OUR OBLIGATION To PATIENCE-II—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 the Christian’s obligation to patience(in Christ.
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...
OR...
Patience(in Christ) gives us OR informs our capacity for...
1. The LONG HAUL(:7a)
2. CERTAINTY(7b-8)
3. CHANGE/Transformation(:9a)
4—Patience gives us OR informs our capacity for...
CONFIDENCE(:9b)
Explanation: (:9b) Stand
:9—“Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door!”
It is wise for us to keep in mind—with grumbling or any other un-Christ-like behavior— that the Judge’s presence & decisions, are in fact, imminent/about to happen/at the door. We will not get away with such without the Judge’s knowledge. After all, the Spirit of God indwells us!
1Cor. 2:10-12—“But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.”
The fact remains that Christians should fear the “condemnation” which grumbling warrants.
“Judge”—krithv—1) One who passes or arrogates to himself, judgment on anything—1a) An arbiter, 1b) Of a Roman procurator administering justice, 1c) Of God passing judgment on men, 1d) Of the leaders or rulers of the Israelites. Krithv gives prominence to the mental process, whether the judge is a magistrate or not. Strong—A judge (genitive case or specially):-- Judge.
“Standing”—isthmi—1) To cause or make to stand, to place, put, set—1b) To make firm, fix establish, 1c) To set or place in a balance; 2) To stand—2a) To stand by or near, 2b) To stand. Strong—To stand (transitively or intransitively), used in various applications (literally or figuratively):-- Abide, appoint, bring, continue, covenant, establish, hold up, lay, present, set (up), stanch, stand (by, forth, still, up).
Argumentation:
1Cor. 2:10-12—“But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.”
2Cor. 5:4-8—“For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body & to be present with the Lord.”
Php. 1:3-6—“I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;”
Php. 3:3—“For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, & have no confidence in the flesh,”
*Heb 3:14—“For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end,”
*1Jn. 2:28—“And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence & not be ashamed before Him at His coming.”
*1Jn. 3:21—“Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God.”
Illustration:
I became a Research Coordinator/Trusted to load boat & drive it to an out-of-state port for a 3-week cruise/I gained confidence in knowing what would be needed for such a pressing task/CONFIDENCE
Training identifying plankton to species/Books available to me/Constant refamiliarization/CONFIDENCE
My training at UGA using C-14/Applied it in the field with CONFIDENCE
Application:
?Your Patience supply a Capacity for the LONG HAUL?
?Are YOU Patient?
?Is Patience your Christian Obligation?
5—Patience gives us OR informs our capacity for...
PROPHECY(:10-11a)
Explanation: (:10-11a)Emulation
:10—“My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering & patience.”
Again Christians, as fellow siblings, are encouraged to learn from the example of the OT “prophets.” They indeed are examples for us of both “suffering” & “patience.”
In what ways did the prophets encounter suffering? They were generally dealing with people, wherever they were called, who would not heed the voice of God thru the prophet. Yet God called them for that very reason, that they had slipped away from God’s desire & needed a tangible witness.
Recall some of the commissional statements to the prophets:
Jeremiah—Jer. 1:8-10, 17-19—“Do not be afraid of their faces, For I am with you to deliver you,” says the LORD. Then the LORD put forth His hand & touched my mouth, & the LORD said to me: “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. See, I have this day set you over the nations & over the kingdoms, To root out & to pull down, To destroy & to throw down, To build & to plant.””.....““Therefore prepare yourself & arise, And speak to them all that I command you. Do not be dismayed before their faces, Lest I dismay you before them. For behold, I have made you this day A fortified city & an iron pillar, And bronze walls against the whole land-- Against the kings of Judah, Against its princes, Against its priests, And against the people of the land. They will fight against you, But they shall not prevail against you. For I am with you,” says the LORD, “to deliver you.””
Ezekiel—Ezek. 2:3-6; 3:4-9—“And He said to me: “Son of man, I am sending you to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against Me; they & their fathers have transgressed against Me to this very day. “For they are impudent & stubborn children. I am sending you to them, & you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD.’ “As for them, whether they hear or whether they refuse--for they are a rebellious house--yet they will know that a prophet has been among them. And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them nor be afraid of their words, though briers & thorns are with you & you dwell among scorpions; do not be afraid of their words or dismayed by their looks, though they are a rebellious house.”.....“Then He said to me: “Son of man, go to the house of Israel & speak with My words to them. For you are not sent to a people of unfamiliar speech & of hard language, but to the house of Israel, not to many people of unfamiliar speech & of hard language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely, had I sent you to them, they would have listened to you. But the house of Israel will not listen to you, because they will not listen to Me; for all the house of Israel are impudent & hard-hearted. Behold, I have made your face strong against their faces, & your forehead strong against their foreheads. Like adamant stone, harder than flint, I have made your forehead; do not be afraid of them, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they are a rebellious house.””
2Chron. 36:14-17—“Moreover all the leaders of the priests & the people transgressed more & more, according to all the abominations of the nations, & defiled the house of the LORD which He had consecrated in Jerusalem. And the LORD God of their fathers sent warnings to them by His messengers, rising up early & sending them, because He had compassion on His people & on His dwelling place. But they mocked the messengers of God, despised His words, & scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against His people, till there was no remedy. Therefore He brought against them the king of the Chaldeans, who killed their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, & had no compassion on young man or virgin, on the aged or the weak; He gave them all into his hand.”
2Kgs. 17:13-14—“Yet the LORD testified against Israel & against Judah, by all of His prophets, every seer, saying, “Turn from your evil ways, & keep My commandments & My statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, & which I sent to you by My servants the prophets.” Nevertheless they would not hear, but stiffened their necks, like the necks of their fathers, who did not believe in the LORD their God.”
“Example”—upodeigma—N. n.—1) A sign suggestive of anything, delineation of a thing, representation, figure, copy; 2) An example: for imitation—2a) Of the thing to be imitated, 2b) For a warning, of a thing to be shunned. Strong—An exhibit for imitation or warning (figuratively, specimen, adumbration):-- en-(ex-)ample, pattern. Used 6X.
“Suffering”(See :13 V.)—kakopayeia—N. f.—1) The suffering of evil, i.e. Trouble, distress, afflicted. Strong—hardship:-- Suffering affliction. Used 1X.
Both noun & verbal translated variously as “Suffering(s),” “Suffer Hardship,” “Affliction,” “Trouble.”
“Patience”(See V. :7-8)—makroyumia—N. f.—1) Patience, endurance, constancy, steadfastness, perseverance; 2) Patience, forbearance, longsuffering, slowness in avenging wrongs. Strong—Longanimity, i.e. (objectively) Forbearance or (subjectively) Fortitude:-- Longsuffering, patience.
:11—“Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job & seen the end intended by the Lord--that the Lord is very compassionate & merciful.”
Christians even consider “blessed” those who have persevered well thru afflictions met thru faithfully discharging the Lord’s will.
“Indeed”—idou—particle—1) Behold, see, lo.
“Count blessed/”—makarizw—1) To pronounce blessed. Strong—To beatify, i.e. Pronounce (or esteem) fortunate:-- Call blessed, count happy. Used 2X.
“Endure/Persevered”—upomenw—V.—1) To remain—1a) To tarry behind; 2) To remain i.e. abide, not recede or flee—2a) To preserve: under misfortunes & trials to hold fast to one's faith in Christ, 2b) To endure, bear bravely & calmly: ill treatments. Strong—To stay under (behind), i.e. Remain; figuratively, To undergo, i.e. Bear (trials), have fortitude, persevere:-- Abide, endure, (take) patient(-ly), suffer, tarry behind.
Argumentation:
Ps. 51:12-13—“Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You.”
1Cor. 13:13—14:5—“And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” “Pursue love, & desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. But he who prophesies speaks edification & exhortation & comfort to men. He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.”
Rom. 14:19—“Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace & the things by which one may edify another.”
1Cor. 14:24-25—“But if all prophesy, & an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all. And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; & so, falling down on his face, he will worship God & report that God is truly among you.”
Rom. 10:11-15—“For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.” How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!””
We must put some wants on hold so that needs(missionaries) can be met.
The life lived, added to the message, makes the message believable.
Illustration:
Zooplankton Symposium at Savannah, GA/Well-respected international Big wheels in the business were there!/My boss was right there with them!/He had something important to declare/PROPHECY
If I hemmed-&-hawed about the message of the Cross of Chris—Had no patience with it—Would my message be prophetic?....NO!/PROPHECY
House Church in Communist China/Strictly forbidden/How can a man take upon himself a pastorate of one of these?/Patience secures his PROPHECY
Application:
?Your Patience supply a Capacity for PROPHECY?
?Are YOU Patient?
?Is Patience your Christian Obligation?
6—Patience gives us OR informs our capacity for...
VISION(11b)
Explanation: (11b) Envision
:11—“Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job & seen the end intended by the Lord--that the Lord is very compassionate & merciful.”
Job is a prime example of the reward of such “endurance” / “perseverance.” If he had not endured, he would never have experienced the Lord’s intended result.
Job 1:13-22 “Now there was a day when his sons & daughters were eating & drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house; & a messenger came to Job & said, “The oxen were plowing & the donkeys feeding beside them, “when the Sabeans raided them & took them away--indeed they have killed the servants with the edge of the sword; & I alone have escaped to tell you!” While he was still speaking, another also came & said, “The fire of God fell from heaven & burned up the sheep & the servants, & consumed them; & I alone have escaped to tell you!” While he was still speaking, another also came & said, “The Chaldeans formed three bands, raided the camels & took them away, yes, & killed the servants with the edge of the sword; & I alone have escaped to tell you!” While he was still speaking, another also came & said, “Your sons & daughters were eating & drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, “& suddenly a great wind came from across the wilderness & struck the four corners of the house, & it fell on the young people, & they are dead; & I alone have escaped to tell you!” Then Job arose, tore his robe, & shaved his head; & he fell to the ground & worshiped. And he said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked shall I return there. The LORD gave, & the LORD has taken away; Blessed be the name of the LORD.” In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.”
Job 2:7-10—“So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD, & struck Job with painful boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. And he took for himself a potsherd with which to scrape himself while he sat in the midst of the ashes. Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God & die!” But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, & shall we not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.”
Job 2:11-13—“Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this adversity that had come upon him, each one came from his own place--Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, & Zophar the Naamathite. For they had made an appointment together to come & mourn with him, & to comfort him. And when they raised their eyes from afar, & did not recognize him, they lifted their voices & wept; & each one tore his robe & sprinkled dust on his head toward heaven. So they sat down with him on the ground seven days & seven nights, & no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his grief was very great.” Elihu speaks God’s truth:
Job 32:2-3—“Then the wrath of Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, was aroused against Job; his wrath was aroused because he justified himself rather than God. Also against his three friends his wrath was aroused, because they had found no answer, & yet had condemned Job.”
Then in Chapters 38-42—God Himself reveals His Majesty, Omniscience
Job 42:12-13—“Now the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; for he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand yoke of oxen, & one thousand female donkeys. He also had seven sons & three daughters.”
The revelation & testimony of such patient sufferance is that “the Lord” is glorified. This is particularly so in regard to His being absolutely filled with both “compassion” & “mercy.”
Without the Christian’s endurance, God is not properly glorified, thus others will have no desire to seek His compassion & mercy for themselves.
“You have heard”—akouw—(V.-Aorist Active Indicative-2nd Pl.)—1)To be endowed with the faculty of hearing, not deaf; 2) To hear—2b) To attend to, consider what is or has been said, 2c) To understand, perceive the sense of what is said; 3) To hear something—3a) To perceive by the ear what is announced in one's presence, 3b) To get by hearing learn, 3c) a thing comes to one's ears, to find out, learn, 3d) To give ear to a teaching or a teacher, 3e) To comprehend, to understand.
“Seen”—eidw—(V.-2Aorist Active Imperative -2nd Pl.)—1) To see—1a) To perceive with the eyes, 1b) To perceive by any of the senses, 1c) To perceive, notice, discern, discover, 1d) To see—1d1) i.e. To turn the eyes, the mind, the attention to anything, 1d2) To pay attention, observe. 1d3) To see about something 1d31) i.e. to ascertain what must be done about it, 1d4) To inspect, examine, 1d5) To look at, behold, 1e) To experience any state or condition, 1f) To see i.e. have an interview with, to visit; 2) To know—2a) To know of anything, 2b) To know, i.e. get knowledge of, understand, perceive—2b1) of any fact, 2b2) the force & meaning of something which has definite meaning, 2b3) To know how, to be skilled in, 2c) To have regard for one, cherish, pay attention to. To see with the mind's eye, signifies a clear & purely mental perception.
“End”—telov—1) End—1a) Termination, the limit at which a thing ceases to be (always of the end of some act or state, but not of the end of a period of time), 1b) The end—1b1) The last in any succession or series, 1b2) Eternal, 1c) That by which a thing is finished, its close, issue, 1d) The end to which all things relate, the aim, purpose; 2) Toll, custom (i.e. indirect tax on goods). Telov is an indirect tax on merchandise, which was collected at piers, harbors, & gates of cities. It was similar to modern import duties. Strong—properly, The point aimed at as a limit, i.e. (by implication) The conclusion of an act or state (termination [literally, figuratively or indefinitely], Result [immediate, ultimate or prophetic], Purpose); specifically, An impost or levy (as paid):-- + Continual, custom, end(-ing), finally, uttermost.
“Perseverance/Patience/Endurance”—upomonh—N. f.—1) Steadfastness, constancy, endurance—1a) in the NT The characteristic of a man who is not swerved from his deliberate purpose & his loyalty to faith & piety by even the greatest trials & sufferings, 1b) Patiently, & steadfastly; 2) A patient, steadfast waiting for; 3) A patient enduring, sustaining, perseverance. Upomonh is the temper which does not easily succumb under suffering & is opposed to cowardice or despondency. Strong—Cheerful (or hopeful) endurance, constancy:-- Enduring, patience, patient continuance (waiting).
“Very Compassionate/Very pitiful/Full of compassion”—polusplagcnov—1) Full of pity, very kind. Strong—Extremely compassionate:-- Very pitiful. Used 1X.
“Merciful/Tender mercy/Full of...Mercy”—oiktirmwn—1) Merciful. Strong—Compassionate:-- Merciful, of tender mercy. Used 3X.
Argumentation:
Job 13:15—“Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him.”
Job 36:13, 21-25—““But the hypocrites in heart store up wrath; They do not cry for help when He binds them.”....“Take heed, do not turn to iniquity, For you have chosen this rather than affliction. Behold, God is exalted by His power; Who teaches like Him? Who has assigned Him His way, Or who has said, ‘You have done wrong’? “Remember to magnify His work, Of which men have sung. Everyone has seen it; Man looks on it from afar.”
Heb 13:1-6—“Let brotherly love continue. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels. Remember the prisoners as if chained with them--those who are mistreated--since you yourselves are in the body also. Marriage is honorable among all, & the bed undefiled; but fornicators & adulterers God will judge. Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we may boldly say: “The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?””
Eph. 3:8-12 “To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, & to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities & powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness & access with confidence through faith in Him.”
Rom. 8:28-39—“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; & whom He justified, these He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, & furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 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 created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Illustration:
The Dog who wants to get to his master behind the door/does not see him but he smells him & can hear his voice/Doesn’t care what else is behind the door, just that he is with his master!/VISION
Application:
?Your Patience supply a Capacity for VISION?
?Are YOU Patient?
?Is Patience your Christian Obligation?
7—Patience gives us OR informs our capacity for...
RESOLVE(:12)
Explanation: (:12)Decisiveness/Decision/Commitment
:12—“But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your “Yes,” be “Yes,” & your “No,” “No,” lest you fall into judgment.”
Those who are in league with James— as his brothers in Christ—are not to invoke any “oath” taking, particularly by “swearing” even if it involves “heaven” or “earth,” timeless & precious things.
Rather the Christian is to operate differently. His word is to be his bond. He is to consider his statements & promises gravely, making no provision in his actions for anything less than a simple “Yes” or “No.”
Anything beyond these places the Christian is in danger of God’s condemnation of such misguided actions.
A “Yes” & “No” person is a person of conviction. They do not cave to the whims of others in power. They speak what is right & true by He who holds all power!. Their faith is unwavering & unshakable. Their decisions are black & white/cut & dried because they are the result of a close walk with Jesus.
“Swear”—omnuw—1) To swear; 2) To affirm, promise, threaten, with an oath; 3) in swearing To call a person or thing as witness, to invoke, swear by.
“Earth”(See :7, 17—“Land”)—gh—1) Arable land; 2) The ground, the earth as a standing place; 3) The main land as opposed to the sea or water; 4) The earth as a whole—4a) The earth as opposed to the heavens, 4b) The inhabited earth, the abode of men & animals; 5) A country, land enclosed within fixed boundaries, a tract of land, territory, region. Strong—Soil; by extension A region, or the solid part or the whole of the terrene globe (including the occupants in each application):-- Country, earth(-ly), ground, land, world.
“Oath”—orkov—1) That which has been pledged or promised with an oath. Strong—A limit, i.e. (sacred) Restraint (specifically, an oath):-- Oath. Used 10X.
“Judgment/Condemnation/Condemned”—upokrisiv—N. f.—1) An answering; 2) An answer; 3) The acting of a stage player; 4) Dissimulation, hypocrisy. Strong—Acting under a feigned part, i.e. (figuratively) Deceit ("hypocrisy"):-- Condemnation, dissimulation, hypocrisy.
W&H uses krisiv—Strong—Decision (subjectively or objectively, for or against); by extension, A tribunal; by implication, Justice (especially, divine law):-- Accusation, condemnation, damnation, judgment.
Argumentation:
Num. 30:1-2ff.—“Then Moses spoke to the heads of the tribes concerning the children of Israel, saying, “This is the thing which the LORD has commanded: “If a man makes a vow to the LORD, or swears an oath to bind himself by some agreement, he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.”
Mat. 5:33-37—““Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ “But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; “nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ & your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.”
Col. 4:6—“Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.”
Heb. 10:31—“But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.”
Isa. 50:5-10—“The Lord GOD has opened My ear; And I was not rebellious, Nor did I turn away. I gave My back to those who struck Me, And My cheeks to those who plucked out the beard; I did not hide My face from shame & spitting. For the Lord GOD will help Me; Therefore I will not be disgraced; Therefore I have set My face like a flint, And I know that I will not be ashamed. He is near who justifies Me; Who will contend with Me? Let us stand together. Who is My adversary? Let him come near Me. Surely the Lord GOD will help Me; Who is he who will condemn Me? Indeed they will all grow old like a garment; The moth will eat them up. Who among you fears the LORD? Who obeys the voice of His Servant? Who walks in darkness And has no light? Let him trust in the name of the LORD And rely upon his God.”
Lk. 9:51-53—“Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem, & sent messengers before His face. And as they went, they entered a village of the Samaritans, to prepare for Him. But they did not receive Him, because His face was set for the journey to Jerusalem.”
Rom. 1:14-17—“I am a debtor both to Greeks & to barbarians, both to wise & to unwise. So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first & also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.””
1Pet. 3:14-16—“But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled. But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, & always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness & fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.”
1Kgs. 18:21—“And Elijah came to all the people, and said, “How long will you [hesitate/waver/]falter between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people answered him not a word.”
Illustration:
Politicians/Notoriously when asked a black-&-white question, begin with an explanation/No RESOLVE
The Hymn— “I Am Resolved”
I am resolved no longer to linger,
Charmed by the world's delight;
Things that are higher, things that are nobler,
These have allured my sight.
I am resolved to go to the Saviour,
Leaving my sin and strife;
He is the true One, He is the just One,
He hath the words of life.
I am resolved to follow the Saviour,
Faithful and true each day;
Heed what He sayeth, do what He willeth, He is the living way.
I am resolved to enter the Kingdom,
Leaving the paths of sin;
Friends may oppose me, foes may beset me,
Still will I enter in.
Chorus:
I will hasten to Him,
Hasten so glad and free;
Jesus, Greatest, Highest,
I will come to Thee.
Application:
?Your Patience supply a Capacity for RESOLVE?
?Is Patience your Christian Obligation?
?Are YOU Patient?
CONCLUSION:
Action:
Patience(in Christ) gives us OR informs our the capacity for...
4. CONFIDENCE(:9b)
5. PROPHECY(:10-11a)
6. VISION(11b)
7. RESOLVE(:12)
Presented 06/05/2011pm to:
Needmore Baptist Church
1620 Mt. Vernon Rd.
Woodleaf, NC 27054
