got fruit?

PATIENCEPATIENCE

James 1:2-5 (KJV)2 “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into

divers temptations;

3 “knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

4 “But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

5 “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given to him.”

James 1:12-14 (KJV)12 “Blessed is the man that endureth

temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that Love him.

13 “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:

14 “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.”

1. There is Value in Troubles James 1:2

v.3 Character Building(patience)

v.4 Maturing(perfecting)

v.5 Relation building(pray)

Romans 5:2-4 (NIV)2 “through whom we have gained access by

faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

3 “Not only so, but we rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;

4 “perseverance, character; and character, hope.”

1 Peter 1:6-7 (ESV)6 “In this you rejoice, though now for a

little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,

7 “so that the tested genuineness of your faith–more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire–may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

2. There is a time table to TroublesJames 1:4

1. Don’t rush out of trouble…You may end up fleeing Him.

2. Check your Lordship (Who is running me?) Listen to others, feel what the pain doing (humbling-compassion)

2. There is a time table to TroublesJames 1:4

3. Look at an eternal frame (v.12)(okay for God to use you?)

James 1:4, “wanting” means needing

“telios in this verse does not mean perfect, it means maturity. An oak tree is the perfection of an acorn. Men lift great weights to develop muscle. God does not want us to be spiritual creampuffs. When did you grow the most? When problems came and you learned to endure.”

- Adrian Rogers

3. Intimacy in Troubles James 1:5

1. Draw nearer to God – not shrink away…

2.Give permission for God to make me usable

(Are you willing to let God set the intensity/time limits?)

(Build an altar)

3. Intimacy in Troubles James 1:5

3. Expect God to use you.

James 5:7-11 (ESV)7 “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.

8 “You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

9 “Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door.

10 “As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

11 “Behold, we consider those blessed who remain steadfast. You have heard the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.”

Colossians 1:24-2:1 (ESV)24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I

am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church,

25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known,

26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints.

27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.

29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

1 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face,