The Believer's Patience

King James Version Chapter 1

6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

Introduction:

I believe James has much to say concerning patience so we will spend the majority of our time in that book. However, before we go to the book of James, let’s quickly turn to:

Romans 5:3 (KJV) 3  And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

Now turn with me to the book of James.

King James Version Chapter 1

3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

We can see here that in James 1:3 our faith will be tried. and in Romans 5:3 tribulation worketh patience. So when you experience trials and tribulations, the end result if you handle it well is patience.

If you went to college to study patience, you would graduate with a degree in steadfastness.

A definition of patience would be - the ability to wait without becoming hasty or impetuous. Forbearance under suffering and endurance in the face of adversity. To stay or reside. To abide under, to bear up courageously. It means “to walk under the load.” This refers to the courage to deal with the difficult times in life.

Let me break it down this way; patience is the quality you need when you are in a hurry and God is not.

And if you did not comprehend any of those definitions, just remember this; to have patience means for you to hang in there, to hold on.

Let’s go to James 5 to dig into patience this morning:

I. Our Labor in Patience

James 5:7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.

1. The Plan for Our Labor Like the Farmer—Total Dependence on God.

Nelson’s Complete Book of Stories, Illustrations & Quotes Growing Bamboo

Have you heard about the Chinese bamboo tree? The Chinese plant the seed; they water and fertilize it, but the first year nothing happens. The second year they water and fertilize it, and still nothing happens. The third and fourth years they water and fertilize it, and nothing happens. Then the fifth year they water and fertilize it, and sometime during the course of the fifth year, in a period of approximately six weeks, the Chinese bamboo trees grows roughly ninety feet.

The question is, Did it grow ninety feet in six weeks or did it grow ninety feet in five years? The obvious answer is that it grew ninety feet in five years, because had they not applied the water and fertilizer each year there would have been no Chinese bamboo tree.

All of us have had these “Chinese bamboo tree” experiences …”

2. The Period of Our Labor Seasonal—First Rain in November. Latter Rain in April.

We must labor and carry the load in patience. How long must I labor in patience. Until you reap the reward you are looking for.

Most fruit may require anywhere from 5 to 15 years to go from seed to a producing fruit tree, so you better have patience.

As you grow in this Christian life, you better learn to have patience with yourself and patience with others. We are adding to our temperance, patience. So we need to learn to stay calm and bear what we have to stay calm about along time.

Now I know that is hard for babies. A baby can be happy and bouncing on your knee one moment, and within a few seconds that same baby can give a mean look, poke out it’s bottom lip and start wailing like they just got vacinated. Christian, that should not be your attitude in life.

II. Our Learning About Patience

James 5:8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.

Learn to Live for Him—"Stablish Your Hearts"

The word “Stablish” means to establish or fix your heart. To resolve firmly or to adhere to something. Let your purposes and your faith be firm and unwavering. Isaiah gave the same counsel when he said in Isaiah 26:3 (KJV) 3  Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

Learn to Look for Him—"Coming of the Lord Draweth Nigh"

As Christians, we are to live our lives in light of the fact that the Lord’s Return. When the Lord returns:

Will He be impressed with the car you were able to purchase?

Will He care that you worked your way up the corporate ladder?

Will He care that you know every player on your favorite team?

Will He be amazed at the Wardrobe in your closet?

Or do you think he will look right thru the cars, jobs, sporting events and your wardrobe and see what type of heart you have for the things of God?

I believe the Lord is coming soon. Why? because the early Christians were looking for His return. In Revelation 22:12 He tells us “Behold, I come quickly”. That was almost 2000 years ago. I know that it could be any moment and I don’t want to live my life like He is not coming back soon.

If I think it is going to rain, I carry an umbrella.

If I think it is cold outside, I grab a coat.

If I think someone is trying to break into my home and harm my wife, I grab a weapon.

In other words, you prepare for what you think is about to happen.

I believe the Lord is about to come back and I want to be prepared.

To do that you must be patient, because it might not be today or tomorrow, but it could be, so I live my life like He could return at any moment.

By the way, there is nothing going on in this world that the return of the Lord would not cheer up for me. Let’s get fired up about His return.

III. Our Love with Patience

James 5:9 Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.

1. Because of Our Nature Nature To Love Self More—Blame others for our Failure.

To grudge means to have a complaining attitude. Having a complaining attitude hinders you from developing patience and long-suffering.

Our society has taught us it is always someone else fault. You have the opportunity to blame all of your weaknesses on someone else. When the child does not do well in school, it is the teachers fault.

When a police officer handles a situation poorly, the grumbling begins and the police chief must resign. When you have disagreements with your spouse, the reason you acted the way that you did is because 4 months ago, they acted a certain way. We complain and put down one another.

The bible is telling us. Chill out. Quit Tripping. Stop blaming others for the mistakes you have made. Why?

2. Because of His Nearness "judge standeth before the door."

The Lord is near. This phrase has the same connotation of a teacher at the door. When she opens the door, someone is about to get caught doing something wrong. Now, I know in the schools today, teachers dare not leave the classroom without adult supervision. You would not come back to a class, you would come back to a war zone. But for those of us who have a little age, we can remember when the teacher would step out of the class and tell one of the students to take names if they begin to act up.

When that teacher came back in, someone may have been in the act of doing or saying something they should not be saying.

God is saying, don’t get caught talking and complaining about someone else, when I come thru the door. That was guaranteed trouble.

IV. Our Life of Patience

James 5:10 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.

1. The Responsibility of the Prophets To Stand for the Truth.

What encouragements do we receive from their example?

For one thing, they were in the will of God, yet they suffered. They were preaching “in the name of the Lord,” yet they were persecuted. Satan tells the faithful Christian that his suffering is the result of sin or unfaithfulness; and yet his suffering might well be because of faithfulness! “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Tim. 3:12). We must never think that obedience automatically produces ease and pleasure. Our Lord was obedient, and it led to a cross!

The prophets encourage us by reminding us that God cares for us when we go through sufferings for His sake. Elijah announced to wicked King Ahab that there would be a drought in the land for three and one half years; and Elijah himself had to suffer in that drought. But God cared for him, and God gave him victory over the evil priests of Baal. It has been said, “The will of God will never lead you where the grace of God cannot keep you.”

Many of the prophets had to endure great trials and sufferings, not only at the hands of unbelievers, but at the hands of professed believers. Jeremiah was arrested as a traitor and even thrown into an abandoned well to die. God fed Jeremiah and protected him throughout that terrible siege of Jerusalem, even though at times it looked as though the prophet was going to be killed. Both Ezekiel and Daniel had their share of hardships, but the Lord delivered them. And even those who were not delivered, who died for the faith, received their rewards in glory.

Why is it that those who “speak in the name of the Lord” often must endure difficult trials? It is so that their lives might back up their messages. The impact of a faithful, godly life carries much power.

2. The Reaction of the Prophets Not To Become Bitter.

These prophets that we have mentioned, you do not see them complaining about the harsh treatment they received. They did not complain about the conditions they had to endure. They did not become bitter and get out of the ministry. They demonstrated patience.

How about it child of God, when you go thru some things for Jesus, will you complain, bicker, get mad, get bitter or will you just demonstrate patience because the Lord took care of you anyway? When you are mature, this is exactly what you will do.

V. Our Lesson From Patience

James 5:11 (KJV) 11  Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

1. To Strengthen Saints - God used an entire book to show us someone who was put thru some trials and tribulations. Not to have us worry about what may happen in our life, but to prove to us what He can do with someone who is patient and willing to trust God.

Luke 22:31-32 31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: 32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

After we have passed through the sifter we can help others to come through with victory.

2. To Silence Satan Job was accused of not loving God. But Satan was silenced after Job came through the sifter.

Satan has told God the same thing about you as he did about Job. The only reason He worships you is because you bless him. Take his blessings away and he will curse you. We should practice patience so that we can silence Satan once again.

Add to your temperance patience.