You Can Keep Going–Even When You’re Done!

You Can Keep Going—Even When You’re Done!

James 5:7-12

Waiting for God is not laziness. Waiting for God is not going to sleep. Waiting for God is not the abandonment of effort.  Waiting for God means, first, activity under command; second, readiness for any new command that may come; third, the ability to do nothing until the command is given. (G. Campbell Morgan)

Because Jesus is coming again,  we can live patiently in 4 areas of life:

I. (James 5:7-8)

Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.

-Be patient with the struggles of life.  Jesus is coming back again and none of our present struggles will anymore!

–Galatians 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

II. Strife (James 5:9)

Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.

-While you’re fighting with a brother or sister in Christ, how many people right around you are dying and going to hell Christ?

*Impatience with people reveals impatience with God!

-Romans 12:18-21 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the LORD. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

III. (James 5:10-11)

Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

-When we know we are on the winning side and the end of the story is victory won by God, our suffering can be bearable!

-Really, our for those causing persecution ought to become stronger because we know those who are persecuting don’t have the same hope we have! 

*We can let our patience turn our suffering into soul-consciousness!

IV. Sincerity (James 5:12)

But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.

-If we tell the consistently, we won’t have to back it up with swearing or an oath.

-Give nobody any reason to question your integrity and you won’t have to back up your words with swearing!

-Patience produces truthfulness.

4 questions:

1. Do your struggles you to God’s Word and will?
2. Do you live at peace with others (internally & externally) or is there something between you and someone else?
3. When it comes to suffering, are you self-conscious or -conscious?
4. Are you a person of your word or do you often have to back it up with an oath?