Sermon Tone Analysis

! Introduction:

Temptations & trials must be combated step by step in order to conquer them.

There are two steps we must take.

1.          Step 1: Be Patient—Endure—Keep Your Eyes Focused Upon the Return of the Lord—5:7-11

2.          Step 2: Take Each Circumstance and Respond Properly—5:12-20

 

–        Remember James opened up this letter by admonishing them to “be patient”—James 1:1-5

/Count—know—let— ask/

–        His counsel of his letter as it comes to a close is very much the same—James 5:7-11

–        There are those who get so involved with prophecy and trying to figure out who the anti-christ is.

These people just seem to occupy their time with this.

–        Lets not try and figure out who the anti-christ is—Lets not look for the anti-christ

–        I want to look for Jesus Christ, the  coming of our Great God and Savior—Titus 2:11-13

 

Be Patient, For the Lord is Going To Come Again—v.7

Be As Patient As the Farmer, For the Lord’s Coming Draws Near—v.7-9

Be As Patient As the Prophets In Suffering, For They Believed & Spoke In the Name of the Lord—v.10

Be As Patient As Job In Suffering Trials & Temptations, For He Saw The End of the Lord—That the Lord was full of Compassion & Mercy—v.11

*I.

**Be Patient, For the Lord is Going To Come Again—v.7*

Scripture declares time and time again that Christ will return to the earth

 

*/A.

/**/The second coming is different than the rapture/*

1.

The /rapture/ involves the removal of all true believers off the earth without the world seeing Him—The /Second Coming/ involves the appearing or manifestation of Jesus Christ.

2.              The /rapture /sees the saints caught up in the air without the Lord touching the earth—The /Second Coming/ Christ returns to the earth

3.              The /rapture /Christ comes to claim a bride—The S/econd Coming /Christ returns with His bride.

4.              The /rapture of the church /involves the removal of the church & the beginning of the tribulation—The /Second Coming/ results in the establishment of the millennial kingdom.

5.              The /rapture /is imminent-at any moment—The /Second Coming/ is preceded by a multitude of signs.

6.

The /rapture /brings a message of comfort—The /Second Coming /is accompanied by a message of judgment.

7.              The /rapture /is related for the church—The S/econd Coming /is for Israel and the world.

8.              The /rapture /is a mystery—The /Second Coming/ is predicted in both Old & New Testaments.

9.              At the /rapture/ believers will be judged—The /Second Coming/ Gentiles and Israel are judged.

10.

The /rapture /leaves creation unchanged—The /Second Coming/ involves the change of creation.

11.

The /rapture /is for believers only—The /Second Coming /is for all men  

 

–        Christ is coming again to reward every person for his work

“For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.

(Matthew 16:27 NKJV)

–        Christ is coming again to separate the sheep from the goats.

“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory.

“All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides /his/ sheep from the goats.

(Matthew 25:31-32 NKJV)

–        Christ is coming again to judge both the living & the dead.

I charge /you/ therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: (2 Timothy 4:1 NKJV)

–        Christ is coming again to execute judgment upon the unbelievers & the ungodly of the earth.

Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, "Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints,   "to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him." (Jude 1:14-15 NKJV)

 

/Since we know that Christ could rapture the true believers at any moment, how should we be living?/

/If I were to tell you that Christ is going to return at 11:00pm tonight does that excite you or scare you?/

 

/B.

//How are believers to live?/

1.          Believers are to be about their Fathers business, occupying their time in serving the Lord.

“So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, `Do business till I come.' (Luke 19:13 NKJV)

–        Don’t sit back and say, “well since the Lord is coming, I don’t have to finish my education.”

2.

Believers are not to slack up one bit or lack a single gift until Christ returns.

So that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, (1 Corinthians 1:7 NKJV)

 

3.

Believers are to be without spot or unrebukeable when Christ returns.

That you keep /this/ commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ's appearing, (1 Timothy 6:14 NKJV)

–        This is the entire revealed Word of God, which Paul charged Timothy to preach—2Timothy 4:2

 

4.

Believers are to understand what God’s grace does—Deny ungodliness & worldly lusts & live soberly, righteously, and godly until Christ returns.

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, (Titus 2:11-13 NKJV)

 

5.

Believers are to live so as not to be ashamed before Christ when He returns.

And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.

(1 John 2:28 NKJV)

 

6.

Believers who truly have the hope of Christ’ return will purify themselves from any sin.

And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

(1 John 3:3)

–        The Lord is coming & He will judge us.

All believers will stand before the /bema /seat of Christ as taught in 2Corinthians 5:10 & Romans 14:10 & 1Corinthians 3:9-15.

This takes place after the rapture, during the seven-year tribulation.

–        How can we overcome the temptations & be sure of being rewarded when Christ returns?

By being patient-enduring-keeping your eyes focused on the return of the Lord

/ /

/Patience- //makrothumeo—/longsuffering, bearing & suffering a long time, persevering, being constant, steadfast, & enduring—“To stay put and stand fast when you’d like to run away.”

1.

The word /patience /in this verse, emphasizes /patience/ with people, not trials or circumstances as in1:3

2.              Just as God suffers long with difficult people (Ps.

86:15; Jonah 4:2; 2Peter 3:9)

—    The Lord is not slack concerning /His/ promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

3.              Believers are to do like wise.

—    Now we exhort you brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, /be patient with all-/1Thessalonians 5:14

4.              This patience is a /fruit of the Spirit—/Galatians 5:22-23

—    When the believer faces the trial of being impatient with people, the believer is to patiently stand fast and not give in to the sin of anger or impatience.

He is to patiently persevere, suffering long in spite of the circumstances.

—    This can only happen by a work of the Holy Spirit

—    The person must trust in the Holy Spirit to stir his heart to stand fast against being impatient, then the believer must /exert his own will & energy to conquer the situation./

5.              Realizing the glory that awaits us at Christ’s return should motivate us to patiently endure mistreatment—Romans 8:18

 

James gives us three encouraging examples of patient endurance

 

II.

Be Patient—The Farmer—v.7-9

The farmer is a great example of someone who is patient—The Farmer—Prophets—Job.

A.          The farmer plants the seed and waits for the early and latter rain—v.7

1.

The “early” rain falls in Israel during October & November and softens the ground for planting.

2.          The “latter” rain falls in March and April, immediately before the spring harvest.

Note: The farmer looks forward to the day of harvest with great expectation, so he does all he can to protect the glorious day of harvest.

He combats the dry  & wet whether, insects & disease, & the wild weeds.

3.          In the same way, Christian’s must patiently wait for the Lord’s return

4.          If the Lord would have come back five years ago where would you & I be today?

5.          So, the Lord is waiting for the latter rain, that is the final harvest of souls.

And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

(Galatians 6:9-10 NKJV)

6.

I believe that the Lord is giving the final opportunity for man, to come to salvation

7.          What are you doing to spread the gospel?

We will be having a /street witnessing/ night.

/ /

/B.          //The believer must establish his heart—v.8/