Aug. 20, 2025
“ENCOUNTERS WITH GOD”
“THE POWER OF PATIENCE”
JAMES 5:7-12
Three times James reminds us of the coming of the Lord (5:7, 8, and 9). This is the "blessed hope" of the Christian (Titus 2:13). We do not expect to have everything easy and comfortable in this
present life.
John 16:33 “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
Acts 14:22 “strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.”
But the question we must answer is: How can we as Christians experience this kind of patient endurance as we wait for the Lord to return? To answer that question (and need), James gave three encouraging examples of patient endurance.
1. The Farmer- James 5:7-9
James 5:7 “Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain.”
Hosea 6:3 “Let us know, Let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord. His going forth is established as the morning; He will come to us like the rain, Like the latter and former rain to the earth.”
Why did he willingly wait so long?
Galatians 6:9 “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”
Mark 4:28-29 “For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. 29But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”
James 5:8 “You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.”
Luke 8:11 “Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.”
Jeremiah 4:3 “For thus says the Lord to the men of Judah and Jerusalem: “Break up your fallow ground, And do not sow among thorns.”
Romans 1:11 “For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established.”
“Keep working and waiting" was his admonition:
Luke 12:43 “Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.”
James 5:9 “Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door!”
2. The Prophets- James 5:10
What encouragements do we receive from their example?
Matthew 5:10-12 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
James 5:10 “My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience.”
2 Timothy 3:12 “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”
It has been said, "The will of God
will never lead you where the grace of God cannot keep you.”
Revelation 22:12 “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.”
Romans 15:4 “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.”
3. Job- James 5:11
James 5:11 “Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.”
When do "blessings" come?
Job 2:3 “Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil? And still he holds fast to his integrity, although you incited Me against him, to destroy him without cause.”
In the end, God rebuked the friends for telling lies about Job:
Job 42:7 “And so it was, after the Lord had spoken these words to Job, that the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “My wrath is aroused against you and your two friends, for you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.”
Job 13:15 “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him.”
What did Job's story mean to the believers James wrote to, and what does it mean to us today?
When you find yourself in the fire, remember that God keeps His gracious hand on the thermostat!
Job 23:10 “But He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.”
What is the answer?
2 Corinthians 12:7-9 “And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
James 5:12 “But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your “Yes” be “Yes,” and your “No,” “No,” lest you fall into judgment.”
Job 1:21-22 “And he said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord.” 22In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.”
Surely James is reminding us of our Lord's teaching in the Sermon on the Mount:
Matthew 5:34-37 “But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. 37But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.”
Matthew 26:71 “And when he had gone out to the gateway, another girl saw him and said to those who were there, “This fellow also was with Jesus of Nazareth.”
"Be patient, for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh!"
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