Sermon Tone Analysis

Be Patient

When you deal with a particular passage of Scripture, it can sometimes be hard to get at what the main point of that passage is.

“What’s the thread that holds these verses together?”

Sometimes that’s tough.

You read it over and over and struggle to find a theme.

We don’t have that problem with our text, this morning.

In , there is one idea that clearly dominates - and comes up over and over.

Look at the very first words of our passage in v. 7, “Be patient, therefore brothers ...”; “See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being PATIENT about it ...”.

V. 8, “You also, be PATIENT ...”

V. 10, “As an example of suffering and PATIENCE ...”

v. 11, “We consider those blessed who remained STEADFAST ...” (Different word but similar idea) .... “You have heard of the STEADFASTNESS of Job ...”.

Do you see James’ focus here: “Christian brothers and sisters - if you want to live wisely, you need to live your life with patience”.

It’s no surprise that James turns his attention here, at this point in the letter.

Remember the context of these verses in the letter - last week’s passage - in verses 1-6 of chapter 5? James was addressing the wicked rich - the ones outside the church who owned the land, who had the positions of power - who were making their fortunes on the backs of their workers who they refused to pay.

Having Thanksgiving feasts, while the people who actually did the work in the fields to bring in the harvest - they are starving.

If that isn’t enough - they are using their connections to condemn and murder the righteous - that’s what James says in v. 6.

There is something deep at the core of our beings - in all of us - that is disgusted by injustice and oppression.

It’s because we were created in the image of God.

We want justice.

And when we see justice NOT being done - Asia Bibi, mother of 5 children was arrested in her home country of Pakistan - charged with Blasphemy against Islam.

2009 incident in which she fetched water for herself and fellow farm workers.

An argument took place after two Muslim women refused to drink from the same container as Bibi because of her religion.

A fight erupted and a local imam claimed Bibi insulted the Prophet Mohammed – a charge she denies.

In 2010 she was sentenced to death by hanging.

For 8 years she has sat on death row - waiting to be executed because she is a Christian.

That’s all.

That’s not fair.

We want justice.

And we want it now.

But so often, up go our prayers of concern and need - - and it seems that God.

Does.

Nothing.

How am I supposed to go on?

How am I supposed to carry on in my Christian life?

In 2010 she was sentenced to death by hanging.

It’s no surprise that James turns his attention here, at this point in the letter.

Remember the context of these verses in the letter - last week’s passage - in verses 1-6 of chapter 5? James was addressing the wicked rich - the ones outside the church who owned the land, who had the positions of power - who were making their fortunes on the backs of their workers who they refused to pay.

The

James is speaking to us - you may not be on death row, unfairly judged - like Asia Bibi or some of the people in the churches that James is writing to .... but you know injustice.

You know what it is to be treated unfairly.

You know what it is to think that the heavens are made of brass.

Some of you seem to be at the mercy of an unfair boss; some of you have been abandoned by someone you loved and counted on; some of you are struggling with a life-threatening physical or emotional condition - - you keep praying for God to act

In this morning’s passage, James is speaking to you - speaking God’s Word to you - - saying: “Be Patient”.

“Be Patient”.

Just FYI - After a rejected appeal and waiting to be executed for 8 years, while God’s people around the world prayed - and nothing seemed to happen … On October 31 of this year, the Supreme Court of Pakistan took up the case and found inconsistencies and acquitted Asia … there have been riots in the streets ever since and she is not allowed to leave the country yet - so please keep praying for Asia Bibi … but pray with patience.

THREE THINGS ABOUT PATIENCE in this text.

BE PATIENT: THE LORD IS COMING, vv.

7-8

2. BE PATIENT: GOD IS AT WORK IN YOU, vv.

7-8

James is painting a picture of farming life in the Israel of his day.

2. BE PATIENT: WITH EACH OTHER, v. 9

The word ‘grumble’ translates a Greek word that is used in the Bible elsewhere

… usually to describe God’s people reacting to suffering or judgment - like back in the book of Exodus, in the slavery of Egypt - ; says that , “… the king of Egypt died. the Israelites GROANED in their slavery and cried out ...”.

James is writing to Christians who are suffering - squeezed and pressed by a world that is hostile - waiting for a Lord who is coming, but seems not to arrive - and the temptation is strong to ‘groan’ against each other - to be at each other’s throats, jumpy - quick to take offense.

It is so easy to start taking the frustrations out on each other.

To ‘GRUMBLE’ with our tongues against the very people God has blessed us with, to walk through the trials of life - TOGETHER, HAND IN HAND.

It’s so easy to do.

And if you look hard enough, there is always something you can find to criticize, to complain about.

And James has already made clear in chapter 3:18 - that you can’t experience a harvest of righteousness in your own life, unless you are growing it in the soil of peaceful fellowship that your tongue helps to nourish.

How can you make sure that a Christian will not walk in the joy that God intends him to enjoy in Christ?

Persuade him to focus on the weaknesses of the Christian brothers and sisters God has put around him.

And watch him grumble.

There’s lots there to grumble about - Remember why we need patience in the first place - we are waiting for that day when Christ comes back and makes all things new - no more tears, no more death, that day is coming.

But it’s not here yet.

That means that all of us are in process of being finished products.

There’s more work to be done.

What’s true is on that line, toward that day, none of us is complete.

The Lord is still working in each and every one of us.

This means we’re in varying stages and varying places on that line.

God’s grace for us stays lavish and extravagant throughout our progressive sanctification.

The way I’ve tried to teach it to you historically is the Lord knew what he was buying on the cross.

Since God is an inexhaustible well, his grace for you never runs out.

And we see the unfinished state of others much more clearly than we see our own.

If you’re a normal, everyday Christian, you look around at the losers you’re stuck with in the church and you feel pretty good about yourself.

And you think, “Well, thank God He put me here to save the Kingdom of God.”

And James says, “the Judge is at the door” — “Excuse me - I would maybe watch your mouth - The real judge is at the door and when you grumble against your brothers and sisters, you look pretty foolish.”

Be patient with each other.

3. BE PATIENT: LEARN FROM HISTORY, vv.

10-11

James’ argument is, “Hey, bro.

The real Judge is standing in the door.

I’d watch your mouth.”

To understand the mercy that has been extended to us enables us to extend the mercy to others.

Don’t grumble.

Be patient with your brothers.

They’re works in progress.

3. BE PATIENT: LEARN FROM HISTORY, vv.

10-11

The last point about patience from our text - “Be Patient and Learn from History.”

VERSES 10-11

One of the great temptations we have in the Christian life, is to confuse OUTWARD SUCCESS with God’s Blessing - - to think, when things are humming along in life - “God must be happy with me - the bank account is full, my health is great, the church is growing ....”

And when trouble hits - suffering comes.

We think, “I must have done something wrong.

This must be God’s judgment”.

That’s not the storyline of Scripture.

In the Bible, we read about people like Jacob: a schemer and a liar who, made a pile of money BEFORE he was converted.

Meanwhile, James points out that great prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Job led God-honoring lives and yet suffered greatly.