Patience

 “Since patience is exemplified in God, so it is expected in His children.”

Here are some characteristics of patience:

·                         Forbearance

·                         Longsuffering

·                         Endurance

·                         Steadfastness

·                         Perseverance

While looking throughout the scriptures, there are about five areas throughout the Bible in which our topic is seen: through God’s patience, our patience as a Christian, Christ’s patience, patience towards trials in our lives, and patience under divine chastening.

GOD’S PATIENCE:

God’s patient endurance of man’s rebellion extends to all mankind, and is evident today in that He still withholds His final judgment:

2 Pet 3:9~ The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

Psalm 86:15~ But you O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.

 The extension of God’s patience to Israel is expressed repeatedly:

Exod 34:5-6 Then the Lord came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the LORD. And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love, and faithfulness

Num 14:18~  The LORD is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished: he punishes the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation.

What ways do you believe God has been patient with you?

Why do you believe God chooses to be so patient with us?

PATIENCE AS A CHRISTIAN:

As believers, we are held to the standard of that which is expressed in the following scriptures with patience being part of the core of a true Christian believer:

Eph 4:1- 2~ “…I urge you to love a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

 Col 1:10-12~ And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father.

Col 3:12~  Therefore as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

 However, this is possible only as a result of the Spirit-filled life:

Gal 5:22-23~  But the fruits of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Rom 8:3- 4~ For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to sinful nature according to the Spirit.

Therefore, we have the opportunity, through the Spirit to have patience even when we don’t want to.

What are some ways in which you have been able to show patience towards others in your life?

In what ways has God’s spirit led you to be patient?

CHRIST’S PATIENCE:

Christ’s endurance is the Christian’s example.

Heb 12:1-3~ Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Christ’s patient bearing of the taunts of the chief priests, elders and even of the rebels on the cross is referred to in this passage:

Matt 27:38-44~ Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him.  “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him.  He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”  In the same way the rebels who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.

Can you think of a time when you found yourself having to exemplify patience like Christ?

PATIENCE TOWARDS TRIALS IN OUR LIVES:

One trial of the believer is living among sinful men and seeing them prosper in spite of their wickedness.  

Psalm 37:7~ Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.

As a believer, what are some other ways you have had to exercise patience amongst wicked  people?

PATIENCE UNDER DIVINE CHASTENING:

To develop the faith and the character of those whom He loves, God chastens and tests His servants.

Heb 12: 5-13~ And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,

“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,

    and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,

because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,

    and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”

Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. “Make level paths for your feet,” so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.

This is for the believer’s profit and is a part of the “all things” that work for his good

Rom 8:28~ And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

The faith and patience entailed in bearing trials deepens the believer’s experience, and the trials themselves are therefore to be received and borne with joy

James 1:2-4~ My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.