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December 15, 2010

Patient Endurance

Preacher: Rev. Jack Meehan Series: Advent midweek 2010 Category: Biblical Scripture: James 5:7–5:11

Midweek Advent Worship
December 15, 2010
James 5:7-11

“Patient Endurance”

The Epistle reading for this past Sunday, the Third Sunday in Advent, calls us to patient endurance while we wait for the coming of the Lord. Advent is all about waiting, but most of us aren’t so good with that whole waiting thing. The apostle James reminds us here what Advent is really all about:  more than simply counting down the days until Christmas, Advent is a call for patient endurance until the coming of the Lord, and that is the theme for the message this evening on this third and final of our midweek Advent worship services: Patient Endurance. May the Lord’s rich blessing rest upon the preaching, the hearing, and the living of his Word, for Jesus’ sake.

Whether we like it or not, we all have to do some waiting in our lives – probably more than any of us cares to. Think of waiting in the check-out line at the store, waiting while we’re stuck in traffic, or waiting for the technician/repairman to come by our house “between the hours of 8 am and 12 noon.” With the advent of technology such as instant messaging and texting, my observation is that we’ve become far less patient and far less willing to wait. There are other types of waiting that are more serious: waiting for medical test results to come back, waiting with a loved one as death approaches, waiting for that dreaded phone call. Waiting is part of living. Sometimes we do this with patience, and sometimes not. But how are we doing with that patient endurance as we wait and watch for Jesus’ coming again?

In those few verses from the Epistle lesson, James uses the word “patient” or “patience” four times:

Be patient, therefore, brothers [and sisters], until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruits 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… As an example of suffering and patience, brothers [and sisters], take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord (James 5:7-8, 10).

The original word here for “patient” (µακροθυµÎ­ω) describes that God-given attitude which can endure delay, bear suffering, and never give in. In fact, this is identified in Scripture as one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit: “Now the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control. Against such there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23). If we have trouble with patient waiting in the ordinary, everyday things of life, it stands to reason that we would also have trouble patiently waiting for Jesus’ coming again – his second advent. In fact, the opposite may well be true for us. We may be so preoccupied and distracted with life and the things of this world that we rarely even think about Jesus’ coming again. This is not good. The season of Advent is a holy antidote for this spiritual amnesia. Advent is a holy reminder to us that “the coming of the Lord is at hand” (James 5:8), and that the things of this world will soon pass away.

“Patience is a virtue,” so goes the old saying. Patience begins not with us, but with God. When circumstances of life press hard upon us and our world starts to unravel, we may cry out: “Lord Jesus, come quickly!” In the midst of a world where evil seems always to have the upper hand and where the fruits of the Spirit are disregarded and trampled in the mud, we wonder why Jesus’ coming again is delayed. The Word of God reminds us: “The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). You see, God’s loving concern is not just for us who know him now, but also for those who do not know him. If there is a delay in Jesus’ coming again, it is for their sake. And this is why I encourage each of us to invite that friend, neighbor, family member, or co-worker to come with you to Christmas worship, that they, too, might come to repentance and receive the gift of salvation found only in the Christ of Christmas, who for our sake was born, lived, died, and rose again.

And so, by the power of the Holy Spirit at work in us we wait for Jesus’ coming again with patient endurance, trusting that the One we’re waiting for is the very One who is with us even now, Jesus Christ. He will establish and strengthen our hearts until the day of his coming. Amen. Come quickly, Lord Jesus. Amen.

other sermons in this series

Dec 8

2010

Only Us

Preacher: Pastor Braun Campbell Scripture: Romans 15:4–15:13 Series: Advent midweek 2010

Dec 1

2010

Put on the Lord Jesus Christ

Preacher: Rev. Jack Meehan Scripture: Romans 13:11–13:14 Series: Advent midweek 2010