Let patience Have Her Perfect (complete) Work

James 1:4

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

Last week, I discussed to a small degree the subject of patience being developed in us by trials and adversities. How easy is it to hold still instead of running away from the problem(s)? It can really be tough for some folks in some situations.

The word in the Greek,

5281 hupomone (hoop-om-on-ay');comes from #5278; cheerful (or hopeful) endurance, constancy: KJV translates it as -- enduring, patience, patient continuance (waiting).

This word is based on two Greek words that make up the verb 5278 hupomeno (hoop-om-en'-o) translated in the King James as abide, endure, (take) patient (-ly), suffer, tarry behind.; The two Greek words being 5259 hupo (hoop-o'); and 3306 meno (men'-o);

5259 hupo (hoop-o') means to stay under (behind), i.e. remain; figuratively, to undergo, i.e. bear (trials), have fortitude, persevere: It is a primary preposition; under, i.e. (with the genitive case) of place (beneath), or with verbs (the agency or means, through); (with the accusative case) of place (whither [underneath] or where [below] or time (when [at]):

KJV translates hupo as -- among, by, from, in, of, under, with. In comp. it retains the same general applications, especially of inferior position or condition, and specifically, covertly or moderately.

3306 meno (men'-o) is a primary verb; to stay (in a given place, state, relation or expectancy): KJV translates it as-- abide, continue, dwell, endure, be present, remain, stand, tarry (for),

Have I got you confused enough already? To put it in a nutshell, the Greek word for patience in the Greek comes from two words-meaning under and stay. Stay under. You can see that staying under a situation really calls for God’s help. Specially if you are under or in a situation that exasperates you. And it is one God does not want you running from either. If God wants you out of it, He will take you out of it because it is too big for you. You won’t try to get out of it yourself, He will arrange that it has to work that way. Why does God leave you in such a difficult situation? As I said last week, it is so God can do a perfecting job on you. He is aiming to change attitudes and ideas that don’t fit with being a Christian, with being like Jesus. He is aiming to teach you how to handle these kinds of situations the way Jesus would. Does it call for getting with God and depending on Him constantly? If so, that is good for you. You need that habit anyway-calling on Him constantly. It is His grace that works through you in those times, it is His grace working in you in those times. Remember Paul’s statement, When I am weak, then I am strong. Look at a couple of things Paul learned.

2 Cor 1:8,9

8 For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:

9 But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: (KJV)

Paul was in virtually an impossible situation in the event he was referring to, and the purpose was to learn not to rely on or trust in himself, but in God—the God who has the power to raise even the dead.

What else did Paul understand?

1 Cor 10:13

13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.(KJV)

Guess who made the way of escape for Paul and friends in that situation he mentions in

2 Cor 1:10

10 Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us; (KJV)

See Paul did not take the intitiative himself. God delivered Him. He has done that kind of thing a couple of times for me when the pressure has been too much. Literally changed the situation for me. And the interesting thing is I had never really gained victory over those situations either. At the time, my strength in Jesus was not working sufficiently. I have learned from these failures and can see now what pulled me down into failure. I hope the next time I am under that kind of pressure, I will know better how to handle it.

Brethren, you may know someone under intense pressure in the church you are in, or even in your own family. Don’t judge them too harshly for their failures. God is teaching them no matter what happens if they are followers of His. It is often hard for Christians to discern between their flesh and the Spirit but experience will serve as an excellent teacher.

So if you are under some kind of pressure where God is teaching you patience, endurance, etc. do go ahead and count it all joy as James says. Not because it is fun or joyful, but because God is doing a work in you. Take the attitude that a great thing is being worked in you by a great and powerful God. Rejoice in His love, His power, His will, for God will do a transforming work in you as a result.

Last week’s Bible Trivia Question: The answer is Hannaniah, Mishael, and Azariah. These 3 had their names changed by King Nebuchadnezzar to Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. I have told people those were their Persian names, but I realize now that was incorrect. Those were their Babylonian names. For Nebuchadnezzar was not a Persian but a Babylonian, and that was a different nationality. See Daniel 1:7

Now for Today’s Bible Trivia Question: There was a Persian king who took over Babylon and in his reign the people of Judah and Israel were allowed to go back to rebuild Jerusalem. The 70 years of captivity were up. This king made a proclamation that the people could return to their land. Now for the question-who prophesied that this would happen, even giving the name of the king, and this occurred about 200 something years before this king’s birth. So who was the prophet and who was the king?

That’s it for today, folks. Have a great weekend, the Good News Lady