19:27,640 hands. We, we cease from doing the 306 00:19:27,640 --> 00:19:33,320 sinful things that will hinder our growth as we wait for the 307 00:19:33,320 --> 00:19:36,280 coming of the Lord. That is our hope. 308 00:19:37,440 --> 00:19:44,920 That is our hope to see the. Coming of the Lord and that hope 309 00:19:44,920 --> 00:19:47,280 is something that we talk about throughout Scripture. 310 00:19:47,600 --> 00:19:51,520 Titus 2 and 13 says, looking for the blessed hope and glorious 311 00:19:51,520 --> 00:19:56,880 appearing of your great God and Savior Jesus Christ. 312 00:19:57,680 --> 00:20:00,760 First Timothy 1 and 10 First, I'm sorry, 1st Thessalonians 1 313 00:20:00,760 --> 00:20:04,200 and 10, he says. And to wait for his Son from 314 00:20:04,200 --> 00:20:08,680 heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, who delivers 315 00:20:08,680 --> 00:20:14,160 us from the wrath to come. And then Hebrews 10/30/10 and 316 00:20:14,160 --> 00:20:16,880 35. He says therefore and and and 317 00:20:16,880 --> 00:20:19,440 and. The writer of Hebrews gives us 318 00:20:19,440 --> 00:20:24,520 an encouragement to continue to trust and not castaway. 319 00:20:24,520 --> 00:20:26,480 Don't throw away your confidence. 320 00:20:26,480 --> 00:20:30,720 Keep your confidence. Don't let nothing in this world 321 00:20:31,600 --> 00:20:37,640 prohibit you or hinder you from being confident in what the Word 322 00:20:37,680 --> 00:20:43,880 of God says. Don't let anything turn your 323 00:20:43,880 --> 00:20:46,840 heart away from the scriptures it says. 324 00:20:46,840 --> 00:20:50,720 Therefore, do not castaway your confidence which has great 325 00:20:50,960 --> 00:20:56,360 reward for you have need of endurance, you have need of 326 00:20:56,360 --> 00:21:00,440 patience, so that after you have done the will of God, you may 327 00:21:00,440 --> 00:21:02,920 receive the. Promise. 328 00:21:03,760 --> 00:21:08,000 And yet a little while and he who is coming. 329 00:21:08,520 --> 00:21:14,560 Will come, Amen. He will come and he will not 330 00:21:14,560 --> 00:21:16,240 tarry. That means he, he, he, he. 331 00:21:16,640 --> 00:21:20,040 He will not delay. He will not delay. 332 00:21:20,040 --> 00:21:27,920 He will come at the time. Of God's choosing at the time of 333 00:21:27,920 --> 00:21:30,800 God's choosing. And God is never late. 334 00:21:31,360 --> 00:21:37,760 He's always right on time. Always right on time, Even so, 335 00:21:38,520 --> 00:21:41,680 Lord Jesus come, come, Lord Jesus. 336 00:21:42,760 --> 00:21:46,320 But while he's coming, we got to be careful of some things. 337 00:21:46,320 --> 00:21:49,760 While we're waiting for him to come, we have to be careful of a 338 00:21:49,760 --> 00:21:52,720 few things. And one of the things that James 339 00:21:52,720 --> 00:21:55,560 says we have to be careful of is what he says here in verse 9. 340 00:21:55,960 --> 00:21:59,560 He says, do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you. 341 00:21:59,560 --> 00:22:02,960 Be condemned. Behold, the judges standing at 342 00:22:02,960 --> 00:22:06,720 the door, don't grumble against each other. 343 00:22:06,720 --> 00:22:10,720 When, when, when things get hard, when people experience 344 00:22:10,720 --> 00:22:13,960 hardships, when people experience adversity. 345 00:22:14,240 --> 00:22:20,240 Sometimes if we experience some persecution or oppression, 346 00:22:21,360 --> 00:22:25,960 people can begin to turn on one another, begin to turn on one 347 00:22:25,960 --> 00:22:27,440 another. And it's almost like what he was 348 00:22:27,440 --> 00:22:30,360 talking about back in Chapter 4 when he said do not speak evil 349 00:22:30,680 --> 00:22:34,200 of one another. But when we grumble, we start to 350 00:22:34,200 --> 00:22:37,600 grumble against each other. We start to murmur and start to 351 00:22:37,600 --> 00:22:40,240 complain, just like they did in the wilderness. 352 00:22:40,240 --> 00:22:43,080 When things got hard in the wilderness, the first thing they 353 00:22:43,080 --> 00:22:46,600 want to do was start grumbling and complaining and murmur, Ah, 354 00:22:46,840 --> 00:22:52,120 it's hot, ain't no water, you know, nothing's happening. 355 00:22:53,320 --> 00:22:57,160 Start to complain. But what we have to understand 356 00:22:57,160 --> 00:22:59,400 is that God says, look, they're not complaining about against 357 00:22:59,400 --> 00:23:00,680 you. They're complaining against me. 358 00:23:02,000 --> 00:23:06,320 The complaint is against me. I hear their complaints. 359 00:23:06,920 --> 00:23:09,400 So what? That's why James says here, you 360 00:23:09,400 --> 00:23:12,720 know, lest you be condemned. Because it's it's almost like 361 00:23:12,720 --> 00:23:15,880 when people start grumbling and complaining, they're actually 362 00:23:15,880 --> 00:23:20,560 complaining against God because sometimes God allows those 363 00:23:20,560 --> 00:23:24,880 things to happen so that we can be strengthened and be tested. 364 00:23:27,680 --> 00:23:31,960 So we complain against God. But he says, and you know, but 365 00:23:31,960 --> 00:23:35,320 in this suffering, we don't turn against each other. 366 00:23:35,560 --> 00:23:37,840 That's when we should get closer as a church. 367 00:23:38,760 --> 00:23:42,240 The more challenges we have is, you know, we should get closer, 368 00:23:42,600 --> 00:23:46,000 become closer, to hear each other, to encourage each other, 369 00:23:46,320 --> 00:23:49,560 to pray with each other, to pray for each other as we talked. 370 00:23:49,560 --> 00:23:53,800 About when we first. Started bearing each other's 371 00:23:53,840 --> 00:23:59,160 burdens. Let's be real, true brothers and 372 00:23:59,160 --> 00:24:03,200 sisters and not turn into enemies because the things get 373 00:24:03,200 --> 00:24:07,240 difficult. Let's be there for each other. 374 00:24:07,960 --> 00:24:10,760 Come on, brother, let's pray. I see you having a tough time. 375 00:24:11,000 --> 00:24:15,200 Let's pray, sister. I see you struggling. 376 00:24:15,200 --> 00:24:19,600 I see the stress. Let's pray, let's pray. 377 00:24:19,960 --> 00:24:23,920 Let's cry together if we need to, let's cry together. 378 00:24:24,800 --> 00:24:26,840 And when is the time we'll laugh together? 379 00:24:27,400 --> 00:24:30,480 But whatever we do, we're church, we're family, let's do 380 00:24:30,480 --> 00:24:33,720 it together, let's do it together. 381 00:24:36,360 --> 00:24:39,080 We have to be aware of this because this is what the enemy 382 00:24:39,080 --> 00:24:43,680 would use to try to weaken or to defy, divide the church. 383 00:24:43,680 --> 00:24:47,640 But we're not ignorant of his devices, not at all. 384 00:24:47,960 --> 00:24:52,800 And then in verse 10, then in verse 10, he says, my brother, 385 00:24:52,960 --> 00:24:56,400 take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord as an 386 00:24:56,400 --> 00:25:02,920 example of suffering in patience. 11 Indeed, we count 387 00:25:02,920 --> 00:25:06,680 them blessed who endure. You have heard of the 388 00:25:06,920 --> 00:25:12,520 perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord. 389 00:25:12,840 --> 00:25:16,360 Yeah, the the, the, the, the, the prophets. 390 00:25:16,360 --> 00:25:18,280 He now goes to them as an example. 391 00:25:18,280 --> 00:25:22,000 First he used the farmers and now he's using the Old Testament 392 00:25:22,000 --> 00:25:24,600 prophets. James is basically saying, look, 393 00:25:24,600 --> 00:25:27,280 go back and do a history lesson. Go back to the Old Testament and 394 00:25:27,320 --> 00:25:30,640 read, read what they did, you know, when they were in 395 00:25:30,640 --> 00:25:34,440 adversity and, and, and we know that the prophets went through a 396 00:25:34,440 --> 00:25:37,640 lot. When you think about the, the, 397 00:25:37,720 --> 00:25:40,760 the, the, the. Task the call that they have, 398 00:25:41,120 --> 00:25:44,960 which is to literally speak the word of God, to share the word 399 00:25:44,960 --> 00:25:48,920 of God and to and to and to talk about that to people who really 400 00:25:48,920 --> 00:25:52,360 didn't want to hear it sometimes oftentimes really didn't want to 401 00:25:52,360 --> 00:25:54,680 hear it. In fact, they didn't want to 402 00:25:54,680 --> 00:25:57,480 hear it so much that they wanted to, and this is where the term 403 00:25:57,480 --> 00:25:58,480 comes from. They wanted to kill the 404 00:25:58,480 --> 00:26:02,840 messenger wanted to kill the messenger. 405 00:26:03,000 --> 00:26:05,000 So when you think about Old Testament prophets like 406 00:26:05,160 --> 00:26:10,400 Zechariah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, these men spoke strong words 407 00:26:10,400 --> 00:26:14,880 that came from the mouth of God. And he and he spoke it to the 408 00:26:14,880 --> 00:26:19,640 people about their sin, about their rebellion, about their 409 00:26:20,560 --> 00:26:22,840 adultery, their spiritual adultery. 410 00:26:23,840 --> 00:26:26,640 And they would, and they would give the word of judgment. 411 00:26:27,320 --> 00:26:29,280 They would have to give the word of judgment. 412 00:26:29,760 --> 00:26:31,240 What could have meant their life? 413 00:26:31,240 --> 00:26:33,560 And oftentimes it did. I mean it. 414 00:26:33,800 --> 00:26:37,200 You know, it's said that Zechariah was stoned to death. 415 00:26:37,520 --> 00:26:42,000 Isaiah doesn't say it in the Bible, but and other teach 416 00:26:42,000 --> 00:26:44,960 another writings of the Church of the church history. 417 00:26:45,520 --> 00:26:48,880 They said that Isaiah was actually sawed in half. 418 00:26:49,360 --> 00:26:51,400 Jeremiah was thrown in a dungeon. 419 00:26:52,800 --> 00:26:57,080 I mean, there's been hardships that these men had to go through 420 00:26:57,320 --> 00:27:00,760 being faithful to the things of God. 421 00:27:01,320 --> 00:27:04,280 And we too, we're going to go through some hardships sometimes 422 00:27:04,280 --> 00:27:06,360 when we're doing the will of God. 423 00:27:06,800 --> 00:27:08,800 You know, you would think that if I'm walking in the 424 00:27:08,800 --> 00:27:11,680 righteousness of God and if I'm doing what God tells me to do, 425 00:27:11,680 --> 00:27:16,200 things would be OK. No, through much tribulation, 426 00:27:17,280 --> 00:27:19,960 you can enter the Kingdom of heaven. 427 00:27:21,360 --> 00:27:26,400 Anyone who want to live godly, if you're going to live godly, 428 00:27:26,400 --> 00:27:31,760 you will suffer persecution. So we too, we're going to go 429 00:27:31,760 --> 00:27:34,560 through adversity, but be patient. 430 00:27:35,480 --> 00:27:40,440 Going through this adversity. Be patient, because trouble 431 00:27:40,440 --> 00:27:43,080 won't last. All ways. 432 00:27:43,280 --> 00:27:45,040 Weeping man. Do it for a night. 433 00:27:46,960 --> 00:27:50,840 But in the morning it's going to be all right. 434 00:27:51,920 --> 00:27:56,240 It's going to be all right. Joy comes in the morning. 435 00:27:56,680 --> 00:28:02,520 Joy so we wait on the coming of the Lord 1 encourage you the way 436 00:28:02,520 --> 00:28:06,640 James is encouraging us to be patient as we wait on the Lord 437 00:28:06,800 --> 00:28:10,720 and then in verse 12 I'm. Sorry, let's go to let's let's 438 00:28:10,720 --> 00:28:13,920 go to the bottom of verse 11, because I really like this whole 439 00:28:13,920 --> 00:28:18,200 issue about Job. You know, you know, a lot of 440 00:28:18,200 --> 00:28:21,120 people think or and have said and maybe someone's even said to 441 00:28:21,120 --> 00:28:22,600 you when you're going through a hard time. 442 00:28:22,600 --> 00:28:25,360 I hope not, but sometime these things happen. 443 00:28:25,600 --> 00:28:28,200 When you're going through a hard time, people say, well, there 444 00:28:28,200 --> 00:28:30,560 must be some sin or something in your life, man, what kind of 445 00:28:30,680 --> 00:28:32,240 what kind of sin you dealing with? 446 00:28:32,240 --> 00:28:34,840 You know what you're hiding, You know what kind of sin you're 447 00:28:34,840 --> 00:28:37,280 hiding in your life. And, and this is what Job's 448 00:28:37,280 --> 00:28:40,080 issue was. Now the Bible itself said that 449 00:28:40,080 --> 00:28:43,680 Job was a righteous man. The Bible itself said that he 450 00:28:43,680 --> 00:28:47,160 was a righteous man. But yet what Job didn't know 451 00:28:47,160 --> 00:28:51,160 that we have access to the knowledge we have access to, is 452 00:28:51,160 --> 00:28:57,520 that Satan wanted to test Job, Satan wanted to to attack Job 453 00:28:57,520 --> 00:29:01,200 and and because of God's control and his sovereignty. 454 00:29:02,480 --> 00:29:09,000 He knew just how much leverage he would allow Satan to have. 455 00:29:09,960 --> 00:29:13,120 Yeah, OK, I'll let you go ahead and try him if you want to. 456 00:29:13,120 --> 00:29:15,880 You guys know the story of Job. Job was a rich man. 457 00:29:15,880 --> 00:29:18,400 He was wealthy. He was a man who feared God. 458 00:29:18,400 --> 00:29:20,760 He was a man that was righteous before God. 459 00:29:21,320 --> 00:29:25,160 And then Satan came to, to, to, to, to God and said, look, I 460 00:29:25,160 --> 00:29:27,920 want, you know, you're, you're, you're, you're serving job. 461 00:29:28,120 --> 00:29:30,640 You know, how about him? You know what, what you know, I, 462 00:29:30,640 --> 00:29:32,640 I, I want to test him. I want to see what he's about. 463 00:29:32,640 --> 00:29:35,080 I think I can make him curse you to your face. 464 00:29:35,520 --> 00:29:37,040 I think I can make him that miserable. 465 00:29:38,520 --> 00:29:41,880 So the Lord said, OK, you can, you know, try, but he's a 466 00:29:41,880 --> 00:29:44,320 righteous man. But you can't take his life. 467 00:29:44,720 --> 00:29:47,600 You can't take his life. And eventually, Long story 468 00:29:47,600 --> 00:29:50,640 short, job end up losing his his family. 469 00:29:51,280 --> 00:29:55,720 He end up losing a lot of his wealth, which is in the form of 470 00:29:56,000 --> 00:29:59,800 of of animals, domestic animals and, and food and things of that 471 00:29:59,800 --> 00:30:00,720 nature. He end up. 472 00:30:00,720 --> 00:30:04,800 Losing a lot of those things. So he lost and then of course 473 00:30:04,880 --> 00:30:09,720 his health was attacked. We had boils all over his body 474 00:30:09,720 --> 00:30:15,680 and and and was in pain, suffering, suffering because 475 00:30:15,680 --> 00:30:19,680 Satan wanted him to curse God to his face. 476 00:30:20,920 --> 00:30:24,600 And you know, the Bible says sometimes you know, your enemy 477 00:30:24,720 --> 00:30:29,120 is in your household. It was Job's wife. 478 00:30:30,960 --> 00:30:34,920 Job's wife was the one that was a constituent. 479 00:30:34,920 --> 00:30:39,760 For this, for Satan, why don't you just curse God and die? 480 00:30:41,440 --> 00:30:47,680 Wow, Job then never called her, never called her evil woman or a 481 00:30:47,680 --> 00:30:52,080 wicked woman or a foolish one. But he said you sound like 1, he 482 00:30:52,080 --> 00:30:56,920 said you sound like 1. And of course Job never did, 483 00:30:58,480 --> 00:31:02,280 even though he questions his own existence at one point it was 484 00:31:02,280 --> 00:31:06,120 getting so bad. But he never ever, ever cursed 485 00:31:06,120 --> 00:31:13,680 God, never gave up his faith. In God and the Bible says here 486 00:31:15,240 --> 00:31:20,360 that Job saw. The intended in we all know that 487 00:31:20,360 --> 00:31:23,680 the end of the story, Joe re recovered the wealth. 488 00:31:23,680 --> 00:31:27,120 In fact he was he received double the wealth that he had 489 00:31:27,120 --> 00:31:34,760 before he got family back again. He did keep his wife though he 490 00:31:34,760 --> 00:31:40,520 did keep his wife because he's a righteous man, but it shows 491 00:31:40,520 --> 00:31:46,880 God's compassion and mercy. So Joe was that example of 492 00:31:46,880 --> 00:31:50,120 someone. He wasn't suffering because of 493 00:31:50,120 --> 00:31:54,520 any sin in his life. He was suffering because he was 494 00:31:54,520 --> 00:31:59,440 being tested, but because of his patience and suffering, his 495 00:31:59,440 --> 00:32:02,400 endurance and suffering, which is what we are. 496 00:32:02,400 --> 00:32:08,200 Being encouraged to do is to be patient and to endure. 497 00:32:08,280 --> 00:32:13,040 Persevere, persevere. When you're going through 498 00:32:13,040 --> 00:32:17,440 suffering, hold on. Call on the Holy Spirit for 499 00:32:17,480 --> 00:32:21,800 strength because we need them. We need them. 500 00:32:23,120 --> 00:32:24,800 Some of the things that we're going through, you look at 501 00:32:24,800 --> 00:32:27,560 society and this and, and, and unfortunately, it's probably 502 00:32:27,560 --> 00:32:33,040 just going to get worse. We need the Holy Spirit for 503 00:32:33,040 --> 00:32:35,680 strength. We can't do this in our own 504 00:32:35,680 --> 00:32:39,440 power. And we need each other. 505 00:32:41,040 --> 00:32:46,720 Brother, I need you. Brother, I need you. 506 00:32:47,920 --> 00:32:52,360 Brother, I need you. Brother, I need you. 507 00:32:54,320 --> 00:32:58,360 I need you. So when you call me sometimes or 508 00:32:58,360 --> 00:33:02,960 we're in a meeting and you pray with me or pray for me, I need 509 00:33:02,960 --> 00:33:06,960 that. I need that. 510 00:33:08,960 --> 00:33:13,160 When you give me a word of encouragement, sometimes I need 511 00:33:13,160 --> 00:33:16,440 that. You never know what someone is 512 00:33:16,440 --> 00:33:22,800 dealing with outside of this building, but we can persevere. 513 00:33:24,240 --> 00:33:28,280 We can persevere through the power of the Holy Spirit. 514 00:33:29,000 --> 00:33:32,400 As we as a family love on one another. 515 00:33:33,160 --> 00:33:36,480 And then in verse verse 12, it's almost like verse 12 is like, 516 00:33:37,240 --> 00:33:39,360 you know, when, when I read it the first time, it's like, where 517 00:33:39,360 --> 00:33:40,920 did that come from you? Know where? 518 00:33:41,240 --> 00:33:43,000 Where was he going with that one? 519 00:33:43,880 --> 00:33:45,640 He says. But above all, my brother, do 520 00:33:45,640 --> 00:33:50,000 not swear either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but 521 00:33:50,000 --> 00:33:53,320 let your yes be yes and your your no no less. 522 00:33:54,560 --> 00:33:58,120 You fall into judgment. Well, what's really interesting 523 00:33:58,360 --> 00:34:04,480 is that when you start thinking about how people can get kind of 524 00:34:04,480 --> 00:34:06,480 desperate when they're going through hard times and they're 525 00:34:06,480 --> 00:34:08,719 going through adversity and they start to make. 526 00:34:08,719 --> 00:34:11,760 Deals with God. Lord, if you Get Me Out of this, 527 00:34:11,760 --> 00:34:16,480 I promise you I won't ever do this again, or I promise you I 528 00:34:16,480 --> 00:34:19,320 won't make that mistake again, or I promise you I won't. 529 00:34:21,239 --> 00:34:24,520 Making these vows and oaths with God. 530 00:34:25,320 --> 00:34:27,040 And sometimes we do it with each other. 531 00:34:27,040 --> 00:34:31,360 We make oaths with each other. And when we're talking about an 532 00:34:31,360 --> 00:34:34,120 oath, he's not talking. He's not when he talks about not 533 00:34:34,120 --> 00:34:37,280 swearing, he's not talking about not using foul language. 534 00:34:37,280 --> 00:34:38,840 He's not talking about profanity. 535 00:34:39,960 --> 00:34:44,480 He's talking about adding extra words for to strengthen whatever 536 00:34:44,480 --> 00:34:47,679 it is that you're saying to try to convince someone that you're 537 00:34:47,679 --> 00:34:52,159 really going to do it. You borrow, you know, you borrow 538 00:34:52,159 --> 00:34:55,000 money from somebody and you promise to pay it back. 539 00:34:55,679 --> 00:34:57,600 Oh, I swear on a stack of Bibles. 540 00:34:57,600 --> 00:35:00,920 I'll pay you back by this date or by that date. 541 00:35:03,560 --> 00:35:05,960 Fact that you got to swear on a stack of Bibles means you might 542 00:35:05,960 --> 00:35:07,840 not be that confident about doing it yourself. 543 00:35:09,520 --> 00:35:11,680 Takes away from the character of the person. 544 00:35:13,200 --> 00:35:15,480 But he said let your yes be yes and your no no. 545 00:35:17,200 --> 00:35:18,200 If you say you're. Going to pay them back. 546 00:35:18,200 --> 00:35:19,760 Just do you don't have to swear about it. 547 00:35:20,560 --> 00:35:25,720 See in the Old Testament Jewish, Jewish tradition, you know when, 548 00:35:25,720 --> 00:35:30,920 when, when someone made an oath in an Old Testament, if that 549 00:35:31,000 --> 00:35:35,000 oath or that vow, if it included the name of God, then it was 550 00:35:35,000 --> 00:35:39,360 binding. If someone made an oath and it 551 00:35:39,360 --> 00:35:42,160 did not include the name of God, it was not binding. 552 00:35:43,360 --> 00:35:46,840 So they called them binding oaths and non binding oaths in 553 00:35:46,840 --> 00:35:52,600 the Jewish tradition. But what James is saying here is 554 00:35:52,600 --> 00:35:56,120 that there does not need to be something considered a binding 555 00:35:56,120 --> 00:35:58,800 or a non binding oath. Your word as a Christian, as a 556 00:35:58,800 --> 00:36:03,720 man of God, as a woman of God, your word should be true. 557 00:36:05,920 --> 00:36:09,760 If you, you know when someone says I'm going to pay this or 558 00:36:09,880 --> 00:36:13,840 you can trust me to go and do this, a task or something that 559 00:36:13,840 --> 00:36:19,120 someone is challenged to do, we should be able to trust that 560 00:36:19,120 --> 00:36:22,760 that will be done. If I say I'm going to come to 561 00:36:22,760 --> 00:36:25,240 your house and I'm going to do this for you, or I'm going to 562 00:36:25,240 --> 00:36:27,480 come and pick you up at a certain time and do that for 563 00:36:27,480 --> 00:36:29,800 you, you should be able to trust that I'm going to do that. 564 00:36:30,520 --> 00:36:35,680 Then I'm going to be a man of my word and me trust that you would 565 00:36:35,680 --> 00:36:39,160 be a man of your word and what and what James is saying here is 566 00:36:39,160 --> 00:36:42,240 that you you don't need to add these extra words to give 567 00:36:42,240 --> 00:36:49,360 strength to what you are saying you're going to do that's making 568 00:36:49,360 --> 00:36:51,760 about he said don't swear by anybody. 569 00:36:51,760 --> 00:36:53,560 Don't swear by God. Don't say I swear to. 570 00:36:53,560 --> 00:36:57,560 God, I'm going to be there or or or swearing by something else on 571 00:36:57,600 --> 00:37:00,320 earth. That you're going to be there. 572 00:37:00,520 --> 00:37:02,640 I swear on my on, on my mother's grave. 573 00:37:02,640 --> 00:37:05,800 You hear people saying all kind of crazy things sometimes when 574 00:37:05,800 --> 00:37:08,080 they when they swear, they make these oaths. 575 00:37:09,080 --> 00:37:13,440 I swear on my life, James said. No, don't do that. 576 00:37:13,440 --> 00:37:16,200 And maybe. Because of what they were going 577 00:37:16,200 --> 00:37:20,920 through, they began to do some of that, make these oaths that 578 00:37:20,920 --> 00:37:25,520 they weren't able to keep. And James says don't do that. 579 00:37:25,520 --> 00:37:31,040 But yet you're let, let you yes be yes, and you're no be no as 580 00:37:31,040 --> 00:37:34,520 we wait for the Lord to come. Verse 13 Is anyone among you 581 00:37:34,520 --> 00:37:38,400 suffering? Let them pray. 582 00:37:38,400 --> 00:37:42,160 Is anyone cheerful? Let them sing psalms. 583 00:37:42,680 --> 00:37:45,960 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call for the elders of 584 00:37:45,960 --> 00:37:50,480 the church and let them pray over him, anointing them with 585 00:37:50,720 --> 00:37:54,640 anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 586 00:37:55,080 --> 00:37:57,600 Really interesting when you talk about this suffering to hear, 587 00:37:57,880 --> 00:38:01,280 you know, this suffering is not necessarily just someone who was 588 00:38:01,280 --> 00:38:04,400 sick, but they could be suffering from being spiritually 589 00:38:04,400 --> 00:38:09,600 weak, being spiritually weak, being weary. 590 00:38:11,320 --> 00:38:14,520 Bible tell us we should not be weary and well doing. 591 00:38:14,920 --> 00:38:17,560 But sometimes people get weak and they start to suffer. 592 00:38:17,560 --> 00:38:20,560 They they, they just don't feel like they have the that the 593 00:38:20,560 --> 00:38:26,800 strength to continue to go on. And James says, well, let him 594 00:38:26,800 --> 00:38:31,400 pray, Let him pray. Don't start complaining. 595 00:38:31,400 --> 00:38:35,400 Don't start murmuring, you know, don't start speaking evil with 596 00:38:35,400 --> 00:38:40,440 somebody else. Pray if you're suffering, if 597 00:38:40,440 --> 00:38:43,200 you're suffering from some some oppression, or if you're 598 00:38:43,200 --> 00:38:45,960 suffering from somebody misusing, for example, what he 599 00:38:45,960 --> 00:38:49,440 talked about earlier, part of chapter of chapter 5 when he 600 00:38:49,440 --> 00:38:51,840 talked about the rich oppressing the poor. 601 00:38:53,280 --> 00:38:56,320 And you feel yourself suffering because of the at the adversity, 602 00:38:56,480 --> 00:38:59,680 he said. No, pray about those things. 603 00:39:01,040 --> 00:39:07,440 Pray about it. He says if anyone cheerful, then 604 00:39:07,440 --> 00:39:10,880 let them sing psalms. In other words, if you're 605 00:39:10,880 --> 00:39:17,760 suffering, pray if you're if you're, if you're cheerful and 606 00:39:17,760 --> 00:39:20,120 you're in a good mood, you having a mountaintop experience 607 00:39:21,520 --> 00:39:22,920 think he prays and worship to the Lord. 608 00:39:24,000 --> 00:39:26,960 But in everything, whether you're in a mountaintop 609 00:39:26,960 --> 00:39:29,240 experience or rather you're in the valley, we should 610 00:39:29,240 --> 00:39:32,400 acknowledge the Lord. We should acknowledge the Lord. 611 00:39:32,800 --> 00:39:36,480 It's what James is saying here. When I'm on top of my game, I 612 00:39:36,480 --> 00:39:40,120 want to acknowledge him. When I'm under everything and I 613 00:39:40,120 --> 00:39:43,440 feel like the whole world is on my shoulders or something and 614 00:39:43,440 --> 00:39:47,440 I'm just suffering mentally, emotionally I'm suffering. 615 00:39:47,960 --> 00:39:49,640 Then I need to pray and acknowledge the. 616 00:39:49,640 --> 00:39:52,360 Lord. Our first response should be to 617 00:39:52,360 --> 00:39:55,840 the Lord is what James is saying here. 618 00:39:56,320 --> 00:39:59,680 Then he says is any among you sick and again he's talking 619 00:39:59,680 --> 00:40:05,720 about either physically sick, but he's also you can also mean 620 00:40:05,960 --> 00:40:11,320 that you are spiritually sick, but in either way is any among 621 00:40:11,320 --> 00:40:14,360 you sick. He gives us a process here. 622 00:40:14,720 --> 00:40:19,840 He says let them call for the elders of the church and let 623 00:40:19,840 --> 00:40:25,000 them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the 624 00:40:25,000 --> 00:40:27,600 Lord. Now some of you we pray for, and 625 00:40:27,600 --> 00:40:31,360 I'm sure you've seen us pray with oil. 626 00:40:34,280 --> 00:40:35,880 I'm sure you've seen us pray with oil. 627 00:40:36,800 --> 00:40:41,160 We're anointed soil when we and we pray over it and we pray over 628 00:40:41,160 --> 00:40:43,560 the person. Now we don't do the way that 629 00:40:43,560 --> 00:40:45,480 they did in the Old Testament. They just they would just drop 630 00:40:45,480 --> 00:40:47,080 dead to. Pour this whole thing on you, 631 00:40:48,040 --> 00:40:51,800 oil dripping everywhere. We don't do that. 632 00:40:51,800 --> 00:40:57,240 We dab. Put it on your forehead usually, 633 00:40:58,040 --> 00:41:01,520 and we pray over you. The elders of the church, we 634 00:41:01,520 --> 00:41:03,560 call the elders of the church to come together, come up to the 635 00:41:03,560 --> 00:41:07,120 front and we pray. That's what the word God tells 636 00:41:07,120 --> 00:41:14,840 us to do. Now, olive oil, first of all, it 637 00:41:14,840 --> 00:41:22,240 is symbolic of the Holy Spirit, but it also has medicinal 638 00:41:22,320 --> 00:41:26,560 healing properties. So a lot of people have 639 00:41:26,560 --> 00:41:28,320 experienced. In fact, some people actually 640 00:41:28,320 --> 00:41:33,720 get up in the morning and they take a Swiss or two or swallow 641 00:41:33,720 --> 00:41:37,440 of two of oil, of olive oil. I don't do that, but some people 642 00:41:37,440 --> 00:41:40,600 do. Some people do because they feel 643 00:41:40,600 --> 00:41:43,400 that it's a healing, it's an internal healing. 644 00:41:45,400 --> 00:41:51,400 But we also know that the olive, that the olive oil is used to 645 00:41:51,400 --> 00:41:55,840 anoint people. For healing rather someone is 646 00:41:55,840 --> 00:41:59,640 sick or someone is going through issues. 647 00:42:00,360 --> 00:42:05,280 What it says here in Mark chapter 6, verse 13 says, and 648 00:42:05,280 --> 00:42:10,400 they cast out many demons and anointed with oil, many who were 649 00:42:10,400 --> 00:42:14,920 sick and healed them and healed them. 650 00:42:15,840 --> 00:42:19,800 So we knew we do know that it's it's biblical to anoint. 651 00:42:19,800 --> 00:42:23,240 Now I came when I was younger, much younger, probably about 652 00:42:23,600 --> 00:42:27,400 these young men's ages over here about 9:00 or 10:11 or so. 653 00:42:27,920 --> 00:42:31,400 My mother was going to a Pentecostal church, and I mean, 654 00:42:31,400 --> 00:42:33,080 every Sunday I left drenched in oil. 655 00:42:34,200 --> 00:42:36,360 I guess they thought I really needed a whole lot of prayer, 656 00:42:36,360 --> 00:42:41,720 but I was drenched in oil every Sunday, walking out on me, all 657 00:42:41,720 --> 00:42:46,480 over my, my head, my forehead, my hands, everything was 658 00:42:46,480 --> 00:42:47,680 drenched. We ain't going to drench you 659 00:42:47,680 --> 00:42:50,960 with oil, but we will use oil to pray over you because the Bible 660 00:42:50,960 --> 00:42:54,120 tells us that we do that. Amen. 661 00:42:54,120 --> 00:42:58,280 And then in verse over here in verse 15. 662 00:42:59,280 --> 00:43:03,120 It says, and the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord 663 00:43:03,120 --> 00:43:08,040 will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, he will be 664 00:43:08,360 --> 00:43:12,040 forgiven. The prayer of faith, the prayer 665 00:43:12,040 --> 00:43:18,080 of faith will raise up the sick. Now, first of all, when we go 666 00:43:18,080 --> 00:43:24,680 before God in prayer, we go with the faith that He is able. 667 00:43:25,320 --> 00:43:30,040 To do it. First of all, the Bible says 668 00:43:30,040 --> 00:43:33,280 when you come to God, you must believe that he is. 669 00:43:34,840 --> 00:43:36,760 And that he. Is the reward of them who 670 00:43:36,760 --> 00:43:41,760 diligently seek him. So we come to God when we pray, 671 00:43:42,240 --> 00:43:47,160 we put this oil on you and pray or anytime we pray, we pray 672 00:43:47,160 --> 00:43:51,000 believing that God is able to do it. 673 00:43:52,240 --> 00:43:57,200 He's able to do it, but we also submit to the will of God. 674 00:43:58,800 --> 00:44:04,760 We submit to the will of God. I know when Paul prayed those 675 00:44:04,760 --> 00:44:07,920 three times that the thorn would be moved from his flesh. 676 00:44:07,960 --> 00:44:11,800 I'm sure he prayed knowing that God is able to do it. 677 00:44:13,240 --> 00:44:15,400 But he also submitted to the will of God. 678 00:44:15,760 --> 00:44:20,560 If he did not do it, he submitted to the will of God. 679 00:44:23,120 --> 00:44:26,400 And God told him. He said Look, my grace. 680 00:44:27,120 --> 00:44:32,720 Is sufficient for you? We always want the grace of God. 681 00:44:33,920 --> 00:44:37,440 We want the grace of God to be upon your life, regardless of 682 00:44:37,440 --> 00:44:40,080 whether He chooses to heal you right then and there. 683 00:44:40,280 --> 00:44:42,240 Make somebody get up and walk right then and there. 684 00:44:42,240 --> 00:44:45,320 Regardless of that, we want the grace of God, however God 685 00:44:45,320 --> 00:44:49,480 chooses to use. That grace in your life to be 686 00:44:49,480 --> 00:44:53,560 upon you. We want His grace and His will 687 00:44:53,560 --> 00:44:56,440 to be upon you. So then he goes on here, he 688 00:44:56,440 --> 00:45:01,240 says, and if he's, if he committed sins, he will be 689 00:45:01,240 --> 00:45:03,880 forgiven. It's interesting because there 690 00:45:03,880 --> 00:45:07,280 was at least two situations in the word of God, one in Mark 2 691 00:45:07,280 --> 00:45:11,160 and the other one in John 5, where it it was intended. 692 00:45:11,320 --> 00:45:14,400 They, they, they brought this paralytic man to Jesus. 693 00:45:14,400 --> 00:45:15,760 Actually even loading through the. 694 00:45:16,080 --> 00:45:19,800 Through the roof. The paralytic man, they load him 695 00:45:19,800 --> 00:45:21,880 to the roof and they wanted Jesus to heal, Amen. 696 00:45:22,120 --> 00:45:24,200 And, and Jesus said your sins are forgiven you. 697 00:45:25,240 --> 00:45:27,120 And I'm sure the people that brought him said, wait a minute, 698 00:45:27,920 --> 00:45:30,560 we, we want this guy healed. We want him to get up and walk. 699 00:45:31,080 --> 00:45:36,320 But Jesus, he healed the most important need, which is what it 700 00:45:36,320 --> 00:45:39,080 is for us, the most important need that we have is for our 701 00:45:39,080 --> 00:45:44,240 sins to be forgiven us. That's the most important need. 702 00:45:44,440 --> 00:45:48,920 And on 2 occasions he healed with and he it began with the 703 00:45:48,920 --> 00:45:52,120 forgiveness of sins. When he healed the man at the 704 00:45:52,320 --> 00:45:57,760 poor Bethesda, He said your sins have forgiven you, but go back 705 00:45:57,760 --> 00:46:01,680 and sin no more because the next time it may be something worse 706 00:46:02,280 --> 00:46:04,800 that may come upon you. So don't sin no more. 707 00:46:05,920 --> 00:46:09,520 But he also healed the physical condition as well. 708 00:46:09,720 --> 00:46:12,560 Because God knows what we need, just like we prayed it earlier. 709 00:46:12,720 --> 00:46:17,760 God knows what our needs are. He knows the strongest need that 710 00:46:17,760 --> 00:46:23,280 we have. And then here and the bottom he 711 00:46:23,280 --> 00:46:26,280 says that the bottom of this verse 16, he said that the 712 00:46:26,280 --> 00:46:27,600 effective fervent. Prayer of the. 713 00:46:27,600 --> 00:46:32,880 Righteous man avails much. And then he said Elijah was a 714 00:46:32,880 --> 00:46:37,520 man with a nature like ours. And he prayed earnestly that it 715 00:46:37,520 --> 00:46:40,520 would not rain. And it did not rain on the land 716 00:46:40,520 --> 00:46:44,080 for three years and six months. So 3 1/2 years it didn't rain. 717 00:46:44,680 --> 00:46:48,080 And he prayed again, and it rained, and the earth produced 718 00:46:48,080 --> 00:46:51,920 it's it's fruit. So Elijah being this example, 719 00:46:51,920 --> 00:46:54,880 here goes another example of a man who's not perfect. 720 00:46:56,120 --> 00:46:58,200 He's not perfect. In fact, he said he had like 721 00:46:58,200 --> 00:47:01,200 passions, just, you know, like nature, just like ours. 722 00:47:01,920 --> 00:47:04,520 So he had a, a tendency that he could send as well. 723 00:47:05,720 --> 00:47:10,480 But yet he prayed because his heart and his faith that he had 724 00:47:10,480 --> 00:47:13,720 in the Lord Jesus Christ or that he had in God that he could do 725 00:47:13,720 --> 00:47:17,120 it. He prayed it, and the Lord 726 00:47:17,720 --> 00:47:20,160 granted. It didn't rain for three and a 727 00:47:20,160 --> 00:47:24,760 half, 3 1/2 years. Then he prayed again and it 728 00:47:24,760 --> 00:47:29,440 rained. So we are invited to pray and 729 00:47:29,440 --> 00:47:32,560 ask God for the things that we need. 730 00:47:32,960 --> 00:47:37,160 The things. That will help us to. 731 00:47:37,160 --> 00:47:40,720 Serve him more to serve him better. 732 00:47:42,240 --> 00:47:46,360 We can pray for those things and then here in 19 and 20 and we're 733 00:47:46,360 --> 00:47:48,720 going to end here. Praise and worship team, you can 734 00:47:48,720 --> 00:47:52,600 come forth. No, actually, praise and worship 735 00:47:52,600 --> 00:47:56,400 team, you can, you can, you can stay for a minute because I want 736 00:47:56,400 --> 00:48:00,480 to do a, a prayer at the end of this before we bring on the last 737 00:48:00,480 --> 00:48:08,760 song. 19 Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the 738 00:48:08,760 --> 00:48:16,320 truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who 739 00:48:16,320 --> 00:48:20,520 turns back a Sinner from the. Air of his way will save a soul 740 00:48:20,720 --> 00:48:25,080 from. Death and cover a multitude of 741 00:48:25,080 --> 00:48:27,640 sins. Really interesting here, verse 742 00:48:27,640 --> 00:48:33,640 19 and 20, we're now talking about someone who is saved and 743 00:48:33,640 --> 00:48:35,840 they walk away for whatever reason. 744 00:48:35,840 --> 00:48:40,600 They walk away from Christ, they walk away from the truth, they 745 00:48:40,600 --> 00:48:45,280 walk away from good theology, or they walk away from the true 746 00:48:45,280 --> 00:48:49,560 doctrine of the apostles. They walk away for it from 747 00:48:49,560 --> 00:48:53,600 whatever reason. And he's saying to us, the 748 00:48:53,600 --> 00:48:59,000 church, that we don't just ignore that when someone walks 749 00:48:59,000 --> 00:49:00,440 away from the truth. Now, I'm not talking about 750 00:49:00,440 --> 00:49:04,440 someone who just leaves one church and go to another church. 751 00:49:05,080 --> 00:49:09,000 That person still saved as long as they're going to a church 752 00:49:09,000 --> 00:49:11,560 that preaches the Word. As long as we're going to a 753 00:49:11,560 --> 00:49:15,400 church that believe that Jesus Christ is, you know, you know 754 00:49:15,520 --> 00:49:18,480 that Jesus Christ is the true Son of God and that he is God in 755 00:49:18,480 --> 00:49:19,600 the flesh. As long as they believe all 756 00:49:19,600 --> 00:49:23,840 those things and they're. They're OK, but if someone 757 00:49:23,840 --> 00:49:25,480 walks? Away from the faith. 758 00:49:26,080 --> 00:49:32,920 No longer wants to serve him, no longer wants to, no longer wants 759 00:49:32,920 --> 00:49:36,920 to hear this doctrine that he's encouraging us. 760 00:49:38,640 --> 00:49:43,720 To go and get that person. And to try to bring that person 761 00:49:43,720 --> 00:49:50,320 back to the truth, to bring that person back to love that person 762 00:49:50,320 --> 00:49:54,240 enough to not leave them out there in the wilderness, To not 763 00:49:54,240 --> 00:49:56,080 leave them out there in the deep waters. 764 00:49:56,240 --> 00:49:59,800 To not leave them out there for the enemy to be able to devour, 765 00:50:01,040 --> 00:50:03,920 to love them enough to go get them. 766 00:50:04,520 --> 00:50:09,800 That's what this whole thing is about and we should know that he 767 00:50:09,800 --> 00:50:16,680 who turns 1 and brings them back, they save a soul from 768 00:50:16,680 --> 00:50:18,840 death. Rather be spiritual death, 769 00:50:18,880 --> 00:50:24,680 physical death, or premature death that could result that 770 00:50:24,680 --> 00:50:32,560 could result. From someone sin, bring that 771 00:50:32,560 --> 00:50:41,600 person back because this covers it will cover a multitude of 772 00:50:41,600 --> 00:50:44,440 sins. We know that the Scriptures tell 773 00:50:44,440 --> 00:50:48,000 us that if a man is overtaken in a trespass, that you who are 774 00:50:48,000 --> 00:50:51,680 spiritual, you who are spiritual, not you who are 775 00:50:51,680 --> 00:50:57,120 prideful, not you who are self-righteous, but you who are 776 00:50:57,120 --> 00:50:59,200 spiritual. You. 777 00:51:00,000 --> 00:51:05,400 Are the one that you restore such a one in the spirit of 778 00:51:05,400 --> 00:51:10,440 gentleness, considering yourself, unless you be tempted, 779 00:51:11,560 --> 00:51:13,840 There's nothing that we can say, there's no sin out there that we 780 00:51:13,840 --> 00:51:18,240 can say that we would never do because we really don't know. 781 00:51:21,760 --> 00:51:27,200 Save the power of the Holy Spirit, but the will of God, 782 00:51:27,200 --> 00:51:29,760 God's love and mercy who keeps us. 783 00:51:31,280 --> 00:51:35,080 We don't know what we would do if it were not for him. 784 00:51:35,080 --> 00:51:37,200 I don't know where I would be today if it were not for him. 785 00:51:40,440 --> 00:51:46,160 And I need him every single day, not just some days. 786 00:51:46,920 --> 00:51:54,200 I need them every day. I need them even for the baby 787 00:51:54,200 --> 00:51:58,160 steps, even for the small things, the small decisions. 788 00:51:58,440 --> 00:52:01,600 I need them. They're so quick. 789 00:52:02,200 --> 00:52:06,920 So quick that the enemy can come in and distract us, get us off 790 00:52:06,920 --> 00:52:09,160 course. That can happen so fast. 791 00:52:11,400 --> 00:52:16,040 So I need him every day. The enemy will even bring 792 00:52:16,040 --> 00:52:19,640 something back from your past to distract you. 793 00:52:20,720 --> 00:52:24,720 Someone from your past to distract you. 794 00:52:26,840 --> 00:52:33,640 The enemy knows your flavor. I need the power of the Holy 795 00:52:33,640 --> 00:52:36,600 Spirit working in my heart every day. 796 00:52:37,560 --> 00:52:42,480 Every day and we. All. 797 00:52:43,000 --> 00:52:49,160 Need to live our lives looking for the return of Jesus Christ 798 00:52:50,720 --> 00:52:54,400 every day. Looking for his return. 799 00:52:57,360 --> 00:52:58,880 I'm going to ask if we can do something. 800 00:52:59,400 --> 00:53:03,400 I typically don't do this. I'm going to ask if we could all 801 00:53:03,400 --> 00:53:16,840 stand if you can. And whoever is in your owl, 802 00:53:17,320 --> 00:53:21,000 whoever's next to you, would you please just take their hand? 803 00:53:22,480 --> 00:53:27,120 Whoever is next to you, thank you Jesus. 804 00:53:32,370 --> 00:53:34,170 And I'm going. To ask that you just pray for 805 00:53:34,170 --> 00:53:40,520 that person that's next to you. Just for a couple minutes until 806 00:53:40,520 --> 00:53:43,040 we close this out. Let's pray. 807 00:53:43,040 --> 00:53:47,360 Let's start off praying for one another. 808 00:53:50,160 --> 00:53:55,840 There's somebody's telephone, so I'm going to ask you to bow and 809 00:53:55,840 --> 00:53:57,760 pray for the person that's next to you. 810 00:53:58,200 --> 00:54:01,320 Whoever's hand you're holding, please pray for that person. 811 00:54:15,840 --> 00:54:37,930 We need in here someone is sick, bless them 812 00:54:54,510 --> 00:54:55,990 healing. Lord, someone may be sick in 813 00:54:55,990 --> 00:55:03,630 here today, We ask for healing. Someone may be confused or lost 814 00:55:03,630 --> 00:55:07,510 in here today. We ask that you withdraw them. 815 00:55:08,630 --> 00:55:13,600 Draw them to your truth. Someone may have children who 816 00:55:13,600 --> 00:55:19,200 are wayward today. We ask God that we that you 817 00:55:19,200 --> 00:55:21,920 would draw their children, Lord, if it be Thy will, draw their 818 00:55:21,920 --> 00:55:24,960 children to you, Lord. Bring them out of the darkness. 819 00:55:24,960 --> 00:55:26,440 Bring them out of the wilderness. 820 00:55:29,680 --> 00:55:31,800 Someone may be backslidden today, Lord. 821 00:55:34,240 --> 00:55:36,520 We ask that you would reveal truth to them again. 822 00:55:38,440 --> 00:55:43,920 Bring them back to you Lord, someone may be caught up in a 823 00:55:43,920 --> 00:55:48,880 sin that they just can't seem to get rid of. 824 00:55:50,640 --> 00:55:53,080 Lord, we pray that your Holy Spirit will come and give 825 00:55:53,080 --> 00:55:56,480 strength and power to overcome that sin. 826 00:55:56,480 --> 00:56:08,720 Lord we come with 1 accord this morning in Jesus name we pray. 827 00:56:10,000 --> 00:56:13,400 Hey, man, you may be seated, Praise and worship team, you can 828 00:56:13,400 --> 00:56:22,920 come forth and we are going to have our communion, going to 829 00:56:22,920 --> 00:56:28,400 have our communion this morning. All these things that we read 830 00:56:28,400 --> 00:56:32,000 about in James, in the book of James, and all these things that 831 00:56:32,560 --> 00:56:37,040 we hear James talking about, we have to realize that these 832 00:56:37,040 --> 00:56:40,040 things reveal the character of Jesus Christ. 833 00:56:42,440 --> 00:56:44,640 These things reveal the character of Jesus Christ. 834 00:56:45,000 --> 00:56:48,080 It reveals His goodness, His kindness, His mercy. 835 00:56:48,240 --> 00:56:53,000 It reveals His truth. It reveals his perseverance. 836 00:56:53,360 --> 00:56:56,360 As we talked about with the Old Testament probably reveals his 837 00:56:56,800 --> 00:57:00,760 perseverance and through suffering his patience. 838 00:57:02,840 --> 00:57:08,720 It reveals one who walked out what the father told him. 839 00:57:09,200 --> 00:57:11,120 He said only do what the father tells me. 840 00:57:11,920 --> 00:57:14,560 I only say what the Father gives me to say. 841 00:57:16,360 --> 00:57:19,240 All of these. Things in the Word of God reveal 842 00:57:19,800 --> 00:57:23,120 the character and the person of Jesus Christ. 843 00:57:24,920 --> 00:57:28,520 So as we take our communion this morning, let us remember Him. 844 00:57:29,040 --> 00:57:35,080 As we go into this new year, let us remember the sacrifice that 845 00:57:35,080 --> 00:57:37,360 he made. For you and for me. 846 00:57:38,440 --> 00:57:46,560 He became sin for us. If you can wrap your mind around 847 00:57:46,560 --> 00:57:54,440 that. He became sin for us, that we 848 00:57:54,440 --> 00:57:59,680 may become the righteousness of God in Him. 849 00:58:02,200 --> 00:58:04,280 And we have the record of the great exchange. 850 00:58:04,280 --> 00:58:09,120 He gave us His righteousness, and He took all of our sin. 851 00:58:09,960 --> 00:58:11,840 He took it all the way to the cross. 852 00:58:13,000 --> 00:58:18,320 He bore the cross for us. He was our propitiation. 853 00:58:19,880 --> 00:58:23,120 And even now in His resurrection, He's our advocate. 854 00:58:25,520 --> 00:58:28,800 He's everything for us. He's our peace. 855 00:58:30,160 --> 00:58:34,840 He's our righteousness. He's our redemption. 856 00:58:37,120 --> 00:58:40,200 He's our sanctification. He's everything for us. 857 00:58:43,320 --> 00:58:45,720 Someone asks you, Who is Jesus to you? 858 00:58:45,720 --> 00:58:49,600 He's everything. He's everything to me. 859 00:58:52,360 --> 00:59:00,080 So on the night in which he was betrayed, he took bread, and 860 00:59:00,080 --> 00:59:02,760 when he had given thanks, he broke it. 861 00:59:05,520 --> 00:59:11,800 And he said, take and eat. This is my body broken for you, 862 00:59:14,240 --> 00:59:19,880 broken for you, not for one sin that I committed. 863 00:59:20,240 --> 00:59:27,320 It's broken for you. And eat this as often as you eat 864 00:59:27,320 --> 00:59:34,880 this in remembrance of me. In the same manner he also took 865 00:59:34,880 --> 00:59:44,080 the cup, and after supper he said, This cup is the new 866 00:59:44,080 --> 00:59:51,360 covenant in my blood, my blood which was shed for the 867 00:59:51,360 --> 00:59:58,120 forgiveness of sins of many. Drink this. 868 00:59:58,520 --> 01:00:04,840 And as often as you drink it, drinking and remembrance of Me, 869 01:00:05,520 --> 01:00:08,280 drinking and remembrance of my sacrifice, drinking and 870 01:00:08,280 --> 01:00:11,640 remembrance of My word, drinking and remembrance of My promises, 871 01:00:11,840 --> 01:00:14,000 drinking and. Remembrance that I'm coming back 872 01:00:17,160 --> 01:00:20,400 as often as you drink it. Drinking and remembrance of me. 873 01:00:24,680 --> 01:00:28,600 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you do 874 01:00:28,600 --> 01:00:31,000 show the Lord's death until we come. 875 01:00:31,000 --> 01:00:34,320 Amen. The altar is open in case anyone 876 01:00:34,320 --> 01:00:37,720 wants to come up and have some alone time with the Lord.