Patience, Promises, & Prayer James 5:7-20 The Epistle of JAMES Patience, Promises, & Prayer James 5:7-20 © John Stevenson, 2009

Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? (Matthew 6:26)

Asking God for Wisdom (1:1-18) Hearing & Doing the Word (1:19-27)  Be a doer of the Word Problem with Partiality (2:1-13) Faith and Works (2:14-21) Taming the Tongue (3:1-12)  Be a sayer of the Word Wisdom from Above (3:13-18) Warnings… Over Quarrels & Conflicts (4:1-10) Against Arrogant Boasts (4:11-17) Against the Rich (5:1-11) About Patience & Prayer (5:12-20)

Warning against the Rich who are oppressing the Poor (5:1-11) The attitude of the Poor as they are oppressed by the Rich (5:12-20)

Patience How to get it right now!

James 5:7-8 Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains. 8 You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.

James 5:7-8 Aorist tense (“Be patient now!”) Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains. 8 You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. Aorist tense (“Be patient now!”)

The Duration of Patience James 5:7-8 Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains. 8 You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. The Duration of Patience

James 5:9 Do not complain, brethren, against one another, so that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door. The Judge is standing right at the door The poor who have been cheated by the rich… Are to be patient because…

Why are the prophets such a good example of suffering & patience? James 5:10 As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Why are the prophets such a good example of suffering & patience?

James 5:11 We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord's dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful.

James 5:12 But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but your yes is to be yes, and your no, no, so that you may not fall under judgment.

Again, you have heard that the ancients were told, “You shall not make false vows, but shall fulfill your vows to the Lord.” (Matthew 5:33).

But I say to you, make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35 or by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 But let your statement be, “Yes, yes” or “No, no”; and anything beyond these is of evil. (Matthew 5:33-37).

People of Patience People of Promise People of Prayer Christians are to be... People of Patience People of Promise People of Prayer

James 5:13 Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises.

James 5:14-15 avlei,fw From li,poj, oil Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; 15 and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him. avlei,fw From li,poj, oil

James 5:16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.

Literally, “he prayed a prayer” James 5:17-18 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. 18 Then he prayed again, and the sky poured rain and the earth produced its fruit. Literally, “he prayed a prayer”

Beware, lest your hearts be deceived and you turn away and serve other gods and worship them. 17 Or the anger of the LORD will be kindled against you, and He will shut up the heavens so that there will be no rain and the ground will not yield its fruit; and you will perish quickly from the good land which the LORD is giving you. (Deuteronomy 11:16-17).

James 5:19-20 My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, 20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.