SF693 - HOW TO DEVELOP PATIENCE - DEVELOPING A FAITH THAT WORKS (James 5 7-12)

HOW TO DEVELOP PATIENCE

Developing A Faith That Works

James 5:7-12

Introduction

A lot of your life you spend waiting.

Start School - Finish School

Get a Job - Retire

Get married, have Kids - Kids leave

Freeways - not very free

Supermarket…

Restaurants

Actually five different waits when you go to a restaurant

Ø      You wait to get a seat,

Ø      then you wait to get the menu,

Ø      then you wait to order,

Ø      then you wait to get the food back,

Ø      then you wait for the bill.

Ø      And they have the audacity to call that guy the waiter!

How do you develop patience.

James uses the word "patience" or "perseverance" six times.

He uses three different illustrations to teach us when to be patient, why be patient, and how to be patient.

1A.      WHEN SHOULD I BE PATIENT?

1B.       When Circumstances are Uncontrollable  (7)

Have you figured out that a lot of life is beyond your control?

Do not go into farming unless you have patience.

Ø      The farmer has no control over -- weather, rain, heat, the economy, labor practices.

Have you noticed that even when we realize a situation is beyond our control, we still try to control it?

Ø      How do we do that?  By worrying.

Ø      To worry about something you can change is dumb, to worry about something you can't change is useless.

2B.       When People are Unchangeable  (10)

What was the duty of prophets?  To help people change, bring them back to God.

Do you have anybody in your life right now who refuses to change?

Ø      They may never change.  What are you going to do about it?  James says, have patience.

"Patience" ="macrothumos" -- "macro" meaning "long" and "thumos" meaning "heat".  It literally means "it takes a long time for you to get hot". 

3B.       When problems are Unexplainable  (11)

Job played in the superbowl of suffering.

Ø      He lost his family, his friends, his finances, and his fitness.

Life is not fair!  That is true.  God never said it would be fair.

Sometimes we just can't figure out our problems.

2A.      WHY Should I BE PATIENT?

1B.       Because God is in Control  (8)

"Be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near."

That is the ultimate proof that God is in control.  Nothing can stop it.

Ø      The Bible talks more about Jesus' second coming than it does about His first coming.

God is in control of history -- "his story".

Ø      God's purpose for your life is greater than any problem you're facing right now.  God is in control.

Ø      Although I can't control everything that happens in my life, God can so I ought to trust Him.  Because God is in control and everything is working out, be patient.

2B.       Because God Rewards Patience.  (11a)

"As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered."

The second half of Job's life was more blessed than the first half.

Ø      God doubled everything he had.

It pays to be patient.

(Matthew 5:11-12 NIV)  ""Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. {12} Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

Ø      Your character grows

Ø      You get along with people better

Ø      You are happier

Ø      You reach your goals

Ø      You will be honored by others.

You need to be patient because God is in control and He is going to reward patience.

3B.       Because God is Working Things Out  (11b)

"You have heard of Job's perseverance, and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy."

God was working, all the time that Job did not know what was going on, what was happening.

A delay does not mean a denial.

Ø      We have to learn the difference between "no" and "not yet".

Story of Phillip Brooks, a famous pastor of the last century. One day he was in his office, pacing the floor, frustrated. Somebody walked in and saw him and asked, "What's the matter, pastor?" He said, "I'm in a hurry and God isn't!"

In advance, thank God because He's working things out.

Ø      He gives the illustration of the farmer.  When the farmer plants the seed, he is waiting for that seed.  While he is waiting, God is working behind the scenes to cause that plant to sprout.  He is creating the conditions so at the right time, in the right way there will be a harvest.  The farmer waits, God works. 

(Philippians 2:13 NIV)  "for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose."

3A.      How To Be Patient

1B.       Wait Expectantly

I must expect a harvest.

Waiting is a time for preparation, which shows your expectation.

(Psalms 130:5 NCV)  "I wait for the LORD to help me, and I trust his word."

(Matthew 9:29 NIV)  … "According to your faith will it be done to you";"

If you do expect God to do it eventually, prove it!

Ø      Preparation demonstrates expectation

Many times when I am waiting on God, He is really waiting on me.

Ø      He is saying, "Grow up!  Get some spiritual depth in your life.  I want to bless your life but you cannot handle the blessing I want to pour on you.

(Isaiah 49:23 NIV)  "… Then you will know that I am the LORD; those who hope in me will not be disappointed.""

2B.       Wait Quietly  (9)

"Don't grumble against each other…"

Ø      When you get up in the morning, do you rise and whine?  Hit the ground griping

Ø      If you come home at night dog-tired, it is because you growled all day! 

Ø      I heard about a lady who griped at her husband all the time.  Constantly.  The guy died and she put on his tombstone, "Rest in Peace."  Then they went and read the will.  He willed $5 to his wife and everything else to his secretary.  She went back and changed the tombstone to "... till we meet again."

"Above all, my brothers, don't swear."

Ø      Does waiting ever tempt you to swear?

Ø      What happens when you get uptight?

(Lamentations 3:26 NCV)  "It is good to wait quietly for the LORD to save."

(Habakkuk 2:3 NCV)  "It is not yet time for the message to come true, but that time is coming soon; the message will come true. It may seem like a long time, but be patient and wait for it, because it will surely come; it will not be delayed."

3B.       Wait Confidently

(Micah 7:7 NIV)  "But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me."

(Psalms 37:7 NIV)  "Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes."

Application

Are there Uncontrollable Circumstances in your Life?

Is there an Unchangeable Person in your Life?

Is there and Unexplainable Problem in your Life?

What do you do when you have these kinds of things?

God is in control.  It may be out of my control, but it is not out of God's control.

God will reward your patience, if not in this life, He will in eternity.

.

HOW TO DEVELOP PATIENCE
Developing A Faith That Works
July 13 1997 P.M. - James 5:7-12
Tim McGhee

1A.      WHEN TO BE PATIENT

WHEN _________________________________________

"Be patient then brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is ..."  (vs. 7)

WHEN __________________________________________

"As an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord." (vs 10)

WHEN _________________________________________

"You have heard of Job's perseverance ..." (vs. 11b)

2A.      WHY BE PATIENT?

BECAUSE ______________________________________

"Be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near."  (vs. 8)

BECAUSE _______________________________________

"As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered."  (vs. 11a)

(Matthew 5:11-12 NIV)  ""Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. {12} Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

BECAUSE _______________________________________

"You have heard of Job's perseverance, and have seen what the Lord finally brought about.  The Lord is full of compassion and mercy."  (vs. 11b)

3A.      HOW TO BE PATIENT

WAIT ______________________________ (vs. 7)

(Psalms 130:5 NCV)  "I wait for the LORD to help me, and I trust his word."

(Matthew 9:29 NIV)  "Then he touched their eyes and said, "According to your faith will it be done to you";"

WAIT ______________________________ (vs.9)

(Lamentations 3:26 NCV)  "It is good to wait quietly for the LORD to save."

(Habakkuk 2:3 NCV)  "It is not yet time for the message to come true, but that time is coming soon; the message will come true. It may seem like a long time, but be patient and wait for it, because it will surely come; it will not be delayed."

WAIT ______________________________ (vs. 11b)

(Micah 7:7 NIV)  "But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me."

(Psalms 37:7 NIV)  "Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.