Patience and Prayer

MEMORY VERSE: “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” —James 5:16

JAMES 5:7-16

EVERY follower of the Master needs patience in order to endure the trials which the Lord sees are necessary for the testing of faith. Paul wrote, “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. For ye have need of patience, that after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive [the fulfillment of] the promise.” And then Paul adds, “For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.”—Heb. 10:35-37

Here Paul relates the need of patience until the return of Christ to set up his kingdom; and it is in this respect that James admonishes the exercise of patience—“Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord.” And again, “Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.”—James 5:7,8

Looking back into Bible times, and into the history of the church since our Lord’s first advent, it becomes apparent that the Lord has tested the faith and patience of all his people by their long wait for the fulfillment of his promises. The Old Testament promised the coming of the Messiah, and Jesus’ disciples accepted him as the promised One, but he was taken from them and crucified. This dashed their hope, but on the third day he was raised from the dead and their hope revived.

When Jesus appeared to his disciples the last time, they asked, “Wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?” Jesus’ reply was, “It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.”—Acts 1:6,7

True, some of “the times” and some of “the seasons” have since been revealed to the Lord’s people, especially in these last days of the Gospel Age. We know from the signs of the times that the presence of the Lord is now a reality, but we are still waiting for the consummation of our hope of being with the Lord and of sharing in his thousand-year kingdom. Our patience is being tested, even as was the patience of the Lord’s people down through the ages.

The marginal translation of James 5:9 reads, “Groan not one against another.” The implication here seems to be that there is a possibility that we may become critical of our brethren who do not see matters as we do with respect to the setting up of the kingdom. This would be due, in part, to a lack of patience.

James writes further, “Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.” (vs. 10) All of God’s holy prophets endured much because of their loyalty to God and to his messianic kingdom purpose. Paul tells us that they died in faith, not having received the fulfillment of God’s promises. (Heb. 11:39) They waited patiently on the Lord, knowing that his promises were sure.

Prayer is a great help as we endeavor to wait patiently on the Lord. “Is any among you afflicted? let him pray,” James wrote. He suggests the value of calling the elders of the church to pray with those who are passing through severe trials. In verse 15 we read, “The prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.”

In this verse the Greek word translated “sick” would be better translated “wearied,” and it is so translated in Hebrews 12:3, which reads, “Consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.” Sometimes the trials of the narrow way might well make one discouraged, or “wearied.” This is a spiritual sickness that should be helped greatly by prayer. Indeed, one who is thus “wearied” may well become physically ill as a result, and if his faith and hope are restored his physical condition would automatically improve.

In our memory verse we are admonished to confess our faults one to another, and to pray for one another, that we may be healed. This is essentially what takes place at a prayer and testimony meeting, where we all acknowledge our imperfection and solicit an interest in the prayers of our brethren. And how great is the benefit received from such meetings, in terms of spiritual strength and encouragement! How much evidence we have that the prayers of a righteous man avail much!

QUESTIONS

Why is patience needed in connection with the setting up of the kingdom?

Explain how prayers save the “sick.”

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