Hold On For Just A Little While Longer
| A truck driver sat down to eat at an all-night restaurant. The waitress had just served him his meal when three guys riding Harley’s showed up and swaggered into the diner. One grabbed the man’s hamburger; another took a fistful of his French Fries; and the third picked up his coffee and began to drink it. The trucker responded with great patience. He calmly got up from the table, picked up his check, walked to the front of the restaurant, put his money on the cash register, and headed out the door. The waitress watched as the big truck drove off into the night. When she returned, one of the bikers said to her, “He wasn’t much of a man, was he?” To which she replied, “He’s not much of a truck driver either. He just ran over three motorcycles out in the parking lot.” It’s human nature to want to take matters into our own hands when we’ve been wronged. It’s human nature to seek to vindicate ourselves and settle the score. That’s partly why James writes this epistle. James is addressing saints who have been wronged. He wants them to resist the temptation to take matters into their own hands. So, He instructs them to be patient until the coming of the Lord. In other words, hold on for just a little while longer Like James, I came this evening encourage someone to hold on for just a little while longer. Somebody may have come here ready to give up but God says hold on. Somebody may have come here ready to throw in the towel but God says hold on. Somebody may have come here disappointed and discouraged, but God says hold on. Somebody may have come here thinking that there’s not use, but God says hold on. Hold on for just a little while longer! James puts forth some examples of perseverance to encourage us to hold on for just a little while longer. The first example is that of the farmer. We learn from the farmer that you can hold on if you remain focused on the harvest. 1) Keep focusing on the harvest! (Read vss. 7-8)a) A good farmer has forbearance. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth. If a man cannot forbear. If a man is impatient, then he had better not become a farmer. A good farmer knows how to wait. A good farmer knows that it takes time to produce a crop. A good farmer knows that how to sow and wait on the harvest. b) A good farmer also has faith. He waits patiently for the harvest until it receives the early and latter rain. Illustration: Every year, for as long as his health permitted, my Father-In-Law planted a garden. One day, after having sowed some seed he stood back and looked over his work. I had just gotten off work and decided to stop over. So I stood there with him for a moment as he looked over his garden. I don’t know what prompted him, but he asked me a question. “Son, I just planted some beans in this garden. Would it be helpful for me to stand here day and night |
| d)covered from head to toe in painful boils, he held on. Through sleepless nights and tear-filled days he held on. Job said, though he slay me, yet will I trust Him. e) Contrary winds may blow. Storm clouds may gather. Flood waters may rise. But I’m still holding on and I won’t let go of my faith. Things may not be going my way right now, but I’m determined to wait upon the Lord. I know the end intended by the Lord is coming to pass. I know the Lord is compassionate and merciful. f) (Job 42:12-13 NKJV) Now the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; for he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand yoke of oxen, and one thousand female donkeys. He also had seven sons and three daughters. g) If you hold on, your latter will be greater. If you hold on, the best is yet to come. If you hold on, you will Jesus for yourself. |
| James 5:7-10 Hold On For Just A Little While Longer |
| watching over those seeds to make sure they come up?” The answer was an obvious “of course not”. But he wasn’t talking about beans he was talking about faith. “All you can do is sow in faith and trust God for the harvest.” #. James says that like a good farmer, a good Christian must learn how to wait on the Lord. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door!”
- In other words, Jesus is coming back. So, establish your hearts. To establish means to make steadfast and unmovable. It’s the word that Jesus used when he warned Peter that Satan desired to sift him like wheat. But I have prayed for you that your faith should not fail, and when you have returned to me, strengthen (establish) your brothers. I don’t know about you, but I want to be ready when Jesus comes.
No man knows the day or the hourwhen the Lord will surely come,that's why you need to get your house in order,don't let Him catch you with your work undone;You've got to get ready, oh yes, when Jesus comes.. 9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. (Ga 6:9-10 NKJV) 2) keep FOCUSING ON THE HEREAFTER! 1) Just as the farmer is focused on the harvest; the prophet is focused on the hereafter. The prophet addresses the here and now. But he must remain focused on the hereafter. In fact it’s the hereafter that prompts his address to the here and now! 2) The prophet Elijah addressed the here and now when he refused to remain silent as the nation of Israel turned away from the Lord. He arranged a contest on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:21 NKJV) where he challenged the people, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.”3) The prophet Nathan addressed the here and now (2 Sam 12) when he confronted King David. David had committed adultery with Bathsheba and murdered her husband Uriah to cover up what he had done.Anytime you address the here and now in the name of the Lord you might have to suffer. But hold on for just a little while longer. (Matthew 5:11-12 NKJV) Jesus said, “Blessed are you when they |
| 4)revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” KEEP FOCUSING ON THE HEREAFTER3) 4) I must bring this message to a close. And I can think of no better way to close it than with the very words of James. James said of the prophets, Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful. I used to read the story of Job a lot when I was growing up. I didn’t understand how God could allow so much misfortune in the life of one so faithful. I didn’t think it was fair for God to allow a good guy like Job to be afflicted. a) Job was described as a man blameless and upright – one who loved the Lord and shunned evil. Job was a man blessed with material prosperity. He had 7000 sheep, 3000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and a fabulous home. He had a family that loved him – a wife, seven sons, and three daughters. One day when the angels came to give their report, Satan came too. The Lord asked Satan, have you considered my servant Job. There is none like him in all the earth. He is blameless and upright, one who fears Me and shuns evil. But the devil attacked Job’s character and accused Job of serving God only for material gain. God allowed the devil to attack Job’s possession. Job lost everything he had. But Job said, Job 1:21 (NKJV) “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord.” b) Somebody needs to stop right now and bless the name of the Lord. I know you are hurting. I know you are in pain. You might even be upset with God. But I dare you to bless his name right now. I dare you give him glory right now. Your accuser has told God if you let me at them for a while I’ll make them stop praising your name. If you let me get my hands on them, I’ll make them curse you to your face. c) Hold on my brother. Hold on my sister. Don’t you dare give in. Don’t you dare give up. Don’t you dare stop believing. Don’t you dare stop trusting. Don’t you dare lose your faith. Don’t you dare weary in well-doing. Job waited. Job persevered. Job held on. Though his wife wanted him to curse God and die, he held on. Though his friends tried to convict him of a crime he didn’t commit, he held on. Though he was |