Patiently Waiting
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Titus 3:1-8
Good morning everyone and thank you for being here today. I hope you have prepared yourself to receive something this morning. That you come expectantly to be engaged in the message this morning.
Announcements
Ministry Sunday at the Rock
Prayer
We are in the 5th chapter of James and last week we looked at James’ harsh warning to the rich. The church was primarily what the culture at the time would be considered poor. Due to the persecution of the church, those that may have had wealth have found it taken away or abandoned. The rich of the time were people who were taking advantage of the poor and gaining excess wealth beyond what they would ever need. They were entertaining this lifestyle of abundant self-indulgence and following all of their passions and desires.
We discussed that wealth itself is not good or evil but it is the heart of a person and their willingness to glorify God that was the issue. It wasn’t so much that they had a lot or a little as much as it was that they only thought of themselves and in the process persecuted and took advantage of the poor.
We looked at Solomon who in Ecclesiastes states that he had followed all of his pleasures and all of his passions and desires and came to the conclusion that it was for nothing that in the end he was not satisfied, he was never satisfied with the pleasures of this world. The things of this world will never satisfy until we become content with what we have then low and behold satisfaction comes. After the discourse on the rich James turns his attention from the persecutors to the persecuted that he is addressing. The people of the church. Let us open to chapter 5 and stand as we read God’s word today.
7 Therefore, brothers and sisters, be patient until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth and is patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. 8 You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, because the Lord’s coming is near. 9 Brothers and sisters, do not complain about one another, so that you will not be judged. Look, the judge stands at the door! 10 Brothers and sisters, take the prophets who spoke in the Lord’s name as an example of suffering and patience. 11 See, we count as blessed those who have endured. You have heard of Job’s endurance and have seen the outcome that the Lord brought about—the Lord is compassionate and merciful.
As James transitions to the persecuted church he tells them to be patient.
Call to Patience
Call to Patience
James 5:7 (CSB)
7 Therefore, brothers and sisters, be patient until the Lord’s coming. ...
The word for patience here is a compound word. The first part of it meaning long and the second part of it meaning anger. This means long anger or in other words long tempered. If you remember back in the 1 chapter we talked about trials that bring endurance or long suffering. The word in chapter one refers to enduring the trials of life that all people are exposed to. This broken world we live in has famine, disease, sickness, frailty and in the end death. There are just the trials of living in the world. Throughout the entire scriptures there is not one promise that life on this earth will be easy or comfortable. If you read it you actually find the opposite continually promised. That trails will come but Christ will overcome them in the end. Jesus even said:
33 I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.”
The long anger or long tempered is connected to people. Believers will experience a trial that is unique to them and that is the trial of persecution. Those that profess that there is a God and that there is only one God. Who confess their belief in the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus will face persecution from people who believe otherwise.
11 “You are blessed when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of me. 12 Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
The early Church was heavily persecuted. We see the killing of many in the NT and in history. Men and women who are persecuted, abused, and even put to death. Today christian persecution is also on the rise world wide with martyrs, detentions, and church attacks rising year over year. Since 1992 North Korea has held the #1 most dangerous place to live for a christian. in 2022 Afghanistan took over the top spot. Not because North Korea got better but because Afghanistan under the oppression of the Taliban have actively persecuted the church until they are in complete secret. Nigeria had 4,650 martyrs, China had 3,000 churches attacked. Of the approximate 195 countries 75 of them are defined as “high levels of persecution”.
Where do you think we land on the list? That is a debate, due to the prominence of the United States it is looked at but unlike the countries on these lists that exhibit levels of persecution that parallel the ones in James’ time we in the US just don’t experience the same levels.
One organisation called International Christian Concern even included the United States in its religious freedom Hall of Shame list for the first time in 2016, citing “constant attacks in the media” and believers being “marginalized through the law.” Facebook
We can be a little detached from what James is speaking of due to the relative ease we have in our country. But James tells them to be patient. To be long tempered, slow to anger towards the oppression that they were experiencing. And how long were they to live this way. Until the Lords Coming.
This will be the way of the world until Jesus appears again. As Paul said to Titus
11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. 14 He gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people for his own possession, eager to do good works.
Jesus arrived the first time, bringing salvation. But he didn’t just save he instructed his children to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age.
In the present age we wait. Living a life glorifying him, waiting for the blessed hope. Waiting for the reappearing of our Savior Jesus Christ. He gave himself to redeem us from the lawlessness of this world and to be cleansed for himself to be possessed by him. We are to be eager while we wait. Doing good works. Not to gain salvation but because that is how he wants us to live in this present age.
James says stay focused on the savior, know that this is the way of the world but we will be called out of it someday to be in a world that is not broken like this one.
He then gives three examples that were to help them see what he was asking them to do.
The Farmers Example
The Farmers Example
7 Therefore, brothers and sisters, be patient until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth and is patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. 8 You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, because the Lord’s coming is near.
See how the farmer waits. Many of the people in the church would be very familiar with farming and the process. Farming was not spread all over the world on the far out skirts of towns. Many people would be involved at different times of the year and would know what James is speaking of. When they traveled they would walk among the fields. Not drive by them at 70 miles an hour without ever a thought. Remember the disciples being questioned for pulling off heads of grain as the traveled from city to city. The farmer cast seeds and then works the field. Patiently waiting.
The first rains would happen in the fall October-November time frame and the farmer, who most likely did not own the land but were tenant farmers, they would do everything in there power for a good harvest. Working the ground. Preparing the soil. irrigating, and other farmer duties. the early rains would cause the seed to start growing. for little sprouts to break through the ground. Then after many months of growth the late rains would come in March or April and the “fruit” would come. and then after that they would wait until the fruit matured and then harvest would begin and the rewards would be collected.
In the end even though the farmer puts all of this work into the growing of the crops all he can do is participate in the wonderful work of God. He cannot make the crop grow faster or cause more or less rain to come. He cannot change the seasons or determine the size of the crop. He cannot predict drought or pests. But he can do what he can do while he watches the hand of God grow what only he can grow.
How many of you relate to the farmers experience. How much work do you put into it to realize that even though you must do you r part you really don’t have all as much control as you would like. I have worked with two farmers in my life and they were amazing people to watch work.
Jack and Nancy
These two showed what the next part means in vs 8. “Strengthen your hearts, because the Lord’s coming in near.” The word for strengthen means to “make fast”, “Establish”, “to confirm”. They are to be resolute in their hearts and to be marked as supported or established in the work they are doing. To be propped up by the hope of Jesus’ arrival.
Story of the leaning Barn
Do Not Grumble
Do Not Grumble
8 You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, because the Lord’s coming is near. 9 Brothers and sisters, do not complain about one another, so that you will not be judged. Look, the judge stands at the door!
We are to live as if Jesus is near, that he is standing at the door, waiting to walk in any moment. Like the kids whose parents have gone out for the night or on vacation and they find themselves doing one of two things. Living in the philosophy of while the cats away the mice will play or they act and behave as if the parents will return at any moment. To not loose hope or faith that Jesus will return in his time and the good news of Jesus will be fulfilled.
The word complain here is to “groan within one’s self” to sigh”. It is the idea of unexpressed bitterness towards others. And in context it comes from the persecution, abuse, and mistreatment from others. This internal bitterness comes out in a person’s relationships towards others.
5 So don’t judge anything prematurely, before the Lord comes, who will both bring to light what is hidden in darkness and reveal the intentions of the hearts. And then praise will come to each one from God.
All will be judged in the end and believers are to refrain from developing a heart of bitterness and resentment for others. He says do not focus on the evils of the world, though they are painful and hard, He says focus on my mercies and my grace. Flee from the temptation of passing on your hurt to others. To know that in the end they will be judged accordingly to their own actions. Then he points them back to the prophets.
Prophets Example
Prophets Example
10 Brothers and sisters, take the prophets who spoke in the Lord’s name as an example of suffering and patience.
The prophets were God’s spokesmen. They spoke in the name of the Lord and over and over their proclamations were rejected. They were rejected. They suffered trough many trials and oppression of men during their service to the Lord.
32 And what more can I say? Time is too short for me to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets, 33 who by faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the raging of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, gained strength in weakness, became mighty in battle, and put foreign armies to flight. 35 Women received their dead, raised to life again. Other people were tortured, not accepting release, so that they might gain a better resurrection. 36 Others experienced mockings and scourgings, as well as bonds and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawed in two, they died by the sword, they wandered about in sheepskins, in goatskins, destitute, afflicted, and mistreated. 38 The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and on mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground. 39 All these were approved through their faith, but they did not receive what was promised, 40 since God had provided something better for us, so that they would not be made perfect without us.
This would have been a strong reminder of what it means to be chosen by God to speak in his name. God promises peace but not with or in this world. We have peace with God through the atonement of Jesus but we are now enemies of the world. The prophets patiently endured circumstances that we only watch movies about. Who lived in times where nobody listened to them. I feel like they lived in the time of perpetual I told you so but rarely were they listened to and when they were the change was short lived. Then James brings forth one more example and that is Job.
Job’s Example
Job’s Example
11 See, we count as blessed those who have endured. You have heard of Job’s endurance and have seen the outcome that the Lord brought about—the Lord is compassionate and merciful.
1 There was a man in the country of Uz named Job. He was a man of complete integrity, who feared God and turned away from evil. 2 He had seven sons and three daughters. 3 His estate included seven thousand sheep and goats, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a very large number of servants. Job was the greatest man among all the people of the east.
He was a man of integrity, he feared God, and turned from evil. He was the greatest among the people of the east. But he would endure devastation the like of which very few could relate. It was a story that was very familiar to the Jewish community. and would have reflected an example of patient endurance. He lost much of his family, his wealth, his health and more. is wife and friends were no help or comfort. When we read Job we might think that he was a complainer and groaned against God like we read before but we see even though Job acknowledged to God the pain he was in, the confusion he experienced. Scripture tells us that he still did not sin.
22 Throughout all this Job did not sin or blame God for anything.
10 “You speak as a foolish woman speaks,” he told her. “Should we accept only good from God and not adversity?” Throughout all this Job did not sin in what he said.
This should give us comfort that we can express our pain, torment, sadness directly to God and he hears those cries. But we are not to fall into sin of groaning to bitterness of turning from God instead of turning towards him. Being a Christian doesn’t mean that we run around with a smile on our faces and that everything is great. We are to be propped up, confident that those who endure are blessed by God. That in the end evil will be judged. Righteousness will be rewarded and in the meantime we wait patiently.
Trust in God’s Compassion and Mercy.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Like I said, we do not experience the persecution the church in Jerusalem endured or that many other countries in our world experience on a daily basis. I read one place that 13 Christians will die today from their faith. So the question is do we live like the judge is at the door. Like Jesus is near. Will we prepare to withstand persecution when it comes. Like marriage, will we wait until we have already got so deep into it that we find ourselves in a place that needs help. Will we prepare ahead of time. Will we seek Jesus and grow so that we can stand on him and not on our own strength. For many in scriture had no strength left to stand at times.
Will we look to God in the time of persecution like Steven.
54 When they heard these things, they were enraged and gnashed their teeth at him. 55 Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven. He saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 He said, “Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” 57 They yelled at the top of their voices, covered their ears, and together rushed against him. 58 They dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. And the witnesses laid their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 While they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” 60 He knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” And after saying this, he fell asleep.
Next Steps
Next Steps
I am going to ask the worship team to come up an play for a little while. I would ask that you spend some time reflecting on today's message. Write down your final thoughts, sit in prayer of worship and repentance, fill out a connection card if you would like to speak with me more.
Pray
Now may the God who gives endurance and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, according to Christ Jesus, so that you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ with one mind and one voice.