Examples of Patience in the Face of Suffering

Patience and Faith in James’s Closing Exhortation

Let's turn to James chapter 5, this is James the Apostle, this is him closing out this wonderful book. We need to always keep before us, as you turn, the very theme of this epistle. The theme of this epistle is really faith, but I would like to tie in something very close to it.

And both are fruit of the Spirit. And it is patience, patience. I believe as you read through the scriptures, you cannot tear the two asunder. They are tied together. And if you keep faith and patience before you in this epistle, you will get exactly what James the Apostle is driving at, and the point that he is making from the beginning to the end.

And if you notice, he closes with patience in mind, patience in trials, as he did in the opening in chapter 1. And we will see this. It's always, I was thinking about this as I was studying these verses, and going through these words, these wonderful words of God.

And it's like, what is important when you write a letter? Usually a very good writer, if he wants to drive a point home to his readers, to his audience, he usually begins his letter and ends his letter pretty much the same, with the same theme.

He drives at that same point. And this is what James does, and it's not by accident, it's by the Holy Spirit. So we're now in James chapter 5. We will look together at verse 9 through 11. 9 through 11, hear the word of the living God.

Verse 9, Do not complain, brethren, against one another, so you yourselves may not be judged. Behold, the judge is standing right at the door. As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job, and have seen the outcome of the Lord's dealings, and that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful. May God richly bless the reading of this word to our ears, from our ears to our hearts this morning.

Let's pray and seek our Lord within this hour as we study these wonderful verses before us, and that the Holy Spirit would teach us His ways, His heart, His mind within this hour. Let's pray. Our Father in heaven, what a delight, what a privilege we have this morning, and every day as your children that's been adopted into your family, through Jesus Christ your Son, to come to you in Jesus' name and call you Father.

That is our heart's cry this morning, is Abba, Father. And Father, we pray that your holy name would be hallowed, that it would be hallowed, set apart, for you are the holy, holy, holy God. So Lord, help us to worship you in spirit and truth and in the beauty of your holiness.

For Father, there is no worship throughout history that has not been accepted by you, unless it's through your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, in which is pleased you. That's the only kind of worship that you accept, is through faith and through the precious blood of Jesus.

So Father, I would ask that as we come this morning to this text before us, to help us. As we come to you, Father, we recognize that it's only by the merits and the works of Jesus Christ, His perfect works, that you even hear our cry.

But Father, we can be assured of this, that when we do come in Jesus' name, and through Him you do hear us, we know this. So Father, hallow your name. Father, we also pray that your kingdom will come.

That's through the gospel, through the hearing of the gospel. Just not here, but Father, throughout America, throughout this world, throughout the whole globe. Father, as your word today is preached in power and in truth, may your Holy Spirit create faith and bring people into the kingdom.

That's the goal, is to save lost sinners. So Father, we seek, not only that your name would be hallowed, but that your kingdom would come through your blessed Holy Spirit. So Father, we teach us more and more of Jesus, His person, His wonderful works.

Change us, transform us, sanctify us through your word. So Father, we recognize that if your kingdom is to come, Lord, ours must go. It must go. That means we die to ourself. Father, we thank you that you are patient, gracious, merciful, good, full of compassion.

God, that's not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. So now Lord, may your will be done. Your desires be our desires. May it be accomplished for your glory. And I would ask this in Jesus' name.

Amen and amen. But within this chapter, the overarching theme is really an exhortation to patience. That's chapter 5 now. Keep in mind, like I already mentioned, faith and patience are tied and linked together.

But here in chapter 5, we see the exhortation to patience. James now turns to the brethren. You notice he says brethren. Brethren. Brethren. The believers who were being oppressed. The believers that were being afflicted.

The believers that were being persecuted. The believers that were being tormented. By unjust men. As Brother Keith already mentioned, there's a lot of injustice going on. By unjust men and evil wicked people.

Therefore, he encourages the brethren, the believers in Jesus Christ, to be patient. And we've got to keep this before us. It's easier said than done, right? Last Lord's Day, we saw that one of the greatest motives for patience is really the second coming of Jesus Christ.

That's a great motivator, isn't it? That Jesus is soon to return and to set everything right. Verse 7. Verse 5. I like to read it again.

He says this.

Therefore, be patient, brethren. Notice again, he says brethren. Now, he's turning to exhort the Christians, the believers, until the coming of the Lord. Then in 7, verse 7b, James illustrates the need of patience by looking to the farmer.

The farmer was his illustration. And he says the farmer, what does he do?

He waits.

That's the key word. He waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it until it gets the early and the late rains. So what is he saying? Basically, what he's saying, no crop appears overnight.

It does not happen automatically. Especially if you're a farmer, you understand. The only thing I would think would happen overnight was possibly weeds that would crop up, which is not part of the produce and the harvest.

And the weeds has to be plucked out. We can make an analogy to that. False believers and tares. But no farmer has any control over the weather as well, does he? We've had a lot of rain this past week.

No one has any control over it. I have to really watch my flesh. I'm working out in the rain and not to complain about it. But give thanks to God. Even though it was a cold, hard rain and delivering milk, I said, Lord, you know how much rain we need.

A lot of people in Georgia are saying we got too much rain. God knows exactly what Georgia needs. There's a purpose that everything God does, even though we may not see the purpose, but God knows exactly what He's doing because He's in charge, isn't He?

Too much rain, though, can cause a crop to rot. And too much sun can cause the crop to burn up.

But God knows best, doesn't He?

So a lot of times when these things take place, there is a judgment. God's saying something. So that's why we need to really study His Word and see what God is saying. Early frost, again, how about a frost?

A frost can kill the crop as well. So in a sense, what James is saying, this is how long-suffering patients must be even with the weather conditions. He must also have patience, the farmer must also have patience with the seed.

With the seed, it takes time for it to grow. And the crop, for it takes time to plant, to cultivate it, and then God does the rest and the miracle of that seed. So why did really, why did He willingly, why does the farmer wait so long?

Well, it tells us in the Scripture. Why the long wait? What's the purpose of the wait? There's something at the end, isn't it? Well, that end result is called the harvest. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil.

He waits for the harvest. Now James is driving at something here. The harvest is worth the wait, isn't it? The harvest is worth the wait because it's precious. Every word of God is pure. Notice what He says.

For the precious produce of the soil. Now this is what God is saying. The harvest is worth the wait. Galatians 6 time, Paul the Apostle. In due season, we shall reap if we faint not. If we do not lose heart.

If we don't give up. God is saying patiently wait as a farmer.

Persevering.

Here you have the perseverance of the saints. Calvin didn't come up with that.

It's in Scripture.

The Apostles. And the Apostles is taking everything from the Lord Jesus Christ and what they learned from Him. Mark, the Gospel of Mark. You don't have to turn there but you can write it down if you like.

Study this in your devotional time. Chapter 4 verse 28 and 29. Jesus Himself said this. He speaks of agriculture. For the earth produces crops by itself. First the blade.

Then the head.

Then the mature grain in the head. But when the crop permits. He immediately puts in the sickle. Because the harvest has come.

It's a great truth there.

One step at a time. God is working forth His plan and His purpose. Until the judgment comes.

Then there's the harvest.

The sickle. You read about the sickle? It's all in Revelation. That's what God is going to do. So really what James is pictured here. Is the Christian, the believer is a spiritual farmer. You can apply this to your own life as a believer looking for a spiritual harvest.

James 5 verse 8. You too be patient. Strengthen your hearts. For the coming of the Lord is near. James calls for resolute.

Firm courage.

He calls for commitment. He calls for obedience. To strengthen. To establish our hearts. Now the ministry of the word of God and prayer is very important here. Because that really ties into everything.

What is saying of God's word and prayer. And a heart that is not established. Cannot bear fruit. Now how many times did Jesus speak about fruit? We're going to look at a few scriptures in that in just a few minutes.

But a great deal. All the way through the Old Testament. All the way to Jesus and His ministry. Speaks about these great important truths. Well here's an analogy on sanctification. Let me throw in real quick.

I think it's worth a while. The farmer does not stand around doing nothing does he? He's not idle. He's a very busy man. He is actually constantly at work. And he looks toward the harvest time. He doesn't sit back and do nothing.

Actually James did not tell these suffering believers. To just put on a white robe. And sit back and relax. And do nothing and climb a hill. And wait until Jesus comes back. No. Basically an illustration.

He tells them to keep working.

Keep waiting.

Keep pressing in. Keep doing what the Lord commands you to do. Until He comes back and sets it all right. And that's exactly what James is saying. Chapter and verse. Yeah. Luke 12 .43.

Our Lord said this.

Blessed is that servant. Whom his Lord when He comes. Shall find so doing. Doesn't mean he's earning his salvation. He's already saved. He's actually working as a spiritual farmer. Until the harvest time.

So the works. We're going to be judged by our works. James is really focused in on this. He's basically addressing Jewish suffering believers. And a lot of them. That he knew that was in the crowd. Were professing.

As to be a believer. And he knew a lot of them were not true believers. That's why he mentioned about justification by works. It's not contradicting what Paul is saying. About justification by faith alone.

Basically their audience. The people in which they were addressing. Was a different kind of audience.

I heard it.

Or should I say I read it once. That James and Paul are not contradicting each other. Clashing with one another. They are basically back to back. Facing in the direction of a different audience. But their message was really the same.

They were just addressing a different situation. So knowing the audience. Is very important here. You're talking about Jewish believers that were suffering. But he also did not assume. Or should I say presume.

That everybody was saved in that crowd.

Right. Now.

It's interesting that the farmer does not have to. He doesn't have the time also and the energy. To get into fights with his neighbors.

Does he?

Well this is leading to a point here.

He has.

His energy is all driven for the work. While God is doing the work. In which the work he cannot do. But he does what he can. Actually he does the work he is commanded to do. One of the sins. That we must all avoid beloved.

Is the sin of complaining. The sin of grumbling. The sin against grumbling. Against each other. The cause of impatience. Being impatient. Now let me tell you how this ties in. Our impatience with God.

Many times and often leads. With impatience with other people. That's the way it works. You know John basically says.

If you can't love your brother.

Whom you have seen.

How can you love God whom you have not seen. So our relationship with God. Love the Lord your God with all your heart. Your soul, mind and strength. And then love your neighbor as yourself. Vertically and horizontally as the cross life.

It's the life of the cross.

You cannot horizontally love. Or be patient with others.

Until first of all.

You love God first. And be impatient toward God. You see it's always our connection with God first.

So here he is saying.

We must avoid this sin. Of falling into.

Grumbling.

Impatience. This leads us to our text this morning. Because our lesson today. Is an important one. We have seen to be patient.

That we excuse me.

That.

Excuse me one second.

Water is good right. Praise God for water. We have seen to be patient. That we are to anticipate the Lord's coming. In verse 7 through 8. And now in verse 9 through 11. James gives to believers. How we can be patient.

Or better yet. How as believers can learn patience. Because patience is learned. And it's by five important truths. Given to us by scripture. Now let me tell you this.

As I was studying this.

I was looking for an outline. The best outline I could find. Was by Pastor John MacArthur. So I'm borrowing his outline this morning. I'm sure if he was here. And I've heard him say. Feel free. To take my outline.

Just give me the credit. So I've heard him say that. I'm giving him the credit. But this is a wonderful outline. So I'm borrowing from his outline this morning. I give him the credit. John MacArthur from his commentary.

It's a wonderful outline. And it's the following. First of all in verse 9. We are to recognize the Lord's judgment. In verse 10. We are to follow the Lord's servant. In verse 11A. We are to understand the Lord's blessing.

And in fourth. In verse 11B. We are to realize the Lord's purpose. And this last point I love. Verse 11C. We are to consider the Lord's character. Now with that in mind. I love that outline. That's something that.

If you did not write it down. I would encourage you to write this one down.

Because.

You can keep this before.

When you go through trials. You can remember these. Great points. Based upon scripture. First and foremost. That this will help you through trials. And testings. So let us consider the Lord's character.

That will be the last. We will look at some practical application. In closing. So let's begin. As we patiently look. To these points. Until our Lord Jesus comes back again.

Right?

The first point. Let's recognize. We are to recognize. The Lord's judgment. We are to recognize. The Lord's judgment. Verse 9. The word of God says.

James says.

Do not complain. Brethren. Against one another. So that you yourselves may not be judged.

Behold.

The judge is standing right at the door. James depicts the Lord Jesus Christ. As the judge. And he is the judge. And in the picture that we have. In the scene before us.

Is that.

He is about to enter the judgment hall. He is about to come. This is the flip side. Of the first point he makes. The flip side. And by the way. When I was thinking of this. About the flip side of this.

Truth is always. Has two wings. It never has one. Always two. Like it flies. A bird cannot fly with one wing.

He has to have two wings to fly.

Truth is the same way. Truth flies with two wings. So there's always. If there's one side of the coin. There's another side of the coin. To see the whole truth. And that's what we want.

Isn't it?

So.

A coin. Has two sides. So the first point.

Was that.

The blessed hope of the Lord Jesus Christ. That is provided. Gives comfort in trials. The comfort is given. That the Lord Jesus. Will be soon to come.

However.

The sobering reality. That's before us. Is that Christ when he returns. Will be coming to judge. The living and the dead. He's coming to judge. And by the way. The first time he came. He came to die.

Upon the cross.

That was his mission. That was the purpose in which Jesus was born. Was to die on a bloody cross. To redeem his people. To bring many sons into glory. That was in his first advent.

But beloved.

Can I say this? In the second advent. He's coming to judge the quick and the dead. He's coming to kill. He's coming. As they slaughtered him to the cross. And he was buried. And he rose again. The third day.

When he comes back. In glory and power. He's coming to slaughter. That's the way the scriptures speak of in Revelation. He's coming to judge the living and the dead. And the reason he gives this warning.

That James gives the warning. Is because it gives us the caution. The caution to be tempted to complain.

Notice this.

Complaint is amid our trials. And everyone in affliction. When they go through trials. What kind of trial it is. We all have a temptation to complain. Living in with difficult circumstances. Can cause believers to become very frustrated.

To lose patience. And to complain.

Against one another.

Especially against those who appear to be suffering less. Than they who are in the midst of suffering. And it adds more trouble to them. It almost makes you short fused.

Like.

Why in the world are you griping about something so little. And here I am going through something so horrific. Even the one. It doesn't matter. What the degree of suffering it is. Both could be complaining.

And cause.

Both could be sinning. You see what I'm saying. Whether one is suffering more. And one is suffering less. God says grumbling and complaining. Period.

Is sin.

So we are all tempted.

To fall into this sin.

Aren't you glad that James. Addresses this.

To help us.

That's what God wants us. He wants to help us. He wants to teach us. As a loving.

All wise.

Heavenly Father.

He instructs his children through the apostle. Through a mature brethren. James is our brethren.

Right.

Jesus is our brethren.

But he is the head brethren.

He is the head shepherd. He is the chief shepherd. The great shepherd. And above him is the heavenly father.

Now.

This word complain. Let's look at this word complain. In the Greek. It basically. Stenozo.

Stenozo.

It means to groan within oneself. To groan. Within oneself. It means a sigh. It describes an attitude. According to the dictionary. That is internal. And unexpressed. It's a bitter. Resentful. Spiritual problem.

That manifests itself. In one's relationships with others. End quote. That's basically the definition of it.

Let me say that again.

It's a bitter resentful spiritual problem. A spiritual problem. Internally. It's internalized. Comes from the heart. That manifests itself in one's relationship with others. So James uses the present imperative.

And with a negative. Which means. Either stop doing this. Or do not let it begin. He refers to the present. Or do not allow it to happen. In the future. So complaining must be stopped.

For this fleshly spirit.

Threatens the unity of the body. Fighting to fire in one another. How many churches have been tore apart. Torn to bits. Because of complaining. Fighting and grumbling toward one another. Interesting lesson that we can find.

You read.

Well we're out now in the book of Exodus. And soon we're going to be seeing. How God delivers His people out of Egypt. With a strong and mighty hand. And then He leads them. And He leads them to Mount Sinai.

But you remember when they went through the wilderness. All these thousands upon thousands of Israelites. Were complaining and murmuring to Moses. You brought us out into this wilderness. Into this desert to die.

Just constantly complaining. We're starving. There's no food. There's no water. There was always something they were complaining about. Never were they thankful. Never did they look. Oh thank you God.

For bringing us out of the land of bondage. Of the house of bondage. And giving us your law. And we are your children by covenant. You brought us out. They witnessed the great miracles of God. And yet they grumbled and complained.

Well that's a perfect example. The apostle Paul also says something very similar. In Philippians 2, 14 through 16. This is what Paul says. Do all things without grumbling. All things without grumbling.

Or disputing. So that you will prove yourselves to be blameless. And innocent children of God. Above reproach. In a crooked and a perverse generation. Among whom you appear as lights in the world. Holding fast the word of life.

So that in the day of Christ. Notice that the judgment. The judgment to come. The day of Christ. He says this. I will have reason to glory. Because I did not run in vain. Or toil in vain. Paul is basically saying.

If you come out to be the harvest and the fruit. In which God has produced. It will produce something wonderful and glorious. Without you complaining. And on that day of judgment. That he says. I have not run in vain.

He was like a spiritual father to them. So then James is giving his readers. A simple but powerful motive. By the way. And this is what he is doing. He gives a motive. As the second coming of Jesus Christ.

Was the motive we looked at last week. Look at the motive. For avoiding such a bitter and complaining spirit.

He says this.

So that they themselves may not be judged. So how can we avoid this? He is basically giving us a sober warning. An instruction. That a heavy judgment would not come upon us. If we begin. If we fall into this temptation of complaining.

Well.

Who does this sound like here?

The half brother of Jesus. You remember what Jesus said? In Matthew 7 .1. Do not judge. So that you will not be judged. Do not judge. So that you will not be judged. One of the most misinterpreted verses in the entire Bible.

I have had it used on me. You have had it used against you too. I am sure. In verse 2. And Jesus says this. For in the way you judge. You will be judged. There is no way getting around that. It is going to come back on us.

If we are consciously misjudging. Or judging someone as we should not. And then he says. And by your standard of measure. It will be measured to you. It comes right together. Doesn't it? It comes back on us.

And let me say this real quickly here. And let me throw this in. You already know this. But I am going to bring it. I have to bring it to life. And as the context reveals of what Jesus is saying here.

This does not mean to prohibit all types of judgment.

Does it?

Actually in verse 16.

Jesus says.

You will know them by their fruits. You know the fruits. You know what is interesting? People do not read the whole chapter. They pick and choose the verses they want to. To justify what they want to put across.

Which is usually. By the way that is a judgment.

But Jesus says.

You will know them by their fruits. You are going to know them. You are going to be discerning. Grapes are not gathered from what? Thorn bushes. Nor figs from thistles are they?

That is a question Jesus asked.

A simple question. About trees and fruit. A good tree produces good fruit. A bad tree produces bad fruit.

Black and white.

What is it about that people do not get? I was talking to my wife about this. About when God says. Thou shalt not commit murder. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not covet. You could go on through the whole list.

Of all the commandments of God. What is it that is so simple. That God made it so crystal clear. Why do not people get it? I will tell you why they do not get it.

They get it.

They get it very well. J .C. Rowell said that. They just love their sin.

Jesus says.

So every good tree bears good fruit. But the bad tree bears bad fruit. Verse 18. A good tree cannot. By the way. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit. Nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.

That simple.

What is Jesus saying? In the context. Of what Jesus is saying here.

False teaching.

False teaching cannot restrain the flesh. Therefore false teachers are known by their wicked and godly deeds. They are known by the way they live. Watch them. Watch. Do not listen to what they say. Watch the way they live.

That is what Jesus is saying. Anybody can get up and preach a great sermon. The devil can do that. The devil can quote the scriptures. Matter of fact. He can out quote us all. But can he live a godly life?

Does he desire to please God? Does he desire to love God? Does he desire to obey God? Absolutely not. As brother Keith mentioned. Does he desire to fear God?

Oh.

My goodness.

No.

That is far above it. He does the opposite. He slanders God. He hates God. He disobeys God.

False teachers. They do the same thing.

It is manifest.

And Jesus says.

You know them by their fruits. So it is manifested and it is revealed. So to the context of what Jesus is saying. And tying in with James. What Jesus our Lord in James is saying. They are compatibly in sync together.

You first judge yourself so that you will not be judged. So Jesus is really against. And James is saying. Hypocritical judgment.

See.

Self righteous judgment. Unfair judgment. Those are important words. So this is the kind of judgment that is forbidden.

Hypocritical. Self righteous.

Condemnation.

Unfair.

This is the kind of judgment that is forbidden. But not righteous judgment. Actually Jesus commends righteous judgment. To discern false teachers.

Beloved we don't see enough of this today.

The false teachers need to be called out. And called by name. Paul would.

Paul called them out by name.

And in context what Jesus is saying in Matthew 7. Verse 1 and 2. In order to fulfill the commandments.

That follow.

It is absolutely necessary to discern dogs. And it is absolutely necessary to discern pigs. That is what he is saying. From one's own brethren. Now back to James. Here is a question. Why are we to judge ourselves?

Why are we to judge ourselves?

Simple answer.

That we would not be judged.

Judge yourself.

So that you would not fall under the category of being judged.

By God the judge.

Because the judge of all the earth is going to do right. There is no curve ball on his judgment. James says. Behold look. That word behold. Look.

Gaze.

He is at the door. The judge is standing at the door right now. I don't know about you. When I read this I tremble. Why do I tremble? Not because of my sins. Because my sins have been taken care of in Calvary.

My sins. I am no longer under condemnation. And you are as well not. You are not under the condemnation of the law. Or the sins of your past sins. That is not what he is talking about. He is talking about your works.

Now this is why godly people get this. And God fearing people get this. Because they know. That they are to work with the zeal for the truth. Until they die. With everything that they have within them.

And all the energy that they have. To do it right before God. Because they know they are going to stand before the judge. How do we know this? 2 Corinthians 5 .10. There are so many verses. Romans 14 .10.

For we must all appear. This is Paul. We. We. Not just me. We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ. So that each one.

Is that sobering or what?

In other words. We are going to all stand before God alone. No one else is going to be beside us. Each one. Will stand.

And make.

One may be recompensed for his deeds.

His deeds.