WEBVTT NOTE This file was generated by Descript 00:00:00.030 --> 00:00:02.880 Henry: Welcome To Immerse: The Daily Bible Reading Experience. 00:00:02.978 --> 00:00:03.808 Day 65. 00:00:04.322 --> 00:00:05.792 immersed in James. 00:00:08.282 --> 00:00:12.722 Within a few decades of Jesus' death and resurrection, his followers had spread out 00:00:12.722 --> 00:00:14.402 to different parts of the Roman Empire. 00:00:15.092 --> 00:00:19.082 James, the half brother of Jesus and a highly respected leader in the Jerusalem 00:00:19.082 --> 00:00:23.912 church, sent a general letter to these scattered communities, reminding them 00:00:23.912 --> 00:00:25.862 to walk in the way of God's wisdom. 00:00:26.702 --> 00:00:30.752 James highlights practical ways that followers of Jesus should demonstrate 00:00:30.752 --> 00:00:35.762 their faith in everyday life to help the dispersed communities, James took 00:00:35.762 --> 00:00:39.812 up the well-known pattern of teaching from Israel's ancient wisdom, tradition. 00:00:40.652 --> 00:00:45.212 Wisdom, literature places great value on how we live in God's world. 00:00:45.842 --> 00:00:49.682 It therefore emphasizes action, admonishing the reader to follow 00:00:49.687 --> 00:00:53.282 the good way revealed by God and live it out in community. 00:00:54.107 --> 00:00:57.737 In the letter from James, we see that God's new people in Christ 00:00:57.947 --> 00:01:01.007 are faced with a choice that has always confronted God's people. 00:01:01.667 --> 00:01:03.077 Which path will we follow? 00:01:03.767 --> 00:01:09.257 One path leads to life and wellbeing while the other leads to death and destruction. 00:01:10.157 --> 00:01:13.787 James challenges his scattered brothers and sisters to firmly 00:01:13.787 --> 00:01:15.617 embrace the path that leads to life. 00:01:16.862 --> 00:01:20.762 James teaches that choosing this way of life includes not only practicing 00:01:20.762 --> 00:01:26.192 such virtues as patience, humility, endurance through trials and generosity 00:01:26.192 --> 00:01:31.202 to the poor, but also renouncing anger and boastful pride, avoiding 00:01:31.202 --> 00:01:34.952 the tendency to judge others and not using the tongue destructively. 00:01:35.552 --> 00:01:39.422 The core idea that characterizes this lifestyle is don't 00:01:39.422 --> 00:01:41.072 just listen to God's word. 00:01:41.432 --> 00:01:42.782 Do what it says. 00:01:43.667 --> 00:01:47.417 James emphasizes the strong call on believers in Jesus to 00:01:47.417 --> 00:01:50.807 renounce their favoritism of the rich and neglect of the poor. 00:01:51.437 --> 00:01:54.227 James had become aware that these communities were following the 00:01:54.227 --> 00:01:58.367 cultural norms of first century Roman society, which gave places 00:01:58.367 --> 00:01:59.747 of privilege to the wealthy. 00:02:00.437 --> 00:02:03.167 He explains that the way of Jesus is different. 00:02:03.977 --> 00:02:07.577 Those who hoard their riches will be judged while the poor 00:02:07.577 --> 00:02:09.077 will inherit God's kingdom. 00:02:10.757 --> 00:02:14.807 James casts all this instruction in an especially effective form. 00:02:15.407 --> 00:02:18.917 Just as his content is closely related to First Testament wisdom 00:02:18.917 --> 00:02:21.017 literature, his style is too. 00:02:21.827 --> 00:02:26.087 James presents pity sayings and short reflections similar to those found in 00:02:26.092 --> 00:02:31.277 Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, for example, you must all be quick to listen, 00:02:31.397 --> 00:02:34.157 slow to speak, and slow to get angry. 00:02:34.967 --> 00:02:38.627 James May have drawn his material from messages he had delivered in a synagogue. 00:02:39.272 --> 00:02:43.502 He frequently uses public speaking techniques common at the time, such as 00:02:43.502 --> 00:02:45.392 sparring with an imaginary opponent. 00:02:46.172 --> 00:02:51.782 Someone may argue, some people have faith, others have good deeds, but 00:02:51.787 --> 00:02:55.892 I say, how can you show me your faith if you don't have good deeds? 00:02:57.092 --> 00:03:00.362 Since it is a combination of wisdom sayings and brief teachings. 00:03:00.932 --> 00:03:04.952 This letter from James does not develop sequentially as Paul's letters do. 00:03:05.822 --> 00:03:10.382 Rather it flows freely from topic to topic, urging careful attention to various 00:03:10.382 --> 00:03:15.002 concerns, followed by a call to live out his instructions in practical ways. 00:03:15.992 --> 00:03:20.462 James wants his fellow Jewish believers to live out the highest ideals 00:03:20.467 --> 00:03:24.782 of their own spiritual heritage, just as Jesus revealed it to them. 00:03:25.322 --> 00:03:29.642 He calls them back to a scriptural principle that the glorious Lord Jesus 00:03:29.642 --> 00:03:31.532 Christ had confirmed as foundational. 00:03:32.312 --> 00:03:35.852 It is good when you obey the royal law as found in the scriptures. 00:03:36.452 --> 00:03:38.972 Love your neighbor as yourself. 00:03:44.282 --> 00:03:45.632 The book of James. 00:03:48.332 --> 00:03:53.492 This letter is from James, a Slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:03:55.082 --> 00:03:59.432 I am writing to the 12 tribes, Jewish believers, scattered abroad. 00:04:00.602 --> 00:04:01.262 Greetings, 00:04:03.392 --> 00:04:09.662 dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it 00:04:09.667 --> 00:04:14.852 an opportunity for great joy, for you know that when your faith is tested, 00:04:15.182 --> 00:04:17.012 your endurance has a chance to grow. 00:04:17.507 --> 00:04:20.987 So let it grow for when your endurance is fully developed. 00:04:21.257 --> 00:04:24.227 You will be perfect and complete needing nothing. 00:04:25.127 --> 00:04:29.417 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God and he will give it to you. 00:04:30.047 --> 00:04:33.977 He will not rebuke you for asking, but when you ask him, be sure 00:04:33.977 --> 00:04:35.777 that your faith is in God alone. 00:04:36.407 --> 00:04:37.397 Do not waiver. 00:04:37.967 --> 00:04:42.317 For a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea 00:04:42.617 --> 00:04:44.657 that is blown and tossed by the wind. 00:04:45.602 --> 00:04:48.782 Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 00:04:49.202 --> 00:04:52.502 Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they're 00:04:52.502 --> 00:04:54.212 unstable in everything they do. 00:04:55.562 --> 00:04:58.262 Believers who are poor have something to boast about. 00:04:58.472 --> 00:05:02.282 For God has honored them, and those who are rich should boast 00:05:02.282 --> 00:05:03.602 that God has humbled them. 00:05:04.352 --> 00:05:06.992 They will fade away like a little flower in the field. 00:05:07.592 --> 00:05:10.352 The hot sun rises and the grass withers. 00:05:10.907 --> 00:05:14.837 The little flower droops and falls and its beauty fades away. 00:05:15.977 --> 00:05:19.847 In the same way, the rich will fade away with all of their achievements. 00:05:21.317 --> 00:05:25.517 God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. 00:05:26.117 --> 00:05:28.967 Afterward, they will receive the crown of life that God has 00:05:28.997 --> 00:05:30.587 promised to those who love him. 00:05:32.057 --> 00:05:36.587 And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say God is tempting me. 00:05:37.052 --> 00:05:40.952 God is never tempted to do wrong and he never tempts anyone else. 00:05:41.582 --> 00:05:46.412 Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. 00:05:47.192 --> 00:05:51.302 These desires give birth to sinful actions, and when sin is allowed 00:05:51.302 --> 00:05:53.852 to grow, it gives birth to death. 00:05:55.382 --> 00:05:58.442 So don't be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. 00:05:59.402 --> 00:06:04.172 Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God, our father, 00:06:04.442 --> 00:06:06.482 who created all the lights in the heavens. 00:06:07.292 --> 00:06:10.172 He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. 00:06:11.042 --> 00:06:16.952 He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word, and we, out of all 00:06:16.952 --> 00:06:19.952 creation, became his prized possession. 00:06:21.422 --> 00:06:26.552 Understand this my dear brothers and sisters, you must all be quick to listen, 00:06:26.942 --> 00:06:29.672 slow to speak, and slow to get angry. 00:06:30.152 --> 00:06:33.242 Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. 00:06:34.202 --> 00:06:38.552 So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives and humbly accept the 00:06:38.552 --> 00:06:43.712 word God has planted in your hearts for it has the power to save your souls. 00:06:45.302 --> 00:06:47.162 But don't just listen to God's word. 00:06:47.612 --> 00:06:52.772 You must do what it says otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves for if you 00:06:52.772 --> 00:06:57.272 listen to the word and don't obey it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. 00:06:57.902 --> 00:07:01.592 You see yourself walk away and forget what you look like. 00:07:02.177 --> 00:07:07.307 But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what 00:07:07.307 --> 00:07:11.687 it says and don't forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it. 00:07:13.187 --> 00:07:16.997 If you claim to be religious, but don't control your tongue, you are 00:07:17.002 --> 00:07:21.767 fooling yourself and your religion is worthless, pure, and genuine 00:07:21.767 --> 00:07:23.267 religion in the sight of God. 00:07:23.267 --> 00:07:27.467 The father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and 00:07:27.467 --> 00:07:29.477 refusing to let the world corrupt you. 00:07:30.932 --> 00:07:34.952 My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in 00:07:34.952 --> 00:07:36.842 our glorious Lord Jesus Christ? 00:07:37.082 --> 00:07:43.322 If you favor some people over others, for example, suppose someone comes into 00:07:43.322 --> 00:07:48.302 your meeting dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry, and another comes in 00:07:48.302 --> 00:07:50.732 who is poor and dressed in dirty clothes. 00:07:51.542 --> 00:07:55.112 If you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but you 00:07:55.112 --> 00:07:58.802 say to the poor one, you can stand over there or else sit on the floor. 00:07:59.612 --> 00:08:03.182 Well, doesn't this discrimination show that your judgments 00:08:03.182 --> 00:08:04.682 are guided by evil motives? 00:08:05.882 --> 00:08:10.502 Listen to me, dear brothers and sisters, hasn't God chosen the poor 00:08:10.502 --> 00:08:12.842 in this world to be rich in faith? 00:08:13.802 --> 00:08:16.052 Aren't they the ones who will inherit the kingdom? 00:08:16.052 --> 00:08:19.892 He promised to those who love him, but you dishonor the poor? 00:08:20.852 --> 00:08:24.302 Isn't it the rich who oppress you and drag you into court, aren't 00:08:24.302 --> 00:08:28.352 they the ones who slander Jesus Christ, whose noble name you bear? 00:08:29.432 --> 00:08:30.632 Yes, indeed. 00:08:31.112 --> 00:08:33.272 It is good when you obey the royal law. 00:08:33.302 --> 00:08:37.892 As found in the scriptures, love your neighbor as yourself, but 00:08:37.892 --> 00:08:41.462 if you favor some people over others, you are committing a sin. 00:08:42.032 --> 00:08:46.892 You are guilty of breaking the law for the person who keeps all of the laws 00:08:46.892 --> 00:08:51.662 except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God's laws. 00:08:52.502 --> 00:08:56.912 For the same God who said, you must not commit adultery, also 00:08:56.912 --> 00:08:58.712 said, you must not murder. 00:08:59.522 --> 00:09:03.242 So if you murder someone, but do not commit adultery, you 00:09:03.242 --> 00:09:04.592 have still broken the law. 00:09:06.122 --> 00:09:10.382 So whatever you say or whatever you do, remember that you will be 00:09:10.382 --> 00:09:12.512 judged by the law that sets you free. 00:09:13.592 --> 00:09:17.462 There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. 00:09:17.942 --> 00:09:22.427 But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when he judges you. 00:09:24.077 --> 00:09:25.247 What good is it? 00:09:25.277 --> 00:09:26.687 Dear brothers and sisters? 00:09:27.137 --> 00:09:31.457 If you say you have faith, but don't show it by your actions, can 00:09:31.457 --> 00:09:33.317 that kind of faith save anyone? 00:09:34.127 --> 00:09:38.027 Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing and you 00:09:38.027 --> 00:09:43.307 say goodbye and have a good day, stay warm and eat well, but then you don't 00:09:43.307 --> 00:09:45.167 give that person any food or clothing. 00:09:45.767 --> 00:09:46.677 What good does that do? 00:09:47.717 --> 00:09:50.357 So you see, faith by itself isn't enough. 00:09:50.747 --> 00:09:53.777 Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless. 00:09:54.887 --> 00:09:59.507 Now, someone may argue, some people have faith, others have good deeds, 00:09:59.867 --> 00:10:04.277 but I say, how can you show me your faith if you don't have good deeds? 00:10:04.727 --> 00:10:07.667 I will show you my faith by my good deeds. 00:10:09.077 --> 00:10:13.457 You say you have faith for you believe that there is one God good for you. 00:10:13.967 --> 00:10:16.967 Even the demons believe this and they tremble in terror. 00:10:17.447 --> 00:10:20.297 How foolish can't you see that? 00:10:20.297 --> 00:10:22.337 Faith without good deeds is useless. 00:10:23.267 --> 00:10:27.437 Don't you remember that our ancestor Abraham was shown to be right 00:10:27.442 --> 00:10:31.127 with God by his actions when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 00:10:31.697 --> 00:10:35.207 You see his faith and his actions worked together. 00:10:35.882 --> 00:10:37.922 His actions made his faith complete. 00:10:38.642 --> 00:10:44.432 And so it happened just as the scriptures say, Abraham believed God and God counted 00:10:44.432 --> 00:10:46.742 him as righteous because of his faith. 00:10:47.492 --> 00:10:49.352 He was even called the friend of God. 00:10:50.162 --> 00:10:56.012 So you see, we are shown to be right with God by what we do, not by faith alone. 00:10:57.212 --> 00:10:59.732 Rahab the prostitute is another example. 00:11:00.362 --> 00:11:04.622 She was shown to be right with God by her actions when she hid those messengers and 00:11:04.622 --> 00:11:09.512 sent them safely away by a different road, just as the body is dead without breath. 00:11:09.782 --> 00:11:12.422 So also faith is dead without good works. 00:11:13.892 --> 00:11:19.052 Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church for 00:11:19.052 --> 00:11:21.392 we who teach will be judged more strictly. 00:11:22.052 --> 00:11:24.182 Indeed, we all make many mistakes. 00:11:24.827 --> 00:11:28.457 For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also 00:11:28.457 --> 00:11:30.407 control ourselves in every other way. 00:11:31.487 --> 00:11:35.957 We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in 00:11:35.957 --> 00:11:40.577 its mouth and a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot 00:11:40.577 --> 00:11:44.967 chooses to go, even though the winds are strong in the same way. 00:11:45.557 --> 00:11:48.317 The tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. 00:11:49.082 --> 00:11:53.702 But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire, and among all the parts of the 00:11:53.702 --> 00:11:56.582 body, the tongue is a flame of fire. 00:11:57.242 --> 00:12:01.172 It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. 00:12:01.472 --> 00:12:03.662 It can set your whole life on fire. 00:12:03.932 --> 00:12:06.632 For it is set on fire by hell itself. 00:12:08.072 --> 00:12:13.112 People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, 00:12:13.772 --> 00:12:15.782 but no one can tame the tongue. 00:12:16.487 --> 00:12:19.907 It is restless and evil full of deadly poison. 00:12:20.597 --> 00:12:25.577 Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those 00:12:25.577 --> 00:12:27.527 who have been made in the image of God. 00:12:28.157 --> 00:12:31.697 And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. 00:12:32.297 --> 00:12:35.417 Surely my brothers and sisters, this is not right. 00:12:36.527 --> 00:12:40.307 Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water? 00:12:40.847 --> 00:12:43.907 Does a fig tree produce olives or a grapevine? 00:12:43.907 --> 00:12:44.747 Produce figs. 00:12:45.512 --> 00:12:49.952 No, and you can't draw fresh water from a salty spring. 00:12:51.422 --> 00:12:56.552 If you are wise and understand God's ways, prove it by living an honorable 00:12:56.552 --> 00:13:00.332 life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom I. 00:13:01.112 --> 00:13:04.412 But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in 00:13:04.412 --> 00:13:08.102 your heart, don't cover up the truth with boasting and lying. 00:13:08.762 --> 00:13:11.882 For jealousy and selfishness are not God's kind of wisdom. 00:13:12.797 --> 00:13:17.987 Such things are earthly, unspiritual and demonic for wherever there 00:13:17.987 --> 00:13:20.087 is jealousy and selfish ambition. 00:13:20.657 --> 00:13:25.457 There you will find disorder and evil of every kind, but the wisdom 00:13:25.457 --> 00:13:27.827 from above is first of all, pure. 00:13:28.517 --> 00:13:33.977 It is also peace-loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. 00:13:34.727 --> 00:13:37.607 It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. 00:13:37.967 --> 00:13:41.087 It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. 00:13:42.212 --> 00:13:45.692 And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and 00:13:45.692 --> 00:13:47.492 reap a harvest of righteousness. 00:13:49.022 --> 00:13:51.212 What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? 00:13:51.992 --> 00:13:54.692 Don't they come from the evil desires at war within you. 00:13:55.412 --> 00:13:59.222 You want what you don't have, so you scheme and kill to get it. 00:13:59.702 --> 00:14:02.552 You are jealous of what others have, but you can't get it. 00:14:02.792 --> 00:14:05.582 So you fight and wage war to take it away from them. 00:14:06.602 --> 00:14:10.442 Yet you don't have what you want because you don't ask God for it. 00:14:11.162 --> 00:14:14.702 And even when you ask, you don't get it because your motives are all wrong. 00:14:15.422 --> 00:14:17.522 You want only what will give you pleasure. 00:14:18.662 --> 00:14:19.922 You adulterers. 00:14:20.402 --> 00:14:23.672 Don't you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? 00:14:24.572 --> 00:14:25.532 I say it again. 00:14:25.922 --> 00:14:30.542 If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God. 00:14:31.352 --> 00:14:33.302 Do you think the scriptures have no meaning? 00:14:34.322 --> 00:14:37.082 They say that God is passionate, that the spirit he has placed 00:14:37.082 --> 00:14:39.032 within us should be faithful to him. 00:14:39.752 --> 00:14:44.042 He gives grace generously as the scriptures say. 00:14:44.372 --> 00:14:47.372 God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. 00:14:48.272 --> 00:14:50.402 So humble yourselves before God. 00:14:50.912 --> 00:14:53.162 Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 00:14:53.882 --> 00:14:56.762 Come close to God and God will come close to you. 00:14:57.482 --> 00:14:58.952 Wash your hands, your sinners, pur. 00:14:59.462 --> 00:15:04.022 Purify your hearts for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. 00:15:04.727 --> 00:15:06.737 Let there be tears for what you have done. 00:15:07.127 --> 00:15:09.377 Let there be sorrow and deep grief. 00:15:09.857 --> 00:15:13.847 Let there be sadness instead of laughter and gloom instead of joy. 00:15:14.687 --> 00:15:19.007 Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will lift you up in honor. 00:15:20.417 --> 00:15:22.547 Don't speak evil against each other. 00:15:22.547 --> 00:15:23.897 Dear brothers and sisters. 00:15:25.037 --> 00:15:28.547 If you criticize and judge each other, then you are criticizing 00:15:28.547 --> 00:15:30.077 and judging God's law. 00:15:30.797 --> 00:15:34.397 But your job is to obey the law, not to judge whether it applies to you. 00:15:35.417 --> 00:15:38.357 God alone, who gave the law is the judge. 00:15:38.987 --> 00:15:41.957 He alone has the power to save or to destroy. 00:15:42.557 --> 00:15:45.047 So what right do you have to judge your neighbor? 00:15:46.577 --> 00:15:51.047 Look here, you who say, today or tomorrow we are going to a certain 00:15:51.047 --> 00:15:52.727 town and will stay there a year. 00:15:52.997 --> 00:15:55.037 We will do business there and make a profit. 00:15:55.877 --> 00:15:58.007 How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? 00:15:58.727 --> 00:16:00.617 Your life is like the morning fog. 00:16:01.067 --> 00:16:03.617 It's here a little while, then it's gone. 00:16:04.667 --> 00:16:08.867 What you ought to say is, if the Lord wants us to, we will 00:16:08.867 --> 00:16:10.277 live and do this or that. 00:16:11.147 --> 00:16:14.027 Otherwise, you are boasting about your own pretentious plans 00:16:14.297 --> 00:16:16.037 and all such boasting is evil. 00:16:17.147 --> 00:16:21.797 Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it. 00:16:23.357 --> 00:16:25.037 Look here, you rich people. 00:16:25.802 --> 00:16:30.152 Weep and groan with anguish because of all the terrible troubles ahead of you. 00:16:30.812 --> 00:16:35.342 Your wealth is rotting away and your fine clothes are moth eaten rags. 00:16:35.912 --> 00:16:37.742 Your gold and silver are corroded. 00:16:38.102 --> 00:16:42.242 The very wealth you were counting on will eat away your flesh like fire. 00:16:43.052 --> 00:16:46.712 This corroded treasure you have hoarded will testify against you 00:16:46.712 --> 00:16:49.292 on the day of judgment for listen. 00:16:50.222 --> 00:16:53.612 Hear the cries of the field workers whom you have cheated of their pay. 00:16:54.602 --> 00:16:58.472 The cries of those who harvest your fields have reached the ears 00:16:58.472 --> 00:17:00.302 of the Lord of heaven's armies. 00:17:01.202 --> 00:17:05.252 You have spent your years on earth in luxury, satisfying your 00:17:05.252 --> 00:17:09.092 every desire you have fattened yourselves for the day of slaughter. 00:17:09.422 --> 00:17:13.292 You have condemned and killed innocent people who do not resist you. 00:17:14.732 --> 00:17:19.532 Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord's return. 00:17:20.447 --> 00:17:23.327 Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains 00:17:23.327 --> 00:17:24.917 in the fall and in the spring. 00:17:25.607 --> 00:17:28.517 They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen. 00:17:29.357 --> 00:17:30.797 You too must be patient. 00:17:31.637 --> 00:17:34.937 Take courage for the coming of the Lord is near. 00:17:36.077 --> 00:17:39.047 Don't grumble about each other brothers and sisters, or 00:17:39.047 --> 00:17:41.087 you will be judged for look. 00:17:41.477 --> 00:17:47.327 The judge is standing at the door for examples of patience in suffering. 00:17:47.387 --> 00:17:50.222 Dear brothers and sisters, Look at the prophets who 00:17:50.222 --> 00:17:51.722 spoke in the name of the Lord. 00:17:52.682 --> 00:17:55.712 We give great honor to those who endure under suffering. 00:17:56.522 --> 00:18:00.272 For instance, you know about Job, a man of great endurance. 00:18:00.632 --> 00:18:03.482 You can see how the Lord was kind to him at the end. 00:18:04.022 --> 00:18:09.272 For the Lord is full of tenderness and mercy, but most of all, my brothers 00:18:09.272 --> 00:18:14.552 and sisters never take an oath by heaven or earth or anything else. 00:18:15.092 --> 00:18:19.112 Just say a simple yes or no, so that you will not sin and be condemned. 00:18:20.642 --> 00:18:22.532 Are any of you suffering hardships? 00:18:23.252 --> 00:18:23.972 You should pray. 00:18:24.932 --> 00:18:26.072 Are any of you happy? 00:18:26.792 --> 00:18:28.172 You should sing praises. 00:18:28.922 --> 00:18:30.362 Are any of you Sick? 00:18:31.022 --> 00:18:33.782 You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray 00:18:33.782 --> 00:18:37.202 over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. 00:18:38.102 --> 00:18:42.992 Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick and the Lord will make you well. 00:18:43.667 --> 00:18:46.847 And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven. 00:18:47.987 --> 00:18:52.637 Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. 00:18:53.567 --> 00:18:57.107 The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and 00:18:57.107 --> 00:18:58.727 produces wonderful results. 00:18:59.237 --> 00:19:03.167 Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly 00:19:03.167 --> 00:19:07.157 that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years. 00:19:07.877 --> 00:19:12.662 Then when he prayed again, The sky sent down rain and the 00:19:12.662 --> 00:19:14.792 earth began to yield its crops. 00:19:16.292 --> 00:19:21.002 My dear brothers and sisters, if someone among you wanders away from 00:19:21.002 --> 00:19:25.202 the truth and is brought back, you can be sure that whoever brings the 00:19:25.202 --> 00:19:29.852 sinner back from wandering will save that person from death and bring 00:19:29.852 --> 00:19:32.342 about the forgiveness of many sins. 00:19:34.022 --> 00:19:36.902 This concludes today's Immer Reading experience. 00:19:37.022 --> 00:19:38.252 Thank you for joining us.