David Jeremiah - What Is Your Life?

January 4, 2025 | S25:E1

Start the new year off right by reflecting on the importance of living with God at the center of your life as Dr. Jeremiah shares crucial life lessons from the book of James.

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Turning Point with Dr. David Jeremiah | David Jeremiah - What Is Your Life? | January 4, 2025

...
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Male announcer: no matter who you are and where you are,
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David jeremiah wants to help you
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In your journey through god's word.
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With "the whole story," new from dr. jeremiah,
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You will better grasp
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How every book of the bible fits together
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To form a perfect story god can use to transform your life.
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Let dr. jeremiah be
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Your experienced guide through scripture,
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Giving you a deeper understanding
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Of the enduring, eternal, and flawless word of god,
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Yours for a gift of any amount from "turning point" today.
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[shoes crunching in snow]
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[shoes crunching in gravel]
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[shoes stepping in dirt]
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Dr. david jeremiah: with the noise of the holidays
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Behind us, we look ahead to a new year and a new day.
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As you step out into this new year,
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Where will your path take you?
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Whether you realize it or not,
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You are a part of god's unfolding story.
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Are you prepared
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For wherever that journey takes you?
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Dr. jeremiah: hello, i'm david jeremiah,
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And welcome to "turning point."
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Well, here we go again, on the threshold of a new year,
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When it seems most natural to make plans for the future,
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Maybe you call them resolutions.
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If you've made yours already,
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Did you include god in your plans?
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You know, as christians, we undoubtedly agree
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That it is wise to invite god into our plans,
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But how often do we make our plans
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And then ask god to bless our efforts,
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Rather than earnestly seeking his will beforehand?
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The difference between the two approaches
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Is as dramatic as it is dangerous.
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In today's program, i'd like to usher in the new year
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With some encouragement from james,
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Who vividly illustrates the difference
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Between doing life with god and without him.
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So join me as we consider the question,
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"what is your life?"
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Coming up right now on "turning point."
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♪ o lord my god ♪
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♪ when i in awesome wonder ♪
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♪ consider all ♪
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♪ the worlds thy hands have made ♪
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♪ i see the stars ♪
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♪ i hear the rolling thunder ♪
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♪ thy power throughout ♪
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♪ the universe displayed ♪
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♪ then sings my soul ♪
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♪ my savior, god, to thee ♪
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♪ how great thou art ♪
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♪ how great thou art ♪
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♪ then sings my soul ♪
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♪ my savior, god, to thee ♪
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♪ how great thou art ♪
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♪ how great thou art. ♪
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♪♪♪
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♪ and when i think ♪
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♪ that god, his son, not sparing ♪
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♪ sent him to die ♪
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♪ i scarce can take it in ♪
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♪ that on the cross ♪
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♪ my burden gladly bearing ♪
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♪ he bled and died ♪
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♪ to take away my sin ♪
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♪ then sings my soul ♪
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♪ my savior, god, to thee ♪
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♪ how great thou art ♪
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♪ how great thou art ♪
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♪ then sings my soul ♪
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♪ my savior, god, to thee ♪
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♪ how great thou art ♪
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♪ how great thou art ♪
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♪♪♪
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♪ when christ shall come ♪
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♪ with shout of acclamation ♪
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♪ and take me home ♪
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♪ what joy shall fill my heart ♪
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♪ then i shall bow ♪
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♪ in humble adoration ♪
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♪ and there proclaim ♪
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♪ my god, how great thou art ♪
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♪ then sings my soul ♪
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♪ my savior, god, to thee ♪
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♪ how great thou art ♪
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♪ how great thou art ♪
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♪ then sings my soul ♪
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♪ my savior, god, to thee ♪
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♪ how great thou art ♪
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♪ how great thou art ♪
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♪ how great thou art ♪
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♪ how great thou art ♪♪
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[congregation applauding]
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Announcer: coming up on "turning point."
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Dr. jeremiah: we're to come to god humbly and say,
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"lord god, i want to do your will,
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I want to do what you want me to do.
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I want to know in my heart every day when i get up,
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I'm doing what i'm supposed to be doing."
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Announcer: a brighter day and a better year begins
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By living in god's light.
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Introducing dr. david jeremiah's
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Newest 365-day devotional for 2025,
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"living in his light."
00:06:28.237 --> 00:06:30.072
With dr. jeremiah's inspiring insights and reflections,
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You'll find yourself immersed in god's radiant truth,
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Allowing his light to transform your every moment.
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"living in his light" is your daily recharge,
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Keeping you connected to his presence
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And walking in the brilliance of his love
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Day by day and all year long.
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With a beautifully designed cover
00:06:47.790 --> 00:06:49.292
And stunning images throughout,
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Each reading will not only lift your spirit,
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But brighten your entire day.
00:06:52.962 --> 00:06:54.964
Even when the world looks bleak and your days seem dark,
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Let dr. jeremiah remind you each day
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That the closer you are to christ,
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The brighter your days will be.
00:07:02.071 --> 00:07:04.140
Request your copy of "living in his light" today
00:07:04.140 --> 00:07:06.542
For a gift of any amount in support of this program.
00:07:06.542 --> 00:07:09.212
Or for a gift of $120 or more,
00:07:09.212 --> 00:07:12.014
Receive four copies: one for yourself
00:07:12.014 --> 00:07:14.484
And three to share his light with those you love.
00:07:14.484 --> 00:07:17.320
This isn't just a devotional,
00:07:17.320 --> 00:07:18.821
It's an invitation to live every day
00:07:18.821 --> 00:07:20.823
In the glow of his grace.
00:07:20.823 --> 00:07:23.526
Contact turning point today
00:07:23.526 --> 00:07:24.894
To request "living in his light"
00:07:24.894 --> 00:07:26.562
By dr. jeremiah
00:07:26.562 --> 00:07:27.930
And step into a brighter future.
00:07:27.930 --> 00:07:30.500
♪ o come to the altar ♪
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♪ the father's arms are open wide ♪
00:07:39.275 --> 00:07:44.981
♪ forgiveness was bought with ♪
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♪ the precious blood of jesus christ ♪
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♪ oh what a savior ♪
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♪ isn't he wonderful ♪
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♪ sing hallelujah, ♪
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♪ christ is risen ♪
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♪ bow down before him ♪
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♪ for he is lord of all. ♪
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♪ sing hallelujah, ♪
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♪ christ is risen ♪
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♪ o come to the altar ♪
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♪ the father's arms are open wide ♪
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♪ forgiveness was bought with ♪
00:08:56.586 --> 00:09:02.091
♪ the precious blood of jesus christ ♪
00:09:02.091 --> 00:09:07.630
♪ o come to the altar ♪
00:09:07.630 --> 00:09:13.002
♪ the father's arms are open wide ♪
00:09:13.002 --> 00:09:18.574
♪ forgiveness was bought with ♪
00:09:18.574 --> 00:09:23.913
♪ the precious blood of jesus christ ♪
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♪ oh, oh, mmm ♪♪
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♪♪♪
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[congregation applauding]
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Announcer: dr. david jeremiah
00:09:42.832 --> 00:09:44.166
Is delivering the unchanging word of god every month
00:09:44.166 --> 00:09:46.335
To more than half a million homes
00:09:46.335 --> 00:09:48.204
Through "turning points" magazine and devotional.
00:09:48.204 --> 00:09:50.573
Request your first issue now
00:09:50.573 --> 00:09:52.375
To read inspirational, in-depth articles
00:09:52.375 --> 00:09:54.577
And quick, clear, and creative devotionals
00:09:54.577 --> 00:09:56.512
From dr. jeremiah each month
00:09:56.512 --> 00:09:58.280
That will encourage, challenge, and strengthen
00:09:58.280 --> 00:10:00.383
Your walk with the lord.
00:10:00.383 --> 00:10:01.817
Request your three issues of "turning points" completely free
00:10:01.817 --> 00:10:04.587
Or give a gift of any amount
00:10:04.587 --> 00:10:06.355
To receive an annual subscription.
00:10:06.355 --> 00:10:08.357
Contact turning point today.
00:10:08.357 --> 00:10:10.292
♪ i cast my mind to calvary ♪
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♪ where jesus bled and died for me ♪
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♪ i see his wounds, his hands, his feet ♪
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♪ my savior on that cursed tree ♪
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♪ his body bound and drenched in tears ♪
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♪ they laid him down in joseph's tomb ♪
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♪ the entrance sealed by heavy stone ♪
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♪ messiah still and all alone ♪
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♪ o praise the name of the lord our god ♪
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♪ o praise his name forevermore ♪
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♪ for endless days we will sing your praise ♪
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♪ oh lord, oh lord our god ♪
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♪ then on the third at break of dawn ♪
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♪ the son of heaven rose again ♪
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♪ o trampled death, where is your sting ♪
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♪ the angels roar for christ the king ♪
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♪ o praise the name of the lord our god ♪
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♪ o praise his name forevermore ♪
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♪ for endless days we will sing your praise ♪
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♪ oh lord, oh lord our god ♪
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♪ he shall return in robes of white ♪
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♪ the blazing sun shall pierce the night ♪
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♪ and i will rise among the saints ♪
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♪ my gaze transfixed on jesus' face ♪
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♪ o praise the name of the lord our god ♪
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♪ o praise his name forevermore ♪
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♪ for endless days we will sing your praise ♪
00:13:30.626 --> 00:13:37.433
♪ oh lord, oh lord our god ♪
00:13:37.433 --> 00:13:44.139
♪ o praise the name of the lord our god ♪
00:13:44.139 --> 00:13:50.746
♪ o praise his name forevermore ♪
00:13:50.746 --> 00:13:57.786
♪ for end less days we will sing your praise ♪
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♪ oh lord, oh lord our god ♪
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♪ oh lord, oh lord our god. ♪♪
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[congregation applauding]
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♪♪♪
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♪ bless the lord o my soul ♪
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♪ and all that's in me bless his holy name ♪
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♪ bless the lord o my soul ♪
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♪ and forget not all his benefits ♪
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♪ and forget not all his benefits ♪
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♪♪♪
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♪ bless the lord o my soul ♪
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♪ and all that's in me bless his holy name ♪
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♪ bless the lord o my soul ♪
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♪ and forget not all his benefits ♪
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♪ and forget not all his benefits ♪
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♪ who redeems ♪
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♪ who restores ♪
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♪ who renews your youth like the eagle soars ♪
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♪ who forgives every sin ♪
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♪ who is raising us to new life again ♪
00:16:31.573 --> 00:16:38.514
♪ o my soul will ♪
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♪ o my soul will bless the lord ♪
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♪♪♪
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♪ high as the heavens are above the earth ♪
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♪ so great his steadfast love ♪
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♪ toward those who fear him ♪
00:17:09.378 --> 00:17:11.346
♪ bless the lord ♪
00:17:11.346 --> 00:17:12.948
♪ bless the lord o my soul ♪
00:17:12.948 --> 00:17:16.819
♪ far as the east is from the west ♪
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♪ so far does he remove our trespasses from us ♪
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♪ bless the lord ♪
00:17:25.294 --> 00:17:27.529
♪ bless the lord o my soul ♪
00:17:27.529 --> 00:17:31.066
♪ high as the heavens high above the earth ♪
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♪ so great his steadfast love ♪
00:17:35.471 --> 00:17:38.407
♪ toward those who fear him ♪
00:17:38.407 --> 00:17:40.342
♪ bless the lord ♪
00:17:40.342 --> 00:17:42.111
♪ bless the lord o my soul ♪
00:17:42.111 --> 00:17:45.747
♪ oh i will bless his holy name ♪
00:17:45.747 --> 00:17:53.122
♪ for he is good ♪
00:17:53.122 --> 00:17:56.625
♪ bless the lord o my soul ♪
00:17:56.625 --> 00:18:00.195
♪ high as the heavens are above the earth ♪
00:18:00.195 --> 00:18:04.433
♪ so great his steadfast love ♪
00:18:04.433 --> 00:18:07.069
♪ toward those who fear him ♪
00:18:07.069 --> 00:18:09.271
♪ bless the lord ♪
00:18:09.271 --> 00:18:11.140
♪ bless the lord o my soul ♪
00:18:11.140 --> 00:18:14.743
♪ oh i will bless his holy name ♪
00:18:14.743 --> 00:18:22.117
♪ for he is good ♪
00:18:22.117 --> 00:18:25.721
♪ bless the lord ♪
00:18:25.721 --> 00:18:29.258
♪ bless the lord ♪
00:18:29.858 --> 00:18:36.398
♪ who redeems ♪
00:18:36.398 --> 00:18:41.003
♪ who restores ♪
00:18:41.003 --> 00:18:44.606
♪ who renews your youth like the eagle soars ♪
00:18:44.606 --> 00:18:51.980
♪ who forgives every sin ♪
00:18:51.980 --> 00:18:59.388
♪ who is raising us to new life again ♪
00:18:59.388 --> 00:19:06.562
♪ o my soul will ♪
00:19:06.562 --> 00:19:10.532
♪ o my soul will bless the lord ♪
00:19:10.532 --> 00:19:20.809
♪ the lord ♪
00:19:22.244 --> 00:19:28.584
♪ bless the lord ♪♪
00:19:28.584 --> 00:19:36.525
[congregation cheering]
00:19:36.525 --> 00:19:44.933
Announcer: david jeremiah and turning point are making
00:19:46.168 --> 00:19:48.270
A global impact for the kingdom of god,
00:19:48.270 --> 00:19:50.405
But we can't do it alone.
00:19:50.405 --> 00:19:52.174
That's where bible strong partners come in.
00:19:52.174 --> 00:19:54.676
Bible strong partners form the foundation of turning point,
00:19:54.676 --> 00:19:57.813
Allowing dr. jeremiah to reach the world with the gospel
00:19:57.813 --> 00:20:00.816
And enabling you to share
00:20:00.816 --> 00:20:02.150
In the eternal impact of the ministry.
00:20:02.150 --> 00:20:04.286
In return, we want to support your faith
00:20:04.286 --> 00:20:06.588
With special and exclusive resources.
00:20:06.588 --> 00:20:08.557
To become a bible strong partner, go to
00:20:08.557 --> 00:20:10.959
Davidjeremiah.org/biblestrong today.
00:20:10.959 --> 00:20:14.129
♪♪♪
00:20:16.431 --> 00:20:28.677
♪ if you've been walking the same old road ♪
00:20:26.441 --> 00:20:31.380
♪ for miles and miles ♪
00:20:31.380 --> 00:20:34.816
♪ if you've been hearing the same old voice ♪
00:20:34.816 --> 00:20:38.487
♪ tell the same old lies ♪
00:20:38.487 --> 00:20:41.290
♪ if you're trying to fill the same old holes inside ♪
00:20:41.290 --> 00:20:46.828
♪ there's a better life, oh, a better life ♪
00:20:46.828 --> 00:20:53.201
♪ if you got pain, ♪
00:20:53.201 --> 00:20:55.871
♪ he's a pain taker ♪
00:20:55.871 --> 00:20:59.141
♪ if you feel lost, ♪
00:20:59.141 --> 00:21:01.610
♪ boy, he's a way maker ♪
00:21:01.610 --> 00:21:05.414
♪ if you need freedom or saving ♪
00:21:05.414 --> 00:21:09.017
♪ he's a prison-shaking savior ♪
00:21:09.017 --> 00:21:11.687
♪ if you got chains, oh boy, ♪
00:21:11.687 --> 00:21:14.289
♪ he's a chain breaker ♪
00:21:14.289 --> 00:21:17.759
♪ oh, yeah, yeah ♪
00:21:17.759 --> 00:21:21.229
♪ we've all searched for the light of day ♪
00:21:21.229 --> 00:21:23.498
♪ in the dead of night ♪
00:21:23.498 --> 00:21:25.300
♪ say, we've all found ourselves worn out ♪
00:21:25.300 --> 00:21:30.439
♪ from the same old fight ♪
00:21:30.439 --> 00:21:32.674
♪ we've all run to things we know, ♪
00:21:32.674 --> 00:21:35.844
♪ well, they just ain't right ♪
00:21:35.844 --> 00:21:37.846
♪ oh, there's a better life, ♪
00:21:37.846 --> 00:21:40.849
♪ oh yeah, a better life ♪
00:21:40.849 --> 00:21:45.387
♪ if you've got pain, whoa, ♪
00:21:45.387 --> 00:21:48.223
♪ he's a pain taker ♪
00:21:48.223 --> 00:21:51.526
♪ if you feel lost, well, well, ♪
00:21:51.526 --> 00:21:54.229
♪ he's a way maker ♪
00:21:54.229 --> 00:21:57.632
♪ if you need freedom or saving ♪
00:21:57.632 --> 00:22:01.403
♪ he's a prison-shaking savior ♪
00:22:01.403 --> 00:22:03.939
♪ if you've got chains, well, well, ♪
00:22:03.939 --> 00:22:06.541
♪ he's a chain breaker ♪
00:22:06.541 --> 00:22:10.112
♪ oh, yeah yeah ♪
00:22:10.112 --> 00:22:14.683
♪ if you believe it ♪
00:22:14.683 --> 00:22:17.686
♪ you receive it ♪
00:22:17.686 --> 00:22:20.622
♪ you can feel it ♪
00:22:20.622 --> 00:22:22.724
♪ somebody testify ♪
00:22:22.724 --> 00:22:27.129
♪ if you believe it ♪
00:22:27.129 --> 00:22:29.865
♪ if you receive it ♪
00:22:29.865 --> 00:22:31.733
♪ don't you know ♪
00:22:31.733 --> 00:22:33.068
♪ you can feel it, somebody testify, testify ♪
00:22:33.068 --> 00:22:37.873
♪ you believe it, ooh, ooh, receive it, ♪
00:22:39.107 --> 00:22:43.845
♪ don't you know ♪
00:22:43.845 --> 00:22:45.180
♪ hey, you can feel it, ♪
00:22:45.180 --> 00:22:46.782
♪ somebody, somebody, somebody testify ♪
00:22:46.782 --> 00:22:50.552
♪ if you've got pain ♪
00:22:50.552 --> 00:22:52.387
♪ oh, he's a pain taker ♪
00:22:52.387 --> 00:22:55.457
♪ come on, if you feel lost, oh ♪
00:22:55.457 --> 00:22:58.560
♪ he's always a way maker ♪
00:22:58.560 --> 00:23:02.197
♪ if you need freedom or saving ♪
00:23:02.197 --> 00:23:05.934
♪ he's a prison, prison-shaking savior ♪
00:23:05.934 --> 00:23:09.004
♪ got chains, ♪
00:23:09.004 --> 00:23:10.539
♪ oh, he's a chain breaker ♪
00:23:10.539 --> 00:23:14.876
♪ if you need freedom or saving ♪
00:23:14.876 --> 00:23:18.180
♪ he's a prison-shaking savior ♪
00:23:18.180 --> 00:23:20.715
♪ you got chains ♪
00:23:20.715 --> 00:23:23.118
♪ oh, and he's a chain breaker ♪
00:23:23.118 --> 00:23:26.321
♪ oh, yeah, yeah ♪
00:23:26.321 --> 00:23:28.323
♪ i'm talking about the chain, chain breaker ♪
00:23:28.323 --> 00:23:32.928
♪ all right, oh ♪♪
00:23:32.928 --> 00:23:34.896
♪♪♪
00:23:34.896 --> 00:23:38.533
[congregation applauding]
00:23:38.533 --> 00:23:50.846
Announcer: a brighter day and a better year begins
00:23:50.912 --> 00:23:53.315
By living in god's light.
00:23:53.315 --> 00:23:55.016
Introducing dr. david jeremiah's
00:23:55.016 --> 00:23:56.585
Newest 365-day devotional for 2025,
00:23:56.585 --> 00:23:59.888
"living in his light."
00:23:59.888 --> 00:24:01.356
With dr. jeremiah's inspiring insights and reflections,
00:24:01.356 --> 00:24:04.292
You'll find yourself immersed in god's radiant truth,
00:24:04.292 --> 00:24:07.195
Allowing his light to transform your every moment.
00:24:07.195 --> 00:24:10.398
"living in his light" is your daily recharge,
00:24:10.398 --> 00:24:12.567
Keeping you connected to his presence
00:24:12.567 --> 00:24:14.102
And walking in the brilliance of his love
00:24:14.102 --> 00:24:15.871
Day by day.
00:24:15.871 --> 00:24:17.506
With a beautifully designed cover
00:24:17.506 --> 00:24:18.940
And stunning images throughout,
00:24:18.940 --> 00:24:20.475
Each reading will not only lift your spirit,
00:24:20.475 --> 00:24:22.611
But brighten your entire day.
00:24:22.611 --> 00:24:24.746
Even when the world looks bleak and your days seem dark,
00:24:24.746 --> 00:24:27.782
Let dr. jeremiah remind you each day
00:24:27.782 --> 00:24:29.885
That the closer you are to christ,
00:24:29.885 --> 00:24:31.253
The brighter your days will be.
00:24:31.253 --> 00:24:33.655
Request your copy of "living in his light" today
00:24:33.655 --> 00:24:35.824
For a gift of any amount in support of this program.
00:24:35.824 --> 00:24:37.993
Or for a gift of $120 or more,
00:24:37.993 --> 00:24:40.662
Receive four copies: one for yourself
00:24:40.662 --> 00:24:42.697
And three to share his light with those you love.
00:24:42.697 --> 00:24:45.734
Contact turning point today
00:24:45.734 --> 00:24:47.135
To request "living in his light"
00:24:47.135 --> 00:24:49.170
By dr. jeremiah
00:24:49.170 --> 00:24:50.539
And step into a brighter future.
00:24:50.539 --> 00:24:53.074
Announcer: thank you for watching "turning point."
00:24:55.477 --> 00:24:57.546
And now, here is dr. jeremiah with his message,
00:24:57.546 --> 00:25:00.315
"what is your life?"
00:25:00.315 --> 00:25:02.284
Dr. jeremiah: as we begin this new year together,
00:25:03.985 --> 00:25:05.453
I want to ask you a question.
00:25:05.453 --> 00:25:06.788
I want you to think about it really seriously.
00:25:06.788 --> 00:25:09.991
This year, are you going to follow jesus,
00:25:09.991 --> 00:25:13.795
Or are you going to ask jesus to follow you?
00:25:13.795 --> 00:25:18.533
You say, why would anybody ever think
00:25:18.533 --> 00:25:20.969
Of asking jesus to follow them?
00:25:20.969 --> 00:25:23.138
We do it all the time.
00:25:23.138 --> 00:25:25.073
We make our plans, and then we say,
00:25:25.073 --> 00:25:27.275
"lord jesus, would you bless this?
00:25:27.275 --> 00:25:30.078
This is what i'm going to do,
00:25:30.078 --> 00:25:31.446
And it would sure be nice if you'd smile on it.
00:25:31.446 --> 00:25:33.949
This is what i've set out for the new year,
00:25:33.949 --> 00:25:36.051
And i'd like for your favor, if that's all right."
00:25:36.051 --> 00:25:39.254
In essence, we're saying, jesus, i'm gonna do what i wanna do
00:25:39.254 --> 00:25:42.591
And i want you to follow me with your blessing.
00:25:42.591 --> 00:25:45.894
We have a choice every day,
00:25:45.894 --> 00:25:47.996
But especially at the beginning of a new year, to decide,
00:25:47.996 --> 00:25:50.665
Am i gonna follow jesus,
00:25:50.665 --> 00:25:52.901
Or am i gonna ask jesus to follow me?
00:25:52.901 --> 00:25:57.672
James is writing to what theologians call
00:25:57.672 --> 00:26:00.809
The diaspora, the scattered jews.
00:26:00.809 --> 00:26:04.012
These jews who had become christians
00:26:04.012 --> 00:26:06.214
Were scattered throughout the whole area,
00:26:06.214 --> 00:26:07.983
And james writes this letter, the book of james, to them.
00:26:07.983 --> 00:26:11.486
And in this letter, he's going to deal with an issue
00:26:11.486 --> 00:26:14.422
That has become apparent to him.
00:26:14.422 --> 00:26:16.024
And that is, that many of these believers
00:26:16.024 --> 00:26:18.760
Who have come out of judaism into christianity
00:26:18.760 --> 00:26:21.596
Have started to live their lives as if god did not exist.
00:26:21.596 --> 00:26:25.634
They were going on with their plans,
00:26:25.634 --> 00:26:27.068
Doing their business, doing their thing,
00:26:27.068 --> 00:26:29.838
And god wasn't in the picture.
00:26:29.838 --> 00:26:32.974
Now, most of us do not know
00:26:32.974 --> 00:26:35.143
What the future is going to hold,
00:26:35.143 --> 00:26:36.911
And it's a good thing.
00:26:36.911 --> 00:26:38.580
But there's a part of us that wants to know the future,
00:26:38.580 --> 00:26:41.216
There's a part of us that wants to be able to kind of be
00:26:41.216 --> 00:26:43.184
Ahead of the game, if you will.
00:26:43.184 --> 00:26:45.854
But god does not allow that,
00:26:45.854 --> 00:26:47.656
God does not reveal the future to us.
00:26:47.656 --> 00:26:49.691
And according to st. augustine, we're blessed because of it.
00:26:49.691 --> 00:26:53.795
He said: "god will not suffer man
00:26:53.795 --> 00:26:55.363
To have the knowledge of things to come.
00:26:55.363 --> 00:26:57.899
For if he had awareness of his prosperity,
00:26:57.899 --> 00:27:00.502
He would be careless,
00:27:00.502 --> 00:27:02.404
And understanding his adversity, he would be senseless."
00:27:02.404 --> 00:27:06.708
God veils the future from our eyes
00:27:06.708 --> 00:27:08.810
And asks us to trust him.
00:27:08.810 --> 00:27:11.513
And here in the fourth chapter of james,
00:27:11.513 --> 00:27:13.848
The author is reminding his readers
00:27:13.848 --> 00:27:15.850
That while they cannot predict the future,
00:27:15.850 --> 00:27:18.286
They must learn how to plan for it.
00:27:18.286 --> 00:27:21.890
They should not plan their lives
00:27:21.890 --> 00:27:23.224
Without taking god into consideration
00:27:23.224 --> 00:27:25.694
Or presume upon a future that they cannot control.
00:27:25.694 --> 00:27:28.697
They must not convince themselves
00:27:28.697 --> 00:27:30.331
That they are sufficient
00:27:30.331 --> 00:27:31.666
To face life in their own wisdom
00:27:31.666 --> 00:27:34.169
And in their own strength.
00:27:34.169 --> 00:27:36.304
James warns his readers about three things they do
00:27:36.304 --> 00:27:40.608
That will get them into trouble with god.
00:27:40.608 --> 00:27:43.778
There's some kind of in-your-face grace from james,
00:27:43.778 --> 00:27:47.782
Some exhortation, some warning.
00:27:47.782 --> 00:27:50.218
But don't allow those warnings to discourage you
00:27:50.218 --> 00:27:52.053
Because james puts it all together for us at the end.
00:27:52.053 --> 00:27:55.757
He tells us that if we're not careful,
00:27:55.757 --> 00:27:57.892
Even as followers of christ,
00:27:57.892 --> 00:27:59.527
As were the scattered jewish christians
00:27:59.527 --> 00:28:01.796
To whom he wrote his letter,
00:28:01.796 --> 00:28:03.598
If we are not careful,
00:28:03.598 --> 00:28:05.400
We can just do life as if god wasn't in the process.
00:28:05.400 --> 00:28:10.038
The first thing we can do, if we're not careful,
00:28:10.038 --> 00:28:13.374
Is to do life without god.
00:28:13.374 --> 00:28:15.276
James 4:13: "come now, you who say,
00:28:15.276 --> 00:28:18.680
'today or tomorrow,
00:28:18.680 --> 00:28:20.582
We will go to such and such a city,
00:28:20.582 --> 00:28:22.650
And spend a year there, and buy and sell,
00:28:22.650 --> 00:28:25.320
And make a profit.'"
00:28:25.320 --> 00:28:27.655
This whole fourth chapter of james is about believers
00:28:27.655 --> 00:28:32.360
Trying to live their own lives in their own sufficiency
00:28:32.360 --> 00:28:35.997
And not trust in god.
00:28:35.997 --> 00:28:38.233
James is excoriating these jewish business people
00:28:38.233 --> 00:28:42.704
For doing their own thing
00:28:42.704 --> 00:28:44.572
And divorcing god from the whole process.
00:28:44.572 --> 00:28:49.344
While these merchants are to be blamed
00:28:49.344 --> 00:28:51.446
For leaving god out of their plans,
00:28:51.446 --> 00:28:53.448
They are never faulted for planning.
00:28:53.448 --> 00:28:55.683
There's nothing in the bible that says we shouldn't plan.
00:28:55.683 --> 00:28:59.788
Nothing is said that would lead us to believe
00:28:59.788 --> 00:29:01.422
There's anything wrong with planning.
00:29:01.422 --> 00:29:03.324
In fact, in many ways, if we look
00:29:03.324 --> 00:29:05.527
At what we're going to examine today,
00:29:05.527 --> 00:29:07.095
This is kind of like a model business plan.
00:29:07.095 --> 00:29:10.431
The problem wasn't in what the merchants did,
00:29:10.431 --> 00:29:12.901
It's in what they didn't do.
00:29:12.901 --> 00:29:15.103
Their wrongdoing was a sin of omission,
00:29:15.103 --> 00:29:17.605
They omitted god from the process,
00:29:17.605 --> 00:29:20.074
And they stepped out to do their own thing
00:29:20.074 --> 00:29:22.844
Like we do sometimes.
00:29:22.844 --> 00:29:24.846
We do what we want to do, and then we ask god to bless it.
00:29:24.846 --> 00:29:30.051
Notice what you can do without god.
00:29:30.051 --> 00:29:33.021
Sometimes we say, "well, doesn't the bible say,
00:29:33.021 --> 00:29:34.889
'without me, you can do nothing?'"
00:29:34.889 --> 00:29:36.791
Well, yeah, but that doesn't mean
00:29:36.791 --> 00:29:38.126
You can't get up in the morning, you can't go to bed at night,
00:29:38.126 --> 00:29:40.461
You can't eat your dinner.
00:29:40.461 --> 00:29:41.796
Obviously, you can do some things without christ.
00:29:41.796 --> 00:29:44.566
That verse simply means without christ,
00:29:44.566 --> 00:29:45.934
You can't do anything
00:29:45.934 --> 00:29:47.268
That has any eternal perspective.
00:29:47.268 --> 00:29:49.938
But you can do some things without god,
00:29:49.938 --> 00:29:51.973
Even as a believer.
00:29:51.973 --> 00:29:53.608
And here are some things you can do without god,
00:29:53.608 --> 00:29:55.743
According to james: you can make plans without god.
00:29:55.743 --> 00:29:59.214
"today or tomorrow," they said, "we will do this.
00:29:59.214 --> 00:30:03.618
We will do our thing today or tomorrow."
00:30:03.618 --> 00:30:06.387
A good business plan needs to have some flexibility,
00:30:06.387 --> 00:30:08.723
And they've built some in,
00:30:08.723 --> 00:30:10.058
They're either gonna do it today or tomorrow.
00:30:10.058 --> 00:30:13.695
And then you can not only make plans without god,
00:30:13.695 --> 00:30:16.197
But you can mark places without god.
00:30:16.197 --> 00:30:19.100
"we will go to such and such a city."
00:30:19.100 --> 00:30:21.369
They sat down, they said, "today or tomorrow,
00:30:21.369 --> 00:30:23.605
We're gonna go to such and such a city."
00:30:23.605 --> 00:30:25.640
It's an interesting time for these jewish business people
00:30:25.640 --> 00:30:28.142
Because it was the time of the founding of cities.
00:30:28.142 --> 00:30:32.714
Cities were being founded all over the empire,
00:30:32.714 --> 00:30:36.117
And the way they founded it
00:30:36.117 --> 00:30:37.452
Was they would have some patriots who would do it,
00:30:37.452 --> 00:30:39.120
And they would put together incentive plans
00:30:39.120 --> 00:30:41.422
To bring businesses and people to the city
00:30:41.422 --> 00:30:43.825
So that the city could grow.
00:30:43.825 --> 00:30:45.426
What better could you do
00:30:45.426 --> 00:30:46.794
Than to find a jewish businessman
00:30:46.794 --> 00:30:48.496
And bring him to your city?
00:30:48.496 --> 00:30:49.964
And that's what they were doing,
00:30:49.964 --> 00:30:51.299
They were making it available for these business people to go.
00:30:51.299 --> 00:30:54.002
And so one day they sat down, these christian businessmen,
00:30:54.002 --> 00:30:57.138
And they said, "today or tomorrow,
00:30:57.138 --> 00:30:58.573
We're gonna go to such and such a city."
00:30:58.573 --> 00:31:00.675
And they put their finger on a place on the map,
00:31:00.675 --> 00:31:03.244
Maybe they put a pin in it and said,
00:31:03.244 --> 00:31:04.646
"that's where we're going."
00:31:04.646 --> 00:31:07.448
And you can make plans without god,
00:31:07.448 --> 00:31:08.983
And you can mark out places without god,
00:31:08.983 --> 00:31:10.885
You can even do something better than that.
00:31:10.885 --> 00:31:14.489
You can decide when you're gonna go
00:31:14.489 --> 00:31:16.791
And where you're gonna go, and then you can decide
00:31:16.791 --> 00:31:19.027
How long you're gonna stay there.
00:31:19.027 --> 00:31:21.462
You can manipulate periods without god.
00:31:21.462 --> 00:31:23.731
Notice the next phrase in the verse
00:31:23.731 --> 00:31:25.333
Is spend a year there.
00:31:25.333 --> 00:31:27.802
These christians, these business people,
00:31:27.802 --> 00:31:32.273
These new followers of jesus christ
00:31:32.273 --> 00:31:34.809
Had decided that they
00:31:34.809 --> 00:31:36.144
Could complete their business in a year.
00:31:36.144 --> 00:31:39.013
And they assumed that they
00:31:39.013 --> 00:31:40.348
Would be able to stay the course,
00:31:40.348 --> 00:31:41.683
And when the year was done, they were gonna come home.
00:31:41.683 --> 00:31:44.652
Now, this is pretty specific.
00:31:44.652 --> 00:31:47.422
On such and such a day,
00:31:47.422 --> 00:31:49.223
We're gonna go to such and such a place,
00:31:49.223 --> 00:31:51.693
And we're gonna stay for such and such a time.
00:31:51.693 --> 00:31:54.762
Notice, number four,
00:31:54.762 --> 00:31:56.097
They could manufacture purposes without god,
00:31:56.097 --> 00:31:58.499
"we're going to buy and sell."
00:31:58.499 --> 00:32:00.335
Interesting little phrase from the greek language,
00:32:00.335 --> 00:32:02.470
It's the word "emporeumai"
00:32:02.470 --> 00:32:04.572
From which we get the word emporium,
00:32:04.572 --> 00:32:06.841
And an emporium is a word that means to travel to a place
00:32:06.841 --> 00:32:10.078
For the purpose of doing business.
00:32:10.078 --> 00:32:11.946
So they were gonna go to this city,
00:32:11.946 --> 00:32:14.015
They were gonna set up their business,
00:32:14.015 --> 00:32:15.483
They were gonna stay for a year.
00:32:15.483 --> 00:32:17.251
All of this is in their plan.
00:32:17.251 --> 00:32:20.221
And notice they're not done yet,
00:32:20.221 --> 00:32:21.556
They're even gonna measure their profit without god,
00:32:21.556 --> 00:32:24.759
And we're gonna make a profit.
00:32:24.759 --> 00:32:27.028
These merchants were passionate about profit-making.
00:32:27.028 --> 00:32:29.964
I mean, that's the whole reason why they travel,
00:32:29.964 --> 00:32:31.733
Why they traded, the reason why they lived.
00:32:31.733 --> 00:32:35.636
And james is not saying
00:32:35.636 --> 00:32:37.105
You shouldn't try to make money if you're in business.
00:32:37.105 --> 00:32:39.741
He's not against the desire to make money,
00:32:39.741 --> 00:32:41.976
What he is saying is that planning that leaves god out
00:32:41.976 --> 00:32:46.280
Is planning on human ingenuity alone
00:32:46.280 --> 00:32:49.784
And it will fall short
00:32:49.784 --> 00:32:51.853
Of everything god intended for your life.
00:32:51.853 --> 00:32:56.557
Making plans without god, marking places without god,
00:32:56.557 --> 00:32:59.627
Manipulating periods without god,
00:32:59.627 --> 00:33:01.696
Manufacturing purposes without god,
00:33:01.696 --> 00:33:04.132
And measuring profit without god.
00:33:04.132 --> 00:33:08.136
Vince poscente has written a book
00:33:08.136 --> 00:33:09.704
That i read recently called "the age of speed."
00:33:09.704 --> 00:33:13.041
Now, this book will kind of scare you if you read it,
00:33:13.041 --> 00:33:14.642
'cause it reminds us
00:33:14.642 --> 00:33:15.977
Of how fast life has gotten in our generation;
00:33:15.977 --> 00:33:21.315
Where it was when we all started out
00:33:21.315 --> 00:33:23.284
And how it has sped up to where we are right now.
00:33:23.284 --> 00:33:26.454
In this, he talks about
00:33:26.454 --> 00:33:27.955
How our culture has been changed,
00:33:27.955 --> 00:33:30.058
How we have been exposed to the boom in technology,
00:33:30.058 --> 00:33:33.861
Which enables us to achieve speed
00:33:33.861 --> 00:33:36.197
In almost every imaginable way.
00:33:36.197 --> 00:33:38.599
Through email, pdas, self-checkout,
00:33:38.599 --> 00:33:41.069
Downloadable music, real-time news,
00:33:41.069 --> 00:33:43.204
Atms, digital cameras,
00:33:43.204 --> 00:33:45.907
Technology has driven speed into every part of our life.
00:33:45.907 --> 00:33:50.545
The ceiling has been lifted,
00:33:50.545 --> 00:33:52.146
Our options for going fast seem unlimited.
00:33:52.146 --> 00:33:56.918
And as i read that book, i couldn't help but think
00:33:56.918 --> 00:33:58.586
About what we're studying here today.
00:33:58.586 --> 00:34:01.856
How do you put god in your plans when your plans are unfolding
00:34:01.856 --> 00:34:08.496
At lightning speed every hour of every day?
00:34:08.496 --> 00:34:12.834
It's not like you get to go and sit down for a whole day
00:34:12.834 --> 00:34:15.203
At the beginning of the week
00:34:15.203 --> 00:34:16.537
Knowing everything that's going to happen,
00:34:16.537 --> 00:34:18.406
Ask god about it all, and then lay it out and say,
00:34:18.406 --> 00:34:20.741
"okay, lord, here we go."
00:34:20.741 --> 00:34:22.844
You can't do what god wants you to do in our culture today
00:34:22.844 --> 00:34:26.581
If you have a year-to-year plan with him,
00:34:26.581 --> 00:34:29.283
Or a month-to-month plan, or if you are many who say,
00:34:29.283 --> 00:34:32.086
"well, i get what i need spiritually on sunday
00:34:32.086 --> 00:34:34.589
And then i do my own thing during the week.
00:34:34.589 --> 00:34:37.658
You can't even do this day-to-day,
00:34:37.658 --> 00:34:39.827
This is a moment-to-moment thing we're living with, is it not?
00:34:39.827 --> 00:34:42.964
So we have to ask god every day,
00:34:42.964 --> 00:34:44.765
"lord, i want to submit my life to you today.
00:34:44.765 --> 00:34:46.534
My plans are your plans.
00:34:46.534 --> 00:34:47.869
Your plans are mine.
00:34:47.869 --> 00:34:49.604
Help me to be sensitive to every influence
00:34:49.604 --> 00:34:52.039
That comes into my life
00:34:52.039 --> 00:34:53.374
Throughout the 24 hours that are before me.
00:34:53.374 --> 00:34:56.711
When i get an email or a text message
00:34:56.711 --> 00:34:59.280
Or i see facebook
00:34:59.280 --> 00:35:00.781
Or somebody puts a note in front of me,
00:35:00.781 --> 00:35:03.384
Give me a sense of your presence in all of this
00:35:03.384 --> 00:35:06.154
So that together we can do life."
00:35:06.154 --> 00:35:08.956
That's hard to do.
00:35:08.956 --> 00:35:10.391
It's hard enough to do it month by month,
00:35:10.391 --> 00:35:12.093
Week by week, day by day.
00:35:12.093 --> 00:35:13.694
God, i think, is asking of us in this generation even more
00:35:13.694 --> 00:35:17.832
To have a relationship with him
00:35:17.832 --> 00:35:19.901
That's like he was sitting next to you at your desk
00:35:19.901 --> 00:35:23.538
Or beside you in your car
00:35:23.538 --> 00:35:25.740
And you're partners in this whole thing,
00:35:25.740 --> 00:35:27.341
And you keep your relationship that fresh
00:35:27.341 --> 00:35:29.911
So that you have a sense of his presence in your life
00:35:29.911 --> 00:35:34.248
When you're doing life.
00:35:34.248 --> 00:35:36.217
If we don't do that,
00:35:36.217 --> 00:35:37.552
We're gonna get caught doing our own thing.
00:35:37.552 --> 00:35:40.488
And it may not be the wrong thing
00:35:40.488 --> 00:35:41.956
And it may not keep us from doing something,
00:35:41.956 --> 00:35:44.392
But it will keep us from doing
00:35:44.392 --> 00:35:46.027
The thing that god wants in our life.
00:35:46.027 --> 00:35:50.464
So we have to be careful
00:35:50.464 --> 00:35:51.799
That we don't do life without god.
00:35:51.799 --> 00:35:53.534
Now, these merchants did one other thing,
00:35:53.534 --> 00:35:55.436
They determined life without god.
00:35:55.436 --> 00:35:58.506
They had sort of a mindset that's pretty interesting,
00:35:58.506 --> 00:36:01.442
Pretty arrogant if you want to know the truth.
00:36:01.442 --> 00:36:03.644
Notice what they said in verse 14:
00:36:03.644 --> 00:36:05.980
"whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow.
00:36:05.980 --> 00:36:09.283
For what is your life?
00:36:09.283 --> 00:36:10.685
It is even a vapor that appears for a little time
00:36:10.685 --> 00:36:13.254
And then vanishes away."
00:36:13.254 --> 00:36:15.089
In planning their lives,
00:36:15.089 --> 00:36:16.791
These business people had taken a lot for granted.
00:36:16.791 --> 00:36:20.595
They had made a lot of assumptions,
00:36:20.595 --> 00:36:22.396
Perhaps we should call them presumptions.
00:36:22.396 --> 00:36:25.066
First of all, they failed to comprehend
00:36:25.066 --> 00:36:27.134
The complexity of life.
00:36:27.134 --> 00:36:29.337
Look at how many things these merchants in james's story
00:36:29.337 --> 00:36:32.707
Counted on accomplishing,
00:36:32.707 --> 00:36:34.508
Taking for granted that they could make it happen.
00:36:34.508 --> 00:36:37.011
I wrote these words down right out of the text:
00:36:37.011 --> 00:36:39.513
Today, tomorrow, spend a year,
00:36:39.513 --> 00:36:43.818
Buy and sell, make a profit.
00:36:43.818 --> 00:36:48.155
Those were assumptions on their part
00:36:48.155 --> 00:36:50.858
That did not take into consideration
00:36:50.858 --> 00:36:53.160
That they were not in control
00:36:53.160 --> 00:36:54.495
Of their own context or environment.
00:36:54.495 --> 00:36:59.066
In his book, "thriving on chaos,"
00:36:59.066 --> 00:37:01.435
Tom peters sums up our problem trying to understand the future,
00:37:01.435 --> 00:37:05.473
And this is what he said: "if you're not confused,
00:37:05.473 --> 00:37:08.909
You're not paying attention," amen.
00:37:08.909 --> 00:37:12.847
Isn't that true?
00:37:12.847 --> 00:37:14.181
"if you're not confused, you're not paying attention."
00:37:14.181 --> 00:37:18.252
Most of us will admit our ability
00:37:18.252 --> 00:37:20.354
To assess life's situation correctly
00:37:20.354 --> 00:37:22.523
Is average at best.
00:37:22.523 --> 00:37:24.625
Even as christians,
00:37:24.625 --> 00:37:25.960
We often misinterpret life as we see it.
00:37:25.960 --> 00:37:29.263
Second thing they did,
00:37:29.263 --> 00:37:30.598
The second assumption they made, or presumption,
00:37:30.598 --> 00:37:32.566
Was they failed to comprehend the uncertainty of life.
00:37:32.566 --> 00:37:36.370
These merchants could not possibly have known
00:37:36.370 --> 00:37:38.406
What they needed to know to make so bold a prediction.
00:37:38.406 --> 00:37:41.642
Their statement was raw arrogance.
00:37:41.642 --> 00:37:44.145
They said, "we will go, we will stay,
00:37:44.145 --> 00:37:47.148
We will trade, we will make a profit."
00:37:47.148 --> 00:37:50.151
And the mention of a year's stay suggests
00:37:50.151 --> 00:37:52.653
Both deliberate and calculated arrogance.
00:37:52.653 --> 00:37:55.856
They were going to go where they liked for as long as they liked.
00:37:55.856 --> 00:37:59.427
They were going to do what they did
00:37:59.427 --> 00:38:00.928
For as long as they wanted to do it.
00:38:00.928 --> 00:38:03.364
Their resolve,
00:38:03.364 --> 00:38:05.032
Together with their refusal to reckon with death,
00:38:05.032 --> 00:38:08.569
Has a very modern ring, i am the master of my fate,
00:38:08.569 --> 00:38:12.506
Or, in frank sinatra's words, "i did it my way."
00:38:12.506 --> 00:38:18.346
The answer to life's uncertainties
00:38:18.346 --> 00:38:20.081
Is not to pretend that we have all the answers,
00:38:20.081 --> 00:38:23.050
Nor is it to become discouraged or cynical
00:38:23.050 --> 00:38:25.720
Because it feels like we have none of the answers.
00:38:25.720 --> 00:38:28.989
No, the answer is to trust in the goodness
00:38:28.989 --> 00:38:30.991
Of the one who does have all the answers;
00:38:30.991 --> 00:38:33.594
How foolish to trust in our own human abilities
00:38:33.594 --> 00:38:36.597
And not trust in the god who created us
00:38:36.597 --> 00:38:41.235
And knows the future like it was the present,
00:38:41.235 --> 00:38:44.305
Because for him it is.
00:38:44.305 --> 00:38:48.476
And then, of course,
00:38:48.476 --> 00:38:49.810
The last thing they failed to comprehend
00:38:49.810 --> 00:38:51.946
Was the brevity of life.
00:38:51.946 --> 00:38:53.848
In verse 14, james introduces
00:38:53.848 --> 00:38:55.750
One of the most profound questions of the bible
00:38:55.750 --> 00:38:58.152
When he asks, "what is your life?"
00:38:58.152 --> 00:39:02.857
Now, when he asks that question,
00:39:02.857 --> 00:39:04.191
He's not asking what is your life made up of,
00:39:04.191 --> 00:39:06.093
Or what is the consistency or context of your life?
00:39:06.093 --> 00:39:09.463
He's asking a question about the duration of your life,
00:39:09.463 --> 00:39:12.633
How long does your life last?
00:39:12.633 --> 00:39:14.835
Someone has said he's asking about the dash
00:39:14.835 --> 00:39:17.638
Between the date of your birth and the date of your death,
00:39:17.638 --> 00:39:21.208
What is your life?
00:39:21.208 --> 00:39:22.777
And then he answers it, he says: "it is even a vapour,
00:39:22.777 --> 00:39:27.181
That appeareth for a little time,
00:39:27.181 --> 00:39:28.682
And then vanishes away."
00:39:28.682 --> 00:39:31.819
Now, this can be depressing
00:39:31.819 --> 00:39:33.154
If we don't deal with it correctly,
00:39:33.154 --> 00:39:35.022
Especially for some of us who are looking down the road
00:39:35.022 --> 00:39:38.492
At less time than we've already lived.
00:39:38.492 --> 00:39:41.929
But it's not meant to be depressing,
00:39:41.929 --> 00:39:43.564
It's meant to make a point.
00:39:43.564 --> 00:39:45.199
Listen carefully, life is short.
00:39:45.199 --> 00:39:50.137
It really is.
00:39:50.137 --> 00:39:51.505
I mean, when we are young and we start living life,
00:39:51.505 --> 00:39:53.841
It seems like life is so slow and it drags out
00:39:53.841 --> 00:39:56.076
And we can't wait till our next birthday.
00:39:56.076 --> 00:39:57.878
How many of you know that stops somewhere about halfway through?
00:39:57.878 --> 00:40:01.081
And then we think, oh my goodness,
00:40:01.081 --> 00:40:02.416
We got another birthday coming, you've got to be kidding me,
00:40:02.416 --> 00:40:04.618
Didn't i just have one?
00:40:04.618 --> 00:40:07.021
I'm not going to count this one,
00:40:07.021 --> 00:40:08.355
Let's just get on past it and get to the next one.
00:40:08.355 --> 00:40:11.525
Life goes quickly.
00:40:11.525 --> 00:40:13.794
The reason i know this is important for us to think about
00:40:13.794 --> 00:40:17.064
Is because almighty god has placed it in the scripture
00:40:17.064 --> 00:40:20.935
In so many places with metaphors to help us understand it.
00:40:20.935 --> 00:40:25.506
This is how god's word tells us to think about life,
00:40:25.506 --> 00:40:29.944
Listen carefully.
00:40:29.944 --> 00:40:31.645
It tells us that life is very short,
00:40:31.645 --> 00:40:33.848
And in order for us to understand that,
00:40:33.848 --> 00:40:35.516
It gives us these pictures.
00:40:35.516 --> 00:40:37.184
1 chronicles 29:15:
00:40:37.184 --> 00:40:39.386
"our days on earth are as a shadow,"
00:40:39.386 --> 00:40:42.122
Job 7:6: "my days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle."
00:40:42.122 --> 00:40:47.628
Job 7: "remember my life is a breath!"
00:40:47.628 --> 00:40:51.398
Job 9: "now my days are swifter than a runner;
00:40:51.398 --> 00:40:54.568
And they flee away,
00:40:54.568 --> 00:40:56.103
They pass like swift ships,
00:40:56.103 --> 00:40:58.472
Like an eagle swooping on its prey."
00:40:58.472 --> 00:41:01.442
Job 14: "man is born of a woman
00:41:01.442 --> 00:41:04.812
And is a few days and full of trouble,
00:41:04.812 --> 00:41:06.547
And he comes forth like a flower, fades away,
00:41:06.547 --> 00:41:08.716
Flies like a shadow, and does not continue."
00:41:08.716 --> 00:41:11.919
Psalm 39: "indeed, you have made my days as handbreadth,
00:41:11.919 --> 00:41:15.189
And my age is as nothing before you."
00:41:15.189 --> 00:41:18.025
Psalm 102, verse 3: "my days are consumed like smoke."
00:41:18.025 --> 00:41:23.731
Psalm 103:15 and 16: "as for man,
00:41:23.731 --> 00:41:26.634
His days are like grass;
00:41:26.634 --> 00:41:28.435
As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.
00:41:28.435 --> 00:41:30.871
For the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
00:41:30.871 --> 00:41:33.541
And its place remembers it no more."
00:41:33.541 --> 00:41:36.544
An old southern pastor preached a sermon on those verses,
00:41:36.544 --> 00:41:40.180
And here were his point: "life is like grass;
00:41:40.180 --> 00:41:45.052
It is sown, it is grown, it is mown, and it is gon'."
00:41:45.052 --> 00:41:49.623
[congregation laughing]
00:41:49.623 --> 00:41:56.597
Dr. jeremiah: what he's asking is, how long does it last?
00:41:56.597 --> 00:41:59.700
Why would he ask that question in this context?
00:41:59.700 --> 00:42:01.735
Well, if you go off on a business trip
00:42:01.735 --> 00:42:03.637
That's your own doing and you leave god out of it,
00:42:03.637 --> 00:42:05.973
You can lose a whole bunch of your life in the process,
00:42:05.973 --> 00:42:07.908
Can i get a witness?
00:42:07.908 --> 00:42:09.243
And some of you have been on that journey,
00:42:09.243 --> 00:42:11.011
Have you not?
00:42:11.011 --> 00:42:12.413
You've been on those detours that you get on
00:42:12.413 --> 00:42:14.949
When you don't reflect on how god wants to lead you,
00:42:14.949 --> 00:42:17.785
And you lose a whole bunch of that little dash
00:42:17.785 --> 00:42:21.555
That god has given you.
00:42:21.555 --> 00:42:22.890
What is your life?
00:42:22.890 --> 00:42:24.625
But the reason it's in the text here
00:42:24.625 --> 00:42:26.193
Is because these business people
00:42:26.193 --> 00:42:27.895
Were assuming that they had forever
00:42:27.895 --> 00:42:30.531
To do whatever they wanted to do
00:42:30.531 --> 00:42:31.932
And they could plan their future as if it was in their control.
00:42:31.932 --> 00:42:34.902
How many of you know we don't control life?
00:42:34.902 --> 00:42:37.171
Not any of us, not one of us.
00:42:37.171 --> 00:42:39.106
Jesus tells a story in the new testament
00:42:39.106 --> 00:42:40.874
About a very wealthy businessman who looked into the future
00:42:40.874 --> 00:42:43.544
And decided what he was gonna do.
00:42:43.544 --> 00:42:45.546
This guy was a farmer and he needed to build bigger barns,
00:42:45.546 --> 00:42:48.182
And the purpose of building his bigger barns
00:42:48.182 --> 00:42:49.883
Is so that he could make more money
00:42:49.883 --> 00:42:51.385
And he was gonna retire.
00:42:51.385 --> 00:42:53.787
You pick that up in luke chapter 12,
00:42:53.787 --> 00:42:55.589
Where he is saying: "i will say to my soul,
00:42:55.589 --> 00:42:58.692
'soul, you have many goods laid up for many years;
00:42:58.692 --> 00:43:02.730
Take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.'"
00:43:02.730 --> 00:43:05.933
In other words, it's time to play.
00:43:05.933 --> 00:43:10.771
In the parable that jesus tells, the man is called a fool,
00:43:10.771 --> 00:43:15.009
Not because he was planning for the future,
00:43:15.009 --> 00:43:16.777
But because he thought he was in control of it.
00:43:16.777 --> 00:43:19.880
On the very night when he had so carefully laid out his plans,
00:43:19.880 --> 00:43:23.417
He died on that very night,
00:43:23.417 --> 00:43:27.521
And he became the fulfillment of the old testament proverb
00:43:27.521 --> 00:43:30.324
That says, "do not boast about tomorrow,
00:43:30.324 --> 00:43:32.993
For you do not know what a day may bring forth."
00:43:32.993 --> 00:43:39.533
We can do a lot of things as christians
00:43:39.533 --> 00:43:41.935
With god on the side of the stage:
00:43:41.935 --> 00:43:45.606
We can make plans, we can determine programs,
00:43:45.606 --> 00:43:49.943
We can make assumptions.
00:43:49.943 --> 00:43:52.079
The one thing we can't do is we can't control any of it,
00:43:52.079 --> 00:43:55.182
We're totally at the mercy of god for it all.
00:43:55.182 --> 00:44:00.854
So what should our attitude be as we face
00:44:00.854 --> 00:44:03.457
The uncertain days of the future?
00:44:03.457 --> 00:44:06.193
I think what the psalmist is trying to help us understand
00:44:06.193 --> 00:44:09.363
When he writes these words is very clear.
00:44:09.363 --> 00:44:11.932
"lord, make me to know my end,
00:44:11.932 --> 00:44:16.070
And what is the measure of my days,
00:44:16.070 --> 00:44:19.039
That i may know how frail i am."
00:44:19.039 --> 00:44:22.476
Or try this one, psalm 90, verse 12:
00:44:22.476 --> 00:44:25.245
"lord, teach us to number our days,
00:44:25.245 --> 00:44:27.881
That we may gain a heart of wisdom."
00:44:27.881 --> 00:44:31.552
What the psalmist is saying is this,
00:44:31.552 --> 00:44:33.454
It's good for us to see how brief life is so that we
00:44:33.454 --> 00:44:38.425
Can appreciate every single part of it
00:44:38.425 --> 00:44:42.029
And never take even one day for granted, amen?
00:44:42.029 --> 00:44:45.899
I find myself getting up now in the morning
00:44:45.899 --> 00:44:48.368
And one of the first things i do is thank god for another day.
00:44:48.368 --> 00:44:51.238
Do you ever do that?
00:44:51.238 --> 00:44:52.806
God gives us each day as a gift from heaven.
00:44:52.806 --> 00:44:55.375
Thank him for the day you experienced before,
00:44:55.375 --> 00:44:58.178
The night of sleep that you enjoyed,
00:44:58.178 --> 00:44:59.780
But for the gift of a new day,
00:44:59.780 --> 00:45:01.315
Because truly life is a gift from god,
00:45:01.315 --> 00:45:04.017
Needs to be treasured, needs to be appreciated,
00:45:04.017 --> 00:45:07.221
Needs to be valued.
00:45:07.221 --> 00:45:09.723
But it should never be presumed upon,
00:45:09.723 --> 00:45:12.860
'cause our life is in his hands.
00:45:12.860 --> 00:45:16.430
Now, there are some people that will take this information,
00:45:16.430 --> 00:45:18.766
And they will use the brevity of life
00:45:18.766 --> 00:45:21.068
As a reason to snatch all of the pleasure out of it.
00:45:21.068 --> 00:45:23.704
They would say, "well, you just live for such a short time,
00:45:23.704 --> 00:45:26.206
So go find a safe place, live in a bubble,
00:45:26.206 --> 00:45:29.510
Don't ever do anything to put yourself in jeopardy,
00:45:29.510 --> 00:45:31.512
Don't take any risks
00:45:31.512 --> 00:45:32.846
Just 'cause your life is so short."
00:45:32.846 --> 00:45:36.416
And then there are others who use the brevity of life
00:45:36.416 --> 00:45:38.752
As a reason to do nothing.
00:45:38.752 --> 00:45:41.555
And then there are others who use the brevity of life
00:45:41.555 --> 00:45:43.323
To go live it up high on the horse every night,
00:45:43.323 --> 00:45:46.260
Every day, eat, drink, and be merry.
00:45:46.260 --> 00:45:50.731
James tells us that the brevity of life is a reason
00:45:50.731 --> 00:45:53.433
To walk humbly with god, just to walk humbly with him.
00:45:53.433 --> 00:45:58.472
Just every day, walk with god and know,
00:45:58.472 --> 00:46:01.175
This is god's gift to me.
00:46:01.175 --> 00:46:02.709
This day, these moments are god's gift to me.
00:46:02.709 --> 00:46:06.513
Thank you, lord, for giving me this day.
00:46:06.513 --> 00:46:10.250
Finally, there's one last thing we can do without god.
00:46:10.250 --> 00:46:12.619
I told you there were three of them:
00:46:12.619 --> 00:46:13.954
We can do life without god,
00:46:13.954 --> 00:46:15.656
We can determine life without god,
00:46:15.656 --> 00:46:17.424
But here at the end of this text,
00:46:17.424 --> 00:46:18.992
We find these business people are describing life without god.
00:46:18.992 --> 00:46:22.896
Notice: "but now you boast in your arrogance.
00:46:22.896 --> 00:46:26.500
And all such boasting is evil.
00:46:26.500 --> 00:46:29.069
Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it,
00:46:29.069 --> 00:46:32.673
To him it is sin."
00:46:32.673 --> 00:46:35.509
Now, the key to understanding why these christian merchants
00:46:35.509 --> 00:46:37.778
Were proud and arrogant is found in verse 16.
00:46:37.778 --> 00:46:40.147
They planned without god because they thought they
00:46:40.147 --> 00:46:42.482
Were the masters of their fate.
00:46:42.482 --> 00:46:44.418
They presumed about tomorrow because they thought
00:46:44.418 --> 00:46:46.920
That nothing could happen outside of their control.
00:46:46.920 --> 00:46:49.389
They procrastinated because they assumed
00:46:49.389 --> 00:46:51.525
That they would be able to do tomorrow
00:46:51.525 --> 00:46:53.360
What they did not do today.
00:46:53.360 --> 00:46:56.430
In the greek text,
00:46:56.430 --> 00:46:57.764
The word arrogance is in the plural,
00:46:57.764 --> 00:47:00.167
So that the sentence really reads like this,
00:47:00.167 --> 00:47:02.870
"you boast in your arrogances."
00:47:02.870 --> 00:47:06.373
You were so proud of the fact of what you've done:
00:47:06.373 --> 00:47:09.243
I did it my way, i did it with nobody helping me,
00:47:09.243 --> 00:47:12.479
And in many cases, i did it without god.
00:47:12.479 --> 00:47:16.049
And james does not stop there, he tells us how not to do life,
00:47:16.049 --> 00:47:21.989
And then he tells us how to do life
00:47:21.989 --> 00:47:24.925
And the key to it is one little word.
00:47:24.925 --> 00:47:26.593
And if you ever mark in your bible,
00:47:26.593 --> 00:47:28.061
This would be a good one to circle,
00:47:28.061 --> 00:47:29.663
It's the word "instead."
00:47:29.663 --> 00:47:32.633
Instead, it's the crowning point of the text.
00:47:32.633 --> 00:47:37.070
Don't do this, don't do this, don't do this, instead.
00:47:37.070 --> 00:47:41.275
Notice verse 15: "instead you ought to say,
00:47:41.275 --> 00:47:44.978
'if the lord wills,
00:47:44.978 --> 00:47:47.381
We shall live and do this or that.'"
00:47:47.381 --> 00:47:51.785
Is that not what jesus was teaching us
00:47:51.785 --> 00:47:53.787
In the lord's prayer,
00:47:53.787 --> 00:47:55.923
"thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven"?
00:47:55.923 --> 00:47:59.726
Is that not what jesus prayed in the garden of gethsemane
00:47:59.726 --> 00:48:03.230
When he said, "nevertheless not my will,
00:48:03.230 --> 00:48:05.232
But thy will be done"?
00:48:05.232 --> 00:48:08.635
If you have ever read letters that are old
00:48:08.635 --> 00:48:11.571
In a history book or in a gathering of letters
00:48:11.571 --> 00:48:14.441
That may have been given to you from your ancestors,
00:48:14.441 --> 00:48:18.211
You've probably noticed that on some letters,
00:48:18.211 --> 00:48:20.180
There's a postscript, and it's the little words
00:48:20.180 --> 00:48:22.416
D, period, v period; d.v.
00:48:22.416 --> 00:48:25.719
Did you ever wonder what those letters meant?
00:48:25.719 --> 00:48:27.287
Well, let me tell you what they mean.
00:48:27.287 --> 00:48:29.056
They're words to introduce two latin terms,
00:48:29.056 --> 00:48:33.460
Deo volente: d, deo; v, volente.
00:48:33.460 --> 00:48:37.864
Do you know what that means? god willing.
00:48:37.864 --> 00:48:41.401
Deo volente, god willing.
00:48:41.401 --> 00:48:44.604
So the old timers would write their letters
00:48:44.604 --> 00:48:46.606
And describe what they were gonna do,
00:48:46.606 --> 00:48:47.941
And they would end the letters with the little words,
00:48:47.941 --> 00:48:50.310
D.v., god willing.
00:48:50.310 --> 00:48:52.813
And that's what james says
00:48:52.813 --> 00:48:54.147
We should do as followers of christ.
00:48:54.147 --> 00:48:56.183
We should make our plans,
00:48:56.183 --> 00:48:57.517
We should involve god in our plans,
00:48:57.517 --> 00:48:58.852
And we should always condition our plans,
00:48:58.852 --> 00:49:01.855
D.v., god willing.
00:49:01.855 --> 00:49:05.993
And if you study the new testament,
00:49:05.993 --> 00:49:07.394
You will discover in the new testament
00:49:07.394 --> 00:49:09.663
That there are many illustrations
00:49:09.663 --> 00:49:11.999
Of living life like that.
00:49:11.999 --> 00:49:13.500
I went through the book of acts
00:49:13.500 --> 00:49:15.202
And some of the epistles that paul wrote,
00:49:15.202 --> 00:49:17.704
And i found, to my surprise,
00:49:17.704 --> 00:49:20.240
This little phrase kind of everywhere.
00:49:20.240 --> 00:49:22.342
For instance, paul told the jews at ephesus that he would return
00:49:22.342 --> 00:49:25.612
For a renewed ministry among them if god wills,
00:49:25.612 --> 00:49:29.716
Acts 18:21.
00:49:29.716 --> 00:49:31.718
He wrote to the corinthians that he planned another visit to them
00:49:31.718 --> 00:49:35.222
" if the lord wills," 1 corinthians 4:19,
00:49:35.222 --> 00:49:39.026
And that he would remain with them a considerate time,
00:49:39.026 --> 00:49:41.461
"if the lord permits," 1 corinthians 16:7.
00:49:41.461 --> 00:49:45.465
And he inferred in his statement
00:49:45.465 --> 00:49:47.467
That he wanted to go to philippi,
00:49:47.467 --> 00:49:48.802
He said he hoped in the lord to go to philippi.
00:49:48.802 --> 00:49:51.905
Over and over again, you get this little phrase.
00:49:51.905 --> 00:49:53.306
What was paul doing?
00:49:53.306 --> 00:49:54.641
Here's one of the strongest, greatest leaders
00:49:54.641 --> 00:49:57.077
You will ever study in history, especially in christian history,
00:49:57.077 --> 00:50:00.213
He's always conditioning his plans and his purposes
00:50:00.213 --> 00:50:04.151
On the will of god.
00:50:04.151 --> 00:50:05.952
I want to come to you, if it's in the will of god.
00:50:05.952 --> 00:50:08.955
I want to stay with you, if it's in the will of god.
00:50:08.955 --> 00:50:12.159
I want you to grow in your faith and be mature,
00:50:12.159 --> 00:50:14.661
According to hebrews chapter 6:3,
00:50:14.661 --> 00:50:16.963
"if god permits."
00:50:16.963 --> 00:50:19.266
So we should pray that way.
00:50:19.266 --> 00:50:22.169
Instead of being arrogant and jamming our own plans
00:50:22.169 --> 00:50:26.173
In the face of god with a bold and arrogant request,
00:50:26.173 --> 00:50:29.409
Lord, this is what i'm gonna do,
00:50:29.409 --> 00:50:31.111
And i'd appreciate it if you'd smile on it,
00:50:31.111 --> 00:50:34.848
We're to come to god humbly and say:
00:50:34.848 --> 00:50:36.516
"lord god, i wanna do your will.
00:50:36.516 --> 00:50:40.954
I wanna do what you want me to do.
00:50:40.954 --> 00:50:42.622
I want to know in my heart every day when i get up,
00:50:42.622 --> 00:50:45.058
I'm doing what i'm supposed to be doing.
00:50:45.058 --> 00:50:47.928
That's one of the things i'm absolutely certain about.
00:50:47.928 --> 00:50:50.330
I don't have a lot of knowledge about it,
00:50:50.330 --> 00:50:51.665
I just know one thing, i'm doing what i'm supposed to be doing."
00:50:51.665 --> 00:50:54.067
That's a great, great comfort and encouragement,
00:50:54.067 --> 00:50:57.704
And every one of us can know that
00:50:57.704 --> 00:50:59.172
If we will submit our lives to the will of god.
00:50:59.172 --> 00:51:01.975
We won't all be preachers or teachers or singers
00:51:01.975 --> 00:51:04.277
Or leaders in a church.
00:51:04.277 --> 00:51:07.214
God doesn't call us to do that,
00:51:07.214 --> 00:51:08.648
But he calls each of us to do something,
00:51:08.648 --> 00:51:10.851
And when we submit our lives to the will of god,
00:51:10.851 --> 00:51:13.887
We end up doing what we're supposed to do.
00:51:13.887 --> 00:51:17.858
And let me tell you something i've discovered,
00:51:17.858 --> 00:51:19.960
What these businessmen had planned to do for a year
00:51:19.960 --> 00:51:24.164
And make profit was nothing
00:51:24.164 --> 00:51:26.766
Compared to what god wanted to do for them if they
00:51:26.766 --> 00:51:30.203
Would have just submitted their will to him.
00:51:30.203 --> 00:51:33.006
Do you know what's wrong with our plans?
00:51:33.006 --> 00:51:35.041
They're too skinny.
00:51:35.041 --> 00:51:37.177
Our plans are too inadequate.
00:51:37.177 --> 00:51:39.513
The plan that god has for my life
00:51:39.513 --> 00:51:42.149
Is far beyond anything i could ever dream for my life,
00:51:42.149 --> 00:51:46.219
And the same is true for you.
00:51:46.219 --> 00:51:48.255
So why would you enter into the new year and say,
00:51:48.255 --> 00:51:50.524
"lord god, this is what i'm going to do,
00:51:50.524 --> 00:51:52.325
And i'd appreciate your help in doing it,"
00:51:52.325 --> 00:51:55.695
Instead of saying, "lord god, i know you have something great
00:51:55.695 --> 00:51:57.998
That you want to do in my life this year,
00:51:57.998 --> 00:51:59.566
And i'm willing to do it, just show me what it is.
00:51:59.566 --> 00:52:02.502
And together, we're gonna have an incredible year."
00:52:02.502 --> 00:52:06.173
Encourage you to put god in the planning process
00:52:06.173 --> 00:52:09.643
And to recognize that his plan for you
00:52:09.643 --> 00:52:12.379
Is above and beyond
00:52:12.379 --> 00:52:14.181
Anything you could ever ask or think.
00:52:14.181 --> 00:52:17.350
So i want to ask you again, this year,
00:52:17.350 --> 00:52:21.021
Are you gonna follow jesus,
00:52:21.021 --> 00:52:23.523
Or are you gonna ask jesus to follow you?
00:52:23.523 --> 00:52:27.761
I want to tell you a story, before i quit,
00:52:27.761 --> 00:52:30.463
About some people who followed jesus all the way.
00:52:30.463 --> 00:52:35.268
A century ago, there were a band of brave souls
00:52:35.268 --> 00:52:38.071
Who were known as one-way missionaries.
00:52:38.071 --> 00:52:41.808
They were called one-way missionaries
00:52:41.808 --> 00:52:43.143
Because they would purchase tickets
00:52:43.143 --> 00:52:44.678
To the mission field
00:52:44.678 --> 00:52:46.079
Without the return half of the ticket.
00:52:46.079 --> 00:52:48.848
Believe it or not, instead of suitcases,
00:52:48.848 --> 00:52:51.151
They packed their earthly belongings into coffins.
00:52:51.151 --> 00:52:55.755
And they sailed out of port,
00:52:55.755 --> 00:52:57.457
Waved goodbye to everybody they loved,
00:52:57.457 --> 00:52:59.359
Everything they knew,
00:52:59.359 --> 00:53:00.827
And knew they would never again return home.
00:53:00.827 --> 00:53:04.064
This is pretty bold.
00:53:04.064 --> 00:53:06.166
A.w. milne was a missionary
00:53:06.166 --> 00:53:08.802
Who was one of the one-way missionaries,
00:53:08.802 --> 00:53:11.738
And he set sail
00:53:11.738 --> 00:53:13.073
For the new hebrides in the south pacific,
00:53:13.073 --> 00:53:15.408
Knowing full well that the headhunters who lived there
00:53:15.408 --> 00:53:18.578
Had martyred every missionary before him.
00:53:18.578 --> 00:53:22.616
Milne did not fear for his life
00:53:22.616 --> 00:53:24.284
Because he'd already died to himself, he said.
00:53:24.284 --> 00:53:28.555
His coffin was packed, and for 35 years,
00:53:28.555 --> 00:53:31.157
He lived among the tribe and loved them.
00:53:31.157 --> 00:53:35.161
And when he died,
00:53:35.161 --> 00:53:38.665
The tribe members buried him in the middle of their village
00:53:38.665 --> 00:53:41.167
And inscribed this epitaph on his tombstone:
00:53:41.167 --> 00:53:45.105
"when he came there was no light.
00:53:45.105 --> 00:53:48.908
And when he left there was no darkness."
00:53:48.908 --> 00:53:54.414
You say, "well, i'm still not convinced, pastor,
00:53:54.414 --> 00:53:58.218
That it's worthy to give your whole life to the lord."
00:53:58.218 --> 00:54:01.921
Let me ask you this question,
00:54:01.921 --> 00:54:03.256
This will settle it once and for all.
00:54:03.256 --> 00:54:04.791
Looking at that story
00:54:04.791 --> 00:54:06.126
From our perspective on this earth,
00:54:06.126 --> 00:54:07.761
With all of the mixed understandings
00:54:07.761 --> 00:54:09.362
We have about value,
00:54:09.362 --> 00:54:11.031
We might still say, "well, he still lost his whole life,
00:54:11.031 --> 00:54:14.301
Lived his whole life away from the culture of america,
00:54:14.301 --> 00:54:17.504
And all he had to show for his life when he died
00:54:17.504 --> 00:54:19.806
Was this tombstone that said,
00:54:19.806 --> 00:54:22.475
'when he came there was no light.
00:54:22.475 --> 00:54:24.311
And when he left there was no darkness.'"
00:54:24.311 --> 00:54:26.980
All right, you got that, i understand that,
00:54:26.980 --> 00:54:28.648
But i want you to shift perspective for a moment.
00:54:28.648 --> 00:54:31.351
Instead of looking at that from earth's perspective,
00:54:31.351 --> 00:54:34.254
I want you to look down on it from heaven and ask yourself,
00:54:34.254 --> 00:54:40.226
Wouldn't you be glad to be going into heaven with that
00:54:40.226 --> 00:54:45.065
As the measure of your life?
00:54:45.065 --> 00:54:48.668
And isn't that a bigger dream than he would ever have had
00:54:48.668 --> 00:54:52.472
Had he done it his own way?
00:54:52.472 --> 00:54:55.308
Ask him someday in heaven when you meet him,
00:54:55.308 --> 00:54:58.078
"did you ever think you could change an entire tribe
00:54:58.078 --> 00:55:02.282
So that all of them who knew nothing about jesus
00:55:02.282 --> 00:55:06.319
Would embrace the light of his gospel
00:55:06.319 --> 00:55:08.722
And become converted?"
00:55:08.722 --> 00:55:11.191
And he will say to you,
00:55:11.191 --> 00:55:13.159
"oh, my plan was way smaller than that,
00:55:13.159 --> 00:55:15.128
But god had a bigger plan for me,
00:55:15.128 --> 00:55:17.797
And this was what happened."
00:55:17.797 --> 00:55:20.400
Announcer: dr. jeremiah will return to close
00:55:20.400 --> 00:55:22.168
Today's program right after this.
00:55:22.168 --> 00:55:24.337
Male announcer: thank you for watching "turning point."
00:55:27.574 --> 00:55:29.376
Dr. jeremiah would like to offer you
00:55:29.376 --> 00:55:30.910
His new daily devotional for 2025,
00:55:30.910 --> 00:55:33.313
"living in his light."
00:55:33.313 --> 00:55:35.014
A brighter day and a better year begins by living in god's light,
00:55:35.014 --> 00:55:39.219
And dr. jeremiah's inspiring insights and reflections
00:55:39.219 --> 00:55:42.155
Will keep you connected to god's presence
00:55:42.155 --> 00:55:44.090
And walking in the brilliance of his love
00:55:44.090 --> 00:55:46.092
Day by day all year long.
00:55:46.092 --> 00:55:48.395
Yours for a gift of any amount.
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Or for a gift of $120 or more, receive four copies,
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Perfect for gift-giving.
00:55:53.967 --> 00:55:55.535
Thank you for your support of turning point.
00:55:55.535 --> 00:55:57.504
Request "living in his light" today.
00:55:57.504 --> 00:55:59.906
Announcer: and now, with one last word
00:56:02.375 --> 00:56:03.843
For today's program, here is dr. jeremiah.
00:56:03.843 --> 00:56:07.614
Dr. jeremiah: someone has said
00:56:07.614 --> 00:56:08.948
That if you want to make god laugh,
00:56:08.948 --> 00:56:11.050
Tell him your plans.
00:56:11.050 --> 00:56:13.253
I can't argue with the sentiment,
00:56:13.253 --> 00:56:14.921
But that clever saying masks the very real dangers
00:56:14.921 --> 00:56:18.458
Of living life apart from god and his purpose for your life.
00:56:18.458 --> 00:56:23.463
I hope today's message
00:56:23.463 --> 00:56:24.798
Has helped bring those perils to light.
00:56:24.798 --> 00:56:28.101
More importantly, i hope it changes
00:56:28.101 --> 00:56:30.103
The way that you plan and live.
00:56:30.103 --> 00:56:33.406
Live your life as a follower of jesus christ.
00:56:33.406 --> 00:56:37.310
To help you become stronger in your walk with christ,
00:56:37.310 --> 00:56:40.213
Keeping him at the forefront of your life,
00:56:40.213 --> 00:56:43.082
I'd like to send you a couple of helpful free resources.
00:56:43.082 --> 00:56:46.853
One is our booklet, "your greatest turning point,"
00:56:46.853 --> 00:56:49.255
And the other is
00:56:49.255 --> 00:56:50.590
Our monthly devotional magazine, "turning points."
00:56:50.590 --> 00:56:54.260
And i'll send them both to you at no charge
00:56:54.260 --> 00:56:57.063
When you contact us here at turning point today.
00:56:57.063 --> 00:57:00.233
Announcer: next time on "turning point."
00:57:03.436 --> 00:57:05.371
Dr. jeremiah: he wholly followed the lord his god.
00:57:05.371 --> 00:57:09.509
Not half-heartedly, not almost, not trying not to lose,
00:57:09.509 --> 00:57:14.414
I'm going to do this with everything i have,
00:57:14.414 --> 00:57:16.649
Wholly follow the lord.
00:57:16.649 --> 00:57:19.486
Announcer: join us next time for a special new year's message
00:57:19.486 --> 00:57:21.955
From dr. jeremiah, "trying not to lose,"
00:57:21.955 --> 00:57:25.692
Here on "turning point."
00:57:25.692 --> 00:57:27.393

David Jeremiah - What Is Your Life?

January 4, 2025 | S25:E1

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