James 5

James 5:7-12 (ESV)

7 Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. 8 You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.9 Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. 10 As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.11 Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.

12 But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.

Star wars

I dont believe it

that is why you fail

james is asking us do we believe that God knows whats best for us? Whats best for His glory?

Mind the gap and

Be Patient

James 5:7 (ESV)

7 Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. 8 You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

Patience

Able to endure adverse circumstances

Justice hand pic

Impatience is our natural condition

Oppression leads to impatience

We just talked about the wealthy oppressing the poor and remember James said he resisted not..

Impatience leads to poor choices

Bad choices

Divided sea

Firestorm

Moses throws down the ten commandments

God says

Exodus 32:9-10 (ESV)

9 And the Lord said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and behold, it is a stiff-necked people. 10 Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them, in order that I may make a great nation of you.”

Moses Begs for peoples forgiveness God Grants it but a disease falls upon the people.. forgiveness and discipline

Isaiah 30:1 (ESV)

30 “Ah, stubborn children,” declares the Lord, “who carry out a plan, but not mine, and who make an alliance, but not of my Spirit,     that they may add sin to sin;

God this situation in my life its unfair

We accept less than whats best

Luke 21:19 (ESV)

19 By your endurance you will gain your lives.

Patience is a learned quality

Psalm 130:5 (ESV)

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,  and in his word I hope;

Its one of the fruits of the spirt.

It is part of the definition of Love

How much patience are we called to have?

Suffer until the Lord returns

Farming teach us about patience

God’s timing

Planting

1 Corinthians 3:6 (ESV)

6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.

Rain

Early for germination

Late rain is for maturation

We have to continue to do the work

The lesson here is we must learn to wait on the Lord

In their culture the had to wait until God provided the rain

Psalm 27:14 (ESV)

14 Wait for the Lord;     be strong, and let your heart take courage;     wait for the Lord!

James 5:7 (ESV)

for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

Next door neighbor heart attack.. tweety and sylvester

Revelation 16:15

English Standard Version

15 (“Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!”)

Our patience in the Lord and his word and the trials we are exposed allows us to be dressed and ready

If we are going to mind the gap

Be Positive

James 5:8-9 (ESV)

8 You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.9 Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door.

Be positive Establish your heart

1 Peter 4:7-9 (ESV)

7 The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. 8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.

Food.. I look at chocolate ..sweets.. I mean I love it..

False teaching just easier to abide by…

Hebrews 13:9 (ESV)

9 Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them.

We establish ourselves by following the word of God..

Be positive do not grumble

Against each other

Philippians 2:14-15

English Standard Version

14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,

Again another sin that leads to another sin

Psalm 106:25 (ESV)

25 They murmured in their tents,     and did not obey the voice of the Lord.

Grumbling means we are not content

We are not trusting that God knows whats best for us.

We Can either grumble or we can grow.

What can we learn from the situation we are in.

Pastor Lew preached have an attitude of Gratitude

Psalm 31:19 (ESV)

19 Oh, how abundant is your goodness,     which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you,     in the sight of the children of mankind!

Isnt Christ enough?

1 Peter 1:3-5 (ESV)

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Be positive knowing God is at the door

Cleaning before the maid gets there

Romans 8:8 (ESV)

8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

2 Peter 3:9 (ESV)

9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you,[a] not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

If we are going to mind the gap

Have Perseverance

James 5:10-11a (ESV)

10 As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.11 Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job,

Faith is confidence in things you hoped for

Faith comes by hearing, hearing the world of the Lord.

Our perserverence is develop by our faith.. see we fail because we do not believe.

James 1

Our examples of patience

Noah ..ark.. David waitng to be crowned king

Jeremiah a kid called a traitor Daniel lions den

Joseph and his whole life

Shadrack Meshach obendego

Job

Job went through a world of hurt.

Death of all his children.

Loss of his own health.

Well-meaning but condemning friends.

Job stuck to his guns until he was vindicated.

God answered him in the end.

It wasn't the answer Job expected, but it was an answer.

God doubled all he had.

Job 1:20-22 (ESV)

20 Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. 21 And he said, “Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”

22 In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.

Patience of Christ on the cross not to call down the angels to rescue him

If we are going to mind the gap

Know God’s Purpose

James 5:11b (ESV)

, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.

Lords purpose

Jeremiah 29:11 (ESV)

11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Future

John 14:2-3 (ESV)

2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

hope

John 14:6 (ESV)

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Jesus said

Matthew 4:19 (ESV)

19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

Matthew 22:37-39

(ESV)

37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

Matthew 28:20 (ESV)

20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

If we are going to mind the gap

Keep your Promise

James 5:12 (ESV)

12 But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.

Do you believe? Let your yes be yes and your no be no!