Lord Give Me Patience... and Hurry!

Js 1:2-4 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various

trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work,

that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

How many of us often think this way?▪Take me for example!▸When I started really reading my Bible I notice

there was a “need” for me to have patience!–Such as we see here in (Js. 1:2-4)–Or 2 Pet 1:6 And to knowledge temperance;

and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;▸So God sent me to preaching school, I keep

praying so God gave me a job as a preacher, I keep praying God gave me a wife, I keep praying God gave me children, now I pray Lord help me!

I have to tell you that I have really enjoyed this study!

Yet, it has really showed me how far I have to go!▪There are two very different words often

translated “patience”▸Mak-roth-oo-meh'-o found 10 times used

only of our relationship to others, of God’s relationship to us, never of our relationship to God, it means to be long-spirited, forbearing, be longsuffering, have patience, be patient, patiently endure▸Have one for another Or God for us

Hoop-om-on-ay' i.e. Js. 1:3,4; 2 Pet. 1:6

This word is used 32 times in the New Testament▪This word has to do with our relationship

to God! ▪This word means cheerful/hopeful

endurance/constancy, to be enduring, patience, patient continuance/waiting▸This is based on our trust and hope in Him,

knowing where we are going and what is coming!

I. The Picture!▪How often did Jesus teach in pictures?▸Why do you suppose He did so?▸It is said that “a picture says a _____ words!”▪Lets read the whole picture together!▸Js. 1:1-18

–Right attitude! (Js. 1:2-11)–Right action! (Js. 1: 12-18)▪James is painting us a picture of the “key to

succeed” (in trials and temptations!)▸Trust God from the inside-out!

It needs to be noted that this is something we will always need and there will never

be a time this side of life that we have arrived!

▪It is important for us to understand the joy in the journey!

▪I believe we must keep this whole picture in mind before we can move forward correctly!

▪We need to be careful to not miss the point!▸Now = Wrestling (This life)▸Next = Resting (The next life)

II. The Problem!Js 1:4 But let patience have its perfect work, that

you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.▪We need to keep it clear in our minds that each

of us is going to be always working on this and seeking to keep moving in this direction!

▪It is clear from this passage that the greatest danger we will ever face is “self!”

▪Notice the parallel in verses 2 & 12!▸“Count it all joy, meet trials”▸Blessed/happy is the man, steadfast under trials”

The Art of Contentment!▪“Keep your life free from love of money, and be

content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Heb. 13:5)

▪“Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.” (Phil. 4:11)

▪“Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.” (1 Tim. 6:6-8)

III. The Pardon!Pardon = the action of forgiving or being forgiven

for an error or offense (Oxford Dict.)▪Understanding that none us have arrived, now

what? What is to be our course of action?▸This will have to come from outside of us

because we are all a “work in progress!”▸The answer will have to come from one

greater than ourselves! ▪I have chosen the word for this point very

carefully because we need to see our need!

The only answer is to cry out to God and trust in Him to deliver us!

Js 1:5-6 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea

driven and tossed by the wind.▪The last thing we often do, should be our

first! We seem to always want to do this backwards!

▪In times of trials, this is to be our first course of action!

Conclusion:▪Now if your life is anything like mine, then I

know you need this lesson! I know I need it!▪We have got to learn what it means, to have

real faith and hope in God!▪There are three points I want to leave you with

to think about as you work on patience!▸God is in control!▸God is in charge!▸God care for you!▪Our goal: Right attitude & right action!