TEXT: James 5:7-11
*There is not a pill for patience. Patience is something that only the Spirit of God produces in you and through you.
*We miss moments to show Christ because we are so self-consumed.
*The ability to endure for a long time whatever opposition and suffering may come our way, and to show perseverance without wanting retaliation or revenge. It is, the ability to put up with the weakness and faults of others (including other believers) and to show forbearance toward them, without getting quickly irritated or angry enough to want to fight back.
*We need to be a patient people not only for the glory of God, but for the sake of the Gospel, and so healthy relationships can be developed.
I. EXAMPLE
Exodus 34:6
“And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,”
Psalm 103:8-11
“The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger forever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.”
Micah 7:18, 19
“Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger forever, because he delighteth in mercy.
He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.”
A. God’s Patience Revealed
B. Patience Received
II. ENDURANCE
A. Patience Required
B. Patience Returned
III. ENCOURAGEMENT
A. A Word of Warning
Poem: “To live above with the saints we love will certainly be glory, but to live below with the saints we know, well that’s a different story.”
James 1:2-4
“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”
*Endurance and patience are qualities we would like to possess, but we would all like to skip the process that produces them.
B. The Worth of Waiting On God
*When we are in awe of God and love Him, waiting on Him does not cause us to become irate or irritated because we know, in the end, God is always worth the wait.
