PRACTICING PATIENCE
PATIENCE
The book of James is about having a faith that works
One aspect of faith is patience.
It has been said that good things come to those who wait.
James keeps before him the suffering and distressed condition of the Jewish Christians.
X There was grave fear that they would give up their faith in Christ;
X Also there was a greater fear that would be a reproach to each other.
X And that their own Christian character would deteriorate.
X The times called for the spirit of endurance.
In every sphere of life and relationship in those days, the Christians were called to quiet waiting.
X James 5:7-8 My friends, be patient until the Lord returns. Think of farmers who wait patiently for the spring and summer rains to make their valuable crops grow.
X Jas 5:8 Be patient like those farmers and don't give up. The Lord will soon be here!
For many of us, patience is a quality more admired than desired.
X "The trouble is that we’re in a hurry; but God isn't!" Haven't we felt the same way many times?
X Waiting may be the greatest teacher and trainer in godliness, maturity, and genuine spirituality most of us ever encounter.
X Waiting is one of the hardest things God sometimes puts us through.
While we wait, God does hears our prayers
X Psalm 34 declares that his ears are attentive to the cries of His people and His eyes are on the righteous.
X ISAIAH 30:19 declares that when He hears from heaven, the answers are on the way.
X PSALM 139 declares that He knows your thoughts before you think them, that you are never alone, and your days were ordained by God and written in His book. (NIV)
X Patience is the guardian of faith, the preserver of peace, the teacher of humility. It sweetens the temper and stifles anger.
Patience does not have to be grim, or a bleak acceptance of a situation, but it CAN radiate joy.
Patience is not just a virtue, it’s a fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22)
It demonstrates impatience and reveals the sour fruit of our fallen hearts rather than the sweetness of Jesus in our lives.
Patience can be:
X Endurance or staying power, an inner strength
X Tolerance or lack of complaint, a still calmness
X Persistence or personal fortitude, a willingness to wait
X Patience is the fruit of the Spirit. Is it all of these things.
Patience can also be lasting, permanent, and stable.
X Joy is love rejoicing; peace is love resting—love trusting. Patience is love enduring; its love that is durable and lasting.
X You learn how to live a peaceful life, not a stressful one
Practicing gratitude leads to patience. You can learn to become more patient anywhere.
Overcome impatience by focusing on God in every situation
One man who was renowned for his cheerful endurance of trial, when asked how he had learned such patience replied:
"First, I look within me, then without me, afterwards beneath me, and last of all, above me."
1. He looked within and saw such guilt and unworthiness that whatever blessings balanced his afflictions, they were more than he deserved.
2. He looked without and saw those who had far many more problems than himself, and this made every complaint a piece of sore ingratitude to him.
3. He looked beneath and saw the earth, into which his body would soon be lowered, and when all of life's trials would be over once and for all.
4. He looked above and saw by faith his home in Heaven, and this made the light affliction but for a moment, not worthy to be compared with the glory waiting to be revealed.
God’s will is for us to demonstrate to a hurting world how wonderfully His power can work within the person who perseveres.
Patience is your ability to wait without becoming annoyed, upset, or angry.
It's when you exercise self-control rather than lashing out and complaining.
The Picture of Patience
God has been patient with us. His anger and wrath have been restrained. He has not treated us as we deserve to be treated for our sin. Because God is patient with us, He expects us to be patient with each other.
This is why Jesus has given us His Spirit to live within us. The Spirit empowers us to live like Jesus; the fruit of the Spirit is long to anger—patience.
The Purpose of Patience
As God is patient with us; He has taken us by the hand, not to pour out His wrath. God takes us by the hand to lead us into a radical life-change, a life of repentance whereby we can have a relationship with God.
The Practical Practice of Patience
EVERY FRUIT I KNOW OF HAS A PROTECTIVE OUTER LAYER.
Patience protects our hearts from becoming rancid—bitter and rotten to the core. God wants our lives to be sweet and appealing to others; that’s the purpose of the fruit of the Spirit, to give our lives the aroma and taste of Jesus!
Patience transforms relationships.
It can help you avoid becoming irritated, defensive and saying hurtful things. It can slow you down and prevent hasty, selfish decisions. Patience helps in developing the crucial relationship skill of empathy — the ability to understand life from the perspective of another.
The Good News: Having faith in God gives you strength to survive anything that comes your way, and to approach even difficult situations with the utmost patience. God is by your side.
Philippians 4:6
"Don't be anxious about anything; rather, bring up all of your requests to God in your prayers and petitions, along with giving thanks."
The Good News: You have nothing to worry about, as God is here to listen to all of our fears. And once our hardships have passed, be sure to thank him for his guidance.
Isaiah 26:3 King James Version
3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
God always answers every prayer:
If the request isn’t right, His answer is no.
If the timing isn’t right, His answer is slow.
If you aren’t right, His answer is grow.
And when everything is ready and right, His answer is go!
