Faith Works...Faith Works When You're Suffering

We are most certainly living in the last days. We are anticipating the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. While we wait we are living life on this rock. In this life there’s good and bad, blessing and curses, every possible season, and experience that life has to offer. In all of this something is slowly but surely developing in us…Patience!

Patience is the ability to wait on God’s timing and the fulfillment of His promises. Patience is also the character trait that we need so that we can interact graciously with all people. Patience empowers us to endure injustice, suffering, trouble, and mistreatment while we remain true to God!

Gods Harvest Is Coming

James 5:7–8 NKJV

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. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

The true motive for patience in the Christians life is the imminent return of Christ. He stands at that door, and we don’t know when it will open.

Consider the farmer, life is like farming. You plant the seeds and you have to wait for the harvest. Let’s say that you plant a fruit tree, and everyday you go out and yell at and pace around that little tree. Will any of this speed up the process of growth, NOT AT ALL!!! Instead you’re learning to patiently wait for the harvest, because you can not rush the harvest.

The harvest will most certainly come. When it comes the good fruit will be harvested and the dry dead branches will be thrown in the fire. Consider all those that you know that would not have been ready a year ago. God’s patience is not only about you, it’s also about them. So until He does return, let us be about His work.

Gods Judgement Is Coming

James 5:9 NKJV

Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door!

Jesus is ultimately the judge of all. Unlike us, God is inclined toward those who are suffering. We grow tired of it. We can’t take any more of it. His judgement is perfect, our judgement is flawed. Jesus knows suffering!!! He endured the worst of it.

Will Jesus be your judge, or will He be judged for you?

Do what you can do and wait for God to do what only He can do.

James 5:10–12 NKJV

My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. 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. But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your “Yes” be “Yes,” and your “No,” “No,” lest you fall into judgment.

In our suffering, let us not make a rash and short sighted decisions that we might regret. Be patient!

We can make vows or oaths without much thought. We get hurt and decide that will never happen again, we’ve made a vow or oath...

Warning: inner vow & outer oath

=w/self counterfeit to covenant w/God (“never again”)

1.    We make vows rashly amidst pain.

2.    Some of us make vows at a very young age.

3.    Some vows become entrenched as generational curses.

4.    We become loyal to the vow instead of the Lord.

5.    Violating a vow often triggers an emotional overreaction.

6.    We have a hard time not seeing our vows as equal to God’s laws which is legalism.

7.    We punish people who break our vows.

The vows don’t help us, they don’t heal us. they paralyze us. Don’t make vows in the middle of your suffering.

Matthew 5:34–37 NKJV

But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.

Prophets Suffered

Consider the prophets, that suffered. They believed, and could not be denied! They are examples of suffering and patience. The prophets spoke in the name of the Lord.

Hebrews 11:35–38 NKJV

Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented—of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.

James suffered as a martyr. They took him to the top of the temple and was told to deny Jesus or they would throw him off. He wouldn’t, so they threw him off. He’s now on the ground, busted up. They say alright, you’ve only got a few more breaths, deny Jesus. He wouldn’t. They thought they killed him. James is NOT dead. He in heaven with his brother and he’s more alive than ever before. I guarantee, when he got to heaven, he knew it was worth it all!

Gods Heroes are the Worlds Villains!

Spiritual Warfare/Demonic Stronghold

Satan's 1st Vow…Is. 14:13-14

Isaiah 14:13–14 NKJV

For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’

Job Suffered...

This is a long book of a guy that doesn’t have any good days. Job was godly, healthy, and very wealthy.

Job was a good person that suffered extreme loss and pain. He lost everything but God. Job was honest about the grief, struggle of faith, and pain.

The backdrop of this story is that there is spiritual warfare. Good people will suffer, and we’ll never know why. Job suffered and didn’t know why.

Today, we know what Job didn’t know in the middle of his suffering. It will all be worth it in the end. We will be restored, we will be reunited, and we will overcome if we can persevere in patience!

James 5:11 NKJV

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 “patience” (Greek Hupomone) carries the meaning of persistent, active patience. It is not passive endurance. It is active work while you wait lifestyle that reflects an active faith in whatever trials we may face without losing our hope and trust in God. Perseverance is often developing through faith that triumphs through sufferings. Jobs outcome reveals that in all of his troubles, God cared deeply about him and preserved his life and hope.

James wants us to know that God is concerned about all of His people, and that in their suffering He will sustain them in compassionate mercy and love!

1.    God blesses the steadfast (favored, graced, joyful) HOLY SPIRIT

2.    God has a purpose for the steadfast (“the last part of a process”)

-Heb 2:10 Jesus was made “perfect through suffering.”

3.    God has compassion for steadfast (“concern about another’s unfortunate state or misery”)

4.    God has mercy for the steadfast (“a high degree of affection…for someone”)

Job and the Prophets are blessed today because they finished this race. They stand in the presence of God because they finished this race. They are blessed today because God is good even in the midst of our suffering.

Don’t give up!