Wednesday in the Word: Patience

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We have special friends visiting with us this week, Stew and Donna Schepers, so since we're enjoying some good fellowship I'm reposting something from my archives. These were my notes from a sermon my husband preached several years ago. God bless you this week!

My husband preached an excellent message tonight! He's been preaching through the book of James on Sunday nights, and we're finally in the last chapter. Tonight's sermon was on patience - so timely! :) Here are my notes.

Five Ways to Let Patience Perfect You - James 5:7-12

1. Use the patience you already have - v. 7 - "Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. 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." The farmer has enough patience to wait for harvest - doesn't expect immediate results - keep trials in perspective - this too shall pass

2. Establish your heart - v. 8 - "Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh." Be patient because Jesus is coming - whatever you're going through, it is temporary! Stablish = commitment - I will endure, because Jesus is coming soon

3. Don't complain or become bitter - vs. 9,10 - "Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door. Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience." God never gives more than we can bear - He will sustain

4. Don't quit - v. 11 - "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." Others have endured - so can you! Job didn't know the whole story, behind the scenes, Satan telling God that Job would curse him. We don't know the whole story - God has us under construction. God cares!

5. Be careful how you speak during trials - v. 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." Control your words - suffering builds character, self-control

Comments

  1. Anonymous1:18 PM

    Thanks, Susan -- I have been convicted over my lack of patience lately. And as I was thinking, as I did my exercises and was "talking back" to the virtual trainer, that even though he wasn't real and couldn't hear me, it still wasn't good because it was giving vent to those feelings rather than practicing patience and endurance.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Susan10:02 PM

    I'm so glad it was a help to you, Barbara! I love how the Lord seems to work in ways to bring things to our attention when He is working on them in our lives.

    ReplyDelete

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