Waiting for the Lord-James 5:7-11
Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 24 viewsNotes
Transcript
INTRO
INTRO
James is one of my favorite books in the Bible. It has been called the “Proverbs of the New Testament.”
What I like about James is that it gets to the point. It is practical and it tells us how we, as Christians, should live.
what are some themes in James?
From perseverance to true faith to controlling one’s tongue, submitting to God’s will, and having patience, this book aids readers in living authentically and wisely for Christ.
Today we are going to be looking at a passage towards the end of the book- James 5:7-11.
James may be one of the earliest NT writings. Probably written in years 40-50AD. That means it was written very near the end of Jesus’ ministry.
What is going on during this era of Christian History?
-Christian Jews are being persecuted. Jews are out to get them.
-They are facing many trials.
-We see James begin his letter pleading to the twelve tribes in dispersion to count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds.
-This sounds so odd. How do you find joy when you meet various trials?
where in John do we learn about facing trials, hardships?
“A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me.” So some of his disciples said to one another, “What is this that he says to us, ‘A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me’; and, ‘because I am going to the Father’?” So they were saying, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We do not know what he is talking about.” Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, “Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me’? Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
-Well, when I preached a couple of weeks ago we read Colossians 1:24 and we also saw Paul rejoice in his sufferings. They are able to find joy in their suffering because they know they are doing the Lord’s work. When you are on mission with Him, you know suffering is going to come. Instead of being discouraged, we can find joy.
-How have you suffered for your faith?
-There is nothing fun about enduring trials and sufferings. You can find joy and the hope of Christ’s return. What Colossians calls, the “hope of glory.”
Today we are going to focus on the end of James, where we are told to be patient in waiting for the Lord. Let’s read.
7 Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. 8 You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. 9 Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. 10 As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.
What is the theme to this passage?
The theme of this passage is patience. It is mentioned twice in verse 7 and once in verses 8 and 10. Endured and Endurance are used in verse 11.
James gives us 3 pictures of patience to encourage a lifestyle of persistence in serving the Lord: Farmer, Prophet, and Job.
Has anybody ever worked in agriculture? How dependent are you on rain? How much can you control when it will and won’t rain? (tell China story of anti-air craft guns shooting rain clouds) But who creates those rain clouds?
Let’s look at this first illustration: the Farmer.
-James says we should be patient like a farmer who is waiting for the harvest. Working in agriculture depends on God’s provision in the weather. Too much rain can cause a crop to rot, too little rain causes drought, and frost will kill a crop. Farmers are forced to be patient. The illustration of a farmer reminds us that faith involves trusting God with what you cannot control. Farmers cannot determine when it will and won’t rain. So, James says, when it comes to the Lord’s coming back and the injustice surrounds you, like a farmer trusts God with what you cannot control while honoring God with what you can control.
-When it isn’t raining, do farmers just sit back and quit? No! They continue to take care of their crops. They pick weeds, make sure insects are affecting their crops. They stay busy, preparing for the rain to come.
-Likewise, we as Christians are eager for Jesus to return. We know He will return. We just don’t know when it will happen.
-Instead of quitting and being stagnant, we are called to the great Commission, to tell all about Jesus. We need to go and evangelize and make everybody mature in Christ.
-We need to be like the farmer and prepare for the Lord’s return.
What does James specifically say we should do as we wait on the Lord?
-verses 8-9
-Strengthen your hearts, and do not complain about one another.
-As they wait patiently for their Lord to return, believers need to fortify themselves for the struggle against sin and with difficult circumstances.
-James knows that when we have to wait, we can find ways to sin.
-*I have twins. They ask me for food. I tell them to wait. Instead of preparing a plate, fork, spoon, etc. they end up complaining and then start to pick on one another. JUST LIKE HOW THIS SECTION READS.
-We are to prepare for the reality we will want to quarrel. We need to strengthen our hearts, prepare for the struggle against sin and difficult circumstances.
-James mentions the Judge. The Judge is Jesus. He is a just Judge. We should fear the wrath of God.
-The Lord is near. The Judge is near. Let’s live for Him, so we won’t experience His Judgement.
The Second illustration James provides in waiting for the Lord is: to be patient like a prophet. Like the farmer, patience does not mean inactivity. Farmers don’t just sit back and wait for rain, they work hard to do what’s best for their crop. Likewise, a prophet in the middle of persecution stood boldly and spoke out against injustice. As we face hardships, and they will come, we are to speak about the goodness, the greatness, the judgement, and the mercy of God. Times of suffering are often the most golden opportunities to speak a word for the glory of God.
-The Prophets of the Old Testament knew that sufferings for God was worth it.
-They understood what Paul says in Romans 5:3-4.
3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,
-They endured their suffering patiently as they waited for God to accomplish his purposes for Israel.
-An example of this is Jeremiah. Where he was called to the ministry as a young boy he later prophesied bad news to Judah , “ I will bring a nation upon you from far Ohaus of Israel says the Lord”( 5:15). Jeremiah is mocked for his prophecies, he is occasionally beaten, and imprisoned in a muddy well but his words come true with the Babylonian invasion of chapter 52.
-he endured much ridicule for God’s sake.
Any other examples?
The Third Illustration James gives us is : Job. We are to have patience like Job who found hope in God’s purposes.
-The story of Job is incredible. Can anybody give us a quick summary about the story of Job?
-Job was blameless and upright. God boasted how good Job is and Satan began tormenting him. He received scaled on his body, he received horrible news about his land, family/friends. Job didn’t understand why he was being tormented. He had a couple friends speak to him and provide their human wisdom, which was to curse God. He did not curse God, he was patient and endured. It was not easy, to say the least, but we see how God was glorified through Job. Job realized the limitations man has in control, power, and wisdom and he acknowledges that God is the source of unlimited power and wisdom. Because of Job’s faithfulness, God blessed Job.
-What do we learn about the story of Job?
-We learn the sobering truth about the nature of trials in the life of righteous persons-that God allows them to be tested in order to prove their faith.
7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
-Sometimes bad things are going to happen, and it’s not going to make any sense.
-Story about returning from China (Audrey). I came home with much grief-not understanding why.
-I may never know why God brought us back, but I just want to be found faithful.
2 Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.
24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
That’s what I want, to finish my course and ministry that Christ has given me. Instead of asking God, “Why?” I want to ask God, “What now?”
As it says in verse 11, I find myself blessed because I endured. I, too, have learned that the Lord is compassionate and merciful. He has provided.
Conclusion
Conclusion
As we wait for the Lord. And I hope you are eager and ready for the Lord to return. We are to be patient. We are to endure what we have in front of us. We are to not stand stagnant, but prepare like a farmer.
What are you going to do as you wait for the Lord? What has God called you to do in the mean time? How can you use our last days to serve our compassionate and merciful God?
Be patient. He’s coming. Be ready.