Look forward to catching up with you over tea and coffee.
Amelia is going to come and read for us from James.
So if you want to look up there.
Moving from James 5 verse 7 to 12.
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 simple yes or no, otherwise you will be condemned.
Thank you very much, Amelia.
We're just taking a break this week from our studies in Genesis.
We're going to be looking at James 5, so let's keep our Bibles open there.
And we're going to pray and ask for God's help.
Let's pray.
Father, we thank you that you are the God who meets us in our need
and holds us by your right hand,
your strong, caring and protective hand.
And we ask now that you would speak to us
so that you might help us
in our lives individually and corporately together as your people.
For we need you.
We need your blessing.
So help us now, we pray in Jesus' name.
Amen.
So how do you cope with trials and struggles?
When you face a particular suffering,
how do you deal with it?
How do you respond to it?
If you're treated unjustly and accused falsely,
do you seek revenge?
Or if you experience a fallout in a relationship,
do you simply just give up?
Or you receive news of an unwanted diagnosis,
are you bitter?
Or your closest friend suddenly dies,
are you angry?
Perhaps like me, when things come that we don't want,
we just hope and pray that God will make it all stop
and all go away.
Well, James is writing to Christians
who are facing all kinds of suffering.
Just look how he started his letter.
Go back to chapter 1 with me for a minute.
Chapter 1, verse 2.
This is how he started out.
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,
whenever you face trials of many kinds.
He doesn't say if you face trials,
but whenever you face trials.
In other words, we're not going to go through
a suffering-free life.
In fact, we're to expect it.
We're to prepare for it.
We will face trials, verse 2,
of many kinds.
So I wonder, what is your trial today?
Maybe it's physical health concerns.
Maybe it's a relational issue.
Could be spiritual.
Maybe a combination of all of them.
But the message is very clear.
Suffering is the normal experience of life.
And we need to know how to respond
when we come across it.
So how do we respond?
Well, let's go back to chapter 5.
Because surprisingly,
we're encouraged to be patient.
Look at verse 7.
Be patient then, brothers and sisters.
Verse 8.
You too be patient.
Well, patient in what?
Well, look at verse 10.
Brothers and sisters,
as an example of patience
in the face of suffering.
Be patient.
I mean, have you any idea
what it's constantly like
to be in trouble?
To wait for years
for a consultant?
To experience heartache and hardship?
What planet are you on, James?
What do you mean,
be patient?
I'm suffering here.
I want it to end
and I want it to stop right now.
Patience?
Is that the best you can offer me?
Well, patience doesn't mean
just put up and shut up.
Patience is a demonstration
of faith.
Patience means
resting in the absolute certainty
that God will not forget you
or fail you,
but will ensure that
all suffering will end.
That's our big theme.
Resting in the absolute certainty
that God will not forget you
or fail you,
but will ensure that
all suffering will end.
So when you receive
bad news from your doctor,
be patient.
When you find the job
that you're in a struggle,
be patient.
When you experience
an injustice,
be patient.
When we face trials
of many kinds,
be patient.
patient.
In the face of suffering,
James gives us
two reasons
why we can be patient.
Here's the first one.
The Lord is coming.
Verse 7.
Be patient then,
brothers and sisters,
until the Lord's coming.
We see the same in verse 8.
You too,
be patient
and stand firm
because the Lord
is coming near.
When the Lord Jesus returns,
all wrongs will be put right,
all hurts are going to be healed,
and every storm
will be stilled.
For the Christian,
the message is clear.
Your trials
are not forever.
Did you notice
what it said in verse 7?
Be patient
until
the Lord's coming.
So there will come a time
when we don't need patience anymore.
Verse 8.
You too,
be patient
and stand firm
because the Lord's coming
is near.
Suffering will one day
end.
Because the Lord is coming,
because it is certain,
I can be patient.
He gives us an example
of what that patience is
in the rest of verse 7.
Think about the farmers.
See how the farmer waits
for the land
to yield its valuable crop,
patiently waiting
for the autumn
and spring rains.
Well, we get rain
all the time,
don't we?
Maybe too much of it
and if you're a farmer,
you're probably
complaining a lot.
In other countries,
rains come just
twice a year,
autumn
and spring.
And if there's no rain,
there's no fruit,
there's no produce,
there's no crops,
the farmer will do
what he can,
he'll plant his seed
and then wait
patiently.
And then wait
patiently.
Although the dry season
may last for weeks
and months,
the rains do come.
Well, in the same way,
he's telling us
that the hardships
and the heartaches
that we endure,
they may seem like
they never end.
They just go on and on.
But the rains are coming.
The end will come.
In the Bible,
the rains,
the rainy season,
is symbol of God's promise
to renew
and to restore all things.
If you keep your finger
in James 5
and go back to Psalm 126,
we'll see an example of this.
Psalm 126.
So we're thinking
of the rainy seasons
as a symbol of God's
restoration and renewal.
And in this psalm,
the writer is looking back
to better days,
to good days.
Verse 2,
he tells us,
our mouths were filled
with laughter,
our tongues with songs
of joy.
That it was said
among the nations,
the Lord has done
great things for them.
Those were good times,
the best of times.
But now it seems
there is a season
of suffering.
And the cry goes out,
verse 4,
restore our fortunes,
Lord,
like streams in the Negev,
waiting for the rains
to come.
Those who sow with tears
will reap
with songs of joy.
You see,
today may be
a season of tears,
longing,
waiting,
hoping,
but a day
is coming
when there will be
songs of joy.
Let's go back
to James 5.
The rains of renewal
and restoration
are coming.
So,
rest in the
absolute certainty
that God will not
forget you
or fail you,
but will ensure
that all suffering
will end.
Now,
because the Lord
is coming,
it shapes
how we live
today,
right now.
Two things here
because of the
Lord's coming.
He tells us
to stand firm,
verse 8.
You too
be patient
and stand
firm
because the
Lord is coming.
When the
storms come
upon us,
when we're
drowning
and struggling
to breathe,
when the waves
crash upon us,
we can
stand
firm.
We stand
firm
on the
promises of
God
that He
is coming.
That is our
anchor.
That is our
rock and refuge.
That is what
will give me
hope.
This is the
confidence
and assurance
we have.
Despite the
trials we may
go through,
God has not
abandoned me.
He has me
in the grip
of His
right hand,
His strong
and mighty
hand.
He will not
forget me
or fail me.
The fact
that the
Lord is
coming
means I
can stand
firm.
But not
just stand
firm.
In our
patience and
in our
waiting,
He also
says to us,
don't grumble.
That's a hard
one, isn't
it?
Verse 9,
don't grumble
against one
another,
brothers and
sisters.
You see,
when we go
through trials,
the danger is
we can look
around us
and begin to
compare ourselves
to others.
Their life
is easy.
Why don't
they ever
struggle?
If only
they knew
what it was
like.
And as
we look at
the lives
of other
people and
we compare
ourselves to
them,
we can
get bitter.
We can
become angry.
At times
we grumble
and complain.
We can
even begin
to take our
hurts out
on others
and in our
pain we can
lash out.
Well,
He says
something to
us here.
Do you see
it at the
end of verse
9?
Don't
grumble
or you
will be
judged.
The judge
is standing
at the
door.
The judge
is coming.
The Lord
Jesus is
coming.
And when
He comes
He will
put everything
right.
We don't
have to do
that.
He will
make it
right.
So don't
grumble.
The Lord
is coming.
Rest in
the absolute
certainty
that God
will not
forget you
or fail
you.
But will
ensure that
all suffering
will end.
Oh,
you say,
Johnny,
that's brilliant.
The Lord's
coming.
When's that?
That could be
another 10 or
20 years.
What about
now?
The heartaches
and the
struggles are
still with
me.
I know
He's
coming.
Well,
here's the
second reason
to be
patient.
The Lord
is faithful.
Look at
verse 10.
Brothers
and sisters,
as an
example of
patience in
the face
of suffering,
take the
prophets who
spoke in
the name
of the
Lord.
Remember
the prophets?
People like
Jeremiah,
Isaiah?
They were
those who
spoke God's
word on
behalf of
God.
Well,
you read
their stories
and they
faced all
kinds of
suffering.
In fact,
it seems to
be that those
who were
prophets and
those who
served God,
it didn't
lessen their
suffering.
It actually
increased it.
And of course,
the best example
of one of the
prophets who
suffered greatly
is Job.
That's what we're
reminded of if you
look at the
middle of verse
11.
You have
heard of
Job's
perseverance
and have
seen what
the Lord
finally brought
about.
He's saying,
do you remember
the story of
Job?
Do you
remember?
Well,
let's go to
chapter 38
of Job.
Job chapter
38.
The beginning
of Job,
if you don't
know it,
tells us that
Job was a
blameless
and upright
man, one
who feared
God and
shunned evil.
He was a
good guy.
He was a
good community
person.
He loved
the Lord.
And if
anyone deserved
a suffering
free life,
it was
Job.
But yet
his life
was filled
with all
kinds of
suffering.
He lost
all his
crops and
all his
herds.
All his
financial
security ripped
from beneath
him.
If that
wasn't bad
enough, all
his children
died in a
tornado when
the house
collapsed upon
them.
And then
he lost
his health.
to a
crippling
painful
skin
disease.
And as
time
passed, the
sufferings only
seemed to get
worse.
His so-called
comforting
friends, well
they began to
point the
finger and
blame him.
Well, Job,
you know what?
If you didn't
do this or you
didn't do that,
then these
sufferings wouldn't
be happening
to you.
It was
insult to
injury.
And as the
account of
Job's life
concludes, we
find him
alone in
his pain.
And then
God speaks.
What would
God say?
What does he
say to us
today in our
suffering?
Well, look at
verse 4,
Job chapter
38.
With all our
questions and
wonderings, God
asks us
questions.
Where were
you when I
laid the
earth's
foundation?
Tell me if
you understand.
Who marked
off its
dimensions?
Surely you
must know.
Who stretched
a measuring
line across
it?
on what
were its
footings set?
Or who
laid its
cornerstone
while the
morning stars
sang together
and all the
angels shouted
for joy?
Job, were
you there at
the beginning
of time?
Who created
the universe?
Was it you?
Who rules
and controls
all things?
Job, who
is over
your life?
And the
questions
continue.
And then
finally Job
responds,
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.
God's
plan,
that his
people will
persevere
in the
greatest of
trials and
struggles.
God's
plan to
make sure
his people
make it to
the end
can't be
thwarted.
It can't
be derailed.
God is
faithful.
Remember
what we
sang in
one of
our
songs
earlier?
This is
what it's
calling for.
And I
will trust
the hands
that made
the starry
heavens.
And I
will trust
the wounds
of Calvary.
And I
will trust
and I
will not
be afraid
for all
his ways
are love.
the hands
that made
the universe,
the hands
that were
crucified
for you
and for
me,
the hands
that will
be upon
our life
and will
make sure
that we
get to
the end
will never
ever fail
us.
God is
faithful.
Let's go
back to
James.
You see,
suffering
can knock
us and
crush us.
We can
doubt and
we can
question.
But no
suffering,
no trial
can shake
the steadfast
faithfulness
of God.
He created
you.
He sustains
you.
God is
fully and
faithfully
committed
to you.
His plans
to keep
you cannot
be broken.
Look at
the end
of verse
11.
He says,
you have
heard of
Job's
perseverance
and have
seen what
the Lord
finally brought
about.
Job's
life was
restored.
He was
blessed with
a new
family and
with great
wealth.
But here's
the point
of the text.
Do you
see it
there?
The
Lord
brought
it
about.
The
Lord was
with
Job
and
assured
that he
would
persevere
and not
give up
and that
he would
receive.
Now I'm
sure that
in your
suffering
sometimes we
wonder if I'm
ever going to
make it.
Some days
it's like
we're on a
knife edge
and we
can take
no more.
But the
God of
Job
is our
God too.
He is
faithful
and he
will bring
about what
he promised.
So rest
in the
absolute
certainty
that God
will not
fail you
or forget
you
but will
ensure that
all suffering
will end.
doubt.
And if
we do
doubt
and sometimes
we do
we're given
two great
assurances
of why the
Lord is
faithful.
Here's the
first one.
It comes at
the end of
verse 11.
The Lord
is full
of compassion.
You know
when God
introduced
himself at
the beginning
of the
Bible story
he reveals
who he is
and this is
what he says
about his
name,
about his
character.
He says
the Lord
the compassionate
and gracious
God.
That's how
God wants
us to know
him.
He says
I am
compassion.
You see
compassion
expresses that
deep love
and concern
he has for
his people.
It's a
gut reaction
to our
need.
God's
natural
instinct
is to
enter
into our
hurts.
He moves
towards
sufferers
not away
from them.
He embraces
the weak.
He doesn't
shun them.
He holds
close the
broken.
He doesn't
rebuke
them.
a friend
of mine
was telling
me just
this week
down at
the GAA
grounds,
Wednesday
night was
a first
night for
mums to
try out
GAA.
And there
was about
90 of them
there on
the pitch.
All the
children were
corralled
into an
enclosed
area
nearby.
And in
the midst
of all
the noise
and all
the games
and activity
there was
just a
silence.
And then
there was
a cry
went out.
Mom!
And they
said in
unison these
90 mums
just turned
around and
just started
walking
towards where
all the
kids were
corralled.
Compassion.
compassion.
Moving
towards
the
suffering.
God
knows your
cry before
a word is
even spoken.
Your
suffering
matters to
God.
Compassion
is his
reaction.
But he's
not just
full of
compassion.
He is
full of
mercy.
Full of
mercy.
God's
mercies are
seen every
day in
the air we
breathe and
the food we
eat.
He doesn't
come looking
for faults.
He doesn't
look for a
reason to
blame.
He doesn't
come and
say come
on get on
with it
try harder.
No he
gives to
us regardless
of what we've
done or
how we
are.
One writer
puts it
like this
God never
ever stops
being God.
He never
stops being
merciful.
Even when
the clouds of
darkness loom
his mercies
never cease.
Every day
we wake up
with a
heartache
God's
mercy meets
us.
every
hardship we
encounter
God's
mercy will
be new.
The Lord
is full of
compassion and
mercy.
And if
ever we
should doubt
it look at
the hands
of Calvary
where Christ
entered with
compassion
into the
mess and
brokenness of
our lives
and in
his mercy
and kindness
took our
sin upon
himself and
died for
us.
If God
gave us the
greatest gift
his son
how much
more
will he
graciously give
to us
all that we
need.
Compassion
and mercy
moment by
moment
day after
day
year after
year.
rest in
the absolute
certainty
that God
will not
forget you
or fail
you but
will ensure
that all
suffering will
end.
So
patience
the message
is clear
in the face
of our
suffering
be patient
verse 12
above all
my brothers
and sisters
do not
swear
he's not
talking here
about bad
language but
he's saying
don't promise
don't make
promises
don't
don't make
promises by
heaven or by
earth or
anything else.
Well what
could he mean
what's he on
about well
when we
face suffering
we can easily
make rash
promises
can't we
Lord if you
if you just
get me through
this difficulty
I promise
I'll read
my Bible
more.
Lord if
you just
heal me
I'm going
to serve
more in
the church.
Lord if
you would
just end
this difficulty
I promise
I will give
more.
You ever
bartered
with God
like that?
I have.
Lord if
you just
stop the
suffering I
promise I
will do
better I'll
be good.
The way
to deal
with suffering
is not to
try and
force God
with empty
promises.
We believe
his promises.
We trust
his promises.
Don't make
rash promises
about ourselves
of things
we can do
which we
will never
keep.
Turn
instead to
God
who is
coming.
The God
who is
faithful.
End of
verse 12
all you need
to say is a
simple yes
or no
otherwise
you will be
condemned.
Just say
yes to
God's
promise
no to
the making
of our
kinds of
promises.
Lord I
trust you.
I don't
understand it
all.
But you
are coming.
Suffering
will end.
And as I
wait
you are
faithful.
You are
full of
compassion and
mercy.
So
together
let us
rest in the
absolute
certainty
that God
will not
forget you
or fail
you but
will ensure
that all
suffering will
end.
Let's
pray.
Father you
know
the struggle
and the
trial
that each
one here
may face.
Father you
know the
ones that
we can
share and
the inner
ones the
deep ones
that we
feel we
can't.
Thank you
that you
understand us.
Thank you
that you
care for
us.
Thank you
that you
move towards
us and
you react
with
compassion
and mercy.
Thank you
father for
the great
and wonderful
promise
that you
are coming
the new
heavens and
the new
creation
will one
day be
ours to
enjoy
and on
that day
it'll
all be
over.
Father
please give
us strength
that we
may trust
your promise
that you
will faithfully
keep us
till that
end.
We praise
you and
thank you
in Jesus
name.
Amen.
Well I
couldn't find
a hymn
about
patience
but I
think it
does say
something
about
patience
and we
can sing
about
the
peace
that we
have
from
the
Lord.
If
you're
able to
stand
and sing