Patience in Suffering

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.

Sermon

Warning to the rich

Indulgant & Self serving

Not paid the poor

wealth is fleeting

Fattened for the day of slaughter - judgement

They have built up their reward in heaven (God’s Wrath)

Plea for patience

James 5:7 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.

James has spoken already of the oppresive conditions under which the poor live

Be patient

sought by many, possessed by few

art of enduring someone whose conduct in incompatiable with that of others and sometimes even oppressive

a patient man calms a quarrel, for he controls his anger and does not seek revenge

Proverbs 15:18 ESV

A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.

Proverbs 16:32 ESV

Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

Patience - slow to anger

Attribute of God

Exodus 34:6 ESV

The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,

return...

James 5:7 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.

James knows they are unable to defend themselves against their oppressors

Even if they were able to they should not take matters into their own hands

Opposite: socialism

Until the coming of the Lord

The Lord returns as Judge

Example: Farmer waits patiently

he can predict roughly

he is patient relating to what he cannot control

James 5:8 ESV

You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

Be patient like the farmer

Strengthen your hearts

wait patiently for Jesus’ return

Warning against impatience

James 5:9 ESV

Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door.

Anger unvented becomes a bottled emotion

It spills out into becoming irritable towards others who sahre their miseries

Their repressed feelings vent and lash out at those close to them

“Do not grumble against one another”

Grumbling is far from joyful and thankful

Grumbling lures us into sin

The people grumbled against Moses, yet their grumbling was ultimately against God

Contrary to the Royal Law of Love

“The Judge is standing at the door”

God is watching, and his return is imminent

James 5:10 ESV

As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

example of the prophets

Elijah - persecuted by King Ahab

Jeremiah - hardship at the hands of King of Judah

Daniel - thrown in the lions den

endured insult and persecution, with lives as risk, yet considered themselves blessed

James 5:11 ESV

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.

Blessed who remain steadfast (Matthew 5:11-12)

example of Job

Job lost his wife, children and all he had

he was steadfast and did not sin in what he said

Patience can be described as passive endurance; by contrast, perseverance is the active determination of a believer whose faith triumphs in the midst of afflictions.

Job was blessed by receiving twice as much as he had had.

Remember the Purpose of the Lord in the life of Job

“The Lord is compassionate and merciful”

compassion is the emotion

mercy is the action that reaches out to man

Job’s perservenance teaches us about God’s abounding love and merrcy

God will sustain you

Oaths

James 5:12 ESV

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.

James begins to bring his letter to a close

Clear link to Jesus’ words in the Sermon on the moun (Matt 5:34-37)

Jewish custom of strengthening statements with nonbinding oaths

Pretending to avoid using God’s name (Misusing the name of God)

They did not believe it would incur the wrath of God

Jesus denounced this practice and James reiterates it

Oath is court differs as the oath states that those who break it will face divine wrath

It has become needed because men shade the truth and falsify the facts

Let your “yes” be yes, and your “no” be no

Let no flippant word come from your lips

Your word is as worthy as Gold

Speak and uphold the truth

Matthew 12:36–37 ESV

I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Hymn -

Q&A

Hymn -

Closing Prayer

Doxology

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