James 5:1-12; The Powerful and the Patient

Introduction

Image

Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Need

Guard are heats and minds from power by patiently waiting upon the Lord.

Referent

James 5:1-12

Organization

The Powerful (vs. 1-6)

The Patient (vs. 7-12)

Sermon in a sentence:

I will repent as I patiently praise the Lord.

The Powerful (vs. 1-6)

James once again addresses the rich in his epistle.

James 1:10–11 “10 and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. 11 For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.”

James 2:6 “6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court?”

James 4:13 “13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”—”

2. Commentators are divided; are these believers or nonbelievers?

Most say non-believers

He speaks of their future judgement.

He does not call for repentance.

His language is like that of an OT prophet: Amos.

I believe these are members of the local congregations.

He has already mentioned the rich in the epistle as members of the congregation.

His use of the coming judgement is a means of repentance.

Jonah

Parents often tell their kids they will do something as a warning. “As soon as you … I will bust your hind end.”

His language is like an OT prophet: Amos and Isaiah.

Amos calls out foreign nations but also Israel.

James is closest to Isaiah 5.

Verse 5 is likely an illusion to Jeremiah 12:3 (chapter 11 is about Israel’s covenant breaking).

3. Verse 4-6 show that these rich has used their wealth and power to exploit these day laborers.

Leviticus 19:13 “13 “You shall not oppress your neighbor or rob him. The wages of a hired worker shall not remain with you all night until the morning.”

They have fattened themselves, not the calf or lamb, for the day of slaughter. They have abused their wealth and power to abuse others. Therefore, they have brought God’s judgement

The day laborers have no way of fighting against these injustices.

https://youtu.be/Wb_9J4Rs18E?si=oAqKhZqjfnZr4M9K - Long Island Audit and Brian Fahey July 2025

Breach of Peace , Voyeurism , and Criminal Trespass

It took over a month for Brian Fahey to be charged with a misdemeanor of disorderly conduct.

One of the most important questions a pastor should ask a pastor search committee is, “Who has the power in the church?”

Saints, if we are not careful, we can use the power that God has given us to end in death. We can slit the throat of a church because, as James has already told us, we let our passions lead to waring, fighting, and murder. We can use our power to kill relationships and gospel opportunities.

If you need to, today is the day of weeping and howling. Today is the day of repentance!

A preacher once said, “Better weep here, where there are wiping handkerchiefs in the hand of Christ, than to have your eyes whipped out in hell. Better howl with men than yell with devils.”

The Patient (vs. 7-12)

Saints, how can we respond to the abuse of powerful so called believers? Wait on the Lord.

Verse 7 uses the example of a farmer that waits for the rains.

The farmer cannot do anything to bring about the early or late rains. It is totally outside of the control of the farmer to hurry what God will bring. The farmer is responsible for tilling the ground, removing the rocks, weeds, debris, planting the seed, and nurturing as it grows. But ultimately it is God himself that brings the growth.

Saints, our growth in the Lord is not something that we just slide into or fall into. Our holiness is a gift from God alone. Yet, we are also responsible to use the means that God has given us to expect God’s blessing in our lives.

2. Be Patient - wait upon the Lord. Be still and know that I am God.

3. Strengthen your hearts - take courage. Be men. Insulate your hearts from the attacks of the devil by hiding God’s Word in your heart.

4. Do not grumble against your brothers - Gossip and backbiting are damnable sins.

5. Use suffering - every single one of us are going through suffering. Are you wasting your suffering?

6. Remind yourself of God’s faithfulness through Scripture.

7. Do not swear.

Conclusion

John Powell moved from Kansas City MO to Louisville to study at Southern Seminary for his Master of Divinity. After completing his degree, Powell gathered began thinking of his future in ministry. He moved to Hamlin Texas, population of 2,100. Not long after his first pastorate in Hamlin, he began to think about church planting. He gathered a core team from his home church and decided to plant a church in rural West Texas. Located in New Caney Texas, the church is situated in prime ranching country. Real cowboys, not the rhinestone kind, live in New Caney. Here, Powell wanted to take a page from the cowboy play book.

Cowboys have to be able to wrestle these massive animals into submission. Cowboys have to force these animals to due what we need them to do: pushing the cattle to new pastures, caroling them, or putting them in chute or crush.

Armed with a Master of Divinity from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Powell was ready to force his people into more theological depths. He quickly realized, pastors are shepherds not cowboys. We are called to lovingly lead them not push them. Powell had to love them and show them a better way than force them.

His church was meeting in the local high school, even though the plant had been looking for a property of their own. Despite the set backs, Powell continued to be faithful.

On July 18th, 2020, Powell was driving down the road when he encountered a vehicle in flames. Powell and another motorist pulled over to help the driver of the vehicle in flames. While helping the drive of the vehicle, Powell was struck by an 18 wheeler. He passed away from his injuries.

Saints, today, the church he planted his healthier than ever. They have a new pastor and were able to purchase land in a prime location. Oh saints, this world is painful. Literal death is never far from us. Saints, we cannot add a day or one minute to our lives. But, we can live a life of repentance as we wait patiently in praise for the Lord.

Application

Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Repent and patiently wait for the Lord. Psalm 121.