This exposition of James 5:7-12 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, May 19, 2019.
Intro:
Do you like game shows? I grew up watching them. I watched Let’s Make A Deal with Monty Hall and of course Carol Merrill standing in front of the curtain. Truth or Consequences with Bob Barker. But my favorite was Jeopardy.
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I still enjoy watching it even though Don Pardo is no longer the announcer. Let’s be clear, I wouldn’t be any good on the show – but I like to watch it from the comfort of my own recliner when my answers don’t count!
I love the twist – they give you the answer and you come up with the question.
The key is – it has to be the question they have in mind!
Sometimes, when interpreting the Scripture it is like playing Jeopardy. You’ve got the answer but you’re not sure what the question is. James 5 is like that. James comes to the end of his letter and there is this running “laundry list” of issues he ticks off but what are they related to? What questions are being answered?
We do know that the issue or theme running throughout James’ letter is maturity. He is calling on these scattered believers to “grow up” in the faith. He wants them to come to maturity. We know from what James has already said that maturity comes through trials and testing times. We know that growth comes through the implanted word. We grow as we learn to consistently apply the truths of the gospel to our everyday lives. We are to be “doers of the word” and not “hearers only.” It is clear that maturity, as a goal, is still in sight as we come to our text this evening found in James 5:7-12.
Text: James 5:7-12
James sets before his readers two essential qualities of the mature believer. Qualities that are developed over time. He calls on them to be “patient” 4 times in verses 7, 8 and 10. Twice in verse 11 he speaks of “steadfastness.” Making it clear that…
Thesis: The life of biblical maturity is a life of long-suffering patience and steadfast endurance.
There are three things for us to note in our text.
- The very nature of the Christian life demands the cultivation of patience. (5:7-9)
- God graciously gives us biblical examples of patient suffering. (5:10-11)
- Because the nature of the Christian life demands patience; because we’ve been given these biblical examples; we are to remain steadfast under even the most severe trials. (5:12)
Conclusion:
The Christian life is no walk in the park. It is a long and difficult life. A life that demands long-suffering patience and steadfast endurance.
The nature of the Christian life demands you cultivate patience.
We’ve been given examples of patient suffering in Scripture.
Remain steadfast under even the most serve trials.
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