Yet James loves the people of God – he is longing that they would live beautiful lives before God
God wants beautiful hearts with fruits of righteousness
We must focus on the hope laid up for us – Christ
We have a great hope in Jesus Christ
How would you describe the atmosphere of today’s Church?
Triumphant and rejoicing
Discouraged and down-trodden
It depends upon the believers that attend and the state of their heart
We are often weak but God provides strength
James wants believers to be strong in the Lord
Last week looking at 5:1-6
Strong words to ‘fat cats’
They will be judged for oppressing the poor
An exhortation to those who are oppressed to be patient
Repetition in this book:
Chapter 1 – lays the foundation
Persevere in trials
Addressing poverty and riches
The climax – the return of Jesus Christ (v7-9)
The Coming of Christ
A big emphasis on the coming of Christ
People scoff and mock at this
But a ‘1000 years is like a day’ for the eternal God
Yet we ought to live in the light of His return
We ought to examine the ‘signs of the times’
The words to the apostles at Jesus ascension
We must not obsess over details because the emphasis in Scripture is on how we live in the light of His return
Four things:
Patience
Being firm
Not to grumble
Careful speech
Patience
The emphasis on patience – v7 x2, v8, v10, v11
v7 – Be long suffering, do not return reviling, do not resent
James 1:19-20 "So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God"
Not just patience with people but patience in hard circumstances
This does not meet that we do not take action
But we should trust in God – Example of Hudson Taylor
v8 – Patience is a fruit of the Holy Spirit
Despite our own characteristics – put off the old person and put on Christ
Not just morality
Being firm
Establish your heart – be strong, firm, resolute
The same word in Luke 9:51 – where Jesus fixed His face to go to Jerusalem
How easily are we swayed?
Establish your heart
Read the Bible
Come to Church
Know your weakness – examples
Not to grumble
Examples
Grumbling a natural part of the human fabric
Is there grumbling in the Church?
Example of the Israelites in the wilderness
1 Cor 10:10
Scripture exhorts us to give thanks
We must not hide from difficulties but we should seek to build each other up
Careful speech
The most important attribute?
All the others are of course important
Yet the most common area for us to fall – is in our speech
Not a prescription against making oaths (e.g. in Court)
But not swearing by earthly things
We must be careful with our language – examples
We must not speak idle words
Simply say yes or no (or maybe remain silent)
Are we people of integrity?
Are we using God’s name in vain?
Be careful with your speech – James 1:26 " If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless."
Action and speech
God will judge us for our speech
Encouraging Examples
Three examples to encourage us
1 Thess 1:6 – we need examples: Job, Paul, etc
An example from nature (v7)
The farmer waiting for the rains … before the harvest
Be patient – it takes time for the crops to mature
Gal 6:9
An example from religious life (v10)
Example of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Hebrews 11
They suffered but had great reward
Matt 5:11, James 1:12
An example from Job (v11)
A terrible situation
Yet Job trusted in God, in the midst of the agony of the situation
