Patience In Difficult Times

Dismiss children to children’s church older and younger up to 3rd grade

As we have studied James it has been clear that our Faith in Christ and His finished work is sufficient for salvation, yet… a Faith in Christ should challenge us to put action to what we believe in and cause us to live life differently!

Today James challenges that Faith in Action in the area of PATIENCE...

patience is easy when things are going well, your way, your time table, according to your plans...

BUT what about when you are wronged, things keep looking darker rather than better, wrongful accusations, persecution...

patience looks different then doesn’t it!

James does not mince words here today as we look at our passage

James opens his next challenge as we live out our faith with a clear mandate...

By the way mandates are not optional in scripture...

James 5:7 NASB95

Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains.

James 5:7 NASB95

Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains.

James 5:7–12 NASB95

7 Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains. 8 You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. 9 Do not complain, brethren, against one another, so that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door. 10 As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful. 12 But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but your yes is to be yes, and your no, no, so that you may not fall under judgment.

James 5:7 NASB95

7 Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains.

James in his mandate give us the who the what and the how long:

The What… Be Patient

Patient= Long Tempered (long fuse) or long suffering!

“BE” Patient… NOT practice patience or learn patience but rather “BE”

James makes the assumption that we can and should live lives that exhibit patience

It is a state of being… WHY? because of the who...

The Who… Brothers and sisters in Christ

“Brethren” is mentioned 4 times in verses 7-12!

We are united by the Holy Spirit… He lives within us…

has something to say about the Holy Spirit...

Galatians 5:22–23 NASB95

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Who we are, and who we have in us allows us to “BE” patient!!!

The How Long… Until Christ Returns

ONLY until Jesus Christ returns...

Thank goodness we don’t have to wait too long!

From the very beginning the church has been eagerly waiting Christ return.

This is a perspective of eternity… A Biblical View of this world and the trials we face.

James gives his readers this clear mandate but then he also illustrates it and gives examples to help us in our learning.

James Illustrates Patience With the Farmer

Notice what the farmer is waiting for… Precious Produce…the harvest or reward!

What we wait for is precious! Perspective

The ground may be dry now but rain will come.

You Too!!!

Wait and allow God strengthen your hearts… don’t go into self-pity

Strengthen= “Prop up something that is heavy” do not have heavy hearts with the difficult times...

Let God support your heart do not seek revenge rather let God lift you up!

His coming is near!!! Let God deal with it.

Consider

1 Peter 2:18–20 NASB95

18 Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable. 19 For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.

During this time it is hard to wait, Be Patient, “Do not complain against one another”

Grumbling is bearing a grudge… a deep seed of bitterness creeps in

Soon God will need to judge you.

Peter says the one who suffers patiently and endures… this one finds favor with God!

Your jobs, children, friends, coworkers, spouses, church family...

Stand out!!!!

anyone can be patient when treated well, good and right… the world does not take note of that

But when wronged… one who is patient and endures the world notices and takes note, God takes note! (finds favor with God)

James Give an Example of Patience With the Prophets and Job

Patience goes hand in hand with Suffering

James example are those who were close with the Lord… Prophets… and they suffered too!

Those who endured were blessed?

Why would we look at someone who is suffering and count them blessed?

Job is a great example here for James to use as well

William Barclay states well the suffering, patience of Job and the blessing on the flip side!!!

The Letters of James and Peter The Triumphant Patience (James 5:10–11)

But patience is far too passive a word. There is a sense in which Job was anything but patient. As we read the tremendous drama of his life, we see him passionately resenting what has happened to him, passionately questioning the conventional arguments of his so-called friends, passionately agonizing over the terrible thought that God might have forsaken him. Few have spoken such passionate words as he did, but the great fact about Job is that, in spite of all the agonizing questionings which tore at his heart, he never lost his faith in God. ‘See, he will kill me; I have no hope’ (Job 13:15). ‘Even now, in fact, my witness is in heaven, and he that vouches for me is on high’ (Job 16:19). ‘For I know that my Redeemer lives’ (Job 19:25). Job’s is no unquestioning submission; he struggled and questioned, and sometimes even defied, but the flame of his faith was never extinguished.

The word used of him is that great New Testament word hupomonē, which describes not a passive patience but that gallant spirit which can confront the tides of doubt and sorrow and disaster and come out with faith still stronger on the other side. There may be a faith which never complained or questioned; but still greater is the faith which was tortured by questions and still believed.

As we consider Job… Remember Job made some statements not fully understanding God or all the “whys” and we are just as susceptible. (Verse 12)

James warns them not to swear in their sufferings

In the process of suffering we often want to make a defense,

In panic and suffering we can say things in haste that we really don’t mean

Don’t make deals with God

Illustrate with the men lost at sea illustration

God is the Judge, be patient and allow God to work

Allow your character to testify for you, rather than swearing

Now your Turn… how will you apply what God’s Word teaches concerning Patience?

This is practical and applicable scripture

How will you use it this next week?

In the sufferings that come your way, how will people around you see your reliance on the Lord?

Will you be patient in His control of things in this life anticipating the precious fruit to come!