Session 13 With Anticipation James 5 November 24-25, 2018 Summary and Goal: James, the half-brother of Jesus, was nicknamed Ole Camel s Knees by the early church because his knees were calloused and knobby. It was believed that he spent more time on his knees praying than he did on his feet standing! In this last chapter, it is fitting for James to close his letter on the practical applications of the Christian life as we await the return of Christ with directives on possessions, patience, and prayer. Main Passage: James 5:1-20 Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you. 2 Your riches have rotted and your garments have become moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and your silver have rusted; and their rust will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh like fire. It is in the last days that you have stored up your treasure! 4 Behold, the pay of the laborers who mowed your fields, and which has been withheld by you, cries out against you; and the outcry of those who did the harvesting has reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. 5 You have lived luxuriously on the earth and led a life of wanton pleasure; you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and put to death the righteous man; he does not resist you. 7 Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains. 8 You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. 9 Do not [e] complain, brethren, against one another, so that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door. 10 As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord s dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful. 12 But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but your yes is to be yes, and your no, no, so that you may not fall under judgment. 13 Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; 15 and the prayer [l] offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one
another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. 18 Then he prayed again, and the sky [ poured rain and the earth produced its fruit. 19 My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, 20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. Session Outline: Practical Living in Light of Eternity: A. Possessions (5:1-6) B. Patience (5:7-12) a. Farmer b. Prophets c. Job C. Prayer (5:13-19) Session in a Sentence: Faith in action shows patience in difficulty, patient endurance through trials, and is prayerful in suffering and sickness. Christ Connection: Jesus death on the cross conquered sin and shame. Faith in action harnesses the power of the Gospel to live today in light of eternity. Mission Application: The Christian life is meant to be lived in community, patiently waiting, persevering in trials and praying for one another through it all.
Introduction: Francis of Assisi once invited an apprentice to go with him to a nearby village to preach. Eagerly, the young monk agreed, not wanting to miss an opportunity to hear his teacher speak and to glean from his insights. When they reached the village, they went straight to the butcher and talked with him. Next, they stopped at the cobbler s shop. They then went to the home of a widow who only recently had buried her husband. All along the way, Francis visited with and ministered to the people, encouraging them. This went on throughout the morning with a final stop at the school to talk with the teacher. Finally, Francis told the young monk it was time to head back to the abbey. I don t understand, the young monk declared, I thought we came to preach and you have yet to preach a sermon. Francis replied, Haven t we? People have watched us, listened to us, responded to us. Every word we have spoken, every deed we have done has been a sermon. We have actually preached all morning long. It was Francis of Assisi that said, It is no use walking anywhere to preach unless our walking is our preaching. 1 As we have studied the book of James over the last few weeks we have seen that although works do not save a Christian, they do identify him as one. James, in his practical approach, has covered a multitude of topics, giving directives on how to live as we await Christ s return. In Chapter 5 he returns to a few key topics for final pointers. Possessions, Patience, and Prayer provide actions steps we can take in the here and now, in preparation and anticipation of the ever after. A. Possessions: Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you. 2 Your riches have rotted and your garments have become moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and your silver have rusted; and their rust will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh like fire. It is in the last days that you have stored up your treasure! 4 Behold, the pay of the laborers who mowed your fields, and which has been withheld by you, cries out against you; and the outcry of those who did the harvesting has reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. 5 You have lived luxuriously on the earth and led a life of wanton pleasure; you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and put to death the righteous man; he does not resist you. James is not saying it s a sin to be rich. Instead, his concern is selfishness. He is condemning the acquiring of wealth by illegal means and the hoarding of wealth for selfish pleasure. He explains the consequences of misusing riches. We are to be stewards of the Lord, sharing and using wealth for His glory, not our own. In verses 1-3, James reminds us of the sobering fact that the material things in this world do not last forever. Gold will rust, grain will rot, and garments will be eaten by moths. Yet, we often seek and place our security in wealth. In verse 3 he explains that misused riches can erode our character, consuming your flesh like fire. But it doesn t have to be that way. As Warren 1 Lucado, Max, Life Lessons on James. Thomas Nelson, 2006.
Wiersbe explains, Abraham was a rich man, but he maintained his faith and character. When Lot became rich, it ruined his character and ultimately ruined his family. 2 We are grateful for the good things of life, yet there is a point beyond enjoying what the Lord has provided and hoarding our riches for our own selfish fulfillment. Money is not the root of all evil, but it is the love of money that condemns us. 1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. In verses 4-6, James condemns withholding wages earned. In that day, laborers were paid daily with no binding legal contract. Throughout scripture we see admonishment to not oppress a hired servant, even in the law given through Moses: Deuteronomy 24:14-15 14 You shall not oppress a hired servant who is poor and needy, whether he is one of your countrymen or one of your aliens who is in your land in your towns. 15 You shall give him his wages on his day before the sun sets, for he is poor and sets his heart on it; so that he will not cry against you to the Lord and it become sin in you. (see also the parable of the laborers in Matthew 20:1-16). James is not condemning riches or rich people. He is condemning those who gain at the expense of others and who wield their wealth as a weapon to further their own gain, rather than a tool to glorify God. In the end, we will all be judged for our actions. May our riches not be used as a witness against us at the judgment seat of Christ, but to further His Kingdom until He returns. B. Patience: 7 Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains. 8 You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. 9 Do not complain, brethren, against one another, so that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door. 10 As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord s dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful. 12 But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but your yes is to be yes, and your no, no, so that you may not fall under judgment. This passage starts with the imperative Be Patient. The word used in verses 7-8,10 in the Greek comes from a compound word of long (makros) and temper ( thymos). Sometimes translated as longsuffering, it means to have a long fuse, to set the timer on your temper, to be in it for the long haul, until Christ comes again. James began this letter with this command and closes with it, encouraging us to patiently endure heartaches and hardships until Jesus returns to reign upon the earth. Three times he reminds us that the coming of the Lord is near. In verse 11, James uses a different word, more akin to patient 2 Wiersbe, Warren, Be Mature. David C. Cook, 1978.
endurance or perseverance, meaning endurance under stress. He is conveying the idea of staying put and standing fast when you would really like to run away. Commentator Warren Wiersbe notes that many Greek scholars believe longsuffering refers to patience with people while perseverance or patient endurance refers to patience in difficult circumstances. Practically speaking, how do we endure trials and tribulations for the long haul? Are we to sit idly by waiting on the Lord to do something? The answer is no. James gives us 3 real-life examples of patience and perseverance. a. Be patient like a farmer waiting for harvest: He begins with the farmer. If ever there was a profession requiring patient endurance its farming. But being a patient farmer doesn t mean just waiting and watching. The farmer knows his part. HE must prepare the soil. He must sow the seed. No amount of rain can grow a crop that hasn t been planted. The farmer must also be patient with the crop waiting for the seed to produce. The farmer does his part, then trusts the Lord with the harvest. Faith involves honoring God with what you can control and do, while trusting God with what you cannot control. James then implores his readers to strengthen their hearts living in light of Christ s return, and to do so without grumbling or complaining. In season and out of season we trust and obey, patiently waiting for Christ s return. b. Be patient like the prophets, speaking truth: Beginning in verse 10, James reminds his Jewish readers of the prophets who endured a great deal of suffering with patience as they spoke out in the Lord s name. Though they were preaching in the name of the Lord they were persecuted. We must never fall for the lie that obedience always produces ease and pleasure in our lives. Jesus was obedient all the way to the cross! But, we can be assured that God is with us and cares for us as we go through the difficulty. He reigns sovereign over good times and bad. Elijah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel all endured extreme hardships but in every circumstance the Lord cared for them through it or delivered them from their affliction. Note that the prophets continued to stand fast and speak truth through their suffering. Sometimes suffering gives you a platform to exort or encourage others in your affliction for the glory of God. c. Be patient like Job, trusting God s plan: Just like the saints of old we learn more through suffering than through success and this is true of Job. Nothing has the ability to drive us closer to the Lord than trials and tribulations. Job endured extreme difficulty 42 chapters of it! But the Lord was with him through it all. And in the end, he confesses: my eyes have seen you. James concludes this section with an exhortation to be trustworthy in speech. At first blush, it appears to be a side street, but actually James has warned all along about the tongue, from the beginning to end of this book! Here he is saying faith that perseveres is exhibited in trustworthy speech. Our words must be dependable and consistent despite our circumstances, our speech
reliable in the face of suffering. Yes must mean yes, and no mean no whether we are on a mountain top or in a valley. C. Prayer 13 Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; 15 and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. 18 Then he prayed again, and the sky poured rain and the earth produced its fruit. 19 My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, 20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. The power to be patient in suffering comes from God and prayer is the vehicle for requesting it. Dr. Young has said that a Christian without prayer is like a car without gasoline. It s the power source for life! In the body of Christ, our prayers are the link between a person s needs and God s unlimited resources. It is a privilege to pray for one another in the body of Christ as prayer binds us together in love and unity as we pray in the name of Jesus. Asking in His name is to ask according to His Word and for His glory. That is to be our motivation, trusting Him with the result. James example of Elijah in verse 17 is consistent with this. Everything Elijah did was in accordance with God s Word. God used Elijah s prayers as the means through which His Word was accomplished. Sometimes it may be us that the Lord will use to answer someone s prayer. Be open and willing to respond. Throughout difficult times in history, Christians have run in when the world has run out. Are you sick? Ask for prayer! At Second, we are a praying church. We have a tremendous Prayer Ministry that is accessible 24/7 by emailing prayer@second.org. You may request prayer for yourself or someone else and rest assured it will be covered. You may also serve as a prayer warrior for your class (ask your Director) or for the Church through the Prayer Ministry. Check on second.org for details on how to volunteer. What exactly does prayer do that makes it so important? 1) Prayer gives us a chance to participate with God s action in the world. Scripture is full of examples demonstrating that prayer is often the catalyst that leads to God s action in the world. God allows His people to sometimes influence real world events as a result of prayer. In Genesis 18, we see God and Abraham almost bartering
over the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah, and Abraham had an influence in God s decision making. In the book of Amos, we see an example of God holding off his wrath against Israel due to Amos earnest prayer. It is largely a mystery, but the prayer of righteous people can have a real effect on real world events. 2) Prayer allows God to communicate with us. This seems counterintuitive, because prayer mostly consists of us talking to God. However, times of prayer can often lead to God communicating His will to us. When we set aside time to spend with the Lord in prayer, it allows us to become more receptive to His voice, His calling, and His purposes for our lives. 3) Prayer changes the person who prays. This is the most intense, and most obvious effect of prayer. When you set aside deliberate time to spend with the Lord, you will experience change. When you place yourself in the presence of the transcendent God of the universe, you are going to walk away different than before. In Genesis 32, Jacob has an experience where he wrestles with God, and he walks away from the experience with a limp. When you spend time with the Lord, you will be changed, and you will become more like Him. James 5:13-20 reminds us that we are not called to go it alone in our faith walk. He has designed us to need one another. Prayer is a means for us to come alongside one another in encouragement, truth and love before our Heavenly Father. Throughout James we have seen faith in action. Faith lived out is active and action-packed! Knowing Christ should make a difference in our lives in thoughts, words and deeds. May we never settle for less than a faith lived out, giving glory to the One who saved us, Christ Jesus! References: The Bible Knowledge Commentary, New Testament Be Mature, Warren Wiersbe Christ-Centered Exposition- James, David Platt Life Lessons on James, Max Lucado