Introduction: As we move through the remarkable Book of James, we come to another area that affects all of us – handling conflicts in life. How do you handle them?

 

 

For most of us, PATIENCE is a scarce commodity. But for the Christians of the 1st century, plagued with problems and persecution, being patient was an absolute necessity. Now as a matter of background, we need to read James 5:1-6,

 

 

Our text in James 5:7-12 is a continuation of verses 1-6. Four times within the span of six verses James uses the word "Brethren," which indicates he is directing his thoughts to Christians.

 

 

Remember in verses 1-6, James directed some strong statements to un-believers who were rich in this world, but not rich in Christ. The non-believers had been mistreating the believer.

 

As a result, the believers in verse 9 began to "hold grudges," and to top it off, in verse 12 they became untrustworthy in what they said.

 

So James stands up on a Sunday and shouts, "BE PATIENT!" Wow! You say, “He sure lost his marbles that Sunday.” James continues to shout, "BE PATIENT when people abuse you. DON'T RETALIATE! When everything seems to be dark and desperately hopeless, START LOOKING UP! God is still in CONTROL and one of these days, it could be today, He will return to take us home. Hard to believe? NO, JUST KEEP LOOKING UP."

 

Hold it, Pastor that was the 1st century. This is the 21st century. There are many occasions and people in our lives that try our patience, and irritations that cause us to grind our teeth and lose our cool.

 

 

All of us experience frustrating moments when we find it difficult to cope with pressures and problems, the two "P's" that cause us to "pop our cork" and really explode.

 

Now if you are a candidate for the "Panic Palace," you are in for a miserable outlook. Let me remind you of a phrase we brought to your attention in our second message on the Book of James. "ATTITUDE DETERMINES ACTIONS and OUTLOOK DETERMINES OUTCOME."

 

James was speaking to the 1st century Christians who were cracking under the pressures of persecution. They were questioning whether their suffering was really all that worthwhile. And no doubt they were saying, like we do at times, "Does God really care?"

 

Perhaps you remember James used the word “Patience” in chapter 1:2-4 where we read. “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; (3) Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. (4) But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”

 

Now as we come to James 5:7-11, again we find the word “Patience” used 5 times. Please follow me again as I read these verses and notice the use of the word “Patience.”

 

 

Now the word "patience" in chapter 1 and chapter 5 is not the same Greek word.

 

 

 

 

“Oh pastor, you don't know how ________ is getting to me.” STOP, do you realize the Greek word "Makrothumia" is used as an attribute of God? The Bible tells us God is long-suffering:

 

 

Just as God has patience toward the un-righteous, so should we.

 

 

Now, in light of these people being oppressed by the rich, James gives 3 very clear reasons for being patient:

 

FIRST: "Be patient because Jesus is coming again." Please notice the first part of verse 7, “Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord…” and the last part of verse 8, “…for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.” The Second Coming of Christ is called, 'The Blessed Hope," the great snatching away of all believers, the re-union, the meeting of the Lord in the air.

 

Oh, let's face it. Life is full of conflicts with people, and we can easily become discouraged. But one day all those conflicts and discouragements will be gone forever. We will understand:

 

 

Jesus is coming again. Listen, if the OUT-LOOK is DARK, try the UPPER-LOOK. Live as if Jesus is coming today. Think about it; meditate on it daily, remembering Jesus is coming again. I sincerely believe most of our discouragements come about, and we are ready to throw in the towel, because we are not WAITING and WATCHING for Jesus' return.

 

You and I are always in a hurry, but God isn't. God works in mysterious ways His wonders to perform. Often times HIS timetable is not the same as OURS. Our times are actually in His hands; He will avenge His elect speedily.

 

You will notice in verse 8 that James adds something to the word patient. It's the word "establish," which means "to prop." James is saying in light of the persecution of people and in light of the Second Coming, "prop yourselves up," Jesus could very well come today.

 

SECOND: "Be Patient, because God is still at work." Here James gives us three examples of how God is still at work.

 

Number 1: The Farmer: In verse 7 we read, “…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.” James talks about the farmer who plants the crop; who cultivates his crop and then waits for the harvest.He can do nothing now but simply wait for God to cause the seed to germinate and the plant to grow and to send the rain.

 

 

 

We are God's garden, purchased by His precious blood. We have been planted and cultivated by the Lord. God is still on the throne to produce in us the character of patience. Yes, into our lives week after week comes the SUNSHINE and the RAIN. Look, if our lives were always filled with just SUNSHINE, we would only be a parched desert. We need the RAINSTORMS in our lives.

 

 

My friends, God is still at work. Do you believe that? God is accomplishing His perfect will in our lives, Amen!

 

Number 2: The Prophets. Again notice verse 10-11a, “Take…, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. (11) Behold, we count them happy which endure.” James is making the point that the prophets suffered not because they did anything WRONG, but because they were doing RIGHT!

 

 

It seems to these prophets, PATIENCE was their watchword. There are at least 11 passages in the New Testament that refers to the persecution of the prophets. Perhaps the greatest of these is found in Hebrews 11 called "The Hall of Faith," where we have reference to Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph and Moses, Notice verses 32-40,

 

 

This is a side of Christianity we do not like to think about, the suffering side. For most of us, we like to think that when we are saved, everything is going to be glorious. It is true that we will never be away from the PRESENCE and POWER of God. But we will have problems and difficulties. The prophets illustrated this in their patient suffering.

 

Right now, all around the world even as I speak, there are believers suffering persecution for their faith. This is something few of us really know anything about. For most of us, persecution is some circumstantial inconvenience or some people iteration that we have to put-up-with. Yet while we sit here in relative comfort, there are those who are facing religious persecution, even of their lives in our present world.

 

Now back in James 5, these sufferers are being challenged to bear injury without retaliation. In verse 11 we read, "We count them happy which endure." Now the word "endure" is the same root word as the word patience found in verse 11. And this word patience in verse 11 is different from the other four words translated patience in verses 7, 8, and 10. This is the Greek word "Hupomeno." It is telling us to "bear-up" under the CIRCUMSTANCES of life literally develop "Endurance." Keep standing while everything else is falling. We have seen the patience of the farmer and the patience of the prophets, now let’s look at Job.

Number 3: The endurance of Job. Verse 11 tells us Job had "endurance under the circumstances." Interestingly James is the only New Testament writer who mentions Job. The story of Job actually begins in heaven where Satan is accusing him before God. When God mentions Job as a sterling example of righteousness, Satan replies that Job is godly only because he has everything going for him. Satan says to God, "If You take away the props, Job will curse You to Your face.” So God allows Satan to do just that.

 

 

Yet through it all, Job remained steadfast. Job endured, keeping an invincible faith in God.

 

God is the great sculptor who holds the chisel. Even though there are many chips that fall, that's the only way the statue will grow. Remember, God is still forming our lives and sometimes He does it with the BLOWS OF CONFLICTS. So be patient, for one day you will have unveiled the statue God has formed.

 

Notice the word "End" in verse 11, it means purpose. In Job 42:12 we read of Job's trial, "So the Lord blessed the latter END of Job more than the beginning." WHATEVER TRIAL GOD ALLOWS IN OUR LIVES, IT HAS A PURPOSE. This means at times God allows people to cross our paths to try our patience, as He is seeking to work His purposes in our lives.

 

THIRD: Be Patient, for the Judge is at hand. In verse 9 we read, “Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.” From this verse it appears obvious that believers were finding it easy to blame one another for their problems. Don't grumble, don't complain. James is saying in verse 9, "Stop complaining. The Lord's judgment will one day right the wrong."

 

So what is the underlying thought? I believe James was saying, "be gracious through it. Then lift up your complaints to God who will provide to you the endurance to bear up in the midst of this suffering."

 

James ends this paragraph with what appears to be a great concern to him as he writes in verse 12, "Above all, my brethren, do not swear…" To understand what James meant, we must understand first what He didn't mean. He was not referring to swearing in the sense of taking the name of the Lord in vain. Certainly, we should not violate this commandment.

 

So what then was James saying? Well, it appears James is saying in the midst of trials you still need to be STRAIGHTFORWARD and HONEST. They were to just say "yes" when they meant yes and "no" when they meant no.

 

There are Christians all over the world that face incredible persecution. How do we, in the 21^st century, handle conflict and pain? I wish to encourage you with two passages of scripture:

 

 

There it is: learn to wait patiently because the Lord is still at work. He's coming again, and one day He will right the wrongs. We must learn to rejoice,

 

 

 then right now talk to God about what He has spoken to you.