Description of a Christian: Expectations

Description of a Christian: Expectation

James 5:7-12

James 5:7–12 ESV

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. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 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. But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.

We are doing a 5-part series on the Book of James. The book of James can be viewed as a mini-instruction manual of what a Christian should look like.

Part 1 - Origination of temptation and the cycle of sin.

Part 2 - The aspects of a Christian’s faith.

Part 3 - A Christian and their tongue.

Part 4 - Christian and their relationships with others

Part 5 - Expectations of a Christian (Today)

Today, Part 5 - Expectations of a Christian.

You can have a brighter child, it all depends on your expectations. Before you're tempted to say, "Not true," let me tell you about Harvard social psychologist Robert Rosenthal's classic study.

All the children in one San Francisco grade school were given a standard I.Q. test at the beginning of the school year. The teachers were told the test could predict which students could be expected to have a spurt of academic and intellectual functioning. The researchers then drew names out of a hat and told the teachers that these were the children who had displayed a high potential for improvement. Naturally, the teachers thought they had been selected because of their test performance and began treating these children as special children.

And the most amazing thing happened&md;the spurters, spurted! Overall, the "late blooming" kids averaged four more I.Q. points on the second test that the other group of students. However, the gains were most dramatic in the lowest grades. First graders whose teachers expected them to advance intellectually jumped 27.4 points, and the second grade spurters increased on the average 16.5 points more than their peers.

One little Latin-American child who had been classified as mentally retarded with an I.Q. of 61, scored 106 after his selection as a late bloomer.

Expectations. It makes all the difference. What we expect of ourselves and those around us. But, most importantly, what does God expect of us?

Every year, when I meet with the section board, part of this meeting, I sign an Expectations of the Pastor. Such things as preaching accurately and with integrity. I agree to submit to Section and District leadership.

There are six expectations of a Christian as outlined in the book of James:

Do not gain wealth or material possessions by defrauding someone. God is all about relationships. James has a warning for us if we try to gather possessions on the backs of other people or via deception.

James 5:4 Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.

Be patient as we wait for the Lord. Do not give up because we have been in the last days for 2,000 years.

Matthew 25:6-8 “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ 7 Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’

Establish your hearts. This means to make more firm. This only happens by reading God’s word and growing closer to Him. When a tree is planted, it has some roots, but it is in new territory. As the tree grows, the roots go deep. It becomes established in the ground where it is planted. We need to go deep.

Psalm 1:3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.

Do not hold grudges against each other. The righteous judge stands before the door and He is a biased judge.

Romans 2:1 Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things.

We are identified by prayer and praise. We turn to prayer when we are weary and suffering hardships. This is not just our daily prayer, communication with God. This is earnest, deep intercessory prayer maybe mixed with fasting.

Isaiah 58:6 “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?

Praise is to sing a song to the Lord. Are you happy or have you been encouraged?

Ephesians 5:19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart,

Reach others with the gospel.

James 5:19-20 My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

We are in the reconciliation business. Most importantly reconciled with God.

Conclusion:

A - Acknowledge

Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”

B - Believe

Acts 16:31 “And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.””

C - Confess

Romans 10:9-10 “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.”