June 19, 2016 Dr. Jim Cecy The Gospel of Patience James 5:7-12 James 5:7-12 “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. You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. Do not complain, brethren, against one another, so that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door. As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 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. 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.”

I. An Operational Definition of Patience patience = Greek: makrothumeo = “slow to wrath” “long-suffering” (KJV) — a gentle tolerance — an ability to endure exasperating people and frustrating circumstances. A conquering patience... The Facets of True Patience Facet #1: True patience is being slow to anger; not quick tempered. Facet #2: True patience is refusing to retaliate and seek vengeance. Facet #3: True patience is persevering under pressure. Facet #4: True patience is overlooking the mistakes of others. Facet #5: True patience is being actively engaged; not passively giving up.

II. The Practice of Patience A. The Practice of Patience in an Evil World 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. You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.” Psalm 37:7-13 “Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him; do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who carries out wicked schemes. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; do not fret, it leads only to evildoing. For evildoers will be cut off, but those who wait for (i.e. hope in) the Lord, they will inherit the land. Yet a little while and the wicked man will be no more; and you will look carefully for his place, and he will not be there. But the humble will inherit the land, and will delight themselves in abundant prosperity. The wicked plots against the righteous, and gnashes at him with his teeth. The Lord laughs at him; for He sees his day is coming.” James 5:7 “...The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains.” The farmer must keep his eye on the future harvest where he benefits from the fruit of his labor. James 5:8 “You too be patient; strengthen your hearts for the coming of the Lord is near (i.e. at hand) ” (James 5:8) It is only as we have an eager expectation of Christ’s soon return that we can be patient and keep from retaliating against the evil in this world.

B. The Practice of Patience with Fellow Christians 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.” “complain” = Greek “stenazo” = to sigh or groan. cf. James 4:11 “Do not speak against (Greek: katalaleo) one another, brethren.” 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.” Christ the Righteous Judge is the Only One capable of accurately judging the intentions of men. cf. James 4:12 “There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you who judge your neighbor?” • Love is patient (1 Cor. 13:4) • Love covers a multitude of sins (1 Pet. 4:8) • True patience promotes the unity Christ prayed for ( cf. John 17) — “I am currently under construction...thank you for your patience.”

C. The Practice of Patience In Suffering and Persecution James 5:10-11 “As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 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.” Psalm 34:19 “Many are the afflictions of the righteous” John 16:33 “In the world you have tribulation.” 2 Timothy 3:12 “And indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ will be persecuted. Example #1: The Patience of the Prophets

Acts 7:52 “Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted.” Matthew 5:11-12 “Blessed are you when men cast insults at you, and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, on account of Me. Rejoice, and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” James 5:11 “We count those blessed who endured (Greek: hupomone = stay under)...” Whereas patience is being slow to anger and refusing to retaliate, endurance is what allows us to persevere in that situation and to be steadfast. Both patience and endurance are needed during times of suffering. Example #2: The Endurance of Job James 5:11 “You have heard of the endurance of Job...” Job 1:21 “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.” Job 2:10 “In all this Job did not sin with his lips” Job 13:15 “Thou He slay me, I will hope in Him” James 5:11 “You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord's dealings.” Job 42:12 “And the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning” Job 42:17 “Job died and old man and full of days.” James 5:11 “...the Lord is full of compassion and merciful.” • God is still full of compassion for us. God still extends His mercy toward us. 1 Corinthians 10:13 “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it.” D. The Practice of Patience in How We Speak 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.” Matthew 5:37 “Let your word “yes” be yes” and your “no” be “no”. James is referring to the practice of saying something and then adding some oath to what is said to lend credibility “Say what you mean and mean what you say.” James 5:12b “...so that you may not fall under judgment.” Matthew 12:36 “And I say to you, that every careless (i.e. useless) word that men shall speak they shall render account for it in the day of judgment.” “Lord, may my heart fear that my mouth will not mean what it says.” Conclusion: 1 Timothy 1:15-17 “It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. And yet for this reason I found mercy, in order that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience, as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.” Result #1. My demonstration of godly patience is a powerful tool for spreading the Good News of Eternal Life in Christ. The Gospel of Waiting for the Return of the Lord! The Good News of Eager Expectation in the Midst of Troubling Times! Philippians 4:5 “Let your forbearing spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near.” Result #2. My demonstration of godly patience is a substantial form a worship to our Eternal God and King who is worthy of honor and glory forever and ever .

Discussion Questions: 1. Which of the following forms of patience are you most in need of at this time in your life? • Being slow to anger? • Refusing to retaliate? • Persevering under pressure? • Overlooking the transgressions of others? • Not giving up? 2. Other than a biblical character, who in your life has best exemplified patience and endurance? 3. How often do you think about the return of the Lord in setting your heart at ease during difficult times? 4. Who are the people around you who would be most impacted for the Gospel if you were to be more patient? 5. What challenged you the most in this message and what do you specifically plan to do about that?

© 2016 Dr. James Cecy, Campus Bible Church, Fresno, CA. 93726 www.campusbiblechurch.com