You are invited to come to the Wednesday evening prayer meeting and pray. (8:30 PM EST Wed., Feb. 21, 2001)

Note time change from 7:00 PM LHF time to 8:30 PM EST (Please also note the change from LHF time to Eastern Standard time. Also, Bill Rankin will be leading the meetings and will be talking about other topics than James. I have a few more messages from James so I will continue to send them by e-mail.)

Dean

"Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy. "

This message is somewhat of a rerun of a message I gave on this passage almost four years ago in 1997. At that time I was speaking on the topic of "examples." I had looked up all the places where the word "example" was used in the New Testament in the NIV and talked about those passages one-per-week. There were examples to follow, such as the example the apostle Paul presented by his life as he himself followed the example of Jesus. He said, "Follow my example as I follow the example of Christ." (1 Cor. 11:1) There were also examples of what not to do and of God's judgment on the disobedient. God judged his people in the desert when they rebelled against him in various ways. Paul says, "Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did." (1 Cor. 10:6, 11)

(For M. Joseph Lee: You requested a copy of this message when I gave it in 1997, but I only had notes so I couldn't give it to you then. So, here's the written version a little late.)

Today's passage is about following the example of the patience of the Old Testament prophets in the face of suffering. It starts out, "Be patient, THEN, brothers, until the Lord's coming." What does the word 'then' (or 'therefore' in NASB) refer to? What precedes these verses? The verse immediately preceding this passage says, "You have condemned and murdered innocent men who were not opposing you." (Jas. 5:6)

In fact, preceding this passage we not only have this rebuke, but have every kind of rebuke imaginable. We are rebuked for our use of our tongues: "The tongue is a restless evil, full of deadly poison, set on fire by hell," (3:6,7) We are rebuked for having bitter envy and selfish ambition that lead to disorder and every kind of evil practice. (3:13-16) We are told that we quarrel, fight, kill and covet. When we ask God, we ask so that we can spend what we get on our pleasure. James calls us adulteresses! (4:1-4)

James says, "You boast about what you will do or not do instead of saying, 'If it is the Lord's will I will do this or that,'" (4:13-17) and he says, "If you are rich, your wealth has rotted, moths have eaten your clothes and your silver and gold corroded. The corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have cheated people and lived in self-indulgence." Finally, "You have condemned and murdered innocent men who were not opposing you."

James is writing to believers -- to his brothers (1:1) We are his brothers (and sisters). How does this apply to us? Most people can at least say they have never murdered anyone. But is there anyone who can say he doesn't have these things in his heart? Is there anyone who can say that everything he does is done only from completely pure motives -- that there is absolutely never a mixed motive? This applies to us!

What is the solution? "Be patient, therefore, brothers until the Lord's appearing. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains." The farmer has prepared the soil and planted the seed. He is waiting for the soil to produce a valuable crop. James says, "You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near."

Our examples are the prophets of old, who waited patiently for the Lord in the face of suffering. Many prophets were in distress, but the Lord provided for each of them. The example James gives is Job.

Job was a rich man. He had seven sons and three daughters. He was an elder of the city was highly respected by all those around him. Young men stepped aside to let him pass and old men rose to their feet as he went by. God considered him to be "upright and blameless, a man who fears God and shuns evil," and said that there was no one on earth like him!

One day the "sons of God" came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them. The LORD pointed Job out to Satan as an upright and blameless man. This was Satan's response: "Does Job fear God for nothing? Haven't you put a hedge around his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face." (Job 1:6-11)

God let Satan test Job. What do you suppose God knew about Job? (Answer: God knew everything about Job including how he would respond to the test.) What do you suppose God knows about you?

God let Satan take away Job's possessions, his children, his honor among men and finally his health. He was miserable -- afflicted with painful sores all over his body. Even his wife tempted him to "curse God and die." She said, "Are you still holding onto your integrity?" Essentially, "Job, you are a fool to honor God!"

How do you suppose Job felt? What do you think that he might have thought? What would you think? How would you have felt? We're not told what Job thought, but here's how he answered his wife: "You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God and not trouble?" (Job 2:10) Job held onto his integrity. He did not sin in anything he said.

Job's understanding was amazing. He recognized that his continued moment-by-moment existence was dependent upon the continued presence of God's Spirit and breath. If God withdrew his Spirit and breath, Job (and all mankind) would go into dust (Job 34:14,15 - Elihu speaking) But there's one thing Job could say with confidence: "I Know that my redeemer liveth and on the earth at last will stand. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God. I myself will see him with my own eyes--I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!"

Why do we have to think that we need to get as much out of this life as we can? It results in all the stuff James talked about before this passage. We are promised eternal life in his presence -- glory and honor and immortality -- we will meet him face-to-face and be like him -- with imperishable bodies like his. The purpose of our present life is to become like him, righteous and holy as he is righteous and holy.

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness... Let the desire of your heart be to hear Jesus say, "Well done good and faithful servant. Enter into your masters joy! Can anything in this present life come even close to sharing in the joy of Jesus in that day?

"I myself will see him with my own eyes -- I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!"

1. I know that my Redeemer liveth, and on the earth again shall stand;
I know eternal life He giveth, That grace and power are in his hand.

I know, I know that Jesus liveth, And on the earth again shall stand;
I know, I know that life He giveth, That grace and power are in his hand.

2. I know His promise never faileth; The word He speaks, it cannot die.
Tho' cruel death my flesh assaileth, Yet I shall see Him by and by.

3. I know my mansion He prepareth, That where He is there I may be.
Oh, wondrous tho't, for me He careth, And He at last will come for me!

Come and let's pray for each other as well as for the whole church. Come and encourage your brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus. Love them.

PS: If you absolutely can't make it to the prayer meeting, send your prayer requests back to me by e-mail and we'll pray for them.