Sunday School Lesson

1. James 5:7-11
The Power of Patience
Spiritual Maturity in Suffering
November 25, 2018
First Baptist Church
Jackson, Mississippi
USA

2. What’s the number one thing?
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3. The Glory of God!
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4. 1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV
31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it
all for the glory of God.
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5. November Memory Verses
Revelation 22:12-13 NIV
12 “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and
I will give to each person according to what they have
done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and
the Last, the Beginning and the End.”

6. References
•Jeremiah, David, Turning Toward Integrity (Atlanta:
Walk Thru The Bible Ministries, 2000).
•Wiersbe, Warren, James: Growing Up In Christ.
•Piper, John, Five Purposes for Suffering, A Devotional
from Desiring God.
•Maier, Paul L., Eusebius, The Church History (Grand
Rapids: Kregel Publications, 1999).

7. Introduction to the Epistle of James
• Written by James – the brother of Jesus.
• James did not believe in Jesus during His earthly ministry.
• John 7:5 ESV
5 For not even his brothers believed in him.
• After the crucifixion, Jesus’ family joined the apostles in
praying in the Upper Room.
• Acts 1:14 NIV
14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with
the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his
brothers.

8. Introduction to James
•Jesus appeared to James after the resurrection.
•1 Corinthians 15:7 NIV
7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles,
•James became the leader of the Christian Church in
Jerusalem.
•After Paul appeals to Caesar and leaves Jerusalem for
Rome, James becomes the target of the Pharisees.

9. James’ Martyrdom in 62AD
•The Pharisees demanded that James deny that Jesus
was the Savior on the parapet (roof) of the Temple.
•James was asked, “What does the door of Jesus
mean?”
•When he does not deny Jesus as Savior, they push him
off the edge and begin stoning him.
•A launderer uses his club to hit him in the head.
•James prays aloud for them as he is dying.

10. Spread of Christianity in 1st Century

11. The Purpose of James Writing the Epistle
•Christians had scattered from Israel because of
persecution by the Jews & Roman government.
•Christians everywhere lived in a hostile environment
and were opposed by Gentiles and Jews.
•James wrote to help Christians suffering in difficult
circumstances to display lives of spiritual maturity.

12. 5 Marks of the Spiritual Maturity in James
Today’s Lesson – #5 from James 5
1. Patient in testing – James 1.
2. Practices the truth – James 2.
3. Controls tongue – James 3.
4. A peacemaker, not a troublemaker – James 4.
5. Patience and perseverance in suffering – James 5.

13. Summary of James 5:1-6
The rich people are…
•...being stingy and hoarding their wealth.
•…spending money foolishly on themselves for
luxurious lifestyles.
•…not paying wages owed to workers.
•…abusing the court system against the poor and those
who challenge them.
•…mistreating the poor.

14. James 5:7a NIV (Patience)
7a Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming.
•This is a summary verse for James’ entire letter.
•Lesson today: How can we apply this to every
situation in life?

15. James 5:7 “Be patient,”
•“Be patient” ‒ makrothumia (Greek).
•Means being long-tempered and longsuffering.
•Stresses non-retaliation and holding one’s spirit in
check.
•Patience with those who mistreat you.
•This Greek word for “patience” has emphasis on
patience with respect to persons.

16. Jesus’ Example of Patience with His Persecutors
1 Peter 2:21-23 NIV
21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you,
leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
22 “He committed no sin,
and no deceit was found in his mouth”
23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate;
when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he
entrusted himself to him who judges justly.

17. James 5:7 “Be patient, then,”
•“then” (translated “therefore” in NKJV & ESV) – Refers
back to James 5:1-6 where believers are suffering at
the hands of the wicked rich.
•Patience with your persecutors and oppressors is a
difficult challenge.
•The practice of patience especially applies to dealing
with other believers.

18. The practice of patience is necessary for the
Christian
• The description of “love” in 1 Corinthians 13:4 includes
patience.
• 1 Corinthians 13:4a NIV
4a Love is patient, love is kind.
• The fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5 includes patience:
• Galatians 5:22-23 HCSB
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-
control; against such things there is no law.

19. The sin of impatience
•Impatience is a form of unbelief.
•It’s what we feel when we begin to doubt the wisdom
and timing of God in our lives or the goodness of his
guidance.
•Impatience can be exhibited over the major things
and the minor things in our lives.
•Impatience is idolatry of self – It’s all about me!

20. Words of Impatience!
•“Why me?”
•“I can’t take it anymore!”
•“I deserve better!”
•“Get out of my way!”

21. James 5:7a NIV
7a Be patient, then, brothers until the Lord’s coming.
•How long does the Christian have to be patient?
•Answer: until the Lord’s coming.
•We must live each day as if the Lord is coming that
day or even tomorrow.

22. The Lord is Coming!
1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 NIV
16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven,
with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel,
and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in
Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive
and are left will be caught up together with them in the
clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And we will be with
the Lord forever. 18 Therefore, encourage each other
with these words.

23. James 5:7b-9 NIV (Examples of Patience)
7b See how the farmer waits for the land to yields its
valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and
spring rains. 8 You too, be patient and stand firm,
because the Lord’s coming is near. 9 Don’t grumble
against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The
Judge is standing at the door!

24. The Doctrine of Imminence
•Christ could return for the church at any moment in
time.
•A pre-tribulation view of the rapture of the church.
•The 2nd coming of Christ and His reign will occur after
the tribulation.
•The importance of imminence is that we must be
ready for Christ at any moment in time.

26. James 9a NIV (Judgment for the Christian)
9a Don’t grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be
judged.
• Not a judgment of salvation – Salvation is already secured.
• 2 Corinthians 5:10 NIV
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of
Christ, that each may receive what is due him for the things
done while in the body, whether good or bad.
• James says that we will be judged for the control of our
tongues (James 3:1-9) and our patience (James 5:7-9).

27. Levels of Rewards in Heaven
• The judgment for Christians can be the gain/loss of rewards
and the gain/loss of crowns.
• This will occur at the “Judgment Seat (Bema Seat) of
Christ” after the Rapture.
• The Bible teaches about 5 types of crowns:
• Crown of Righteousness
• Crown of Glory
• Crown of Life
• Crown of Rejoicing
• Incorruptible Crown

28. James 5:9 “Don’t grumble!”
•Definition ‒ Complaining or protesting about
something in a bad-tempered but typically muted
way.
•“To mutter discontent.”
•Grumbling must be a serious offense if it leads to
judgment.
•Bible School Song:
•“Are you humbly grateful or grumbly hateful, what’s
your attitude?”

29. Grumbling

30. James 5:10 NIV (The Patience of the Prophets)
10 Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of
suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of
the Lord.
•In Hebrews 11:32-38 the prophets are described as
focusing their faith on God and his promises.
•The fulfillment of God’s promises to them came in
Jesus Christ and their redemption is now complete in
him.

31. James 5:11 NIV (Perseverance in Suffering)
11 As you know, we consider blessed those who have
persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and
have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The
Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

32. James uses the Greek word “perseverance” to
describe patience in verse 11.
•Perseverance ‒ hupomeno (Greek) steadfast
endurance.
•This means patience with respect to conditions or
situations, and not just people.
•This is the characteristic of a man who is not swayed
from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith by
even the greatest trials and sufferings.

33. Job’s Perseverance
•God allowed Satan to test Job’s faithfulness to God.
•Satan took almost all that Job had: his livestock; his
servants and his children.
•Job lost his health and his wife’s moral support.
•His friends gave him terrible advice.
•Job persevered and remained faithful to God.
•Job 13:15a NIV
15a Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him;

34. James has earlier described the reward for
perseverance in trials.
James 1:12 NIV
12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial,
because when he has stood the test, he will receive the
crown of life that God has promised to those who love
him.
•The crown of life is one to be given out as a reward at
the Judgment Seat (Bema Seat) of Christ.

35. What is suffering?
•Definition ‒ The state of undergoing pain, distress or
hardship.
•Can involve all 3 types below.
•Physical suffering – pain, disease, disability,
limitations, thorn in the flesh.
•Mental suffering – emotional, mental health, grief,
disappointment.
•Spiritual suffering – temptation, trials of life, attacks
by Satan, wavering faith and hope.

36. Why does God allow suffering?
Four Reasons by John Piper.
1. Reliance
2. Righteousness
3. Reward
4. Reminder

37. Why does God allow suffering? (Reliance)
•Reliance: Suffering is a call to trust God and not the
life-sustaining props of this world.
•Suffering causes us to rely on the Holy Spirit.
•2 Corinthians 1:8b-9 ESV
8b For we were so utterly burdened beyond our
strength that we despaired of life itself. 9 Indeed, we
felt that we had received the sentence of death. But
that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God
who raises the dead.

38. Why does God allow suffering? (Righteousness)
• Righteousness: Suffering is the discipline of our loving heavenly
Father so that we come to share his righteousness and holiness.
• Hebrews 12:6, 10b-11 ESV
6 “For the Lord disciplines the ones he loves,
and chastises every son whom he receives.”
10b But He disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.
11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant,
but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who
have been trained by it.

39. Why does God allow suffering? (Reward)
• Reward: Suffering is working for us a great reward in
heaven that will make up for every loss here a thousand-
fold.
• 2 Corinthians 4:17 ESV
17 This light and momentary affliction is preparing for us an
eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.
• James 1:12 NIV
12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial because
when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life
that God has promised to those who love him.

40. Why does God allow suffering? (A Reminder)
• A Reminder: Suffering reminds us that God sent his Son
into the world to suffer so that our suffering would not be
God’s condemnation but his purification.
• Jesus suffered and died for our sins.
• Suffering is part of living in a fallen world.
• Philippians 3:10 ESV
10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection,
and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his
death,

41. James 5:11c NIV
11c The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
•James wants us to know that the Lord understands
when we cry out, “WHY?”, to suffering.
•James wants us to know that we must trust God with
the eternal purposes of the suffering.
•James wants us to know that patience with others and
perseverance in trials is a mark of spiritual maturity
and will be rewarded when the Lord returns.

42. An Eternal Perspective of Life Helps with
Patience.
•2 Corinthians 5:7 NIV
7 For we live by faith, not by sight.
•Romans 8:28 ESV
28 And we know that for those who love God all things
work together for good, for those who are called
according to his purpose.

43. Jesus’ reply to Paul when asking for suffering
to be removed:
•2 Corinthians 12:8-10 NIV
8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away
from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient
for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my
weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10
That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses,
in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.
For when I am weak, then I am strong.

44. Next Sunday
Genesis 27:18-29
The Deceiver
December 2, 2018
First Baptist Church
Jackson, Mississippi
USA

45. The Plan of Hope & Salvation:
John 3:16 ESV
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that
whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal
life.”
John 14:6 ESV
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

46. The Plan of Hope & Salvation:
Romans 3:23 ESV
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 6:23a ESV
23a For the wages of sin is death,
• Death in this life (the first death) is 100%.
• Even Jesus, the only one who doesn’t deserve death, died in this life
to pay the penalty for our sin.
• The death referred to in Romans 6:23a is the “second death”
explained in Revelation 21:8.

47. The Plan of Hope & Salvation:
Revelation 21:8 ESV
8 “But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for
murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all
liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and
sulfur, which is the second death.”
Romans 5:8 ESV
8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still
sinners, Christ died for us.

48. The Plan of Hope & Salvation:
Romans 6:23b ESV
23b but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Revelation 21:7 ESV
7 “The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be
his God and he will be my son.”
• Romans 10:9-10 explains to us how to be conquerors.

49. The Plan of Hope & Salvation:
Romans 10:9-10 ESV
9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord
and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead,
you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is
justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
Romans 10:13 ESV
13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be
saved.”

50. The Plan of Hope & Salvation:
Do you have questions?
Would you like to know more?
Please, contact First Baptist Church Jackson at 601-949-1900
or http://firstbaptistjackson.org/contact/