James | Week 9

Well, if you have your Bible, you open it to James chapter 5,

James 5 · chapter mention

James chapter 5 is where we'll be today as you're turning

James 5 · chapter mention

there. Just want to say that the

Providence of God in expository preaching, which is where we

just pick a book. And we go verse by verse through

it, I am never disappointed by how the Lord orders his word and

what falls on what weeks and how it applies.

So Faithfully, the word truly is living and active.

Amen, as Hebrews 4 says, After when he passed the Elder, team

chose to break from our series that I had begun on worship and

they elected to preach through the book of James. and today 11

weeks from that day, I stand Here, prepared to preach James

chapter, 5 verses 7 and 12. A text, that is encouraging.

The dispersed Christians, largely Jewish, Christians to

have immovable patients in suffering, It's really

incredible. The Lord truly writes.

The best stories, doesn't he? he does, he orchestrates amazing

things and I have never attempted to preach under the

weight of such suffering. I don't even know really how

this is going to go. But it is my eager expectation.

It is my hope today to be able to edify, you all my brothers

and my sisters with God's word today.

The main point of today's passage, as I at least have

written it out, is this? And you can encourage you to

take notes today. I think it's going to be

helpful, but if you've got your notes in front of you and write

this down a fixed, a fixed Gaze on eternity.

Is that the key to immovable patience and suffering?

A fixed Gaze on. Eternity is the key to immovable

patience in suffering. This is what I believe James is

teaching, these Christians and us today.

I believe he also lays out a blueprint through giving five

commands to the people that we see in the passage today for how

we also can develop, how we also can walk in immovable patients

and our own lives. I hope to show you those this

morning. I will go ahead and read them to

you just so you're aware and then we'll walk through each.

One of them in a moment, the first is to be patient the First

Command he gives his be patient. The second that he gives is

establish your heart. The third do not grumble.

Go ahead and prepare your toes for that one.

That's that one's hard number for consider your examples.

And number five, do not swear. I'm excited to be in front of

you today and to preach these things, if you're able, would

you please stand to your feet and honor of the reading of the

Lord's word? When I finish this reading, I'll

say this is the word of the Lord, and I would like, for you

to respond. Thanks be to God.

Let me read to you. James 5 verse 7, through 12, Be

James 5:7

patient. Therefore Brothers until the

coming of the Lord see how the farmer waits for the precious

fruit of the Earth being patient about it until it receives the

early, and the late rains. You also be patients, establish

your hearts for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

Do not Grumble against one, another brothers, so that you

may not be judged behold. The judge is standing at the

door. As an example of suffering.

And patience Brothers. Take the prophets.

Who spoke in the name of the Lord behold, we consider those

blessed Who Remain steadfast you have heard of the steadfastness

of job. And you have seen the purpose of

the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.

But above all my brothers, do not swear either by heaven, or

by Earth, or, by any other But let your yes, be yes.

And your no be no. So that you may not fall under

condemnation. This is the word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God. Let me pray for us.

Heavenly Father. We thank you that we are

gathered together today to hear your word.

Lord, would you open our hearts? Open our minds, what would you

Enlighten Us by the power of your spirit today to see your

word to understand it to believe it with all of our hearts?

Lord we come today, I come today with a heavy heart, a heart that

is simultaneously filled with joy.

And I asked for your help this morning, Lord.

Each time we open your word Lord.

We are dependent upon your spirit to speak to us.

And so, I ask that your spirit do what only he can do.

Lord, I intend to plant. I intend to water today.

But I'm trusting you for the increase.

We pray these things in the Name of Christ.

Our Lord, amen. Amen.

You may have a seat It's, it's been well-documented through the

series through the series and as each man has taught so well each

Elder Elder, Canada has come and preach.

So, Faithfully that James is writing to a largely Jewish

Christian audience. These people are living in what

was called the diaspora or the dispersion there outside of

Jerusalem is all that means, there's varying factors as to

why they could be outside of Jerusalem could be the They

settled there. It could be that they were

forced out of Jerusalem during the persecution of the early

church. We're not really told y but what

we know is that they're scattered from their Homeland We

know that they are suffering many trials because James has

made a point throughout the letter to encourage them a lot

in their trials. Telling them things.

Like, consider it all joy. My brothers, when trials and

tribulations come upon you. And our text today James is

really picking up his encouragement.

For their trials. After his just addressed, the

sins of the wealthy unbelievers that Jasper mentioned last week

was wealthy unbelievers were mistreating Their employees.

Were robbing them were starving them.

Literally They were contributing to their suffering for sure.

And James wants these Believers to develop immovable patience

and suffering. Immovable patience in suffering.

It seems so unnatural, doesn't it to think that I'm in my

suffering and therefore, I must just be patient in this.

It really is unnatural typically exercising, immovable patients

in the face of suffering. Is the last thing that we want

to do. It's the last thing, our heart

desires, we would much rather our situation be changed in a

moment. We would much rather be able to

go back to when things were the way they were supposed to be.

We want the situation to be made, right immediately.

And that's regardless of whatever situation you face.

Brothers and sisters, my family and I have been hurled.

By the Providence of God, into the depths of the Raging Waters

of suffering. And as with a lot of suffering,

it came in an instance, there was no warning.

There was no build up. Before we knew it suffering was

standing on our doorstep knocking.

And we were forced to open the door.

And you all by your love and your care for us, your love for

my daughter. Have been thrust into the waters

as well. But I want you to know that I

don't stand here, naive. I don't stand here.

Arrogant enough to think that just my trial.

My suffering is also your greatest suffering.

I recognize that you all have your own sufferings, you all

have your own trials, you all have the things that you've

faced possibly in the past, maybe things you're going

through immediately or things that you'll face in the future.

But I do appreciate you being willing to weep with the Weeping

and to comfort those who are afflicted.

It has meant so much to us. In the event of suffering of any

kind that the key to making it through it all.

This is what I'm I'm being forced really, to find out, but

this is what we're finding out is that through it all That the

only way to make it through it, all should say, in a way that

God will be glorified in, you is to endure your suffering with

immovable, patience. It's to be job like So then we

must ask the question that I think James is answering today.

The question underneath the text is how can we develop immovable

patience in suffering? How can we be marked by this

kind of patients? This kind of Godly character.

And James is just going to shoot straight like he has a whole

letter. He's not going to beat around

the bush. He's not going to sugarcoat it

because the last thing you want in your suffering is a

sugar-coated truth. You're ready in those moments

for hard facts. You're ready in those moments to

know exactly what you need to do and to commit yourself to it.

And that's what James is doing here.

And so he just begins with Verse 7, be patient.

Therefore Brothers until the coming of the Lord.

He goes on. See how the farmer waits for the

precious fruit of the Earth being patient about it until it

receives the early and the late rains.

So again if you're taking notes and I encourage you to do.

So how can we develop a movable patience?

And suffering. Number one, be patience.

Commit yourself to patients the part.

The first command for developing immovable patience is be patient

until the coming of the Lord. But James isn't, he isn't being?

He isn't being rude isn't being forward with them.

He's not neglecting their afflictions, he's dealt with

their afflictions. Throughout this letter, he has

talked to them about their afflictions.

The things that have caused them, some of it has come to

them from outside of them. Some of them he says, is because

of their own their own lustful nature.

Their selfish desires, Right, we've seen throughout the book

that there are backbiting one, another they're using their

tongue for evil. James says, in chapter 3, verse

10, that blessing and cursing come from the same tongue.

My brothers and sisters think should not be this way.

And so he's acknowledged their afflictions, he's even encourage

them and how to get out of their afflictions. and so, the

afflictions that are caused by our sinfulness, Or a bit easier

to deal with. But because typically, you can

repent of your sin and turn and follow Christ, and things begin

to be made right now. There's consequences and there's

a spider web of those that can come from that.

But typically, if you've wronged a brother by your mouth, you can

go to your brother and say I was a fool.

I recognize that. Will you forgive me?

And your brother will offer forgiveness and you'll move on

you caused her, there's pain, there's those things but you've

moved on. But when suffering comes to you

from outside of you when suffering knocks at your door

step and it's the kind of suffering that you didn't do.

You couldn't prevent you couldn't predict, when that kind

of suffering comes to you. It requires patience and

patience is required in all suffering but especially in the

suffering that is outside of your immediate control.

Requires patience. And so James hasn't acknowledged

their afflictions in the previous verses and now he turns

to direct their response. Be patient Brothers.

Wait on the Lord. In other words, James is saying

bear your afflictions without murmuring which he's literally

going to say in just a couple of verses.

Bear your injuries without Revenge.

Wait on God. Even if you do not yet, see him.

Wait on God, let your patience. Be lengthened out until it

becomes long-suffering. Now you and I we don't like long

suffering, this is a fruit of the spirit.

We would rather not know But yet it is a fruit of the spirit that

you would become patient, or as the word literally means,

long-suffering that you would be able to suffer long that your

suffering would be drawn out, but that you would be patient in

it. Let your patience be lengthened

out until it becomes long-suffering.

James of saying, how can it become long-suffering because

your gaze is fixed on the day of the Lord.

Be patient Brothers until the coming of the Lord.

Be patient brothers, because there is a surety that lies

ahead of you that will create in you long-suffering be patient in

your suffering because what lies ahead is the Redemption of your

body's the Redemption of your souls, the Redemption of the

world, the time, when all things will be made, right?

The moment where weeping ceases were death, doesn't rain

anymore. The moment where sin does not

control, you any longer, the moment, we're suffering ceases.

Amen. So be patient until the coming

of the Lord, let it be lengthened out until it becomes

long-suffering. We're pretty soft people these

days patience for us. Typically just means we've

yielded to the necessity of what we're going through.

I guess I will bear this. Because what choice do I have?

We might say I guess I'm going to go through this because I

couldn't change it anyway. Brother sisters that does not

patients. That is barely veiled grumbling.

Biblical patience. The kind of patients that will

get you through your suffering. Through your Affliction, is

nothing less than a humble Acceptance in the wisdom and the

will of God That kind of patience possesses a serrated

edge, you might say and that serrated edge of patients will

cut right through the thick of suffering.

Biblical patients does not say. I guess I will bear this.

Because what choice do I have biblical?

Patient says this Affliction has come to me according to God's

perfect wisdom and will for my life.

Therefore I will hope in him. The kind of Godly patients.

We must cultivate is the ability to Bear our afflictions with an

eye, toward our future, glorious reward.

That nothing is wasted. Godly patients.

Recognizes that nothing Falls by the wayside nothing is wasted

especially not your sufferings all of it.

All of it is building for you an eternal weight of Glory beyond

all comparison. This is literally what Paul's

encouraging the Saints at Corinth with when he says.

So we do not lose heart though. Our outer self is wasting away.

Our inner self is being renewed, day by day.

Okay, so everything is coming down around us, our outer self,

our bodies even are wasting away.

But inwardly, the spirit of God is renewing us day by day.

And he goes on to write for this light, momentary affliction I

know I've said this before but Paul has in view your entire

life. When he says this light

momentary Affliction he's not talking about some specific

little moment. Now, how in the world can you

say that a life of suffering? A life of Affliction is light or

momentary? Well, the only way you get there

is when you consider what lies beyond what lies ahead waiting

on the return of the Lord. And that's exactly what he ties

it to, for the slight momentary, Affliction is preparing for us,

an eternal weight of Glory beyond all comparison, as we

look not to the things that are seeing.

So, we don't look at our sufferings, I don't look just

simply to the loss of my daughter.

And the difficulty of holidays without her, the difficulty of

waking up and sitting. At my table, eating my

breakfast, drinking my coffee. And wondering is when he Kate

going to come around the corner this morning.

I can't look to what see have to look to the things that are

unseen. For the things that are unseen.

Sorry, the things that are seeing Paul says are transient

They're changing, but the things that are seen are Eternal.

And here's what I know about my existence versus when he Kate's

current existence, My life is transient.

My life is full of things that will.

Blow to, and fro. The Lord will order our steps

will endure, all sorts of things, Lord willing.

Well, under a Joyce and gladness and sadness. but when he Cates,

Not a tear in the world. Not a, not a question about what

am I missing on Earth? Not a wonder about any of it.

She sees Christ in fool. And I'm jealous.

And Lord willing, Lord willin. I'll go to her one day.

And it'll be a beautiful reunions. but, until then, I

cannot look back at Egypt at my suffering.

And want to stay there. Got to press on because the

things that are unseen those truths that lie ahead.

Those are Eternal, amen. That's my reality.

And so James gives a beautiful illustration of what he's trying

to say. He says, see how the farmer

waits for the precious fruit of the earth.

You and I are these days we just wait on Walmart to put it on the

shelf for us. We get mad when they think

they're right, we're upset. I know they didn't leave this

out of my pickup today, right? I see y'all on Facebook.

I Know Who You Are. That's called grumbling.

By the way, we'll get to it in a moment.

See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the Earth.

Being patient about it until it receives the early.

And the late rains, I love what James is doing here.

It it's beautiful and it stings a lot.

Consider the farmer who awaits a crop of corn?

He might say he depends on the rain.

Who controls the rain, God? Hinders the storms.

Who controls the storms? God, who controls the droughts

when he's waiting for rain God. Eventually though, his patients

rewards him with a new crop, doesn't it?

And the question then has to be as I look at the farmer who

waits for the precious fruit of the earth.

Just merely something to be eaten something to help sustain

life. A gift.

No doubt. Will we not patiently waits for

a Crown of Glory? And Will we not endure the

storms of life? These providential afflictions

with patients, as we await our Heavenly Homeland and the

Eternal reward that goes with it.

Will we not wait? What else then is worthy of such

patients? Will a farmer show more patience

than God's people. I hope not.

Brothers and sisters, I urge you.

To join me in patients, waiting on the coming of the Lord and

the Eternal reward that he will bring to us.

Amen. A fixed Gaze on.

Eternity is the key to immovable patience and suffering.

The second command that we see here is establish your heart.

In verse 8, James writes, you also be patient just as the

farmer was UV patients. How establish your hearts for

the coming of the Lord is at hand.

You see? He grounds it again and you're

looking forward to the coming of Christ.

Establish your heart in faith and patience as you await the

coming of the Lord. And that coming of the Lord is a

doctrine that if you'll believe it, if you, if you'll truly

believe that Christ is going to return as king of kings and Lord

of lords. It can have a tremendous effect

on your outlook during suffering.

And so we now adds to it be patient, establish your hearts

for the coming of the Lord is at hand, faith in God.

And patience. In his Providence, will

establish your heart. Matthew Henry, the Bible

commentator Pastor said this, in his commentary says let your

faith be firm without wavering. Your patient of sorry.

Your practice of what is good constant and continued without

tiring and your resolutions for God and Heaven fixed in spite of

all sufferings. Isaiah 50 verse 7.

Isaiah 50:7

Says this as but the Lord, God helps me.

Therefore, I have not been disgraced.

Therefore, I have set my face like a flint.

And I know that I shall not be put to shame.

This is what it means to be steadfast.

In Matthew chapter 7, is Jesus. Jesus finishing up his Sermon on

Matthew 7 · chapter mention

the Mount. He raises a warning for his

listeners there. At the end of his sermon.

It's really his call to action. In verse 24, he he says this, he

says everyone then who hears these words of mine and does

them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock and

the rain fell and the floods came, and the winds blew and

beat on that house, but it did not fall because it had been

founded on the rock. And then he continues and

everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them

will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand and

the rain fell and the floods came, and the winds blew and

beat against that house. And it fell and great was the

fall of it. This is what it means to

establish your hearts. It means that you are making a

conscious decision to build your house, on the rock of Christ

Jesus, on his word that you are choosing in your suffering to

erect a base of foundation for your home.

That is the word of God Alone. You're not looking for worldly

wisdom, you're not looking for quaint sayings, you're not

looking for any of that nonsense.

You are saying that the only thing that will stand the test

of time. The only thing that will never

be undone, the only thing that will last forever is the word of

Christ and I'm going to stand on it.

Going to stand there. and let me tell you, when the rains come,

And the flood Rises and the wind's beat against your faith.

You will topple some you move, you'll sway back and forth at

times you'll feel robbed. Much like a fighter who gets

knocked around a bit in the early rounds.

But if you'll stand on the word of God, you will not fall, you

will not fall. This is about living a life of

Readiness and not laziness. It's about proactively saying

each day. I'm going to establish my heart

on the word of God today. I'm going to live it, I'm going

too fast from everything. I'm going to get rid of things.

I'm going to take things out of my life until I know that I have

firmly planted myself on Christ and then I might add some things

here and there. I strongly encourage you to

stablish your hearts on the word of Christ.

Before suffering comes and knocks at your door.

So that during your suffering, you have already formed good

habits, you've already built up some Faith.

You've already walked through some struggles and come out on

the other side. You are like David and saying,

wait saw? You don't understand.

I've beat a lion and the bear and no one.

Is going to mock Our God. I'll fight him.

You stand with faith. Tricia and I recognize now I

think. We've had some conversations

around this anyway, over the last several weeks.

But we recognize that the Lord has been preparing us over the

last 14 years will be married, 14 years and a couple of weeks.

He's been preparing us over this time for the day that he would

take when he Cates. We didn't fully know the

importance. Of building a habit of daily

Bible reading. Or prayer for one another, with

one another prayer with our children.

Prayer on our own. What?

I just called dependent prayer, praying like a child who is

dependent upon the father. We didn't recognize.

How our growth and our knowledge of God and his character.

Through reading his words, studying his word, over the last

14 years, how it would impact our lives so much as we endure

such heartache. I'll tell you this, it became

crystal clear to me. That I married correctly. in the

first moments of, when he's passing, The Lord comforted us

with scriptures with all these Spirit would bring to our

remembrance songs prayers memories of his goodness in

those six years with her and this wasn't preacher cow

pleading, with his wife to behave, we gotta have faith.

You just got a hold on, you know, like when none of that, I

don't stand before you even today as like preacher Kyle, you

know, trying to say all the right things to you today.

One, I don't want to be phony. The to do you.

No good. But as I'm sitting there holding

the Trish's hand and praise God for Daniel and Morgan.

We were on a trip with them and We learned all this and Daniel

drove us home. We were in New Orleans when it

all happened. Daniel drove us home.

And so I'm just sitting in the backseat and crying.

Pleading with the Lord. And Patricia just looks up at me

through tears. She says.

It's that verse in job. And she goes on to say it, the

Lord gives and the Lord takes away.

Blessed, be the name of the Lord.

And this isn't to celebrate Patricia.

It's really not. I'm she's worthy of my

celebration. I promise you.

This is what proverbs 31 says, when her husband Rises and calls

her blessed, I'll do it every day to celebrate What the Lord

Has Done in our lives, through all of this.

And I just can't think of a better reason.

To establish your heart and faith.

And patients. And to know that suffering is

coming. And we say it all the time that

one out of one dies unless your name is Enoch or Elijah.

And even if it was your name, you're probably not getting out

like they did so still going to die.

Unless we're fortunate enough to see The Return of Christ.

But one out of one people suffer also, One out of every one

suffers, even Enoch and Elijah. You're not getting out of life

in a fallen world without experiencing suffering.

You're not going to serve Christ as your lord, without going

through suffering. She's not going to happen.

You will suffer for the name of the Lord.

Either in persecution or by some other aspect of the Providence

of God. Because in your suffering, your

faith is tested. In the tested genuineness of

your faith is like gold going through a refiner, Peter says,

And so the Lord has kinds of us. In providentially granting us

suffering. At the end of Philippians 1,

Paul tells the Believers, this he says, it has been granted to

us, that we will both suffer and Belize.

Granted to us from the Lord that you will suffer and believe.

But even if you haven't yet faced suffering, even if

suffering comes first, even if you haven't yet, established

yourself and suffering hits, you that thing whatever it is, maybe

the thing that finally hurls you over the edge of self-reliance

maybe you've constructed a sandcastle and now the winds and

The Rains of suffering, according to the Providence of

God have demolished Is it too late to establish your heart on

Christ? And that moment not a chance.

Not a chance that maybe its intended purpose.

Maybe the grace of the Lord coming to you.

I've had many people come to me and say my sin blank was found

out. I'm embarrassed hurt.

And I've learned to look, those mostly, it's men in the eye and

say. I know you can't see it yet.

It's hard to understand in this moment, but this is the grace of

the Lord on your life. He's bringing you back.

If you humble yourself, if you will not Harden your heart, if

you will humble yourself, and submit to him.

Make him Lord of your life. You'll know his peace.

Is joy. And so crying out to him and

your despair may be the beginning of establishing your

heart, on his word, in Psalm 121.

The psalmist says, I lift up my eyes to the hills from.

Where does my help come my help comes from the Lord who made

Heaven and Earth and Psalm 109 26.

The psalmist writes help me O. Lord my God save me according to

your steadfast love and Psalm 44. 26 rise up come to our Help.

He says to God redeem us for the sake of your steadfast love.

I have gone back to such prayers time and time again in the last

11 weeks, when despair rises in my heart.

And in my mind, when Agony takes my breath away, I have called to

God. Lord help me save me according

to your steadfast love. The Lord has been so kind to

show new depths of his love, his care, his Mercy, his grace, his

peace, his hope, through all of this as we've called to him.

He always answers are Christ. I do not want anyone to know the

Pains of suffering, though. It is inevitable in this world.

But what I do want every believer to know what I want,

every believer to experience is the depths of the love of God in

the midst of your suffering. To find yourself in suffering

and be able to trust that God is there.

It's in comprehensible at times and it's incomparable to

anything else in the world. His love transcends, your

suffering. He is near to you in the midst

of it. Psalm 23:4 even though I walk

Psalms 23:4

through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil

for you are with me, your rod and your staff, they comfort me

for you are with me, David writes, Your Rod and your staff,

they comfort me That's what awaits the one who will

establish his heart in the Lord. The comfort of God in the middle

of your suffering. A fixed Gaze on.

Eternity is the key to immovable patience in suffering.

All right, let's at least get the three verses in here.

James 59, do not Grumble third command.

We see. Do not Grumble against one

another Brothers. So that you may not be judged

behold. The judge is standing at the

door. Grumbling, in the middle of

suffering is a huge temptation. And the kind of grumbling that

goes against your neighbor is to fold here.

When he says, do not Grumble against one another on one hand,

it might be malicious, grumbling it may be outright grumbling

against your brother or sister in the Lord.

They've done something and you're letting everybody know

about it, maybe they didn't do anything, but you're letting

everybody know about it. On the other hand it may be that

your grumbling causes a brother or sister to stumble in their

faith and so therefore it goes against them in that way though

you were not intentionally malicious.

This is the kind of grumbling that were not usually aware of.

We don't typically understand or even think through the effects

of getting on Facebook and going on a rant.

About parenting. Shopping experience.

Marriage struggle. Problem in your job.

We don't think about the effects of that on our own faith in

Christ, as well as the effects of that on others, potential

faith in Christ. And in so doing you're tearing

one another down. Whether your grumbling is

perfectly, sorry purposefully against your neighbor or merely

causing them to stumble. James is saying You must not

Grumble at all. Don't be a grumbler.

You will receive God's judgment for your grumbling against

others. Now, I think there's various

kinds of grumbling that you must avoid like to.

So let's just bring this into a bit of a clearer picture.

So that we understand what we mean, there are murmuring

grumbles which is where you complain about, what happens to

you. And so, it's important for you

to remember that. Nothing comes to you apart from

God's Providence. So, do not Grumble about the

events of your life. so, what the pickup took longer than you

thought, So, what the fast food employee didn't get your order,

right? The lady ahead of you in line.

Wanted to write a check and it took a while.

Some of the ones that are the hardest to hear, especially now.

Just parents grumbling about their children.

That's hard. You need to be careful.

That's how you think about your children.

You need to be careful. Of the things you say.

Of expressing all of your feelings just because we feel

something doesn't mean it's right to express it sometimes.

It's sinful to express it. Oftentimes it's sinful.

This isn't the guilt trip anyone.

I promise. It's just that one.

Stings. A little extra right now.

It's something Patricia. I've always said, Lord, help us

not to be grumblers about our children.

Your children are a gift from the Lord.

The Bible literally calls them a Heritage from God.

They're an incredible opportunity.

For you to leave a legacy of christlikeness.

If you'll take the job, seriously. if you commit

yourself to, if you give up worldly Pursuits to be with your

children, Where are the time calls for it and it's right.

that's something for you and your your family to decide.

But murmuring grumbles are really bad.

This is what the Israelites were guilty of.

God. We're hungry.

No God. We don't want Mana.

We want meat? No God not that meat.

That's too much meat. God, can we just go back to

Egypt? Please?

Don't be a murmur. James is literally saying that.

You may be judged in the judge is standing at the door.

The Israelites were judged for their murmuring and we're left

out of the promised land because of it.

So I encourage you strongly be very careful about your

murmuring. Distrustful grumbles are another

kind. And if you're the kind of person

who grumbles about the events of your life, your murmuring about

things that happen to you, you're very quickly going to

become the kind of person who grumbles about what might happen

as well. And in so doing you show a

distrust for the Lord, I'll be honest with you in this I have a

new fear of God. and I, Find myself wondering what else might

the hand of Providence? Bring to my life. and then, that

way, I fear Him, and a healthy way.

In a way that causes me to love him more in a way that draws me

to him and rather than turns me away from him.

But I do have a new healthy fear for the Lord.

There are revengeful grumbles This may show up in threats

against the ones who have caused your sufferings.

If he cuts me off again in line, I'll tell you what I'm gonna

write, be careful, not to take Vengeance into your own hands.

It looks great in movies, right? When we loved the movie of the

guy who's exacting Revenge, he's taking judgment into his own

hands. What is unbiblical at times?

Be careful, not to take Vengeance into your hands.

Vengeance. Belongs to the Lord alone.

We're reminded in Romans, 12. remember the judge stands at the

door, he's coming soon, he sees all evil and it will pay He'll

punish the wicked. He will redeem the righteous.

Be found among the righteous. There are envious grumbles as

well as you look around and see others who are not suffering.

Like you are, you may be tempted to Grumble from Envy.

Why has this happened to me while the wicked seem to

prosper? Be careful of that, sort of

heart. Learn to accept what the Lord

brings to your life to be content in it and to follow him.

The point that James is making is that you are to be patient to

establish your heart, not to Grumble against one another.

Do not make one another uneasy by your groaning, which brings

grief to those around you and do your hardship, with an eye to

heaven await, the return of Christ, trust God's Providence.

Believe that the God of all Comforts Will Comfort you in the

meantime, Remember the Lord, the judge is at the door.

Consider him who sets all things rights by his righteous

judgments and Redemption be patience.

Therefore, establish your heart. We only bring more problems on

ourselves when we become grumblers.

If we will avoid these evils, if we will be patience, then God

will not condemn us. But such considerations as I've

given you today examine cause you to examine your affections,

your thoughts, your actions. Commit yourself to live

according to Philippians, 2:14 where Paul writes do all things

without grumbling or disputing? Is everybody, okay?

I'm really at a Crossroads here. I, I want to keep going.

And I probably should. Can I finish with consider your

examples? I love that three of you feel

that way, but there's a lot more of you in here.

Some of you might not be as vocal as others, I'll give that.

So maybe half of you want to keep going, half of you're like

no I'm really hungry. I just came to watch.

The baptism. Can I go home and know what I

was signing up for today? I apologize.

You know, it's the old bait and switch.

Let me finish with consider your examples.

Thank you. My wife.

Scarlett, you're usually so supportive.

I don't even know what to do now.

The fourth command, he gives the fourth command, he gives us

consider your examples. Consider your examples.

And this is for me, this is the, the icing.

I mean, this is this is gold. James 5, 10 through 11 as an

example of suffering. And patience Brothers.

Take the prophets. Who spoke in the name of the

Lord behold, we consider those blessed Who Remain steadfast you

have heard of the steadfastness of job.

And you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is

compassionate and merciful. so James is saying, listen, do you

want health and your sufferings Do you want encouragement and

your sufferings, do you want? Hope that transcends all

momentary affliction. And they're saying, uh-huh.

He says consider those faithful Christians who have gone before

you. I am.

The scriptures pour forth with story, after Story of men and

women who endured great suffering unto the glory of God

and the good of others. Throughout history, we celebrate

those men and women who have remained steadfast during their

sufferings. We consider them blessed those

who Suffer. Well, become are examples of

immovable patience and suffering.

We look to them and we say sometimes, we'll just say, wow.

James encourages the Saints to look back.

And the beauty of this is, is having been 2000 dish years

removed from when this was written.

We have 2,000 years of more history to look back upon. and

another beauty is, when we look back through years of History,

we're simply reading the stories that have been written down for

us to see, but I can look around this room and could call out

story after Story of men and women in this room who have

stood faithful in their suffering.

And so what we have are thousands if not Millions, even

of Stories We Could Read. But beyond that.

We have the stories that we're never even written down that

were fortunate to see because we're near to those and they're

suffering. Like I said, everyone suffers.

and so there's a lot of stories of steadfastness and suffering

that you can look at And you consider those people blessed

and so, he's encouraging the Saints, the same.

Look, back to the prophets, look back to job.

See those who stood for the name of the Lord, see their suffering

and their patience and be encouraged to remain steadfast

just as they did. Now, what's happening here is

really two things are going on on one level.

And I would say, it's more of the surface level thing.

James is saying Beach, steadfast like those who have gone before.

Because the steadfast are considered blessed.

It's the whole when you see a model of something that you want

to be you try to emulate it right.

Try to become like that. And this is what he's saying.

Look at those who have stood steadfast, we consider them

blessed, be like them. And that's a real motivating

factor in suffering to run the race.

Well, Time and time again. I've just poured over the

scriptures at my Bible reading has for the year has had me in

the prophets and so I've just seen one after another the

steadfastness of the prophets in the last 11 weeks.

And it's encouraged. We should want to be considered

blessed by the Saints around us as well as by our God and our

Saviour Christ. However, on another level, and

this is where I think the anchor lies.

Like I think I'm one hand. It's pursue this because this is

what it means to be blessed and on the other hand he anchors it

in truth, it's not just look to them.

It's again, he's saying look to God.

There's an encouragement here to remain steadfast because of the

purpose and the character of the Lord, what'd he say?

You have heard of the steadfastness of job, but don't

miss this part, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord,

how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.

There it is. That's the anchor.

That's the anchor for your soul in the midst of stormy waters.

I hope that you see it. Clearly James is anchoring his

motivation for steadfastness, not only in the examples, but to

remember the anchor that the examples had themselves That is

the Providence of God. A Providence is just simply the

purposes of the Lord, which are always good.

They're full of mercy and compassion.

And other words. What he's saying is that nothing

happens apart from God's. Merciful and compassionate, Rule

and job. 1:21 job says this at the beginning of his suffering,

Job 1:21

Naked. I came from my mother's womb and

naked shall I return? The lord gave and the Lord has

taken away blessed. Be the name of the Lord.

Job, 2 verse 10. But he said the heard his wife

Job 2:10

you speak. As one of the foolish women

would speak. I praise God, I don't have jobs

wife, I've got basically job for my wife, a lot prettier and

female, but, but he says to his wife because she was telling him

Curse God and die. You speak as one of the foolish

women would speak. Shall we receive good from God

and shall we not receive evil? Also, And then it says, this of

job, in all this job did not sin with his lips.

And Proverbs 16:4. We read this.

Proverbs 16:4

The Lord has made everything for its purpose.

Even the wicked for the day of trouble.

Now, there are naysayers out there concerning God's

Providence, believe it or not, they will accuse people like

myself. And like you, if you are a

believer in the Providence of God, they will accuse you of

succumbing to. Typically they use the words

fatalism or determinism. And I don't have much time to

get into all of those things. I don't really have any time

we've already established that, right Scarlett.

But but here's some quick definitions.

Determinism. Says that everything happens by

some impersonal force in nature and that that cannot be

overcome. So everything comes to us by

some impersonal force of Nature and there's nothing you can do

to stop it. Nature causes a response which

we would call an effect. T' and therefore nature rules

and we can't do anything to stop it.

That view. Is a form of idolatry.

Nature is God, nature is God. Fatalism says that all things

are predetermined by blind irrational forces.

So there is no point in human effort to change anything.

This view results in the creation of a somewhat similar

false god, but a bit different. And we would call that God

faith. You hear phrases like as fate

would have it? Or fate brought this person to

my life. Both views fatalism determinism

are satanic counterfeits to the revealed truth of God's word

that are all-knowing all-powerful all present.

God has planned all things according to the counsel of his

own wisdom and his own will which James says here is

merciful and compassionate toward his people.

Psalm 100 verse 5 says that the Lord is good.

Psalms 100:5

And his love endures to all generations.

Romans 8:28. And we know that for those who

Romans 8:28

love God, all things work together for good.

For those who are called according to his purpose.

Genesis 50:20 Joseph. Looking at his brothers after

Genesis 50:20

all that, he had gone through. If you've been in Sunday school,

you know what I'm talking about and he says this them.

As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for

good to bring it about that. Many people should be kept alive

as they are today. And then he James here, just use

his job considered Joe, steadfastness of job.

I love when the text gives me my illustrations and I don't have

to come up with terrible at it. Job.

Endured great loss at the hand of God.

He went to God with his questions.

And he got some responses. He wasn't quite ready for When

God says to you dress for Action like a man, You know, you're in

for it. But God was merciful and

compassionate in his response. This wasn't one of those like

come to Jesus meetings. Like your parents had with you

when you her child, you know, and Jesus was never even in the

conversation correctly. It was just you almost got to

meet Jesus, right? This wasn't one of those

moments. In their exchange, he walks away

having seen the merciful and compassionate.

Purposes of God, love when Patricia was up here earlier and

she just said, I have known about him before but now I have

seen him. I've known about his goodness

before, but now I have seen his goodness.

What a testimony And joke, 42 job site and says this in job,

answered the Lord. And if Godly, if you haven't

read the end of job, you have your assignment for today.

I know that you can do all things and that no purpose of

yours can be thwarted. So I've had to remind myself of

often that when he Cates passing was, not in, some way, God being

thwarted in a moment. It wasn't a lapse of his

goodness. Be easy to think that.

It'd be easy to think that God got busy.

That he forgot that he's all presents.

He decided he wasn't going to be all powerful in a moment that he

wasn't going to be all-knowing and he just missed on Winnie,

Kate. God didn't miss on me.

Just like he doesn't miss and you were suffering and then you

were paying and in your trial your struggle.

Those things come to you. As a result of the goodness of

God, he means for something good to come out of it.

And that's what job saying. I know that there is no purpose

of yours which can be ordered. Who is this?

That hides counsel without knowledge?

Therefore I have uttered. What?

I did not understand things too. Wonderful for me which I did not

new here and I will speak. I will question you and you make

it known to me. that's what God had said to job and now jobs

repeating it back and he's saying I had heard of you by the

hearing of the ear, but now my eyes, see you Therefore, I

despise myself and repent in dust and Ashes.

Job suffered well and the Lord proved he is compassionate and

merciful, he allowed job to see new depths to God.

And then after that, he returns everything to job even doubling

it. But let's not forget that job

still. I mean, if I had lost

possessions, that's one thing and job lost a lot of

possessions But losing a daughter is a completely

different job loss, multiple children.

And though things were doubled, he still dealt with the loss of

his children. But he was still able to say

that the Lord is compassionate and merciful before I had heard

of you. But now my eyes have seen you.

This is what providence does. We could recall the names of

many men and women in our Bibles, examine their stories.

We would see that they endured suffering for the glory of the

Lord and the good of others, and we call them blessed for it.

Well, the scripture speak highly of those men and women you can

read Hebrews 11 if you're curious.

There is one greater. There's one greater to whom we

must look to as our example. Hebrews 11, we call the Hall of

Faith. The writer of Hebrews takes us,

through example, after example, of those who endured hardship

and exercised faith, He Praises them and he even mentions.

There's so many we could name and we're not naming them all

because he was running out of time.

Also, and then in chapter 12, immediately after he says that

he says, therefore Therefore since we are surrounded by so

great, a cloud of witnesses. Let us also lay aside every

weight and every sin, which clings so closely and let us run

with endurance, the race that is set before us.

Looking to Jesus, the founder and the Perfecter of our faith,

who for the joy, that was set before him, endured the cross

despising, the shame, and is seated.

At the right hand of the Throne of God, the only perfect, Man to

ever live endured suffering was well acquainted with grief.

You're not alone in it look to Christ looked across the best

way to suffer with a movable patients is to look to Christ

into the end of your sufferings, once God's purposes for your

suffering or answered. He brings an end to them.

And his Mercy is such that he carries with him and abundant

reward for all their sufferings that is an unfading Crown of

Glory for all who call on the name of Christ.

Matthew Henry said this, he said God's bowels, that is his inward

Parts. They wrote different back then,

right God's bowels are moved for them while suffering.

You're like my removed every time I eat Mexican but God's

Bowser mood for them while suffering, his Bounty is

manifested afterwards. John 11:33, Jesus is responding

John 11:33

to a call to come because Lazarus has passed. it says when

Jesus saw her weeping, The sister of Lazarus.

He saw her weeping and the Jews who had come with her also

weeping. So there's a throng of weeping

going on. Listen to how he was moved, says

he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled.

Greatly trouble. And then in verse 35, two verses

later. We read shortest.

Verse in all scripture. Jesus wept.

Short verse massive impact. What are we?

What are we saying? Christ looks on death.

And weeps Christ looks on death and said, this is not the way

things are supposed to be. And now you know a little bit

more about the joy that was set before him.

It was the Redemption of his people, it was the Redemption of

the world. It was to set all things, right.

One day when Christ returns and so the only way brothers and

sisters that you're going to have immovable.

Patients is to fix your Gaze on eternity.

Fix your gaze. There look to Christ be patient.

Establish your hearts. Do not Grumble.

Consider your examples. See them, see their stories.

See their God who abounds in steadfast love and faithfulness.

Let their example, and their character that you see in God,

let that character spur you, on during your sufferings, his

purposes are always compassionate and merciful even

if you cannot yet, see that way, hold on, be patience.

Remember that? The hope of Christ is with you.

And it will not put you to shame.

Just as it did not put our examples in scripture to shame

either. So brothers and sisters, I'll

leave you with this. Let us serve our God, let us

endure our trials, as those who believe that the end of all

things will Crown, all of God's people.

Amen, let me pray for you. Heavenly Father Joy to be in

your house today. I praise you for the patience of

this people today. Their encouragement.

They're allowing me to preach your word today.

It is my hope, Lord. That we will know in movable

patients in our time of suffering.

Lord, I Thank you for the grace and the mercy that you have

shown to my wife and our boys and myself.

To when his grandparents and family members to her church

family and her friends. Lord, we would be lost without

you. I thank you, Lord, that we get

to grieve as people with hope. You get to look to Christ always

we get to trust the Lord that your providential hand orders.

All things for our good, Even if we can't quite see it.

We trust that it's true because your word has spoken and your

word is true. Lord made the Saints here today.

Be edified encouraged strengthened by Your Word.

May we go from this place now. Into the world to proclaim the

gospel of Christ to live for you to love you and to love others

as you show us. And we honor your name and all

that we say and do forgive us of our sins, Lord help us to be

honest. Today in our evaluation of

ourselves to be repentance if we have failed, you if we have

failed to obey your word, Lord, we thank you that you are

faithful even when we are not. Praise you father, in Christ's

name, we pray. Amen.