Tuesday, November 1, 2011

F - FRUIT OF SPIRIT-Patience - 6

F – FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT – 6
PATIENCE

Who among us would suggest that we don’t need more of this fruit of the Spirit?  The lack of patience can destroy our joy and our peace as well.  Several words are related to patience in the Scripture so let us look at some of them.  Forbearance, endurance, longsuffering, perseverance —all of these are a part of patience.

Patience has been defined by Vine as “It is the quality of self-restraint in the face of provocation which does not hastily retaliate or promptly punish….Patience is the quality that does not surrender to circumstances or succumb under trial.”  At times we loose patience with ourselves, others, and things.  Unger, a commentator, adds: “Patience is that calm, unruffled temper with which the good man bears the evils of life, whether they proceed from persons or things.”  He also brings out the fact that this man will submit to the place God has put him and the duties and conflicts of life.  Phil.4:11   Contentment and patience go hand in hand.

God is a God of patience in many ways.  God puts off our punishment for sin in His patience and hope for our repentance.  Rom.2:4   We know that we could receive immediate punishment as Ananias and Saphira but God “holds off” or is patient with us for He does not want any of us to be lost.  2 Pet.3:9   We know that there are stipulations.  Jhn.3:15,16; Lk.13:3  Jesus went on to give other perogatives.  Mk.16:16   Our Lord has a strong desire that we obey Him and is patient and is giving time for more to come to Him.  As we become a Christian, God passes over or has patience with the sins that we previously committed.  Rom.3:25

God’s patience was evident in the case of the Israelites as time and time again they left God to return to idols and slavery.  Neh.9:17   God was patient with them.  God sees far into the future and holds our future in His hands.  Therefore, we wait patiently for Him.  Ps.40:1; Ps.37:7

The Scriptures contain many examples of patience in dire circumstances being shown by faithful men.  Heb.6:12   Abraham is one of them.  Heb.6:13-15   We are to be imitators of them.  Job was another who endured many trials with patience as well as many of the prophets.  Jam.5:10,11   Paul found mercy in the patience of God.  1 Tim.1:16   Paul was patient as his thorn in the flesh was not remover.  2 Cor.12:9   We cannot forget the patience of God in the days of Noah.  1 Pet.3:20

In view of the fact that God has patience with us and examples of men of faith had great patience, Christians are instructed to have patience added to our fruit of the Spirit, who helps us attain this patience.  With our new clothes in Christ, we put on patience.  Col.3:12   A Christian must be patient with everyone—not just those that are patient with us.  1 Thess.5:14   Even in tribulation, a Christian must be patient.  Rom.12:12 (NIV)

Patience exemplifies the good example a Christian is to show to the world.  In circumstances where the world would “blow up”, a Christian remains calm with patience.  1 Cor.13:4   Our example is so important in the world.  Eph.4:1,2   Those of the world do watch us.  Lack of patience causes anger and then we are caught in sin.  Paul was trying to be an example in his teaching which included patience.  2 Tim.3:10   Patient continuance replaces perseverance in some versions.  2 Pet.1:6   Patient continuance would become one of the building blocks of our Christian life.

Patient continuance is also used in Rom.2:7.  Well-doing and good deeds are important for us to develop.  Eph.2:10   At times it does require patience to continue.  God does not forget and pleasing men is not as important at all as pleasing God.  We receive help and power from God and the Holy Spirit to persevere or patiently continue in these things.  Col.1:11

James uses the example of the patience of a farmer in producing his crop compared to our patience in waiting for the coming of the Lord.  Jam.5:7,8   We need patience in hope.  Rom.8:25   As we look forward to seeing the Lord, we need patience.  Heb.10:36

When we have tribulation, our patience grows.  Rom.5:3   Patient endurance is also produced in the testing of our faith.  Jam.1:3   We endure, we persevere, we forbear, we are longsuffering, we are patient with antagonistic people, in trying circumstances, in adverse things, and in face of provocation.  This is an important fruit of the Spirit and we do have the help of the Spirit as we develop this temperament for the glory of the Lord.

In patience, we keep on keeping on to the salvation of our souls.  Rev.14:12   Our God of patience gives patience/perseverance to us as with one voice we glorify God.  Rom.15:5








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