"Prayer and Patience"
James 5:7-16
Thomas a Kempis – “He deserves not the name of patient who is only willing to suffer
as much as he thinks proper.”
Life Lesson: Patience perfects God’s plan so I won’t preempt it.
“The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. You also must be patient.” - James 5:7b-8a
Insights that Grow our Patience
Insight 1 – Keep focused on the big picture.
James 5:7 – “Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming.”
Point: “Patience” is rooted in a macro approach to life.
Michael Hodgin – “Don’t give up. It took Noah six months to find a parking place.”
Insight 2 – Reset your resolve.
Arnold H. Glasow - “The key to everything is patience. You get the chicken by hatching the egg, not by smashing it.”
James 5:8 – “Be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.”
Idea: “Stand firm” = it has a determination factor in it…
= idea: set a course into the wind.
Insight 3 – Waiting is not weakness.
James 5:11 – “As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered.”
Point: “Persevered” = figuratively: to hold one’s ground .
...spiritually: to wait for God’s timing.
The “Thoughts” of Patience
Thought 1 – Appeal to God rightly.
James 5:12 – “Above all, my brothers, do not swear – not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your “Yes” be yes, and your “No,” no, or you will be condemned.
Thought 2 – Appeal to God honestly.
James 5:13-14 – “Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.”
Thought 3 – Appeal to God faithfully.
James 5:15 – “The prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.”
Thought 4 – Appeal to God humbly.
James 5:16 – “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.”
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