James

[0:00] In dependence upon thee, Lord, for all needed help, I venture to draw your prayerful attention to James chapter 2 and verse 5.

[0:24] James chapter 2 and verse 5.

[0:34] A brief word by way of introduction.

[1:21] Waiting upon the Lord for a word to preach this morning.

[1:31] My mind was directed as I opened my Bible to this scripture.

[1:44] Though it did not at the time settle firmly on my mind. And those of you who were here at the early prayer meeting will remember that this chapter was read.

[2:10] And the hymn sung all so sweetly blending in with this word. So venturing upon the Lord for help, I seek by his grace to preach from it this morning.

[2:34] We examine the first word. Hearken. It's a powerful word.

[2:45] It's a personal word. It's a great privilege to hear the word of God with our natural hearing.

[3:04] But, beloved friend, we need much more than that. Oh, for that ear and hearing of faith.

[3:19] How hast thou come to God's house this morning? Is there and has there been a prayer in your heart?

[3:33] Speak, Lord. For thy servant heareth. Is there a willingness to receive not only the word of the comfort of the gospel and the grace of our God, God.

[3:58] But that word of exhortation. That word of correction. That word that may be searching.

[4:12] Sifting. Painful to the flesh. Profitable to the soul. It's a wonderful privilege and provision that God has given the gospel to be preached to the poor.

[4:35] And how the poor in spirit love the gospel. How they love the word of God.

[4:45] Hearken. Just this thought also. Should there be here this morning.

[4:56] Any particularly tempted. Or tried. Or burdened. Or downcast. Or perplexed.

[5:08] Oh, I think of the word spoken to the afflicted Job. Hearken. Oh, Job.

[5:19] Stand still. And consider the wondrous works of God. The Lord grant to us.

[5:32] The hearing ear. The understanding heart. The Lord Jesus says.

[5:44] Take heed. How ye hear. Take heed. What ye hear. A living soul.

[5:55] Spiritually exercised. And hungry. Will desire. Spiritual food. The sincere. Milk.

[6:06] Of the word. God. I come now to the next three words of this text. My beloved brethren.

[6:24] God's people. Your brethren. And sisters. In Christ. I love to meet.

[6:36] Among them now. And at thy gracious feet. About thou vilest of them all. Dost thou love them.

[6:47] Feel so often. Unworthy. And unfit. To be with them. And numbered. But. These are the salt of the earth.

[6:58] These are your friends. Friends. These are they. That you love. For. Christ's sake. Your friends.

[7:10] Are they. Given you. By your best friend. Jesus. Who loves them. And they. Love.

[7:21] Him. We know. That we have. Passed from death. Unto life. Because.

[7:31] We. Love. The brethren. We need. To be very clear. Our love. To the brethren.

[7:41] Is not our salvation. Our love. To the brethren. Is not our life. Spiritual life. Our love.

[7:53] To the brethren. Is not that. Which pardons our sin. It is. The blood of Christ. That cleanseth. From all sin. It is.

[8:06] The work of grace. That brings. Spiritual life. Into the soul. But. The love. Of the brethren. Is the fruit. Of the root.

[8:19] Of that. Root. Spiritual life. That precious. Faith. In Jesus Christ. My. Beloved. Brethren. I know.

[8:30] These words. Are spoken. By. A minister. Of the gospel. Love. Love. Love. Love. Love. Love. Love. Love. Love. Love. To soul.

[8:43] Loving. All. Who fear. God. Both. Small. And. Great. But. These words.

[8:53] True. Are. True. Of. God's. People. In. Their. Love. One. To the. Other. It's a love. Not.

[9:04] In. Word. Only. Is. A love. In. Practice. It's. A sensitive.

[9:15] Love. It's. A very. Sympathetic. Love. And. At.

[9:25] Time. It is. A very. Faithful. Love. Love. In.

[9:36] This. Way. I. Speak. For a moment. Of. The. Faithfulness. Of. Love. When. After. Much. Prayer.

[9:47] In. Humility. Of. Spirit. That. You. May. Even. Seek. In. Love. To. Warn. Or. Correct. One.

[9:58] Of. Your. Beloved. Brethren. Not. That. You. Will. See. As. It. Were. That. Great.

[10:08] Sin. In. Them. And. None. In. Yourself. But. Faithful. Are. The. Wounds. Of. A friend. And. Let's.

[10:19] Look. At. It. The. Other. Way. There. May. Be. Times. And. Doubtness. When. We. Need.

[10:29] To. Be. Corrected. When. A dear. Brother. Or. Sister. In. Christ. Comes. Up. To. Us. To. Correct. Us. To. Speak.

[10:39] Kindly. To. Us. Affectionately. And. Faithfully. How. Are. We. Going. To. Receive. It. Are. We. Going. To. Resent. It. Are.

[10:50] We. Going. To. Excuse. Ourselves. Oh. My. Friends. That. And. It's. A. Wonderful. Experience. That.

[11:01] This. May. Strengthen. That. Love. Between. Those. Two. And. You. May. Thank.

[11:12] God. That. This. Dear. Friend. Came. To. You. In. The. Way. That. They. Did. Let. Me. Just. Remind. You. Here. In.

[11:23] This. Epistle. And. Do. We. Sometimes. Pass. Over. This. Epistle. Do.

[11:34] We. Say. Too. Cutting. Too. Painful. For. Us. To. Read. It. Finds. Us. Out. It. Sifts. As. It. Searches. Us. Do.

[11:45] Not. Ere. My. Beloved. Brethren. You. See. The. Faithfulness. Of. This. Dear. Servant. Of. Jesus. Christ.

[11:56] Manifests. The. Intensity. Of. His. Love. For. Those. To. Whom. He. Writes. Again.

[12:10] Wherefore. My. Beloved. Brethren. Let. Every. Man. Be. Swift. To. Hear. Slow. To. Speak.

[12:21] Slow. To. Roar. We. Get. It. The. Wrong. Way. Round. We. Are. Swift. To. Speak. Swift.

[12:32] To. Roar. And. Slow. To. Hear. May. God. Preserve. Us. And. Keep. Us. And. I. Always. Remember. What. My.

[12:42] Dear. Mother. Said. To. Me. When. I. Was. A. Quite. A. Young. Boy. She. Said. You. Know. We. May. Regret. For. Not. Speaking. But.

[12:53] She. Says. We. Shall. More. Deeply. Regret. Words. That. Fall. From. Our. Lips. In. A. Wrong. Way. In. A. Wrong.

[13:04] Spirit. Oh. As. Later. On. In. This. Epistle. We. Have. The. Tongue. Which. Can. Be. As. On.

[13:14] The. Fire. Of. Hell. The. Damage. That. It. Can. Be. Done. Out. Of. The. Same. Mount. Proceeding. Blessing. And. Cursing. My. Brethren.

[13:25] These. Things. Ought. Not. So. To. Be. And. Don't. Look. At. Someone. Else. Like. The. Poor. Preacher. In. The. Pulpit. Seeks.

[13:35] Now. Not. To. Look. At. Anyone. Else. But. To. Look. At. One. So. That. These. Things. Ought. Not. So. To. Be. What. Is. It. Lord. In. My. Life. Help. Me.

[13:45] To. Confess. It. Help. Me. To. Forsake. It. Help. Me. To. Repent. Of. My. Sin. My. Beloved. Brethren. Just.

[13:55] One. More. Brief. Word. On. These. Three. Words. Then. I. Spoke. Of. Love. Affection. Compassion. And.

[14:05] Being. Sensitive. If. There's. Real. Love. Between. Us. There'll. Be. A. Sensitiveness. That. You'll.

[14:16] See. But. Nothing. May. Come. Between. You. And. That. If. There. Should. Be. Something. I.

[14:26] Hope. That. No. Rest. Is. Given. Until. Any. Breach. Or. Appearance. Of. Breach. Is. Healed.

[14:38] The. Devil. Delights. To. Bring. Discord. Among. The. People. Of. God. I. Beseech. You. O. Dios. And. I.

[14:48] Beseech. In. Dickey. They. Be. Of. The. Same. Mind. In. The. Lord. And. My. Beloved. Brethren. That. You. Will. See.

[14:59] To. Minister. One. To. The. Other. To. Speak. Together. Of. The. Things. Of. God. That. There. Might. Be. Some. Heart. Burning. A.

[15:09] Christian. Union. And. That. You. May. Seek. In. A. A. Practical. Way. To. Help. In. Time. Of.

[15:20] Need. It. May. Be. That. You. May. Say. I. Am. Powerless. To. Help. I. Cannot. Help. My. Friend. There. Is. The. Throne. Of. Grace. If. You. Love. The. Afflicted.

[15:31] Friend. You. Pray. For. Them. I. Will. Not. Tarried. Longer. On. These. Three. Words. Hath. Not. God.

[15:42] Chosen. Here. We. Have. The. Sovereign. Choice. Of. God. In. Election. People.

[15:53] Will. Tell. You. That. Election. Shuts. Them. Out. Of. Heaven. Friend. It. Shuts. The. Redeemed.

[16:04] In. Heaven. What. Shuts. Sinners. Out. Of. Heaven. Is. Our. Sin. We. Shall. Have.

[16:15] No. Excuse. At. The. Great. White. Throne. We. All. Sinned. And. Come. Short. Of.

[16:26] The. Glory. Of. God. But. Oh. The. Wonders. Of. The. Eternal. Purpose. Of. God. In. Choosing.

[16:37] A. People. Their. Names. Written. In. The. Lamb's. Book. Of. Life. This. Great. Multitude.

[16:48] That. No. Man. Can. Number. That. Shall. Be. Found. In. Glory. At. Last. This. Little.

[16:58] Flock. I. Know. My. Sheep. And. Am. Known. Of. Mine. Hath. Not. God.

[17:10] Chosen. But. Now. Profound. As. This. Doctrine. Is. Yet. It. Hath.

[17:20] Pleased. Almighty. God. To. Reveal. Through. His. Word. Those. Whose. Names. Are.

[17:31] Written. In. The. Lamb's. Book. Of. Life. Those. Who. Are. Chosen. In. Christ. The. Elect.

[17:43] Of. God. For. When. We. Read. Of. Election. We. Read. Attached. If I may. With. Reverence. So. Name.

[17:53] It. The. The. Description. Outline. Of. Such. Whose. Names. Are.

[18:04] Found. In. That. Book. Who. By. The. Grace. Of. God. Will. Be. Found. In. Glory. At. Last. I.

[18:18] Do. Not. Know. Whether. There. May. Be. One. Here. Under. The. The. Temptation. Of. The. Devil. A. Temptation. That.

[18:29] I. In. Earlier. Days. Particularly. It. Was. No. Stranger. To. And. That. Is. The. Devil. Coming. And. Saying. It.

[18:40] No. Good. You. Praying. It. No. Good. You. Hoping. It. No. Good. You. Seeking. You. Are. Not. One. Of. The. Elect.

[18:51] That. Temptation. Compact. United. With. Unbelief.

[19:03] With. A. Reasoning. Mind. Does. Much. Damage. The. Devil. Is. A. Liar. From. The. Beginning. But.

[19:15] My. Dear. Friend. If. You. Are. Exorcised. And. Tempted. And. Tried. Over. This. Point. Pray. That. The. Lord. May. Deliver. You. From. The. Temptation. And. The.

[19:25] Snare. Of. The. Wicked. One. And. Direct. You. To. His. Own. Word. Now. Let me. As the. Lord. May. Help. Me.

[19:36] See. To. Enlarge. This. Point. A. Little. I. Said. That. When. In. The. Scriptures. That. We. Read. Of. The.

[19:46] Purposes. Of. God. In. Election. We. Read. The. Mind. Of. God. The. Will. Of. God. Revealed. In. The.

[19:57] Scripture. Attached. There. To. The. The. Take. This. For. Example. For. The. Lord. Hath. Appeared.

[20:07] Of. Bold. Unto. Me. Saying. Yea. I. Have. Loved. The. With. An. Ever. Lasting. Love. Now. That's. A. Love. That. Go. Right.

[20:17] Back. Into. Eternity. These. Are. They. That. Are. The. Elect. Of. God. But. The. Scripture. Doesn't. Stop. There.

[20:30] Yea. I. Have. Loved. The. The. The. Ever. Lasting. Love. Therefore. It's. A. Tremendous. Word. Is. That. It's.

[20:40] As. It. Were. And. I. Speak. Of. Sublime. Truth. Profound. Truth. I. Speak. With. Reverence. It. Says. As. It. Were. God.

[20:50] Say. Now. Poor. Trembling. One. Poor. Burden. Sinner. I'm. Going. To. Refill. The. Heart. Of. My. Love. And. The. Purpose. Of. My. Grace.

[21:01] Therefore. With. Loving. Kindness. Have. I. Drawn. The. Now. What. God. Hath. Joined. Together. Let. No. Man. Put. As. Under.

[21:14] A. Drawn. Sinner. To. Christ. Can. You. Say. That. You. Are. Not. Attracted. To. The. Savior. When. I. Say.

[21:25] Attracted. I. Mean. As. A. Guilty. Sinner. The. Very. Character. Here. The. Poor. Of. This. World. Oh. Beloved. Friend. Does.

[21:36] Thou. Not. Know. What. It. Is. To. Be. Drawn. To. The. Savior. Why. You. Say. I. See. In. The. Gospel. A. Leopard. Full. Of. Leprosy. Is. Me. Lord. And.

[21:46] I. Come. To. Jesus. Just. As. I. Am. I. Read. Of. A. Woman. That. With. The. Issue. Of. Blood. That. Me. Lord. I. Read. Of. A. Blind. Beggar. That. Me. And.

[21:57] As. I. Said. More. Than. Once. Just. Lately. You. Look. At. All. These. Gospel. Characters. You. Say. Lord. I'm. Not. Just. The. Leopard. I'm.

[22:07] All. Of. Them. All. Of. Them. Bound. Up. In. One. But. With. All. My. Leprosy. With. All. My. Filth. With. All. My. Sin. With. All.

[22:17] That. I. Am. This. Sinful. Self. I. Come. Just. As. I. Am. Without. One. Plea. In. The. Hope.

[22:28] I. Use. That. Word. Not. To. Encourage. Unbelief. But. To. Preserve. From. Presumption. In. The. Hope. Thy. Blood. Was. Shed. For. Me. And. That. Thou. Bids.

[22:38] Me. Come. To. The. O. Lamb. Of. God. I. Come. Do. You. Say. That. Too. Strong. Do. You. Say. What. Does. God. Bid. Me. That.

[22:56] Is. The. Blind. Becker. Outside. Jericho. Be. Of. Good. Comfort. Rise. He.

[23:07] Calleth. The. Take. Another. Scripture. Shall. Not. God. Advenge. His. Own. Elect. But.

[23:20] What. Does. God. Say. About. The. Elect. How. Does. He. Revealed. To. Such. That. They. Are. The. The. The. That. Cry. Unto. Him. Day.

[23:30] And. Night. The. Breath. Of. Prayer. I. Know. You. Are. Going. To. Be. Troubled. About. That. Aren't you? Is. It. Words.

[23:41] Or. Is. It. Prayer. Is. It. The. Breath. Of. The. Spirit. Or. Is. It. Just. The. Language. Of. The. Natural. Heart. Friend.

[23:51] That. Cry. From. The. Heart. Under. The. Purden. Of. Sin. That. Turning. To. God. That. Nothingness. Of. Self. That. Cry. God.

[24:02] Be. Merciful. To. Me. A. Sinner. It. Is. A. Blessed. Evidence. Of. That. Cry. And. That. Prayer. And. That. Prayer. Is. Inseparable. From. The. Evidence.

[24:12] Of. Spiritual. Life. Behold. He. Prayeth. That. That. Faith.

[24:23] Is. Inseparable. From. Coming. To. Jesus. That. Is. Inseparable. From. An. Interest. In. The. Precious. Blood. Of. Christ. And. That. Is. Inseparable. From.

[24:35] That. Your. Name. Is. In. The. Lamb's. Book. Of. Life. Hath. Not. God. Chosen. Just.

[24:46] One. More. No. All. That. The. Father. Give. With. May. Who. Are. They. The. Elect. Don't.

[24:56] They. It's. Quite. Clear. Now. What's. The. Next. Word. Shall. Not. They. Will. If. They. Wish. They. Will. Choose.

[25:06] To. Come. Or. They. Open. Their. Heart. No. They. Shall. Come. Because. God. Will. Draw. Them. With. Weeping.

[25:16] And. Supplication. They. Shall. Come. All. That. The. Father. Giveth. Me. Shall. Come. To. Me. And. Him. And. Her. That. Cometh. To. Me. I. Will.

[25:27] In. No. Wise. Cast. Down. Thomas.

[25:37] No. No. I feel it to be the whole of the word of God is sacred it's the holy word of God but to think one has been permitted with sinful eyes to read the prayer of Jesus to his father we stand on sacred ground but there again the Lord Jesus says that he should give eternal life who to as many as thou has given him so if blessed with eternal life spiritual life that is the assurance of being among the elect of God again I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world mark that real religion flees from the wrath to come real religion I will go to my father real religion Christ God be merciful to me a sinner again I pray for them I pray not for the world but for them which thou hast given me before they are thine and all thine are mine and thine are mine father I will that these also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my glory hearken my beloved brethren hath not God chosen the poor of this world we've already come into these words in a little way what does what it does not mean doesn't mean to say that every poor person will go to heaven and every rich person will go to hell not many but as one dear a rich person God fearing person he does say not any but this word poor means spiritually poor now what is it to be spiritually poor we've got to be very clear on this point I shall never forget in the uh comparatively early years of my past friend of hearing the testimony of one dear friend that came before the church and in his experience naming this poor being poor in spirit and he said we sometimes speak of a person that's poor yet has a little we may have a poor person that has just a little or we may speak of someone that's poor that just has nothing at all and he said friend that's me nothing at all poor in spirit that is no merit for salvation no good works to plead but poor in spirit are you one of these do you feel to be the poorest of the poor the most sinful of all the most unworthy oh here the lord says yes that these are they that are poor of the world these are they that he has chosen this poor man cry you say that's just me lord i cry for mercy out of those depths have i cried unto thee and what a comfort that word is i will uh uh uh satisfy uh the poor with bread i will bless the provision uh of the house and satisfy uh the poor with bread abundantly blessed abundantly oh friend to be a poor and needy sinner now the two go together i i think you could have a poor person and be quite they'd be quite satisfied being poor

[29:43] they wouldn't feel they've got any need and don't desire anything perhaps but a child of god is not only poor but needy as as it were an empty heart an aching void a thirsty soul longing for it to be filled in their poverty and in their rags why oh friend as you look at your poverty you see your sinfulness you see your rags you see your unfitness you see that you haven't got a penny that you can bring to pay that debt and but oh how attractive in your poverty it will be the blood of christ for your sin the robe of righteousness for your uh...

[30:24] wags oh it will poor in spirit let's just take another word uh... just this verse though you know in the book of the revelation when uh... there's the solemn messages of the churches uh... we read of those that uh... are poor but god says ye are rich but there were those that said they were rich and you don't know your poverty you're lukewarm great mercy to know our poverty great mercy to be a poor and needy sinner you see friend i've been amazed this morning how the hymns that we've sung the scripture that has been read has all been on this very theme election and the blessings of the gospel of jesus christ for poor and needy sinners it's lovely it does my heart good and take another scripture and oh but this may find you and do you find your name in the word of god sometimes when the poor and needy seek water and there is none now look at it you know some people have one christian name some have two three or four now i'm going to say there with reverence there's four names four descriptions first you're poor and secondly you're needy and thirdly you're seeking and fourthly you're thirsty does it gather you in but what are you thirsting for you see it is only a spiritual thirst will seek for spiritual blessing and a spiritual thirst is the assurance of spiritual life in the soul does it gather you in what does god says yes when the poor and needy seek water and there is none and their tongue faileth the thirst i will either god of heaven will hear them i will not forsake them i will open rivers in high places and streams in the best of the valleys oh blessed be his name yes when as the heart panteth after the water brooks and they're seeking after as one in prayer name this morning after the lord oh there's a thirst a thirst that none but jesus can satisfy a thirst that you have oh beloved friend thank god for it and be assured of this if any man thirst let him come unto me and drink and why whosoever will and that whosoever will is not free will free will will never thirst for christ but that spiritual thirst in the soul whosoever will attract you it will gather you in it will embrace you whosoever will let him take of the water of life freely oh ye who long to know and feel your interest in his blood the thing is proved beyond a doubt because you thirst for god rich in faith you say now that's done

[33:44] I'm out of it wait a minute wait a minute friend the devil may tell you that but look at this word faith there's little faith and there's great faith and what is the proof of the possession of faith which is the gift of god the new birth in regeneration precious faith I sometimes liken it in this way you see a believer a porn again sinner is a new creature and just as we have in our body ears and eyes and hands and feet and heart and so forth so a new creature spiritually there's the ear of faith that will hear and receive the word there is the eye of faith that looks upon

[34:45] Jesus and fastens upon Jesus there's the hand of faith that reaches out after a precious Christ and clings to the saviour and the feet of faith that run to the dear redeemer faith has business at the cross at the precious blood of the saviour precious faith oh dear friend canst thou do without him oh you say Lord I believe help thou my unbelief rich in faith you may feel that your faith is so small but my friend you know God given faith is indestructible it cannot be destroyed you may be in the seeking times in a very low place you may be in later spiritual experience in a very dark place a very despondent place it may be with you you fear am I deluded am I deceived yet can I ask you this can you give up that little hope can you turn from the cross can you turn from the saviour can you have nothing more to do with that dear redeemer

[36:15] I say can you close the bible and say you'll never read it again why dear friend is there something in the darkest hour as I speak to the more the pilgrim that been long in the way or the seeker that has been young in the way I say is there that you say I must cling I must hold on and yet I cannot understand I do not know I'm so confused I'm not sure whether it is faith but this I do know I'm clinging to Jesus clinging to the saviour nothing in my hand I bring and simply to thy cross I cling rich in faith faith in the precious blood of Jesus Christ this like precious faith do not be dismayed your faith is attacked there's the victory of faith there's the endurance of faith but faith will triumph we read do we not of the victory of

[37:23] God given faith as that dear man John says whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world and this is the victory that overcometh the world even our faith and who is he that overcometh the world but he that believe it that Jesus is the son of God rich in faith and friend this great and precious gift for you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that though he was rich yet for your sakes he became poor that he through his poverty might be rich and you will account a crumb of mercy a kiss of his mouth a drop of heavenly dew for your soul more than all the world combined heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him an heir the possession of the inheritance denotes the death of the testator the testator is

[38:40] Jesus Christ who died on the cross whose blood was shed who by that death has opened the gates of glory satisfied divine justice cleansed away the sin of all his dear people heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ a son a daughter adoption in the family of God oh the wonder you say am I one well let's look at one of them I will arise and go to my father and say unto him father I'm not worthy to be called thy son who was that the one that had turned his back the one that had wasted his substance with riotous living the one that began to be in one the one that was perishing and the one that came to his own right mind and when he came to himself and saw himself lost and ruined undone far off

[39:54] I will arise and go to my father I'll tell him all can there be mercy for me will I be received yes while he was yet a great way off his father saw him ran had compassion and fell on his neck and kissed him heirs of the kingdom and we've just been singing that opening him this morning then shall your eyes with rapture view the glorious friend that died for you that died to ransom died to raise the hymns of joy and songs of praise the kingdom oh my friend fear not little flock it is your father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom and I go to prepare a place for you and if I go and prepare a place for you I will come again and receive you unto myself because that dear one that dear almighty God I speak with reverence that receives sinners on earth will receive them at last the glory they shall not be cast out who who which he have promised if it were not so

[41:13] I would have told you Jesus spake much of heaven and he spake much of hell and no in between come ye blessed of my father inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world he hath promised to them that love him that the dear apostle Paul in another place says the time of my departure is come and I'm now ready to be offered the time of my departure is come I have fought a good fight I have kept the faith I finished the course henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord the righteous judge shall give me in that day and not to me only but to all them also that love his appearing that love him what is your answer Simon lovest thou me more than these

[42:13] Lord thou knowest all things that I love thee yet Lord it is my chief I love thee and adore oh for grace to love thee more to them that love him we love him because he first loved us how great is the love who great in love and mercy and in grace came to Calvary who loved me and gave himself for me and promised to them that love him oh what a glorious prospect all these heirs of glory my dear friend may we at last be found among them in that kingdom that is promised to them that love him father I will that these also whom thou hast given me be with me where

[43:15] I am that they may behold my glory and when by his grace I look on his face that will be glory be glory for me amen