Be Patient the Lord is Coming James 5=7-12 - Sermon Summary

Be Patient the Lord is Coming – James 5:7-11 The New Testament writers lived as if they expected Christ to return at any moment. . . Should we? Throughout the centuries people have talked of Christ’s return. There have always been wars, and rumors of wars, persecution and natural disasters. So is our generation any different than generations that have come before us? Good question. It has been thousands of years since human history began. Through all those years how long did it take for the world population to reach 1 billion? Answer. . . until 1804. It took from Adam and Eve until 1804 for the world population to reach the first billion. The second billion. . . 1927. . . 123 years later. The third billion. . . 1959. . . 32 years. The fourth billion. . . 1974. . . 15 years. The fifth billion. . . 1987. . . 13 years. The sixth billion. . . 1999. . . 12 years. The seventh billion. . . 2011. . . 12 years. The world population is now growing at a rate that will bring a huge demand for food, water, and energy. Does this mean that Christ is any closer to coming? Not necessarily, but it does show us that our generation is different than those which have come before us. My grandmother is 90 years old. She was born in 1925. At this time in history the horse and the carriage were still being used in places even in the developed world. For thousands of years man and horse have been working together. You can see it painted in cave dwellings from ancient cultures. You see it centuries later as the Egyptians used horses and chariots. Yes, there have been advances like the printing press, eye glasses, and gunpowder but some parts of society and technology have been the same for thousands of years. In the span of my grandmother’s life we have gone from horse and buggy to walking on the moon, satellites, lasers, and 3D printers. Change will only continue to accelerate. Does this mean that Christ is any closer to coming? Not necessarily, but it does show us that our generation is different than those which have come before us. Matthew 24:14 says, “And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” When you combine the numbers of believers that we have on earth today with the technology we have to communicate, it is possible that someone in our generation could be the one who shares with the last unreached people group. Does this mean that Christ is coming in our lifetime? It might. It does show us that our generation could be the one that ushers in the return of Christ. These are important thoughts as we read through the book of James. He is very clear on the importance of keeping one’s mind on the fact that the Lord’s return is near. This in itself helps one keep his eyes on eternity and the things that truly matter. Remember that James was a younger brother of Jesus. He initially was not a follower of Christ. He eventually became a believer after Christ’s death and resurrection. He would later become one of the main leaders of the early church in Jerusalem. This was the church that all other churches looked to for guidance in the early years of Christianity. The book of James is actually a letter that James wrote. It was passed around to the different churches so that it could be read to each congregation. Its purpose was to show them what living like Christ actually looked like. It also helped those in the church discern whether they were believers of Christ or not. James addressed multiple sinful patterns that the churches were struggling with. In James 5:7-11 James called those in the churches to be patient until the Lord’s coming. The original Greek word that was used here for “patient” meant to not be short-tempered or short-fused. It was the idea that even when we are sinned against we should not quickly erupt with anger. It would be similar to a stick of dynamite. If it has a short fuse it will explode very soon after the fuse has been lit. If it has a long fuse then it will take a while before the dynamite explodes. That is how we should be. Even if we are in a situation where we are being treated badly we should be a patient people who for the sake of Christ continue to endure the mistreatment. The Old Testament tells us that “God is slow to anger, full of compassion.” We should be the same. We should trust that life is but a mist and a vapor and any suffering that comes our way will be over soon enough. We were made for eternity and this gives us the ability to endure the difficulty of today knowing that with Christ we will be victorious in the end. We can also find strength in knowing that “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord.”(Romans 12:19) Those who sin against us will have one of two ends. They will either humble themselves before Christ and become our spiritual brother or sister, or they will harden their hearts before God and face judgment and eternal condemnation. Either way God will take care of their outcome. “Be patient for the Lord is coming” is reminding the believers to look at life through an eternal lens. It is the day when the victorious Christ returns. It is when all things will be made right and justice will be done. Some will cheer justice and others will cringe in its presence. For those in Christ it is something to run to not to run from. Those persecuted often grow to have a greater appreciation for Christ’s return so that the struggles of this life will end. Those who are rich in this world are drawn to the hope that Christ will delay so they can have a longer time enjoying the things of this world. Rich people, be patient. Don’t rush to make yourself rich in this world. Live for eternity and wait for eternal riches that God has promised. Remember you can’t take any of the riches of this world with you. If God has blessed you then be a blessing to others. Poor people, wait. Be patient. Persevere. Your day will come. Your life is difficult but “Christ has overcome the world” (John 16:33). In these days may your struggles help you know God better and help you to become like Christ. Shine your light in the midst of your darkness so that the world will take note that you have been with Christ (Acts 4:13). Be patient and persevere. James then compares this type of patience to the farmer who has done all his work in his fields and now must wait for the fall and spring rains. It was a time of patience and trusting in the provision of God. In this same way believers are called to have patience as they wait for the Lord’s coming. In the following verse James repeats the need to be patient but then adds the instructions “to stand firm.” This is the same word that is used when scripture tells us in Luke 9:51 that Jesus “set his face” to go to Jerusalem. It was a resoluteness that the decision had been made and nothing would deter him from the final outcome. It is with this same type of attitude that we need to commit ourselves to be patient in the face of being sinned against. One other interesting fact about this word for “stand firm” is that the actual root word meant to be propped up. When the persecution and mistreatment is too strong and you feel your patience is reaching its end remember that Christ‘s return is near. When you don’t have the strength to live the life that God has called you to rely on the promise and strength of God to accomplish in you what you can’t do for yourself. Let Christ and his approaching return be the prop that you need to stand firm against all odds. James then instructs his readers, “Don’t grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!” James knew that when life brings difficulties our true characters come out. Many of the people in the churches were enduring difficult situations. This made it more difficult to put on a superficial smile and more likely for short-tempers, complaining, and hard feelings towards each other. The true hearts of the people would become evident by how they spoke to each other (Luke 6:45). James encourages them not to be drawn into sinful ways of grumbling against their spiritual brothers and sisters or they will face the discipline of God. God, the Judge is at the door. His return is near so live in such a way that you will be ready at a moment’s notice for His return. James then reminds them of the prophets who remained patient in the face of adversity. One can think of Moses, Jeremiah, Daniel, David and Job. They endured great suffering but The Lord who is full of compassion and mercy sustained and blessed them. In our lives we will suffer and be sinned against. May we cling to Christ and His imminent return to be our strength and our reason to endure. May we each weather life’s storms in such a way that we honor Christ and experience His compassion and mercy like never before.