Any of the talks from any of the speakers, we've had a variety of speakers taking us through James.
You can look up the church website and you can follow along from any of the talks.
Sam's passing out notes and pens. If you want one, just put your hand up and one can be brought to you.
Thank you, Sam.
So let's read God's Word, James chapter 5, starting at verse 7.
Be patient then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord's coming.
See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains.
You too be patient and stand firm because the Lord's coming is near.
Don't grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged.
The judge is standing at the door.
Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered.
You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about.
The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear, not by heaven or by earth or by anything else.
All you need to say is a simple yes or no.
Otherwise, you will be condemned.
Well, as we look at God's Word together, let's pray and ask for his help.
Father, thank you for your word.
Thank you that it speaks truth and grace into our lives.
Amen.
We need to hear from you and we need your help in understanding.
So please, by your Holy Spirit, be at work and make your word effective in our life, we pray.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
Amen.
You experience opposition because of what you believe.
Do you give up?
You receive news that you have an incurable illness.
Are you bitter?
Your loved one suddenly dies.
Are you angry?
Perhaps in those moments of trial and suffering,
you pray more, you believe more,
in the hope that God is going to make it all stop
and that it's all going to go away.
Well, those that James is writing to
are facing all kinds of suffering.
Remember how he started the letter.
James chapter 1 verse 2.
If you go back to James chapter 1 verse 2.
Here's how he started the whole letter.
James 1 verse 2.
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,
whenever you face trials of many kinds.
He doesn't say if you face trials,
but look carefully whenever you face trials.
We don't go through life suffering free.
In fact, James is highlighting at the beginning
that we are to expect it.
We are to prepare for it.
And those that he's been writing to
have suffered all different kinds of trials.
Some of them opposition.
Some of them discrimination.
Others, injustice.
So have a look at chapter 5 verse 4.
You'll remember this from last week.
Chapter 5 verse 4.
Look, the wages you failed to pay the workers
who mowed your fields are crying out against you.
The cries of the harvesters have reached
the ears of the Lord Almighty.
You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgent.
You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.
So here's the situation that people find themselves in.
The rich are getting richer.
The poor are getting poorer.
The most vulnerable, those who are widows,
the orphans, the sick,
they're all suffering.
And instead of equality and fairness,
for some, things seem to be getting worse.
Injustice is all around them.
So the message is clear throughout James.
Suffering is the normal experience of life.
And we need to know how we are to respond
when we face our particular sufferings.
So how do you respond?
How do you respond when trials come?
Well, here's the surprise.
Rather than pray for our suffering to stop,
we are encouraged to be patient.
Rather than pray for it to stop,
we are encouraged, first of all, to be patient.
Look at verse 7.
Chapter 5, verse 7.
Be patient then.
In the light of all these trials and all these struggles,
as he comes to his conclusion of his letter,
be patient then, brothers and sisters.
Verse 8.
You too, be patient and stand firm.
Well, it's easy to say, be patient.
But have you any idea what it's like
to be constantly accused
for something you never did?
Do you know what it's like to wait for months,
perhaps years,
to see a consultant?
Have you experienced what it's like
to live with ongoing, unending pain?
What planet are you on, James?
What do you mean to say, be patient?
I'm suffering here.
And I want all these trials to end.
Patience.
Is that the best that you can offer me?
But true faith, genuine faith,
is demonstrated in patience.
You see, patience doesn't mean
just put up with it and get on with it,
grin and bear it.
In this context, patience means,
and you can read it on the screen,
resting in the absolute certainty
that God will not forget you or fail you,
but will ensure that justice is done
and all suffering will end.
that encapsulates the theme of these verses,
resting in the absolute certainty
that God will not forget you or fail you,
but will ensure that justice is done
and that all suffering will end.
So you see, when you face or receive bad news
from your doctor,
be patient.
If you lose your job
and you're struggling financially,
be patient.
When you experience an injustice,
be patient.
When you face opposition
because you follow the Lord Jesus,
be patient.
And in the face of suffering,
James gives us two reasons
why we can be patient.
Two reasons why we can be patient
in the face of suffering.
Number one,
the Lord is coming.
The Lord is coming.
Look at verse 7 again.
Be patient then, brothers and sisters,
until the Lord's coming.
He tells us the same in verse 8.
You too be patient and stand firm
because the Lord's coming is near.
The coming of the Lord
will ensure that justice will be done
and that suffering will end
for the believer.
When the Lord Jesus returns again,
wrongs will be put to right
and our heartaches will be healed.
For the Christian,
and I want us all to hear this this morning,
your struggles and the trials
that you may be facing today
or that you will face in the future
are not forever.
Look closely at verse 7.
He says,
Be patient until the Lord's coming.
Injustice will not last forever.
There is a set period of time
in which we will go through it,
but when the Lord returns,
it will end.
Verse 8.
Be patient because the Lord's coming is near.
Suffering will soon end
because the Lord Jesus is soon to return.
Because the Lord is coming,
because His coming is certain,
because His coming is close,
I can be patient.
He provides us with a helpful little illustration
in verse 7.
See how the farmer waits
for the land to yield its valuable crop,
patiently waiting
for the autumn and spring rains.
Well, we don't have to wait for rain,
do we, in this country?
Unfortunately, it rains all the time.
But in other countries
and in the context that James is writing,
well, rains came just twice a year,
autumn and spring.
And without the rains falling,
there was no fruit,
there was no produce.
So the farmer does what he can.
He plants his seed,
he tends to his crop,
and then he must patiently wait.
There's nothing he can do
to alter or change the seasons or nature.
He patiently waits.
And although the dry season lasts a long time,
months go by,
the rains do come.
And in the same way,
the injustice and the sufferings
that we may endure
may seem to never end.
The season just goes on
and on and on.
But the rains will come.
The rains will come.
The prophets used the rain
as a symbol of God's promise coming
to restore and renew all things.
If you want,
you can have a look.
It's on page 914.
Keep your finger in James
and you can look at Joel chapter 2.
Joel chapter 2.
Here's an example of the prophets
speaking of the coming rains
as a symbol
of God's promise coming
to restore and renew all things.
Joel chapter 2.
It's on page 914.
Joel chapter 2.
Verse 23.
God through the prophets
speaking to his people.
Verse 23.
Be glad, people of Zion.
Rejoice in the Lord your God
for he has given you
the autumn rains
because he is faithful.
He sends you abundant showers
both autumn and spring rains
as before.
The threshing floors
will be filled with grain.
There's going to be
a great harvest.
The vats will overflow
with new wine and oil.
Verse 27.
Then you will know
that I am in Israel,
that I am the Lord your God
and that there is no other.
Never again will my people
be shamed.
As Joel was speaking to the people
in the circumstances,
he looked forward
to the time of the Lord's coming.
The rains of renewal
and restoration
are on the way.
So let me encourage you.
Rest in the absolute certainty
that God will not forget you,
God will not fail you,
but will ensure that justice
is done
and all suffering
will end.
And because the Lord is coming,
it means then
that I can
stand firm.
Look at verse 8 again
of James chapter 5.
Go back to James chapter 5.
Verse 8.
He says,
You too,
be patient
and stand firm
because the Lord's coming
is near.
I don't need to worry
when the storms come.
When suffering
crashes into me
like a tsunami,
I can stand strong.
The promised coming
of the Lord
is my anchor.
It's my harbor.
It's my safety.
It's my refuge.
God has not abandoned me.
He's not going to forget me
or fail me.
The fact that the Lord
is coming
and it's absolutely certain
and it's getting closer
with every day,
I can stand firm
in my trials
and in my difficulties.
The Lord is coming.
Stand firm.
It also means
that I don't have to grumble.
Verse 9.
Don't grumble
against one another,
brothers and sisters,
or you will be judged.
The judge is standing
at the door.
You see,
when I experience
an injustice,
I don't need
to seek revenge.
When somebody wrongs me,
I don't need
to get bitter
or angry.
When I face
discrimination
or opposition,
I don't need
to hold a grudge
against that person.
The fact
that the judge
is coming,
the judge
who is going
to know all things,
is going to put
every wrong right.
So,
I don't need
to grumble.
I don't need
to give off.
God will not
forget you.
God will not
fail you.
God will ensure
that justice
is done
and suffering
will end.
So,
reason number
one,
to be patient.
The Lord
is coming.
Stand firm
and don't grumble.
Reason number
two,
to be patient.
The Lord
is faithful.
The Lord
is faithful.
Verse
10.
Brothers
and sisters,
as an example
of patience
in the face
of our suffering,
take the prophets
who spoke
in the name
of the Lord.
So,
he's saying,
look,
stand back
from your suffering.
Stand back
from your trials
and let's look
at some examples.
Look at the prophets.
The people
in the past
who spoke
on behalf
of God.
Look at
their lives.
they faced
all kinds
of suffering.
And the fact
that they served
God
and were faithful
to God
didn't lessen
their suffering.
It actually
increased
because they
stood with God.
Jeremiah
was beaten,
imprisoned
and faced
constant threats
to his life.
Ezekiel
endured
daily opposition
and rejection
and in the
middle of it
all,
his one
companion,
his wife,
his wife
dies.
Daniel,
a young man
captured and
brought to a
foreign land,
a refugee,
ends up
in the den
of lions.
Each of these
prophets
and all of them
besides,
they all
suffered
were
but they
kept on
going.
They were
patient
in their
trials.
Look at
verse 11.
As you
know,
we count as
blessed
those who
have
persevered.
persevered,
the word there,
it's the same
word for
patient.
We count as
blessed those
who have
persevered,
those who
have been
patient
in their
trials.
Despite
all their
struggles,
they were
patient
and they
received
their reward.
James talked
about that,
didn't he?
Do you remember
chapter 1?
James chapter
1 verse
12.
James chapter
1 verse
12.
Blessed
is the
one who
perseveres,
the one who
is patient
under trial
because having
stood the
test,
having gone
through all
the difficulties
and struggles,
that person
will receive
the crown
of life
that the
Lord has
promised to
those who
love him.
Rest in
the absolute
certainty
that God
will not
forget you
and God
will not
fail you
but will
ensure that
justice is
done and
suffering will
end.
The Lord
is faithful.
Of course,
the best
example from
the prophets
is Job,
isn't it?
Look at the
end of
verse 11,
chapter 5,
verse 11.
You have
heard of
Job's
perseverance
or Job's
patience
and have
seen what
the Lord
finally brought
about.
The Lord
is full
of compassion
and mercy.
Let's go
and have
a look
at Job.
His story
is recorded
for us
in Scripture.
We'll
come back
to James
but go
to Job.
It's on
page 509.
Page
509
if you're
using the
church
Bible.
Job
or
sorry,
Job.
So James
is saying
I want us
to consider
the life
of Job.
Job,
we're told
right at the
beginning,
was a
blameless,
upright,
a man who
feared God
and shunned
evil.
So if there
was anyone
who deserved
a suffering
free life,
it was Job.
But if you
know the
story,
Job suffered
greatly.
He lost
his crops
and his
herds to
raiding
thieves.
All his
financial
security is
gone in a
moment.
His
children
all die
in a
tornado.
Left
heartbroken.
And then
if that
isn't bad
enough,
on top
of all
of that,
we're
told that
he lost
his health
to a
crippling
painful
skin
disease.
Job
was a
man who
understood
and
experienced
suffering.
How did
he respond?
Well,
look at
chapter 2
verses 9
and 10.
His wife
said to
him,
are you
still
maintaining
your
integrity?
Curse God
and die.
God isn't
here to
help you,
Job.
God isn't
going to
do anything
for you.
Curse God
and die.
He replied,
you are
talking like
a foolish
woman.
Shall we
accept good
from God
and not
trouble?
In all
this,
Job did
not sin
in what
he said.
As time
passed,
his
suffering
increased.
Job's
so-called
comforting
friends who
come to
support him
actually
actually only
added to
the pain
as they
blamed
Job
for his
suffering,
saying you
must have
sinned,
you must
have done
things wrong,
God's punishing
you,
Job.
It was
adding insult
to injury.
How did
Job respond
to that?
We'll have
a look at
Job chapter
19,
verse 25.
Job 19,
verse 25.
In the
midst
of his
heartache,
in the
midst of
his
pain,
listen to
the words
of Job,
verse 25.
I know
that my
Redeemer
lives,
and that
in the
end he
will stand
on the
earth,
God will
rule.
And after
my skin
has been
destroyed,
after I
die,
yet in
my flesh
I will
see
God.
I
myself
will see
him with
my own
eyes,
I and
not another.
how my
heart
yearns
within
me.
And when
everyone
had left
Job,
and Job
was left
to himself,
and all
Job had
was the
cries of
his own
pain and
heartache,
God
speaks
into
Job's
life.
Have a
look at
Job
chapter
38,
verse
4.
Job
38,
the last
few
chapters
of
Job
is a
big
speech
from
God
speaking
to
Job.
Job
38,
verse 4,
God
speaks to
him and
he says,
where were
you when
I laid
the earth's
foundation?
Tell me
if you
understand.
Who
marked off
its
dimensions?
Surely
you know.
Who
stretched a
measuring line
across it?
Or what
were its
footing set?
Or who
laid its
cornerstone
while the
morning stars
sang together
and all the
angels shouted
for joy?
Job,
who created
and who
sustained the
universe?
Were you
there when I
put the
universe into
existence?
Job,
who rules
and controls
the stars
and the
planets
and the
tides?
Job,
who's
over your
life?
How does
Job respond?
Chapter
42,
verse 1.
Then Job
replied to
the Lord,
I know
that you
can do
all things.
No purpose
of yours
can be
thwarted.
Nothing
will ever
interfere
with the
plans and
purposes and
the promises
of God.
Job
suffered
all kinds
of injustice
but the
Lord remained
faithful to
Job.
And at
the end
of the
story of
Job,
we read
these words,
chapter 42,
verse 10.
After Job
prayed for
his friends,
the Lord
restored his
fortunes and
gave him twice
as much as
he had
before.
Verse 12,
the Lord
blessed the
latter part of
Job's life
more than
the former
part.
Verse 13,
and he also
had seven
sons and
three daughters.
Verse 16,
after this,
Job lived
140 years.
He saw
his children
and their
children to
the fourth
generation,
and so
Job died,
an old
man and
full of
years.
Consider
and think
about the
life of
Job.
Go back
to James
chapter 5.
Job.
The point
of looking
at the
life of
Job
is to
see that
in the
face of
suffering,
we are
to be
patient
like
Job
because
the Lord
is faithful.
Isn't that
what it says
at the end
of verse 11?
The Lord
is full
of compassion
and mercy.
Because the
Lord was
faithful to
the prophets
of the
past,
because the
Lord was
faithful to
Job,
the Lord
is going
to be
faithful to
you.
We may
not experience
healing in
this life.
Our troubles
may last
until we
die.
But the
Lord is
faithful and
he will
bring about
what he
has promised.
how can
I be so
sure that
God is
going to
be faithful
to me?
Well,
consider the
true and
ultimate
prophet,
the Lord
Jesus.
He has
secured
your future
by his
death on
the cross.
He has
forgiven all
your sin
and all
your failure
and that
will never
be held
against you.
He
guarantees
your
eternal
destiny
by rising
again from
the grave.
He defeated
death.
He destroyed
it.
And through
our faith
in him,
we have
the absolute
assurance
of eternal
life.
Consider
your true
prophet,
the Lord
Jesus.
My
brothers and
sisters,
rest in the
absolute
certainty
that God
will not
forget you,
God will
not fail
you.
God will
ensure that
justice is
done and
all suffering
will end.
the message
from James
is clear.
In the
face of
suffering,
be patient.
Look at
verse 12.
It's a
hard verse.
It's hard
to work
out how
it fits
in with
the rest
of what
we've
just
looked at.
But look
carefully.
He says,
verse 12,
above all
my brothers
and sisters,
do not
swear.
Don't
make
promises.
Don't
make promises
not by
heaven or
by earth
or by
anything
else.
When we
face suffering,
we can so
easily make
rash promises.
Lord,
if you get
me through
this difficulty,
I promise
I will read
my Bible
more.
Lord,
if you just
heal me,
I promise
I'm going
to serve
more at
church.
Lord,
if you
just end
this difficulty,
I promise
I'm going
to give
you more.
Have you
ever made
promises like
that in
your struggles?
I have.
I've made
many promises.
Lord,
stop the
suffering and
I promise
that I'm
going to
do better.
look,
the way
to deal
with
suffering
is not
to try
and force
God
with empty
promises.
Such
promises
only have
our own
interests
at heart.
Instead,
look at
the end
of verse
12.
All you
need to
say is
a simple
yes
or no,
otherwise
you will
be condemned.
Don't
make these
promises
you can't
keep,
which are
actually
self-centered
and focused
on your
own
desires
about
trying to
make your
life better,
which has
no interest
in God.
Just say
yes
to God's
will.
Just say
no
to your
own will.
Lord,
I accept
what you
bring into
my life
and I
will not
fight it.
I accept
what you
bring into
my life
and I
will not
fight it.
Yes
to God's
will.
No
to our
own will.
Be
patient.
Be
patient
because
in the
face of
suffering,
remember
the Lord
is
coming.
The
Lord
is
faithful.
Rest
in the
absolute
certainty
that God
will not
forget you
and God
will not
fail you,
but will
ensure that
justice is
done
and all
suffering
will end.
Be
patient.
Let's
pray.
Amen.
Father,
you know
the trials
that each
one of us
walk in
and you
know
the
sufferings
that we
will
face
in the
future.
Not
one of
us
will
go
through
life
without
heartache
or
pain.
And in
the midst
of it,
Father,
we pray
that we
will keep
to our
memory
that you
are coming
and that
you are
faithful
and that
all who
trust in
you,
all who
look
to you
have the
absolute
assurance
that you
will not
fail us.
You will
not forget
your people
but you
will ensure
that one
day justice
is done
and suffering
will end.
give us
patience,
give us
grace
until that
day.
We pray
this for
your glory
and for
your honour.
Amen.
We're
going to
sing
together.
It's an
oldie,
old songs.
Old songs
speak great
great