Let Patience Have Her Perfect Will by Brother Duke Hansen

         The book of James is only 5 chapters long, yet is full to bursting of guidance and information that rivals a book 3 times as big. James was a brother of Jesus and headed the church in Jerusalem. There are many points made in this book which is hard for man's flesh to reconcile with or even comprehend. The text calls man's flesh into subjection many times. 

        There's a question we still ask as Peter asked Jesus in Matthew 18, "How many times shall I forgive my brother?" This question is returned to and examined in this book being read and studied. It's a question we should keep in our mind going through our day. The bottom line is to follow God's command, love your neighbor as yourself. You may find this in Mark 12: 28-34, Luke 10: 25-37, and Matthew 22: 36-40.

        We are going to be reading in the book of James this morning in chapter 1 and verse 1.

        James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.

        This letter was written at a point where the early Christian church had been persecuted from the nation of Rome. James wrote this letter in secret to the scattered 12 tribes.

        2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

        You have to be perfect, to force yourself to patience. If you let patience work your faith, it is a spiritual fruit that will put your flesh under submission. Yes, every one is going to go through things. There are situations which will be burdens in your life.

        3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

        4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

        Everyone is going to drive you crazy in life, when you have an iron grip on controlling everything. You have to control everything and nothing is ever good. If you choose to break the yoke of bondage there is victory in that action.

        5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

        The term upbraid has a few different definitions, but the definition here is to find fault with others. God isn't holding back wisdom from you, he requests you to come forward humble before him. Our mindset matters. Paul wrote the battlefield of the believer is in our mind.

        Let's talk a little bit about the process of building muscle and strength. There's a direct parallel between that and building and strengthen your spirit man. Three parts of the whole. There's a work, break, and a rest. As one builds their stamina and strength in the flesh through routine and exercise, so to should you do with your spirit man. Your spirit man needs to be active. It's not how you ask God for things, it's in your approach before him.

        6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

        7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.

        God gave us the 5 fold ministry to lead and guide us post birth. Birth occurs after repentance, remission, and baptism in Jesus name. Your race hasn't finished after that. You just got to the start line. You will never grow out of in the spirit if you only feed your flesh earthly wisdom and knowledge. You can strengthen your brain and starve your spirit. 

        Let's drop down to verse 12 and read.

        12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

        13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:

        14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

        Temptation is an awful wide definition for our flesh because there are so many things which can tempt us. You have to know what things that tempt you. It's no one else but you at fault when you are overcome by temptation. Do what God instructs you to do in scripture. Turn the other cheek. Give the coat off your back. Give and expect nothing in return. Anger and sin not. You will do the work for your flesh but not move for your spirit. 

        15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

        The process will bring plenty of failure where after a season, you will return to the start. There are periods of rest for your spirit, but use that rest wisely.

        16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.

        17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

        18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.

        19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

        God is committed to you and I. Verse 19 is the process for growth of your spirit. Swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to wrath.

        20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

        Let's return to a question posed earlier this morning. How many times shall I forgive them? The question we need to return to at this verse. 9 out of 10 times what you perceive as persecution is not but you feeling guilty by being seen in your wrong.

        21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

        Filthiness is the state, quality, and condition of something. It can replaced. It can be cleaned. Superfluity means an unnecessary or excessively large amount. Naughtiness is a larger definition than the first two because it's a wide spectrum what constitutes naughty. To be engrafted is to tie something to you. The process is not painless. As you whine about your problems, remember God on that cross. You can carry vanity, unrighteous behaviors, and works and you're not saved. If you can't stand for Jesus while it's easy, you won't do so when it gets hard.

        There are two types of people you will come across in life. Givers and takers. If you come across a taker, the wise shall give if asked. It's dictated by scripture.

        Your challenge this week is to read and study the book of James. There's many hard lessons, challenges, and truths in those 5 chapters.