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Just A Little Patience

 
 

"Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains. You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. Do not complain, brethren, against one another, so that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door. 10 As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful."
 
Good Morning my beloved,
 
Welcome to worship this Lord's day! We're so glad to have our brothers and sisters from around the world here with us today. Please know, that we continue to lift all of you up in our prayers. We would  ask that you would do the same for us. We appreciate those of you who have been sharing our website with all of your family and friends. May we continue to share God's Word with all those who need to hear, for Christ's sake and God's glory.

I believe that one of the most important lessons we can learn in the world, is how to respond rightly when we’ve been treated wrongly. There are many Christians today, who have the assumption that God will protect them from all unfavorable circumstances.  As Christians,  our expectation is not to have an easy life, it is the great expectation of the blessed hope of Christ's return.
 
It has been said that two things define you; Your patience when you have nothing and your attitude when you have everything. Patience is needed when you have nothing, especially when you are feeling defeated, and spiritually bankrupt. However, the principle of patience will mean little, unless we apply it to our lives. Patience is is demonstrated by one who believes God's Word and applies the royal law of unselfish and impartial love in every area of their life.

Let us pray.

Heavenly Father,

Father, as always we thank You for Your Word for us. Thank You for the privilege of being able to study it. Lord, You have given me the responsibility of preaching the truth, Your truth, not the wisdom of men, the modern philosophy's, messages that tickle the ears. Lead to to teach in such a way, that brings honor and glory to You.

Lord, help us to joyfully endure the trials of life with patience and endurance, knowing the truth. Refresh our minds and spirits, as we rest in Your compassionate and loving arms while we wait, for the return of Christ. Living each day in anticipation. Help us to be faithful to share the truth with as many as we can, those whose hearts You have prepared to receive it, with love, compassion, boldness and great courage.

We pray for those who have yet to come to Christ, that You would touch their hearts today, plow up the hardness of their hearts, that they would hear the truth and in full repentance, turn to the cross of Christ, to receive the precious gift of salvation and true living faith.

We pray for those who are self deceived, believing that they are safe, open their eyes and ears O' Lord, that none should perish.
We ask and pray in Jesus' name, the name above all names
Amen

Today's Message: Just A Little Patience

Open your Bibles with me to the Book of James chapter five. As we continue our study of this wonderful epistle, we are nearing the end of this final chapter. This section is about being patient in the midst of trials. We know, that in this life, none of us escape trials, do we?

We are exhorted to patience because in spite of is so often being taught today, God is not going to right all the wrong's of this world, until Jesus Christ returns. We are therefore, encouraged to patiently endure and expect suffering. It is Christ's return that brings our eternal rewards. So, we are called to patiently endure the hardships of this life and the heartaches of this world, until that glorious day comes when Christ will appear in the clouds and sound the trumpet, calling His own to Himself. The wait for us here today, is but a few years, a few months, a few weeks or even a few hours!
 
In John 16:33, Jesus Himself told us we would have trouble in this world, "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world."
 
In Acts chapter 14, the Apostle Paul reminds us, that "we must through much tribulation enter the kingdom of God" 

I invite you to follow along with me as I read to set the text in our minds, as we prepare our hearts for a Word from the Holy Spirit. Listen for the voice of our Lord.
 
"Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains. You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. Do not complain, brethren, against one another, so that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door. As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful."
 
It goes without saying, that in the created order of the universe, that all of us who live on earth, will in experience trouble. We are sure to have trouble in this life. There's really no escaping it. It is a reflection of the curse. And, all of the counseling, courses, classes and seminars in the world, cannot alleviate the trouble that comes with this life. Because, in the world, trouble simply cannot be eliminated. Therefore, we can expect trials and difficulties will come.
 
However, for those of us who are Christians, there is the unique kind of trouble, that the unsaved world does not have. And that's persecution for the truth. We must endure a suffering that the rest of the world, does not have to endure. That is the rejection of the gospel from a hostile world. In this world, those who belong to God, who belong to Christ will face persecution.
 
In Matthew 10:22, Jesus said "You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved." 
 
And, in John chapter 15, He said "If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you."
 
Those of us who are in Christ, having the Spirit of Christ, are not fight back, retaliate out of vengeance. We are to be are content to suffer for the sake of Christ and let vengeance belong to God. We are to accept suffering in meekness and quietness, like our Lord Jesus Christ. The righteous do not resist.
 
However, like the Apostle Paul in Acts, retaliated in an angry, in an ungodly fashion, we too can become irritated, even hostile at ungodly persecution, that we sort of lash out in retaliation.

In I Peter chapter 2, Peter said "For you have been called for this purpose, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you would follow in His steps, He who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; and while being abusively insulted, He did not insult in return; while suffering, He did not threaten, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; and He Himself brought our sins in His body up on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness; by His wounds you were healed."
 
In verses 7 to 11 we find the instruction from James, that we are to be patient. As Christians, we are to have an eager expectation. Like the farmer who sows his seeds in a field, he excitedly anticipates the fruition of its harvest.
 
Verse 7, "Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains."  The word "makrothumeó," translated is the English word patience, has the idea of being longsuffering, showing divinely-directed patience. Patience with people is equally as important as patience in circumstances. That is the righteous expectation of the child of God.
 
Because this is directed at those who can be patient, I believe that James is speaking to believers. And since James is giving us another test of living faith, if you are not patient under a trial, it may well be that you’re not a true Christian. That you do not posses true saving faith. It is entirely possible that one who claims to be a Christian, given enough trials, facing enough difficulty would show that they are indeed, not a Christian at all. 
 
Though it is not easy, as true Christians, we are to remain just, stay righteous, even in the midst of persecution and suffering. It can be quite difficult not to have bitter thoughts, or become angry against your persecutor. Having patience is being slow to anger. As Christians, we can be thankful God is patient. If, in fact, God were not patient, not longsuffering, we'd all be in hell, even as we are gathered together today! And if a holy God can be patient with unholy sinners, then certainly unholy sinners can be patient with a holy God, until acts in their behalf. 
 
God wants us to grow in our faith in both times of plenty and in want. When we have abundance we need to not lose sight of our need to depend on God.  And, when we lose it all, when our world is falling apart apart, then, we need to exercise patience.  
 
The word therefore, is referring back to the previous verses, one through six, to the unjust suffering believers were experiencing at the hands of rich land owners and merchants whose goal for life was money and self pleasures.  As Christians, we are to trust God to bring about justice and to punish those who cause us hardships. Bearing in mind, that our suffering in this life is not forever, but for a time, as Jesus will return and bring judgment on the disobedient.
 
To reinforce his point, James uses the example of the farmer, in order to help us learn patience.  He can prepare the soil, he can plant the seed, even remove the weeds from the field, however, he cannot make the precious fruit of the earth. He cannot make his crop grow but the fruit is worth waiting for. 
 
In order to magnify the farmer's helplessness and utter dependence upon God, James points out that he must wait for the early and late rains. The rain is needed in order for the crop to grow.  Yet, even the  weather is completely beyond the farmers control. Too much rain will cause disease or the crop to rot, and too much sun can cause it burn up. An early frost can kill the crop and a late hail can destroy it. 
 
If the farmer does not receive late rains the return for his investment will not be fruitful. Therefore, the weather helps the farmer develop patience, much like trials help us, as believers to develop patience. The early rains arrive at the time of the fall planting season, and  the late rains just before harvest. Even the weather is under the control of God. 
 
As Christians, sometimes we long to go to heaven. We long to escape the troubles of this present world.  I tend to believe that heaven becomes even more dearer to us, the more we suffer in this world. Our pain causes the anticipation, to long to go home. So, James says "Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord."
 
He goes on to say in verse 8, "You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near." The church has always lived in the hope of the Second Coming of Christ  We live in the light of that return, we anticipate His Second Coming, because we know that we’re not going to be here forever. So we wait for it, in anticipation. I submit to you that the persecuted church lives even more in the light of Christ's Second Coming. I would imagine that the self indulgent, worldly church, is more concerned about postponing the Second Coming, rather than anticipating His return. They're are more concerned about satisfying their latest self-centered desires for selfish gain.
 
The word coming is the Greek word "parousía,"  is repeated frequently throughout the New Testament, and is the most common term in the New Testament Epistles for the Second Coming, the parousía. I want to point out, that in the Greek, it means more than the coming, it is the coming and the presence. The coming and the arrival of Christ. And so, we look for the arrival of Christ, His presence. It is enough to know there is another world to come, we await His arrival to usher us in to the new and perfect world.
 
James does not elaborate, he doesn't give us any great detail, without explanation, he just says "You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near." In other words, if you’re going to endure whatever suffering comes, you’ve got to have your eyes on the return and the arrival of Jesus Christ. An interesting fact, one out of every thirteen verses in the New Testament makes a reference to the second coming and the arrival of Jesus Christ. Jesus Himself had much to say about His Second Coming.
 
In Luke 21, He said "There will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves, men fainting from fear and the expectation of the things which are coming upon the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."
 
And, in Matthew 24, He said "Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. For this reason you must be ready as well; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.
 
The Scripture goes on to talk about the rapture of the church and the great white throne judgment at the end of the kingdom. There’s so many references to the Second Coming of Christ. The church is always to be on the watch, for Christ's return. Whatever suffering you might endure in this life, take your eyes off of that and get them on to the second coming of Christ. That is the point. Allow me to be clear here, that nothing prophetically needs to happen, no event has to take place in this time in which we live; except for the trump of God and the voice of the archangel; and when that happens, He’s here! Jesus could come at any moment for His church, literally at any moment. He is near at hand.
 
In Hebrews 10:25, we are reminded, "not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near." Therefore, we should live in the constant expectation of the coming of Christ. For over two thousand years, every Christian has lived since the time of Christ in the light of the fact that Christ could come at any moment. And, they weren't wrong! He could have come in their lifetime. He could come in ours. In fact, He could come now, today! It's that kind of expectation that has an impact on our life. And, that's why He left it that way.
 
In verse 9, James says, "Do not complain, brethren, against one another, so that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door." Three times in this section, James refers to the believer's great hope, the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. James is warning that when the Lord comes that’s a time for judgment, that’s a time to evaluate your service. So, not only are we to be looking for the coming of Christ, but we are to recognize the Lord’s judgment. This verse points out that a complaining attitude hinders us from developing patience and longsuffering.
 
The clear teaching here is that God will judge and punish those who complain. They may have been blaming their troubles on one another, hardship may have driven some believers to despondency. Who could hold on to such attitudes if they realized that the Judge, who will evaluate each of us, is standing at the door. How inappropriate for Christians to spend their time and energy complaining, when the imminent return of Christ is certain and at hand. So James here is saying, "Not only do you hopefully anticipate the coming of the Lord, but recognize that when He comes, it’s judgment time." In other words, guard your mouth!
 
That is why John says in II John 8, "Watch yourselves, that you do not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward." You can forfeit by sin what you once earned and would have received. I have often found, that many Christians behave more like children in the classroom, acting inappropriately, while the teacher steps away and hurries back to class. There’s coming a time to receive our reward, the crown of righteousness, for those who love the Lord.
 
Revelation 22:12 tells us "Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to reward each one as his work deserves." Do the will of God regardless of the outcome.
 
Verse 10, "As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. James is saying, if you’re going to through the suffering, if you're experiencing difficulty and you need somebody to look at as a role model, then take the prophets as an example. By the way, I find it interesting that word "example" is the first word in that Greek verse, in many translations in English, it made its way to the end of the verse. The prophets illustrated well suffering and patience. Imitate the conduct of the prophets. Notice, he says "who spoke in the name of the Lord." The name of the Lord is all that He is, and all that He has done, and all that He wills. Why is it that those who speak for the Lord endure difficult trials? Because their conduct must back up their character, it must back up their message.
 
One example is the prophet Jeremiah. After Jeremiah preached his first message of radical repentance, his own family tried to kill him. What a way to start in the ministry! The religious leaders beat him and painfully stretched his limbs in stocks. When he wrote his prophetic book, a godless king cut it into pieces and burned it. Because of his depression, he blamed God and lamented his birth. Yet, God would not allow Jeremiah to resign. Through all that happened to him, Jeremiah endured.
 
And, in John 13:15, Jesus said " For I gave you an example, so that you also would do just as I did for you." Imitate the conduct of Christ. Do what I did.
 
In Matthew 23:37, Jesus said "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who have been sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling."  What an indictment! The world wasn’t even worthy of such heroes of the faith.
 
Yet, contemporary Christians complains, because they dislike the music selection, they complain because the pastor's sermon cut into their plans or the ball game on TV. Or someone quits giving because he does not like the new color in the sanctuary. Or there weren't enough donuts to go around. How pathetic and shallow are the complaints of the modern day Christians! Such excuses look ridiculous compared to the struggles of the prophets. The prophets are classic illustrations of those men who, in speaking the truth, suffered great affliction, and did it with patience and endurance. The prophets often spoke out boldly against evil and injustice, there were times, when that evil was directed at themselves. We are not required to be passive doormats, however, we are required to deal with our hearts, to make sure that our focus is properly on the coming of the Lord and eternity. 

In II Timothy 2:3, Paul says "Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus."
 
Then, in verse 11, James says "We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful." Blessing come not to those who do great things, but those who endure great things.That's right, the ones who will receive the greatest glory in the world to come are the ones who endured the greatest suffering in the world that is.  
 
In I Timothy 4, Paul tells us "But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come."
 
Do you remember, in Matthew chapter 20, when James and John and their mother went to Jesus, "Say that in Your kingdom these two sons of mine shall sit, one at Your right, and one at Your left." But Jesus replied, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink? They *said to Him, “We are able.” He *said to them, “My cup you shall drink; but to sit at My right and at My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by My Father."
 
Satan went after Job, and destroyed him in every way possible. Through it all, Job never wavered, he complained a little, mostly about his friends, yet he endured. Job was an incredible man, he endured.
Job 1: 22, "Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God."
 
Job saw the purpose of God and said in chapter 42:5-6, "I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; But now my eye sees You; Therefore I retract, And I repent in dust and ashes." In other words, I never saw You in my good times as clearly as I saw You in my bad times.
 
God's purpose with Job was first to test his faith, and prove it real. Second, to strengthen his faith. Third, to prove to Satan that there was a man who was faithful to God, no matter the cost. And, lastly, to increase Job’s blessedness. Notice the book of Job begins and ends with Job being blessed.
 
In Closing..
 
I'd like to encourage you to realize the Lord’s purpose for your life. Because the greater the suffering, the greater the reward. Patience in any trial comes when we anticipate and live in the light of the Lord’s coming. Patience comes when we recognize the Lord’s judgment, and live in the fear of it. Patience comes when we live in the pattern of the Lord's servant, who have endured. Patience comes when we understand the Lord’s blessing. Patience comes when we realize the Lord’s purpose, understanding that He is preparing us for far greater things, He's perfecting us. 
 
Patience comes when we consider the Lord's character, He's tender, merciful, compassionate. Remember His character, in whatever you're going through, that you too, may be counted among the blessed who endured.
 
May it be so.. 
 
And now may the Lord bless you and keep you;

the Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;

The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.

Now and forever, in Jesus' name
Amen
 
 
 
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