Studies from the Book of James
Theme Practise the Power of Patience James 5:7-12

Preached by Pastor Jack Anderson
Bethel Church Isle of Man

Introduction In the opening verses of chapter 5, James exposes the lives of the rich ungodly, who had defrauded, persecuted, and oppressed the poor.

He now turns from the oppressors to the oppressed, to tell them how they ought to behave under such oppression. He encourages them to look for the day of deliverance that will one day be theirs.

Note the change of tone as James writes with tender affection to these Saints, who were enduring hardship. He calls them Brethren in v 7,9,10,12.

This term of affection indicates that he feels personally involved in their affliction and that he wants to stand with them in their trials.

He wants to identify with their sufferings; he feels their anguish as if it were his own. This of course, is the Biblical teaching concerning those who are in the Body of Christ. There should be no division in the body

1Cor 12the members should have the same care one for another.

26 And whether one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

Friends, do we identify with believers who are suffering? Do we identify with the persecuted Church, in places where Believers are really suffering for their faith in Christ?

James now gives these oppressed saints a word to comfort them, and to encourage them.

The Expectation of which he reminds them v 7

7a be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord.

The coming of the Lord was a familiar doctrine in the early New Testament Church. The early believers lived with the conviction that the Lord’s return was near.

They fully believed that it could happen any minute. They lived as though each day might be their last day of opportunity.

We should live with the same expectancy as the early believers, living as though Christ could come at any moment to take His people home to Glory. This is the Blessed hope of every believer. The coming of the Lord Jesus, and our gathering unto Him.

But, while we wait for the Lord to return, we must not expect everything too comfortable and easy in this present life, as we journey through this world.

Jesus said in John 16:33 in the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Opposition is a fact. The Christian, who is not conscious of being opposed, had better watch himself, for he is in danger. The Apostle Paul reminded his converts “we must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God”.

James, in these verses, tells us how we are do deal with opposition and tribulation, and what we are to do until the Lord returns.

We are to Look up and be calm. Look in and be clean. Look back and be challenged. Look forward and be consistent as we wait for the coming of the Lord. The Christian must ever look for The Blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.

The Doctrine of the Second coming of the Lord was a familiar one to the early Church, but it is not so familiar to the church of the twenty first century, because many fail to preach the prophetic word.

The Greek word translated “coming” in James 5:7 is Parousia which means “ being with”. The main thrust of the word indicates a person’s physical presence. In secular Greek, Parousia was an expression for a royal visit of a king or one in authority.

Jesus Christ will come again bodily. His presence shall be with us. The same Jesus, who came the first time as the suffering servant, will return as the Son of Righteousness, with healing in his wings, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He will invade this world, conquer evil, and usher in a wonderful new age of blessing.

Now, although these believers, to whom James was writing, enjoyed the spiritual presence of Jesus, they longed for His physical presence. They longed for His coming to take them home to glory and to put things right on earth. Waiting time can often be an anxious time, but in the midst of their anguish, James assures them that the coming of the Lord is drawing near.

Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side;

Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;

Leave to thy God to order and provide;

In every change he faithful will remain.

The coming of the Lord is

1. A Clear Hope 2. A Comforting Hope.

These persecuted believers would find comfort in the fact, that their time of suffering would be shorter rather than longer, as time moved toward its conclusion. The coming of the Lord was coming closer day by day

Our greatest trials and troubles should ever be seen in the light of the glory, which is to come. The apostle Paul writing to the Corinthians said

2 Cor 5:17 for our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

Affliction can be a treasure. Absolutely functional, it triggers life's greatest insights and accomplishments.

Life’s trials will seem so small when we see Christ.

One glimpse of His dear face all sorrow will erase

So gladly run the race till you see Christ

The Coming of the Lord is

3. A Challenging Hope

Verse 9b the judge standeth at the door

Notice the change from; “Lord” to “Judge” The second coming of the Lord always has an element of challenge.

James 5:9 Grudge (complain) not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.

James now turns to the Christians behaviour in times of oppression and trials. When we are in a waiting period, or a difficult period of trial; it is easy to become irritated and frustrated.

We can hold grudges, grumble and complain, and become bitter and resentful toward others. The Greek word for “Grudge “ is “Sten-ad-zo”

By implication it means to sigh, to mummer inaudibly. It is a reference to that which is harboured within, and is left unexpressed.

James is saying that they need to look within and examine themselves for the judge is standing at the door. You will remember what Jesus said to the church of the Laodiciens-- Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

Beloved, Jesus does not stand at the door of our lips, but at the door of our hearts. We may fool others with our hypocrisy. But we cannot fool the righteous judge who stands at the door, for He knows exactly what is in our hearts.

2 Cor 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

The Righteous judge will judge our Works, our Words, and silent murmurings and grudges hidden in the heart

As someone has said “We are so accustomed to wearing a disguise before others that we are unable to recognize ourselves”. The Lord knows what is in the heart. He is aware of our behaviour in the home, in the office, in the Church.

He is aware of our ethics or the lack of them. The Judge is standing before the door. How different our behaviour would be if we could but grasp this truth.

If we knew how things were going to be for us after the Lord of Glory had judged us, how we would change our lives day

Julia Ward Howe He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat He is sifting out the hearts of men before his judgment seat.

If you knew that Jesus was coming back tomorrow, would you be doing somethings differently today?

Martin Luther once said—“ I preach as though Christ died yesterday, rose from the dead today and is coming back tomorrow.

How different our lives would be if we lived them in such a spirit. The coming of the Lord is at hand— 1 John 3:3 and every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

The Expectation of which he reminds them v 7

7a Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord.

2. The Instruction He gives to them v 7 be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord.

AMP> So be patient as you wait till the coming of the Lord

The Greek word for Patience means to be subjectively patient, to be long suffering, long tempered, patiently enduring, to be long spirited. –A long fuse. -

A> Patience Calls for Restraint-- To be able to restrain from anger and resentment in spite of the Provocation. Surely this should challenge all who hear God’s Word.

For, often it is patience and inner restraint that is missing in our lives and in the Assembly of God’s dear people. The words of the writer to the Hebrews come to mind- Heb 1: 36 yehave need of patience,

Col 3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

(Amp) Clothe yourselves therefore, as God’s own chosen ones His own picked representatives) who are- purified and holy and well beloved by God himself, by putting on behaviour, marked by tender hearted pity and mercy, kind feeling, a lowly opinion of yourselves, gentle ways, and patience –which is tireless and long suffering, and has the power to endure whatever comes, with good temper.

Jesus said in Luke 21:19 In your patience possess ye your souls. Impatience can be very costly. It cost king Saul his throne because he could not wait for Samuel, the prophet, to offer the sacrifice unto God.

May the Holy Spirit enable us to develop patience, for we can be so impetuous and impatient, even with our brothers and sisters in Christ?

Patience is one of the fruits of the Spirit. It is a characteristic of the born again Christian nature. As such it is one of those things that set the believer apart from the world. But patience is not one of those things that come easily. How many of us yield to impatience. Too often we travel that road and are in danger of loosing, out when it comes to review and reward at the Judgement seat.

A> Patience Calls for Restraint--

Everything has its time, and the main thing is that we keep step with God, and do not keep pressing on a few steps ahead--nor keep dawdling a step behind.

B> Patience calls for a Resolution.

James 5:8 be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. –

This word (Stablish)— means to turn resolutely in a certain direction and strengthen your being. Establish your hearts, strengthen and confirm them, for the coming of the Lord is near.

The coming of the Lord should strengthen us to stand fast against the attacks of the Devil, and the sinful things that seek to reside in our hearts

The coming of the Lord should establish our faith, and give us a prosper perspective of a balanced life.

Friends, resolve to live for Jesus and plan for victory.

For the word of God is True

He will redeem His chosen few

Don’t loose hope Christ will descend

Keep your eye upon the eastern sky

Lift up your head, Redemption draweth nigh.

The Expectation of which he reminds them v 7

The Instruction he gives to them v 7 be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord.

The Illustration he shows them. V 7

James 5:7 be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.

To illustrate patience and to instruct us, James gives us three examples of patience: the farmer, the prophets, and Job. Each of these provides insight into the difficulties, which we all face that requires patience to handle.

Let's look at each of these challenges to patience. James tells us there are several situations in which we need patience.

A> The Farmer-- James says “ see how the farmer has to wait for the land to yield its valuable crop. Farmers throughout the world must wait and be patient.

The Farmer sows his seed, and then he has to wait with patience for the rain to fall, the early and the latter rain, and the autumn and the spring rain, before the harvest can ripen.

Waiting periods are never without trials and testing. Sometimes the weather remains too cold! Or it may become too hot. If there is too much rain the crop will rot and if there is too little the crop will scorch.

There is that period, after the seed has been sown, when there is no visible evidence of anything growing, though God is at work underground.

The farmer knows that he cannot hurry his crop. It is only God who can bring forth the harvest. So, through all the changing circumstances and seasons, he has to to wait patiently for the harvest.

This does not mean that he stops working in his fields. Care and cultivation is needed. He is depending on God for his harvest, but he still has work to do

James is telling us that we should wait for the coming of the Lord, as the farmer waits for his harvest. Just as the farmer cannot control the weather, so we cannot tell our Lord when to return.

Only God can bring to fruition the harvest of the Redeemed. Our job is to plant the seed of His word, cultivate the ground and work faithfully in anticipation of the harvest. The world has more winnable people than ever before ... but it is possible to come out of a ripe field empty-handed.

There’s a work for Jesus ready at your hand

It is a task the master just for you has planned

Haste to do his bidding, yield Him service true

There is a work for Jesus only you can do.

Billy Graham. --- Every generation is strategic. We are not responsible for the past generation, and we cannot bear full responsibility for the next one; but we do have our generation. God will hold us responsible; as to how well we fulfil our responsibilities to this age and as to how we take advantage of our opportunities.

A> The Farmer-

B> The Prophets-

James 5:10 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.

James now calls these oppressed saints to look back to those, who had gone before them, as an example. They too were looking for the coming of the Lord. What persecution and suffering they had to endure, as they served God and waited for the coming of the Messiah. Jesus said in

Mat 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!

The life of Elijah was endangered when he announced that there would be a drought for three and half years.

Jeremiah was arrested as a traitor and was thrown into an abandoned well and left to die. But God took care of him during his days of hardship.

Daniel was put into the lion’s den to be devoured because of his faith in God, but God shut the lion’s mouth. The three Hebrew young men were cast into a raging furnace, but God delivered them without even the smell of smoke on their clothing. Heb chapter 11 gives us the roll call of the persecuted prophets.

Those, who may be facing a crisis of faith, should look back to our forefathers in the Faith. It may be that some are unsure about the future. Look at Abraham

Heb 11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place, which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

For he looked for a city, which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

It may be that some think that they are up against the impossible, look at what God did for Abraham and Sarah

Heb 11:11Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.

It may be that there are those who are facing obstacles and walls that they cannot be scale. They should take a look at Joshua Heb 11:30 by faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.

God is the God of the Impossible. He is the God of the Mountain, the God of the valley, the God of the good times, and the God of the Bad. When things go wrong, he puts them right.

James is saying, look back and be challenged. Heb 11V 36-40

A weak faith is weakened by predicaments and catastrophes whereas these things strengthen a strong faith.

James 5:10 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. James 5:11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. All suffering Saints are counted blessed by the one who has suffered more than any before Him or since. Our Blessed Lord and Saviour.

Let us remember that James is making it clear that these oppressed believers, to whom he is writing, are to do more than admire the Prophets, they are to follow their example.

A>The Farmer-

B> The Prophets-

C> The Perseverance of Job.

Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

Everything was against Job. This man had lost his Health, his wealth and his family. His friends turned against him, and his own wife said,” Why don’t you curse God and die”? For a while it even seemed that God was against him.

Yet this man could say, “The Lord gave, the Lord taketh away, blessed be the Name of the Lord”. When the pressure upon him was at its greatest Job said, “Though He slay me yet will I trust Him”

I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand on the earth. He knows the way I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as pure gold

The story of Job only begins to make sense, when we realize that, through all his suffering God was at work to double his blessing on Job.

Troublesome times in the life of the believer are not without purpose. We need to learn to see the big picture that God is painting.

I think of how Joseph suffered, but in the end he could say to his brothers “But as for you, you thought evil against me, but the Lord meant it for good”.

There may be times when we are going through trials, testing and suffering, and the Devil would seek to encourage us to give up and to turn away from the path of faith. Just look up and remember that the coming of the Lord is near and that we can be more than conquers through Him who loved us.

Remember the sufferings of the Saviour. The trial of our darkest hour will seam so insignificant compared to His sufferings

Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Jesus said, Matt 5 when you are persecuted rejoice and be exceeding glad for great is your reward in heaven.