It is once again time for the Weekend Sermon. I have not been feeling that well for that last few days, so I am thankful that I am able to post the sermon today. I hope and pray that you are all doing very well.
Before I start the message for today, I just want to urge people who have not received the coronavirus vaccine to get the vaccine. In my part of the country, we are seeing many people come down with the virus who have not been vaccinated. In the United States, the vaccine is free and widely available. If we all get the vaccine, it will help to make sure that there are not more variants of the virus.
Last week, we saw in James that we are to wait patiently for the coming of the Lord Jesus. He promised that He would come. While we are waiting for His return, we are to live our lives in such a manner that we will not be ashamed at His coming. The Lord has called us to make disciples and to do good in this world until the day that He comes to restore all things.
In our passage today, James once again speaks about patience. This time, he tells us that we are to be patient in the midst of suffering. This is something that is very hard to do. All of us suffer in some way while we are on this earth. Some suffer in body. They are plagued with diseases and conditions that can make life painful. Others suffer from mental health problems. There are Christians who suffer and are persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ. Some people suffer due to the fact that they are in difficult and abusive relationships. Whatever the situation, there are a whole host of people in this world who are suffering. Suffering doesn't spare those who are believers.
James urges us to be patient in the midst of our problems knowing that ultimately we will be delivered from our suffering by the Lord Jesus. As an example of patience in the midst of suffering, James gives us the example of the prophets and Job.
There are many prophets who suffered as a result of their witness for the Lord. One that comes to mind is the prophet Jeremiah. He had to give a difficult message to the people. He was persecuted physically and he was verbally abused. He was a despised man in his nation. Jeremiah kept believing in God and doing what God had called him to do in spite of his suffering. He knew that God would fulfill His word. Jeremiah knew that one day he would be delivered from this time of suffering and stand in the presence of the Almighty God.
Job had awful things happen to him. He lost his wealth, his children and his friends weren't a whole lot of comfort to him. Job also suffered from terrible physical problems. He would not curse God and die as was suggested to him. Instead, Job kept believing in God. He knew that God would deliver him in his world or in the world to come. He knew that better days were in store for him, because he knew that God was faithful and good. Job said that he knew that his redeemer lived and that in his flesh he would one day see God.
When we are going through suffering, it is often hard to believe that the Lord is watching over us. As believers in Jesus, we must take hold of the promise that Jesus will never leave us nor forsake us. He is the resurrection and the life. Those who are His have been promised that one day they will be with Him in the place that He has prepared for those who love Him.
James reminds us that the Lord is full of compassion and mercy. He cares about us. He will help us when when call on Him. When we are with the Lord Jesus in Heaven, all the suffering and hardships of this life will not even come to mind. They will vanish away in the glory of the Lord. Paul tells us in II Corinthians 2:9 that it has not even entered into the heart of people the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.
I am looking forward to that day when I see Jesus and all suffering is over. That will happen when I die and go to be with the Lord or when the Lord Jesus comes again to this earth to restore all things.
You can have the assurance that one day all suffering will be over if you put your faith and trust in the Lord Jesus. I urge you to ask Jesus to be your Savior and Lord this very day. Amen.
Prayer Requests
As I mentioned, I have not been feeling very well, please pray that I will get to feeling better. I want to thank the Lord that the storms were not bad in my area.
Please continue to pray for an end to the coronavirus pandemic. Pray that people will get the vaccine and that vaccines will become available around the world.
Pray for peace in the troubled areas of this world. Afghanistan really needs our prayers right now. Let us also be in prayer for peace in Libya, Syria, Israel and Yemen.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those who live in the nations of Western Sahara and Kuwait. Pray that many will come to know Jesus as Lord.
Next week, we will continue in the book of James. I will post the verses on Monday. Midweek, we will return to our book reviews as I've completed my life changers series. May God bless you all.
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