HANDLING OPPRESSION James 5:7-11

INTRODUCTION A. World wide epidemic of oppression A. World wide epidemic of oppression B. Frustrated efforts to end oppression B. Frustrated efforts to end oppression C. Christian perspective for responding to oppression C. Christian perspective for responding to oppression

CHRISTIANS SHOULD RESPOND TO OPPRESSION… CHRISTIANS SHOULD RESPOND TO OPPRESSION… …WITH A PERSEVERING AND PROPHETIC PATIENCE …WITH A PERSEVERING AND PROPHETIC PATIENCE …WHICH PRACTICES IMPECCABLE INTEGRITY IN SPEECH …WHICH PRACTICES IMPECCABLE INTEGRITY IN SPEECH

A. Patience in oppression A. Patience in oppression 1. Exhortations to be patient 5: Exhortations to be patient 5:7-8 a. Command to be patient 5:7a a. Command to be patient 5:7a (1) Nature of patience: long suffering (1) Nature of patience: long suffering (2) Basis for patience: assurance God will avenge their oppression (2) Basis for patience: assurance God will avenge their oppression (3) Duration of patience: “until the Lord’s coming” (3) Duration of patience: “until the Lord’s coming”

b. Illustration of farmer’s patience 5:7b b. Illustration of farmer’s patience 5:7b (1) Fall rain: October – November (1) Fall rain: October – November (2) Spring rain: March – April (2) Spring rain: March – April c. Restatement of command to be patient 5:8a c. Restatement of command to be patient 5:8a (1) Repeated element: Longsuffering type patience (1) Repeated element: Longsuffering type patience (2) Added element: “Stand firm” (2) Added element: “Stand firm”

d. Reasons for patience 5:8b d. Reasons for patience 5:8b (1) He is coming as LORD (1) He is coming as LORD Philippians 2:9-10 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:9-10 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

d. Reasons for patience 5:8b (1) He is coming as LORD d. Reasons for patience 5:8b (1) He is coming as LORD (2) He is coming soon (2) He is coming soon “The Lord’s coming is near” = has come to a state of being near. “The Lord’s coming is near” = has come to a state of being near. Nearness in God’s sense of time – Nearness in God’s sense of time – “With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness.” 2 Peter 3:8-9 quoting Psalm 90:4 “With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness.” 2 Peter 3:8-9 quoting Psalm 90:4 LESSON 1: Patient hope – gives perspective for mastering life’s oppressions LESSON 1: Patient hope – gives perspective for mastering life’s oppressions

2. Exhortation to stop grumbling 5:9 2. Exhortation to stop grumbling 5:9 a. Focus of command: complaining against fellow believers a. Focus of command: complaining against fellow believers b. Reason for command: He is coming as Judge b. Reason for command: He is coming as Judge “Is standing before the door” = has taken his position and is ready to enter – imminent return as Judge LESSON 2: Purifying hope – gives civility to life LESSON 2: Purifying hope – gives civility to life

3. Examples of patience and endurance 5: Examples of patience and endurance 5:10-11 a. Example of prophets 5:10 a. Example of prophets 5:10 (1) Same word for patience: long suffering (1) Same word for patience: long suffering (2) Activity of prophets: denounced sin in the name of the Lord (2) Activity of prophets: denounced sin in the name of the Lord b. Example of all who endured 5:11a b. Example of all who endured 5:11a ~~Different word for patience: persevered/endured ~~Different word for patience: persevered/endured LESSON 3: Prophetic hope – gives purpose to life: LESSON 3: Prophetic hope – gives purpose to life: Like prophets, Christians must denounce oppression whenever it appears Like prophets, Christians must denounce oppression whenever it appears

c. Example of Job 5:11b c. Example of Job 5:11b (1) Job’s perseverance of adversity (1) Job’s perseverance of adversity (2) Job’s restoration of fortunes (2) Job’s restoration of fortunes (3) Reasons for ultimate hope: He is coming as the compassionate One (3) Reasons for ultimate hope: He is coming as the compassionate One LESSON 4: Promising hope gives expectation to life. LESSON 4: Promising hope gives expectation to life. Like Job, oppressed Christians must persevere in faith, until they experience God’s great compassion Like Job, oppressed Christians must persevere in faith, until they experience God’s great compassion

B. Truthfulness in speech 5:12 1. Oath-taking prohibited 5:12a 1. Oath-taking prohibited 5:12a a. Recalling of Jesus’ teaching in Matt 5:34-37 a. Recalling of Jesus’ teaching in Matt 5:34-37 b. Historical background of deceptive oath-taking b. Historical background of deceptive oath-taking c. Connection with enduring oppression – don’t fend off creditors with unrealistic promises c. Connection with enduring oppression – don’t fend off creditors with unrealistic promises 2. Honesty commanded 5:12b 2. Honesty commanded 5:12b LESSON 5: Honesty inspiring hope – gives integrity to life LESSON 5: Honesty inspiring hope – gives integrity to life

CONCLUSION – Live by these five lessons: Patient hope gives perspective Purifying hope gives civility Prophetic hope gives purpose Promising hope gives expectation Honesty inspiring hope gives integrity