LOVE IS PATIENT. WHAT DOES IT MEAN FROM "HIS" PERSPECTIVE?

                                         

HOLY LOVE IS PATIENT

“…Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, It is not easily angered, It keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres, Love never fails…” (1 Corinthians 13: 4-8 NIV).

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 “…God is LOVE…” (1 John 4:4-8 KJV). “…God is [REAL]… LOVE…” (1 John 4:4-8 KJV). “…LOVE IS PATIENT…” (1 Corinthians 13: 4-8 NIV).

God proves his patience love when he WAITED in the days of Noah. “… The patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water…” (1 Peter 3:20 NASB). “Which sometime were disobedient…the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah…” (1 Peter 1:20 KJV).

“Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?” (Romans 2:4 KJV).

What was God waiting on during the days of Noah? “… the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation…”(2 Peter 3:15 KJV).

God made an appeal to mankind through Noah, who preached to them for 120 years, while building the ark, but THEY REFUSED to listen. “…But my people would not listen to me. They kept doing whatever they wanted, following the stubborn desires of their evil hearts…” (Jeremiah 7:24 NLT).

In the days of Noah the wickedness of the people was extremely rampant and GREAT. God destroyed the old world in a flood because of ongoing wickedness, BUT HE WARNED THEM FIRST!

HE DIDN'T "WANT" THEM TO PERISH IN THE FLOOD, BUT IT WAS "THEIR" CHOICE. God saw the continual depravity of mankind’s heart and behaviors, but he patiently waited (Genesis 6:6).

God saw every imagination of the thoughts of mankind’s heart and he clearly saw it was continually evil (Genesis 6:6). 

If you belong to him and gave your life to him, but continue to be unfaithful; God is being longsuffering towards you, RIGHT NOW. “The Lord is… longsuffering to us-ward…”(2 Peter 3:9 KJV).

God sees the“…hidden man of the heart…” (1 Peter 3:4 KJV).  God knows the heart is deceitful “… above all things and desperately wicked…who can know it [except God?]” (Jeremiah 17:9 KJV). “…Out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders…” (Matthew 15:19 NASB).

God does not desire for you to perish as a result of a lifestyle of sin and depravity, that is WHY he GAVE his ONLY begotten Son. ^“Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent His Son...” (1 John 4:10 KJV).  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

God’s PATIENT LOVE, through his indwelling Holy Spirit, works “IN” you so that you can participant in his holiness. “…God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose” (Philippians 2:13 NIV).  “…that [you] might be partakers (participants) of his holiness….” (Hebrews 12:10 KJV). “…Now may the God of peace, … that great Shepherd of the sheep …may he work in …[you]… what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ” (Hebrews 13:20-21 NIV).

God’s PATIENT LOVE, through his indwelling Holy Spirit, works “IN” you so that you can have a clean heart. “…Have mercy upon me, O God …and CLEANSE ME FROM “MY SIN” …” (Psalms 51:1-4 KJV). “….God, which knoweth the hearts…” has to “Create in [you]… a clean heart…” like King David (Psalms 51:10 KJV).

 “...God SEES NOT as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD LOOKS AT THE HEART…”(1 Samuel 16:7 NASB). “…No one need[s]… to tell him about human nature, for he [knows]…what [is]… in each person’s heart…” (John 2:24-25 NLT). Your old, carnal, unsanctified heart “…is deceitful ABOVE ALL THINGS and desperately wicked…” (Jeremiah 17:9 KJV).

Thus, God has to, “…GIVE you a new heart, and …put a new spirit in you. [He]…will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart…” (Ezekiel 36:26 NLT).

God’s PATIENT LOVE, through his indwelling Holy Spirit, works “IN” you so that will not perish in your SINS. God “….is longsuffering to us-ward, NOT WILLING that any should perish, but that ALL should come to repentance…” (2 Peter 3:9 KJV). “…EXCEPT YE REPENT, ye shall all likewise PERISH…” (Luke 13:3 KJV). “…When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted REPENTANCE UNTO LIFE…” (Acts 11:18 KJV). “…Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, REPENTANCE TOWARD GOD, and FAITH TOWARD our Lord Jesus Christ. …” (Acts 20:21 KJV).

God’s PATIENT LOVE is NOT demanding, You ALWAYS have a right to CHOOSE or REFUSE to repent. “…But my people would not listen to me. They kept doing whatever they wanted, following the stubborn desires of their evil hearts…” (Jeremiah 7:24 NLT).

The flood, in the Old Testament, was God’s response to the people’s CHOICE or REFUSAL to REPENT from their ongoing sins. “…The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled. So the Lord said, “I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created—and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground—for I regret that I have made them… I will send rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights, and I will wipe from the face of the earth every living creature I have made…” (Genesis 6:5-6, 7:6 NIV).

God’s PATIENT LOVE, under the New Testament covenant promise, is an expression of God’s desire to demonstrate Grace and Mercy to mankind and NOT punishment. “…God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him, SHOULD NOT PERISH, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16 KJV). “Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?” (Romans 2:4 KJV)."…Therefore REPENT AND RETURN, “SO” that your sins may be wiped away…” (Acts 3:19 NASB). “….[God is]…not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9 KJV).

God’s PATIENT LOVE is still waiting for those who are LOST, but many refuse to come to him. The Word says, “...and ye will not come to me that you might have life...” (John 5:40 KJV).

This verse says, “YOU will not come to Me…” which means you will not respond to God’s LOVE expressed through Jesus Christ, his LIVING WORD (John 5:40 KJV).

The scripture said “YOU WILL not come…” (John 5:40 KJV). “… The Lord must wait for YOU to come to him so he can show you his love …For the Lord is a faithful God…” (Isaiah 30:18 NLT). Who is the “YOU” in this verse?

God’s PATIENT LOVE is waiting for you to come to him. He desires your whole heart, but it is your choice. “… you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind…” (Luke 10:27 RSV). “…Choose you this day whom ye will serve….” (Joshua 24:15 KJV).

God’s PATIENT LOVE, expressed through his indwelling Holy Spirit, have waited for YEARS for his OWN people to put aside their ongoing sins and infidelities. God “….is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9 KJV).

 “…The Lord, The Lord God, [IS] merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth…” (Exodus 34:6 KJV).

“The Lord is longsuffering, and of great mercy…” (Number 14:18 KJV).

“The Lord is not slack …but is longsuffering to us-ward…” (2 Peter 3:9 KJV).

Days, weeks, months, and years have passed and yet his OWN people continue to follow the stubborn desires of their evil hearts. “…They kept doing whatever they wanted, following the stubborn desires of their evil hearts…” (Jeremiah 7:24 NLT). “… [YOU]… FORGOT all about ME,” says the Lord…” (Hosea 2:13 NLT). “… when you had eaten and were satisfied, you became proud and FORGOT ME….” (Hosea 13:6 NLT). “…Does a young woman forget her jewelry, or a bride her wedding dress? Yet for years on end my people have FORGOTten ME…” (Jeremiah 2:32 NLT).

“…They ABANDONED ME and did not obey my word….” (JEREMIAH 16:11 NLT). “…They ABANDONED the Lord… they turned their backs on him….” (2 Chronicles 29:6 NLT).“…The Lord replies, “This has happened because my people have ABANDONED MY INSTRUCTIONS; they have refused to obey what I said….” (JEREMIAH 9:13 NLT).

Yet, God’s PATIENT LOVE towards YOU WAITS. “…not willing that [YOU]… should perish, but that [YOU]…should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9 KJV).

As long as he WAITS for you; you have a CHANCE to make it right with HIM. “…God is LOVE…” (1 John 4:4-8 KJV). “…God is [REAL]… LOVE…” (1 John 4:4-8 KJV). “…LOVE IS PATIENT…” (1 Corinthians 13: 4-8 NIV). “…Showing love to a thousand generations of those who love ... [him] … and keep ..[his] … commandments…” (Exodus 20:6 NIV).

God has demonstrated how much he loves you by sending his Son so you would NOT perish in your sins and infidelities. ^“Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners…” (Romans 5:7-9 NLT). After sending his SON, his PATIENT LOVE still “WAITS” for you!

God’s PATIENT LOVE waits for your attention and the opportunity to help you find your way again. "…For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it…” (Matthew 7:14 NASB).

God “KNOWS” who you are. You are “…a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light…” (1 Peter 2:9 KJV).

God KNOWS, even if you don’t, because of his indwelling Holy Spirit, you are NO longer a common sinner. “…Do you not know that you yourselves are God’s temple, and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?...” (1 Corinthians 3:16 NASB).

“…Christ is in YOU…” God through Christ already suffered for you on the cross. “...Christ … [already]…suffered for us…” (1 Peter 2:21 KJV). How much MORE does he have to suffer for you to truly give your life and heart to him? Will you continue to sin and be unfaithful to God?

YOU gave your life to him when you accepted Christ as Savior, right? What can happen to someone who FALLS away from God’s PATIENT LOVE? “…It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace…” (Hebrews 6:4-6 NIV).

However, God’s PATIENT LOVE, expressed through his indwelling Holy Spirit, is STILL ready and willing to extend his GRACE to you. “…The things which are impossible with men are possible with God…” (Luke 18:27 KJV).

Will you continue to CHOOSE to live like a common sinner? Will you take God’s temple anywhere, do anything, and, hang out with anybody? “…If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.…” (1 Corinthians 3:17 NASB).

“…God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son “INTO” OUR HEARTS…” (Galatians 4:6 NASB). The Holy life of Christ was SENT forth into your heart, because God was“…not willing that …[YOU]… should perish, but that …[You]… should come to repentance…” (2 Peter 3:9 KJV).

His PATIENT LOVE was POURED into your heart through the indwelling Holy Spirit. “…God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us…” (Romans 5:5 NIV).

The life of Christ, the indwelling Holy Spirit within the believer, was meant to be a LIGHT, but if it is eclipsed by the darkness of sin; it is useless. “… I am the light of the world..." (John 9:5, 8:12 KJV). “… You are the light of the world..." (Matthew 5:14 KJV). “ … We have this treasure [LIGHT] ... “in” earthen vessels…” (2 Corinthians 4:6-7 KJV). “…If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, [eclipsed by sin], how great is that darkness!” (Matthew 6:22-23 KJV).

 "… You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men…” (Matthew 5:13 NASB).

God’s PATIENT LOVE, expressed through his indwelling Holy Spirit, will use every opportunity when you glance his way to get your attention.  “…This people draw near me with their MOUTHS and their LIPS do honour me, BUT ….their heart [attention is]…far from me…” (Isaiah 24:19 KJV).

After years of waiting for you, to respond to his PATIENT LOVE, some of you still, “…will not come to [Jesus]… that you might have life...” (John 5:40 KJV).

God’s PATIENT LOVE has WAITED for you to get through your anger, your rebellious attitudes, your questions and doubts, your judgements about his character, your preferred sins and infidelities, your misunderstandings of his sovereignty, your opinion of his wisdom, your pride, your unforgiveness of others, your blame, your whining, and the hosts of other thoughts and feelings.

Job was an upright man, but he needed repentance too. God waited patiently for Job to get there. “Then Job replied to the Lord: “I know that you can do anything, and no one can stop you. You asked, ‘Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorance?’ It is I—and I was talking about things I knew nothing about, things far too wonderful for me. You said, ‘Listen and I will speak! I have some questions for you, and you must answer them.’ I had only heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes.  I take back everything I said, and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance” (Job 42:1-6 NLT).

King Nebuchadnezzar had issues with his pride. God waited patiently for King Nebuchadnezzar to humble himself. “At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever. His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation.

All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: “What have you done?”

At the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne and became even greater than before.

Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble (Daniel 4 NIV).

God is not willing for any of his children to perish in ANY area of their lives, but he wants them to CHOOSE to repent. God is“…not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9 KJV).

King Nebuchadnezzar was perishing in his pride. “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power…” (Daniel 4NIV). You are “…not to think more highly of …[yourself] than [you]… ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment…” (Romans 12:3 ASV).

God’s PATIENT LOVE waited seven years for King Nebuchadnezzar to humble himself.  He was extremely puffed-up with pride. He had very high-minded thoughts of himself. God did not want him to perish in his SINS. God was“…not willing that …[Nebuchadnezzar]… should perish, but that …[he]… should come to repentance…” (2 Peter 3:9 KJV).

. “….Do not forget that [God]… led you through ... He gave you water …He fed you…. He did all this so you would never say to yourself, ‘I have achieved this wealth with my own strength and energy.’ Remember the Lord your God. He is the one who gives you power to be successful ...” (Deuteronomy 8:17-17 NLT).

“…For what gives you the right to make such a judgment? What do you have that God hasn’t given you? And if everything you have is from God, why boast as though it were not a gift?...” (1 Corinthians 4:7 NLT).

King Nebuchadnezzar was given a CHOICE to change his ways. “..Therefore, Your Majesty, be pleased to accept my advice: Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed. It may be that then your prosperity will continue…” (Daniel 4 NIV).

Nebuchadnezzar didn’t LISTEN. “All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, he said, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?” (Daniel 4 NIV)

 God advised King Nebuchadnezzar, through Daniel, to CHOOSE to change his ways, but he was too full of his OWN pride. The bible tells us, “…At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever. His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation...” (Daniel 4 NIV).

God’s PATIENT LOVE waits on many of his people, who are refusing to LISTEN to him or change from their wicked ways. “...God sees…[YOU]… not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart…”(1 Samuel 16:7 NASB).

God is paying close attention to the “…hidden man of the heart…” (1 Peter 3:4 KJV). “For from within, out of the heart of man, proceed evil thoughts… wickedness… pride...  All these evil things come from within, and defile a person.” (Mark 7:21-23 KJV).

God has SEEN the “…hidden man of the [your]…heart…” for YEARS (1 Peter 3:4 KJV). “…For from within, out of …[your]… heart … proceed evil thoughts… wickedness… pride...  All these evil things come from within, and defile …[YOU]...” (Mark 7:21-23 KJV).

God has examined your heart for YEARS and knows everything about you. “O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know everything I do…” (Psalms 139:1-6 NLT).

God KNOWS your desperately wicked heart “…is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked:…who can know it [except God?]…” (Jeremiah 17:9 KJV).

God’s PATIENT LOVE has waited for YEARS for you to examine your OWN heart. “…Examine yourself, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” (2 Corinthians 13:5 KJV).  

However, God’s PATIENT LOVE is still waiting for many of his OWN people to turn from their wicked ways. . “…If My people which are called by My name shall humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways…” (2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV).

“… Your kindness to the wicked does not make them do good. Although others do right, the wicked keep doing wrong and take no notice of the Lord’s majesty…” (Isaiah 26:10 NLT). God has been waiting patiently for his OWN people, for years, to give their hearts to him. “…But my people would not listen to me. They kept doing whatever they wanted, following the stubborn desires of their evil hearts. They went backward instead of forward” (Jeremiah 7:24 NLT).

“But the people replied, “Don’t waste your breath. We will continue to live as we want to, stubbornly following our own evil desires” (JEREMIAH 18:12 NLT).

“…God is LOVE…” (1 John 4:4-8 KJV). “…God is [REAL]… LOVE…” (1 John 4:4-8 KJV). “…LOVE IS PATIENT…” (1 Corinthians 13: 4-8 NIV). God “…is LONGSUFFERING to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9 KJV).

HOWEVER, “…EXCEPT YE REPENT, ye shall all likewise PERISH…” (Luke 13:3 KJV). “… [I]…kept declaring ….that they should REPENT and TURN TO God, performing deeds appropriate to REPENTANCE…” (Acts 26: 20 NASB).

“… “The Lord will judge his own people…” (Hebrews 10:30-31 NLT). “…It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God…: (Hebrews 10:31 NIV).

“…LOVE IS PATIENT…” (1 Corinthians 13: 4-8 NIV). "…Therefore REPENT (while you have a chance) AND RETURN, “SO” that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord…” (Acts 3:19 NASB).