Outer Banks Community Church

Life is a Test Series - James 5:7-11

Intro: Some years ago a speedboat driver who had survived a racing accident described what had happened. He said he had been at near top speeds when his boat veered slightly and hit a wave at a dangerous angle. The combined force of his speed and the size and angle of the wave sent the boat spinning crazily into the air. He was thrown from his seat and propelled deeply into the water—so deep, in fact, that he had no idea which direction the surface was. He had to remain calm and wait for the buoyancy of his life vest to begin pulling him up. Once he discovered which way was up, he could swim for the surface.

Sometimes we find ourselves surrounded by confusing options, too deeply immersed in our problems to know which way is up. When this happens, we too can remain calm, waiting for God’s gentle tug to pull us in the proper direction. Our “life vest” may be other Christians, Scripture, or some other leading from the Holy Spirit, but the key is recognizing our dependency upon God and trusting him.

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” Text: James 1:2-4

Text: James 5:7-11

“Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. 8 You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. 9 Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door! 10 My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. 11 Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord--that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.”

Application: “Be Patient until the coming of the Lord!”

Have you ever struggle with which way is up, have you fallen and seem to be one of those people who can’t get back up? For the elderly, modern technology has created a medical alert system when they fall. For the growing Christian when you fall: “Consider it all a joy!” Be patience, Christ will lift you up! SONG: “Love lifted me.”

The trials of life can upset and disrupt our lives, and if we are not on guard, they can crush us through some bad event. How can we overcome temptations and trials—conquer and gain a permanent victory over them? How do we succeed in preparing and passing one of the final tests that the book of James has to offer? One word can sum this all up: PATIENCE!

BE PATIENT:

1. The Lord is coming again: vs. 7

Be patient for the Lord is coming again. “For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.” Matthew 16:27

Christ is coming again to separate the sheep from the goats, to judge both the living and the dead. Christ is coming again to execute judgment upon the unbelievers or the ungodly of the earth as well as to judge believers. Scriptures make it very clear how believers are to live, they are to occupy themselves, be busy in serving the Lord until He comes. You must deny ungodliness and worldly lusts and live soberly, righteously, and godly until Christ returns.

We must be patient—endure all the temptations and trials of life, no matter how strong and terrible their attack may be. Be the overcomer, do not become defeated and give up! Be that buoyant person who knows God can and will pull you up! “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23

BE PATIENT:

2. As the Farmer: vs. 7-9

Be patient as the farmer, for the Lord’s coming draws near, you also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. 9 Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door!

The farmer is a good example of the kind of patient waiting believers must have as they wait for the Lord's return. The farmer plants his seed and patiently waits for the early rain to germinate the seed and the later rain to ripen the crop. The farmer looks forward to the day of harvest with great expectation—so much so that he does all he can to protect the glorious day of harvest. He combats the trials of dry and wet weather, insects and disease, and the wild weeds and briers of the world. No matter what confronts him the farmer patiently endures the trial and combats it every step of the way. He does all he can to conquer the trial. Why? Why does he labor so diligently? Endure so patiently? Because his eyes are fixed upon the great day of harvest. ‘Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 15:58

“So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” Galatians 6:9 (NLT)

Another reminder comes in this next verse: Believers must not complain, murmur, and judge other believers. We must not complain about our situations, our trials and temptations, and we must not blame each other for what happens to us. This is a warning, a strong warning. The Lord will judge all believers who complain, murmur, grumble, and judge others instead of conquering the trials and temptations of life. And His judgment is at hand, right at the door, ready to be executed against men. “Do all things without complaining and disputing.” (Arguing) Philippians 2:14 If the professor in your class was to send you an answer to this section of your review on the test he might have given you this report: “You have room for improvement in this section of the test of life.” I would instruct you to read the assignment again, and study it a lot more.

BE PATIENT:

3. As the prophets & Job: vs. 10-11

Be patient as the prophets in suffering, for they believed and spoke in the name of the Lord, Be patient as Job in suffering trials and temptation, for he saw the end of the Lord that the Lord was full of compassion and mercy.

They faced all kinds of trials and temptations, but they patiently endured, fought and conquered them all. Look at the prophets, and you will have a great example to follow in patient endurance. As Hebrews says: “Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin.” Hebrews 11:25

Vs. 11 tells us to be as patient as Job, for he saw the end of the Lord—that the Lord was full of compassion and mercy. Few people ever suffer as much as Job suffered. He suffered utter bankruptcy—the loss of all his property, livestock, and employees—and then, in the severest blow of all, he lost all of his sons in an accident. In addition to all this, his wife fussed at him because he refused to complain and curse God for destroying their lives. Job never gave in to the trials or temptations. He never forsook his faith in God. He did not understand all that was happening to him, but he refused to turn against God. He stood and patiently endured, struggling to conquer all and conquer it in the name of God. “For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth.” Job 19:25

Job kept his eyes fixed upon the end, that is, upon the Lord and the great hope of the Lord. Job endured; we count him blessed or happy. “And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.” Matthew 10:22

Conclusion:

A common sight in America’s Southwest desert is the century plant. It’s unique. The century plant thrives in rocky, mountainous, desert sites. It has dramatic, expanded leaves that grow up to a foot wide. The plant can reach twelve feet in diameter.

But what makes the century plant unusual, as its name suggests, is its long reproduction cycle. For twenty or thirty years (no, not a literal one hundred years), the six-foot-tall plant stands the same height and puts out no flowers. Then one year, without warning, a new bud sprouts. The bud, which resembles a tree-trunk-size asparagus spear, shoots into the sky at a fantastic rate of seven inches per day and reaches an eventual height of twenty to forty feet. Then it crowns itself with several clumps of yellowish blossoms that last up to three weeks.

Like the century plant, many of the most glorious things that happen to us come only after a long wait.

The question that has been asked for this test in James this week; are you patient, are you looking for the Lord for your life line, are you looking up? The right answer comes with looking the right way.