When You Are in a Hurry But GOD Isn’t:
Scripture Reference: James 3: 7-11 December 06, 2009
‘Be patient therefore, brethern, unto the coming of the LORD. Behold the husbandman (farmer) waits for the precious fruit of the earth, & has long patience for it, until he receive the early & latter rain. Be ye also patient; establish your hearts, for the coming of the LORD draws nigh. Grudge not one against another, brethern, lest you be condemned; behold the judge stands at the door. Take, my brethern, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the LORD, for an example of suffering affliction & of patience. Behold we count them happy which endure. You have heard of the patience of Job, & have seen the end of the LORD, that the LORD is very pitiful (compassionate) & of tender mercy.’
Introduction:
How many of you have heard the saying “I have MORE TIME than I DO MONEY?”
Or how about this one, “If you have the MONEY then I have the TIME.”
STATEMENTS such as these seem to SUGGEST that we have an ABUNDANCE of TIME.
However, we HONESTLY do not know HOW MUCH TIME we have left.
Have you NOTICED that the OLDER we become the MORE PRECIOUS TIME becomes to us? TIME is an EXPENSIVE COMMODITY.
One of the things that helps DETERMINE the VALUE & the PRICE of a certain COMMODITY is its SCARCITY. The MORE SCARCE it is then the MORE VALUABLE it is.
TIME is VALUABLE because TIME is SCARCE. Can we have TOO MUCH TIME?
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In FLORIDA a BUSINESS MAN bills his DOCTOR for KEEPING him WAITING for an HOUR. To him TIME was MONEY.
In CALIFORNIA a WOMAN HIRES somebody to do her SHOPPING for her out of a CATALOG.
PEOPLE pay other PEOPLE to PICK UP their DRY CLEANING & to DELIVER FOOD to their HOMES.
What PEOPLE used to DO for THEMSELVES they can NOW PAY SOMEONE to DO for them.
WHY DO THEY DO THAT?
It’s NOT to SAVE MONEY. They are often WILLING to PAY MONEY if it SAVES THEM TIME.
& with TIME becoming SO PRECIOUS --- is it ANY WONDER that WAITING has BECOME the MOST HATED & the MOST FRUSTRATING EXPERIENCE in LIFE?
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We WAIT in line at the DRIVE THRU.
We WAIT in line at the SUPER MARKET.
We WAIT at the DOCTOR’S OFFICE.
We WAIT in TRAFFIC JAMS.
& while we WAIT we FRET because we are WASTING TIME.
ONE of the MOST FRUSTRATING EXPERIENCES is when we GO OUT to EAT.
Think about it:
We go to a RESTURANT & we WAIT to be SEATED.
Then after we are SEATED we WAIT for SOMEONE to BRING us a MENU.
Then after we are BROUGHT a MENU we WAIT for SOMEONE to come back & TAKE our ORDER.
Then after they take our ORDER we WAIT for SOMEONE to BRING our FOOD.
Then after our FOOD is brought we WAIT for SOMEONE to BRING our BILL.
Then after they bring our BILL we WAIT in line to PAY it.
& they CALL the PERSON who PRESIDES over all of this a WAITER.
We are the WAITER.
WAITING is FRUSTRATING isn’t it? WAITING will either BRING OUT the WORST in us or the BEST in us. It will REVEAL either OUR STRENGTH or OUR WEAKNESS.
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I heard a STORY about a man whose CAR was STALLED on the FREEWAY. No matter WHAT he tried he could not get the CAR to START. The TRAFFIC was PILING UP behind him. For the MOST PART the CROWD was ACTING FAIRLY CIVILIZED. However, there was this ONE MAN in a PICK UP TRUCK who literally LAID on his HORN.
Finally the man having the CAR TROUBLE walked to the man in the PICK UP TRUCK and said,. “SIR, I have having TROUBLE getting my car STARTED. I have tried EVERYTHING. If you would go up there & give it a TRY I’ll stay here in your TRUCK & BLOW your HORN for you.’
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There was a GREAT PREACHER, PHILLIP BROOKS who was KNOWN for his CALMNESS & his POISE. But his very CLOSE FRIENDS knew there was a DIFFERENT SIDE to the PASTOR that some had never seen. Often he SUFFERED MOMENTS of FRUSTRATION & IRRITABILITY. One day a FRIEND saw him PACING the floor like a LION CONFINED to his CAGE. He asked, “Pastor Brooks, “WHAT is WRONG?” He replied; ‘The TROUBLE is I am in HURRY & GOD is NOT.’
How many of us have ever been in HURRY but GOD wasn’t.
I think we have ALL BEEN THERE haven’t we?
This morning I want us to take a LOOK at a SUBJECT that MOST PEOPLE really DON”T WANT to TALK ABOUT because they FEEL like it is ONE of the MOST LACKING of CHARACTERISTICS in their lives.
This morning we’re going to LOOK at PATIENCE.
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PATIENCE in the BIBLE is a VERY VALUABLE COMMODITY.
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The APOSTLE PAUL STRESSED PATIENCE throughout MANY of his writings.
• In his LETTER to the church at CORINTH he gives them a LIST of things that CHARACTERIZES LOVE & ONE of those things was PATIENCE. LOVE is PATIENT & LONGSUFFERING. & KIND. LOVE has a LONG FUSE.
In his LETTER to the GALATIANS he lists PATIENCE as 1 of the 9 INGREDIENTS of the HOLY SPIRIT.
In all of his WRITINGS PAUL refers to PATIENCE 21 times.
SOMEONE has said ‘You can do most ANYTHING if you just have PATIENCE.’’
You can CARRY WATER in a PAPER SACK if you WAIT until it FREEZES.
& we NEED PATIENCE don’t we?
We don’t like WAITING we want it NOW.
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This morning we will LOOK at PATIENCE & some EXAMPLES of WHEN we NEED PATIENCE.
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#1:
JAMES begins by telling us that we NEED PATIENCE WHEN we are FACING DIFFICULTIES.
James 5: 7-8 ‘Be patient therefore brethern until the coming of the LORD. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the former & the latter rain. You also be patient, establish your heart, for the coming of the LORD is at hand.’
The PEOPLE to whom JAMES was writing this LETTER were going through GREAT DIFFICULTIES & PERSECUTIONS as BELIEVERS in JESUS CHRIST.
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Now JAMES REMINDS them that NO MATTER WHAT is DONE to them they ARE NOT to RETALIATE AGAINST OTHERS or AGAINST GOD.
The MEANING of the WORD PATIENCE from the GREEK WORD used in the BIBLE:
It STRESSES that we are NOT to RETALIATE. It means to HOLD our SPIRIT in CHECK. It is the SPIRIT of SELF RESTRAINT when we are PROVOKED. It means that we DO NOT TRY to PUNISH BACK when we have been PUNISHED & ABUSED & MISTREATED. It is the OPPOSITE of ANGER & it is ASSOCIATED with MERCY.
JERRY BRIDGES said about this PATIENCE.
It is the ABILITY to SUFFER for a LONG TIME from the MISTREATMENT of OTHERS without GROWING RESENTFUL or BITTER or desiring to GET EVEN.
We don’t have to SEARCH for OCCASSIONS where we are CALLED upon to EXERCIZE PATIENCE for they are NUMEROUS. There is SELDOM a DAY when we are NOT CALLED UPON to EXERCIZE PATIENCE.
We are often ABUSED & MISTREATED & INSULTED & SHUNNED & RIDICULED & REJECTED & DESPISED & BELITTLED & CHEATED & LIED UPON & CRITIZED & MISJUDGED. & THAT is on our GOOD DAYS.
HOW do we HANDLE such WRONGS?
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The PERFECT EXAMPLE of PATIENCE comes from NO OTHER than the LORD JESUS CHRIST.
JESUS was VERBALLY & PHYSICALLY ABUSED. HE was SPAT UPON & FALSELY ACCUSED & WHIPPED & BEATEN & ultimately NAILED to a CROSS. Yet in all of this HE is described as a SHEEP that was DUMB – SILENT before its SHEARERS. HE SUFFERED MUCH but HE DID NOT RETALIATE..
When PETER GRABBED the ROMAN SOLDIER’S SWORD to DEFEND JESUS, JESUS REBUKED HIM. The LAST THING the LORD needed was PETER getting in HIS FLESH.
I Peter 2: 21-23 ‘For even hereunto were you were called; because CHRIST also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that we should follow HIS steps, Who did no sin, neither was guile found in HIS mouth, who when HE was reviled, reviled not again; when HE suffered, HE threatened not; but committed HIMSELF to HIM that judges righteously.’
That was the STORY of JESUS’ LIFE: That was the WAY HE LIVED HIS LIFE.
HE didn’t just TEACH IT--- HE PRACTICED IT.
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& JAMES says this PATIENT & LONGSUFFERING ATTITUDE is to CONTROL US until JESUS comes.
ONE DAY JESUS will RETURN & HE will RIGHT EVERY WRONG but UNTIL THEN we are to LEAVE VENGEANCE in the HANDS of GOD.
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Now when we READ this BOOK it is IMPORTANT to KNOW that JAMES & his brother JUDE were FARMERS. That is WHY throughout this LETTER from JAMES we see ILLUSTRATIONS of FARM LIFE.
In James 5: 7 he says:
‘See how the husbandman FARMER WAITS for the PRECIOUS FRUIT of the EARTH WAITING PATIENTLY for it until it RECEIVES the FORMER & the LATTER RAIN.’
This ILLUSTRATION is drawn from AGRICULTURE in PALESTINE at that time.
• The FARMER sowed SEED on a GROUND that was totally DRY for many months of the year. The SOIL was DRY & HARD even DESERT LIKE. They DEPENDED entirely upon the 2 MAJOR RAINS that fell during the year. So the FARMER had to ACCEPT that FACT & PLAN accordingly.
He had to PLAN AROUND 2 RAINY SEASONS of the year.
The EARLY or the FORMER RAINS came in the MONTHS of OCTOBER & NOVEMBER (it would SOFTEN the DRY & HARD GROUND from the HOT SUMMER MONTHS) & the LATTER RAIN was the SPRING SHOWERS which came in APRIL & MAY & it would cause the GRAIN to RIPEN.
According to the ILLUSTRATION
The BELIEVER facing HOSTILITY must WAIT for GOD to VINDICATE all the WRONGS that were done to him.
Just as the FARMER WAITS for the RAIN so we are to WAIT for the COMING of the LORD & NOT get UPSET when things get DIFFICULT for us.
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PATIENCE is NOT PASSIVE. (Roll over & do nothing)
PATIENCE means that WE HANG IN THERE when the GOING GETS TOUGH when we WANT to either QUIT or RETALIATE.
& the REASON WHY we DON’T have to RETALIATE is BECAUSE GOD is WORKING for us. & we CANNOT OUTDO what GOD is doing!
GOD doesn’t NEED our ASSISTANCE. HE just NEEDS our TRUST.
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That GOES AGAINST all HUMAN NATURE.
HUMAN NATURE is to DO SOMETHING in the FLESH.
HUMAN NATURE is to HURT THEM for they have HURT US.
DO SOMETHING so they WON’T DO IT to us AGAIN! TEACH THEM a LESSON!
Notice what he says in
James 5:8 ‘ESTABLISH your HEARTS for the COMING of the LORD draws nigh.’
In other WORDS get FIRMLY ROOTED & GROUNDED & become STRONG in your HEARTS in SPITE of HOW we are being MISTREATED.
HARDSHIP is NOT an EXCUSE to GIVE UP!
The LORD is SOON COMING & HE is COMING for a PEOPLE that has RETAINED HIS SPIRIT regardless of WHAT has COME AGAINST THEM.
What will we say to the LORD; ‘LORD YOU just DON’T KNOW what it was LIKE down there?’
• If ANYBODY KNOWS it is the LORD!
We can TRUST in GOD to RIGHT EVERY WRONG that has been DONE to HIS CHILDREN.
We NEED PATIENCE when we are FACING DIFFICULTIES:
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#2: <>
We NEED PATIENCE when we FACE DISAPPOINTMENTS:
DISAPPOINTMENTS: ----
It’s EASY to BECOME CRITICAL when THINGS AREN’T GOING OUR WAY.
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James 5:9 ‘Do not grudge (grumble) one against another, brethern, lest you become condemned, behold the judge is standing at the door.’
This COMMAND from JAMES seems OUT of CONTEXT until we ASK OURSELVES this QUESTION;
WHAT do we USUALLY DO when we BEGIN to FEEL the HEAT?
We COMPLAIN to ANYBODY who will LISTEN to us.
We TELL OTHERS of HOW BADLY we’ve been TREATED & ABUSED.
& we get IRRITABLE & we LASH OUT at EACH OTHER because of the WAY we have been WRONGED.
JAMES is here saying to us:
‘My BROTHERS be CAREFUL how you GRUMBLE & COMPLAIN about ONE ANOTHER for the JUDGE is STANDING at the DOOR.’
NONE of us are PERFECT.
While we are COMPLAINING about SOMEONE ELSE remember that the JUDGE who also KNOWS ALL ABOUT US is STANDING at the DOOR.
We are to EXHIBIT the SAME PATIENCE & the SAME LONGSUFFERING toward OTHERS that we want the JUDGE to display TOWARD US.
Before we DRAG someone BEFORE the LORD for HIM to PUNISH, bear in mind that HE also is AWARE of the things that we are GUILTY of.
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If we INSIST that the JUDGE DEAL with them for WHAT they have DONE to US then HE is OBLIGATED to also DEAL with US in the SAME MEASURE for WHAT we have DONE to another. Be CAREFUL what we ASK FOR.
When we are being TREATED in the WRONG WAY & FACING DIFFICULTIES do NOT ATTACK ONE ANOTHER but COME TOGETHER.
KEEP the SPIRIT of UNITY among us.
It is NOT the TIME to DIVIDE & SPLINTER into DIFFERENT GROUPS it is the TIME to COME TOGETHER.
If we could just SEE how the DEVIL is WANTING to TEAR US APART!
We are ONLY ONE HEART BEAT AWAY from the JUDGE so. BE CAREFUL!
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The ONLY ONE we NEED on OUR SIDE is GOD!
The 1st PERSON we will MEET AFTER DEATH is the JUDGE. (Here comes the JUDGE.) Our CREATOR & the ONE who DIED for us:
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WATCH our ACTIONS BECAUSE we could be STANDING before the JUDGE before this DAY is FINISHED.
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When we SEE the DEVIL at WORK that is NOT the TIME to DIVIDE & TEAR APART but to UNITE & COME TOGETHER.
We can SURVIVE almost ANYTHING if we STICK TOGETHER!
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#3: WE NEED PATIENCE WHEN WE ARE FACING DISASTER:
James 5: 10 “My brethern, take the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the LORD, for an example of suffering affliction & of patience. Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of JOB, & have seen the end of the LORD; that the LORD is very pitiful (compassionate), & of tender mercy.’
JAMES is the ONLY N T WRITER that MENTIONS JOB. This GREAT OT HERO is mentioned ONLY by JAMES.
The STORY of JOB actually BEGINS in HEAVEN.
SATAN is ACCUSING JOB before GOD.
& when GOD begins to BRAG of JOB’S RIGHTEOUSNESS SATAN says the ONLY REASON JOB serves GOD is because GOD has been so GOOD to him.
Take all that GOODNESS AWAY & JOB will CURSE YOU to YOUR FACE.
So GOD ALLOWED the DEVIL to TOUCH JOB’S LIFE.
& in 4 SWIFT STROKES JOB is TOTALLY DEVASTATED.
• The SABBEANS took all his oxen & killed his servants.
• FIRE from heaven came & destroyed all of his sheep & his servants died
• The CHALDEANS came & took all his camels & killed his servants
• His CHILDREN all died when a wind blew their house on them
JOB lost 10 CHILDREN – 7 SONS & 3 DAUGHTERS
He was COVERED with BOILS from HEAD to TOE
His WIFE advised him to CURSE GOD & die.
3 COMFORTERS came & told him his plight was because of some TERRIBLE SIN in his life.
JOB lost his ENTIRE FORTUNE but he DID NOT GIVE IN to the PRESSURE.
He FACED his DISSASTER with PATIENCE.
He STRONGLY ENDURED it all.
& in the END --- GOD RESTORED to JOB TWICE what he had before.
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LOOK at the WAY in which JOB RESPONDED to his TIME of TROUBLE.
Job 19: 25-27 ‘For I know that my redeemer lives & that HE shall stand at the latter day upon the earth; & though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh I shall see GOD; Whom I shall see for myself, & mine eyes shall behold, & not another; though my reins be consumed within me.’
Job 42:5-6 ‘I have heard of THEE by the hearing of the ear; but now mine eye sees THEE. Wherefore I abhor myself, & repent in dust & ashes.’
Job 42:10 “& the LORD turned the captivity of JOB, when he prayed for his friends; also the LORD gave JOB twice as much as he had before.’
Job 42:12-13 ‘So the LORD blessed the latter end of JOB more than his beginning; for he had 14,000 sheep & 6,000 camels & a 1000 yoke of oxen & a 1000 she asses. He had also 7 sons & 3 daughters.’
When it was ALL OVER GOD REMEMBERED JOB.
He was NOT a PERFECT MAN; he COMPLAINED. But yet in the BIBLE JOB is REMEMBERED for his PATIENCE. He REMAINED STEADFAST
‘They that endure till the END shall be saved. It REQUIRES PATIENCE to ENDURE.
That bothers me the MOST as a PASTOR –people NOT ENDURING:
HOW do we OBTAIN PATIENCE.
By DRAWING CLOSER to GOD:
The CLOSER we DRAW to HIM then the MORE LIKE HIM we shall BECOME.
If we SELDOM DRAW NEAR to GOD then we SELDOM REFLECT HIS CHARACTER.
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When we are FACING DIFFICULTIES in OUR LIVES DRAW CLOSE to GOD & with PATIENCE FACE the DIFFICULTIES.
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When we are FACING DISAPPOINTMENTS in OUR LIVES DRAW CLOSE to GOD & with PATIENCE FACE the DISAPPOINTMENTS.
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When we are FACING DISASSTER in OUR LIVES DRAW CLOSE to GOD & with PATIENCE FACE the DISASTER.
PATIENCE is NOT PASSIVELY SITTING BY & TAKING WHATEVER COMES & ROLLING OVER & DOING NOTHING ABOUT IT.
PATIENCE is DOING WHATEVER we have to DO to RECEIVE the STRENGTH we NEED to ENDURE & to SURVIVE.
BE a SURVIVOR! RIDE OUT THE STORM!
One of my FAVORITE STORIES of JESUS’ MINISTRY is where the DISCIPLES are ON BOARD a SHIP in a STORM TOSSED SEA; STRUGGLING to STAY ALIVE & DESPITE ALL their EFFORTS GETTING NOWHERE & THEN JESUS COMES WALKING to them.
PRINCIPLE: JESUS comes to us in the MIDST of OUR STORMS.
LEARN to OPERATE in the SPIRIT rather than the FLESH.
STORY I heard this week.
Man came into a convenience store to rob it. He carried a baseball bat as a weapon but the owner of the store had a gun. The robber begged for his life saying that he was only trying to feed his family.
The store owner not only spared his life but he gave him $40.
2 years later the store owner received a letter from the robber. He said he now had a good job & that things in his life had turned around tremendously & he thanked the store owner. Inside the letter was $50.
