James 5:7-20 Patiently Facing Trials

Scripture: Nathan Foss

Intro:

We left off last week with James calling out the wicked wealthy

He was doing that because many in his church were either being taken advantage of by these wicked people or they had lost their livelihood

This morning James turns toward his congregation and instructs them how to face this adversity

He emphasizes patience and prayer

He shows them how to face trials patiently

vs. 7-12 Patiently Persevere

When facing trials we need to learn how to do so patiently

James gives us some practical advice

His people were suffering under the oppression of the wicked wealthy

Until God changed the situation they had to learn how to endure the trials

vs. 7 Wait Patiently

The first thing that james tells them is to wait patiently

He uses the metaphor of a farmer waiting to harvest his crop

When is our harvest?

Until the coming of the Lord

We need to be patient until Jesus comes back

He may give temporary relief from time to time but full relief comes when Jesus returns

Ephesians 4:1–2 ESV

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,

vs. 8 Establish Your Hearts

The second thing that James tells us is to establish our hearts

Establish means to stand, to set fast, and fix firmly

We can let our emotions take over our heart and miss what God has

Our hearts can be trapped in worry and miss God’s rescue

Our hearts can get caught up in Drama and make something much bigger than it is

Instead we need to anchor our hearts in the Word of God and be led by the Spirit.

The two will never contradict themselves

To establish our heart means to filter it through scriptures and not let our temper or feelings lead it astray

Colossians 2:6–7 ESV

Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

vs. 9 Do Not Grumble

The third thing that James shows us is to not grumble against others

There is nothing that unsettles us more than when someone annoys us and we start to grumble under our breath or to someone else

James is specific that we especially don’t grumble against other believers

If we have something against them or they have wronged us we need to go to them and resolve it

Matthew 18:15 ESV

“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.

vs. 10-11 Be Steadfast

The fourth thing that James tell us in facing trials is to be steadfast

Another word for steadfast is Endure

When you are facing trials James exhorts us to endure and remain steadfast

Paul also calls it standing Firm

Ephesians 6:13 ESV

Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

Withstand and standing firm denote the ability to not collapse or retreat in the face of trials

Mel Gibson in the Patriot

James uses two examples of endurance, the prophets and Job

The prophets are a source of many of our OT books, but what most people don’t understand is the kings they ministered under didn’t care for them

Many suffered horrible deaths

Isaiah, who is known as the prince of prophets, was sawn in half

Jeremiah and Zechariah were stoned to death

100’s of nameless prophets were killed by kings like Ahab & Jezebel

Elijah had to hide some so they wouldn’t be wiped out

Job was a wealthy man and Satan asked to test him

He had everything taken from him and he still wouldn’t curse God

These guys didn’t waver from what God called them to

vs. 12 Be Honest

The final tip James gives us in this section is to be honest

Let your yes be yes

People were swearing oaths by heaven and not fulfilling them

People make great claims to impress people but are incapable of keeping them

We need to strive for integrity

Integrity is being a person of your word

Don’t tell people what they want to hear

Tell the truth

Matthew 5:37 ESV

Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.

Power of Prayer vs. 13-18

There is one more facet of facing trials and it is the most important… prayer

James shows us the power of prayer

vs. 13 Prayer & Praise

First he shows us two types of prayer

When you’re suffering pray

When you’re doing good praise

There are times when you weep during prayer then there are times when you rejoice

When you are struggling you bring that burden to the Lord

1 Peter 5:6–7 ESV

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Oooh, it says humble yourselves

Bringing your needs to the Lord can be a humbling experience

But his hand is mighty, not in judgment, but in provision

It also says to cast your cares, because he cares for you

We also should be praising the Lord

The Hebrew word for Praise is Hallel

It means to give verbal adulation to someone or something

Psalm 150 ESV

Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens! Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness! Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!

MEN: let’s do a test

Raise both of your hands high above your head

Most seem to be in working order

Psalm 134:2 ESV

Lift up your hands to the holy place and bless the Lord!

Men, lets lead our homes and our church in praise

vs. 14-15 Call the Elders

If you are sick you need to call the elders

There are two principles at work here

First, its using the leadership of the church to pray for you

Second, it you humbling yourself and admitting you need God to others

Anointing oil, usually Olive, was used for medicinal purposes but it also is a symbol of the Holy Spirit

This prayer of faith will save the sick and forgive sins

vs. 16a Confess Your Sins

There is another important aspect of prayer

Confessing your sins

NKJV uses the word trespasses

Trespassing is being somewhere where you are not supposed to be

Confessing brings healing both spiritually and physically

Sins can be a heavy burden that has physical ramifications

It an also remove hindrances to the work of the Holy Spirit

vs. 16b-18 Effective Prayer

James 5:16 NKJV

The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

The ESV really butchers this part

Effective prayer is Fervent

Effective prayer is Consistent

Effective prayer comes from a righteous person

That means they are saved

It also means they are clean

James then gives an example of Elijah

Elijah was a prophet who battled against Ahab & Jezebel

He is famous for going up against the 400 prophets of Baal

Part of the judgment against Ahab was that there was famine in the land for three years as a result of Elijah’s prayer

Then he prayed for it to rain and it did

The point James is trying to make is that when righteous people go to prayer God does incredible things

Bringing a Brother Back vs. 19-20