We welcome you all to the house of our living God. Today we have been able to gather not because we wanted to, but because He wanted us to join us together to praise and worship Him.

It is very sad that we cannot meet us in person, but we thank God for this technology so we can virtually pray and worship God together.
Today we will learn about a very important subject especially during the times when death and sickness surrounds us… “In difficult times, wait patiently on the Lord.“

Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. James 5:7-10

Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful. But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.
James 5:11-12

The first century believers were really going through the hardships of their lives.
Consider him that waits for a crop of corn; and will not you wait for a crown of glory? If you should be called to wait longer than the husbandman, is not there something more worth waiting for? In every sense the coming of the Lord drew nigh, and all his people’s losses, hardships, and sufferings, would be repaid. Men count time long, because they measure it by their own lives; but all time is as nothing to God; it is as a moment. To short-lived creatures a few years seem an age; but Scripture, measuring all things by the existence of God, reckons thousands of years but so many days. God brought about things in Job’s case, so as plainly to prove that he is very pitiful and of tender mercy. This did not appear during his troubles, but was seen in the event, and believers now will find a happy end to their trials. Let us serve our God, and bear our trials, as those who believe that the end will crown all. Our eternal happiness is safe if we trust to him: all else is mere vanity, which soon will be done with for ever.

There are three things that we can learn from the passage of James 5.

1: The first thing we need to do is “Be Patient”.
Be patient knowing that God is in control. But when the things won’t happen our own way, we might get angry, but here is when we need to be patient and see the ways God works.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, Galatians 5:22

2: Second thing James tells us are the “Illustrations.”
Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
James 5:7-8

Illustration: A child plants a seed and waters everyday. He used to pull the seed and check on it and plants it back. After few days he complains that the seed is not growing. Mother asks how is he doing it, so the child responds that he removes the seed every time to see. This is when mother points out that the child isn’t patient enough.

3: Third important thing that we learn from James is that we need to “Stand Firm”.

  • Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. James 5:9
  • And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. Luke 23:34
  • And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep. Acts 7:59-60
  • At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them! 2 Timothy 4:16

The three most important things we need to understand especially In difficult times, while waiting patiently on the Lord.
1: Be patient.
2: Illustrations.
3: Stand firm
A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls. Proverbs 25:28

Illustration: George Horne (Church of England Bishop from 18th Century) once said, “Patience strengthens the spirit, sweetens the temper, stifles anger, extinguishes envy, subdues pride, bridles the tongue, restrains the hand and tramples the temptations.”
Wait for the Lord ; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord ! Psalm 27:14

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! Psalm 37:7

I waited patiently for the Lord ; he inclined to me and heard my cry. Psalm 40:1

People of God, do not live under uncertainty because our God is a prayers answering God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, Galatians 5:22

Let us fix our eyes on Him during these troubled times.
Illustration: A believer by the name of Frederick Nolan was fleeing from his enemies who were persecuting him in North Africa. Pursued by them over hill and valley with no place to hide he soon became exhausted and fell into a small cave … discouraged over God’s failure to deliver him from his oppressors! He laid there waiting for his enemies to come and kill him, responded over the outcome of having lived for the Lord only to see his enemies win over him. As he lay inside the cave waiting to be taken and killed, he watched a spider at the entrance of the cave spin a web. Within the minutes that passed before the soldiers caught up to him, the spider had successfully spun a huge full and beautiful web over the entire entrance of the cave. Then he heard the soldiers outside, and he could hear them talking about checking the caves to see if he was hiding in one, including the one he was in … but then he heard the leader of the soldiers say, “you may as well ignore looking in this cave … if he had entered here this web would be broken!” So they left and he was delivered! God had sent a spider to rescue him from his oppressors! Nolan successfully escaped and burst out “Where God is, a spider’s web is like a wall!, where God is NOT, a wall is like a spider’s web!”

Wait patiently when the times are difficult. We thank for the word of God, we thank for the Bible. We are surrounded by the angels of death, sources of darkness, anxiety is much higher. What can we do? Wait patiently on the Lord, call upon Him and He will save you!

We hope you are encouraged with today’s word. People of God, trust in Him and He will deliver you. We look forward to see you again next Sunday. God bless!