2 The Epistle of James

3 James Part 10 – Patience James 5: Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. 8 You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. 9 Don’t grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!

4 James Part 10 – Patience Long-Suffering The word translated as patient in this passage is the Greek word makrothumeo, which means to be patient, long-suffering, enduring. It is a compound word: makros (long) + thumos (temper, passion) So, patient, here, means long tempered, putting up with a lot

5 James Part 10 – Patience Perseverance The word translated here as persevere is the Greek word hupomeno, which means to remain, endure, persevere The noun form (v11) is also sometimes translated as “patience”

6 James Part 10 – Patience Be Patient, Then Until the Lord's Coming Like a farmer! Have you ever been to a farm? The farmer plants in the winter or spring He has to wait for days or weeks before any sign of the seedlings He has to water, cultivate, weed, and wait for months before he can bring in the harvest Farmer are among the most calm, patient people on earth – they have to be!

7 James Part 10 – Patience Don't Grumble at Each Other What is a natural response to petty trouble? When the car breaks down When the plumbing leaks Grumble about or at somebody else! Maybe even about something else! James tells us (v9) that this grumbling is wrong, and will be judged

8 James Part 10 – Patience 10 Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 As you know, we consider 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. [NIV]

9 James Part 10 – Patience Remember the Prophets of Old -- v10 No one wanted to hear what they had to say Elijah – Death threats and nervous breakdown Jeremiah – Imprisoned for what God wanted him to say to the king Others were killed for their testimony We should be patient like they were

10 James Part 10 – Patience Remember Job – v11 Read the book of Job sometime When you are having a bad day As happened with Job, God is still in control and the final words have not yet been written

11 James Part 10 – Patience Interlude: Stop Swearing -- v12 James is simply repeating what Jesus taught in the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:33-37) What more can we add to that? Honesty is not ensured by more words, even words about heaven, earth, God, thunder, or whatever Honesty is just that, honest Yes means yes, the truth No means no the truth

12 James Part 10 – Patience 13 Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. 14 Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. [NIV]

13 James Part 10 – Patience The Antidote to Impatience is Prayer If you are in trouble, pray! -- v13 If you aren't, sing praise If you are sick, call for the elders of the church to pray for you – v14-15 Is there something magical about the oil? No, it is just a symbol of the Lord's favor Jesus taught us (Matthew 18:20), that there is something powerful, something special about corporate prayer We are parts of a body, not “Lone Rangers”.

14 James Part 10 – Patience Remember Elijah – v17-18 Recall the series on Elijah He was a man just like us, no better, no worse But he was connected to a great God And even Elijah needed help, an apprentice named Elisha – 1 Kings 19:16

15 James Part 10 – Patience Postscript: Bring Them Back -- v19-20 We have free will Because we are created in the image of God We are free to wander away from the truth Exactly what this means is unclear Theologians and scholars have debated it for at least 1500 years No one is immune, not Barnabas, not even Peter – Galations 2:11-14 Anybody can pick up wrong ideas, wrong ways of thinking

16 James Part 10 – Patience What is Truth? Jesus claimed to be the Truth (and the Way, and the Life) So, truth is above all rooted in the person of Jesus Christ If an idea contradicts Jesus, it is false Second, scriptures proclaim the truth Jesus argued from the scriptures extensively – See Matthew 22:29-32 for just one example Paul reinforced this – 2 Timothy 3:16 The Bereans should be our example – Acts 17:11

17 James Part 10 – Patience Bring Them Back If somebody does wander away Bring them back to the truth, gently (Galatians 6:1) You will save them from death And save them from many sins