Our Obligation To Patience-1

OUR OBLIGATION To PATIENCE-I—James 5:7-12

Need:

I live a fast-paced life. I enjoy it! I like to get things done! People that take their time slow you down. Why should I be patient?

Let’s go to church, get this thing done....head out....enjoy the day! Yeah, I love Sundays!

James declared/asserted that Christian’s are obligated to patience.

Christians are obligated to practice patience.

Why are Christians obligated to patience?

7 capacities obligating the Christian to patience.

Obligating the Christian to patience is its Capacity for...

1—Patience gives us the capacity for...

The LONG HAUL/(:7a)

Explanation: (:7a) Endurance

:7—“Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early & latter rain.”

In view of the self-indulgent attitudes Christians face in the real world & even among their own, it is wise that they, as brothers in Christ, maintain “patience” regardless of their individual & corporate situations.

James calls direct attention to the relationships surrounding every Christian as siblings, by using & referencing the term “brethren” thruout these ending verses. He uses it 5X from :7-20.

Lk. 18:7—““And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day & night to Him, though He bears long(makroyumew) with them?”

“Patient”(See :7 & N. @:10)—makroyumew—1) To be of a long spirit, not to lose heart—1a) To persevere patiently & bravely in enduring misfortunes & troubles, 1b) To be patient in bearing the offenses & injuries of others, 1b1) To be mild & slow in avenging, 1b2) To be longsuffering, slow to anger, slow to punish. Strong—To be long-spirited, i.e. (objectively) Forbearing or (subjectively) Patient:-- Bear (suffer) long, be longsuffering, have (long) patience, be patient, patiently endure. Used 10X.

Argumentation:

Lk. 8:15—In the parable of the Sower, Jesus describes the endurance of the good soil:—““But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble & good heart, keep it & bear fruit with patience.”

Rom. 2:5-8—“But in accordance with your hardness & your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath & revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who “will render to each one according to his deeds”: eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, & immortality; but to those who are self-seeking & do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness--indignation & wrath,”

Rom. 8:23-26—“Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”

Gal. 5:5—“For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.”

Mat. 24:38-44—““For as in the days before the flood, they were eating & drinking, marrying & giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, “& did not know until the flood came & took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. “Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken & the other left. “Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken & the other left. “Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. “But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched & not allowed his house to be broken into. “Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

1Thes. 2:19—“For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?”

Illustration:

Our Car/Expect it to last at least 200,000mi./We would never buy it knowing it would give us only 50,000 mi. when others are known to last 4X longer/Dependable/LONG HAUL

Marriage/Enter into it & expect it to last a lifetime/Dependable/LONG HAUL

The Earth/Expect it to last forever/Dependable/LONG HAUL

The Sun/Expect it to last forever/Dependable/LONG HAUL

Application:

?Are YOU Patient?

?Your Patience supply a Capacity for the LONG HAUL?

?Is Patience YOUR Christian Obligation?

2—Patience gives us the capacity for...

CERTAINTY(7b-8)

Explanation: (7b-8)Directed expectation

:7—“Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early & latter rain.”