MOTIVATION FROM THE LORD’S RETURN
James 5:7-12
[7] Be patient, therefore, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the farmer waits
for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and
late rains.
{8} You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
{9} Do not complain, brethren, against one another, that you yourselves may not be
judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door.
{10} As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in
the name of the Lord.
{11} Behold, we count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job
and have seen the outcome of the
[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, and your no, no; so that you may not fall under
judgment.
INTRODUCTION:
I am not a great student of prophecy like some Bible students. I do believe Jesus is coming again, and that we should be ready for His return. This belief motivates me. James presents the coming of the Lord in the light of a motivating force. Notice two emphasis of motivation from the text.
1. Encouragement . . Motivated from the Lord’s Return. v 7 - 8
2. Etiquette . . Motivated from the Lord’s Return. v 9-11
1. Encouragement . . Motivated from the Lord’s Return. v 7 - 8
[7] Be patient, therefore, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the farmer waits
for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late
rains.
{8} You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
A. Encouragement in . . Temperment. v 7 - 8 a
v 7 Patience Compare to v11, used 14 times in N.T. 3 times in this verse and 1 time in 8
Patient, Long and Patience
Strong’s # 3114 makrothumeo (mak-roth-oo-meh’-o); from the same as 3116; to be long-spirited, i.e. (objectively) forbearing or (subjectively) patient: KJV-- bear (suffer) long, be longsuffering, have (long) patience, be patient, patiently endure. (DIC)
Strong’s # 3116 makrothumos (mak-roth-oo-moce’); adverb of a compound of 3117 and 2372; with long (enduring) temper, i.e. leniently: KJV-- patiently. (DIC)
B. Encouragement in . . Tenacity. v 8 b ". . . strengthen your hearts, . . . "
Stablish in KJV
Strong’s # 4741 sterizo (stay-rid’-zo); from a presumed derivative of 2476 (like 4731); to set fast, i.e. (literally) to turn resolutely in a certain direction, or (figuratively) to confirm: KJV-- fix, (e-) stablish, stedfastly set, strengthen.
Strong’s # 2476 histemi (his’-tay-mee); a prolonged form of a primary stao (stah’-o) (of the same meaning, and used
Strong’s # 4731 stereos (ster-eh-os’); from 2476; stiff, i.e. solid, stable (literally or figuratively):
C. Encouragement in . . Timing. v 7 b, v 8 c, v 9 b
v 7 b ". . . until the coming of the Lord."
v 8 c " . . . for the coming of the Lord is at hand."
v 8 Nigh
Matt 22:30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in
heaven. (KJV)
James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts,
ye double minded. (KJV)
v 9 b ". . . behold, the Judge is standing right at the door."
John 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. KJV)
Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. (KJV)
Rev 4:1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. (KJV)
ILLUSTRATION
James believed in giving illustrations to clarify the point he was making. In verse 7 he used the farmer to illustrate his point. Read this verse again
APPLICATION
Do you have the necessary patience to serve God in the face of dificulties? Do you serve even though it looks as if He has delayed the coming of Christ.
2. Etiquette . . Motivated from the Lord’s Return. v 9-11
{9} Do not complain, brethren, against one another, that you yourselves may not be
judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door.
{10} As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in
the name of the Lord.
{11} Behold, we count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job
and have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and
[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, and your no, no; so that you may not fall under
judgment.
A. Etiquette . . In Speech.
1. Negatives for Etiquette
a. Not a complainer. v 9
v 9 grudge KJV
Strong’s # 4727 stenazo (sten-ad’-zo); from 4728; to make (intransitively, be) in straits, i.e. (by implication) to sigh, murmur, pray inaudibly:
Strong’s # 4728 stenos (sten-os’); probably from the base of 2476; narrow (from obstacles standing close about):
b. Not a Swearer. v 12 a
v 12 Swaer used 27 time s bad connotation for mans use.
Strong’s # 3660 omnuo (om-noo’-o); a prolonged form of a primary but obsolete omo, for which another prolonged form (omoo (om-o’-o)) is used in certain tenses; to swear, i.e. take (or declare on) oath:
c. Not an oath maker. v 12 b Lawyer Shapiro
v 12 Oath
Strong’s # 3727 horkos (hor’-kos); from herkos (a fence; perhaps akin to 3725); a limit, i.e. (sacred) restraint
(specifically, an oath):
Strong’s # 3725 horion (hor’-ee-on); neuter of a derivative of an apparently primary horos (a bound or limit); a
boundary-line, i.e. (by implication) a frontier (region):
2. Positives for Etiquette
a. Yes means Yes.
v 12 YES used 36 times Surely, Even And So
Rev 22:20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. (KJV)
Strong’s # 3483 nai (nahee); a primary particle of strong affirmation; yes:
b. No means No.
v 12 NO
Strong’s # 3756 ou (oo); also (before a vowel) ouk (ook); and (before an aspirate) ouch (ookh); a primary word; the absolute negative [compare 3361] adverb; no or not:
B. Etiquette . . In Suffering. v 11 a
{11} Behold, we count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job
Endure
Strong’s # 5278 hupomeno (hoop-om-en’-o); from 5259 and 3306; to stay under (behind), i.e. remain; figuratively, to undergo, i.e. bear (trials), have fortitude, persevere: KJV-- abide, endure, (take) patient (-ly), suffer, tarry behind. (DIC)
Strong’s # 3306 meno (men’-o); a primary verb; to stay (in a given place, state, relation or expectancy): KJV-- abide, continue, dwell, endure, be present, remain, stand, tarry (for), X thine own. (DIC)
Strong’s # 5259 hupo (hoop-o’); a primary preposition; under, i.e. (with the genitive case) of place (beneath), or with verbs (the agency or means, through); (with the accusative case) of place (whither [underneath] or where [below] or time (when [at]): KJV-- among, by, from, in, of, under, with. In comp. it retains the same general applications, especially of inferior position or condition, and specifically, covertly or moderately. (DIC)
ILLUSTRATION` Topic: Patience`Subtopic: Examples of`Index: 2692`
In his book The Uttermost Star, F.W. Boreham told about attending a farewell service for a minister who was leaving a church he had pastored for 20 years. Several preachers attended, and each eloquently extolled the pastor’s virtues. Boreham commented that he had forgotten everything said that day except for a simple statement made by a man who was not even scheduled to speak.
The man had asked permission to say a word, and in a single sentence had paid his pastor this compliment, "I have seen him nearly every day of my life for 20 years, and I’ve never seen him in a hurry!" After the service, the minister said he considered that tribute to be the most gratifying. He took it as an indication that over the years he had truly learned to wait patiently upon the Lord.
Truly we receive motivation from the Lord’s Return.
1. Encouragement . . Motivated from the Lord’s Return. v 7 - 8
2. Etiquette . . Motivated from the Lord’s Return. v 9-11
