Introduction

Good morning, dear church family. As we gather together in this sanctuary, in the warmth of God's love and the fellowship of His people, we set aside the cares of the world and turn our hearts and minds to the Word of God. We are here to listen, to learn, to lean into the wisdom that comes from above.

Today, we turn our attention to the book of James, that treasure trove of practical wisdom. James, the brother of Jesus, who saw firsthand the life and ministry of our Savior, has much to share with us. Our passage today is James 5:7-12. Let's read these words together: "Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful. But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your "yes" be yes and your "no" be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation."

These are words of comfort, of challenge, of inspiration. They speak to us of the need for patience, for perseverance, and for peace.

Perseverance in Prayer

In the passage from James, we find a call to patience, a call to wait on the Lord. This waiting is not about sitting back and doing nothing, but about engaging in a constant, ongoing conversation with God. This conversation is prayer.

Prayer is really about building a relationship with God and aligning our will with His. It's about opening our hearts to His love, His grace, His wisdom. It's about acknowledging our dependence on Him, our need for Him, our desire for Him.

Prayer is a lifeline. It's a way of connecting with the Creator of the universe, the One who holds all things in His hands, the One who loves us with an everlasting love. We can be expressing our love for Him, our gratitude for His blessings, our sorrow for our sins, and our longing for His presence.

Prayer is also a discipline. It's something we do, not just when we feel like it, but even when we don't. It's something we do, not just when things are going well, but even when they're not. It's something we do, not just in the big moments of life, but also in the small ones.

We also find a call to perseverance. This perseverance is not about stubbornness, but about steadfastness. It's not about refusing to change, but about refusing to give up. It's about staying the course, even when the road is rough, even when the journey is long, even when the destination seems far away.

Perseverance in prayer is about praying without ceasing, about praying in all circumstances, about praying with faith, hope, and love. It's about praying with persistence, with patience, with passion. It's about praying with the expectation that God will hear, that God will answer, that God will act.

Perseverance in prayer is about praying in the face of doubt, in the face of disappointment, in the face of delay. It's about praying even when we don't see the results, even when we don't understand the reasons, even when we don't feel the emotions. It's about praying even when we're tired, even when we're tempted, even when we're troubled.

Finally, perseverance in prayer is about praying not just for ourselves, but also for others. It's about praying for our family, our friends, our neighbors, our coworkers, our leaders, our enemies. It's about praying for the sick, the poor, the lost, the lonely, the hurting, the broken. It's about praying for justice, for peace, for unity, for revival.

Transition. All of these aspects of prayer are not just for the first-century Christians to whom James was writing. We too receive this call that echoes down the centuries, a call that resonates in our hearts, a call that invites us into a deeper, richer, more meaningful relationship with God. So let us heed this call. Let us be patient. Let us persevere. Let us pray. And as we do, let us remember the promise of James: "The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective."

Patience in Promise

As we continue to reflect on the wisdom of James, we find ourselves drawn to the theme of patience ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO