The Book Of James Pt. 49 Patient Waiting Yields A Settled Heart.

Be productive for Christ while patiently waiting for His return.

James 5:7  Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. 

The apostle James introduced two major themes to finish his letter to the churches. 

First is the theme of believers patiently waiting, enduring the trials and afflictions of this life.

Second, is for believers to patiently wait for the return of Jesus Christ. This all connects with our Lord's instructions to be watching for His return with great anticipation. 

While we watch for Christ's return, we are also to actively do the work of gospel ministry and to worship Him.

James tells us how this truth of patient waiting is to be lived out. The idea is that since the Lord IS coming back one day, live in this manner.

Have hearts firmly fixed on what God says to us.

James 5:8  Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. 

Remember that our word "patient" means not losing heart no matter how fiercely we are attacked, or how many troubles we face. It means to persevere with courage until we finish the race of life. 

Next, we find another aorist imperative. James uses these effectively to remind us that all God provided for us in Christ, is to motivate how we live right now. 

We are told to "establish" our hearts. This means to make it stable, firmly placed, with convictions based upon the truth of God's Word.

If our heart is not firmly fixed upon God's promises, we may lapse into double mindedness. Our faith may waver as we try to have Christ, while clinging to the world. We cannot serve two masters.

Faith that wavers yields a miserable life. 

James 1:6  But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

James already spoke against the sin of having faith that wavers. Christians must be discipled in Bible truth so that they know what they believe, based upon scripture. 

Believers whose faith is not firmly established upon the promises of God, will be miserable. They will waver back and forth between belief and unbelief, and this is a most miserable condition.

Elijah called all Israel to quit "halting" or wavering between Baal and Jehovah. He told them pick one and follow. 

The prophet gave clear, convincing proof that Jehovah was God and Baal was a mere construct of men's imaginations, and the people followed Jehovah (1 Kings 18:20-40). 

Jesus taught us that we cannot serve two masters, nor can we have a divided allegiance (Matthew 6:24; Luke 16:13). 

Those who waver, do not have the joy of the Lord. They cannot worship God in Spirit and in truth because they have doubts about the truth.

This is no surprise. When Satan first appeared in scripture, his first action was casting doubt upon what God said. He still does this today. 

Jesus gave good gifts to His church so that our faith is secured.

Ephesians 4:11-14  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12)  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13)  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14)  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 

Jesus gave many wonderful gifts to His church. He gave us the "apostles" whom He used to provide apostolic truth and doctrine for sustaining our new man in Christ.

He gave us "prophets" who guided the early church by foretelling certain impending events, until God was finished giving us the Bible (See for example, Acts 21:10). 

He gave us "evangelists" and we still have them today. A missionary performs the role of an evangelist, taking the gospel to places that have not yet been reached with the good news. 

He gave us pastors, men called by God to faithfully preach the gospel, teach the apostolic doctrines and lovingly shepherding their church members to honor God with their lives.

He gave us teachers, men called by God, who are capable communicators of God's truth. Men who are able to study, understand, and share what God has taught them with others. 

Paul listed some very specific purposes for the gifts that Jesus provided to His church. 

They are to help bring each Christian to a mature faith in Christ. 

They are to equip us for the work of the ministry. 

They are to equip us to build up and edify other believers. 

If we do not receive the benefit of the great gifts Christ gave us, through the apostles, evangelists, the prophets, our pastors and teacher, then we will be in spiritual trouble. 

We will be double minded, rapidly tossed back and forth by each false teachers new and novel teachings. 

We will be easily led astray by false teachers seeking to personally profit from false teachings.

Thus, James tells us our heart must be firmly established in the things of God, so that our faith grows, and we become mature Christians, capable of serving our Great God. 

Be led by God and learn His way.

Psalm 27:11  Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies. 

This psalm of David reflects much of the same truth that James is sharing with us. We need to have our faith firmly fixed upon the truth of God's Word. 

Thus, David asks Jehovah to teach him about the way of God, that he might walk in it and enjoy close communion with the LORD. He asked for a plain path to follow God, so that he could endure his enemy's plots. 

Psalm 27:12  Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty. 

David communed with God and told Him how his enemies spread lies about the king, and how cruel they were. 

James has shown us that our enemies are Satan, the world, our flesh and our old man. If we are not walking close with God in the light of His Word, we will not be able to withstand their attacks.

Psalm 27:13  I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. 

David said that he almost reached the point of fainting, being overwhelmed by his enemies and the troubles that he faced.

In like manner, James has shown us we must have firm convictions based upon God's eternal truth. Otherwise, we will become double minded, wavering in faith and swept aside by life's troubles or false teachings. 

Patiently wait on the Lord's return, and He will strengthen our heart.

Psalm 27:14  Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD. 

King David rested in what he knew to be true of God from His Word. The king tells us to wait on the LORD for help and take courage while waiting. When we do so, God will strengthen our heart. 

This is the same message communicated by James. Patient waiting on the Lord to return, with hearts that are firmly established in the truth of His Word. 

Thoughts to Ponder...

As we finish this lesson, I can think of nothing better than reading and meditating on the texts below. 

Patiently waiting on the Lord is beneficial for our soul. 

Patiently waiting on the Lord can only be done well, when our heart is firmly established in the scriptures. 

Those who wait patiently on the Lord, are those who worship Him in Spirit and in truth, and who actively do the work of the ministry while waiting on the Lord. 

May the Lord mold us and shape us into a patient people waiting for Christ's return, serving Him wherever we can, and worshipping Him always.

Bob

Psalm 37:7  Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. 

Psalm 130:5  I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope. 

Lamentations 3:25-26  The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. 26)  It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.