Seeing the End of the
Lord
The Only Way to be Happy When Having to Endure
James 5:7-12
July 9, 2017 PM
Pastor Craig Ledbetter
Bible Baptist Church, Ballincollig, Cork, Ireland
I.
Introduction (1Peter 3:17; 5:10)
A.
A child was playing rounders, and was cheering his team on, in spite of
the fact the score was twenty to nothing. An parent
on the side-lines asked how he could be so positive when his team
had such a bad score. The little boy replied, "Shucks, mister, we
haven’t even been up to bat yet!"
B.
Don’t ever forget, being a Christian does not mean you are now protected
from suffering. Jesus didn’t come to save our bodies, but He DID save
our souls – which are far more important.
C.
All throughout history, Christians have had to suffer great trials of
their faith, with health problems, loss of children, loss of jobs,
persecutions, abandonment, poverty, war, and on it goes.
D.
As Christians, it is important when going through
the trials of life to keep
your attention, not on the present affliction, but
on the end that God has in
mind.
1.
A lone piece of pottery in the furnace can feel abandoned at times. Left
in the heat.
2.
But then comes the end, when the potter takes it from the fires and
reveals it to be a vessel unto honour. Ready for the Master’s use!
E.
Job, like Abraham and so many others, had a strong faith
(remember the words, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in Him"?)
AND a weak flesh ("Why died I not from the womb?").
F.
So, when going through a variety of miseries, it is not uncommon for
God's people to teeter-totter between their flesh and their faith. But
you can be sure, a Christian’s faith will win out in the end.
G.
And the “end” for the Christian will be worth everything we may have to
go through (Rom 8:18)! If we will but patiently wait, we'll see "that
the Lord is and always has been, very pitiful, and of tender mercy to us."
H.
Let’s learn how to endure the suffering so common to the Christian life
so that we don’t miss the best part - the end that the Lord has in mind.
II.
Message – How to Be Happy While Enduring
A.
Focus on the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus (James 5:7,8)
1.
Remember that James is writing to poor believers in the First Century,
who were being afflicted by rich, powerful people, and by the religious!
2.
So, Become like a Farmer
a.
A farmer takes a very long time tirelessly preparing his field
b.
He then plants a lot of seed
c.
And then he waits – long time for many crops
d.
He knows the seed WILL grow
e.
But he has to be patient. Can you imagine an impatient farmer? Hah!
f.
The rains WILL come – and the seeds WILL produce a harvest!
3.
Knowing the Lord Jesus is coming again will help you become patient
4.
It will force you to WAIT through whatever you are having to go through
5.
Because
a.
You know He IS coming
b.
He is coming for you (John 14:1-3)
c.
And He will judge all your enemies, oppressors, and persecutors (2Pet
2:9) – perfectly! There will be NO arguments by everyone on THAT day
(like people argue constantly today)! Only absolute silence -
gobsmacked!
6.
So, be patient
a.
Because no matter what you are going through, It is only for a season
(1Peter 1:6,7)
b.
Because IMPATIENCE hurts your heart, and an unanchored heart
self-destructs like a blender that is not attached to its base!
c.
And because Patiently waiting and looking for the Blessed Hope will
stabilise your heart!
B.
Grudge NOT! (James 5:9; 1:26)
1.
Ugh! So pointed!
2.
You are usually NOT responsible for all the oppressions against you, and
troubles
3.
But you ARE responsible for how you THINK and react to them!
4.
Meaning
a.
To grudge is to be discontented at another's enjoyments or advantages;
to envy the possession or happiness of others. To murmur, complain, find
fault with, constantly criticize, and demean someone else because you
think you deserve better than they!
b.
The constant attitude of blaming and judging everything against as wrong
c.
This is the natural reaction to suffering!
d.
And not one of us is exempt from feeling this way
5.
This must be focused on – our tongue!
a.
“Lest YE be condemned?” Wow!
b.
Such a serious, fundamental sin that is present in every heart of every
Christian!
c.
God had to chastise Israel
when THEY spent all their time complaining
d.
Jesus is coming back to judge this world for so many sins – make sure He
doesn’t have to judge your sin of grudging too!
6.
The very fact that you are battling a complaining attitude means your
heart is blocked from ever being happy!
7.
So start replacing grudges and complaints with a river of praise, and
thanking God for absolutely everything you are going through, and the
feelings of happiness WILL return and fill your heart from the Spirit of
God!
C.
Learn from the Suffering of the Prophets (James 5:10)
1.
Name an Old Testament prophet:
a.
Samuel – messed up sons, the carnality of the kingdom
b.
Ezekiel – lost his wife, had to endure great humiliation
c.
Jonah – suffered doing what he did not want to do
d.
Isaiah
e.
Jeremiah
f.
Daniel
g.
Gad
h.
Nathan
i.
Elijah
j.
Now name any of them that lived lives of ease and comfort, and had no
troubles or persecutions? (Matt 23:34-37)
2.
These men spoke the perfect words of God
3.
They should have been SO honoured by everyone
4.
But they weren’t. They were hated, rejected, hunted, killed. They dwelt
in caves, and had nothing to their names – remember John the Baptist?
5.
Even at home, the prophets were treated like dirt
a.
By their wives, parents, siblings – remember Jesus’ own half-brothers?
b.
Being PROPHETS, they mainly had hardships
6.
God didn’t rush to their aid and make everything better for them
7.
Yet, THEY endured such affliction, with one key response - great
patience.
D.
Remember Job – the greatest example (James 5:11)
1.
The example of Job is the most extreme
a.
He sowed so much good seed throughout his life
b.
Then complete loss
c.
Then came such indescribable sorrow
d.
And then abandoned endurance
e.
Which turned into patience
f.
And then God brought conclusion to the whole event
g.
All of it was the work of the Lord
h.
But the END was the best part don’t you agree?
2.
His experience with suffering shows us just how good “the end of the
Lord” is:
a.
Prov 23:18; Ps 34:19; 37:37; Jer 29:11; Mark 10:28-30
b.
The Lord is Very pitiful – not hurtful, vengeful, but compassionate
c.
Has Tender mercy towards us – very tender in how He helps us
d.
God made everything better in the end than at the first (Eccl 7:8)
e.
That’s what James wants us to remember
E.
Lastly, Refuse to Quit (James 5:12)
1.
The whole context of swearing here is in relation to the believer’s
desire to swear off God
2.
It is very common that people who suffer, swear/promise God that they
won’t continue
3.
They hope to hurt God by swearing such a thing – as much as they are
hurting
4.
It really is VERY common, even amongst strong believers
5.
So, Don’t rashly vow that you are going to quit – that you are going to
just roll over and die
6.
It will only make things worse
7.
Stay the course and finish the will of God
8.
In spite of all the afflictions, the long waiting, the losses, and the
enduring…
9.
Be patient through it
10.
And you will discover that the end will be better than you can ever
imagine!
III.
Conclusion
A.
Review
1.
Focus on WHAT? The Second Coming of the Lord Jesus
2.
The Bible says to Grudge NOT!
3.
Learn from the lives and suffering of all the Prophets
4.
Remember Job – the greatest example
5.
And Refuse to Quit when it gets really hard!
B.
Biblical faith will win out in the end. No matter how long the wait may
be!
C.
The end for the Christian will be worth everything! If we will but
patiently wait, we'll see "that the Lord is and always has been, very
pitiful, and of tender mercy."