James 1:4 - "Endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing."
MATURITY MARK 1: PATIENT IN TESTING.
James 1:2-3 – "Consider it a great joy, whenever you experience trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance."
Greek Root Word for Endurance: hypomonē
steadfastness; patient endurance; patience; endurance
GOD TESTS US TO PRODUCE MATURITY IN US.
TRUTH: IMPATIENCE IS AN INDICATOR OF IMMATURITY.
James 5:7-11 - 7 Therefore, brothers, be patient until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth and is patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. 8 You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, because the Lord’s coming is near. 9 Brothers, do not complain about one another, so that you will not be judged. Look, the judge stands at the door! 10 Brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the Lord’s name as an example of suffering and patience. 11 See, we count as blessed those who have endured. You have heard of Job’s endurance and have seen the outcome from the Lord. The Lord is very compassionate and merciful.
James 5:7 – Therefore, brothers, be patient until the Lord’s coming.
James 5:7-8 - See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth and is patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. 8 You also must be patient.
DURING TESTING OUR ATTITUDE IS DETERMINED BY OUR PATIENT ENDURANCE.
Galatians 5:22-23 – 22 The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, 23 gentleness, self-control.
Luke 8:11 & 15 - The seed is the word of God. V15 the seed in the good ground—these are the ones who, having heard the word with an honest and good heart, hold on to it and by enduring, bear fruit.
"GOD MUST BALANCE PRIVILEGE WITH RESPONSIBILITY, BLESSING WITH BURDEN OR ELSE WE BECOME SPOILED, SHELTERED AND PAMPERED CHILDREN. " – WIERSBE, BE: MATURE
Philippians 2:5-8 - 5 Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus, 6 who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage. 7 Instead He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men. And when He had come as a man in His external form, 8 He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death— even to death on a cross.
HUMILITY IS A DEFINING CHARACTERISTIC OF A MATURE JESUS FOLLOWER.
James 5:9 - … do not complain about one another, so that you will not be judged.
IMPATIENCE WITH GOD CAN OFTEN BE SEEN THROUGH OUR IMPATIENCE WITH OTHERS.
James 5:11 See, we count as blessed those who have endured.
PATIENCE IS THE HINGE THAT KINDNESS, GOODNESS, GENTLENESS, FAITH AND SELF-CONTROL SWING ON.
Hebrews 12:2 - Let us look only to Jesus, the One who began our faith and who makes it perfect. He suffered death on the cross. But he accepted the shame as if it were nothing because of the joy that God put before him.
James 5:11 - You have heard of Job’s endurance and have seen the outcome from the Lord. The Lord is very compassionate and merciful.
A SINGLE DISPLAY OF PATIENT ENDURANCE COULD HELP LEAD SOMEONE TO JESUS.
