JAMES 5:7-12Finish What Ya Started

JAMESKey Verse: But be doers of the word,

and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves- James 1:22 (NKJ)

Review- Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you- vs. 1.

JAMES Review

Hoarding wealthCheating workers out of their payLiving in luxury and self-indulgence when

so many were starving and in needMurder

JAMES Be patient, then, brothers, until

the Lord's coming- vs. 7a. How did James feel toward the rich?

Why isn’t he advocating revenge?

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Antidote: Parousias- Lord’s coming. The Just King who will set things right

Patient= Makrothymesate- attitude of self-restraint that does not try to get even for wrongs done

Willing to not act unrighteously

JAMES

How could the people have sinned concerning the rich?

JAMES

Bitterness

Partiality

Grumbling

Giving up hope

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"In your anger do not sin"- Ephesians 4:26 (see Psalm 4:4)

JAMES See how the farmer waits for the

land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains- vs.7b

What valuable “crop” does patience bring Christians?

 

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Patience is a part of the sanctification process.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything- James 1:2-4

JAMES You too, be patient and stand firm,

because the Lord's coming is near- vs. 8

Patience is not passive

Stand firm= “strengthen your hearts” How?

Blue ice-cream cake??

JAMES Don't grumble against each other, brothers, or

you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!- vs. 9

 

Grumble= stenazate- to sigh or groan. An inner feeling of bitterness or resentment towards others

…for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires- Jas. 1:20

JAMES“I’m losing my patience with

you!”

What I’ve lost is my eternal perspective

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Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 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. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy- vs. 10-11

2 Examples:

Prophets (patience)

Jeremiah was put in the stocks, thrown into prison and lowered into a muddy, dank dungeon by his own people

Job (perseverance)

Lost it all and even his wife told him to “curse your God and die”

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The Process of Life:

Suffering

Perseverance

Blessing

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Above all, my brothers, do not swear-- not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your "Yes" be yes, and your "No," no, or you will be condemned- vs. 12

Live it real and be stable so I don’t have to swear to get people to believe me

Takeaways:

What’s my response to injustice or mistreatment? What I do with my anger determines the blessings in my life

Is my perspective an eternal one? Do I trust that the King will come and set things right?

Am I active in “strengthening my heart” (growing spiritually) during trials?

Takeaways:

Is there anyone I’m quietly “grumbling against”? What do I need to do to let it go?

Do people take me at my word? Am I stable, someone who’s not wishy-washy and constantly changing my mind?

Text Q & A