Faith that Endures

Introduction

In our previous message, we examined what James said about the oppression of the Christian Jews scattered throughout the Roman Empire. They were underpaid, undervalued, and defrauded again and again by their wealthy employers. At times, these injustices left faithful believers on the brink of starvation and brought great hardship to their families.

James sought to encourage these suffering saints by reminding them that one day, their oppressors would face the righteous judgment of God. In verses 7–8, he urged them not to fix their eyes on the persecution they were enduring, but on the coming of the Lord, which would bring both hope and help in their suffering. James was reminding them — it will be worth the wait.

Now, in the closing verses of his letter, James turns his attention to how believers are to live faithfully in the world around them. He gives practical instruction for living a righteous life in an unrighteous world — the kind of life that reflects the character and endurance of Christ.

As James closes his letter, he turns from warning the oppressors to strengthening the oppressed. His message is clear: while you wait for the Lord’s return, your testimony matters. The trials around you must not divide you — they must draw you together. So first, James calls believers to strive for unity in the midst of affliction.

Strive for Unity in the Midst of Affliction

James 5:9 “Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.”

When persecution and trials come, they often produce difficult and discouraging circumstances. These believers were feeling that pressure, and James urged them to strive together rather than against one another. One of the worst responses to hardship in the church is when brethren begin to turn on each other instead of standing together. The real enemy is not our fellow believer — it is Satan, who seeks to divide the body — and the watching world needs to see Christians who remain united and faithful even in seasons of trial.

Disunity will never strengthen a suffering church. But when believers band together, bear one another’s burdens, and encourage one another in the faith, they become a powerful testimony of Christ’s love in the midst of affliction. Many churches today make it their mission to “fight for justice,” yet Scripture reminds us that injustice will remain until Jesus returns to rule and reign. Christ and His apostles did not focus on eradicating every injustice — they taught us how to endure it with faith, patience, and unity.

We can better endure the pressures of life and the pain of persecution when we strive for unity within the local church.

When the Apostle Paul and Silas were thrown into prison at Philippi, they could have easily blamed one another for their situation. Instead, they chose to pray and sing praises to God together (Acts 16:25). Their unity in suffering became such a powerful testimony that the other prisoners listened — and even the jailer and his family came to faith in Christ that night.

That’s what unity in affliction looks like. When God’s people choose praise over grumbling, grace over grudges, and fellowship over frustration, the world sees the difference that Christ makes. Hard times are inevitable, but division is optional. A church that stays united through trials shines brightest when the world around it grows darkest.

Strive to Follow the examples of others in Affliction

James 5:10–11 “Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.”

James encourages believers to look back at the faithful servants of God who endured affliction before them. The prophets of old spoke the truth even when it was unpopular, and they paid a heavy price for their obedience.

Samuel was rejected by the people who demanded a king.

Elijah was hunted by King Ahab and threatened by Queen Jezebel.

Elisha was ridiculed for his prophecies.

Micaiah was imprisoned for speaking truth instead of flattery.

Isaiah—according to tradition—was sawn in half under King Manasseh.

Jeremiah was beaten, imprisoned, thrown into a muddy pit, and mocked continually.

Ezekiel was rejected and ridiculed by the very people he was sent to warn.

Amos was exiled after being accused of conspiracy.

Zechariah was stoned to death in the temple court.

Zephaniah, Haggai, and Zechariah (the later prophets) faced resistance and discouragement.

Malachi was ridiculed for preaching against corrupt worship.

And even John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ, was beheaded for confronting the king’s sin.

From generation to generation, God’s messengers have endured rejection, suffering, and even death — yet they remained faithful to their calling. James reminds us that these faithful servants are examples to inspire our endurance.

We also know, from the completed record of Scripture, that the apostles followed that same path. Every one of them, except John, died a martyr’s death — and John himself was boiled in oil and exiled to Patmos for his testimony of Christ.

When we remember the prophets, the apostles, and the faithful saints who stood firm in their trials, we find courage to stand in ours. Their suffering reminds us that endurance is not only possible — it is profitable, because “the Lord is full of compassion and tender mercy.”

Affliction is not a sign that God has abandoned us — it’s often a sign that we’re walking in the same path as those who faithfully served Him before us.

In the late 1800s, a missionary named Adoniram Judson labored for years in Burma with almost no visible fruit. He buried his wife, lost children to sickness, and spent months in a filthy prison for preaching the gospel. Yet when asked years later how he kept going, he said simply, “The future is as bright as the promises of God.”

Like the prophets and apostles before him, Judson learned that the path of obedience is often paved with suffering — but also with the mercy and compassion of the Lord. His endurance not only reached a nation with the gospel, but it continues to inspire believers generations later.

The examples of those who have gone before us remind us that faithful endurance leaves a legacy. When we suffer with patience and remain steadfast in our faith, others will one day look back on our lives and be strengthened to stand firm in theirs.

Strive to Speak Faithfully in Times of Affliction

James 5:12 “But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.”

Among the Jews of James’ day, it was common to make vain promises or oaths. People would say things like “by my life” or “by my head” to strengthen the weight of a statement — but these oaths were often frivolous or evasive. If someone swore by God’s name, it was binding; if they swore by heaven, earth, or another object, it was not. Jesus condemned this practice, calling His followers to integrity in speech — so that a simple “yes” would mean yes, and a “no” would mean no (see Matthew 12:36).

James affirms this principle, urging believers to speak honestly and faithfully, even under pressure. In times of persecution, it would have been tempting to make bold statements to show resolve when faith inside was wavering. But honesty about our spiritual state leads to true reliance on God, rather than reliance on our own bravado.

Even in affliction, we are called to let our words reflect our true dependence upon God. This integrity in speech is not only a mark of faithfulness but also a practical tool for enduring suffering. When our yes means yes and our no means no, we are rooted in God’s truth rather than in human approval, giving us a stronger, surer foundation for walking faithfully through trials.

Strive for Prayer & Praise in the Midst of Affliction

James 5:13–20 “Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. Is any sick among you? 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: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit. Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.”

James gives believers a practical pattern for every situation:

When we are afflicted — pray.

When we are merry — sing praise.

When we are sick — call for prayer.

When we fail or sin — confess and pray.

When we have faith — pray.

When someone strays from the truth — pray and help restore them.

Prayer is not just one option among many; it is the best, the greatest, the most powerful response to every circumstance in the believer’s life. James spends four verses on general encouragement and eight verses on the practice of prayer, showing us where his emphasis lies.

We do not pray enough. We do not call on the name of Christ enough. We do not cast our burdens into His hands enough. And yet, prayer is our lifeline, our weapon, and our refuge in every trial. James’ message is clear: when we are afflicted, uncertain, or even joyful — we must pray.

Prayer connects us to God, strengthens our faith, heals our souls, and can even bring miraculous outcomes, as seen in the example of Elijah — whose fervent prayers affected rain, drought, and ultimately, God’s provision for His people.

Conclusion

James 5:8–20 reminds us that trials and affliction are part of the Christian life, but God’s people are not powerless.

Strive for unity — encourage one another and bear each other’s burdens.

Follow faithful examples — the prophets and apostles endured, and so can we.

Speak truthfully — let your yes be yes and your no be no, rooted in dependence on God.

Pray and praise in every circumstance — prayer is our lifeline, our refuge, and our weapon.

Trials will come, but our endurance, faithfulness, and reliance on God will make it worth the wait. The Lord is compassionate and merciful, and every hardship we face can be used by Him for His glory.

“Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.” — James 5:7

Stand firm, trust fully, and let prayer, unity, and faithful living be your strength in every season.