PM Sermon Outline: 02/18/2023
Patience: Finding the Farmer in You (James 5:7,8)
Bro Avery Hines
When everything is going our way, patience is easy. The true test of patience comes when our rights are violated, when another car cuts us off in traffic; when we are treated unfairly; when our coworker derides our faith, again. Some people think they have a right to get upset in the face of irritations and trials. Impatience seems like a holy anger. The Bible, however, praises patience as a fruit of the Spirit which should be produced for all followers of Christ. Patience reveals our faith in God’s timing, omnipotence, and His love. Remember we just talked about examining ourselves with the patience of God?
What is Patience?
In the dictionary, "patience" has several meanings:
bearing pains or trials calmly and without complaining,
not being hasty or impetuous,
being steadfast despite opposition or adversity, and
showing restraint under provocation or strain.
Although most people consider patience to be a passive waiting or gentle tolerance, most of the Greek words translated “patience” in the New Testament are active, robust words. Consider, for example,
Heb 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. Do you run a race by submissively waiting for slow-pokes or quietly enduring cheaters; no! The word “patience” in this verse means “endurance.” A Christian runs the race patiently by persevering through difficulties. In the Bible, patience is persevering towards a goal, enduring trials, or expectantly waiting for a promise to be fulfilled.
We often think of patience (or being patient) as something nonthreatening, but the dictionary definitions and Bible imply that pain, trials, adversity, and strain may also be involved…
Jas 1:2,3 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. Jas 1:4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
Peter said if you do wrong and take your punishment in stride, so what? You please God when you are cheated, persecuted, after you’ve given your all you show patience. Paul said we should triumph when our patience is tested, because those things give us experience and hope.
In the Bible, the idea of perseverance is often mentioned in the same verse with the example of patience…
Mat 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Gal 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Heb 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
Heb 10:36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
Well, look at what Galatians said, let us not be weary (in other words be patient) so we can endure until that due season when being patient pays off.
The Bible also frequently mentions a promise along with patience and perseverance…
Psa 37:8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. Psa 37:9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.
Psa 37:34 Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.
Psa 40:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
Heb 6:12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Listen to the chosen passage for this message…
Jas 5:7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.
James gives the perfect example of patience; be a farmer, especially during the crop season and the weather a slow to participate. They just don’t quit being farmers; no, they’re patient, they wait.
Jas 5:8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. Jas 5:9 Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.
Jas 5:10 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. Jas 5:11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
Job was patient and endured and God gave twice everything he lost.
Patience does not develop overnight. God’s power and goodness are crucial to the development of patience.
As we were discussing past Friday Bible Class, how we display patience is important in the body of Christ?
I know, I might not glory in tribulations as much as I might be ready to say “God, why me.”
I may allow impatience to cloud my sky in stead of asking “how is working with, or through, me this time”.
When He might allow a trial for sanctification of character, we need to be Godly enough to recognize it, remembering that His purpose is for our growth and His glory will help us in the trial.
Remember His promises, His love, His sacrifice through His Son.
Rom 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Rom 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. Rom 8:20, 21 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. Rom 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. Rom 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. Rom 8:24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? Rom 8:25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. Rom 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Rom 8:27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Rom 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Rom 8:30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. Rom 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Can there be separation from God?
Rom 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Rom 8:33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Rom 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Rom 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Rom 8:36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Rom 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. Rom 8:38,39 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The only thing that can separate you from God, is you.
So, when your patience wears a little thin, hold on, hang in there, and endure until that great reward for such is given unto you.
If you’re not in the body, please be patient with me but I challenge you to take this same comfort from the bible as we do. But please keep in mind that you are already separated from God, less you come to Christ.
How: Hear the word, Believe the word, Repent of your sins (change your mind and follow Christ), Confess (Jesus as the Son of God), and allow yourself to be Baptized to fulfill the process of wiping away your sins. Read a bible; in Acts, Peter did not say just be Baptized, he said Repent and be Baptized for the remission of sins. That’s all, but it starts with reading a bible.