1. Patience in Suffering or The Agony and the Ecstasy James 5:7-12

2. [7] Be patient, therefore, brothers, 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. [8] You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. [9] Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. [10] As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

3. [11] Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.[12] But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.

4. The Agony and the Ecstasy Our Roadmap: 1) The Coming of the Lord 2) Preparations for hard times 3) A Man of His Word

5. The Coming of the Lord  “Therefore”  “Be Patient”  Our Lord’s imminent return as the underlying theme  “...the Judge is standing at the door.”  Matt 7:1-2 “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.

6. The Coming of the Lord  Suffering while waiting for His coming  1 Pet 4: 12-13 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.

7. The Coming of the Lord  Suffering while waiting for His coming  John 15:18-19 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

8. Preparation for hard times  3 things:  (#1) - “Establish your hearts” ver 8  1 Thess 3:12-13...may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.  Looking past the suffering to “the Coming of the Lord”

9. Preparation for hard times  3 things:  (#2) - Do not grumble  Grumble: Place blame, or be short tempered or argumentative  The Prophets and Job are our examples

10. Preparation for hard times  3 things:  (#3) - God is Compassionate and Merciful  Psalm 103:8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.  Psalm 111:1-4 Praise the LORD! I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation. Great are the works of the LORD, studied by all who delight in them. Full of splendor and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures forever. He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered; the LORD is gracious and merciful.

11. A Man of His Word  Ver 12 “...do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no,...”  James quotes Jesus from Matt 5:33-37  Matt 12:36  The man or woman of God should be truthful

12. A Man of His Word  Colorful adjectives  Casual conversation  Matt 12:36-37 “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”  My Challenge to you: let your words stand on the validity of your character, as one whose foundation is Jesus Christ.

13. Conclusion  Suffering is a part of the life of one who follows Jesus Christ.  We are to prepare for hard times and suffering  We are to establish our hearts  “Do not grumble”  Remember that our Lord God is compassionate and merciful  Don’t give in to swearing oaths or using colorful adjectives

14. Conclusion  The Big Idea:  Live your life in the full knowledge that our Lord and Savior’s return is imminent.

16. Patience is the self-restraint which does not hastily retaliate against a wrong -R.J. Knowling

17. Steadfastness is the temper which does not easily succumb under suffering. - R.J. Knowling