Be Patient Until the Coming of the Lord
James 5:7-11 – Victory Fellowship
September 12, 2021 - Rev. Roderick Grabski
1) INTRODUCTION:
a) Patience serves as a protection against wrongs as clothes do against cold. For if you put on more clothes as the cold increases it will have no power to hurt you. So in like manner you must grow in patience when you meet with great wrongs, and they will then be powerless to vex your mind." (Leonardo da Vinci.)
b) James has shifted his focus at the end of chapter 4 and beginning of 5 to the rich and arrogant for their selfish practices against the poor, and their condemning of the righteous.
i) They trust their own wealth for salvation and mock and abuse the faithful.
c) James’ advice to the Christian – keep calm and prepare for the second coming of Jesus Christ.
2) RELATING THE TEXT:
a) James’ encouragement is for faithful, patient endurance while awaiting the Lord’s return.
i) He especially warns the Christian to avoid God’s judgment by not grumbling about each other.
b) James uses the prophets as an example of patient suffering – and considers it an honor to suffer for our faith as they did.
i) Near the end of chapter 5 he will use Elijah as an example of a faithful man of prayer.
ii) Here he uses the example of JOB
c) James reminds us that Job was faithful even in the midst of suffering for his faith.
3) APPLICATION / CONCLUSION:
a) Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan "press on" has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race. (Calvin Coolidge)
b) There’s a lot in this world to be vexed about – even impatient about it. But what we often lose sight of is the fact that Jesus is coming again to make all things new. That is our focus.
c) Genghis Khan, the 13th century Mongol conqueror, asked his philosophers to come up with a truth that would always be unchangeable. Thinking on it for a while, they came to their leaders with this quote: "It too shall pass."
i) The phrase “it came to pass” is found 452 times in the KJV. Thank GOD it didn’t come to stay!
PRAYER
SONG: When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder #552
James 5:7-11 NLT
7Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen. 8 You, too, must be patient. Take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near. 9 Don’t grumble about each other, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. For look—the Judge is standing at the door! 10 For examples of patience in suffering, dear brothers and sisters, look at the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 We give great honor to those who endure under suffering. For instance, you know about Job, a man of great endurance. You can see how the Lord was kind to him at the end, for the Lord is full of tenderness and mercy.
