Yes or No, Please!

Ill#1:

A little boy was standing at the end of an escalator. His eyes focussed of the handrail. The shop assistant asked, “Son are you lost?” He replied; “No, I am just waiting for my chewing gum to come back.”

His eyes focussed of the handrail.

The shop assistant asked, “Son are you lost?”

Even little kids can have patience for things they take interest in.

He replied; “No, I am just waiting for my chewing gum to come back.”

Ill#2:

George Mallory was a famous mountain climber! In the early 1920’s he led a number of attempts to scale the mountain. Eventually being killed in the third attempt in 1924. Before that last and fatal attempt he had said, “I can’t see myself coming down defeated.”

• He may have been the first person ever to reach the top of Mount Everest.

• In the early 1920’s he led a number of attempts to scale the mountain,

• Eventually being killed in the third attempt in 1924.

• Before that last and fatal attempt he had said these words:

• “I can’t see myself coming down defeated.”

Mallory was an extraordinary climber, and nothing would force him to give up:

• His body was found in 1999, 27,000 feet up the mountain,

• It was well preserved by the snow and ice,

• He was just 800 feet from the peak.

• He did NOT give up!

• His body was found face down on a rocky slope, head toward the summit.

• His arms were extended high over his head.

• His toes were pointed into the mountain; his fingers dug into the loose rock,

• Refusing to let go even as he drew his last breath.

Trans: In verse 7 and following, James tells us to:

He had a team of people waiting for him further down the mountain:

Hold on! Don’t Give Up!

Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord.

The “until the coming of the Lord,” or “until the “par-o-u-sia” of the Lord. It literally means the “royal visit.” James encourages his audience to hold on in the midst of persecution and suffering to anticipate a royal visit from the King.

Throughout the NT we see various terms related to the second coming of Christ, and as all Christians should, we eagerly await his return, to take us up with him to be where he is. This is in fulfillment of his promise in , whenJesus said,

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also

Chuck Swindoll: The facts from biblical prophecy about Christ's return may surprise you:

Chuck Swindoll: These facts from biblical prophecy about Christ's return may surprise you:

One out of every 30 verses in the Bible mentions the subject of Christ's return or the end of time. Of the 216 chapters in the New Testament, there are well over 300 references to the return of Christ. 23 of the 27 New Testament books mention Christ's return. In the Old Testament, such well-known and reliable men of God as Job, Moses, David, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, as well as most of the minor prophets mention Christ's return in their writings. Christ often spoke specifically about His own return to earth. Throughout the centuries, Christ's disciples and followers have adamantly believed, written, and taught that Christ would someday return to earth.

The Bible teaches it. The Lord Jesus stood upon its truths. The apostles declared it and wrote about it. The creeds include it and affirm it.

Quite obviously, His return has not been considered an insignificant issue through the centuries. But the strange thing is that many Christians in this generation either ignore it or are somehow confused by it. Too bad. It is a marvelous truth.

You might be saying, “I don’t think Christ will return in my lifetime.” My answer to you would be, “so what?” Whether he returns in your lifetime or not should not make any difference whether he does or he doesn’t.

Think of it in these terms. What we are talking about here is a “royal visit” from the King. One day, when all that needs to be accomplished for the kingdom is complete, the King will come and escort us back to His Palace. But if he summons us to the palace before all that needs to be accomplished for the kingdom is complete, either way, we are in the presence of the Lord.

We don’t know when our time is up (as we covered last week, for “life is but a mist”), but while we are able, you and I have a mountain to climb!

Don’t give up climbing!

Resolve to get to the top or die trying!

Trans: In doing so, James says, “be patient!” he gives us three (3) examples to consider: the Farmer, the prophets, and Job.

First, Consider the Farmer

1. Consider the Farmer

See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains.

In Palestine, the “early rains” came in October and November. The farmers depended on the rains to come so their crops could seed properly and begin to sprout.

The “late rains” came in April and May, and were needed for the crops to mature.

Like the farmer waits for the rain to come so it produces precious fruit, verse 8 says,

You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

A. Establish your heart toward the coming of the Lord

Establish στηρίζω Verb stérizó (stay-rid'-zo) to fix firmly, to direct self toward.

Establish στηρίζω Verb stérizó (stay-rid'-zo) Short Definition: I fix firmly, strengthen Definition: (a) I fix firmly, direct myself towards, (b) generally met: I buttress, prop, support; I strengthen, establish.

In the fist-person singular verb, your statement should be something like, “I fix my heart firmly to the coming of the Lord,” “ I direct myself constantly toward the coming of the Lord.”

Original Word: στηρίζω Verb stérizó (stay-rid'-zo) Short Definition: I fix firmly, strengthen Definition: (a) I fix firmly, direct myself towards, (b) generally met: I buttress, prop, support; I strengthen, establish.

Also, James tells us to not grumble against one another.

B. Don’t grumble against one another

Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door.

Three possibilities for what James might have been addressing here.

Jesus’ Half-Brothers Speak: James and Jude Word and Phrase Study

the unequal existential circumstances of some believers suffering and some not; (2) the persecution of faithful believers; or (3) the jealousy among church leaders (teachers).

(1) the unequal existential circumstances of some believers suffering and some not

(2) the persecution of faithful believers; or

(3) the jealousy among church leaders (teachers)

I personally think he as addressing all three!

Grumbling is judging

“Let the judge be the judge” is basically what James is saying here in verse 9.

Trans: Secondly, James draws his audience’ attention to the prophets. He says here is another example, “consider the prophets”

2. Consider the Prophets

As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

The tribes scattered among the nation were well aware of the prophets and how they were persecuted. By definition a prophet is “a proclaimer of the will of God.”

The “will of God” is in direct conflict with the “will of man” or the will of the world. That is precisely we need a redeemer! Imagine walking into a crowd of “open border” support ralley and shouting “Build the Wall, Build the wall!” How long do you think you will last?

James says consider their suffering and patience. You can’t find a single prophet in the Old or New Testament that didn’t suffer from persecution. All of them exhibited patience, some more that others.

Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast.

The word “steadfast” here is different from that of the farmer. In the case of the prophets, they “volunteered” for it all knowing that there would be suffering for sure. They know what they were getting into. It reminds me of the 60-second Marine Recruiting commercial

Where chaos looms, the Few emerge. Marines move toward the sounds of tyranny, injustice and despair—with the courage and resolve to silence them. Marines face down the threats of our time.

The Few, the Proud, the Marines! Hooyah!

Where chaos looms, the Few emerge. Marines move toward the sounds of tyranny, injustice and despair—with the courage and resolve to silence them. Marines face down the threats of our time.

Trans: Third, James says to consider Job.

Third, James says to consider Job.

3. Consider Job

Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.

Job is the classic example of a man that patiently endured suffering and was blessed by God for his persevering faith.

B. James reminds the believer there are blessings for those who persevere. But there must be a trail or suffering to persevere through.

James reminds the believer there are blessings for those who persevere. But there must be a trail of suffering to persevere through.

C. Job lost all he had except a nagging wife and non understanding, and non supporting friends.

Job lost all he had except a nagging wife and non understanding, and non supporting friends.

D. Job did not understand what the causes of his suffering were. He did not know what was going on behind the scenes with God & Satan, yet Job endured.

Job did not understand what the causes of his suffering were. He did not know what was going on behind the scenes with God & Satan, yet Job endured. He remained steadfast!

E.Verse 12 seems to be out of place in the context of James’ message. But think for a moment, how often during trials and suffering do we try to deal or bargain with God.

Verse 12 seems to be out of place in the context of James’ message. But think for a moment, how often during trials and suffering do we try to deal or bargain with God.

R. J. Knowling wrote - “Patience is the self-restraint which does not hastily retaliate against a wrong, and steadfastness is the temper which does not easily succumb under suffering.

R. J. Knowling wrote - “Patience is the self-restraint which does not hastily retaliate against a wrong, and steadfastness is the temper which does not easily succumb under suffering.

4. Above all, Decide!

But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.

It may seem strange and somewhat disconnected that this verse is interjected here. But when we take a closer look, it makes sense that James included it.

To put it in context, what was taking place in those days was a rabbinical oath-taking system, elaborately developed for people to use in binding and non-binding oaths. It’s really no different than today. When someone says, “I swear on my mother’s grave” or “I swear on a stack of Bibles,” somehow that is supposed to invoke a more sincere and honest answer to a question. “I swear on my mother’s grave, God rest her soul, that I had nothing to do with the theft.”

Jesus himself warned us against such oaths, and even went so far as to say that anything but a simple “yes” or “no” is “evil!”

But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.

But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.

Jesus also said,

I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak,

So, what is James saying in a nutshell?

Just like the farmer patiently waited on God’s creation to provide for his crops, just as the prophets endured in their suffering, and just as Job endured in his suffering and was eventually blessed again, you now must decide. Will you, with your eyes fixed on the coming of the Lord, endure whatever suffering comes your way, and live out His will and purpose for your life?

Let your answer be a simple, pure, uncontaminated, unpersuaded by rituals and or traditions, YES or NO!