Patience (James 5:7-12)

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#000066" TEXT="#F7F7FF" bgproperties="fixed" background="1b9005a3.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFCC00" FACE="Arial" >Living Hope Christian Fellowship</FONT>     |     <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Living Hope Christian Fellowship"><B>Home</B></A></div> <div> Back to  <A HREF="christian_growth.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Walking With God"><B>Walking With God</B></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=160 BGCOLOR="#000066" TEXT="#F7F7FF" bgproperties="fixed" background="32ac8043.jpg"> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="135" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#000066" BORDERCOLORDARK="#FFCC00" FRAME="ABOVE" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#FFFFFF > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC00 HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="131"><div> <B>Bible Studies:</B></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <A HREF="prayer5d.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Prayer">Prayer</A></div> <div> <A HREF="giving_thanks.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Giving Thanks for What the Lord is Doing">Giving Thanks</A></div> <div> <A HREF="key_of_togetherness.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Key of Togetherness">Key of Togetherness</A></div> <div> <A HREF="forgiveness.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Forgiveness">Forgiveness</A></div> <div> <A HREF="integrity.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Integrity">Integrity</A></div> <div> <B>Patience</B></div> <div> <A HREF="finding_meaning.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Finding Meaning in a Commuter Church">Finding Meaning</A></div> <div> <A HREF="experience_prayer.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="My Experience with Prayer">Experience Prayer</A></div> <div> <A HREF="preaching.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Preaching Is Also in the Listening">Preaching</A></div> <div> <A HREF="trust.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A Matter of Trust">Trust</A></div> <div> <A HREF="words.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Words Are Like Seeds">Words</A></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 width="100%" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="32b00042egerdp.jpg"> <div> <I><B>Patience (James 5:7-12)</B></I></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="1" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="598" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#000066" BORDERCOLORDARK="#FFFFFF" FRAME="BELOW" RULES="ROWS" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 981 WIDTH="598"><div> <IMG SRC="168fabc0.jpg" border=0 width="250" height="188" ALIGN="RIGHT" HSPACE="3" VSPACE="0"><I>by Luciano Cozzi</I></div> <hr> <bR> <div> “Patience” implies suffering, enduring or waiting, as a determination of the will and not simply under necessity. As such it is an essential Christian virtue to the exercise of which there are many exhortations. We need to “wait patiently” for God, to endure uncomplainingly the various forms of sufferings, wrongs and evils that we meet with, and to bear patiently injustices which we cannot remedy and provocations we cannot remove. (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia)</div> <bR> <div> A state of emotional calm in the face of provocation or misfortune and without complaint or irritation (Louw & Nida’s Greek-English Lexicon)</div> <bR> <div> Read James 5: 7-12</div> <bR> <div> Have you had your patience tried lately?</div> <div> Have you wished that something uncomfortable or painful would just simply go away?</div> <div> Have you had to patiently wait for something really good that took a long time to come about?</div> <div> What things would you like to have in your life that would be worth waiting for?</div> <bR> <div> Read verse 7</div> <div> What are we to do while we wait for God’s perfect timing and His return?</div> <div> What illustrations did James use to describe the type of patience we need to have?</div> <bR> <div> Read verse 8</div> <div> What is the reason for which we should patiently wait for Christ’s return?</div> <div> What will be the result in our hearts as we exercise that patience?</div> <bR> <div> Read verse 9.</div> <div> What should remind us to avoid judging others or grumbling against one another?</div> <div> What would happen if we allow ourselves to become judgmental?</div> <bR> <div> Read verses 10-11.</div> <div> Who was mentioned by James as an example for us to follow in our patience?</div> <div> How does God respond to our patient enduring in suffering?</div> <bR> <div> Often God uses others to build patience in our lives. How does this apply to your personal experience?</div> <bR> <div> What makes it hard for you to wait on God’s perfect and wise timing?</div> <div> What changes would this patience bring about in you?</div> <div> What positive changes in you require an extended period of time?</div> <bR> <div> Have you ever suffered for your faith as a Christian?</div> <div> What blessing or reward is offered to us for our patience in this type of suffering?</div> <div> What reward is promised to us for our patience?</div> <bR> <div> Look at the story of Job.</div> <div> How was Job’s patience manifested?</div> <div> What lessons of patience from his experience can we apply to our own lives?</div> <bR> <div> What causes us to grumble and complain against one another?</div> <div> What does God think about us fighting against one another?</div> <div> How can we be more patient with one another?</div> <bR> <div> In what specific situation can you use more patience right now?</div> <div> Ask God to grant you patience in your specific problems or circumstances.</div> <div> What steps can you take to avoid judging others at home, at work, or at church?</div> <bR> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#BBBBBB HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="598"><div> <B>For Further Study</B></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 128 ><NOBR><div> Jesus left us an example of patience: Isaiah 53:7; Acts 8:32, Matthew 27:14</div> <div> Our trials lead to patience: Romans 5:3, James 1:3</div> <div> Patience produces experience and hope: Romans 5:4; 15:4</div> <div> Needed while running the race set before us: Hebrews 12:1</div> <div> To be exercised in well doing: Romans 2:7; Galatians 6:9</div> <div> Necessary in bearing the yoke: Lament 3:27</div> <div> To be exercised in tribulation: Luke 21: 19; Romans 12: 12</div> <bR> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> Copyright © 2003 Living Hope Christian Fellowship  -  All Rights Reserved</div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>