Patience over Prime
Notes
Transcript
Patience over Prime
Patience over Prime
Patience is something that our society today is severely lacking, that is my thought anyways. Everything new that comes out today seems to be marketing to our desire to be able to do and achieve things quicker. We want faster internet, faster check out lines, and faster transportation, and fast food. The modern era was influenced heavily in the 20th century by the industrial revolution. Henry Ford may not be the very first person come up with an assembly line, but he did make it famous, and this concept took off in far more than just the auto industry. Factory work adopted these principles as well the food industry. Today retail stores are suffering because of competition from online retail. People are excited that they can make purchases online and have the item shipped quickly without even having to leave their home. People are willing to pay a fee to be exclusive PRIME members to get items even faster.
For instance Amazon, the world’s leader in online shopping, has a standard account and a prime account. Standard members make a purchase and might wait 3-7 business days for their order to arrive. But if you are a prime member, most all your orders will arrive in 2 days or less. Airlines have adopted these principles as well, for a NOT SO SMALL fee, a person can bypass long lines and head straight for the security check, or bypass a line to get on the airplane.
My wife and i have lived without traditional cable for several years. Initially streaming giants such as Netflix were ad-free, now most streaming platforms offer a less expensive version where you are interrupted with annoying commercials…they know once you sit through the same 5 commercials over and over you’ll eventually pay an extra 3-5 dollars a month just not to have to sit through those ads.
Businesses are very intelligent.
They know people will pay to not have to wait.
Today, in the post modern age, efficiency, simplicity, and speediness seem to be of the highest value. The idea that everything should be able to made more efficient and desires accomplished faster has become difficult for men and women of faith. If we can have seemingly all we want at the push of a button, why can’t we get the answers from God we are seeking that fast?
Why do we have to wait on his coming back? What is He waiting for? Why does he have to reveal himself so mysteriously? Why can’t he just show himself physically and prove Himself to us now?
Also there are those who might be asking, why do I have to spend so much time reading in the scriptures? Why don’t they make sense quicker? Do the principles of the Bible really apply to me today? Hardly anyone else around pays attention to them, why should I?
These are real questions that that men and women are asking these days. Unfortunately, many that don’t receive an answer they deem satisfactory in a quick efficient manner, are ready to pull the plug on their faith, some gradually, and some immediately. I would suggest the devil is marketing to people who are struggling with their faith, that life is far easier when conforming to the world, with the promise of quick simple streamlined answers.
One principle the Bible teaches, that I believe, if taught properly, could help those of us who are suffering, whether it be physically, emotionally, or just trying to find answers. This is principle is PATIENCE. As we have been journeying together in these precious last chapters of the book of James, this morning we are going to conclude our series challenging our faith in a way we haven’t yet been challenged. We’ll seek waiting, rather than the fast pass prime versionb. Before we begin our glimpse into the scriptures, lets take a moment to pray.
If you have your Bibles with, please turn with me to the book of James and we’ll begin in chapter 5 verse 7.
As a reminder for those maybe just joining us in this series. James, most likely the brother of Jesus, who served as an administrative leader to the early church following its formation in the years following pentacost writes to the scattered churches formed locally and abroad.
so to both gentile and Jewish alike. It says in verse 7. change slide
7 Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. 8 You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
The author, here is speaking to those in suffering, in various degrees. And Much like today, there were those who were suffering, both physically and emotionally. James reminds the people that their patience will be rewarded and not to lose heart and to not lose faith in the coming of that glorious day.
A close friend of mine in college as well as in seminary knocked on my door one night and as soon as I opened the door, I could tell from the expression on his face, he was having a rough day. My friend, only months into his new marriage was having great difficulties. Both spouses were having a rough time adjusting to married life. My friend was now on my doorstep because of one bitter fight. He asked me, “when is it going to get easier?” What he was really asking me was, when is it going to get better? I gave him a hug and offered my couch to him for the night.
His question is much like many faithful Christians? When are things going to get better? I am tired of suffering. I am tired of my ailments. I am tired of being worried and stressed. I am tired of being depressed! I am tired of having faith that things are going to get better. I am tired of waiting on something that I cannot see. I am tired of the hypocrisy. I am tired of the gossip. These are many of the general issues people are facing today, whether they are financially rich or poor or somewhere in between. Dissatisfaction is something that very easy to allow fester and to eventually boil over, and for whatever reason God takes on a lion share of the blame.
There are countless examples in the Bible, specifically the old testament that we can turn to as an example. Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Job (who is mentioned later in verse 11) David, Daniel and his friends, and the prophet Jeremiah. Probably more than any other old testament character, do I admire is Joseph. He did have to develop the spiritual gift of patience. I was invited to speak for week of prayer up at TRYON SDA SCHOOL this week, and I talked about how one of the bad fruits of pride is jealousy. I would suggest that some of the lousy fruits of impatience are bitterness and resentment. Joseph’s brothers grew to resent Joseph, and if you were in Joseph’s position, it would hard not to have some resentment building toward your siblings, to God, and just about everyone in his life.
Honestly, who among us don’t feel for Joseph through trial after trial he was forced to endure. After living in a prominent family in Canaan, he was sold into slavery. Once in slavery, he somehow manages to make a life for himself even living as a trusted house keeper, but from there he is falsely accused by the master’s wife and then sent to prison. I imagine, it had to have creeped into his mind, “I have been faithful to God my entire life and here i am sitting in jail. Yet as I sit here my brothers who seem to care less get to go home to their wives and children.”
Could you blame him if he had shaken his fist at God demanding answers right then and right there. Later, God’s purposes were indeed revealed, Joseph even got to see what revenge on his brothers might have looked like. In a sense, all of Josephs life queries were answered. They were just answered in God’s time and not our time.
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God is not bound by our time.
This is something we as Christians must understand and embrace. There will be a day when we when all will be revealed and we will judge the creator as JUST and NOBLE, however until that day we must be patient and trust God and remain faithful.
This idea, that if God would immediately relieve all questions and doubt that somehow we would be faithful has many flaws. I was talking to some kids this week about the difficulties of standing out in a crowd. One young lady brought up how peer pressure was a great struggle. We talked about how we might be warned of what to expect in peer pressure, and the consequences of certain decisions, and yet even knowing what some of theses decisions can lead to, kids and adults alike often will still make the poor decisions. The knowledge of consequences are not enough, hearts must be changed, not just scare tactics and warnings.
I mentioned my good friend earlier, he had to learn for himself, that marriage takes practicing patience. Once patience was learned a little better, I was able to see first hand their marriage begin to heal and then blossom.
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Let’s continue
9 Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door! 10 My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. 11 Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.
Remember how the book starts, change slide
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
Unfortunately, we’re often better at grumbling and casting blame at times.
There are those of us out there, that may even be in the right in whichever argument or disgruntled theological conversation we may be having, but we cannot let our discontent or impatience lead us into grumbling and even gossiping about each other.
Turn the page back to chapter 4 verse 1 of James change slide
What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?
Our impatience is an example of our worldly passions. Our lack of understanding and lack of empathy when engaging others is telling that often we are not submitting ourselves to God. change slide
You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.
May we practice patience even in understanding. To practice patience, is also to practice love.
What is the first identifying mark of Love mentioned in the Love chapter 1 Corinthians 13. change slide
Love is what?
LOVE IS PATIENT. Why is that so difficult for us to practice? If you look into the greek, you’ll understand the definition a little better of the word Patience, which is long-suffering. Essentially for love to be love it must endure. Lets just go ahead and finish out that passage as well. “4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
As mentioned before, if we cannot be patient and loving to those in our own church body that we disagree with on certain issues, how can we stand united in doing ministry to the world. God calls us to, above all else remain faithful to Him, by doing so be loving, and if we are loving, we will be patient. You see how that works? Pretty cool huh?
Back to James 5, though.
If I had to take an educated guess, I’d say the prophets James was referring to, may have been the Jeremiah’s, the Isaiah’s, the Daniels, maybe even King David, and Solomon.
James reminds his listeners of the old testament prophets long before him, men who lived a lifetime of suffering long and hard before the Lord, they’re whole lives were demonstrated as patience. James is not suggesting, patience isn’t difficult, he’s suggesting it is necessary. In seminary, I took an old testament exegesis class that primarily focused on the book of Jeremiah. I am here to tell you, Jeremiah lived probably one of the most difficult lives of any prophet before or after him. It makes sense he also wrote a book called Lamentations, which are themes seen also in the book of Ecclesiastes. No one can doubt Jeremiah’s patience (ability to suffer long) when you read in Jeremiah the 6 confessions written poetically) One Sabbath I will unpack them more in another sermon. They demonstrate poetically his personal anguish in a very frank manner but mixed with his gratitude and trust.
James refers to the old testament prophets, Jeremiah likely included, as counted as blessed. They were blessed on account of their patience, blessed on account of their endurance. This endurance is known as steadfastness. Essentially the prophets are commended for remaining steady in the face of adversity and persecution. Church family, there will be a day when we as believers will face persecution and far greater adversity than we are experiencing currently. If we can’t remain steady and patient in dealing with our own in house issues (and there are many) (talking about our world church, and even our local church) can we say that we will remain steady and patient and endure the struggles to come? I am not trying paint a bleak picture, I have felt very compelled to spread a message of hope! Raising awareness of the conditions of our heart will help us to seek out the one who can fix our hearts.
Verse 11 once more:
11 Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord —that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.
The word for intended is better translated “purposed.” God has an end to our long suffering and steadfast waiting designed and marked. In his time, rewards for patience will be rewarded. I’m not talking about a worldly prosperity gospel. When we hold an eternal gospel message truth, and serve an eternal God, why would we want temporary rewards?? God’s designated rewards are extend beyond the temporary pleasures this world has to offer and granted in the eternal. However, we can also know that God does look after us and satisfy our needs in the present as well. Some of us suffer harder than others, some of us are tempted harder than others, but 1 Corinthians 10 tells us we will not be tempted beyond what we cannot bare when we rely on God.
No such example fits this description more than the story Job. Job experienced every missile Satan could throw at him, loss of wealth, family, friends, and top it off become covered head to toe in boils, all the while experiencing ridicule, and awful advice from those around him. Like Joseph, and Jeremiah, Job was experiencing unimaginable agony which he had no choice but to endure. Of course, he was going to ask God why? Of course he was confused as to why he was suffering so greatly, but what he never would do was curse his God. To ask questions does not mean someone does not have patience? God can handle our questions. He can handle our anger. He can handle emotional outbursts, but it is important that at the end we continue to submit before the Lord to His will, and trust in Him, even in our long suffering. As I learned from scripture Count it a blessing to suffer for the Lord.
Its easy to say and hard to practice. As I have shared a few times in the last 6 months since Meggan and I were able to bring home Elizabeth…The 5 years of waiting on God to make clear to us his plans for us to be parents was privately the most difficult thing either of us ever had to endure. Yet somehow after all that holding our little girl, we wouldn’t change any of it.
Count it a blessing to demonstrate patience before the Lord. May we demonstrate patience and understanding while a part of a generation that has seemingly lost most all of its patience.
As Seventh Day Adventists, surely we can remember in the closing of the three angels message of Revelation 14:12:
12 Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.
The word here used for patience is the same the book of James uses, which is in the context of suffering, in the context on waiting for God’s purposes to be revealed, but no matter what continuing to follow God. God calls us to learn and live out of patience and in doing so we will steadfastly persevere.
You might hear this message and might think, okay well easier said than done, I am so tired of my trials.
Essentially, understand that the trials that you go through and the suffering you endure, especially for Jesus, produces an ability for patience.
I’ll tell you I have struggled with impatience. One sport that I have to learn much patience in is the game of golf. Golf is a game that just does not come natural to me. Don’t get me wrong, I love playing golf, but I never been able to show the same level of discipline, that my brother and father have to working out the kinks in my game, therefore when I’m out there I struggle and I get impatient and upset when that little white ball starts slicing left or hooking right. I remember playing with my dad and brother
one summer, and I watched my brother Ryan, drive the ball straight down the middle of the fairway, but when I hit it off the tee it twisted right into the woods. In frustration, I tossed my club into the grass.. It wasn’t in my bad swing, it was in the way I handled it. How often are we disappointing our Heavenly father with our lack of patience. The next hole, my dad stood with me to work out my swing and steady my hand.
I’m here to tell you Our Heavenly father is standing with us to steady us and help us endure. He never promises to deliver us from all the trials, but rest assured He will stand with us. He has always remained faithful to us and shown patience with us far beyond what we deserve.
Parents, I encourage you, to help your children learn and practice patience, and I believe that also is helpful when you demonstrate loving patience with them as well. Saints I encourage you to practice patience with those whom you disagree with, whether it be theologically, political, or both. Sometimes simply being right is not the most important thing. I don’t know many people that have been debated into the church, but I do know quite a few who have been debated out of the church. Have patience with those who have questions, and whom are struggling. Lastly have patience with your God, because as has been demonstrated time and time again, His purposes will be revealed. Count it a blessing to long suffer, because suffering produces patience. And if you needed anymore incentive, only those whom are identified as patient will be received in Heaven. Patience is an identifying mark of Gods people. The book of James is a practical source for Christian living, but don’t miss the prophetic message, which is telling us to live with patience and perseverance, looking forward to the day when Jesus will come again and reward his saints for their long suffering. Amen and Amen. I look forward patiently for that day.