David Ralston, one of our elders, recently shared with me the story of Evelyn. David met Evelyn during his work in Kiev, Ukraine where we support the Ukrainian Education Center—one of our ministries to the nations. Evelyn seemed doomed from the start to suffer despair. Her father did not want her. In fact, he asked her mother to have an abortion. Her mother refused and the marriage dissolved. After Evelyn’s birth, her mom had to leave Evelyn with grandparents in Ukraine while she travelled to Italy to find work. Her grandfather frequently got drunk on vodka and beat the grandmother. It was a horrible living situation for a young girl. Evelyn’s mother eventually returned to Ukraine and was reunited with Evelyn. The two of them tried to live with her ex-husband. But after a tumultuous three years, Evelyn and her mother were kicked out. Evelyn eventually graduated from school and enrolled in a university in Kiev. Eager to learn English, she joined an English conversation club. But the man who ran the club took advantage of her and slept with her. Evelyn became pregnant and learned that this man had seven children with five different women. He persuaded her to have an abortion and then promised to break things off with all the other women if Evelyn would stay with him. She did. He didn’t. Evelyn’s life was filled with despair.
Is there anything more toxic than despair? Sadly, many people are infected with the toxin of despair. It works its way into our lives and becomes difficult to cure. Many people suffer with despair.
So, it seems were those reading the letter of James. They are encountering “trials” according to 1:2—Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds… They are “suffering” according to 5:10 and 5:13. They are suffering from the toxin of despair.
Listen, therefore, to James’ prescription: 7 Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. 8 You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. 9 Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. 10 As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful. 12 But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation. 13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. 18 Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit. 19 My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, 20 let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. (James 5:7-20 ESV)
Writing to people in despair, James calls for patience: 7 Be patient, therefore, brothers…See how the farmer waits…being patient… 8 You also, be patient….10 As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets… James is saying, Hold on. Hang in there. Persevere. Be patient, James writes to people in despair.
Why? Because something’s coming, James writes. He wants them to hold on, because something’s coming. What is that something? He mentions the coming of the Lord in 5:7. But notice the imagery he uses: See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. James calls for patience. And then he tells this little parable about a farmer patiently waiting for rain. The farmer waits until that dry field receives the early and late rains.
In the Bible, rain plays two contrasting roles. Sometimes rain plays the role of God’s judgment and discipline. For example, in Genesis 7 God sends the rain and a flood destroys people and places.
But sometimes in the Bible rain plays the role of God’s mercy and grace. For example, in Deut. 11 Moses is speaking about the Promised Land. He describes how it’s going to be a place where God provides rain for the crops and the creatures. Moses puts it this way: But the land that you are going over to possess is a land of hills and valleys, which drinks water by the rain from heaven… Here rain is a sign of God’s provision and grace. It’s rain from heaven sent down to quench thirsty crops and creatures.
And it’s not hard to imagine that this is the image James has in mind as he writes about God’s rain to his readers who are suffering from despair. James calls them to be patient. Why? I think he’s saying this: because God is sending the rain. Just as that farmer could trust that God would send the early and late rains on his dry crops, so James’ readers could trust that God would send his grace and mercy and provision on their hurting lives. God is sending his rain. And it’s going to be a healing rain. It’s going to bring relief to the drought of despair which they are feeling right now. James wants us to know that God can be trusted to send his healing rain.
Later in this section James calls for prayer from despairing readers: 13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray… 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him… 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another… James not only calls for patience. He also calls for prayer.
Why? Because something’s coming, James writes. Then notice the story he uses to illustrate: 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. 18 Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit. James tells this Sunday School story from the Old Testament. Elijah prays. And God sends the rain. God sends the rain on the dry and dusty land. That parched land is revived by the rain from heaven.
What’s James saying? He’s saying to those despairing readers, Pray. Because if you do, God will send the rain. God will send relief. He will provide. He will bring healing. James wants us to wants us to know that God can be trusted to send his healing rain.
It’s not a coincidence that James begins and ends this section on suffering with references to rain. He wants us to pay attention to that rain. You may be infected with the drought of despair, James is writing. But be patient. And be prayerful. Why? Because God’s healing rain is coming. God’s refreshing waters are coming. God’s wonderful showers are making their way towards you.
I began this message with a story of Evelyn, a girl in despair living in Kiev. Eventually Evelyn enrolled in International Christian University in Kiev. There she met a Christian named Kenyon. Kenyon befriended her. And Kenyon led her to faith in Christ. Evelyn’s life turned around. Today she is happy, fulfilled and serving God. God’s healing rain had come into her life—through the actions of Christians like Kenyon.
One of the ways that God brings his healing rain into the lives of many today is through the ministries funded by Highland’s Outreach Contribution. The Outreach Contribution is one way God sends his rain.
- There are people in urban Memphis living in despair. And God sends his rain through ministries like our partnership with LaRose Elementary, Raleigh Community Church, Agape Child and Family Services, Families in Transition, HopeWorks, Lifeline, and Member Services.
- There are people across the globe in despair. And God sends his healing rain through ministries like the Melanesian Bible College in Papua New Guinea; the ministry of Nathan and Karen Luther in the Philippines; the Ministry of Theological Education; the Ukrainian Education Center; the Bilia Tserkva Church of Christ; World Bible School; and Harding School of Theology.
- There are people in metro-Memphis and elsewhere living in despair. And God sends his rain through ministries like our partnership with Macon Hall Elementary, LeBonheur Children’s Hospital, Soma—the campus ministry at the University of Memphis, Tennessee Children’s Home, Paragould Children’s Home, Sunnybrook Children’s Home and Timothy Hill Children’s Ranch.
All of these ministries are funded through today’s Outreach Contribution.
This morning we have the privilege of hearing about one of these ministries—our partnership with Agape Child and Family Services. Brian Hoover, Agape’s Director of Development, is with us today to share how God’s healing rain is coming through Agape
Today we are asking you to give $190,000 toward these ministries. That’s about 6 times what you give on an average Sunday at Highland. It’s going to require sacrifice. But that sacrifice brings God’s healing and hope into the lives of people around the world. We’re going to pray right now and then pass the collection trays. The trays will be passed just once this morning.
