Cecil A. Fayard
Elliott Baptist Church
May 1, 2005
Patience on Life's Journey
James 5:7-12
INTRO: Life is hard; times are tough, but God is able to carry through life's journey.
Do not expect everything to be comfortable and easy in this life. Each of us daily face situations that require patience. If you drive a car, you need patience with those crazy
drivers out there. At work, you need patience in dealing with that cantankerous, old grouch in your office. We need patience as we wait in lines at the store, the airport, etc.
James exhorts us to be patient with others and to be patient with God.
One day a friend asked the normally calm and collected Phillip Brooks after seeing him pace the floor: "What is the trouble, Dr. Brooks?" "The trouble is" replied Dr. Brooks,
"That I'm in a hurry but God isn't!"
In the verses before us, James gives several illustrations of how we are to live patiently.
I. Vs 7-9 PATIENCE ILLUSTRATED BY THE FARMER
A. Vs 7, "Be patient" is a compound word in the Greek, makrothumeo, meaning "of long spirit, not losing heart, long tempered." This is the opposite of being a "short
tempered" person.
1. The idea is to catch your breath for a long race.
a. We need to endure as we wait for the Lord Jesus, while we look for the parousia (Titus 2:13).
b. Many of these Christians were having trouble with pressure. James encourages them to stay strong until the coming of the Lord. The coming of the Lord
should encourage every believer to be patient and persevere.
2. The farmer must be patient; he must learn to wait.
a. Too much rain can rot the crops; too little rain can mean burnt crops. The farmer has to be patient with the seed. It takes time for the plants to grow.
b. The farmer plows, sows, and waits on the Lord to send the rain, rain to mature the crop.
3. The farmer waits for the precious fruit.
a. The harvest is worth waiting for (Gal. 6:9, "In due season we shall reap, if we faint not.")
b. The ministry of the church is to preach the Gospel and let God give the harvest (Mk. 4:28-29).
B. Vs. 8, "Be the also patient" - apply to your spiritual life the illustration of the farmer.
1. Christians are spiritual farmers. Our hearts are the soil and the "seed is the Word of God."
2. "Stablish your hearts." We are to strengthen our hearts for Jesus is coming soon.
a. When our hearts get cold, the Lord plows up our heart so he can plant spiritual seed (Jere. 4:3).
b. God uses the local church to establish our hearts, to equip us to serve Him (Eph. 4:11-12).
c. We are to work till Jesus comes back (Lk. 12:43, "Blessed is that servant whom the Lord when he cometh shall find so doing."
C. Vs. 9, We are to be patient with folks that we find to be difficult and irritating. Our attitude is to be the opposite of irritability, resentment and retaliation (Eph. 4:2; Gal. 5:22).
1. Warren Wiersbe says: "Impatience with God often leads to impatience with God's people, and this is a sin we must avoid. If we start using the sickles on each other,
we will miss the harvest" (156).
2. Farmers are know for helping each other. Christians should be known for the same.
3. We are not to blame our troubles on one another; we are not to point fingers.
II. Vs 10, PATIENCE ILLUSTRATED BY THE PROPHETS
A. The prophets patiently suffered for the Lord. We are to look to them as examples of longsuffering. These men of God were right in the center of God's will, yet they suffered.
B. Let us not how and why the suffered.
1. Why they suffered?
a. Because of Godly living.
1- Joseph suffered because he refused to compromise morally.
2- Daniel suffered because he refused to be defiled by eating the kings meat. He suffered because he lived a separated life. "They that live Godly in Christ
Jesus shall suffer persecution."
3- Remember this, the will of God will never take you where the grace of God cannot keep you.
C. The prophets suffered, but still they trusted in God. They are our examples (Rom. 15:4-5).
III. Vs 11, PATIENCE ILLUSTRATED BY JOB
A. God's blessing come to those who endure.
B. "Ye have heard of the patience of Job." The Greek word for "patience" used here means, "steadfastness, endurance, perseverance" (James 1:3). Job gained character through
trials.
1. Job endured physical affliction, sores, boils, etc.
2. Job endured accusations, loss of wealth, family, etc.
3. Through all of his trials, we hear Job saying: "Though he slay me, yet will I trust him" (Job 13:15).
C. Job did not know it when he was going through his trials, but God had some wonderful things in store for him. God's pity and mercy are seen in Job's deliverance (Job 42:12-17).
IV. Vs 12, PATIENCE ILLUSTRATED BY YOUR SPEECH
A. When you are going through troubles, trials, and difficulties - don't run, hang in there!
1. Don't blame god; don't curse God. Don't say things that you will regret later. Don't use swear words.
2. Trust God in the bad times as well as in the good.
B. Say what you mean and mean what you say. Be sure your words are filled with grace.
C. Don't fall into condemnation as Peter did in the courtyard at the trial of Jesus (Mt. 26:71).
CONCLUSION: We need to be patient. We need to endure (II Tim. 2:3)
1. Stand the test; be steadfast.
2. When put through the ringer, press on.
For additional copies of the sermon CD's, please contact the church office:
Elliott Baptist Church
566 Nat G. Troutt Road
Elliott, Mississippi 38901
Phone: 662-226-4425
Pastors Email: cecilafayard@msn.com