Revealing Patience

The trials of life have a way of refining us. The process is often times messy, revealing more dross that had to be burned off than we wished were true. This process of refining is something that only really takes place with the heat is turned up on your life. The dross or impurity is boiled to the surface where it can be removed, causing that which remains to be more pure, more perfected, more precious.

Malachi 3:1–3 KJV 1900

Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: And the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, Even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: Behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts. But who may abide the day of his coming? And who shall stand when he appeareth? For he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap: And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: And he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, That they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.

Psalm 12:6 KJV 1900

The words of the Lord are pure words: As silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

Ps 12:6

This morning we are going to be looking at and learn in these concluding verses the truths that James has already taught amplified again in these few short verses regarding the Evidences of Patience in Suffering.

Evidences of Patience vs.12-16

James 1:2–4 KJV 1900

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

Control of the Tongue vs.12

Much discussion about the placement of this verse and whether it fits with these verses or the ones after it and if it really means the most important thing is to not swear an oath, since oaths where lawful to give.

To be clear the text is not talking about not using swear words, but about being true to your words. Letting your yes be yes and your no by no.

Much discussion about the placement of this verse and whether it fits with these verses or the ones after it and if it really means the most important thing is to not swear an oath.

I believe that it seems to be best understood in light of the need to endure with our words even when we are going through great suffering and affliction.

James 3:8 KJV 1900

But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

James 3:

Integrity of our tongues is often strained when we are in seasons of great difficulty. I believe that this is one of the ways that we can reveal that we have grown in grace and patience in the midst of sorrow, when our words are filled with integrity.

To be clear the text is not talking about not using swear words, but about being true to your words. Letting your yes be yes and your no by no.

Do not, for example say as Job’s wife did, to curse God and die.

Do not swear, either by heaven or by earth.

Let your yes be yes and your no be no.

Like so much of James writing there is a parallel with Jesus, sermon on the mount.

KJV 1900But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne: Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

To be clear the text is not talking about not using swear words, but about being true to your words. Letting your yes be yes and your no by no.

Truly the best way to tame our tongues is to learn to pray for one another as we are instructed in just a few verses.

James 5:16 KJV 1900

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.

Speak with Integrity vs.12

Caring for the Needs of People vs.13

One thing that is often difficult for Christian people is the ability to both rejoice with those who rejoice and to weep with those who weep.

Romans 12:9 KJV 1900

Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

Rom 12:15

Romans 12:15 KJV 1900

Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

People in a time of sorrow.

Is anyone suffering? Let them pray!

People in a time of joy.

Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praises!

Colossians 3:16 KJV 1900

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Col 3:1

Commitment to Prayer vs.14-15

This commitment to prayer must be personal, corporate, and ecclesiastical.

Is anyone sick? Let him call for the elders of the church to pray!

Though not the explicit purpose of the text, it is evidential that the church had plural elders to care over it.

The ESV Study Bible Chapter 5

Acts 20:17, 28; Titus 1:5, 7; 1 Pet. 5:1–2

Let the elders pray - The task and privilege of the righteous leaders.

Anointing them with oil - Symbol of the anointing of the Holy Spirit

in the name of the Lord - Power

Prayer of faith shall save the sick - Deliver from sickness (potentially for either physical infirmities or spiritual bondages.

The ESV Study Bible Chapter 5

Some think that anointing … with oil was medicinal or sacramental (as in Roman Catholic extreme unction at death), but it is best seen as a symbol representing the healing power of the Holy Spirit to come upon the sick person (cf. the use of “anointing” for symbolic consecration to God’s use and service, both in the OT [Ex. 28:41] and in the NT [Luke 4:18; Acts 4:27; 10:38; 2 Cor. 1:21; Heb. 1:9]). In the name of the Lord means it is God, not the oil, that heals.

Confession of Sin vs.16

Therefore…

Confess your faults one to another.

This does not mean that every Sunday when we gather we are supposed to have a giant individual confession session, though corporately we should confess our sins as we gather to worship.

Though sometimes when the sinful offense has effected the entire congregation that a public confession is the right thing to do.

1 Corinthians 11:29–30 KJV 1900

For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.

What is being revealed is that as we grow in our walk of patience in suffering that when we sin against others

Pray for for one another.

Example of Patience vs.17-18

James uses a Biblical example to illustrate the truth that he is teaching, just as he had done in the previous section of , where he uses Job and the prophets as illustration of suffering patiently, while awaiting the coming of the Lord.

In our text this morning James turns to the testimony of Elijah and his great perseverance in prayer for the space of three and a half years.

1 Kings 18:1 KJV 1900

And it came to pass after many days, that the word of the Lord came to Elijah in the third year, saying, Go, shew thyself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth.

Elijah demonstrated...

Faith in Prayer

Fervency in Prayer

Faithfulness in Prayer

Fulfillment of Prayer

Engagement with Patience vs.19-20

Compassion to Reach the Lost vs.19

Luke 15:4 KJV 1900

What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?

Every Christian is to recognize that they have been given a ministry of reconciliation, seeking with all of their might to reconcile fallen man back to God, with whom they are at enmity with.

How we do it matters to as God has not given us the ministry of condemnation, peoples sin does that, but of reconciliation in a spirit of meekness lest we are also tempted.

Galatians 6:1 KJV 1900

Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

John 4:35 KJV 1900

Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.

Conversion of the Wondering Soul’s vs.20

Psalm 32:1 KJV 1900

Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.

Prov

Proverbs 10:12 KJV 1900

Hatred stirreth up strifes: But love covereth all sins.

1 Peter 4:8 KJV 1900

And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

Conclusion

Matthew 28:18–20 KJV 1900

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

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