James 5:10-11 | Dr. Stephen Conley

Faith and Perseverance Through Suffering

Perseverance Through Suffering Exemplified in the Prophets (vs. 10-11a)

• They obeyed God’s call to proclaim His Word
• They waited for God’s purposes to come to pass
• They persevered through suffering with a Godward focus
• Lesson Learned: Our suffering has a God-ordained purpose

Perseverance Through Suffering Illustrated in Job (vs. 11b)

• Job sought to worship and obey God
• Job endured the loss of everything he held dear
• Job’s man-centered perspective was changed to a Godward focus
• Lesson Learned: Our suffering invokes a merciful God to act in love

Perseverance Through Suffering Demonstrated Through Jesus Christ

• Isaiah 53:3-6: Jesus suffered for us, carried our griefs and sorrows, and was put to death for our redemption.
• 1 Peter 2:21-25: Christ’s suffering left an example for us to follow. He died for our sins so that we could die to sin and live to righteousness.
• Hebrews 12:1-3: We are called to look to Jesus who begins and completes our faith. When we consider Christ’s perseverance through suffering, we will not lose heart.
• Lesson Learned: Our suffering must be seen through the lens of Christ’s suffering