12, James chapter 5, reading again at verse 7.
Be patient, therefore, brother Shanda, until the coming of the Lord.
! See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth,
being patient about it until it receives the early and the late rains.
You also be patient.
Are you a patient person?
I guess that's the obvious question.
When we look at these words, are you a patient person?
Or do you find at times your patience tested
and you often just want to hurry things along
and get things done in your own time?
I'm sure there's always situations where we find our patience put to the test.
For example, you might get a phone call that says,
I'll just take two or three minutes of your time
and 15 minutes later you're still on the phone
just trying to get out of this conversation
and your patience is waiting out.
Or patience when you're driving.
Maybe you're stuck behind a car that's just not going above 30 miles an hour
and you're just in a rush and you're like,
come on, get a move on.
Your patience is running out.
There's so many situations where our patience can be tested
and we see ourselves in a new light sometimes.
But what about when it comes to waiting patiently upon the Lord?
Can you sing Psalm 40 and have these words as your words
that you're waiting patiently on the Lord?
You're waiting for him in prayer.
You're waiting on him for something that's going on in your life
or just your desires for people around you or the church
and you're able just to wait patiently on the Lord.
It's a hard thing to do at times
because we all want things done in our own time.
But God's work is in his time
and his purposes work out in his ways.
His plans are not hurried
in the same way that maybe we want things hurried along.
There was a famous preacher in America called Philip Brooks
and he was noted for patience
and just his calm demeanor so often.
He was a very gentle man in so many ways
and yet at times he too suffered that frustration
of wanting things done quickly.
And there was one day when a friend was watching him
and he had started pacing back and forth on the floor
and his friend was wondering what was going on.
And so he asked him,
what troubles you, Mr. Brooks?
And Philip Brooks replied by saying,
the trouble is that I'm in a hurry but God isn't.
He was wanting things done in his time.
And so our patience is often tested
even when it comes to the things of the Lord.
We want things done.
We want things to happen.
We want people to be saved that we've been praying for.
We want to see the church grow.
We want to see things in our community changing.
But much of it has this idea of just patiently waiting on God
and waiting for him to work out his will and his purposes.
And as James is writing here to the people,
he's writing to them in a world and in a time
when their patience was being tested.
You see the heading in the ESV Bible is patience and suffering.
They were suffering for their faith.
They were seeing so many things going on around them
in their community and their patience,
their faith was being tested.
But James is writing to them
to be patiently waiting on God.
And they were being tested in so many different ways.
As you read through the book of James,
you see there was a lot of people around them
who were rich and prosperous
and seeming to get on well in life.
And this was testing the patience of God's people.
And yet as James writes,
he writes in this wisdom, in his wise ways,
and he's warning people
who are living their lives in that way,
boasting about tomorrow.
You see that at the end of chapter four,
where we read that they're going to do this,
that they're going to do that.
And the next thing,
they've got all their plans laid out
instead of waiting patiently on the Lord.
You see at the beginning of chapter five,
that warning to the rich,
where the Lord is saying to them,
look at what you have.
You've gathered up this wealth,
but it's all going to waste away.
You're putting your trust in the wrong things
because the day of the Lord is coming.
And that's going to be of no help to you.
And so after saying these things
to the people around them
who are not trusting in God,
he turns back to those who are.
When you see him,
they're calling them brothers.
In verse seven,
he's saying,
be patient,
therefore,
brothers.
He's saying,
as you look around you,
as you are Christians,
as you are trusting in the Lord,
and you're becoming impatient,
and you're wondering
why all these things are happening,
he's saying to them,
brothers,
be patient.
Be patient until the coming of the Lord.
Don't lose sight of the Lord himself.
And so this patience
is highlighted for us here
by James in verse seven to 12.
And I want us to see this patience
in three different ways.
He says,
first of all,
why patience is required,
why it's such a necessary thing.
Then we see him showing
the examples of patience.
He speaks about the prophets and Job.
So he gives us examples of patience.
And then thirdly,
we'll see just how this shows itself
in our lives,
how we should apply
this patience in our lives.
So the first thing is
the call to patience.
Be patient,
therefore,
brothers,
until the coming of the Lord.
As I said,
this is in light of the warnings
that he's given to those
who are boasting
in their plans
and their purposes,
those who are boasting
in their riches
and what they have materially.
In that,
he turns back
to God's people
and focus on
how they should live
and why.
And that phrase,
brothers,
he shows there
who he is speaking to.
He's reminding them
that they belong,
that they have a belonging
and that their belonging
is in Christ.
That they are brothers
and sisters
in Christ.
That they are the ones
who are looking
to the Lord
and are waiting
until the coming
of the Lord.
And what kind of people
are they?
Well,
they're just like us.
As we put our trust
in the Lord,
they are people
who could say,
just like Psalm 73,
that confidence in God,
the God who is patient
towards them,
they could say,
whom have I in the heaven
but you?
Nobody else but you.
And earth has nothing
I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart
may fail,
but God is the strength
of my heart
and my portion
forever.
Isn't it a blessing
and a privilege
to be able to sing
these words ourselves
and to sing them
in a way
where we know
that is our portion too.
Who do we have
in the heaven
but you,
oh Lord?
And in the earth
there's no one
I desire besides you.
We have God
with us.
God who is
patient
with us
and God
who gives
us
patience too.
For it is to him
we are to look
to
and to put our
trust in.
In the beginning
of this book
we see James
in chapter 1.
He's already made
the point
of calling the people
to be patient
under trial.
In chapter 1
verse 12
he says this
blessed is the man
who perseveres
under trial
because when he
has stood the test
he will receive
the crown of life
that God has promised
to those
who love him.
To be patient
under trial
and that there is
this reward.
He will receive
the crown of life
that God has promised
to those
who love him.
So again
he's reminding them
there
of the Lord's
great patience
towards them
and for them
to wait patiently
and for us
to wait patiently
on him
in that knowledge
of receiving
the crown of life
that God has promised
to those
who love him.
So he's reminding them
again
of this great need.
A need that's seen
throughout scripture
and throughout history.
when you think
of God's people
throughout the scriptures
as we'll see
in a few moments
examples of it
we think of just
that need
for patience
among God's people
down through
every generation
these words
have spoken
be patient
therefore brothers
until the coming
of the Lord.
So often you see
people in scripture
their patience
has gone
if it was ever there
when they're saying
where is this God
of yours?
You know if he was
going to come
he'd have come
by now.
Their patience
either was never there
or they've lost it.
The coming of the Lord
means absolutely nothing
and we see that
today
there's no interest
in God
there's no thought
that God
is coming again
that has gone
but we are told
to be different
to wait patiently
on the Lord.
John Piper
in his book
The Roots of Endurance
in that book
he highlights
the endurance
of Christians
in the past
such as
John Newton
Charles Simeon
William Wilberforce
he speaks about them
and their patience
and their waiting
on the Lord
their endurance
and he says this
the aim of all
our endurance
is that Christ
be seen
and savoured
in the world
as our glorious
God.
Isn't that a great way
of thinking of
our patience?
The aim of our endurance
our patience
is that Christ
may be seen
and savoured
in the world
as our glorious
God.
But there is
something different
in the Lord's
people.
that's why
James is here
showing them
this great need
of patience
because it is
such a powerful
witness
it is such a
powerful
example
and he's talking
here
about this
patience
this call
to patience
in a twofold
way
it's both
a patience
in the midst
of suffering
and adversity
but it's also
patience
knowing
that the Lord
is going
to deal
with all
things
again
Psalm 73
speaks about
that
and the Psalms
that we've sung
remind us
of the
greatness
of God
that he will
take all
things
in charge
that he's
in control
of all
things
that the Lord
is going
to return
and that
the blessing
of God's
people
will be
finally
fulfilled
you see
there how
he says
in verse 7
see how
the farmer
waits
for the
precious
fruit
of the
earth
being
patient
about it
until he
receives
the early
and the
late
rains
the temptation
would be
after the
early rains
to think
that's it
it's done
we can
take our
harvest up
now
but
it needs
patience
to wait
for the
late rains
to come
and again
that's the
way we
are to
live
to
waiting
patiently
on the
harvest
waiting
patiently
on the
Lord
of the
harvest
remembering
the
Lord
will
come
until
the
coming
of
the
Lord
and so
we need
patience
that's what
he was
teaching
here
that's
what we
see for
ourselves
today
we need
patience
we need
patience
in our
lives
whether it's
individually
or collectively
in our
community
in our
world
everything's
so rushed
everything needs
to be done
instantly
everything's
demands
but as we
look to
God he
teaches us
to be more
patient
to stand
firm
here as he
says to
establish
these things
in your
heart
he's talking
there about
standing
firm
on the
truth
standing
firm
on the
truth
of
God
to be
patient
in verse
8 there
to establish
your hearts
for the
coming of
the Lord
is at
hand
to stand
firm
on the
truth
of
God
so we
have
this
word
to us
our need
for
patience
the second
thing we
see here
is how
he gives
examples
of
patience
and he
looks
examples
that are
found
in scripture
of what
endurance
means
for the
Lord's
people
and in
verse 10
he says
there
as an
example
of
suffering
and
patience
brothers
take
the
prophets
who
spoke
in the
name
of
the
Lord
behold
we
consider
those
blessed
who
remain
steadfast
you
have
heard
of the
steadfastness
of
Job
and
how
you
have
seen
the
purpose
of
the
Lord
how
the
Lord
is
compassionate
and
merciful
wonderful
examples
there
for us
of
patience
what you
notice in
the New
Testament
is
the
Old
Testament
is
never
forgotten
constantly
you see
looking back
to the
Old
Testament
to the
prophets
to the
fathers
Abraham
Isaac
and Jacob
you see
looking back
always
the book
of
Hebrews
is full
of
looking
back
to the
Old
Testament
Jesus
himself
taught
so much
looking
back
to the
Old
Testament
and we
should
never
forget
the
Old
Testament
and here's
another
reminder
to us
of the
great
examples
the great
teaching
that we
have
in the
Old
Testament
as an
example
of
suffering
and
patience
consider
the
prophets
who
spoke
in
the
name
of
the
Lord
he
doesn't
mention
any
other
specific
prophets
by name
there
but you
can look
back to
them and
you can
see for
yourself
their
patience
and
suffering
you can
take for
example
Jeremiah
one of
the
prophets
you look
at him
and you
see just
how patient
he was
in the
midst
of
suffering
he
was
rejected
by his
own
people
he
suffered
at the
hands
of
foreign
kings
but
he
stood
for
the
Lord
and
he
knew
the
coming
of
the
Lord
was
in
his
own
mind
and
his
own
heart
not
knowing
exactly
when
it
would
be
but
that
this
was
going
to
come
you
look
at
Isaiah
and
the
way
that
he
was
able
to
have
this
vision
of
God
the
coming
of
Christ
the
suffering
of
Christ
as
you
see
it
in
chapter
53
and
he
stood
up
against
all
those
who
were
outspoken
against
him
who
would
not
listen
you
think
of
Habakkuk
as
we've
looked
at
Habakkuk
recently
you
think
of
the
situation
the
circumstances
that he
was
writing
into
it
would
have
been
so
easy
to
back
off
and
back
down
and
yet
consider
the
example
of
suffering
and
patience
and
prayer
in the
midst
of it
all
just
waiting
on
the
Lord
to
work
they
stood
firm
in
the
Lord
the
great
chapter
of
Hebrews
chapter
11
is
a
full
list
of
those
in
the
Old
Testament
were
believers
in
the
Lord
and
those
who
suffered
in
their
faith
and
yet
had
patience
looking
to
the
Lord
so
many
are
named
but
then
later
on
in
Hebrews
11
chapter
verse
36
and
37
they're
not
named
but it
says
this
of
them
others
suffered
mocking
and flogging
and even
chains
and imprisonment
they were
stoned
they were
sawn in
two
they were
killed
with a
sword
they went
about in
skins of
sheep
and goats
destitute
afflicted
mistreated
but they
were all
commended
for their
faith
it says
faith
waiting
patiently
on the
Lord
patience
in the
midst
of
suffering
and what
is so
great
about
this
is it
doesn't
show us
extraordinary
people
it doesn't
show us
people who
we just
look up to
and say we
can never
be like
that
they were
ordinary
people
but they
were ordinary
people
doing
extraordinary
things
through an
extraordinary
God
and it
was God
who had
given them
faith
and vision
and this
looking to
God
and trusting
in him
that's where
their patience
came from
they were
trusting
in the
coming
of the
Lord
now can
we
be spoken
of in
the same
breath
as the
prophets
do you think
you can be
put in that
list of
the prophets
and commended
for patience
well Jesus
in the
Sermon on
the Mount
includes
many people
even ourselves
in that
ceremony
says in
verse 11
and 12
of Matthew
5
blessed are
you when
others revile
you and
persecute
you and
utter all
kinds of
evil against
you falsely
on my
account
rejoice
and be
glad
for your
reward is
great in
heaven
for so
they persecuted
the prophets
who were
before you
so they
shall list
there of
God's people
to this
very day
blessed
are you
when others
revile you
and persecute
you
for they
persecuted
the prophets
who were
before you
in the same
way
and so
there is
that reminder
to us
to be
patient
in these
things
and the
example
is there
for us
we have
the example
of Job
as well
you have
heard of
the steadfastness
of Job
and you have
seen the
purpose
of the
Lord
how the
Lord
is
compassionate
and merciful
and yet
when you
look at
the outset
of Job
and the
beginning
of that
book
you think
well
how could
he possibly
have that
patience
in the midst
of all
his
suffering
and yet
he's able
to say
the Lord
gives
the Lord
takes away
blessed be
the name
of the
Lord
because
he knows
his God
he knows
who God
is
and he
knows
as it
goes on
to say
there
Job
you have
seen
the purpose
of the
Lord
how the
Lord
is
compassionate
and
merciful
in the
midst
of such
great
suffering
God
is still
compassionate
and merciful
and therefore
Job
was patient
the prophets
were patient
they are
examples
to us
of how
we are
to be
patient
too
reminding
ourselves
of chapter
1
verse 12
they will
receive
the crown
of life
as we
look to
the Lord's
return
the reward
for patience
and faith
is there
for us
and so
thirdly
and finally
we just
want to
think of
the outworking
of patience
what is it
to look
like
for the
people
here
that
James
is
writing
to
and for
ourselves
as well
well
what we
see here
is James
speak about
something he
speaks about
throughout
this book
of where
patience
is so
often
seen
and it
works out
for us
in two
ways
it works
out in
how we
deal
with each
other
how we
deal
among
ourselves
as the
Lord's
people
and also
how we
deal
with those
around
us
patience
is being
tested
often
in our
lives
we see
it so
often
but we
see it
among
the
Lord's
people
we can
see it
among
ourselves
at times
when we
can be
impatient
when we
can start
to grumble
it's
natural
because
we're
sinners
and yet
what do
we do
when we
start to
find
ourselves
in
that
well
we're
going back
to that
word
patience
but it
also
says
in
verse
9
do
not
grumble
against
one
another
brothers
so that
you may
not
be
judged
behold
the
judge
is
standing
at
the
door
and what
James is
saying
here
he says
it
too
in
verse
12
but
above
all
brothers
do
not
swear
either
by heaven
or by
earth
he's
talking
there
about
what
we
say
our
speech
and
it's
so
often
something
that
James
highlights
in
this
book
seen
as a
book
of
the
New
Testament
Proverbs
the
wisdom
book
in
the
New
Testament
and
he's
talking
here
about
our
relationship
among
each
other
our
relationship
with
those
around
us
and
how
so
often
boils
down
to
how
we
speak
to
each
other
and
James
he has
a whole
section
on this
in chapter
3
verse 1
to verse
12
I'm sure
you've read
it
I'm sure
we've all
tried to
apply it
to our
lives
taming
the tongue
where he
speaks about
the power
of the tongue
of how
our words
from such
a small
thing
the tongue
of the
damage
that the
tongue
can cause
and so
it
goes on
it
speaks
much
of
the
power
of
the
tongue
and so
as he
speaks
here
of
patience
it so
much
boils
down
to
just
how
we
speak
with
one
another
do we
grumble
against
one
another
do we
speak
ill
against
each
other
or
against
those
around
us
what
are we
saying
about
people
what
are we
saying
to
people
how
are we
dealing
with
them
the
tongue
can
do
a lot
of
damage
but
in our
patience
in our
patience
looking to
God
the tongue
can be
used for
great things
as well
it has a
healing
power
and it's
far better
to use
it
for that
so as we
look at
number
verse 9
do not
grumble
against
one another
be patient
with each
other
be kind
to each
other
encourage
one
another
so we
are to
be
patient
in our
fellowship
we are
also to
be
patient
with
those
around
us
you
think
of
another
example
of
that
from
the
Old
Testament
Daniel
you take
Daniel
as an
example
of
patience
and
dealing
with
those
around
him
who
did
not
trust
God
who
did
not
believe
God
Daniel
chapter
6
tells
us
the
story
of
Daniel
being
thrown
into
the
lion's
den
because
he
wouldn't
compromise
his
faith
he
stood
firm
and
God
shielded
him
God
was
patient
towards
him
and
he
was
patient
towards
God
he
didn't
turn
against
God
but
he
trusted
God
and
what
was
the
outcome
King
Darius
declared
that
the
nation
was
to
worship
Daniel's
God
his
patience
his
long
suffering
was
seen
by
those
around
him
the
wonder
of
God
protecting
him
was
seen
by
those
around
him
and
King
Darius
declared
that the
nation
should
worship
Daniel's
God
you see
there the
power
of our
Christian
witness
and what
kind of
Christian
witness
do we
have
what do
we say
to those
around
us
how do
we
say
it
there's
so much
we would
maybe
long
to
say
there's
so much
so many
arguments
we might
want to
enter
into
but let
us be
careful
how we
speak
let us
be careful
what we
say
so that
we can
learn the
lessons
that we
see
throughout
scripture
by showing
love
and compassion
and still
being steadfast
in the
word of
God
that we
might heap
burning
coals
on their
head
as it
says
elsewhere
and they
might see
something
in us
of the
wonder
of God
the
patience
of God
towards
us
that we
have come
to know
a saviour
who has
been patient
with us
a people
who are
lost
and helpless
like we
sung in
psalm 103
the wonder
of God's
patience
towards
us
that he
has shown
us
steadfast
love
that he
has shown
us
compassion
and forgiveness
and all
of these
things
let us
learn
above all
from the
example
of Christ
the one
who showed
patience
the one
who showed
mercy
and grace
and long
suffering
the one
who endured
the cross
for our
sakes
that is above
all what
James is
teaching the
people here
to keep
faith
in the
Lord
Jesus
Christ
be
patient
therefore
brothers
until the
coming
of the
Lord
that their
focus
is to be
on the
Lord
and that
they are to
be patient
with him
and with
those
around them
so let us
endeavor to
learn
patience
the patience
that depends
on God
alone
and is secure
in Christ
as our
Lord
and as we
wait
his
return
let us
do so
seeing the
need
for patience
the need
is there
before us
it's such
a powerful
thing
to be
patient
in the
midst
of
everything
that comes
our way
I'm sure
we can all
as we've
heard of
examples
in the
Old Testament
as we see
examples
in the
New Testament
as we think
of the
examples
that John
Piper
highlighted
William
Wilberforce
John
Newton
and others
we can all
look at
examples
we see
around us
too
of people
who are
patient
people whose
faith
and endurance
in the
midst of
great trials
and suffering
has been
such a
powerful
witness
that we
would have
that patience
too
and pray
for that
patience
ourselves
and that we
would put
that patience
into practice
among ourselves
and among
all of God's
people together
and in the
world
and in the
world
in which
we live
that our
patience
would be
seen
and make
people wonder
how can
they be so
patient
what is it
that gives
them that
patience
in the midst
of everything
that's going
on
it is the
Lord
it's the
Lord's
wonderful
patience
and grace
and mercy
towards us
that gives
us patience
to endure
to go
on
and to
be strong
and to
stand
firm
in the
Lord
and to
endure
waiting
on the
Lord's
return
let us
pray
our
father in
heaven
we thank
you that
in so many
things that
we lack
that we can
pray to you
as the one
who is able
to provide
you know
the book of
James we read
of a lack
of wisdom
and when we
do we can
ask God
who gives
so graciously
and when we
think of
patience Lord
we acknowledge
how much we
lack it at
times and
how much we
need it more
and more
and we thank
you that as
we come in
prayer to you
that you are
able to give
it to us
that we would
learn from your
word of the
need of it
that we would
see the great
examples given
to us and
that we would
be reminded
of the great
reward that
there is for
those who
wait on the
Lord who will
receive the
crown of life
and so help
us to practice
patience among
ourselves and
with those around
us too that
you would help
us to be
witnesses and
examples through
these things to
others that they
might see the
beauty of Christ
one who endured
for us so much
hear our prayers
continue with us
Lord go before
us pardon all
our sin as we
ask it in Jesus
name Amen