Persevere in Trials - James 5:7-20

Trials with a Purpose: Embracing God’s Plan

Bible Passage: James 5:7–20

Be Patient to Receive the Reward - James 5:7-11

1. Patience in Testing - Coming of the Lord

James 5:7–9 “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. 9 Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door!”

Here at the conclusion of the Book of James we again see the theme of patience (Remember James 1:3-4). James is introducing the reason for our earthly patience “the coming of the Lord”. To illustrate the anticipation for the Lord’s coming is the picture of the harvest that must be waited for. Seeds are planted and must be watered and cared for with the expectation of a future harvest.

Christians are to live expecting the soon return of our Lord and His reward is with Him Revelation 22:12 ““And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.”

In this is the benefit of remaining patient in the various trials in life. The Judge is coming, Behold, the Judge is standing at the door!

2. Perseverance like the Prophets - The Intended End

James 5:10–11 “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.”

In that great chapter of Old Testament faith hero’s we see that they endured because their faith was focused on another world. Faith sees an unseen world.

For the Christian it means, Hebrews 13:14 “For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come.” But as Abraham, the father of faith showed us we are to have patience. Hebrews 11:10 “for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”

This is the promised reward to those who persevere.

Perseverance Undergirded by Prayer - James 5:12-20

3. Promising with Integrity - Don’t Make Oaths (Deals)

James 5:12 “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.”

Under stress is the very time our patience is tried. James is repeating what Jesus taught in Matthew 5:34 “But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne;” Being ‘slow to speak’ allows us to check our words and honor God.

Lest you fall into judgment is better translated “into hypocrisy” according to the Majority Texts. by ‘oaths’ here James is referring to statements that comment on a person’s veracity. “I’m telling the truth this time, honest to God”. Or, “God, if you do such and such, I promise I’ll …..”. Stay true to the simplicity of grace that is in Christ and avoid oaths.

4. Prayerful Dependence on God - Hid in the Body

James 5:13–16 “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”

When someone is sick, suffering, or doesn’t want the present joy to end, enter a trial ; James is teaching us not to make deals with God, but to seek the spiritual answer.

1 Peter 5:6 “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,” One of God’s hands is beneath us and another is above us. Both protect is in trials. (Dt 33:27; John 10:28; Psalm 37:24) He desires His children to run to Him in times of personal distress. Our fellowship with God is dependent on our faith obedience. When a Christian is so weak that his faith fails it is up to the body of Christ to pray for that individual, to carry him by faith to the throne of grace. Godly elders in the church function as intercessory believer-priests praying for God to restore fellowship to the weakened brother or sister. Walking in the light, faith-fellowship with God, and confession of sin (1 John 1:9) brings healing.

God wants fervent prayer.

{Some we are not to pray for - 1 John 5:16 “If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that.” }

See 2 Kings 20:2-6 King Hezekiah prays and gets 15 more years and deliverance.

5. Powerful Prayer Outcomes - Fervent Pray in Trials

James 5:17–20 “Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit. 19 Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, 20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.”

Elijah’s prayer life was achievable, he was not super-human. When he prayed he got results because he prayed the will of God. It was the ‘fervent prayer of a righteous man’. He moved beyond the prayer for the sick, the suffering, the mundane - Elijah prayed for God’s cause. He was a tool in God’s hand. That’s a challenging life, to be an instrument of God in this fallen world, but that is what God wants. That’s the big picture.

The last two verses speak to us of the responsibility of being our brother’s keeper (Gen 4:9). Be aware when a brother in the Lord is wandering. We are called to try to turn him back. Think of the heartache we can help each other avoid in this life if we put this into action.

Prayer, encouragement, and the Word of God saves us from many pitfalls and troubles and ultimately a premature death and judgement.