Lord, I want patience- Now
James 5:7-11
Introduction-
We are continuing in the series “Faith that works”. Today, we are looking at patience. James is talking to Christians about being patient for the return of Christ. He gives us some examples of patience and what is needed to get some.
How many would say that they have patience? (Few)
How many would say that they could use some patience? (Most)
How many want me to pray for them to get patience? (None)
We associate asking God for patience with God sending trials and temptations your way so you can learn patience. We would like patience, but, we really don’t want to go through the trials and suffering required to get it. James is talking to brothers and sisters in the Lord.
Read James 5:7-11
Directive- “Be patient” he gives us a lesson from the farmer who is planting his crop. Patiently waiting for the autumn rains and the spring rains. There are 2 rainy seasons in Jerusalem, the autumn rains which germinate the seeds, and the spring rains which grow the seeds. But, the farmer had to be patient, do what they knew to do and wait for the Lord to do the rest.
Illustration (Sermon Central)
The story is told of a missionary family in Africa that was dealing with the poor and hungry. They had to ration out the grain that was eaten so that their was enough food for the year. They ate every day but never were they full. They cried and begged for more food, but the father knew more food today meant no food later. One little boy found a bag of seed in the barn and rushed to the father so they could eat. The father again denied the boy and said the seed had to be planted. The father began planting the seed, scattering it into the field. In the eyes of the children, he was throwing away their food, but by faith, he knew God was providing their food for harvest time. Be patient James says. Can you imagine the farmer as soon as a little bit of green pops up out of the ground, he would pull it out to see if a carrot was their yet. Patience is hard because it doesn’t happen in an instant. It does seem some times those that have it, have a lot of it. Those that don’t, don’t have any of it. Over the years of talking to people, patience is a lot more than having the ability to wait. Becky and I are going to see my family this summer, to me that is in a short time, that is soon. But you take a kid at Christmas time and ask him to wait, he /she is ready to explode. For the child, you cannot wait because you want toys (anticipation). The adult who has not got any patience it is usually more than that.
Anger issues- quick tempered.
Faith issues- cannot trust anyone. Maybe even God.
Stress issues- what happen may be the final straw, but a lot more happen before that.
Strength issues- longer the time, the less they feel they can do something.
Gender issues- macho man has to protect or prove something. Patience is difficult because it is hard thing to nail down. But you’ll have to agree, it cannot be avoided if you want to live a life with any kind of peace.
Illustration
There are people and you know them, hopefully your not one of them, you live in the state of anger. You are mad at everyone. Everyone upsets you. You trust noone. Everyday is a struggle.
Poem
patience is a virtue.
Possess it if you can.
Found seldom in a woman.
Never in a man.
A preacher pacing the floor like a lion, looking frustrated and irritable, what’s the matter Rev. Brooks? “The trouble is...That I’m in a hurry, but God isn’t”. James says be patient until the coming of the Lord. Telling us that all the trials we go through are temporary . Be patient until the Lord returns. He will right the wrongs. Patience is a necessary character in your life if you want any kind of peace and fulfillment in your life. Proverbs 15:18 “ a hot tempered man stirs up dissension, but a patient man calms a quarrel.” when we look in the Bible, God always compares patience with good control of your emotions and always relating it back to trusting God. James is saying, whatever your going through, it is temporary compared to eternity. Jesus Christ is coming back What ever happens between now and then, you must be able to persevere and keep your eyes focused on the Lord. Society is running at a fast pace. Everything is quick and easy. If it takes long, people are not use to it and lose patience. Microwaves, instant pictures, fast food, fast computers, you can pull in immediately and get the oil on your car changed. Cell phones in your pocket, so we cannot even get a break from the rat race. Use to be Sunday was a day for church and visiting with friends and family. We have been deceived into thinking we must always do more. When I lived in Texas in the 80's and especially when I went to Mexico, the pace was for them laid back. Now this city boy from Milwaukee, it was always fast paced.
They slept- I was exhausted.
They had joy- I was frustrated and stretched out.
They relaxed- I was nervous.
There is a church in Florida , 22 minute services, start to finish. 8 minute sermons. That’s not me, that’s not here. Instead of slowing down the pace and lifestyle down, being more focused on life than doing, society just keeps going faster and the people react by having meltdowns spiritually and physically. Patience is-(1) the ability to set back and wait for an expected outcome without anxiety, or tension.(2) patience is the ability to remain calm in the midst of turmoil because you know God is in control. What patience does not look like- (1) always losing control, being upset, dissatisfied, angry at yourself and others. (2) it is a mindset of blame it all on others.
Saying goes:
“Patience is what you say about the car behind you, not the car in front of you.” The art of patience is hard to nail down because there are always so many factors. We have to chose patience and seek to develop it with God’s help.
How do you develop patience? Just some thoughts that may help you.
Patience is the ability to trust God for things out of your control. Attitude of taking things in stride. Every situation does not have to be a crisis, and if every situation is a crisis, you need to make some changes in your life.
Illustration
Have you ever traveled with a child? That can be an experience. How about a 4 year old that is constantly asking when we will get there. Over and over again. Finally the mother has had enough. We have 90 miles to go, do not ask again When will we get there. Do you understand me? The boy was silent for a long time. Timidly he asks, “Mom, will I still be 4 when we get there? Instant gratification might be the way the world teaches us and demands of us, but that is not how the time table of God usually works. Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfullness, gentleness, self-control.” patience is just one of 9 characteristics of the fruit of the Spirit. Truth be told, we don’t have a lot of success with the other 8 characters either. You don’t really have a problem with patience when everything is going good around you. Patience means “to endure under”.
How patient are you when you are in the grocery store and the cart wheel decides to go wild, making a lot of noise, and everyone is watching you and looking at you.
How about in the restaurant when the waitress forgot you and seems to be helping everyone but you. We know how to be short tempered, but without God’s help, we are not long tempered.
Illustration-
How about this- I’ll pray for you to get patience. Dear God, please bring many trials and temptations to so and so life. No, no, don’t pray that I want patience , but I do not want more trials.
Let me wind this down.
Patience is about perseverance. In the Bible, they are always together. You will not get microwave fast answers a lot of time from God. He’s got a lesson to teach, your not done till He’s done showing you. Be patient- 4 times in 4 verses. Don’t grumble against each other, whatever it is temporary compared to eternity.
English proverbs
Picture is like a 1000 words.
A chain is only as strong as it’s weakest link.
For the women,
Never run after a bus or a man, there will always be another one.
Gotcha
The secret of patience is doing something else in the meantime. That’s good stuff Do something else until the time is right and God puts the things in order.
Johnson
“Patience is the ability to idle your motor when you feel like stripping the gears”
(v11) “As you know , we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about.
“Faith is the assurance of things hoped for”
that is developed patience. Jesus demonstrated it, we must learn it.
Illustrated
when patience is required.
A man and his wife are awakened at 3 o’clock in the morning by a loud pounding on their door. The man gets up and goes to the door where a drunken stranger in the pouring rain is asking for a push. Not a chance says the husband- it is 3 o’clock in the morning. He slams the door and returns to bed. Who was it asks the wife. Just a drunken stranger asking for a push, he answers. Did you help him? No, I didn’t- it is 3 o’clock in the morning and raining outside. Well, you’ve got a short memory, can’t you remember about three months ago when we broke down on vacation and those two guys helped us? I think you should go help him. The man does as he is told and gets dress and goes out into the pouring rain and calls out into the dark. Hello- are you still there? Yes, comes the answer. Do you still want a push? Calls out the husband. Yes, please Comes the reply from the dark. Where are you? Asks the husband. Over here on the swing replies the drunk.
This morning how are you doing with being patient and waiting on the Lord? How you doing listening to the Lord when He does say something to you? Patience comes when we surrender our will and do God’s will, where we say that we cannot do it in our own strength. Let’s allow god to work on that in our lives.
Altar call
