Book of James: 5 Year Anniversary

August 20th, 2023/Casey Middle School

Story: Waiting at Pinewood. Waiting for the breakthrough in our city. Waiting for revival. We have had many seasons of waiting, but the Lord is faithful!

“Blessed is the one who endures trials, because when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” - ‭‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭12‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Passage: James 5:7-11

Therefore, brothers and sisters, be patient until the Lord’s coming.

See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth and is patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. 8 You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, because the Lord’s coming is near.

9 Brothers and sisters, do not complain about one another, so that you will not be judged. Look, the judge stands at the door! 10 Brothers and sisters, take the prophets who spoke in the Lord’s name as an example of suffering and patience.

11 See, we count as blessed those who have endured. You have heard of Job’s endurance and have seen the outcome that the Lord brought about—the Lord is compassionate and merciful.

Pray:

Background:

James is writing this letter to first century Christians with the intention to expose wrong behavior and to point people to Jesus and a better way to live. I love the book of James. It’s so practical and straightforward. The purpose of the book is to expose hypocritical practices and teach right Christian behavior. The author is James, the brother of Jesus.

One of the most prominent passages in the book is when James says “Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” (2:18) He was not only a man of faith, but he was a faithful man. He believed that genuine faith will produce good works and a changed life.

Title: Be Patient In Suffering

Main Points:

1. Look Up

   1. Therefore, brothers and sisters, be patient until the Lord’s coming.

   2. EX: Patience is not as much waiting on your desired outcome, as much as it is being faithful until He comes.

      1. “Meanwhile, friends, wait patiently for the Master’s Arrival.” Message Translation
      2. In other words, James is telling the reader “As you endure suffering and trials, wait on the Lord.” This isn’t talking about self-inflicted wounds or trying to build a business, this isn’t the “lace up your boot straps” moment, here James is referring to the hard times, the storms of life, the moments when things aren’t going your way.

      3. As you look ahead at Christ's return, you are fixing your gaze on someone bigger than your circumstance.

         1. You know the saying, “you can’t see the forest through the trees.” Meaning, you are so fixated on the circumstances that you can’t see the bigger story.
         2. For many in the room, you can’t see the Savior through your suffering. You have become so unaware of what God is doing in you, because you are worried about the suffering around you.
            3. Illust:

      4. Story of Next Gen. Retreat: I was asking God what I needed to receive and God told me to serve. This was so confusing at first, “But God, I’m not in a good place, surely I’m one of the ones that needs a prophetic word, a blessing, some prayer!” But God knew there was a bigger story going on around me.

      5. Question: What suffering are you going through right now that feels like it is consuming your life?

         1. This could be unanswered questions.
         2. Fear of the unknown future
         3. A relationship that’s bleeding you dry
         4. Financial burdens
         5. A crisis of faith
            4. App:

      6. What if today God is telling you “be patient, look up”

         1. “But God my problem is here and now” and He’s trying to get your attention and He’s saying “I’ve never left you, you’re not alone, I have a bigger story my son/daughter.” 2. Railroad Crossing Sign Pic.

         2. Stop, Look, and Listen has been a practical slogan for people to stay safe around railways. This statement became the slogan that was meant to help protect people from getting killed or greatly injured by passing trains. It was also a great song by the Styalistics in the 70’s.

         3. But I believe the slogan needs to be repeated in your own life as it relates to you suffering. Stop, pause the daily patterns and rhythms of life. Look up and see that God is still on the throne, that He is a good God, and that He is coming again. Listen to what He is telling you at this moment. Not what the voices in your head are saying, but what God is telling you to do. 3. “I just don’t know if I’ll ever find a mate” Stop, Look, and Listen. 4. “I’ll never find financial freedom” Stop, Look, and Listen. 5. “I feel hopeless and depressed” Stop, Look, and Listen.

2. Look Close

   1. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth and is patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. 8 You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, because the Lord’s coming is near. 9 Brothers and sisters, do not complain about one another, so that you will not be judged. Look, the judge stands at the door! 10 Brothers and sisters, take the prophets who spoke in the Lord’s name as an example of suffering and patience.

   2. EX: Instead of looking close, many of us want to look around. Instead of looking close, we want to compare. Instead of looking close, we want to complain.

      1. I love how the Message version paraphrases this text “You see farmers do this all the time, waiting for their valuable crops to mature, patiently letting the rain do its slow but sure work. Be patient like that. Stay steady and strong. The Master could arrive at any time.”

         1. Patiently letting the rain do its slow but sure work.
         2. This passage isn’t referring to your raised beds in your back yard or your porch tomatoes. In Jewish culture the seeds would be planted in the fall and then there would be an extended waiting period until the following spring. It was a long waiting period.
         3. Too much rain and the crop would flood and rot. Too little rain and the crop would burn up from the sun and harden the soil. Too cold of a winter and the crop would frost. How long suffering and patient a farmer must be!
         4. So why wait? Why is patience critical to the farmer's experience? Because the harvest is worth the wait.
         5. “Let us not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up.” - Galatians 6:9
         6. “28 The soil produces a crop by itself—first the blade, then the head, and then the full grain on the head. 29 As soon as the crop is ready, he sends for the sickle, because the harvest has come.”” - Mark 4:28-29
         7. James is offering us a beautiful picture of the christian life, our heart is the soil and the seed in the Word of God! “If you believe for a little today, you’ll believe for a lot tomorrow, it only takes a seed of faith, let it grow, let it grow!”
         8. Question: So how do we endure when we are in a tough season? We lean in to God, yielding to His Spirit, establishing our hearts in His Word, and we wait.
         9. If you’ve ever farmed anything before, then you know waiting isn’t going away from the harvest to some remote mountain top in a white robe and meditating. There is work to be done in the waiting. WAITING AND WORKING was the admonish of James

         10. “Blessed is that servant whom the master finds doing his job when he comes.” - Luke 12:43 2. I’m not going to linger on this passage, but I’ll mention one thing. You don’t see farmers fighting with their neighbors.

         11. Story: My grandpa was a farmer. And he was loved by everyone.

         12. Why? Because they recognize that they need each other in every season of life. And the same is true of us. 3. Then we have the prophets who were ridiculed and ultimately rejected.

         13. Elijah ran for his life

         14. Amos was mocked
         15. Micaiah was smacked in the face and put in prison
         16. Zechariah was stoned to death
         17. And Uriah was threatened, ran for his life, and then was brought back and murdered by the king
         18. And James is saying “Look at their example!”... So what is their example?! Faithfulness to God in the face of great adversity.
         19. Patience in suffering. They persevered through extreme difficulty, they endured all kinds of hardship, and they stayed faithful.
             3. Wait patiently in this season. Establish your heart in God’s Word. And stay faithful against all manner of opposition.

      2. If you don’t quit, you win. If you don’t quit, you will see the harvest in due time.

3. Look Forward

   1. 11 See, we count as blessed those who have endured. You have heard of Job’s endurance and have seen the outcome that the Lord brought about—the Lord is compassionate and merciful.
   2. You have seen the outcome that the Lord brought to Job.

   3. Job was a man blessed by God that endured unthinkable challenges. He lost his finances, family, and friends. Everything was taken from him except his health and he remained steadfast and faithful to God. God restored Job and doubled His possessions.

      1. “So the Lord blessed the last part of Job’s life more than the first.” - Job 42:12

         4. We need to look forward with HOPE knowing that the Lord is compassionate and merciful!

      2. I love Job’s response to God in chapter 42 verse 2 “I know that you can do anything and no plan of yours can be thwarted.”

         5. My final encouragement is this, if you are in suffering, experiencing a challenging and difficult season, don’t look around, don’t look inward, but LOOK TO GOD!

      3. “For I know the plans I have for you”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“plans for your well-being, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” - Jeremiah 29:11

Closing: What is our response to suffering? Prayer.

“Is anyone among you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone cheerful? He should sing praises. 14 Is anyone among you sick? He should call for the elders of the church, and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.15 The prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up; if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect.” - James 5:13-16

Invitation:

Colors & Numbers:

Main Points (On Screen)

Main Passages (On Screen)

Supplementary Passages/Thoughts (Off Screen)

Haymakers (On Screen)

Haymakers (Off Screen)

Gears To Choose (1-5)

Key Markers