WEBVTT 00:00:07.040 --> 00:00:12.720 This sermon was recorded at Faith Evangelical Free Church in Grand Forks, North Dakota. 00:00:21.280 --> 00:00:26.160 I always like reading up on art. 00:00:26.719 --> 00:00:28.719 I appreciate art. 00:00:30.399 --> 00:00:37.280 I found this interesting thing in art history about perspective. 00:00:38.719 --> 00:00:45.119 It took centuries for artists to perfect this thing called perspective. 00:00:45.280 --> 00:00:50.399 That is creating a sense of depth on a flat surface. 00:00:51.359 --> 00:00:57.280 Now the verdict is not out as to who perfected perspective. 00:00:58.159 --> 00:01:05.519 Some would say it was the Italians of the Florentine Renaissance. 00:01:06.079 --> 00:01:12.000 And others would say it was the mid-17th century Dutch artists. 00:01:12.400 --> 00:01:14.560 So it's between the Italians and the Dutch. 00:01:14.640 --> 00:01:15.840 I know what the Dutch would say. 00:01:15.920 --> 00:01:17.760 If you're not Dutch, you're not much. 00:01:19.920 --> 00:01:27.519 I know the Norwegians now are bristling because they also made contributions in the world. 00:01:27.680 --> 00:01:34.079 But you know, truth be told, the Norwegians made zero contribution to the world of art. 00:01:34.799 --> 00:01:41.280 But they've made some great contributions in the world of cuisine. 00:01:41.599 --> 00:01:48.560 They, after all, they invented Ludovisk and Lefsa, and we gotta be eternally thankful for them. 00:01:48.799 --> 00:01:59.599 But for now, I would say when it comes to art, the patience of the mid-17th century Dutch painters paid off. 00:02:01.599 --> 00:02:16.400 There's a picture of Vermir's love letters, and that was like the crowning joy of the Dutch painters to convey the sense of depth and perspective. 00:02:16.800 --> 00:02:18.800 The patience paid off. 00:02:19.120 --> 00:02:21.759 Patience always pays off. 00:02:22.240 --> 00:02:31.680 This week, preparing this message on patience, I realized just how I lack patience. 00:02:34.159 --> 00:02:41.360 If we are to become patient, I learned we need to gain biblical perspective on this thing of patience. 00:02:41.520 --> 00:02:46.960 You've got to understand patience first before you can exercise patience. 00:02:49.280 --> 00:02:51.360 Often we pray for patience. 00:02:51.520 --> 00:02:53.120 We ask for more patience. 00:02:53.280 --> 00:02:59.599 Christians often come and say, Oh, just a prayer request, I need more patience. 00:02:59.759 --> 00:03:05.680 Okay, we'll pray that you will have more patience, as if there's degrees of patience. 00:03:08.159 --> 00:03:15.840 But I've realized that I've got a very limited perspective on this thing called patience. 00:03:17.199 --> 00:03:28.800 From my limited viewpoint in life, it seems like there are all too many detours and delays in life that causes me to become impatient. 00:03:30.879 --> 00:03:35.759 Jerry Bridges in his book, Respectable Sin says the following about impatience. 00:03:35.919 --> 00:03:41.919 He says, impatience reveals many things, especially when we complain. 00:03:42.879 --> 00:03:48.159 When we complain, it says something about the state of our hearts. 00:03:48.400 --> 00:03:58.080 It reveals our desire to be in control by desiring others to conform to our expectations. 00:03:58.240 --> 00:03:58.719 I love it. 00:03:58.800 --> 00:03:59.599 He nails it here. 00:03:59.840 --> 00:04:07.199 It reveals our desire to be in control by desiring others to conform to our expectations. 00:04:10.639 --> 00:04:22.240 He says, Impatience is just the means by which the sin of control is manifested in our lives. 00:04:22.480 --> 00:04:23.680 I never knew that. 00:04:23.839 --> 00:04:25.279 I never knew that. 00:04:26.959 --> 00:04:35.519 That this is the sin of wanting to be in control that manifests in the form of impatience. 00:04:35.839 --> 00:04:56.399 Impatience is sin simply because it grows out of an unwillingness to essentially trust God and to exercise faith in Him, Him who causes all things to work together for our good and according to His purposes. 00:04:56.639 --> 00:04:58.160 Romans 8 28. 00:05:00.079 --> 00:05:05.120 Impatience really is a lack of perspective. 00:05:05.279 --> 00:05:11.360 And I want to give us some perspective here on patience by looking at James. 00:05:12.079 --> 00:05:20.879 So if you open your Bibles and turn to James, oh, does OwlClicker need batteries? 00:05:23.759 --> 00:05:25.040 Okay, there you go. 00:05:25.199 --> 00:05:26.160 It works. 00:05:26.480 --> 00:05:35.439 Okay, let's read James chapter 5, and we're gonna look at verses 7 to 11. 00:05:35.519 --> 00:05:39.199 I'm gonna read from the English Standard Version and in the pews. 00:05:39.519 --> 00:05:41.519 There are copies of that. 00:05:42.079 --> 00:05:46.560 James 5, 7 to 11. 00:05:47.839 --> 00:05:53.519 Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. 00:05:53.839 --> 00:06:06.480 See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it until it receives the early and late rains. 00:06:07.120 --> 00:06:09.839 Also, be patient. 00:06:10.560 --> 00:06:15.920 Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. 00:06:16.560 --> 00:06:22.720 Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged. 00:06:22.959 --> 00:06:26.399 Behold, the judge is standing at the door. 00:06:27.680 --> 00:06:35.360 Verse 10, as an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 00:06:35.519 --> 00:06:40.639 Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. 00:06:42.160 --> 00:06:53.839 You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful. 00:06:54.079 --> 00:06:59.120 This passage is without a doubt speaking of patience. 00:06:59.920 --> 00:07:05.839 There are six verbs there related to the concept of patience. 00:07:06.160 --> 00:07:11.279 Twice are we commanded there to be patient. 00:07:11.759 --> 00:07:18.959 But we cannot just be patient without gaining some perspective. 00:07:19.120 --> 00:07:27.199 And this is so if we do this with my hand, it's forward the slide. 00:07:27.279 --> 00:07:30.800 Yeah, we ran out of juice here on the on the clicker. 00:07:32.160 --> 00:07:34.800 So I'm gonna just do this every time. 00:07:35.040 --> 00:07:38.959 It's not because I'm weird, it's just because we have no power. 00:07:41.439 --> 00:07:47.120 Let's see what perspective James gives us on this thing of patience. 00:07:47.360 --> 00:07:57.360 In order to understand patience, we need to gain perspective on God's promises, on God's purposes, and on God's personality. 00:07:58.720 --> 00:08:02.560 God's promises, God's purposes, and God's personality. 00:08:02.800 --> 00:08:07.279 Those are the three things we need to gain perspective on in order to understand patience. 00:08:07.360 --> 00:08:13.439 And if we understand patience, then we will be able to exercise it. 00:08:13.680 --> 00:08:17.040 But don't think we can exercise it without understanding it. 00:08:17.360 --> 00:08:20.720 Let's gain a proper perspective on God's promises. 00:08:21.360 --> 00:08:27.040 Firstly, we are promised by God that we have patience. 00:08:27.680 --> 00:08:30.399 We've been given it by the Holy Spirit. 00:08:30.639 --> 00:08:34.320 It is a fruit of the Spirit, Galatians 5.22. 00:08:34.559 --> 00:08:38.559 Love, joy, peace, patience. 00:08:38.799 --> 00:08:39.759 We have it. 00:08:40.480 --> 00:08:43.039 There are no degrees of patience. 00:08:43.279 --> 00:08:45.840 It's whether we exercise it or not. 00:08:46.320 --> 00:08:48.879 We can't be very patient or less patient. 00:08:48.960 --> 00:08:51.120 We either patient or impatient. 00:08:51.360 --> 00:08:52.879 It is a fruit of the Spirit. 00:08:53.039 --> 00:08:58.159 We have been given it, but now we must exercise it. 00:08:58.320 --> 00:09:01.840 It's something promised to the believer. 00:09:02.399 --> 00:09:06.480 You have everything pertaining to life and godliness. 00:09:06.960 --> 00:09:13.919 Yet we are commanded to exercise patience consistently. 00:09:14.480 --> 00:09:19.279 We must remind ourselves that Christ has promised this. 00:09:20.320 --> 00:09:27.039 You can be patient because you have my spirit. 00:09:28.159 --> 00:09:33.519 We are commanded twice in this passage to be patient. 00:09:34.080 --> 00:09:40.799 James writes to his readers in verse 7, he says, therefore, be patient. 00:09:43.679 --> 00:09:44.960 Don't laugh. 00:09:45.440 --> 00:09:46.399 Be patient. 00:09:47.039 --> 00:09:48.879 Therefore, be patient. 00:09:49.120 --> 00:09:51.759 But he connects that patience with what? 00:09:52.080 --> 00:09:54.000 The coming of the Lord. 00:09:54.960 --> 00:10:04.080 He says it twice, you be patient, strengthen your heart, strengthening your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near or at hand. 00:10:04.240 --> 00:10:06.240 Depends which translation you have. 00:10:06.399 --> 00:10:15.120 And so the the perspective here is this promise of the Lord's return. 00:10:17.840 --> 00:10:24.559 It's connected here with the proximity of the Lord's presence as well. 00:10:24.799 --> 00:10:26.480 Let me explain to you. 00:10:27.039 --> 00:10:34.080 It says there, be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. 00:10:35.200 --> 00:10:43.200 There's a sense in which we are told, this is the period of time that you need to exercise patience. 00:10:43.440 --> 00:10:44.000 Guess what? 00:10:44.159 --> 00:10:47.519 When we are in heaven, there is no need for patience. 00:10:47.679 --> 00:10:49.840 We will have it, and nothing will be slow. 00:10:50.159 --> 00:10:53.039 People will drive faster, I guess. 00:10:55.600 --> 00:10:58.639 Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. 00:10:58.799 --> 00:10:59.919 But then he gives an illustration. 00:11:00.320 --> 00:11:11.360 See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it until it receives the early and the late rains. 00:11:12.399 --> 00:11:19.519 What is connected here too with patience is this sense of waiting. 00:11:21.279 --> 00:11:23.600 See how the farmer waits. 00:11:24.799 --> 00:11:34.799 The Greek word here conveys something about looking outwardly with expectations of a coming result. 00:11:35.200 --> 00:11:39.679 For the farmer, it's the promises of precious fruit. 00:11:39.840 --> 00:11:41.919 There's something coming your way. 00:11:42.159 --> 00:11:48.159 The promise of something good is coming to the farmer, but he has to wait. 00:11:48.799 --> 00:11:55.919 And a big component of patience is just waiting for something to happen. 00:11:59.840 --> 00:12:09.279 I've learned a lot from you guys who are in the business of farming, and I often ask you guys, so so what's happening on the farm? 00:12:09.440 --> 00:12:13.279 You know, you got sugar beets, potatoes, edible beans, whatever. 00:12:13.759 --> 00:12:16.480 And a lot of times I hear this. 00:12:17.200 --> 00:12:18.320 Just waiting. 00:12:18.480 --> 00:12:19.759 You know, a broad smile. 00:12:20.399 --> 00:12:21.840 We're just waiting now. 00:12:22.320 --> 00:12:22.879 Waiting? 00:12:23.039 --> 00:12:23.759 Yeah, waiting. 00:12:23.840 --> 00:12:25.679 I mean, I can't speed up this process. 00:12:25.759 --> 00:12:27.279 You know, it's it's coming. 00:12:27.440 --> 00:12:29.200 I mean, it's growing. 00:12:29.600 --> 00:12:33.519 The beets and the potatoes and the beans, they're doing good, but I have to wait. 00:12:33.759 --> 00:12:35.679 And this is the essence here. 00:12:36.399 --> 00:12:39.759 There's this waiting, but it's not a willy-nitty waiting. 00:12:39.840 --> 00:12:42.960 It's waiting for something, and it's waiting for what? 00:12:43.120 --> 00:12:45.600 It is waiting for the Lord's return. 00:12:46.000 --> 00:12:57.519 Why is it so essential to understand the Lord's return in terms of patience, dear brothers and sisters, is knowing that Jesus is coming to fix things. 00:12:58.080 --> 00:13:07.279 In Revelation 21, 5, it says there, he will come to make all things new. 00:13:07.600 --> 00:13:11.759 I am making all things new. 00:13:12.879 --> 00:13:19.519 He's coming to fix all these things that is hard for you and me. 00:13:21.039 --> 00:13:22.639 It's gonna get fixed. 00:13:22.960 --> 00:13:24.080 It's gonna get fixed. 00:13:24.240 --> 00:13:28.639 The things that that kind of stirs up the sense of impatience. 00:13:28.799 --> 00:13:29.279 Guess what? 00:13:29.360 --> 00:13:30.399 That's gonna be fixed. 00:13:30.480 --> 00:13:32.159 But here's another promise here. 00:13:32.399 --> 00:13:38.960 He says there, we need to be patient and wait because of the proximity of the Lord. 00:13:39.120 --> 00:13:41.840 The ESV doesn't convene it so nicely. 00:13:42.000 --> 00:13:44.399 It says that the Lord is at hand. 00:13:44.799 --> 00:13:50.960 The word there is parousia, the the the nearness of the Lord, the presence and the proximity. 00:13:51.039 --> 00:14:00.399 And I do think James is speaking about the presence through the Holy Spirit with those who are faithful saints. 00:14:00.879 --> 00:14:03.200 Be patient because God is here. 00:14:03.440 --> 00:14:04.159 He's here. 00:14:04.399 --> 00:14:06.720 He's coming, but he's here already. 00:14:08.000 --> 00:14:10.080 And therefore we can wait. 00:14:11.120 --> 00:14:15.600 Psalm 130 says, I wait for the Lord. 00:14:15.919 --> 00:14:18.559 I wait and put my hope in his word. 00:14:18.879 --> 00:14:24.000 It's amazing how many times the psalmist speaks about the sense of waiting. 00:14:24.559 --> 00:14:26.559 I don't like waiting. 00:14:27.360 --> 00:14:30.480 You laugh, Evelyn, but I have you realized that? 00:14:30.639 --> 00:14:31.519 I don't like waiting. 00:14:31.600 --> 00:14:33.679 I mean, I don't even wait for them to finish the songs. 00:14:33.840 --> 00:14:34.480 You're up here. 00:14:34.720 --> 00:14:35.919 I want to do the announcements. 00:14:36.000 --> 00:14:37.120 Come on, get off the stage. 00:14:37.200 --> 00:14:38.720 I've got work to be done here. 00:14:39.039 --> 00:14:42.240 How can I soar like an eagle if I fly with turkeys? 00:14:42.399 --> 00:14:43.360 I mean. 00:14:46.720 --> 00:14:48.080 And this is what we think. 00:14:48.240 --> 00:14:50.080 We often think, yes, Jesus is coming. 00:14:50.159 --> 00:14:51.840 He's gonna fix things. 00:14:52.240 --> 00:14:53.840 He's gonna fix things. 00:14:54.080 --> 00:14:56.159 And we think that that's never going to come. 00:14:56.320 --> 00:14:58.960 No, we need to wait expectantly and eagerly. 00:14:59.120 --> 00:14:59.759 He is coming. 00:14:59.840 --> 00:15:03.360 The sovereign potentate will come and he will restore. 00:15:03.519 --> 00:15:08.159 He will rescue and he will reward for those who patiently waited. 00:15:09.120 --> 00:15:12.159 This is what Psalm 37 says. 00:15:13.039 --> 00:15:15.279 Be still before the Lord. 00:15:15.440 --> 00:15:16.639 Stop whining. 00:15:16.799 --> 00:15:18.000 That's what he's saying. 00:15:18.320 --> 00:15:21.919 And wait patiently for him. 00:15:22.879 --> 00:15:24.080 I don't like this. 00:15:24.320 --> 00:15:27.360 I don't like waiting, but he says, waiting. 00:15:27.600 --> 00:15:28.000 Why? 00:15:28.320 --> 00:15:31.200 Because with waiting comes reward. 00:15:31.360 --> 00:15:41.039 Just like the farmer who waits patiently and at the right time he puts in the plow and he starts harvesting, or whatever you do to harvest. 00:15:41.200 --> 00:15:43.200 I don't think you use a plow to harvest, do you? 00:15:43.440 --> 00:15:43.840 I don't know. 00:15:44.240 --> 00:15:50.240 I'm a city guy, but whatever the thing they use to throw out the beets and potatoes, right? 00:15:51.600 --> 00:15:52.399 They wait. 00:15:52.559 --> 00:15:54.159 They don't go, okay, let's. 00:15:54.320 --> 00:15:54.960 I can't wait. 00:15:55.039 --> 00:15:56.480 I'm gonna pull this up. 00:15:56.799 --> 00:15:57.759 He waits. 00:15:57.919 --> 00:15:59.200 And he will be rewarded. 00:15:59.279 --> 00:16:01.440 Look at verse 9 in Psalm 37. 00:16:01.600 --> 00:16:07.039 It says there, for those who hope in the Lord, they will inherit the land. 00:16:07.200 --> 00:16:09.840 There is reward for waiting. 00:16:10.720 --> 00:16:14.879 Jesus is going to fix things. 00:16:17.519 --> 00:16:25.919 You can wait or you can rush, but you're not gonna speed up his return. 00:16:27.840 --> 00:16:35.759 To be patient, my dear brothers and sisters, really requires that we exercise our faith in the promises of God. 00:16:36.159 --> 00:16:42.240 The promises that he will come and he will fix things and repair things, and the promises that he is here with us. 00:16:42.879 --> 00:16:49.759 You see, being patient and waiting is not something we can do by sheer willpower. 00:16:49.840 --> 00:16:59.279 It's not something we can do by just clenching our teeth and pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps and say, okay, I'm gonna wait patiently here now. 00:16:59.440 --> 00:17:00.240 You can't do it. 00:17:00.879 --> 00:17:02.159 We can't. 00:17:03.120 --> 00:17:09.920 We have to strengthen ourselves in the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:17:10.559 --> 00:17:12.079 Look at James 5.8. 00:17:12.400 --> 00:17:17.759 It's it speaks about that proximity of the Lord, that presence of the Lord. 00:17:18.079 --> 00:17:20.640 You too, be patient. 00:17:21.119 --> 00:17:22.960 Strengthen your hearts. 00:17:23.200 --> 00:17:31.279 The ESV says, establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. 00:17:33.279 --> 00:17:35.920 We have this promise of Christ's proximity. 00:17:36.079 --> 00:17:36.880 He is near. 00:17:37.119 --> 00:17:42.880 He is near with us right now through his spirit who indwells us. 00:17:43.119 --> 00:17:45.759 What does Jesus say at the end of Matthew's gospel? 00:17:45.839 --> 00:17:47.839 He says, Lo, I am. 00:17:49.039 --> 00:17:51.680 I'm with you till the end of the age. 00:17:52.559 --> 00:17:54.079 So it's not something. 00:17:55.039 --> 00:18:04.160 This waiting patiently until the Lord comes and sets things straight, and everything seems to go chaotic here, and we have to exercise patience. 00:18:04.319 --> 00:18:14.799 We have this promise of Christ's proximity that he's here, he is already present, and he gives us power, and it's provided through the indwelling of his Holy Spirit. 00:18:14.960 --> 00:18:26.079 And therefore, like Psalm 27, 14 says, wait on the Lord and be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thy heart. 00:18:26.400 --> 00:18:29.119 James is not picking up some new stuff here. 00:18:29.359 --> 00:18:32.000 James obviously knows the Old Testament. 00:18:32.160 --> 00:18:35.680 James obviously knows Psalm 27. 00:18:36.640 --> 00:18:40.000 Wait until the Lord on the Lord. 00:18:40.319 --> 00:18:45.680 Wait and be of good courage, and he shall strengthen you. 00:18:46.799 --> 00:18:48.960 The ESV says establish. 00:18:49.039 --> 00:18:59.839 I like the NASB that says strengthen, because here's a sense in which we are empowered to wait and be patient. 00:19:00.079 --> 00:19:01.599 This is what John Piper says. 00:19:02.240 --> 00:19:18.000 It says waiting patiently is a decisive act in which we are strengthened, paradoxically, by the weakening of our confidence and trust in ourselves. 00:19:22.720 --> 00:19:42.640 What John Piper is saying here is if we want to be strengthened in this sense of being patiently waiting on the Lord, we need to be weakened in our confidence in self. 00:19:43.119 --> 00:19:45.759 We need to relinquish control. 00:19:47.519 --> 00:19:49.200 Isn't that what Paul says? 00:19:49.359 --> 00:19:53.119 When I'm weak, I am strong. 00:19:54.160 --> 00:19:59.119 This is the paradox of all things. 00:20:00.160 --> 00:20:10.000 The less we are in control, the less we trust ourselves, the less confidence we have in ourselves, the stronger we are. 00:20:11.599 --> 00:20:17.119 Wait on the Lord, be of good courage, and he shall strengthen you. 00:20:19.599 --> 00:20:25.279 Dear brothers and sisters, we have everything for life and godliness. 00:20:27.039 --> 00:20:35.440 But often we trust our own instincts too much. 00:20:35.759 --> 00:20:47.200 We like being in control, and the longer we stay in that position, the less patient we will be. 00:20:48.640 --> 00:21:00.960 But when we are weak, when things seem totally out of control, and we say we can do nothing about this situation, I have to just wait on the Lord, then we will have the strength to do it. 00:21:01.759 --> 00:21:09.119 Another perspective on patience is gaining perspective on God's purposes. 00:21:09.359 --> 00:21:12.720 Gaining perspective on God's purposes. 00:21:15.839 --> 00:21:19.119 And that's in verse 9, and I will read it for us soon. 00:21:19.279 --> 00:21:20.559 But think about this. 00:21:21.279 --> 00:21:27.200 In order to be patient, we must gain understanding of God's purposes. 00:21:28.720 --> 00:21:35.920 You see, often God is busy, and we will have to wait for him to finish his work. 00:21:36.880 --> 00:21:41.680 You see, patience requires this right perspective about the Lord's purposes. 00:21:42.400 --> 00:21:53.039 God often, very often, uses stubborn people and trying circumstances to accomplish his purposes. 00:21:53.680 --> 00:21:59.759 And while he is accomplishing his purposes, he wants us to loosen our confidence in our own. 00:22:00.319 --> 00:22:06.079 Abilities and to relinquish control over our lives to Him. 00:22:08.480 --> 00:22:10.319 God is always at work. 00:22:12.240 --> 00:22:26.079 Paul says in Philippians 2, 13, he says, for it is God who works in you both to will and to work for his good pleasure. 00:22:26.720 --> 00:22:34.240 Paul does not seem to indicate there in Philippians 2 that he works and then he doesn't work. 00:22:34.640 --> 00:22:36.319 God is always at work. 00:22:36.880 --> 00:22:38.720 God is always at work. 00:22:39.519 --> 00:22:45.440 For it is God who works in you both to will and to work for his good pleasure. 00:22:45.680 --> 00:22:59.440 He is accomplishing his purposes very often, at times that we need to be waiting and waiting patiently because he is busy. 00:23:01.359 --> 00:23:15.359 If we have to wait patiently when we are in a rush to do something, we've got to say to ourselves, is God not busy accomplishing his purposes? 00:23:17.440 --> 00:23:18.960 You think about this. 00:23:19.680 --> 00:23:28.240 When a flight is delayed, when you have to wait in line. 00:23:28.720 --> 00:23:31.839 I mean, God tests us as preachers. 00:23:31.920 --> 00:23:33.599 I mean, I'm preparing for the sermon. 00:23:33.680 --> 00:23:44.960 I come here Wednesday night for the dinner, the Wednesday night suppers that Kayleigh and her team so graciously cooks for us, and here's a long line. 00:23:45.039 --> 00:23:48.799 And I'm like, ah, I have to wait in line now. 00:23:48.960 --> 00:23:50.640 I mean, how long is this gonna take? 00:23:51.359 --> 00:23:52.079 Can we speed up? 00:23:52.160 --> 00:23:52.720 I'm a pastor. 00:23:52.799 --> 00:23:53.920 Maybe I can cut the line. 00:23:54.079 --> 00:23:54.559 Who knows? 00:23:54.720 --> 00:23:55.359 You know? 00:23:57.119 --> 00:24:00.640 And then I have to go, God is at work. 00:24:01.200 --> 00:24:02.480 God is at work. 00:24:02.799 --> 00:24:04.319 And people are chatting there. 00:24:04.480 --> 00:24:06.480 I'm like, just just don't chat. 00:24:06.559 --> 00:24:08.319 Just pay him, move on. 00:24:09.839 --> 00:24:11.200 God is at work. 00:24:11.839 --> 00:24:14.240 God is accomplishing something there. 00:24:14.559 --> 00:24:18.000 That roadblock there is God at work there. 00:24:18.960 --> 00:24:20.160 God is at work. 00:24:20.319 --> 00:24:25.279 And is at work with you and me, accomplishing his purposes. 00:24:25.359 --> 00:24:33.200 And therefore, Philippians 2.14 says, do all things without grumbling. 00:24:35.759 --> 00:24:44.400 James 5.9 says, Do not complain, brethren, against one another, so that you yourselves may not be judged. 00:24:44.559 --> 00:24:47.599 Behold, the judge is standing right at the door. 00:24:48.000 --> 00:24:53.839 James is taking us back to the Old Testament, and I'll show that for you to you in a minute. 00:24:54.240 --> 00:25:02.559 But the idea here of complaining in James 5.9 is this sense of sighing. 00:25:04.799 --> 00:25:09.599 And it's a sigh of discontent and frustration. 00:25:11.039 --> 00:25:14.799 It could be either with people or with circumstances. 00:25:16.160 --> 00:25:19.920 But really, what it is, it's warring for control. 00:25:20.559 --> 00:25:27.279 Every time we go, it's like I want to be in control of this situation. 00:25:27.519 --> 00:25:33.680 I want people to act according to my purposes and not God's purposes. 00:25:33.759 --> 00:25:34.799 Let me tell you the story. 00:25:34.880 --> 00:25:44.400 In Numbers 14, 36, there's an account of people and their circumstances. 00:25:45.680 --> 00:25:56.400 And it says there in Numbers 14, 36, and the men who Moses sent to spy out the land who returned and made all the congregation what? 00:25:57.440 --> 00:26:00.400 Grumble against him. 00:26:05.839 --> 00:26:13.119 They brought in a bad report, and it stirred up the people to grumble and complain. 00:26:13.680 --> 00:26:26.799 Israel's frustrations at that point was fault finding, complaining, murmuring, murmuring, rumbling, criticism, expressions of displeasure. 00:26:27.279 --> 00:26:31.440 But really what it was, it was warring for control. 00:26:32.319 --> 00:26:41.039 We do not want to go into the promised land, so let's see how we can manipulate this situation by grumbling and complaining. 00:26:44.480 --> 00:27:00.400 You see, the murmuring here in the desert was symptomatic of people who wanted to be in control on every situation, circumstance, and exercise control over every outcome. 00:27:02.640 --> 00:27:18.000 You see, the Israelites of old here wanted to manipulate the situation because their patience was wearing thin with Moses and their leaders. 00:27:18.559 --> 00:27:20.240 They ran out of patience. 00:27:20.559 --> 00:27:23.599 We can no longer put up with this. 00:27:28.000 --> 00:27:30.319 Maybe it was a thing of timing. 00:27:30.480 --> 00:27:35.920 Maybe they wanted their expectations and their dreams to be fulfilled right now. 00:27:37.440 --> 00:27:43.599 But lo and behold, God never seems to be in a hurry. 00:27:48.319 --> 00:27:50.000 Can we just get to the promised land? 00:27:50.160 --> 00:27:50.960 Come on. 00:27:55.359 --> 00:28:02.079 One day an assistant of a famous Puritan preacher, Dr. 00:28:02.160 --> 00:28:05.440 Thomas Brooks, was asked, Dr. 00:28:05.519 --> 00:28:08.880 Brooks, why are you pacing around in your office like this? 00:28:09.039 --> 00:28:14.079 And he said, The trouble is that I'm in a hurry, but God is not. 00:28:15.680 --> 00:28:17.119 And that's the problem. 00:28:18.640 --> 00:28:21.759 God is accomplishing his purposes. 00:28:22.480 --> 00:28:27.279 And we are in a hurry to accomplish our purposes. 00:28:29.119 --> 00:28:30.559 And what's the result? 00:28:30.720 --> 00:28:40.319 We grumble and we complain and we manipulate and we express our frustrations. 00:28:41.680 --> 00:28:48.400 One preacher said, God is seldom early, never late, but he's always on time. 00:28:50.319 --> 00:28:54.000 Seldom early, never late, but always on time. 00:28:56.559 --> 00:29:05.359 What is really happening when we as a people, like the Israelites, start complaining and grumbling about a situation? 00:29:06.000 --> 00:29:14.000 It's not that they were really grumbling and complaining against their leaders, Moses and Aaron and those guys. 00:29:14.319 --> 00:29:18.160 Exodus 16, 8 gives us some clarity on this. 00:29:19.119 --> 00:29:24.559 For the Lord hears your grumblings, which you grumble against him. 00:29:25.759 --> 00:29:28.240 And what are we, says Moses? 00:29:28.640 --> 00:29:34.799 Your grumblings are not against us, but against the Lord. 00:29:35.119 --> 00:29:41.920 So really, when we grumble and complain, it's not that we don't trust people. 00:29:42.960 --> 00:29:49.599 We are really saying, God, here is a no vote of confidence in you. 00:29:50.400 --> 00:29:52.000 We cannot trust you. 00:29:54.720 --> 00:29:56.799 You are slacking here, God. 00:29:57.200 --> 00:29:58.720 You are distracted. 00:30:00.559 --> 00:30:03.599 You are looking elsewhere when you should be looking here. 00:30:06.799 --> 00:30:14.640 It's really a complaint against God, saying, God, your timeline is skewed. 00:30:14.960 --> 00:30:18.720 My timeline says we should have accomplished this already. 00:30:19.039 --> 00:30:20.240 Where are you? 00:30:22.880 --> 00:30:24.799 One author, Shannon K. 00:30:24.960 --> 00:30:27.839 McCoy, wrote the following. 00:30:28.000 --> 00:30:31.039 I wonder if I've got a quote here, Mr. 00:30:31.200 --> 00:30:31.759 Clicker. 00:30:33.039 --> 00:30:34.000 There you go. 00:30:34.240 --> 00:30:34.960 Is that it? 00:30:35.119 --> 00:30:35.759 Yeah. 00:30:36.720 --> 00:30:38.319 This is sweet. 00:30:38.799 --> 00:30:47.359 Sinful complaining is to re is trying to rewrite the story God has written. 00:30:48.559 --> 00:30:54.079 Sinful complaining is trying to rewrite the story God has written. 00:30:54.480 --> 00:30:58.480 We are the characters and God is the author. 00:30:59.119 --> 00:31:03.759 Complaining is the symptom of a deep-seated spiritual problem. 00:31:04.000 --> 00:31:09.039 It is a failure to trust God and to submit to His will. 00:31:09.759 --> 00:31:19.599 When we complain sinfully, we reject God's authority, providence, and sovereignty over our lives. 00:31:20.079 --> 00:31:28.079 Therefore, in Philippians 2 14, we are commanded to do everything without grumbling. 00:31:28.319 --> 00:31:31.200 Wow, I couldn't have stated this better. 00:31:31.359 --> 00:31:40.799 She was so accurate in saying that when we complain, we are saying, God, I cannot trust your authority here. 00:31:41.039 --> 00:31:43.279 I can't trust your providence here. 00:31:43.440 --> 00:31:47.359 And really, I don't think you're sovereign over this situation. 00:31:48.559 --> 00:32:00.880 When there is grumbling and disputing amongst God's people, are they not failing, are they not failing to recognize that God may just be at work here? 00:32:01.519 --> 00:32:06.960 And we might need to just wait on God to finish His work. 00:32:07.759 --> 00:32:14.640 Going down Farga, they were working on that uh on the freeway there forever, it seems. 00:32:15.279 --> 00:32:15.920 Right. 00:32:16.319 --> 00:32:21.839 And I drove by, I said to my wife, I don't think they're gonna get done before winter. 00:32:22.000 --> 00:32:23.200 They they are slacking. 00:32:23.279 --> 00:32:30.000 Man, there's like three guys sitting there, and they just looking at this the fields there. 00:32:30.079 --> 00:32:31.119 They should work harder. 00:32:31.839 --> 00:32:34.000 This is slowing me down going to Fargo. 00:32:34.319 --> 00:32:38.480 And lo and behold, I had to wait for them to finish up their work. 00:32:38.559 --> 00:32:39.519 And guess what? 00:32:39.759 --> 00:32:40.640 It's done. 00:32:40.799 --> 00:32:43.119 You can drive to Fargo. 00:32:45.359 --> 00:32:46.480 Likewise with God. 00:32:46.640 --> 00:32:50.960 God's often, there seems to be an obstacle in the road, but God is at work there. 00:32:51.200 --> 00:32:53.839 We gotta trust Him and not complain. 00:32:54.319 --> 00:32:57.680 There's always room for expressing our concerns. 00:32:57.839 --> 00:33:09.920 Don't, don't, don't hear me say, and don't hear James say that we are to just discount any form of uh criticism or expression of concern. 00:33:10.559 --> 00:33:17.200 But 2 Timothy 4 2 gives us the attitude in which it to be done. 00:33:18.240 --> 00:33:22.000 In all gentleness and patience. 00:33:22.559 --> 00:33:24.880 All gentleness and patience. 00:33:24.960 --> 00:33:27.279 And that's actually written to pastors. 00:33:27.839 --> 00:33:29.440 That's written for pastors. 00:33:29.680 --> 00:33:34.079 Pastors, in all gentleness and patience. 00:33:36.319 --> 00:33:58.640 Another thing we need to remind ourselves when there's merciless murmurings, unbridled frustrations, and ungracious criticisms against God's people, we must not forget that James says the judge is standing right at the door. 00:33:59.039 --> 00:34:01.039 What happened to Israel? 00:34:02.319 --> 00:34:04.880 They were judged for their complaining. 00:34:05.119 --> 00:34:06.319 They were judged. 00:34:06.559 --> 00:34:16.559 And James is saying, don't forget that we will give an account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 00:34:16.800 --> 00:34:18.320 1 Peter 4, 5. 00:34:18.480 --> 00:34:22.239 And so there's a God is like, this is serious business. 00:34:22.719 --> 00:34:24.159 Don't tell me. 00:34:25.039 --> 00:34:27.679 Don't tell me, you know better. 00:34:27.920 --> 00:34:31.360 Don't tell me, I don't know what I'm doing. 00:34:32.880 --> 00:34:35.440 God will not deal with that. 00:34:35.599 --> 00:34:51.519 And grumbling and complaining and merciless frustrations, unbridled criticisms, that may just impugn the intentions of God and malign his character. 00:34:51.760 --> 00:35:01.760 And that's why it's very important to also understand not only the promises of God, the purposes of God, but also his personality. 00:35:01.840 --> 00:35:04.960 And this is the sweet part, and we'll wrap up with that. 00:35:08.400 --> 00:35:12.639 We've got to gain perspective on the Lord's personality. 00:35:13.280 --> 00:35:17.119 Really, we we gotta understand God's character. 00:35:18.320 --> 00:35:22.079 Let's look at his personality, his character. 00:35:24.320 --> 00:35:30.000 Verse 10 says there, as an example, brethren, of suffering and patience. 00:35:30.159 --> 00:35:33.519 Take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 00:35:33.679 --> 00:35:51.840 We count those blessed who endured, you have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord's dealings, i.e., that is, that the Lord is full of compassion and merciful. 00:35:54.639 --> 00:36:03.039 Every time that we need to exercise patience, God is revealing himself. 00:36:04.320 --> 00:36:11.920 It's the stage in which God reveals himself as merciful and compassionate. 00:36:12.159 --> 00:36:14.400