Moments in the life of a Pastor

James series – “The Litmus Test for life”

James 5:7-11

⁷ Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting 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 one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door! ¹⁰ Brothers and sisters, 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 count as 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.

After seeing the practice of patience and the product of patience we now see:

3. The Picture of patience. 

James points us to the picture of patience, men and women who trusted Jesus in the trials. Patience has a cloud of witnesses. Phillips Brooks was a great preacher in New England during the 19th century. He was nationally known for his sermons against slavery and His sermon on the death of Abraham Lincoln moved an entire the nation. His Yale lectures on preaching are still widely read and taught today. But you will know him best for a simple Christmas song that he wrote, “O Little Town of Bethlehem.” Even though he was very well known powerful preacher he still struggled to patiently trust. One day a friend saw him pacing back and forth in his study like a caged lion. His friend asked him what the trouble was. His reply was classic. This great man of God who seemed to have it all together said, “The trouble is, I am in a hurry. But God isn’t.” We always have to remember that the best of men are just men at best. But even recognizing that, God has given us wonderful examples of people who have passed the patience test. Hebrews 12:1 says, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with patience the race marked out for us.” Why do we need to read God ‘s Word because in it we find the faithful testimony of men and women who under pressure have practiced patiently waiting on God. The kind of patience James is highlighting here is patience in the face of persecution and suffering. That’s why he points to Job, who patiently waited on God, even though he had lost everything. Verse 11 reminds us not to focus on the current challenge but on Christs conclusion. Don’t focus on the current problems focus on the future promise. So often we get our eyes on the junk instead of on Jesus. Patience protects us from having a pity party because we are reminded that God has the final say not your problems. Job was patient and steadfast despite his tremendous sufferings and in the end he experienced God’s grace and mercy. Where is your patience? Is it like Phillips Brooks? Are you always in a hurry even when God isn’t? Have you learned to wait on God? Not waiting by sitting on your hands and doing nothing. But waiting on God by working in the light He’s given you? Are you displaying patience like a farmer does? Patiently preparing for the coming harvest. Do all the work you can, the best way you can and trust God for the results. That’s patience. Are you providing a picture of patience or a picture of panic? Is how you are currently trusting pointing people to worship Jesus or worry about the junk? Parents are you modeling patience for your kids, more things are caught than taught. Jesus is coming back. How will He find you when He returns? 

James series – “The Litmus Test for life”

 James 5:7-11

⁷ Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting 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 one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door! ¹⁰ Brothers and sisters, 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 count as 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.

After seeing the practice of patience we now come to:

2. The Product of patience – Peace – Vs 8-9

James reminds us that practicing patience produce peace with people. But a lack of patience ruins our relationships with people. He reminds us that patience doesn’t just impact our relationships right now but carries eternal consequences. And because of that James doesn’t just get down to business he gets bossy. There are two verbs right next to each other in verse 8 and both of them are imperatives. Imperatives are those kinds of words that you use when you want your kids to put down their phones and take out the trash! The first command is, “be patient.” This is not a suggestion but a scriptural command. James doesn’t allow for any loopholes or wiggle room. With the force of Scripture inspired by the Holy Spirit we are commanded to be patient. It’s not an option its obedience. Then in a parallel statement, James commands us to “take courage” that means “to strengthen” or “establish” “to make solid”. It literally means “to prop up to prevent collapse.” When James commands us to establish our hearts, he’s telling us to courageously stand firm by purpose in your heart to patiently wait on the Lord. Are you patiently working hard to prop up your heart to keep it from collapsing in the chaos? In Psalm 40:1-3, David says “I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. ² He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. ³ He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the Lord.” We don’t know what tomorrow holds but we know who holds tomorrow. We don’t have to fear the future when our faith is in God the Father. The fact that Jesus is coming again is the rock we hook our hope to. Are you anchored to the author of life or caught up in the chaos of life? The promise of His return is the hope that prop up our hearts and keeps them from collapsing. But like most things in life, you have a choice to make. Either you can patiently establish your heart in the promise of Christ’s coming. Or you can take your eyes off Jesus and put them on yourself. We do that when we removing Jesus as the only standard of judgment, replace the Savior with self as the new standard of judgment. Instead of seeing yourself and others judged by God as sinners either in need of a Savior or sinners saved by grace, you elevate yourself as judge. You unhook your anchor from the Rock and try to make yourself the rock that everyone else needs to anchor to. When we cast of patience and stop looking to Jesus as the judge we also cast of peace with people. And when we do that it’s a decision that carries eternal consequences. There is only One righteous Judge, Jesus and we are all held to His perfectly holy standard. That’s why we so desperately need God’s grace. One of these days we will all stand before Him and what do you think He will say if you have been impatiently setting yourself up as the judge instead of trusting in Jesus? Verse 9 says that He will judge us. Patiently trusting in Christ’s return, provides the power to not only courageously live for Christ in a corrupt culture without cowering, but also the power to live at peace with people without being critical and condemning. Trusting in His return doesn’t just mean being patient with our problematic circumstances but with problematic people. Why are we waiting on Jesus, what’s the hold up? 2 Peter 3:8-9, “But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. 9 The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.” It’s here that we are reminded of how patient God is with people. People come with problems that will challenge your patience but do you notice that God the Father is focus on them coming to faith not on the frustrations. One of the keys to being patient with people is a proper perspective. Many of us are making it about the frustrations instead of people coming to faith. The second key to patience is we need to focus on serving not selfishness. Notice that God’s focus is on people, His patience is centered around helping others. Look selfishness never serves patience, instead it will sever the spine of patience, leaving you crippled and callused. Many of us become impatient with people because we have put the spotlight on self not serving. Are you being patient with others and recognizing that they too are growing in grace and are not perfect.