Being Patient in Affliction.

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Welcome to Refinery Life Australia.

This week we continue our series from the book of James titled The practical Expression of Our Faith in Daily Living.

Today we are talking about Being Patient in Affliction.

Text

James 5:10-11 AMP

10 As an example, brothers and sisters, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord [as His messengers and representatives].

11 You know we call those blessed [happy, spiritually prosperous, favored by God] who were steadfast and endured [difficult circumstances]. You have heard of the patient endurance of Job and you have seen the Lord’s outcome [how He richly blessed Job]. The Lord is full of compassion and is merciful.

Scripture Reading

James 5:7-11 (AMP)

Exhortation

7 So wait patiently, brothers and sisters, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits [expectantly] for the precious harvest from the land, being patient about it, until it receives the early and late rains.

8 You too, be patient; strengthen your hearts [keep them energized and firmly committed to God], because the coming of the Lord is near.

9 Do not complain against one another, believers, so that you will not be judged [for it]. Look! The Judge is standing [a]right at the door.

10 As an example, brothers and sisters, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord [as His messengers and representatives].

Prayer

In Jesus name we pray.

Amen.

Introduction

Beginning with verse 7 of the final chapter of James’s epistle, James’s entire tone changed.

Note that he reverted to the word “brethren” as his word of address.

His theme in these verses is a call for steadfastness in times of great affliction and trial.

He made an appeal for several things.

James exhorted Christians to be patient under trial.

James began his letter with an exhortation in James 1:4 to, let endurance have its perfect result and do a thorough work, so that you may be perfect and completely developed [in your faith], lacking in nothing.

Then he began its conclusion with a similar appeal in James 5:7, So wait patiently, brothers and sisters, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits [expectantly] for the precious harvest from the land, being patient about it, until it receives the early and late rains.

The word therefore points to the sufferings that poor Christians were undergoing at the hands of the merciless rich, which is the theme for the first six verses of this chapter.

The inference is that all the oppression they were undergoing would be brought to justice, and they were to exercise godly patience under trial.

B. The word James used for patience is significant, it means to be long tempered, not short tempered.

It suggests a self restraint that enables one to bear insult and suffer injury without resorting to a hasty act of retaliation.

C. James told us why we are to be patient.

When James said that we are to be patient under affliction unto the coming of the Lord, he was talking not only about duration, the length of time we are to bear insult and trial, but also the reason for our willingness to be long suffering.

The idea is that suffering Christians are not to take matters into their own hands, rather, they are to know that God is able to avenge them, and they are to wait for Him to act.

2. James showed Christians how to be patient under trial.

He used three illustrations to support his point.

First, James illustrated the experience of the farmer in verse 7.

The farmer patiently waits for his land to produce a crop.

He prepares the soil, sows the seed, and keeps the fields free of grass and weeds.

Then he waits expectantly.

James made an application in verse 8, “You too, be patient; strengthen your hearts [keep them energized and firmly committed to God], because the coming of the Lord is near.”

Second, James illustrated the experience of the prophets in verse 10, “As an example, brothers and sisters, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord [as His messengers and representatives].”

There are two ways in which the prophets were an example to us, in their sufferings, and in their patience.

And finally, James illustrated the experience Job in verse 11.

We know from reading the book of Job that Job sometimes gave vent to outbursts of frustration and even anger.

But in spite of his trials, he maintained a persistent trust in God.

This is what James meant when he referred to “the patience of Job.”

He used a different word entirely from the word meaning “long suffering,” which had been using all along.

For Job did not show a great deal of long suffering, though he clearly showed steadfastness, which is the meaning of this kind of patience.

Conclusion.

The very fact that James spoke of God as “full of compassion and mercy in verse 11 suggests that our Lord feels with us when we are undergoing hard times.

The writer of Hebrews underscored this thought when he said of the Lord Jesus in Hebrews 4:15, For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize and understand our weaknesses and temptations, but One who has been tempted [knowing exactly how it feels to be human] in every respect as we are, yet without [committing any] sin.

Therefore we must remember that our Lord is hurting with us when we are enduring the hard times of life.

From it all will come the strength to grow and develop as mature sons and daughters in His family.

Until next time

Stay in the Blessings

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I really want to encourage you to be diligent with your Bible study time, because God has so much more for us than we can get from just going to church once or twice a week and hearing someone else talk about the Word.

When you spend time with God, your life will change in amazing ways, because God is a Redeemer.

Theres nothing thats too hard for Him, and He can make you whole, spirit, soul and body!

You’re important to God, and you’re important to us at www.refinerylife.org

When it comes to prayer, we believe that God wants to meet your needs and reveal His promises to you.

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