Latest / Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons / Patience
Transcript
- 0:0012, James chapter 5, reading again at verse 7.
- 0:06Be patient, therefore, brother Shanda, until the coming of the Lord.
- 0:10! See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth,
- 0:13being patient about it until it receives the early and the late rains.
- 0:19You also be patient.
- 0:24Are you a patient person?
- 0:27I guess that's the obvious question.
- 0:29When we look at these words, are you a patient person?
- 0:33Or do you find at times your patience tested
- 0:36and you often just want to hurry things along
- 0:39and get things done in your own time?
- 0:42I'm sure there's always situations where we find our patience put to the test.
- 0:47For example, you might get a phone call that says,
- 0:49I'll just take two or three minutes of your time
- 0:51and 15 minutes later you're still on the phone
- 0:54just trying to get out of this conversation
- 0:56and your patience is waiting out.
- 1:00Or patience when you're driving.
- 1:02Maybe you're stuck behind a car that's just not going above 30 miles an hour
- 1:07and you're just in a rush and you're like,
- 1:08come on, get a move on.
- 1:11Your patience is running out.
- 1:13There's so many situations where our patience can be tested
- 1:17and we see ourselves in a new light sometimes.
- 1:21But what about when it comes to waiting patiently upon the Lord?
- 1:26Can you sing Psalm 40 and have these words as your words
- 1:32that you're waiting patiently on the Lord?
- 1:35You're waiting for him in prayer.
- 1:38You're waiting on him for something that's going on in your life
- 1:40or just your desires for people around you or the church
- 1:44and you're able just to wait patiently on the Lord.
- 1:48It's a hard thing to do at times
- 1:51because we all want things done in our own time.
- 1:56But God's work is in his time
- 1:59and his purposes work out in his ways.
- 2:03His plans are not hurried
- 2:05in the same way that maybe we want things hurried along.
- 2:09There was a famous preacher in America called Philip Brooks
- 2:13and he was noted for patience
- 2:15and just his calm demeanor so often.
- 2:18He was a very gentle man in so many ways
- 2:21and yet at times he too suffered that frustration
- 2:25of wanting things done quickly.
- 2:29And there was one day when a friend was watching him
- 2:32and he had started pacing back and forth on the floor
- 2:35and his friend was wondering what was going on.
- 2:38And so he asked him,
- 2:39what troubles you, Mr. Brooks?
- 2:42And Philip Brooks replied by saying,
- 2:45the trouble is that I'm in a hurry but God isn't.
- 2:50He was wanting things done in his time.
- 2:54And so our patience is often tested
- 2:57even when it comes to the things of the Lord.
- 3:00We want things done.
- 3:01We want things to happen.
- 3:03We want people to be saved that we've been praying for.
- 3:06We want to see the church grow.
- 3:08We want to see things in our community changing.
- 3:10But much of it has this idea of just patiently waiting on God
- 3:17and waiting for him to work out his will and his purposes.
- 3:22And as James is writing here to the people,
- 3:25he's writing to them in a world and in a time
- 3:28when their patience was being tested.
- 3:31You see the heading in the ESV Bible is patience and suffering.
- 3:35They were suffering for their faith.
- 3:37They were seeing so many things going on around them
- 3:40in their community and their patience,
- 3:43their faith was being tested.
- 3:46But James is writing to them
- 3:48to be patiently waiting on God.
- 3:53And they were being tested in so many different ways.
- 3:57As you read through the book of James,
- 4:00you see there was a lot of people around them
- 4:02who were rich and prosperous
- 4:04and seeming to get on well in life.
- 4:06And this was testing the patience of God's people.
- 4:12And yet as James writes,
- 4:13he writes in this wisdom, in his wise ways,
- 4:17and he's warning people
- 4:19who are living their lives in that way,
- 4:22boasting about tomorrow.
- 4:24You see that at the end of chapter four,
- 4:26where we read that they're going to do this,
- 4:28that they're going to do that.
- 4:29And the next thing,
- 4:29they've got all their plans laid out
- 4:32instead of waiting patiently on the Lord.
- 4:35You see at the beginning of chapter five,
- 4:37that warning to the rich,
- 4:39where the Lord is saying to them,
- 4:41look at what you have.
- 4:42You've gathered up this wealth,
- 4:45but it's all going to waste away.
- 4:48You're putting your trust in the wrong things
- 4:51because the day of the Lord is coming.
- 4:55And that's going to be of no help to you.
- 4:57And so after saying these things
- 4:59to the people around them
- 5:01who are not trusting in God,
- 5:03he turns back to those who are.
- 5:05When you see him,
- 5:06they're calling them brothers.
- 5:09In verse seven,
- 5:10he's saying,
- 5:11be patient,
- 5:12therefore,
- 5:13brothers.
- 5:14He's saying,
- 5:15as you look around you,
- 5:16as you are Christians,
- 5:17as you are trusting in the Lord,
- 5:19and you're becoming impatient,
- 5:21and you're wondering
- 5:21why all these things are happening,
- 5:24he's saying to them,
- 5:26brothers,
- 5:27be patient.
- 5:29Be patient until the coming of the Lord.
- 5:32Don't lose sight of the Lord himself.
- 5:37And so this patience
- 5:38is highlighted for us here
- 5:41by James in verse seven to 12.
- 5:44And I want us to see this patience
- 5:46in three different ways.
- 5:49He says,
- 5:51first of all,
- 5:51why patience is required,
- 5:54why it's such a necessary thing.
- 5:56Then we see him showing
- 5:58the examples of patience.
- 6:01He speaks about the prophets and Job.
- 6:04So he gives us examples of patience.
- 6:08And then thirdly,
- 6:08we'll see just how this shows itself
- 6:11in our lives,
- 6:12how we should apply
- 6:13this patience in our lives.
- 6:17So the first thing is
- 6:18the call to patience.
- 6:21Be patient,
- 6:22therefore,
- 6:23brothers,
- 6:24until the coming of the Lord.
- 6:28As I said,
- 6:29this is in light of the warnings
- 6:30that he's given to those
- 6:32who are boasting
- 6:32in their plans
- 6:34and their purposes,
- 6:35those who are boasting
- 6:36in their riches
- 6:38and what they have materially.
- 6:40In that,
- 6:41he turns back
- 6:42to God's people
- 6:44and focus on
- 6:45how they should live
- 6:46and why.
- 6:48And that phrase,
- 6:50brothers,
- 6:52he shows there
- 6:53who he is speaking to.
- 6:57He's reminding them
- 6:58that they belong,
- 7:00that they have a belonging
- 7:01and that their belonging
- 7:02is in Christ.
- 7:04That they are brothers
- 7:05and sisters
- 7:06in Christ.
- 7:08That they are the ones
- 7:08who are looking
- 7:09to the Lord
- 7:10and are waiting
- 7:11until the coming
- 7:13of the Lord.
- 7:15And what kind of people
- 7:16are they?
- 7:18Well,
- 7:18they're just like us.
- 7:20As we put our trust
- 7:21in the Lord,
- 7:22they are people
- 7:23who could say,
- 7:24just like Psalm 73,
- 7:26that confidence in God,
- 7:29the God who is patient
- 7:30towards them,
- 7:31they could say,
- 7:32whom have I in the heaven
- 7:33but you?
- 7:35Nobody else but you.
- 7:36And earth has nothing
- 7:38I desire besides you.
- 7:41My flesh and my heart
- 7:42may fail,
- 7:44but God is the strength
- 7:45of my heart
- 7:47and my portion
- 7:48forever.
- 7:50Isn't it a blessing
- 7:52and a privilege
- 7:53to be able to sing
- 7:54these words ourselves
- 7:56and to sing them
- 7:57in a way
- 7:57where we know
- 7:58that is our portion too.
- 8:01Who do we have
- 8:02in the heaven
- 8:03but you,
- 8:04oh Lord?
- 8:05And in the earth
- 8:05there's no one
- 8:06I desire besides you.
- 8:08We have God
- 8:09with us.
- 8:11God who is
- 8:11patient
- 8:12with us
- 8:14and God
- 8:15who gives
- 8:15us
- 8:16patience too.
- 8:18For it is to him
- 8:19we are to look
- 8:20to
- 8:21and to put our
- 8:22trust in.
- 8:24In the beginning
- 8:25of this book
- 8:26we see James
- 8:27in chapter 1.
- 8:29He's already made
- 8:29the point
- 8:30of calling the people
- 8:31to be patient
- 8:32under trial.
- 8:33In chapter 1
- 8:34verse 12
- 8:35he says this
- 8:36blessed is the man
- 8:37who perseveres
- 8:38under trial
- 8:39because when he
- 8:40has stood the test
- 8:41he will receive
- 8:42the crown of life
- 8:44that God has promised
- 8:45to those
- 8:46who love him.
- 8:48To be patient
- 8:49under trial
- 8:51and that there is
- 8:51this reward.
- 8:53He will receive
- 8:54the crown of life
- 8:56that God has promised
- 8:57to those
- 8:58who love him.
- 8:59So again
- 9:02he's reminding them
- 9:03there
- 9:03of the Lord's
- 9:04great patience
- 9:05towards them
- 9:06and for them
- 9:08to wait patiently
- 9:09and for us
- 9:09to wait patiently
- 9:11on him
- 9:11in that knowledge
- 9:13of receiving
- 9:13the crown of life
- 9:14that God has promised
- 9:16to those
- 9:17who love him.
- 9:19So he's reminding them
- 9:20again
- 9:21of this great need.
- 9:23A need that's seen
- 9:24throughout scripture
- 9:26and throughout history.
- 9:27when you think
- 9:29of God's people
- 9:30throughout the scriptures
- 9:31as we'll see
- 9:32in a few moments
- 9:33examples of it
- 9:34we think of just
- 9:35that need
- 9:36for patience
- 9:37among God's people
- 9:40down through
- 9:40every generation
- 9:42these words
- 9:43have spoken
- 9:43be patient
- 9:44therefore brothers
- 9:46until the coming
- 9:47of the Lord.
- 9:49So often you see
- 9:50people in scripture
- 9:52their patience
- 9:52has gone
- 9:53if it was ever there
- 9:55when they're saying
- 9:55where is this God
- 9:57of yours?
- 9:58You know if he was
- 9:59going to come
- 10:00he'd have come
- 10:00by now.
- 10:01Their patience
- 10:02either was never there
- 10:04or they've lost it.
- 10:06The coming of the Lord
- 10:07means absolutely nothing
- 10:09and we see that
- 10:11today
- 10:12there's no interest
- 10:13in God
- 10:14there's no thought
- 10:15that God
- 10:16is coming again
- 10:17that has gone
- 10:19but we are told
- 10:21to be different
- 10:22to wait patiently
- 10:23on the Lord.
- 10:26John Piper
- 10:27in his book
- 10:28The Roots of Endurance
- 10:30in that book
- 10:31he highlights
- 10:32the endurance
- 10:33of Christians
- 10:34in the past
- 10:35such as
- 10:35John Newton
- 10:36Charles Simeon
- 10:38William Wilberforce
- 10:39he speaks about them
- 10:41and their patience
- 10:42and their waiting
- 10:43on the Lord
- 10:44their endurance
- 10:45and he says this
- 10:47the aim of all
- 10:49our endurance
- 10:50is that Christ
- 10:51be seen
- 10:52and savoured
- 10:53in the world
- 10:54as our glorious
- 10:56God.
- 10:58Isn't that a great way
- 10:59of thinking of
- 10:59our patience?
- 11:01The aim of our endurance
- 11:03our patience
- 11:03is that Christ
- 11:04may be seen
- 11:05and savoured
- 11:07in the world
- 11:08as our glorious
- 11:09God.
- 11:11But there is
- 11:11something different
- 11:13in the Lord's
- 11:15people.
- 11:15that's why
- 11:17James is here
- 11:18showing them
- 11:18this great need
- 11:20of patience
- 11:21because it is
- 11:22such a powerful
- 11:23witness
- 11:24it is such a
- 11:26powerful
- 11:26example
- 11:28and he's talking
- 11:30here
- 11:30about this
- 11:31patience
- 11:32this call
- 11:32to patience
- 11:34in a twofold
- 11:35way
- 11:36it's both
- 11:38a patience
- 11:38in the midst
- 11:39of suffering
- 11:40and adversity
- 11:40but it's also
- 11:42patience
- 11:43knowing
- 11:43that the Lord
- 11:45is going
- 11:45to deal
- 11:46with all
- 11:47things
- 11:48again
- 11:49Psalm 73
- 11:51speaks about
- 11:52that
- 11:52and the Psalms
- 11:53that we've sung
- 11:54remind us
- 11:55of the
- 11:56greatness
- 11:56of God
- 11:57that he will
- 11:58take all
- 11:59things
- 11:59in charge
- 12:00that he's
- 12:01in control
- 12:01of all
- 12:03things
- 12:03that the Lord
- 12:04is going
- 12:04to return
- 12:05and that
- 12:06the blessing
- 12:07of God's
- 12:07people
- 12:08will be
- 12:08finally
- 12:08fulfilled
- 12:10you see
- 12:11there how
- 12:11he says
- 12:12in verse 7
- 12:12see how
- 12:13the farmer
- 12:13waits
- 12:14for the
- 12:15precious
- 12:15fruit
- 12:16of the
- 12:16earth
- 12:16being
- 12:17patient
- 12:18about it
- 12:18until he
- 12:19receives
- 12:20the early
- 12:21and the
- 12:22late
- 12:22rains
- 12:23the temptation
- 12:24would be
- 12:24after the
- 12:25early rains
- 12:26to think
- 12:26that's it
- 12:27it's done
- 12:27we can
- 12:28take our
- 12:29harvest up
- 12:30now
- 12:30but
- 12:30it needs
- 12:31patience
- 12:32to wait
- 12:33for the
- 12:33late rains
- 12:34to come
- 12:34and again
- 12:36that's the
- 12:37way we
- 12:37are to
- 12:37live
- 12:38to
- 12:38waiting
- 12:39patiently
- 12:40on the
- 12:40harvest
- 12:40waiting
- 12:41patiently
- 12:41on the
- 12:43Lord
- 12:43of the
- 12:44harvest
- 12:44remembering
- 12:45the
- 12:46Lord
- 12:46will
- 12:47come
- 12:48until
- 12:48the
- 12:49coming
- 12:49of
- 12:50the
- 12:51Lord
- 12:51and so
- 12:53we need
- 12:53patience
- 12:54that's what
- 12:55he was
- 12:56teaching
- 12:56here
- 12:56that's
- 12:57what we
- 12:57see for
- 12:58ourselves
- 12:58today
- 12:59we need
- 12:59patience
- 13:00we need
- 13:01patience
- 13:01in our
- 13:02lives
- 13:03whether it's
- 13:04individually
- 13:04or collectively
- 13:05in our
- 13:07community
- 13:07in our
- 13:08world
- 13:08everything's
- 13:10so rushed
- 13:10everything needs
- 13:12to be done
- 13:12instantly
- 13:13everything's
- 13:15demands
- 13:16demands
- 13:17demands
- 13:18but as we
- 13:20look to
- 13:20God he
- 13:20teaches us
- 13:21to be more
- 13:22patient
- 13:22to stand
- 13:23firm
- 13:24here as he
- 13:25says to
- 13:25establish
- 13:26these things
- 13:27in your
- 13:28heart
- 13:28he's talking
- 13:29there about
- 13:30standing
- 13:33firm
- 13:33on the
- 13:34truth
- 13:35standing
- 13:36firm
- 13:36on the
- 13:37truth
- 13:38of
- 13:39God
- 13:39to be
- 13:40patient
- 13:41in verse
- 13:428 there
- 13:42to establish
- 13:43your hearts
- 13:44for the
- 13:45coming of
- 13:45the Lord
- 13:46is at
- 13:46hand
- 13:47to stand
- 13:48firm
- 13:48on the
- 13:49truth
- 13:50of
- 13:51God
- 13:51so we
- 13:52have
- 13:53this
- 13:53word
- 13:54to us
- 13:54our need
- 13:55for
- 13:56patience
- 13:57patience
- 13:58the second
- 13:58thing we
- 13:58see here
- 13:59is how
- 13:59he gives
- 14:00examples
- 14:01of
- 14:02patience
- 14:02and he
- 14:03looks
- 14:04examples
- 14:04that are
- 14:05found
- 14:05in scripture
- 14:06of what
- 14:07endurance
- 14:07means
- 14:08for the
- 14:09Lord's
- 14:09people
- 14:10and in
- 14:12verse 10
- 14:12he says
- 14:13there
- 14:13as an
- 14:14example
- 14:14of
- 14:15suffering
- 14:15and
- 14:15patience
- 14:16brothers
- 14:17take
- 14:17the
- 14:18prophets
- 14:18who
- 14:18spoke
- 14:19in the
- 14:19name
- 14:19of
- 14:19the
- 14:20Lord
- 14:20behold
- 14:21we
- 14:21consider
- 14:22those
- 14:22blessed
- 14:23who
- 14:23remain
- 14:24steadfast
- 14:24you
- 14:25have
- 14:25heard
- 14:25of the
- 14:26steadfastness
- 14:26of
- 14:27Job
- 14:27and
- 14:28how
- 14:28you
- 14:28have
- 14:28seen
- 14:29the
- 14:29purpose
- 14:29of
- 14:29the
- 14:30Lord
- 14:30how
- 14:30the
- 14:31Lord
- 14:31is
- 14:31compassionate
- 14:32and
- 14:33merciful
- 14:33wonderful
- 14:37examples
- 14:38there
- 14:39for us
- 14:39of
- 14:40patience
- 14:41what you
- 14:42notice in
- 14:43the New
- 14:43Testament
- 14:43is
- 14:44the
- 14:45Old
- 14:45Testament
- 14:46is
- 14:46never
- 14:46forgotten
- 14:47constantly
- 14:48you see
- 14:49looking back
- 14:50to the
- 14:50Old
- 14:51Testament
- 14:51to the
- 14:51prophets
- 14:52to the
- 14:53fathers
- 14:53Abraham
- 14:54Isaac
- 14:54and Jacob
- 14:55you see
- 14:56looking back
- 14:57always
- 14:58the book
- 14:58of
- 14:58Hebrews
- 14:59is full
- 15:00of
- 15:00looking
- 15:00back
- 15:01to the
- 15:01Old
- 15:02Testament
- 15:02Jesus
- 15:03himself
- 15:03taught
- 15:04so much
- 15:04looking
- 15:05back
- 15:05to the
- 15:06Old
- 15:06Testament
- 15:07and we
- 15:07should
- 15:07never
- 15:07forget
- 15:08the
- 15:09Old
- 15:09Testament
- 15:09and here's
- 15:10another
- 15:10reminder
- 15:11to us
- 15:12of the
- 15:12great
- 15:13examples
- 15:13the great
- 15:14teaching
- 15:14that we
- 15:15have
- 15:16in the
- 15:16Old
- 15:17Testament
- 15:17as an
- 15:18example
- 15:18of
- 15:19suffering
- 15:19and
- 15:19patience
- 15:20consider
- 15:21the
- 15:22prophets
- 15:22who
- 15:22spoke
- 15:23in
- 15:23the
- 15:23name
- 15:23of
- 15:23the
- 15:24Lord
- 15:24he
- 15:25doesn't
- 15:25mention
- 15:26any
- 15:26other
- 15:27specific
- 15:27prophets
- 15:28by name
- 15:29there
- 15:29but you
- 15:30can look
- 15:30back to
- 15:31them and
- 15:31you can
- 15:31see for
- 15:31yourself
- 15:32their
- 15:32patience
- 15:33and
- 15:33suffering
- 15:34you can
- 15:35take for
- 15:36example
- 15:36Jeremiah
- 15:37one of
- 15:39the
- 15:39prophets
- 15:39you look
- 15:39at him
- 15:40and you
- 15:41see just
- 15:41how patient
- 15:42he was
- 15:43in the
- 15:43midst
- 15:43of
- 15:44suffering
- 15:44he
- 15:45was
- 15:46rejected
- 15:47by his
- 15:47own
- 15:47people
- 15:48he
- 15:48suffered
- 15:49at the
- 15:49hands
- 15:50of
- 15:50foreign
- 15:51kings
- 15:51but
- 15:51he
- 15:52stood
- 15:52for
- 15:53the
- 15:53Lord
- 15:53and
- 15:54he
- 15:54knew
- 15:55the
- 15:55coming
- 15:55of
- 15:56the
- 15:56Lord
- 15:56was
- 15:56in
- 15:56his
- 15:57own
- 15:57mind
- 15:58and
- 15:58his
- 15:58own
- 15:58heart
- 15:58not
- 15:59knowing
- 16:00exactly
- 16:00when
- 16:00it
- 16:00would
- 16:01be
- 16:01but
- 16:01that
- 16:01this
- 16:01was
- 16:02going
- 16:02to
- 16:02come
- 16:03you
- 16:03look
- 16:04at
- 16:04Isaiah
- 16:04and
- 16:05the
- 16:05way
- 16:05that
- 16:05he
- 16:05was
- 16:05able
- 16:06to
- 16:06have
- 16:07this
- 16:07vision
- 16:07of
- 16:07God
- 16:08the
- 16:09coming
- 16:09of
- 16:10Christ
- 16:10the
- 16:10suffering
- 16:11of
- 16:11Christ
- 16:12as
- 16:12you
- 16:12see
- 16:12it
- 16:12in
- 16:13chapter
- 16:1353
- 16:14and
- 16:15he
- 16:15stood
- 16:16up
- 16:16against
- 16:16all
- 16:17those
- 16:17who
- 16:17were
- 16:17outspoken
- 16:18against
- 16:18him
- 16:19who
- 16:19would
- 16:20not
- 16:20listen
- 16:20you
- 16:22think
- 16:22of
- 16:22Habakkuk
- 16:22as
- 16:23we've
- 16:23looked
- 16:23at
- 16:23Habakkuk
- 16:24recently
- 16:25you
- 16:26think
- 16:26of
- 16:26the
- 16:26situation
- 16:27the
- 16:27circumstances
- 16:28that he
- 16:28was
- 16:28writing
- 16:29into
- 16:29it
- 16:29would
- 16:29have
- 16:29been
- 16:30so
- 16:30easy
- 16:30to
- 16:31back
- 16:31off
- 16:32and
- 16:32back
- 16:32down
- 16:33and
- 16:34yet
- 16:34consider
- 16:35the
- 16:35example
- 16:35of
- 16:36suffering
- 16:36and
- 16:36patience
- 16:37and
- 16:38prayer
- 16:38in the
- 16:39midst
- 16:39of it
- 16:39all
- 16:39just
- 16:40waiting
- 16:40on
- 16:41the
- 16:41Lord
- 16:42to
- 16:42work
- 16:42they
- 16:43stood
- 16:43firm
- 16:44in
- 16:44the
- 16:44Lord
- 16:45the
- 16:46great
- 16:46chapter
- 16:47of
- 16:47Hebrews
- 16:48chapter
- 16:4811
- 16:48is
- 16:49a
- 16:49full
- 16:50list
- 16:50of
- 16:51those
- 16:51in
- 16:52the
- 16:52Old
- 16:52Testament
- 16:53were
- 16:53believers
- 16:53in
- 16:54the
- 16:54Lord
- 16:54and
- 16:55those
- 16:55who
- 16:56suffered
- 16:56in
- 16:57their
- 16:57faith
- 16:58and
- 16:58yet
- 16:58had
- 16:58patience
- 16:59looking
- 17:00to
- 17:01the
- 17:01Lord
- 17:01so
- 17:01many
- 17:02are
- 17:02named
- 17:02but
- 17:03then
- 17:03later
- 17:03on
- 17:04in
- 17:04Hebrews
- 17:0411
- 17:05chapter
- 17:05verse
- 17:0636
- 17:07and
- 17:0737
- 17:08they're
- 17:09not
- 17:09named
- 17:09but it
- 17:10says
- 17:10this
- 17:10of
- 17:10them
- 17:11others
- 17:12suffered
- 17:13mocking
- 17:13and flogging
- 17:14and even
- 17:15chains
- 17:16and imprisonment
- 17:17they were
- 17:18stoned
- 17:18they were
- 17:19sawn in
- 17:20two
- 17:20they were
- 17:21killed
- 17:21with a
- 17:21sword
- 17:22they went
- 17:23about in
- 17:23skins of
- 17:24sheep
- 17:24and goats
- 17:25destitute
- 17:26afflicted
- 17:27mistreated
- 17:28but they
- 17:30were all
- 17:30commended
- 17:31for their
- 17:32faith
- 17:33it says
- 17:34faith
- 17:35waiting
- 17:36patiently
- 17:37on the
- 17:37Lord
- 17:38patience
- 17:39in the
- 17:40midst
- 17:40of
- 17:41suffering
- 17:41and what
- 17:45is so
- 17:45great
- 17:45about
- 17:46this
- 17:46is it
- 17:46doesn't
- 17:47show us
- 17:48extraordinary
- 17:49people
- 17:50it doesn't
- 17:51show us
- 17:51people who
- 17:52we just
- 17:52look up to
- 17:53and say we
- 17:53can never
- 17:54be like
- 17:55that
- 17:55they were
- 17:56ordinary
- 17:57people
- 17:57but they
- 17:58were ordinary
- 17:59people
- 18:00doing
- 18:01extraordinary
- 18:01things
- 18:02through an
- 18:02extraordinary
- 18:03God
- 18:03and it
- 18:05was God
- 18:05who had
- 18:05given them
- 18:06faith
- 18:06and vision
- 18:07and this
- 18:08looking to
- 18:09God
- 18:10and trusting
- 18:10in him
- 18:11that's where
- 18:12their patience
- 18:13came from
- 18:13they were
- 18:14trusting
- 18:14in the
- 18:15coming
- 18:15of the
- 18:16Lord
- 18:17now can
- 18:18we
- 18:18be spoken
- 18:20of in
- 18:20the same
- 18:21breath
- 18:21as the
- 18:22prophets
- 18:22do you think
- 18:23you can be
- 18:24put in that
- 18:24list of
- 18:25the prophets
- 18:26and commended
- 18:27for patience
- 18:28well Jesus
- 18:30in the
- 18:30Sermon on
- 18:31the Mount
- 18:31includes
- 18:32many people
- 18:33even ourselves
- 18:34in that
- 18:36ceremony
- 18:36says in
- 18:37verse 11
- 18:37and 12
- 18:38of Matthew
- 18:395
- 18:39blessed are
- 18:41you when
- 18:41others revile
- 18:42you and
- 18:42persecute
- 18:43you and
- 18:44utter all
- 18:45kinds of
- 18:45evil against
- 18:46you falsely
- 18:47on my
- 18:47account
- 18:47rejoice
- 18:49and be
- 18:50glad
- 18:50for your
- 18:51reward is
- 18:52great in
- 18:53heaven
- 18:53for so
- 18:54they persecuted
- 18:55the prophets
- 18:56who were
- 18:57before you
- 18:58so they
- 19:00shall list
- 19:00there of
- 19:01God's people
- 19:01to this
- 19:02very day
- 19:02blessed
- 19:03are you
- 19:04when others
- 19:05revile you
- 19:06and persecute
- 19:07you
- 19:07for they
- 19:09persecuted
- 19:09the prophets
- 19:10who were
- 19:11before you
- 19:12in the same
- 19:12way
- 19:13and so
- 19:14there is
- 19:14that reminder
- 19:15to us
- 19:16to be
- 19:16patient
- 19:17in these
- 19:18things
- 19:19and the
- 19:19example
- 19:20is there
- 19:21for us
- 19:22we have
- 19:22the example
- 19:23of Job
- 19:25as well
- 19:25you have
- 19:26heard of
- 19:26the steadfastness
- 19:27of Job
- 19:28and you have
- 19:28seen the
- 19:29purpose
- 19:29of the
- 19:30Lord
- 19:31how the
- 19:31Lord
- 19:31is
- 19:32compassionate
- 19:33and merciful
- 19:34and yet
- 19:36when you
- 19:36look at
- 19:37the outset
- 19:38of Job
- 19:39and the
- 19:40beginning
- 19:40of that
- 19:41book
- 19:41you think
- 19:41well
- 19:41how could
- 19:43he possibly
- 19:43have that
- 19:45patience
- 19:45in the midst
- 19:46of all
- 19:46his
- 19:47suffering
- 19:47and yet
- 19:48he's able
- 19:49to say
- 19:49the Lord
- 19:50gives
- 19:50the Lord
- 19:51takes away
- 19:52blessed be
- 19:53the name
- 19:54of the
- 19:55Lord
- 19:55because
- 19:56he knows
- 19:57his God
- 19:58he knows
- 19:59who God
- 20:00is
- 20:00and he
- 20:01knows
- 20:02as it
- 20:02goes on
- 20:02to say
- 20:03there
- 20:03Job
- 20:03you have
- 20:04seen
- 20:05the purpose
- 20:05of the
- 20:06Lord
- 20:06how the
- 20:07Lord
- 20:07is
- 20:07compassionate
- 20:09and
- 20:10merciful
- 20:10in the
- 20:12midst
- 20:12of such
- 20:12great
- 20:13suffering
- 20:13God
- 20:14is still
- 20:15compassionate
- 20:16and merciful
- 20:17and therefore
- 20:18Job
- 20:18was patient
- 20:19the prophets
- 20:20were patient
- 20:22they are
- 20:22examples
- 20:23to us
- 20:23of how
- 20:24we are
- 20:25to be
- 20:25patient
- 20:26too
- 20:26reminding
- 20:27ourselves
- 20:28of chapter
- 20:291
- 20:29verse 12
- 20:30they will
- 20:31receive
- 20:31the crown
- 20:32of life
- 20:34as we
- 20:35look to
- 20:35the Lord's
- 20:36return
- 20:37the reward
- 20:37for patience
- 20:39and faith
- 20:39is there
- 20:40for us
- 20:41and so
- 20:43thirdly
- 20:44and finally
- 20:44we just
- 20:45want to
- 20:45think of
- 20:45the outworking
- 20:46of patience
- 20:48what is it
- 20:51to look
- 20:51like
- 20:51for the
- 20:53people
- 20:53here
- 20:53that
- 20:53James
- 20:54is
- 20:54writing
- 20:54to
- 20:55and for
- 20:56ourselves
- 20:57as well
- 20:57well
- 20:59what we
- 21:00see here
- 21:01is James
- 21:02speak about
- 21:03something he
- 21:03speaks about
- 21:04throughout
- 21:04this book
- 21:05of where
- 21:06patience
- 21:07is so
- 21:08often
- 21:08seen
- 21:09and it
- 21:10works out
- 21:11for us
- 21:12in two
- 21:12ways
- 21:12it works
- 21:13out in
- 21:13how we
- 21:14deal
- 21:14with each
- 21:15other
- 21:15how we
- 21:16deal
- 21:16among
- 21:16ourselves
- 21:17as the
- 21:17Lord's
- 21:18people
- 21:18and also
- 21:19how we
- 21:20deal
- 21:20with those
- 21:21around
- 21:21us
- 21:22patience
- 21:23is being
- 21:24tested
- 21:25often
- 21:25in our
- 21:27lives
- 21:27we see
- 21:28it so
- 21:28often
- 21:28but we
- 21:29see it
- 21:29among
- 21:29the
- 21:30Lord's
- 21:30people
- 21:31we can
- 21:31see it
- 21:32among
- 21:32ourselves
- 21:32at times
- 21:33when we
- 21:34can be
- 21:34impatient
- 21:35when we
- 21:36can start
- 21:36to grumble
- 21:37it's
- 21:38natural
- 21:39because
- 21:40we're
- 21:40sinners
- 21:40and yet
- 21:42what do
- 21:43we do
- 21:43when we
- 21:43start to
- 21:44find
- 21:44ourselves
- 21:44in
- 21:45that
- 21:45well
- 21:46we're
- 21:47going back
- 21:48to that
- 21:48word
- 21:48patience
- 21:49but it
- 21:50also
- 21:50says
- 21:50in
- 21:51verse
- 21:519
- 21:51do
- 21:52not
- 21:53grumble
- 21:53against
- 21:54one
- 21:54another
- 21:54brothers
- 21:55so that
- 21:56you may
- 21:56not
- 21:56be
- 21:56judged
- 21:57behold
- 21:58the
- 21:58judge
- 21:59is
- 21:59standing
- 22:00at
- 22:00the
- 22:01door
- 22:01and what
- 22:03James is
- 22:04saying
- 22:04here
- 22:04he says
- 22:04it
- 22:05too
- 22:05in
- 22:05verse
- 22:0612
- 22:06but
- 22:07above
- 22:07all
- 22:08brothers
- 22:08do
- 22:09not
- 22:09swear
- 22:10either
- 22:10by heaven
- 22:11or by
- 22:12earth
- 22:12he's
- 22:12talking
- 22:13there
- 22:13about
- 22:13what
- 22:14we
- 22:15say
- 22:15our
- 22:16speech
- 22:17and
- 22:18it's
- 22:19so
- 22:19often
- 22:19something
- 22:20that
- 22:20James
- 22:20highlights
- 22:21in
- 22:22this
- 22:23book
- 22:23seen
- 22:24as a
- 22:24book
- 22:24of
- 22:24the
- 22:25New
- 22:25Testament
- 22:26Proverbs
- 22:27the
- 22:27wisdom
- 22:27book
- 22:28in
- 22:28the
- 22:28New
- 22:29Testament
- 22:29and
- 22:31he's
- 22:31talking
- 22:31here
- 22:31about
- 22:32our
- 22:33relationship
- 22:33among
- 22:34each
- 22:34other
- 22:34our
- 22:35relationship
- 22:36with
- 22:36those
- 22:36around
- 22:37us
- 22:37and
- 22:38how
- 22:38so
- 22:38often
- 22:39boils
- 22:39down
- 22:40to
- 22:40how
- 22:40we
- 22:41speak
- 22:41to
- 22:42each
- 22:43other
- 22:43and
- 22:45James
- 22:45he has
- 22:45a whole
- 22:46section
- 22:46on this
- 22:47in chapter
- 22:473
- 22:48verse 1
- 22:49to verse
- 22:5012
- 22:50I'm sure
- 22:52you've read
- 22:52it
- 22:52I'm sure
- 22:53we've all
- 22:53tried to
- 22:54apply it
- 22:54to our
- 22:55lives
- 22:55taming
- 22:56the tongue
- 22:57where he
- 22:59speaks about
- 22:59the power
- 23:00of the tongue
- 23:02of how
- 23:03our words
- 23:03from such
- 23:04a small
- 23:05thing
- 23:05the tongue
- 23:06of the
- 23:07damage
- 23:08that the
- 23:08tongue
- 23:08can cause
- 23:10and so
- 23:37it
- 23:37goes on
- 23:37it
- 23:37speaks
- 23:38much
- 23:38of
- 23:39the
- 23:39power
- 23:40of
- 23:41the
- 23:41tongue
- 23:41and so
- 23:43as he
- 23:43speaks
- 23:44here
- 23:44of
- 23:45patience
- 23:46it so
- 23:47much
- 23:47boils
- 23:48down
- 23:48to
- 23:48just
- 23:49how
- 23:49we
- 23:50speak
- 23:51with
- 23:51one
- 23:51another
- 23:52do we
- 23:52grumble
- 23:53against
- 23:53one
- 23:54another
- 23:54do we
- 23:55speak
- 23:55ill
- 23:56against
- 23:56each
- 23:57other
- 23:57or
- 23:57against
- 23:57those
- 23:58around
- 23:58us
- 23:59what
- 23:59are we
- 23:59saying
- 24:00about
- 24:00people
- 24:01what
- 24:01are we
- 24:01saying
- 24:01to
- 24:02people
- 24:02how
- 24:03are we
- 24:03dealing
- 24:03with
- 24:04them
- 24:04the
- 24:05tongue
- 24:05can
- 24:06do
- 24:06a lot
- 24:06of
- 24:06damage
- 24:07but
- 24:08in our
- 24:08patience
- 24:09in our
- 24:10patience
- 24:11looking to
- 24:11God
- 24:12the tongue
- 24:13can be
- 24:13used for
- 24:13great things
- 24:14as well
- 24:15it has a
- 24:15healing
- 24:15power
- 24:16and it's
- 24:17far better
- 24:18to use
- 24:19it
- 24:19for that
- 24:20so as we
- 24:21look at
- 24:21number
- 24:22verse 9
- 24:23do not
- 24:24grumble
- 24:24against
- 24:25one another
- 24:26be patient
- 24:27with each
- 24:28other
- 24:28be kind
- 24:29to each
- 24:30other
- 24:30encourage
- 24:31one
- 24:32another
- 24:32so we
- 24:33are to
- 24:33be
- 24:33patient
- 24:34in our
- 24:35fellowship
- 24:35we are
- 24:37also to
- 24:37be
- 24:37patient
- 24:38with
- 24:39those
- 24:39around
- 24:40us
- 24:41you
- 24:42think
- 24:42of
- 24:42another
- 24:43example
- 24:44of
- 24:44that
- 24:44from
- 24:45the
- 24:46Old
- 24:46Testament
- 24:46Daniel
- 24:47you take
- 24:49Daniel
- 24:49as an
- 24:49example
- 24:50of
- 24:50patience
- 24:52and
- 24:52dealing
- 24:52with
- 24:53those
- 24:53around
- 24:54him
- 24:54who
- 24:54did
- 24:55not
- 24:55trust
- 24:56God
- 24:56who
- 24:56did
- 24:56not
- 24:56believe
- 24:57God
- 24:57Daniel
- 24:59chapter
- 24:596
- 25:00tells
- 25:00us
- 25:00the
- 25:01story
- 25:01of
- 25:01Daniel
- 25:02being
- 25:02thrown
- 25:02into
- 25:03the
- 25:03lion's
- 25:03den
- 25:04because
- 25:04he
- 25:05wouldn't
- 25:05compromise
- 25:06his
- 25:06faith
- 25:07he
- 25:08stood
- 25:08firm
- 25:09and
- 25:11God
- 25:11shielded
- 25:12him
- 25:12God
- 25:14was
- 25:14patient
- 25:15towards
- 25:15him
- 25:15and
- 25:16he
- 25:16was
- 25:16patient
- 25:16towards
- 25:17God
- 25:17he
- 25:18didn't
- 25:18turn
- 25:18against
- 25:19God
- 25:19but
- 25:19he
- 25:19trusted
- 25:20God
- 25:20and
- 25:21what
- 25:21was
- 25:21the
- 25:22outcome
- 25:22King
- 25:22Darius
- 25:23declared
- 25:23that
- 25:24the
- 25:24nation
- 25:25was
- 25:25to
- 25:25worship
- 25:26Daniel's
- 25:27God
- 25:27God
- 25:28his
- 25:29patience
- 25:29his
- 25:30long
- 25:30suffering
- 25:31was
- 25:31seen
- 25:32by
- 25:32those
- 25:33around
- 25:33him
- 25:33the
- 25:33wonder
- 25:34of
- 25:34God
- 25:34protecting
- 25:35him
- 25:35was
- 25:35seen
- 25:36by
- 25:36those
- 25:37around
- 25:37him
- 25:37and
- 25:38King
- 25:38Darius
- 25:39declared
- 25:39that the
- 25:40nation
- 25:41should
- 25:41worship
- 25:41Daniel's
- 25:43God
- 25:43you see
- 25:43there the
- 25:44power
- 25:44of our
- 25:45Christian
- 25:46witness
- 25:47and what
- 25:48kind of
- 25:49Christian
- 25:49witness
- 25:50do we
- 25:51have
- 25:51what do
- 25:52we say
- 25:53to those
- 25:54around
- 25:54us
- 25:55how do
- 25:55we
- 25:55say
- 25:56it
- 25:56there's
- 25:57so much
- 25:58we would
- 25:58maybe
- 25:58long
- 25:59to
- 25:59say
- 26:00there's
- 26:00so much
- 26:01so many
- 26:01arguments
- 26:02we might
- 26:02want to
- 26:03enter
- 26:03into
- 26:04but let
- 26:05us be
- 26:05careful
- 26:06how we
- 26:06speak
- 26:07let us
- 26:08be careful
- 26:08what we
- 26:09say
- 26:09so that
- 26:11we can
- 26:11learn the
- 26:12lessons
- 26:12that we
- 26:12see
- 26:13throughout
- 26:13scripture
- 26:14by showing
- 26:16love
- 26:16and compassion
- 26:17and still
- 26:18being steadfast
- 26:19in the
- 26:19word of
- 26:20God
- 26:20that we
- 26:21might heap
- 26:21burning
- 26:22coals
- 26:22on their
- 26:23head
- 26:23as it
- 26:23says
- 26:24elsewhere
- 26:24and they
- 26:25might see
- 26:26something
- 26:26in us
- 26:27of the
- 26:28wonder
- 26:28of God
- 26:29the
- 26:30patience
- 26:30of God
- 26:31towards
- 26:32us
- 26:32that we
- 26:34have come
- 26:34to know
- 26:35a saviour
- 26:35who has
- 26:36been patient
- 26:37with us
- 26:37a people
- 26:38who are
- 26:39lost
- 26:39and helpless
- 26:40like we
- 26:41sung in
- 26:41psalm 103
- 26:43the wonder
- 26:44of God's
- 26:45patience
- 26:45towards
- 26:46us
- 26:47that he
- 26:48has shown
- 26:49us
- 26:49steadfast
- 26:50love
- 26:50that he
- 26:50has shown
- 26:51us
- 26:51compassion
- 26:52and forgiveness
- 26:53and all
- 26:54of these
- 26:55things
- 26:55let us
- 26:57learn
- 26:57above all
- 26:58from the
- 26:59example
- 26:59of Christ
- 27:00the one
- 27:02who showed
- 27:03patience
- 27:03the one
- 27:04who showed
- 27:05mercy
- 27:05and grace
- 27:06and long
- 27:07suffering
- 27:08the one
- 27:08who endured
- 27:09the cross
- 27:10for our
- 27:11sakes
- 27:11that is above
- 27:13all what
- 27:14James is
- 27:14teaching the
- 27:15people here
- 27:16to keep
- 27:17faith
- 27:18in the
- 27:18Lord
- 27:19Jesus
- 27:19Christ
- 27:20be
- 27:21patient
- 27:21therefore
- 27:22brothers
- 27:23until the
- 27:24coming
- 27:24of the
- 27:25Lord
- 27:26that their
- 27:27focus
- 27:27is to be
- 27:29on the
- 27:30Lord
- 27:30and that
- 27:31they are to
- 27:31be patient
- 27:32with him
- 27:33and with
- 27:34those
- 27:35around them
- 27:36so let us
- 27:38endeavor to
- 27:39learn
- 27:39patience
- 27:40the patience
- 27:41that depends
- 27:42on God
- 27:43alone
- 27:44and is secure
- 27:45in Christ
- 27:45as our
- 27:46Lord
- 27:47and as we
- 27:47wait
- 27:47his
- 27:48return
- 27:49let us
- 27:51do so
- 27:51seeing the
- 27:53need
- 27:53for patience
- 27:54the need
- 27:55is there
- 27:55before us
- 27:56it's such
- 27:57a powerful
- 27:58thing
- 27:58to be
- 27:59patient
- 27:59in the
- 28:00midst
- 28:00of
- 28:00everything
- 28:01that comes
- 28:02our way
- 28:03I'm sure
- 28:04we can all
- 28:04as we've
- 28:05heard of
- 28:05examples
- 28:06in the
- 28:07Old Testament
- 28:07as we see
- 28:08examples
- 28:09in the
- 28:09New Testament
- 28:10as we think
- 28:11of the
- 28:11examples
- 28:12that John
- 28:12Piper
- 28:13highlighted
- 28:13William
- 28:14Wilberforce
- 28:15John
- 28:16Newton
- 28:16and others
- 28:16we can all
- 28:18look at
- 28:18examples
- 28:18we see
- 28:19around us
- 28:20too
- 28:20of people
- 28:21who are
- 28:21patient
- 28:22people whose
- 28:22faith
- 28:23and endurance
- 28:24in the
- 28:25midst of
- 28:25great trials
- 28:26and suffering
- 28:26has been
- 28:27such a
- 28:28powerful
- 28:28witness
- 28:29that we
- 28:30would have
- 28:31that patience
- 28:32too
- 28:32and pray
- 28:32for that
- 28:34patience
- 28:34ourselves
- 28:36and that we
- 28:37would put
- 28:37that patience
- 28:38into practice
- 28:40among ourselves
- 28:41and among
- 28:41all of God's
- 28:43people together
- 28:44and in the
- 28:45world
- 28:45and in the
- 28:45world
- 28:46in which
- 28:46we live
- 28:47that our
- 28:47patience
- 28:48would be
- 28:49seen
- 28:49and make
- 28:50people wonder
- 28:51how can
- 28:52they be so
- 28:52patient
- 28:53what is it
- 28:54that gives
- 28:55them that
- 28:56patience
- 28:56in the midst
- 28:57of everything
- 28:58that's going
- 28:59on
- 28:59it is the
- 29:01Lord
- 29:01it's the
- 29:02Lord's
- 29:03wonderful
- 29:03patience
- 29:04and grace
- 29:05and mercy
- 29:06towards us
- 29:07that gives
- 29:08us patience
- 29:09to endure
- 29:09to go
- 29:10on
- 29:11and to
- 29:11be strong
- 29:12and to
- 29:12stand
- 29:13firm
- 29:13in the
- 29:13Lord
- 29:14and to
- 29:14endure
- 29:15waiting
- 29:16on the
- 29:17Lord's
- 29:18return
- 29:19let us
- 29:20pray
- 29:20our
- 29:23father in
- 29:24heaven
- 29:24we thank
- 29:25you that
- 29:25in so many
- 29:26things that
- 29:27we lack
- 29:27that we can
- 29:28pray to you
- 29:29as the one
- 29:30who is able
- 29:31to provide
- 29:31you know
- 29:33the book of
- 29:33James we read
- 29:34of a lack
- 29:35of wisdom
- 29:35and when we
- 29:36do we can
- 29:37ask God
- 29:38who gives
- 29:38so graciously
- 29:39and when we
- 29:40think of
- 29:41patience Lord
- 29:42we acknowledge
- 29:42how much we
- 29:43lack it at
- 29:44times and
- 29:45how much we
- 29:46need it more
- 29:46and more
- 29:47and we thank
- 29:47you that as
- 29:48we come in
- 29:49prayer to you
- 29:49that you are
- 29:50able to give
- 29:50it to us
- 29:51that we would
- 29:52learn from your
- 29:53word of the
- 29:54need of it
- 29:54that we would
- 29:55see the great
- 29:56examples given
- 29:57to us and
- 29:58that we would
- 29:58be reminded
- 29:59of the great
- 30:00reward that
- 30:01there is for
- 30:02those who
- 30:02wait on the
- 30:03Lord who will
- 30:03receive the
- 30:04crown of life
- 30:05and so help
- 30:07us to practice
- 30:08patience among
- 30:09ourselves and
- 30:10with those around
- 30:11us too that
- 30:13you would help
- 30:13us to be
- 30:14witnesses and
- 30:15examples through
- 30:16these things to
- 30:17others that they
- 30:18might see the
- 30:19beauty of Christ
- 30:21one who endured
- 30:22for us so much
- 30:23hear our prayers
- 30:25continue with us
- 30:26Lord go before
- 30:27us pardon all
- 30:28our sin as we
- 30:29ask it in Jesus
- 30:30name Amen