Artwork for podcast  Daily Bible Podcast
November 22, 2024 - James
22nd November 2024 • Daily Bible Podcast • Compass Bible Church North Texas
00:00:00 00:21:59

Share Episode

Shownotes

00:00 Introduction

04:25 Understanding the Book of James

12:02 Faith and Works

14:11 Taming the Tongue and Wisdom

16:05 Warnings About Worldliness

20:16 The Power of Prayer

21:04 Closing Prayer and Farewell

Transcripts

Speaker:

Hey everybody.

2

:

Welcome back to another edition

of the daily Bible podcast.

3

:

What's up folks.

4

:

We are coming at you on Friday.

5

:

It's Friday.

6

:

It's the end of the week.

7

:

Well, sort of the end of the

week, if you're in a normal

8

:

95, it's the end of your week.

9

:

So good job.

10

:

You made it.

11

:

And the weekends in front of you.

12

:

And so that's a good thing.

13

:

We're going to be together on Sunday.

14

:

We're you get Saturday

in front of you tomorrow.

15

:

That's that's always a win.

16

:

Our schedules are a little bit different.

17

:

Just.

18

:

Being involved in ministry.

19

:

We.

20

:

It's kind of the beginning of the,

the main part of our week here.

21

:

Um, but Fridays are still, they

still hold that, that I don't know.

22

:

That nostalgic, like, man, it

feels good that it's Friday.

23

:

Like Fridays.

24

:

Yeah.

25

:

Like Saturdays.

26

:

Yeah.

27

:

I like Sundays.

28

:

And Monday.

29

:

Monday you like every day of the week,

every day has a different flavor.

30

:

And I appreciate that flavor.

31

:

Yeah.

32

:

That's fair.

33

:

I think I'm coming to, to

appreciate those things as well.

34

:

So.

35

:

Yeah.

36

:

Um, we, we bought our Turkey.

37

:

Uh, from Costco, apparently 15

bucks for a Turkey from Costco.

38

:

I thought that was a good deal.

39

:

I was surprised that we

got it for that cheap.

40

:

How big is it?

41

:

I don't know.

42

:

I haven't determined that yet.

43

:

I don't know if it's a good deal or not.

44

:

That's true.

45

:

If it's a five pound Turkey, $15 for

a five pound Turkey, that's probably

46

:

not a good deal, but usually we're

in that 12 to 15 pound range there.

47

:

Um, yeah, we got a pumpkin pie.

48

:

We got, we got our Thanksgiving fixing.

49

:

Coming up, hand-eye coming together.

50

:

W, I don't think we've bought our

canned cranberry sauce yet though.

51

:

And it, it needs to be candid.

52

:

It should have the ridges on it.

53

:

And we've been over that.

54

:

It should make a sound when

it pours out of the camp.

55

:

That's that's cranberry.

56

:

Sauce slash jelly.

57

:

And I know there's, that's controversial.

58

:

But, uh, everybody else is wrong and

that's, that's the right way to go.

59

:

You should be able to slice into a disc,

the jelly that that goes with your Turkey.

60

:

So.

61

:

I know we'll get feedback from that.

62

:

Cause we do every year, but

if you disagree, that's okay.

63

:

You can be wrong.

64

:

That's a, that's how we're going to do it.

65

:

That's what we do here.

66

:

That's right.

67

:

Do you agree with that?

68

:

Yes.

69

:

Yeah.

70

:

That's something that,

that we're in agreement on.

71

:

I didn't know that that's good.

72

:

I'm in agreement that there's

conversation every year.

73

:

Yeah.

74

:

Not about your position

on it, necessarily.

75

:

You like the real cranberry sauce.

76

:

I can exit depends on the day.

77

:

Yeah, it depends on the day.

78

:

I have some nostalgia for the canned

stuff, because that's what I knew.

79

:

Yeah.

80

:

Uh, but I, I definitely

appreciate the real stuff.

81

:

What's the one thing, because you're

taking some time off around Thanksgiving.

82

:

So I don't think we're going to

be able to hear from you next

83

:

week leading into the holiday.

84

:

So w this is the chance that

the people want to know.

85

:

What is the one thing that

you have to have on the table

86

:

besides the normal Turkey?

87

:

On Thanksgiving day.

88

:

Um, Half to, I don't,

I don't have a half to.

89

:

I honestly don't care that much.

90

:

I care that there's food and I care

that there's people, I don't care.

91

:

What's on the table so much.

92

:

Right.

93

:

You know, I think one of the things that's

changed in the last several years is my.

94

:

I thinking about food.

95

:

Uh, food used to be something

of a weakness for me.

96

:

So I, I have a.

97

:

I think a tempered response to it.

98

:

That is also, probably

far on the other side.

99

:

I, I, I try not to care

too much about the flavor.

100

:

I.

101

:

I want it.

102

:

I want it to be healthy and good for me.

103

:

And I don't care as much

about what it tastes like.

104

:

Um, as long as it's,

you know, good for me.

105

:

And if I can, if it's good for me that

I can appreciate the flavor almost.

106

:

Almost regardless of what, what the flavor

is within, within the Western palette.

107

:

Obviously I'm not talking about.

108

:

Balut or something like that.

109

:

I'm talking about the Western

palette within the Western palette.

110

:

And that spectrum, I don't care a

whole lot, what it tastes like as

111

:

long as it's good and good for you.

112

:

I'm I'm good for that.

113

:

And it could be anything almost no

balut on your Thanksgiving table though.

114

:

Not typically.

115

:

Although, you know, if I had a Filipino

friend who wanted to bring it over,

116

:

then I might be willing to try it.

117

:

Let's let's change it up even more.

118

:

Let's say we have an STM

eventually short-term mission trip.

119

:

We're going to the Philippines for that.

120

:

You're leading it.

121

:

Would you have believed.

122

:

While you're there.

123

:

I would probably be

fasting while I was there.

124

:

And all in all likeliness, because

I mean, On top of that, you know,

125

:

my stomach tells me things that

it likes in versus not like.

126

:

Yeah.

127

:

You know, there's effects now.

128

:

I'm aging.

129

:

I find that my body's more

sensitive to certain foods.

130

:

And that means, then I'm just more

aware and I try not to eat things

131

:

that are gonna cause me pain or slow

me down or make me less effective

132

:

in the things that I want to do.

133

:

So.

134

:

I would probably not eat.

135

:

And I'll be honest unless I was in

someone's house and like, oh, here you go.

136

:

I would eat.

137

:

But I know I would pay for it later.

138

:

Almost guaranteed.

139

:

Anytime you go over the, over

the country lines and you're

140

:

in someone else's ballpark.

141

:

You're going to pay for

it one way or another.

142

:

Yeah.

143

:

Yeah.

144

:

Speaking of short-term missions, did

you see our sister church down in new

145

:

Braunfels is launching their first STM?

146

:

I think it's their first STM as a church.

147

:

I did see something from pastor Evan.

148

:

Yeah.

149

:

Uh, there's Guatemala, I think.

150

:

Yep.

151

:

They're about a year and a half

ahead of us from where we're at.

152

:

I think they're in their fourth year now.

153

:

Um, And, uh, yeah, there,

they're headed down to Guatemala.

154

:

So it'll be interesting to see when,

when we get that up and running

155

:

what that's going to look like

eventually, but I know you've been

156

:

to Guatemala a couple of times.

157

:

Yeah.

158

:

Um, maybe we'll go to the Philippines.

159

:

Who knows?

160

:

We have no connections over there though.

161

:

Other than.

162

:

People need Jesus.

163

:

And people needed Jesus at the

launch of the early church.

164

:

And so that brings us to our daily

Bible reading, where we are looking

165

:

at the book of James and James is a

name to pay attention to in the Bible

166

:

because there are multiple James is.

167

:

Um, we've seen the death of one

James already, James, the brother

168

:

of John, the sons of Zebedee.

169

:

So obviously if we're still

talking about James and we're

170

:

reading a letter written by James.

171

:

Uh, this is not the same one.

172

:

This in fact is James the half

brother of our Lord and savior Jesus.

173

:

And James is going to

write, not under that.

174

:

Um, Uh, that, that, that

title as much as, as.

175

:

Demonstrating that the humility of just

writing as, as the head of the Jerusalem

176

:

church there, which he was in acts

15, there they're going to go to him,

177

:

which we're going to look at acts 15.

178

:

I believe tomorrow in tomorrow's.

179

:

Uh, daily Bible reading passage.

180

:

And so it fits that James is going to be

right in here, but James is as a letter.

181

:

Uh, is thought by, by many to

be one of the earliest writings.

182

:

So hence in our chronological plan,

we're coming to James first as

183

:

we're going through our epistles.

184

:

And it's also known as the

new Testament Proverbs.

185

:

And as you read through the

book, I think you'll pick up why

186

:

there's a lot of wisdom here.

187

:

There's a lot of pithy statements here.

188

:

There's a lot of things you're going

to read and go, oh, I didn't realize

189

:

that came from James, or maybe

you'll say, oh, I forgot that came.

190

:

Came from James, but, uh, th

that's kind of the thrust of James.

191

:

James is written as we

pick up in chapter one.

192

:

Uh, to the 12 tribes in the dispersion.

193

:

So that tells us a couple of things.

194

:

Number one, he's writing

to Jewish believers.

195

:

Number two, he's writing to those that

are in the dispersion, the dispersion

196

:

word, those believers, those Christians

who were persecuted in Jerusalem

197

:

and had to flee from their homes.

198

:

Um, and seek refuge in other

regions of the world at that time.

199

:

And so a lot of them spreads the regions

of Asia minor and so forth and so on here.

200

:

So James is writing to these

dispersed Christians and he's

201

:

trying to encourage them.

202

:

And because he's writing to a

group of disperse, Christians,

203

:

Christians, suffering, persecution.

204

:

He's going to open up the letter by

talking about trials and suffering.

205

:

So, uh, this is a passage in

verses two through 12 that

206

:

a lot of people immediately.

207

:

Think of when they think of the

book of James and that is that

208

:

idea of counting it all joy.

209

:

When we meet trials of various kinds.

210

:

And so in the context there that hopefully

will give you a better understanding

211

:

that these are Christians that have been

driven away from everything familiar.

212

:

These are people that, that

are questioning perhaps even

213

:

some of their identity as Jews.

214

:

They had always had.

215

:

The temple and the Pharisees

as leaders and the rabbis.

216

:

And now as Christians.

217

:

They had realized the Messiah, the hope

of Jews, but, but now they were driven

218

:

away from everything that they knew.

219

:

And so James is writing to them to

encourage them, to steadfastness, to

220

:

perseverance, uh, encouraging them

not to let their circumstances verses

221

:

seven through eight, even lead to doubt

of God's character or his abilities.

222

:

But to ask him in faith for wisdom, to be

able to hold true, to be able to remain

223

:

committed to the Lord and not to waiver.

224

:

And if they would do that,

then the Lord would honor that.

225

:

Um, and in verses nine through 12,

even there he's, he's encouraging them.

226

:

Hey, don't long for things

that are going to fade away.

227

:

And don't last, but boast in what

God is doing through the trials

228

:

that you encounter because through

the trials that you encounter.

229

:

Uh, God is producing good things in you.

230

:

Blessed is the man verse 12, who

remains steadfast under trial.

231

:

So James opens up writing to

these persecuted, disperse

232

:

people saying, Hey, count it all.

233

:

Joy.

234

:

When you meet various trials.

235

:

Yeah, I just want to remind you, uh,

maybe we talked about this last year.

236

:

I don't recall, but James

is actually the name, Jacob.

237

:

Um, in the Greek, his name is Jaco bus.

238

:

Which is you can kind of sorta hear it.

239

:

Yacht gold.

240

:

Uh, Jacob is the name of Jesus.

241

:

Half-brother.

242

:

I think it was because of king James,

that his name was given honorifics as

243

:

James, even though it's technically

and truly his name is Jacob.

244

:

So FYI.

245

:

FYI something free to keep in mind

as you work through the book of

246

:

James, which is actually Jacob.

247

:

There we go.

248

:

Which so next time somebody says, Hey,

open up to Jacob chapter one, you'll

249

:

be like, Hey, I know where to go.

250

:

I know where to go on that one.

251

:

Uh, verses 13 through 18, then we

get into this other section where

252

:

he's going to talk about temptation.

253

:

Um, Uh, PR some insights perhaps on.

254

:

James his thought process here,

because he goes from talking about

255

:

trials and suffering to talking about

temptation here in verses 13 through

256

:

18 saying, Hey God never tempts anyone.

257

:

Uh, but instead temptation

comes from within.

258

:

Instead we need to remember God is the

giver of every perfect gift, help us

259

:

categorize the, the flow of, of thought.

260

:

Here may be in James chapter one,

as, as he's going from talking about

261

:

trials to talking about temptations

here, is there a connection there?

262

:

I've heard some suggest.

263

:

It's the same word that's

being used for, for both.

264

:

And so maybe there's the continuity there.

265

:

Is there any thoughts as to where

James is going with his connection

266

:

between temptation and suffering?

267

:

You know, I'm not entirely sure.

268

:

Uh, of the, the, the words

right now, I'm looking at.

269

:

Uh, Trump, uh, version of, of that

in front of me, but I don't see that.

270

:

What I do know.

271

:

And what I would say is that I think.

272

:

Uh, one of the ways that James uses

the word temptation is different

273

:

than how I would understand it.

274

:

Cause he talks about

temptation leading to sin.

275

:

I think temptation as a rule.

276

:

Uh, generally speaking is a form of sin.

277

:

It's just not actualized sin.

278

:

So the temptation to do evil

is itself worth saying some.

279

:

Is it self worth repenting over.

280

:

If I'm tempted to do wrong, to say a bad

word or two to do something inappropriate.

281

:

Um, someone might say, well, I didn't

act upon it and therefore it's not sin.

282

:

And I would say, I don't think

that's how James is using it here.

283

:

At least that's, that's not how

I see him developing the idea.

284

:

I think Jesus says that temptations

to do evil are also sin.

285

:

When he says, look, if you lust in your

heart, Um, Would you might say, well

286

:

then if I, if I'm tempted to less than I

don't less, is that, is that different?

287

:

And I would say it's still a form of sin.

288

:

It's the baby form of the sin.

289

:

And, and we talk about it being a

baby form, not in the sense that it's.

290

:

It's uh, it's categorically different.

291

:

It's just in the, in, in

terms of size different.

292

:

So when James says.

293

:

Desire when it's conceived

gives birth to sin and sin.

294

:

When it's fully grown,

brings, it brings forth death.

295

:

He's talking about the

progression that sin takes.

296

:

Uh, not that what's happening in

the heart is less than it's just us.

297

:

Well, I guess less in terms

of size, it's still sin.

298

:

It's just categorically

the same categorically, the

299

:

same size wise, not as big.

300

:

Yeah.

301

:

And you may be wondering, cause there's.

302

:

The passage where Jesus is tempted.

303

:

And so you may be saying, wait a

minute, if temptation itself is

304

:

sin, how could you just be tempted?

305

:

Well, And I think the difference

is James is talking about there's

306

:

two types of temptation there's

temptation that comes from without.

307

:

And there's temptation that arises

from within and the temptation.

308

:

I think pesto.

309

:

We're talking about here is that

temptation that arises from within.

310

:

Is that temptation that's produced by

our fallen nature, our sinfulness that

311

:

says I want something that I can't have.

312

:

And so I'm going to lust after

it, or I'm going to covet this.

313

:

I'm going to be greedy for these things.

314

:

Jesus.

315

:

When he's led into the wilderness is

tempted from without external temptation

316

:

being Satan saying, Hey, you're hungry.

317

:

It turned this rock into a loaf

of bread and satisfy your hunger.

318

:

That's not a sinful desire

from within the heart of Jesus.

319

:

That's the enemy doing that?

320

:

Tempting.

321

:

Uh, to Jesus.

322

:

And I think our problem is as,

as fallen human beings, we have

323

:

both of those things going on.

324

:

We have Satan network in this world

to Louris and tempt us in this world.

325

:

And we have our fallen nature within us.

326

:

Uh, that is going to produce

its own set of temptations.

327

:

And so as Christians, we

have to stand our guard.

328

:

It's possible here.

329

:

I'd love to talk with James someday

and I actually trust eventually I'll be

330

:

able to do that, but, um, maybe James

is writing this because he's thinking

331

:

about the temptation to abandon Christ.

332

:

He's he's thinking about what.

333

:

With trials comes this temptation

to kind of all the book of Hebrews.

334

:

Look back over our shoulder and

think, oh man, it was much easier

335

:

before I became a Christian.

336

:

So maybe this is more about, cause

I think when we read temptation, I

337

:

think more often than not, I think

we're going to connect it most often

338

:

in our culture, probably with sexual

sin, but, and there's others as well.

339

:

But I don't know that that's

what his focus is here.

340

:

I think it's probably more,

Hey, stay, stay loyal to Christ.

341

:

Don't be tempted.

342

:

To go back and look back to where

it was a little bit easier, but,

343

:

but stay here and remember, this is

God's doing good things through these

344

:

trials that are coming your way.

345

:

Verses 19 through 27, then he gets

into the section, another familiar

346

:

section to James on, on being

hearers and doers of the word.

347

:

Uh, not just those that hear

only, but also those that,

348

:

that put it into practice.

349

:

And in verses 23 through

24, this is the purpose.

350

:

He basically says if the Bible, the

Bible is the word of God is given to

351

:

us so that we can look into it's it's

reflection of us, of our hearts, of our

352

:

lives and see the areas that need to

be addressed and address those areas.

353

:

So.

354

:

I don't just be a hero, but be a Dewar.

355

:

Don't you be the one that looks

at the mirror, but look at

356

:

the mirror and comb your hair.

357

:

Do something about it.

358

:

Don't just walk away and

forget what you look like.

359

:

There.

360

:

Chapter two then, uh, fulfilling the Royal

law of love is, is verses one through 13.

361

:

What does it look like to

love other people, not showing

362

:

partiality to people and not seeing.

363

:

Of this person, Hey, they

pulled up in their brand new.

364

:

Maxed out, you know, Tesla

model S plaid edition.

365

:

And so we're going to open the door for

them and sit them up front and make sure

366

:

that they meet the pastor afterwards.

367

:

That's the sin of partiality

versus instead we need to.

368

:

To love everyone love

our neighbor as ourself.

369

:

That's the Royal law of love

that we were given by our savior.

370

:

And then 14 through 26.

371

:

This is what made Luther so

angry because he thought that

372

:

James was disagreeing with Paul.

373

:

And here James is arguing

faith and work, work together.

374

:

And so this is, is not, uh, James

pitting faith versus works, but

375

:

saying, Hey, one produces the

other, our faith should produce.

376

:

It works.

377

:

And so Luther came out

and said, this is wrong.

378

:

He called it a right strongly,

a pistol S T R a w Y a.

379

:

That's a difficult word to say, but he

was probably able to say it in German.

380

:

And it sounded a lot better

than that, but he did not like

381

:

James, it took him so long.

382

:

To come to terms with this pasteurized.

383

:

Any thoughts for us as we

consider works in faith, in how

384

:

those two things go together.

385

:

In our understanding.

386

:

To not separate what the

Lord has joined together.

387

:

So works and our faith are

not mutually exclusive.

388

:

They are friends, they are

companions and our job is not to.

389

:

To circumvent the process of

how faith works by saying,

390

:

this is, this is, this is that.

391

:

Or to confuse them, we don't

want to confuse them and

392

:

want to keep them together.

393

:

And that just means that we

keep both in their place.

394

:

Faith is what saves us.

395

:

Works is what demonstrates and gives.

396

:

Uh, the evidence that our faith is

alive and well that it's working.

397

:

Uh, so this is, this is not something

to trouble yourself with James and,

398

:

and Paul are saying different things.

399

:

They're not in contradiction.

400

:

So super important.

401

:

We talk about this all the

time, but it's, it's, it's clear

402

:

scripture calls us to live lives.

403

:

Um, Uh, fruitfulness that

give evidence of our faith.

404

:

He's not saying that your faith, uh, self,

uh, Is that same, that your, your works

405

:

justify you in a sense that's ultimately,

but they prove that your faith is real.

406

:

That's the only way you can

see that someone's faith as

407

:

legitimate is if there's works

that testify to the, to that faith.

408

:

If there's no works, And

we'd be right to assume.

409

:

The faith is not real.

410

:

Uh, that's just, that's just

what script you're saying.

411

:

And I think it's very

practical and very helpful.

412

:

Yep.

413

:

I would agree.

414

:

Yeah.

415

:

James chapter three, then some of those

works and what those will look like.

416

:

He opens up with talking

about our tongues.

417

:

And he says, Hey, we need to

be careful verses one through

418

:

12, how we speak teachers.

419

:

He says in verse one are going to be

held to a much greater strictness.

420

:

And so we shouldn't desire that.

421

:

And, and without weighing the.

422

:

The standard to which.

423

:

Uh, as, as teachers and preachers.

424

:

As pastors, we're going to be held to a

higher standard because of what we do.

425

:

We teach other people.

426

:

So we use our words to tell their people,

this is what the Bible means, man.

427

:

That's a terrifying thing to do,

uh, with any sort of flippancy.

428

:

We need to take that with a

lot of weight tomorrow in our.

429

:

Tomorrow.

430

:

Sorry.

431

:

Uh, in, in what we're doing and

in understand that we're going to

432

:

be held accountable for the words

that we speak as, as teachers.

433

:

But for everybody, verse six is.

434

:

Tells us that the tongue is a

problem because the tongue reveals

435

:

what's going on in the heart.

436

:

And that's why James zooms in on this.

437

:

Verses nine through 10 with our tongue.

438

:

Sometimes we can bless God, but curse our

brothers, the tongue, he says in verse

439

:

six is the littlest thing in our body.

440

:

And yet it's, it's the

one that can sustain.

441

:

He says in six, the whole body.

442

:

Sitting on fire the entire course of

life and set on fire by hell again.

443

:

Why?

444

:

Because the tongue so often

reveals what's in the heart.

445

:

When we speak, we speak what is

already internally the reality.

446

:

So it's not literally that the tongue is

responsible for the weakness within us.

447

:

It just gives voice to

the wickedness within us.

448

:

Verses 13 through 18, then he goes

on to talk about wisdom and he says,

449

:

this is what wisdom looks like.

450

:

Uh, he says essentially, The first

thing he says is that wisdom shows

451

:

itself who is wise and understanding

among you by his good conduct.

452

:

Let him show his works in

the meekness of wisdom.

453

:

So wisdom is going to manifest itself

and what's it going to look like verse

454

:

17, it's going to look like this.

455

:

It's gonna look pure peaceable,

gentle, open to reason full of mercy.

456

:

Good fruits, impartial and sincere.

457

:

And so James is giving us an understanding

of, of how we should be using our

458

:

tongues, even in the way that we speak

in, in the wisdom that we manifest.

459

:

Should come that that should

be marked by those things.

460

:

Peace with peace gentleness.

461

:

Reason mercy.

462

:

A good fruits, impartiality, insincerity.

463

:

These are things that he's talked about

even previously in the epistle already.

464

:

Uh, James four, then verses one

through 12, we get into his warnings

465

:

about worldliness, uh, that, that

he says here to be friends with

466

:

the world is to be an enemy of God.

467

:

You can't have one foot.

468

:

In other words, in both places,

you have to be all in with God.

469

:

You have to be all in with Christ in.

470

:

So he's challenging, uh, any

who would suggest that they

471

:

could be both in both places.

472

:

This is incompatible.

473

:

You can't do this.

474

:

And so in verses seven through 10,

he basically says, if that's you.

475

:

Repent submit to God, resist the

devil and he will flee to you

476

:

draw near to God and he will draw

near to you cleanse your hands.

477

:

Purify your hearts.

478

:

You double-minded.

479

:

So James is calling

them to repentance here.

480

:

If, uh, if they have sought friendship

with the world at the cost of their

481

:

relationship with, uh, with God,

and then finally, uh, in chapter

482

:

four, at least verses 13 through 17.

483

:

We say all the time in

the church, Lord willing.

484

:

Hey, we're going to do this Lord willing.

485

:

And that kind of comes from here.

486

:

Can you unpack this for us as far as

what we need to do as far as do we need

487

:

to literally say, Hey Lord, willing.

488

:

On every, Hey, I'm gonna

go to the bathroom.

489

:

I'll be right back.

490

:

Lord willing.

491

:

What is he saying here in this passage?

492

:

Yeah, that's a really interesting

saying because sometimes the Christian

493

:

lingo can, can, so many times be

used and we just forget that what

494

:

we're saying or why we're saying it.

495

:

Verse 15.

496

:

Jacob says, instead you ought to say,

if the Lord wills will do this or that.

497

:

So his, his.

498

:

It's corrective is really in the

ballpark of saying, look, you,

499

:

you ought to humbly make plants.

500

:

You should not.

501

:

Uh, and he says here in verse 16, boast

in your arrogance, that is, I'm going

502

:

to go do this and I'm going to do that.

503

:

And I'm going to achieve

this thing over here.

504

:

Uh, life is fleeting.

505

:

Life is a mist.

506

:

He says, you ought to realize that

your life is much more fragile.

507

:

And tentative, then you may realize, and

therefore every plan that you make ought

508

:

to be done with that sense, not that you

have to say it, but at least a sense that

509

:

the Lord has to make these things happen.

510

:

The Lord asked you, allow

them, if the Lord wants me to

511

:

do this, I'm going to do that.

512

:

The Lord wants me to

progress in my company.

513

:

Then I'm going to progress in my company.

514

:

If the Lord wants me to move

to Texas or to California or

515

:

to Florida or wherever else.

516

:

I'm going to do so with an open

hand saying, if the Lord wants me

517

:

to do this, I'm going to do this.

518

:

But the humility that James calls

us to is a kind of humility that

519

:

says, I recognize my life is short.

520

:

It's fleeting, it's weak,

it's tentative in some ways.

521

:

And therefore every plan

that I make I'm going to do.

522

:

So with an open hand, trusting that the

Lord will give me what he wants to do,

523

:

and I'm going to trust whatever he gives

me is his good providential plan for me.

524

:

Yeah.

525

:

That's hard to do, but it's biblical,

super biblical and that's, that's

526

:

a good mindset for us to develop.

527

:

Uh, James five then as we land the book,

he begins in verses one through six

528

:

with, uh, addressing money and wealth.

529

:

And.

530

:

This has been.

531

:

Erroneously said to be.

532

:

Be arguing against.

533

:

Uh, in completion against wealth

against Richards against money

534

:

saying, Hey, all money is evil.

535

:

Nobody should be rich.

536

:

Well, that's not what he's doing.

537

:

Instead, what he's doing is he's

arguing gets trusting in those things.

538

:

Uh, verse three, your gold and silver

have corroded and their corrosion

539

:

will be evidence against you.

540

:

What against you?

541

:

Well, that you trusted in the wrong thing.

542

:

Um, Eva lead up your

treasure in the last days.

543

:

You're, you're all these things

that you have confidence in.

544

:

Don't put your trust there.

545

:

Don't put your, your heart there.

546

:

Um, instead trust in the Lord store up

as, as Jesus said, back in the sermon

547

:

on the Mount store up treasures in

heaven, not treasures here on earth.

548

:

And so it's not a bad thing to have money,

but if you've put your trust there, then

549

:

yeah, you're going to be where James

depicts you in James five, one and two.

550

:

You rich weep and howl for the miseries

that are coming upon you, your riches have

551

:

rotted in your garments are moth eaten.

552

:

They're not going to be good.

553

:

The old mind, you've never

seen a hearse pulling a U haul.

554

:

You can't take it with you.

555

:

And so don't live for the things that

are ultimately going to be given to

556

:

somebody else so much in the book of

Ecclesiastes is about that as well.

557

:

Verses seven through 12 then, uh, this is

another call here as he began the book.

558

:

He returns to these themes again.

559

:

Uh, to, to patiently endure knowing

the Lord is going to return, uh, this,

560

:

this idea of being patient as the ESV

titles of this patients and suffering.

561

:

Returning to this verse eight, be

patient establish your hearts for

562

:

the coming of the Lord is at hand.

563

:

Uh, that word at hand, it means it's

it's soon it's imminent and James.

564

:

Taught that John teaches that in first,

John, he says it's the last hour.

565

:

And yet here we are

almost:

566

:

And we would say still today, the

coming of the Lord is at hand.

567

:

And that gets to what

Peter says when, when he.

568

:

Pushed back against those that say,

Hey, where's, where's the Lord.

569

:

He said he was coming.

570

:

He's not been back yet.

571

:

Hey.

572

:

Don't count the Lord's patience as,

as, as him, you know, forgetting,

573

:

but he's being patient, not wishing

that any should perish, but that

574

:

more should reach repentance.

575

:

So yeah, it's the Lord is still at hand.

576

:

Absolutely.

577

:

He's still at hand.

578

:

Do we need to endure until he comes back

or he calls us home a hundred percent?

579

:

Yes.

580

:

We need to endure until it

comes back or calls us home.

581

:

Finally, he ends with the power of

prayer, uh, verses 13 through 20.

582

:

And, uh, there's a lot in

this passage time sake.

583

:

Uh, just the thing.

584

:

To, to note here that

always stands out to me is.

585

:

Verse 17.

586

:

He says Elijah was a man with a

nature like ours, and he prayed

587

:

fervently that it might not rain.

588

:

And for three years and six months,

it did not rain on the earth.

589

:

And he prayed again and heaven gave rain.

590

:

I love that he was a man with a nature

like ours, and this is just a reminder.

591

:

Prayer has power and it's working.

592

:

And so if we will be.

593

:

Uh, PR prayerful.

594

:

And if we will be men and women marked

by righteousness, because he says it's

595

:

the prayer of the righteous person

here, that's going to be effective.

596

:

Then we can expect big things from

God and answering our prayers.

597

:

So hopefully that encourages you no matter

where you're at, what you're facing,

598

:

you've got a difficult situation at home.

599

:

You've got lost, loved

ones, health issues.

600

:

Eh, James five should be

an encouragement to you.

601

:

The prayer of a righteous person

has great power and it's working.

602

:

We should do that now.

603

:

Yep.

604

:

We should let's do that.

605

:

God, we thank you for that reality,

um, that, that you answer prayer.

606

:

Even talking with somebody.

607

:

Earlier this week about your

sovereignty and our prayers and

608

:

how you ordain our prayers for the

accomplishment of your sovereign will.

609

:

And yet, from our perspective,

God eights, it's real time.

610

:

We are praying and you are

responding and things are happening.

611

:

And you are unfolding.

612

:

You're playing before our eyes.

613

:

We thank you for that.

614

:

And we thank you that we can

always pray and not lose hope.

615

:

Until the day that you call us home.

616

:

And so we pray that it would be faithful

towards that end in Jesus' name.

617

:

And amen.

618

:

All right, I'll keep her in your

Bibles and tune in again tomorrow

619

:

for another edition of the daily

Bible podcasts, you, then you'll buy.

Links

Chapters

Video

More from YouTube