I Am Patient
I Am Patient
Pastor Kent Munsey
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
James 1:2-8 (NKJV)
The Expression of Patience is Joy
“Count it all joy when you fall into various trials.” It’s not joyful when you get a negative doctors report. It’s not joyful when you are fearing about how to provide for yourself or your family. It’s not joyful when you lose a loved one. So, it’s important to consider what James is saying. So many times, we confuse the difference between joy and happiness,
James is saying that we consider it pure joy when we face these trials. Joy is the expression of patience. How do you know if you are accessing the joy God has given to you? The answer is found in how patient you are. We can be joyful in our patience when we know that what we are going through is not forever.
The Advantage of Patience is Endurance
The testing of your faith produces patience, endurance, steadfastness, perseverance. Everything you are facing is temporary and you will get through it. When you are patient in the trials, tests, storms, it produces a toughness. I think the church in America could be a little tougher.
Jesus was patient. He was tough. He had the capacity to hold up in the face of difficult circumstances. Men look for better methods, but God looks for better men. When you are patient, you are strengthening, growing and developing.
“By your patient endurance, you will gain your souls.” Luke 21:19
Here today with us is an amazing woman of God. She is a true Christ flower and is
fighting the good fight of faith. She carries with her true joy though she is fighting cancer in her body. She told me that they came to City Church because we carve out time to pray for those are sick or have needs during the service. That part of the service is important to her. But there were two Sundays when we didn’t create that opportunity to pray because we had guest speakers. I hoped she would not be offended that we did not have prayers those two weeks, so I approached her during the worship and asked if I could pray for her. When I was done praying, she asked me if I could pray for a certain gentleman standing at the back wall. I responded who is he? And she responded that he was her uber driver. I’m thinking she’s offended but she’s praying for her uber driver whom she had invited to come to church.
What’s amazing to me is that while she is here today with a negative report about her health, she is not here for her but is here expressing her joy. She knows that the cancer will come to an end and it’s just a matter of time. She knows that she has the victory in Jesus and her hope is eternal and not temporary. Is it hard? Yes, but there is a toughness that comes with joy. She’s waiting on God but still serving others.
The uber driver ended up responding to the gospel and accepting Jesus.
What’s causing impatience in your life? Could it be that God is trying to grow something or work something in your life?
The Assistance for Patience is Jesus
Ask for God’s help. He will never leave nor forsake you. When you wait on God, he will be all that you need. I promise you without doubting that he will show himself faithful. James encourages us to remember Job. Job lost everything, but he never lost his confidence, his hope and trust in God.
“The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life.” Job 33:4
“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:26-27
“Be still before the Lord
and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.” Psalm 37:7
If God is for you, then no one and nothing can be against you.
DISCUSSION / REFLECTION QUESTIONS
- Are you faced with difficult situations? How can you respond in joy knowing that everything is temporary?
- Think through your past. Are there any specific situations where you have endured situations and you came out stronger?
- How has this message helped you in developing a fresh perspective on being patient through storms?
- How can you practically apply the phrase "Joy is the expression of patience” in your life this week?