James Lesson 74, January 30

Review:

Summary points missing from 5:8.

9. The inner life is strengthened by BD known and your willing to apply.

10. The BD of the parousia - the sure return of Christ should be a major factor in the ph-2 motivation of the Believer.

5:10 Example of Undeserved Suffering

Moving from the example of the patience of the farmer James now goes back to refer to some of the Prophets who under extremely tough situations patiently applied BD and were benefited.

As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience,

Principle: At some point we need to have a personal sense or awareness of our eternal destiny. Impacted by an understanding of the past but looking ahead with great anticipation to the future, that is things, events that are sure!

take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

- What James is saying here is that it is informative and encouraging to look back at the past - at the examples set by OT prophets who held up under great pressure, often functioned under great persecution.

Summary 5:10

1. James returns to the subject of their adverse circumstances and exhorts them to recall the experiences of believers of the past, specifically pointing to the prophets.

2. In the midst of testing we need to look not only forward but also backward.

3. If the great communicators of the Word down through the centuries were not exempt from tests and pressures as they lived out the Word, you won't be either.

4. The history of their own people, the Jew, is replete with many examples of faithfulness under undeserved suffering.

5. Often the prophets suffered reprisals for the message that they gave; were very unpopular messages. (suffered as pos believers)

6. Society being generally negative finds truth offensive. DVPT is never popular with the kosmos.

7. They patiently endured their sufferings not succumbing to them.

8. They were faithful - did not tone down or dilute their message even though they were pressured to do so.

9. Truth provokes the opposition of the cosmos including the negative within the church.

10. Those who follow their example can be expected to experience the same. 1 Pet 5:9; Phil 1:29-30

11. It is unreasonable and unbiblical to expect not to suffer for truth applied - must recognize can come from many directions: spouse, family, friends, society at large.

12. We should expect it and therefore prepare for it. 2 Tim. 3:12