WEBVTT 00:00:00.400 --> 00:00:04.799 Well, we are in our third week studying this book of James. 00:00:05.040 --> 00:00:07.440 James is James is to the point. 00:00:07.679 --> 00:00:12.000 That's why some of us hate the book and some of us love the book because he's just to the point. 00:00:12.160 --> 00:00:22.000 And sometimes he can actually feel like he lacks grace, but we have to remember that James was not written as a book to be chopped up into 12 sermons over three months, like we're doing it. 00:00:22.160 --> 00:00:23.120 James was written as a letter. 00:00:23.199 --> 00:00:32.399 It would have been read all at one time to a group of people so that people would have heard these points and insights, building to the next point and insight, getting you to a conclusion. 00:00:32.640 --> 00:00:37.840 Now, the conclusion of this letter is in the last two verses of the book. 00:00:38.000 --> 00:00:39.520 And so here are those last two verses. 00:00:39.600 --> 00:00:41.759 We have to keep this in mind when we read any other part of it. 00:00:41.920 --> 00:00:44.560 James 5, 19 and 20, last two verses of the book. 00:00:44.799 --> 00:00:58.079 My brothers, if any one among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings him back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. 00:00:58.320 --> 00:01:06.959 So James is saying that the wanderer, the worn out, the failure, the sinner, the broken, has always met with the full forgiveness of Christ. 00:01:07.519 --> 00:01:09.760 And we all need that. 00:01:10.239 --> 00:01:12.239 Because we're all in a battle. 00:01:12.400 --> 00:01:14.640 We all have a battle within us. 00:01:15.280 --> 00:01:22.719 A few years ago, our family went to Virginia to celebrate Thanksgiving with my sister and her family, her two girls, husband, we celebrated Thanksgiving. 00:01:22.799 --> 00:01:28.400 So we were looking for a family activity one afternoon, so we decided we would all go play laser tag. 00:01:28.640 --> 00:01:29.920 Here's a picture of us. 00:01:30.079 --> 00:01:36.000 We got there, we got our guns on, our harnesses on, you know, just loving family, having this great experience. 00:01:36.159 --> 00:01:44.480 We get suited up, we split into teams, we go out into the arena, they dim the lights, a little bit of music comes on, right? 00:01:44.799 --> 00:01:46.400 And everything changes. 00:01:46.560 --> 00:01:51.040 Like everyone just immediately, this loving family, look how loving we are. 00:01:51.599 --> 00:01:53.120 I mean, it turns into a battle. 00:01:53.200 --> 00:01:57.439 Like I mean, people are shooting and demolishing each other, we're pushing over little children. 00:01:57.519 --> 00:01:58.480 I mean, it is serious. 00:01:58.799 --> 00:02:07.599 My my mother, my loving mother over in this area of the church, you know, mature in years, not old, mature in her years, a grandmother. 00:02:07.760 --> 00:02:12.319 She's like hunkered down in a bunker, sniping her little grandbabies. 00:02:12.479 --> 00:02:15.039 Like, what is going on, right? 00:02:16.400 --> 00:02:20.159 It wasn't loving family, it was a battle, one team against the other. 00:02:22.719 --> 00:02:30.000 And then the time's up, the light come, the lights come on, and we're all exhausted, sweaty, a little ashamed of what we just did to the children. 00:02:30.240 --> 00:02:32.319 Just pushing them over, running them over. 00:02:33.039 --> 00:02:35.599 Now, I've played Laser Tag many times. 00:02:35.759 --> 00:02:38.400 I'm not like in a league, don't worry. 00:02:38.800 --> 00:02:39.919 Maybe you are. 00:02:40.159 --> 00:02:41.759 Share your tips with me for the next episode. 00:02:42.240 --> 00:02:43.520 I have played, I'm gonna play again. 00:02:43.599 --> 00:02:44.319 I love it. 00:02:44.479 --> 00:02:45.199 I love it. 00:02:45.360 --> 00:02:48.560 And I've played with many different groups, and the same thing keeps happening. 00:02:48.639 --> 00:02:52.719 Every time you get into that arena and the lights turn off, we lose it. 00:02:52.800 --> 00:02:53.919 And we're all Rambo. 00:02:54.159 --> 00:02:55.759 I mean, we are all in. 00:02:56.080 --> 00:02:57.520 It is a battle, right? 00:02:57.759 --> 00:02:58.879 Every single time. 00:02:59.039 --> 00:03:00.639 It's always a battle. 00:03:00.960 --> 00:03:06.000 We know what it's like to be caught up in a battle, one thing against the other. 00:03:07.039 --> 00:03:16.000 We learned earlier in chapter one that we actually have inside of us, we have an old self and we have a new self, and that there is a battle going on here. 00:03:16.080 --> 00:03:25.280 The old self tries to justify itself, tries to justify its own worth and goodness apart from the Creator. 00:03:26.159 --> 00:03:31.120 This is why we're getting more and more beat down and exhausted. 00:03:31.599 --> 00:03:39.520 Wherever we're exhausted, we can ask ourselves, where am I trying to justify my own value or worth or righteousness? 00:03:39.680 --> 00:03:42.960 But there's this new self, born again, right? 00:03:43.120 --> 00:03:44.560 We say that born-again Christians. 00:03:44.639 --> 00:03:45.280 We're born again. 00:03:45.360 --> 00:03:53.280 We have a new self inside of us, called to a new life where worth and goodness and righteousness and identity are given to us. 00:03:53.520 --> 00:03:55.360 We are receivers. 00:03:55.759 --> 00:04:01.280 This is the basis by which James brings us into verse 19. 00:04:01.599 --> 00:04:03.759 So James 1, 19 through 21. 00:04:03.840 --> 00:04:05.680 Let's make some sense of this passage. 00:04:06.000 --> 00:04:08.159 Know this, my beloved brothers. 00:04:08.479 --> 00:04:14.879 Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger. 00:04:15.439 --> 00:04:19.680 For the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 00:04:19.920 --> 00:04:29.439 Therefore, put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word which is able to save your souls. 00:04:30.399 --> 00:04:38.480 Point number one is this we are called to slow down living lives of receiving and listening. 00:04:40.959 --> 00:04:45.120 These first two verses, anger is in contrast to receiving. 00:04:45.839 --> 00:04:48.399 Because an angry person can't hear. 00:04:48.720 --> 00:04:50.639 An angry person doesn't receive. 00:04:51.199 --> 00:04:53.839 Anger is quick, it's closed off. 00:04:54.800 --> 00:04:56.399 There's no openness. 00:04:57.759 --> 00:04:59.040 No humility. 00:04:59.680 --> 00:05:00.959 No compassion. 00:05:01.759 --> 00:05:04.000 Anger limits us. 00:05:04.399 --> 00:05:05.920 It's enslaving in that way. 00:05:06.160 --> 00:05:09.279 And then we have this word, therefore, in verse 21. 00:05:09.439 --> 00:05:14.399 Meaning, don't be an angry person, therefore receive the implanted word. 00:05:16.000 --> 00:05:21.680 See, the way we show up into relationship is the same way we show up before the scriptures. 00:05:22.720 --> 00:05:23.680 Meekness. 00:05:24.000 --> 00:05:25.360 That's a posture. 00:05:26.000 --> 00:05:28.000 It's a humble openness. 00:05:28.879 --> 00:05:34.720 And that's how we show up in relationships, how we show up before the scriptures, before the word. 00:05:35.279 --> 00:05:38.639 We live in humble openness before the scriptures and before each other. 00:05:38.800 --> 00:05:40.319 Verse 21, let's revisit that. 00:05:40.480 --> 00:05:47.519 Therefore, put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word which is able to save your soul. 00:05:47.759 --> 00:05:50.879 So that's Christ in us given to us. 00:05:51.120 --> 00:05:52.000 Point number two. 00:05:52.240 --> 00:05:57.519 We humbly receive from God that which is true of us and true for us. 00:05:59.279 --> 00:06:02.000 This word to us is Christ in us. 00:06:02.240 --> 00:06:04.079 So we don't need a new conversion. 00:06:04.240 --> 00:06:05.920 We're already securely his. 00:06:06.879 --> 00:06:12.959 And yet we need to keep putting ourselves before the word to remember who we are, how we should live. 00:06:13.199 --> 00:06:17.040 And the Bible ceases to be a book about what to do. 00:06:18.639 --> 00:06:24.720 And it becomes, it sort of opens up to us kind of like air you need to breathe. 00:06:25.279 --> 00:06:28.560 Because you just long for what is what is true. 00:06:28.720 --> 00:06:30.639 Like what is actually true about me? 00:06:30.800 --> 00:06:35.439 What is true about how I should live, or parent, or work at this job, or this relationship, or spiritual, like my money? 00:06:35.519 --> 00:06:37.199 Like, like how do I do that? 00:06:37.360 --> 00:06:39.199 I need some truth for that. 00:06:42.079 --> 00:06:45.040 These words filthiness and wickedness jump out. 00:06:45.360 --> 00:06:50.319 Here's what they mean: they mean all that taints or devalues our lives. 00:06:51.600 --> 00:06:54.000 See how this isn't limiting to your life? 00:06:54.319 --> 00:06:57.199 Like God is trying to provide for us a liberation. 00:06:59.519 --> 00:07:05.040 All that taints or devalues our lives and our experiences, our character, and our conduct. 00:07:05.759 --> 00:07:09.920 That phrase in verse 21, receive with meekness the implanted word. 00:07:10.160 --> 00:07:14.000 The word receive means to welcome. 00:07:15.040 --> 00:07:20.240 A few years ago, Christy and I went and visited a mentor couple of ours in Colorado. 00:07:20.959 --> 00:07:24.879 Here we are is the picture of us with Rod and Linda, our dear friends. 00:07:24.959 --> 00:07:27.839 We are hiking the Maroon Bells trail there. 00:07:29.120 --> 00:07:33.199 When we arrived to their home, they saw us coming. 00:07:33.360 --> 00:07:34.800 They opened the door. 00:07:35.360 --> 00:07:36.240 They greeted us. 00:07:36.800 --> 00:07:37.199 You're here. 00:07:37.360 --> 00:07:38.000 Oh, you're here. 00:07:38.079 --> 00:07:38.720 We've been waiting. 00:07:38.879 --> 00:07:39.920 We're waiting for you. 00:07:40.160 --> 00:07:40.879 You are here. 00:07:41.040 --> 00:07:42.959 Hugs, hugs, come on in. 00:07:43.040 --> 00:07:44.079 Let me get your bags. 00:07:44.240 --> 00:07:46.480 They carried the bags up to the guest room, took us up. 00:07:46.959 --> 00:07:47.680 Let me show you. 00:07:47.839 --> 00:07:48.879 We have prepared for you. 00:07:49.040 --> 00:07:50.160 Here's the room for you. 00:07:50.480 --> 00:07:52.079 Ensuite bathroom. 00:07:52.240 --> 00:07:54.240 You know, our towels are laid out. 00:07:54.319 --> 00:07:56.639 The bed is perfect, turned down for us. 00:07:56.800 --> 00:07:57.680 I put my hand across. 00:07:57.920 --> 00:08:00.319 That was a high thread count sheet. 00:08:01.279 --> 00:08:03.120 That was not our sheets. 00:08:03.360 --> 00:08:05.279 Those were different sheets. 00:08:06.240 --> 00:08:12.319 We go back down, they have wine and crackers and cheese and fruit. 00:08:12.800 --> 00:08:14.560 They listened to us. 00:08:15.120 --> 00:08:17.600 They were waiting to listen to us. 00:08:18.000 --> 00:08:19.839 They received us, they welcomed us. 00:08:20.000 --> 00:08:24.959 They were overjoyed for us to be there, and then they just poured over us. 00:08:26.319 --> 00:08:32.080 See, they had actually prepared to be disrupted by a guest. 00:08:33.120 --> 00:08:35.440 That's what it means to welcome the word. 00:08:36.080 --> 00:08:44.320 To receive with meekness, that we would actually, we have this implanted word in us, who we are in Christ, objective, truth, secure. 00:08:44.480 --> 00:08:45.679 We don't have to earn it. 00:08:45.840 --> 00:08:51.120 It is ours by receiving, and yet we come before this word to say, now remind me who I am. 00:08:51.440 --> 00:08:53.440 Remind me how I should live. 00:08:55.600 --> 00:08:57.440 And we welcome what is true. 00:08:57.600 --> 00:09:01.759 We prepare to be disrupted by what is true. 00:09:02.879 --> 00:09:08.720 And go like, oh yeah, okay, yeah, I was wrong on that one, I'm wrong on that one, wrong on that one, wrong on that one. 00:09:09.120 --> 00:09:12.399 And we pour over it, let it take up residence in us. 00:09:12.639 --> 00:09:14.799 It's how we come before the word. 00:09:15.039 --> 00:09:16.799 Verse 22, James keeps going. 00:09:16.960 --> 00:09:22.960 Verse 22, but be doers of the word, not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 00:09:23.200 --> 00:09:35.039 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror, for he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 00:09:35.279 --> 00:09:44.000 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets, but a doer who acts. 00:09:44.159 --> 00:09:46.480 He will be blessed in his doing. 00:09:46.720 --> 00:09:54.159 Point number three is this those who receive God's grace and truth are empowered to grow in God's grace and truth. 00:09:55.840 --> 00:09:57.200 Let's make sense of that. 00:09:57.360 --> 00:10:04.240 Now, is James leading us to be behavioral focused, rules-oriented, self-righteous Christians, Pharisees? 00:10:04.639 --> 00:10:12.879 It would be actually easy to come away from this passage or the passage we'll look at next week and say, yes, we should just be behavioral focused and self-righteous. 00:10:13.120 --> 00:10:15.200 But James is part of a bigger story. 00:10:15.440 --> 00:10:16.879 James is part of the New Testament. 00:10:17.039 --> 00:10:20.159 James is part of the Bible, the biblical arc of redemption. 00:10:20.399 --> 00:10:27.759 And while James is to the point, James really doesn't do a great job of explaining how something happens. 00:10:27.919 --> 00:10:33.200 And this is what's so great about the Apostle Paul to teach us what the gospel means. 00:10:33.360 --> 00:10:35.360 How do we become a doer? 00:10:35.519 --> 00:10:36.639 How do we do that? 00:10:36.879 --> 00:10:48.480 Well, that's the battle between this old nature and this new nature, the old self and the new self, the old self, the old self wants control apart from God's grace and truth. 00:10:49.039 --> 00:10:54.559 And if the old nature can't have it rebellion, the old nature is very happy to have it religion. 00:10:54.879 --> 00:10:57.840 And this is the battle between legalism and gospel. 00:10:58.080 --> 00:11:03.039 Remember, legalism says, I obey, therefore I am loved, leaving you in control. 00:11:03.200 --> 00:11:05.039 The old self loves this. 00:11:05.360 --> 00:11:06.799 You don't really need God. 00:11:07.679 --> 00:11:11.039 Gospel says this I'm loved, therefore I obey. 00:11:11.200 --> 00:11:13.600 You're already loved by gift, by receiving. 00:11:13.919 --> 00:11:14.799 You have to be meek. 00:11:14.879 --> 00:11:16.559 The old man doesn't like this. 00:11:17.440 --> 00:11:18.559 But it's freeing. 00:11:18.799 --> 00:11:22.080 We receive from God, we live dependent upon his grace. 00:11:22.480 --> 00:11:24.480 See, Paul fills these gaps in for us. 00:11:24.559 --> 00:11:27.519 Where James is to the point, Paul explains. 00:11:28.080 --> 00:11:32.000 If you remember Titus 2, from a couple, a few weeks ago, month ago, we read this. 00:11:32.080 --> 00:11:33.600 Titus 2, 11 through 12. 00:11:33.759 --> 00:11:37.759 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people. 00:11:38.000 --> 00:11:38.480 Great. 00:11:38.720 --> 00:11:40.240 Salvation by God's grace. 00:11:40.480 --> 00:11:42.159 But Paul doesn't stop there. 00:11:42.559 --> 00:11:44.320 He actually very much agrees with James. 00:11:44.480 --> 00:11:44.960 Listen to this. 00:11:45.120 --> 00:11:55.600 For this is what the grace of God also does, training us to renounce on godliness and worldly passions and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age. 00:11:55.919 --> 00:12:01.919 So by God's grace you are saved, and by God's grace you are empowered to live and grow in godliness. 00:12:02.159 --> 00:12:07.039 See, Paul is explaining how that very thing James says happens. 00:12:07.759 --> 00:12:11.440 Where the law, who we should be, is like train tracks, right? 00:12:11.600 --> 00:12:13.679 The guardrails, who we should be. 00:12:14.159 --> 00:12:21.679 The gospel is the only engine of power to actually carry us down those tracks to live it out. 00:12:22.320 --> 00:12:27.919 The lavish love and justification by Christ alone when you're actually not who you should be. 00:12:28.159 --> 00:12:45.360 And the Holy Spirit uses this great wealth of value and worth and security and acceptance and total approval, righteousness that is given to you by Christ alone to deepen who you are and to empower how we should live. 00:12:45.600 --> 00:12:53.279 This is how the insecure heart actually becomes secure enough to deal with all the insecurities. 00:12:55.039 --> 00:12:57.200 Look again at verse 25. 00:12:57.840 --> 00:13:06.080 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets, but a doer who acts. 00:13:06.240 --> 00:13:07.919 He will be blessed in his doing. 00:13:08.159 --> 00:13:12.320 So the law of liberty, this phrase, this is the whole of Scriptures. 00:13:12.799 --> 00:13:15.440 The law of liberty is God's way of being. 00:13:15.600 --> 00:13:18.720 It's the way of life for us. 00:13:19.279 --> 00:13:26.399 Point number four is this God's love in ways for us brings liberation to the exhausted self. 00:13:26.720 --> 00:13:31.919 And the self is exhausted because of the old man trying to justify itself apart from the Creator. 00:13:32.080 --> 00:13:34.159 That's why it's exhausting. 00:13:35.120 --> 00:13:39.679 The Apostle Paul uses this word law for any time what we should be. 00:13:39.759 --> 00:13:41.679 It's demand, it's law, it's who we should be. 00:13:41.840 --> 00:13:46.960 And Paul says it is holy, it is good, it is the path to liberty. 00:13:47.200 --> 00:13:49.679 And in this way, the law is the path to liberty in two ways. 00:13:49.759 --> 00:13:53.360 It's the path of liberty because it is the way of holiness which brings liberty. 00:13:53.440 --> 00:13:57.600 And then the law actually crushes us because we are not perfect unto it. 00:13:58.399 --> 00:14:01.279 And it crushes us into a place of need. 00:14:02.320 --> 00:14:04.879 We need God's grace to us. 00:14:05.440 --> 00:14:07.360 Romans 5, 17. 00:14:08.080 --> 00:14:21.519 For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. 00:14:21.679 --> 00:14:29.679 So we are free because we're already loved by God, and then we are freed to live and grow in godliness. 00:14:30.399 --> 00:14:31.919 The curse of the law is broken. 00:14:32.000 --> 00:14:46.559 And this is how the indicatives of God's grace, what is promised to you, is indicated to you, it actually empowers you to live out the imperatives of what God is asking of you. 00:14:46.799 --> 00:14:51.120 And the very thing that felt so limiting and so controlling, it actually flourishes. 00:14:51.200 --> 00:14:55.360 It's like, oh, this is the way of the Christian way of flourishing. 00:14:56.799 --> 00:14:59.840 Last week up in Katma National Park, that's where the fat bears are. 00:14:59.919 --> 00:15:00.799 We'll be there in a few weeks. 00:15:00.879 --> 00:15:06.720 You know I love fat bear weeks coming up in a few weeks, and I'll just push it on you again, another year of fat bear week. 00:15:06.879 --> 00:15:12.320 A hiker started out, hiked out into that wild wilderness, Katma National Park. 00:15:12.399 --> 00:15:13.919 Here's a picture of that wilderness area. 00:15:14.080 --> 00:15:18.159 This is actually exactly where he was hiking, and he hiked out there and he got lost. 00:15:18.399 --> 00:15:20.720 Fog came in and he got lost. 00:15:20.879 --> 00:15:25.440 He wanders around more and more, getting himself more and more lost out there in the middle of nowhere. 00:15:25.600 --> 00:15:30.240 He had no hope, no ability to get back, no ability to communicate with anybody. 00:15:30.639 --> 00:15:34.720 And so that cold comes in, that wet comes in, he's wet, he's cold, he's tired. 00:15:34.799 --> 00:15:35.759 He is helpless. 00:15:35.919 --> 00:15:43.759 The only thing he sees is he eventually on a tree, he sees uh one of those wildlife bear cameras. 00:15:44.080 --> 00:15:49.200 Like they're the cameras that take the pictures of all the pictures of bears that I make y'all look at in sermons. 00:15:49.360 --> 00:15:55.200 It's one of those cameras, and he sees it, and he's this is his only hope. 00:15:55.519 --> 00:15:57.759 So he puts his face right in front of this camera. 00:15:57.919 --> 00:16:00.960 It has no audio, it just has a video. 00:16:01.120 --> 00:16:03.360 He puts his face right in front of it. 00:16:03.759 --> 00:16:06.559 And he just looks into it and he says, Help. 00:16:08.000 --> 00:16:10.000 This is a picture of him when they when they got him. 00:16:10.639 --> 00:16:12.480 Help, help, help. 00:16:13.200 --> 00:16:17.120 You know, all these bear nerds sitting in the recliners at home eating Doritos. 00:16:18.480 --> 00:16:19.840 They're like, what is this? 00:16:20.000 --> 00:16:20.720 What is going on? 00:16:20.879 --> 00:16:21.759 Who is this guy? 00:16:22.159 --> 00:16:23.440 Well, he looks pretty miserable. 00:16:23.600 --> 00:16:24.159 He looks helpless. 00:16:24.399 --> 00:16:30.720 So finally, one of the bear nerds, they call the park, and the park sends out rangers. 00:16:30.799 --> 00:16:36.480 They know exactly where that camera is, and so they hike straight to that camera to find him. 00:16:37.200 --> 00:16:39.279 He doesn't know where he is. 00:16:41.519 --> 00:16:43.200 But they pursue him. 00:16:43.679 --> 00:16:49.440 While he's amass, they didn't wait for him to get, hey, get your composure, get your act together, then we'll come get you. 00:16:49.519 --> 00:16:52.480 Show yourself in front of that camera, show yourself put together, and you got it. 00:16:52.879 --> 00:16:54.799 You know, then we'll come, yeah, then you've like married it. 00:16:54.879 --> 00:16:55.360 No, no, no. 00:16:55.440 --> 00:16:59.039 It's like while he's amass, they go to rescue him. 00:16:59.200 --> 00:17:01.840 They find him, they bring him to safety. 00:17:02.159 --> 00:17:06.960 I would only imagine that this creates some sort of response in his life. 00:17:07.119 --> 00:17:10.559 I would imagine he's pretty grateful for these rangers. 00:17:10.960 --> 00:17:19.440 And in that way, we see how a loving rescue creates gratitude and a loving response on the back end. 00:17:19.599 --> 00:17:24.559 We are empowered by the very grace that saves us. 00:17:25.519 --> 00:17:29.920 Now, I haven't been lost out in the middle of Alaska. 00:17:30.079 --> 00:17:38.480 You probably hadn't either, but I would only imagine that we would cry out to it just at the first instance of deep, like, oh, there's some help here? 00:17:38.559 --> 00:17:39.039 There's help? 00:17:39.759 --> 00:17:44.000 Okay, like like when we're in need, we become listeners. 00:17:44.319 --> 00:17:47.279 Like all of a sudden we are ready to receive a word. 00:17:47.440 --> 00:17:51.359 Like, I will receive whatever you have for me when I have nothing. 00:17:52.400 --> 00:17:55.599 Because man, I just don't have what it takes a lot of times. 00:17:55.920 --> 00:17:58.960 Like, just to live life, life is really hard. 00:18:01.440 --> 00:18:07.839 Like to parent the way I should, to love my wife the way I should, to do this job the way I should, to like treat you the way I should. 00:18:07.920 --> 00:18:11.759 Like, I mean, any of that just brings me to the end of myself. 00:18:14.640 --> 00:18:20.720 A few weeks ago, Pastor Matt led our staff in contemplative prayer. 00:18:21.200 --> 00:18:24.640 He had us sit in a room completely silent. 00:18:24.799 --> 00:18:26.319 It was horrible. 00:18:26.559 --> 00:18:28.000 It was so annoying. 00:18:28.240 --> 00:18:29.599 He's like, here's what we're gonna do. 00:18:29.680 --> 00:18:33.759 We're gonna sit completely quiet, silent. 00:18:34.160 --> 00:18:35.359 We're not gonna do anything. 00:18:35.519 --> 00:18:38.079 We're gonna totally just sit silent. 00:18:38.480 --> 00:18:43.920 And all just all this annoyance and agitation just kind of crept up in me. 00:18:44.079 --> 00:18:44.720 Like, what? 00:18:44.960 --> 00:18:45.920 You know, ah, ah, ah. 00:18:46.319 --> 00:18:53.440 And then he read this verse do not be anxious for God even closed the lilies of the field. 00:18:53.519 --> 00:18:55.039 Well, that made me even more angry. 00:18:56.480 --> 00:18:58.240 I don't want to be told that. 00:19:02.640 --> 00:19:07.440 You know, by the end of 30 minutes, silence is the word. 00:19:08.079 --> 00:19:10.720 Silence the word, silence the word. 00:19:12.000 --> 00:19:14.960 It's like, oh I mean, I'm so needy for that word. 00:19:16.640 --> 00:19:17.200 So needy. 00:19:17.279 --> 00:19:18.400 I usually go on walks. 00:19:18.480 --> 00:19:21.759 I don't sit still very well. 00:19:21.920 --> 00:19:23.119 So I usually go on walks. 00:19:23.200 --> 00:19:24.160 I got all kinds of walks. 00:19:24.240 --> 00:19:25.519 Now maybe you journal, I don't know. 00:19:25.680 --> 00:19:26.400 I walk. 00:19:26.640 --> 00:19:29.359 I have like God, I need your presence walks. 00:19:30.319 --> 00:19:34.160 I have uh I need a word for my parenting walks. 00:19:34.319 --> 00:19:37.039 I need I need a word for my marriage walks. 00:19:37.359 --> 00:19:39.920 I have like I can't hold it together walk. 00:19:40.079 --> 00:19:43.440 I mean, I'm gonna go walk and God, I'm gonna tell you all about how I can't hold it together. 00:19:43.519 --> 00:19:44.720 And I need a word about that. 00:19:44.799 --> 00:19:46.240 I have I'm a mess walk. 00:19:46.400 --> 00:19:48.000 Don't know if you have that walk. 00:19:48.960 --> 00:19:54.079 I have I need a compassion walk, I need wisdom walk, I need I need patience walk. 00:19:54.960 --> 00:19:57.119 I have I need to repent walk. 00:19:57.279 --> 00:20:02.319 That's a popular walk because I'm not real good at all the other walks, so then I end up with that walk. 00:20:02.640 --> 00:20:02.960 Right? 00:20:03.039 --> 00:20:05.519 And all this is like just like saying, like, I need a word. 00:20:05.680 --> 00:20:07.920 Like I need an outside word. 00:20:10.880 --> 00:20:12.640 None of that matters. 00:20:13.359 --> 00:20:15.440 Until it's all that matters. 00:20:17.039 --> 00:20:19.119 None of it, none of that, even what I just said. 00:20:19.359 --> 00:20:20.799 To you, maybe to you. 00:20:20.880 --> 00:20:22.960 Maybe not to some of you, you get it, but maybe to you. 00:20:23.039 --> 00:20:25.279 Like none of it, it doesn't even matter to you. 00:20:25.599 --> 00:20:27.839 Until it's all that matters. 00:20:28.160 --> 00:20:31.279 Because your ego becomes bankrupt. 00:20:32.079 --> 00:20:34.480 And all you're out of great ideas. 00:20:34.799 --> 00:20:38.720 You tried all your great ideas, and they just left you dry. 00:20:40.880 --> 00:20:45.759 The old man is worn out, and you're lost. 00:20:47.440 --> 00:20:52.079 And as Christ followers, we already have the implanted word in us. 00:20:52.720 --> 00:21:02.640 And that's the good news we rest in, and we're so secure, that's why we can become come before the Lord, even imperfect and messy, to say, I still need a word for you from you today. 00:21:03.839 --> 00:21:10.160 And God in his grace loves all the more the one who cries for help, the one who's saying, I need a word. 00:21:10.319 --> 00:21:20.160 I meekly come to humbly receive, to remember the implanted word in me, and to put myself in front of that word, to be disrupted by your word. 00:21:21.119 --> 00:21:24.000 And the loving Abba welcomes all of us. 00:21:24.240 --> 00:21:25.519 This is why. 00:21:25.920 --> 00:21:32.799 That is why, because the word is implanted in you, is why we can come before it to say, disrupt me in any way you see fit. 00:21:33.039 --> 00:21:37.279 And we welcome your word into our lives with joy. 00:21:37.519 --> 00:21:40.319 Let's pray together, Lord. 00:21:43.920 --> 00:21:58.880 We are weary, exhausted, worn out, stubborn people who love to justify ourselves by our own merit and achievement, and we are only more tired because of it. 00:21:59.759 --> 00:22:04.720 Would you help us to die all the more to that old man, that old self? 00:22:05.359 --> 00:22:14.079 And would the new self flourish as we rest in the objective work of Jesus for us, the implanted word, Christ in us, hope of glory? 00:22:14.720 --> 00:22:26.559 Help us to live a life of listening and receiving and to be open to be disrupted by your word for us, for this moment, for this day. 00:22:26.880 --> 00:22:28.240 In Jesus' name we pray. 00:22:28.559 --> 00:22:28.960 Amen.