YOUR ENDURING PATIENCE IS NOT PASSIVE, BUT ACTIVELY DEPENDS UPON THE INDWELLING HOLY SPIRIT
“…I
KNOW THY WORKS, AND THY LABOR, AND THY PATIENCE…..”
(REVELATION 2:2 KJV).
*
Job
14:14 it reads: “If a man die, shall he live again? all
the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come” (Job 14:14
KJV). “…it is
appointed unto men
once to DIE…” (Hebrews 9:27
KJV).
“….All the days of my appointed TIME will I WAIT, till my CHANGE come…” (Job 14:14 KJV). Every human being is
appointed to die a physical death sooner or later.
However,
the believer shall continue to live long after he or she dies physically. “…I tell you, whoever obeys my word will NEVER see death” (John 8:51 KJV).
“…And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall NEVER die. Believest
thou this?” (John 8:51 KJV).
The indwelling Spirit EMPOWERS the believer with
eternal life through Jesus Christ, the Lord. “…The GIFT of God is ETERNAL LIFE
through Jesus Christ ….” (Romans 6:23 KJV). “…Jesus said…I am the resurrection and I am the LIFE…..”
(John 11:25 KJV).
Without eternal life
through Jesus Christ physical death leads to spiritual death which is eternal
separation from God.
“…He
that believeth on the Son hath EVERLASTING LIFE: and he that believeth
NOT the Son shall NOT see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. …” (John 3:36KJV).
“….Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath EVERLASTING LIFE…”
(John 6:47 KJV).
Physical death is the
end of one life and spiritual death is
the end of another life. "…Then they
will go away to
eternal punishment, but the
righteous to eternal life…" (Matthew 25:46 NIV). “….And many of them that sleep in the dust of
the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and
everlasting contempt…” (Daniel 12:2 KJV).
There
will be a TIME for physical death and a TIME for spiritual death. “…For the vision [is] yet FOR AN APPOINTED TIME, but at
the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, WAIT FOR IT; because IT WILL SURELY COME,
it will not tarry….” (Habakkuk
2:3 KJV). “…And in the PROCESS of TIME “IT” CAME TO PASS…” (Genesis
4:3 KJV).
“If a man die, shall he live again? all
the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my CHANGE come…” (Job 14:14 KJV). “…Now this I say, brethren,
that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption
inherit incorruption. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be
CHANGED, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump:
for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be CHANGED.
For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal
must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on
incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be
brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory…” (1 Corinthians 15:51-54
KJV).
“…What I am saying, dear brothers and sisters,
is that our physical bodies cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. These dying
bodies cannot inherit what will last forever. But let me reveal
to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! It will happen
in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when
the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died
will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. For our dying bodies must be
transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be
transformed into immortal bodies. Then, when our dying bodies have been
transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled:
“Death is swallowed
up in victory…” (1 Corinthians 15:50-54 NLT).
“…We will not all die, but WE WILL “ALL” BE TRANSFORMED! It will happen
in a moment, in the blink of an eye …” (1 Corinthians
15:50-54 NLT). For the believer, physical death brings about a CHANGE or TRANSFORMATION.
I
said ALL of this; to say this:
there is a DEATH, the believer, must die and
that’s the death to SELF. Jesus is our example. The bible says Jesus died TWO deaths: death to SELF AND death on
the CROSS. First Christ “…HUMBLED himself and became
obedient unto death (inward), even the death of the cross (outward)…”
(Philippians 2:8 KJV).
We witness two deaths: “Obedient unto to death” and “death on the cross.” Jesus Christ “…HUMBLED himself and became obedient unto
death (inward)…” (Philippians 2:8
KJV).
God
says: “Humble YOURSELVES in the sight of the Lord…”
(James 4:10 KJV). It takes TIME to become humble.
Over a
period of TIME, the WORK and LABOR of God, through
the indwelling Holy Spirit, enables the attitude to change. “… I lay down my life... No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of
my own accord. I have
authority to lay it down and authority
to take it up again. This command I received from my Father…” (John 10:17-18 KJV). “…Choose
you
this day whom ye will serve….” (Joshua 24:15 KJV).
It
takes TIME to process from a sinful attitude of pride to a righteous one of
humility. “…And in the PROCESS of TIME “IT” (humility) CAME TO PASS…”
(Genesis 4:3 KJV). “….All the days of my appointed TIME will I wait, till my change (of heart attitude)
come…” (Job 14:14 KJV).
TIME
is the most challenging part of the WORK and LABOR of God. “…And in the PROCESS of TIME “IT” (humility) CAME TO PASS…”
(Genesis 4:3 KJV).
TIME,
therefore, becomes a BLESSING. God waits patiently
for YOU to conform to the image of his Son and is longsuffering.. “Which sometime were
disobedient…the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah (120
years)…” (1 Peter 1:20 KJV). “The
Lord is not slack …but is longsuffering to us-ward…” (2 Peter 3:9
KJV).
“The Lord is longsuffering,
and of great mercy…” (Number 14:18 KJV). God’s ability to
patiently endurance is second to none. Not only is God’s ability to patiently endure
second to none, but it also withstands the test of time too. “…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).
In
addition, God’s ability to show mercy and grace while patiently waiting for you
to get it right is AMAZING. “…The Lord, The Lord God, [IS] merciful
and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth…” (Exodus 34:6 KJV).
“…But
the fruit of the Spirit is…longsuffering…”
(Galatians 5:22-23 KJV).
When
there are LONG stretches of TIME, filled with the WORK and LABOR of God, it is
to BLESS you. It affords you the TIME to humble yourself “…until
Christ be formed
in [you]…”
(Galatians 4:19 KJV). “…GROW to maturity…” (2 Corinthians 13:11 NLT). “….I
pray …that [you]…will keep on GROWING in KNOWLEDGE and
understanding…” (Philippians 1:19 NLT).
Thank
God for TIME! Your WORK and LABOR for God is where your GREATEST BLESSINGS GROW
and DEVELOP.
While
you are growing and developing, God will keep you there “…until [you]… reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge
of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the
fullness of Christ…” (Ephesians 4:14
NIV).
After
long stretches of TIME involved in the activities of the LABOR and WORK of God you
will find yourself becoming more humble, kinder to people, patient, merciful, loving,
full of grace, more honorable and respectful, easily forgiving, and more like
Jesus.“…Whatever I AM
NOW, IT IS ALL BECAUSE GOD poured out his special favor
on me…” (1 Corinthians
15:10 NLT).
TIME
is the pouring out of God’s FAVOR through the
indwelling Holy Spirit which EMPOWERS you to become more Christ like.
Long periods of TIME that involve activities
doing the LABOR and WORK of God is the GREATEST OPPORTUNITY to die to SELF. “…I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it
remains alone. But its death
will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives. Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care
nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity…” (John 12:24-25 NLT). “…Verily,
verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it
abideth alone: but if it die,
it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life
in this world shall keep it unto life eternal…” (John 12:24-25 KJV).
LONG
stretches of TIME is a GIFT that has an
expiration date that ONLY God knows, but those who WAIT on him will enjoy
UNTOLD blessings in THIS life and the life to come!! “…‘We’ve given up everything
to follow you…” (Mark 10:28-31 NLT). And Jesus said to him, “…I assure you that EVERYONE who has given up [SELF]
….for my sake and for the Good News,
will receive
NOW in return a hundred times ….And
in the world to come that person will have eternal life...” (Mark 10:28-31 NLT).
God
has a SET TIME for YOU. “…..And the Lord appointed A SET TIME, saying, To morrow the Lord shall do this thing in the land. And the Lord did that
thing on the morrow…” (Exodus (9:5-6 KJV). “…At the PROPER time [you]… WILL reap a HARVEST if [you]… do not give up…”
(Galatians 6:9 NIV). “…The LORD [is] good
unto them that WAIT FOR HIM…” (Lamentations 3:25 KJV). “…WAIT ON the LORD: …WAIT, I say, on the LORD…” (Psalms 27:14 KJV).
“…THOUGH IT TARRY, WAIT FOR IT….”
(Habakkuk 2:3 KJV).
TIME
is a GIFT and it is an important part of the LABOR and WORK of God. “…God is mighty, but he does
not despise anyone! He is mighty in both power and understanding. He does not let the wicked live but gives justice to the afflicted.
He never takes his eyes off the innocent, but he sets them on thrones with kings and
exalts them forever. If they are bound in chains and
CAUGHT UP in a web of trouble, HE SHOWS THEM THE REASON. HE
SHOWS THEM THEIR SINS OF PRIDE. HE GETS THEIR
ATTENTION AND COMMANDS THAT THEY TURN FROM EVIL…”
(Job 36:6-10 NLT).
Long
stretches of TIME gets your attention sooner or later. “…But by means of their suffering, he rescues those who suffer. For he
GETS THEIR ATTENTION through adversity…” (Job 36:15 NLT).
Long
stretches of TIME can make you blame or question God about the injustices and
unfairness around you. It will appear as if evil and evil people are getting
away with their sins, or wicked behavior, or wrong doing. “….God is
leading you away from danger, …to a place free from distress.
He is setting your table with the best food. But
you are obsessed with whether the godless will be judged. Don’t worry, judgment and
justice will be upheld. But watch out, or you may
be seduced by wealth. Don’t let yourself be bribed into
sin. Could all your wealth or
all your mighty efforts keep you from distress? Be on guard! Turn back from evil, for God sent this suffering
to keep you from a life of evil…” (Job 36:16-21 NLT).
During
LONG stretches of TIME it can become tempting to lose sight of God! “….Look,
GOD IS ALL-POWERFUL.
Who is a teacher like him? No one can tell him
what to do, or say to him, ‘You have done wrong.’ Instead, glorify HIS MIGHTY
WORKS, singing
songs of praise. Everyone
has seen these things, though only from a distance.
“Look, God is greater than we can understand. His years cannot be counted. He draws up the water
vapor and then distills it into rain. The rain pours down from the clouds, and
everyone benefits. Who can understand the spreading of the clouds and the thunder that rolls forth from heaven? See how he spreads the lightning around him and
how it lights up the depths of the sea. By these mighty
acts he nourishes the people, giving them
food in abundance. He fills his hands with lightning bolts and hurls each at its
target. The thunder announces his presence; the storm
announces his indignant anger…” (Job 36:22-33 NLT). “… there is NONE like unto thee, O LORD; thou art GREAT, and thy name is
great in might.…” (Jeremiah 10:6 KJV).
“…There is NONE HOLY
as the Lord…” (1 Samuel 2:2 KJV). “… there is NONE GOOD but
one, that is, God”
(Mark 10:18 KJV).
“….Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, WHOSE MIND IS STAYED ON THEE…” (Isaiah
26:3 KJV). “….Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, THINK ON THESE
THINGS…” (Philippians 4:8 KJV).
LONG
stretches of TIME can tempt you to think or believe God can’t fix something in
your life. “…the things which are
impossible with men ARE POSSIBLE WITH GOD…” (Luke 18:27 KJV). “….I am
the Lord,
the God of all flesh: IS THERE ANY THING TOO HARD FOR ME?” (Jeremiah 32:27 KJV).
“…NOW UNTO HIM THAT IS ABLE to
do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask
or THINK, according to the power that worketh in us…” (Ephesians 3:20
KJV).
TIME
can become a LONG succession of dutiful, joyless LABOR and WORK for God. Time, labor, and work are ALL God’s GIFT to you. Your GREATEST blessings rest
in the TIME associated with the LABOR and WORK.
It is
during the LONG stretches of TIME and the GIFT of LABOR and WORK that you
BECOME Christ-like.
It may
get old and wearisome, but many faithful believers continue to choose to
patiently wait on God until their CHANGE comes. The church in Ephesus
(Revelation 2) TRUSTED God’s timing and his gift of labor and work. “….All the days of my appointed TIME WILL I WAIT, till my
change come…” (Job 14:14 KJV “…WAIT ON the LORD: …WAIT, I say, on the LORD…” (Psalms 27:14 KJV).
“…THOUGH IT TARRY, WAIT FOR IT….”
(Habakkuk 2:3 KJV). “…let
PATIENCE have its perfect work,
that you may be perfect (mature,
sanctified) and complete, lacking nothing….” (James 1:2-4 KJV). The
church in Ephesus (Revelation 2) was “….WORK[ing]
OUT [their] …OWN SALVATION…” (Philippians 2:12 KJV).
God
said about them: “…I KNOW
THY WORKS, AND THY LABOR, AND THY PATIENCE…..”
(REVELATION 2:2 KJV).
Working
out your SALVATION includes the activities required to DO the LABOR and WORK of
God. “God has chosen you from the
beginning for SALVATION through SANCTIFICATION by the Spirit and faith in the truth…”
(2 Thessalonians 2:13 NASB).
The
activities required to DO the LABORIOUS WORK of God, empowered by the
indwelling Holy Spirit, produces spiritual growth and development. Thus,“… GROW (develop) in the GRACE and knowledge of
our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ…” (2 Timothy 3:18 NIV).“…Be
conformed to the image of his Son...” (ROMANS 8:29 KJV).
“…Be transformed by the renewing (laboring) of [my] mind….” (Romans 12:2
KJV). “…until we …become
mature, attaining to the whole measure
of the fullness of Christ…” (Ephesians
4:14 NIV). “… [Therefore]…
we all … are changed
(transformed) into the same image [of Christ] from glory to glory …”
(2 Corinthians 3:18 KJV). “…by the grace of
God I am what I am…” (1 Corinthians 15:10 NIV).
The
Sovereign God says, “…"This is the way;
walk in it…" Isaiah 30:21 NIV). “…I will
instruct thee and teach
thee in the way
which thou shalt go: I will
guide thee with mine eye…” (Psalms 32:8 KJV). “The
steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he
delighteth in his way” (Psalms 37:23 KJV). “…Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God ….which leadeth thee
by the way that thou shouldest
go….” (Isaiah 48:17 KJV).
Not
only does the activities required to DO the LABOR and WORK of God call for
TIME, but also PATIENCE. “…I
KNOW THY WORKS, AND THY LABOR, AND THY PATIENCE…..”
(REVELATION 2:2 KJV).
PATIENCE,
empowered by the indwelling Holy Spirit,
enables you to possess, or acquire, or restore, sanctify, or gain back your
soul (life). “…In your patience POSSESS
you your souls…” (Luke 21:19 KJV). “I can do all things through
Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Philippians 4:13
KJV).
After
a person is SAVED, they can choose to “….WORK
OUT [their]… own salvation…” empowered by the indwelling Holy Spirit (Philippians
2:12 KJV).
Working out your own SALVATION includes: “…Putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive
the word implanted, which is able to SAVE YOUR SOULS….” (James 1:21 NASB).
“…Throw off your old sinful nature and your former way
of life…” (Ephesians 4:22 NIV). “…you must put off falsehood and speak
truthfully to your neighbor…” (Ephesians 4:25 NLT). “….Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger,
and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice…”
(Ephesians 4:31 KJV).
“….now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath,
malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth….” (Colossians
3:8 KJV).
“…Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all
guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings…” (1 Peter 2:1
KJV).
Working
out your SALVATION takes TIME and will include activities necessary to DO the
LABOR and WORK of God (days, weeks, months, or even years).
Therefore, it becomes necessary to “…WAIT ON the LORD: …WAIT,
I say, on the LORD…” (Psalms 27:14 KJV). “…THOUGH IT TARRY, WAIT FOR IT….”
(Habakkuk 2:3 KJV).
“…My
brethren ….the testing of your faith produces
PATIENCE. But let PATIENCE have its
perfect work, that you may be
perfect (mature) and complete, lacking nothing….” (James 1:2-4 KJV). “…Dear
brothers and sisters …when your faith is tested, your ENDURANCE has a chance to grow. So
let it grow, for when your ENDURANCE is fully developed, you will be
perfect and complete, needing nothing….” (James 1:2-4 NLT).
We
talked about the GIFT of TIME. TIME often consists of LONG periods of WAITING.
WAITING requires PATIENCE. PATIENCE is paired with ENDURANCE. PATIENT ENDURANCE
is something that FULLY develops YOU to maturity in Christ.
“…My brethren ….the testing of your faith
produces PATIENCE. But let PATIENCE have its
perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing….”
(James 1:2-4 KJV). “…Dear
brothers and sisters …when your faith is tested, your ENDURANCE has a chance to
grow. So let it grow, for when your ENDURANCE is
fully developed, you will be perfect (mature) and complete, needing
nothing….”
(James 1:2-4 NLT).
What
is PATIENCE? PATIENCE is a calm, content, and non-complaining attitude that
develops from A LONG period of submitting to the activities required to DO the
LABOR and WORK of God while waiting for what is hoped for and expected from God.
“…We are saved by hope: but hope that is
seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we
hope for that we see not, then do we
with PATIENCE wait for it...” (Romans
8:24-25 KJV).
“….Wait PATIENTLY
for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait PATIENTLY
for the Lord….” (Psalms 27:14
NLT).
“….Rest in the Lord,
and wait PATIENTLY for him: fret not
thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who
bringeth wicked devices to pass…” (Psalms 37:7 KJV). “…I waited PATIENTLY for the Lord;
and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry…” (Psalms 40:1 KJV).
“…Abraham waited PATIENTLY, and he received what God had promised…”
(Hebrews 6:15 NLT).
PATIENCE
endurance becomes a supernatural ability, empowered by the indwelling Holy Spirit, to endure offenses, pain, insults,
rejection, and other injuries without a negative attitude, or anger, or a vengeful
desire for retribution. “….WE PROVE OURSELVES by our purity, our
understanding, our PATIENCE, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit WITHIN us, and by our sincere love…” (2 Corinthians 6:6 NLT). “…Be PATIENT toward all men…” (1 Thessalonians 5:14
KJV). “… Be PATIENT with everyone…” (1 Thessalonians 5:14
NLT). “…A servant of the Lord must not
quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be PATIENT with difficult people…”
(2 Timothy 2:24 NLT).
You
are GROWING and DEVELOPING. Patience endurance is the cousin
of humility. “….PATIENCE is better than pride…”
(Ecclesiastes 7:8 NLT). “…The PATIENT in spirit is better
than the proud in spirit…” (Ecclesiastes 7:8 KJV). “…Always
be HUMBLE and gentle. Be PATIENT with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults
because of your
love…” (Ephesians 4:2 NLT).
To
patiently endure is a willful CHOICE to wait for God to act regardless of the
injustices or offenses and without complaint or discontent. “…Rejoicing
in hope; PATIENT
IN TRIBULATION; continuing instant in prayer…” (Romans 12:12 KJV). “…The Scriptures give us hope and
encouragement as we wait PATIENTLY for God’s promises
to be fulfilled….” (Romans 15:4 KJV).
The
variant grammatical spellings of the word PATIENT, in the Old or New
Testaments, basically mean “to wait,” “to expect,” “to hope for,”
“longsuffering,” “endurance,” or “steadfastness.”
PATIENT
endurance is a challenging trait to develop, and it would be even more challenging to
sustain without the indwelling Holy Spirit.
“...For it is God which worketh in you both
to will and to do of his good pleasure”
(Philippians 2:13 KJV). “...I can do all
things through Christ which strengtheneth me...”
(Philippians 4:13 KJV).
“…We are PATIENT with those who abuse us…” (1 Corinthians 4:12 NLT). “…Love is PATIENT and kind…” (1 Corinthians 13:4 NLT). “…Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can PATIENTLY endure the same things we suffer…” (2 Corinthians 1:6 NLT). “…We PATIENTLY endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind…” (2 Corinthians 6:4 NLT).
“…We are PATIENT with those who abuse us…” (1 Corinthians 4:12 NLT). “…Love is PATIENT and kind…” (1 Corinthians 13:4 NLT). “…Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can PATIENTLY endure the same things we suffer…” (2 Corinthians 1:6 NLT). “…We PATIENTLY endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind…” (2 Corinthians 6:4 NLT).
PATIENT
endurance is GAINED through the activities required to DO the LABORIOUS WORK of
God and by choosing to depend relentlessly upon the indwelling Holy Spirit. “…Trust in the Lord with ALL thine heart;
and lean not unto thine own
understanding. In All thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall
direct thy paths”
(Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV).
Trusting
and depending upon the indwelling Holy
Spirit empowers you to uncompromisingly WAIT for his Divine will to be done,
to expect his absolute goodness, and rely upon his promises. “…PATIENT endurance is what you need now,
so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you WILL receive all that he has promised…” (Hebrews 10:36 NLT).
The
21st century is fast paced and most people are barely willing to
wait the few seconds for a red traffic light to turn green.
Patience
involves a willingness to wait on God and his Divine will, to be done, whether
it takes days, weeks, months, or years. “…God is
pleased when, conscious of his will, you PATIENTLY
endure unjust treatment…”
(1 Peter 2:19 NLT).
When
waiting and expecting God to fulfill his promises, exact injustices, and wroth
his divine will, believers need the fruit of patient endurance. “….But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy,
peace, longsuffering
(patience), gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law….” (Galatians 5:22-23
KJV). “…The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, PATIENCE,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness…” (Galatians 5:22 NLT).
“… [You]… are given...exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be PARTAKERS of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world
through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue;
and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance PATIENCE; and to PATIENCE godliness;
And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that
ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ…”
(2 Peter 1: 4-9 KJV).
Patience
is obviously a fruit of the Spirit, which makes it a trait of God’s divine HOLY
nature. “…Now the God of PATIENCE
and consolation…” (Romans 15:5 KJV). “…the fruit of the Spirit is … longsuffering (patience)….” (Galatians 5:22-23
KJV).
God
has the AWESOME ability to tolerate suffering and offenses, with LOVE, mercy,
and patient endurance; also known as longsuffering. “…The Lord is not slack …but is longsuffering to us-ward…” (2
Peter 3:9 KJV). “The
Lord is longsuffering, and of great mercy…”
(Number 14:18 KJV).
Patient
endurance (longsuffering) is an expression of God’s LOVE for you. “…Love is PATIENT
and kind…” (1
Corinthians 13:4 NLT). “…God is LOVE…” (1
John 4:4-8 KJV). “…every one that loveth ….
KNOWETH God. He that loveth
NOT KNOWETH NOT God; for God is love…”
(1 John 4:4-8 KJV).
God’s
love is the FUEL behind HIS acts of patience. “…God is LOVE…” (1 John 4:4-8 KJV). “…Love “IS” PATIENT and kind…” (1 Corinthians 13:4 NLT). “… if I have the gift
of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have NOT LOVE, I AM NOTHING. And if I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but have NOT LOVE, IT PROFITETH ME NOTHING…” (1
Corinthians 13:2-3 ASV).
Patient
endurance is God’s expression of LOVE and in this world we are to be JUST like
him.
“….LOVE is the fulfillment of the law (HIS WORD)…”
(Romans 13:10 NIV).
“….Thou shalt LOVE thy
neighbour as thyself…” (Matthew 22:39 KJV).
“…A new commandment I give unto you, That ye LOVE ONE ANOTHER;
AS I HAVE LOVED YOU, that ye also love one another…” (John 13:34
KJV).
“…Owe no man any thing, BUT TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER: for he that
loveth another hath fulfilled the law…” (Romans 13:8 KJV).
“…For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt LOVE THY NEIGHBOUR
AS THYSELF….” (Galatians 5:14 KJV).
“If ye fulfil the royal law according to the
scripture, Thou shalt LOVE THY NEIGHBOUR AS THYSELF, ye do well…”
(James 2:8 KJV).
“…Master, which is the great commandment in
the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God
with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the
first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt LOVE THY NEIGHBOUR
AS THYSELF. On these two
commandments hang all the law and the prophets…” (Matthew 22:36-40
KJV).
“…Be PATIENT with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of YOUR
LOVE…” (Ephesians 4:2 NLT). “…all men will
know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another…" (John 13:35 NASB). “…Love is PATIENT and kind…” (1 Corinthians 13:4 NLT).
“…God is LOVE…” (1 John 4:4-8 KJV). God’s love is greater
than man’s many offenses against him. God’s love is greater than his many adulteries.
God’s love is greater than man’s multiple acts of unfaithfulness. “…God is LOVE…” (1 John 4:4-8 KJV).
God is
extravagant with his chances towards those he loves. His love patiently
overrides all their offenses and abuses against him. His “…LOVE COVERETH
a multitude of sins…” (Proverbs 10:12, 1 Peter 4:8 ASV).
“If we confess our sins, HE is faithful and just to forgive us our sins,
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness…” (1 John 1:9 KJV). “…For I will forgive
their wickedness and will remember their sins no more…" (Hebrews
8:12 NIV). His “…love COVERETH a
multitude of sins…” (Proverbs 10:12, 1 Peter 4:8 ASV).
How
many offenses are too many for God? How many chances does he give before His GRACE
is exhausted? “…Where
sin increased, [His]…grace
abounded all the more…” (Romans 5:20 NASB). God’s “…grace is sufficient for you…” (2 Corinthians 12:9 NASB).
What
can you do to exhaust the mercy (compassion, pity, forgiveness, kindness,
sympathy, understanding, benevolence) or the grace (undeserved favor, help,
assistance, advantage) of the Living God? “The
Lord is longsuffering, and of great mercy…”
(Numbers 14:18 KJV).
Why
does God give a man or woman so many chances? What is His motive for doing
that? “…God is LOVE…” (1 John 4:4-8 KJV). “…The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people
think. No, he is
being PATIENT for your sake.
He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent…” (2
Peter 3:9 NLT). “…Love is PATIENT
and kind…” (1
Corinthians 13:4 NLT).
LOVE
is the essence of God’s nature. He can’t go against who He is. “…God “IS” LOVE…” (1 John
4:4-8 KJV).
His
ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts. But his ways are
higher than our ways. “…For
my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than
your ways, and my thoughts
than your thoughts…” (Isaiah 55:8-9 KJV).
People
can exhaust the chances they have with other humans, but there is always
another chance with God as long as you are on this earth. . “…He is being PATIENT for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed,
but wants
everyone to repent…” (2 Peter 3:9 NLT). “…Love is PATIENT and kind…” (1 Corinthians 13:4 NLT).
God’s loving
and patient ways goes against the fleshly ways and sinful nature of mankind.
Who God is and the way he does things are unnatural to man and they judge it
against their own ways of doing things. “Thou
givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit. These things hast thou
done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as
thyself…“(Psalm 50:19-21 KJV).
“…God “IS” LOVE…” (1 John 4:4-8 KJV). “…Love is PATIENT and kind…” (1 Corinthians 13:4 NLT).
It is
distasteful (objectionable) sometimes to continue to love someone who seems to
have exhausted his or her chances and committed such atrocities to another
human being, but LOVE covers a multitude of sins. “…LOVE covereth a multitude of sins…” (Proverbs 10:12, 1 Peter
4:8 ASV). God’s “…love
is PATIENT
… [God’s]…love is kind. ….it KEEPS NO RECORD of wrongs …” (1
Corinthians 13: 4-8 NIV). God “…blotteth
out …[your] transgression and remember NOT… [your] sins… (Isaiah 43:25,
Hebrews 8:12, 10:17 ASV). “…For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their
sins no more…" (Hebrews 8:12 NIV).
God’s
understanding of mankind is like deep waters and man’s love will drown where
God’s love soars. God can sympathize with your plight with sin, yet he has
never sinned. “…For we do not have a
high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has
been tempted in all things as we are, yet
without sin…” (Hebrews 4:15 NASB).
God
alone can sympathize with your struggle with sin and therefore has the
fortitude to love an individual through their deepest issues and concerns. “…LOVE never fails…”
(1 Corinthians 13: 4-8 NIV). “…Love is PATIENT and kind…” (1 Corinthians 13:4 NLT).
That
kind of love is a mighty weapon against the dark foes of the soul. “…What then shall we say to
these things? If God is for us,
who is against us? ...Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution,
or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ... [NO] …But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who
loved us. … [NOTHING]…will be able to separate us from the love of God,
which is in Christ Jesus our Lord…” (Romans
8:31-39 NASB).
Love
has the power to continue to reach out, through countless hours, days, weeks,
and years, to those who have fallen into the gutters and trenches of life and extends
his patient, grace-filled hand to them. “…LOVE never fails…” (1 Corinthians 13: 4-8 NIV). He has “….loved [you]...with an everlasting love….”
(Jeremiah 31:3 KJV).
There
is no greater love than the love of God. “Greater love hath no man
than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13 KJV). “…There is no greater love than to lay down one’s
life…” (John 15:13 NLT).
We
have NO EXCUSE “NOT” to love others as he has loved each of us. In this world
we are to LOVE like him. And we CAN love like him through the indwelling Holy Spirit.
I was
personally challenged to love someone with patient endurance. I discovered God’s
love in the activities required to DO the LABOR and WORK of God’s kind of LOVE. To love LIKE God is NOT passive, but requires LABOR empowered by the indwelling Holy Spirit.
This
is what I was personally empowered to learn about God's love: Love covers
over a lot of offenses. Loving is fully forgiving and doesn’t keep a record of
another person’s wrongs towards you. Love is enduring. Love suffers long,
because it gives the other person a chance to get it right with you. Love is
faithful. Love is loyal. Love involves a sacrifice and therefore will always be
costly. Love continues, even if it does not receive anything in return. Love
does not come with a wage attachment, where the recipient has to somehow earn
it. Love does not come with a partiality tag, where the recipient has to be
worthy of it. Love does not come with a merit tag, where the recipient has to
be deserving of it. Love is free towards the recipient of it and will not
demand anything in return. Love won’t change, even if the recipient changes,
walks away, rejects it, follows after another,
is unfaithful, offends, or
totally forgets about it.
How
many times did I ask God: “What kind of
LOVE is this?” God said LOVE is who he is at his very core and it is his
preferred way of being. LOVE is at the foundation of all that he says, all that
he does, and all that he is. Love is his GLORY at its finest!!!
While
loving my recipient with patient endurance, God also taught me that love is not
insecure and therefore needs nothing from the recipient. Love does not have low
self-esteem and therefore, does not need validation from its recipient. Love is concerned
with its own expression and not the expression of the recipient. Love’s only
agenda is love.
I
found it very hard and challenging to love in this way. It made me feel like a
punk or wimp. It made me feel as if I was letting the person walk over me and
take advantage of my kindness. I clearly saw my ways were definitely NOT like
God’s ways, because I didn’t want to love the way God does.
I
criticized God’s patient, enduring love and found his kind of love tempted my
rebellious heart to the brink of resistance in real life. I found it extremely
hard to forgive some of the offenses the recipient of my love had committed
against me. Yet, God’s indwelling Holy Spirit
empowered me and kept reminding me that love covers a multitude of sin. “…LOVE covereth a multitude of sins…” (Proverbs 10:12,
1 Peter 4:8 ASV).
“…A new commandment I give unto you, That ye LOVE ONE ANOTHER;
AS I HAVE LOVED YOU, that ye also love one another…” (John 13:34
KJV). “…Then came Peter
to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him?
till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times
seven…” (Matthew 18:21-22 KJV).
“…Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth
iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his
heritage? he retaineth not his anger for
ever, because HE DELIGHTETH IN MERCY…”
(Micah 7:18 KJV). “…In this world we are like Jesus…” (1 John 4:17
NIV). “…Mercy triumphs over judgement.” (James 2:13 NASB). “…Owe no man any thing, BUT TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER: for he that
loveth another hath fulfilled the law…” (Romans 13:8 KJV).
When
no one is looking but God and the recipient of your love has offended or hurt
you yet again; the indwelling Spirit speaks to your heart: “…I delight in mercy” or “love covers over a multitude of sin” or
“love one another as I have loved you.”
How will you choose to respond? “…God “IS” LOVE…” (1 John 4:4-8 KJV). “…Love is PATIENT and kind…” (1 Corinthians 13:4 NLT).
The
flesh dies kicking and screaming, but the
indwelling Spirit enabled me to walk in his love, his mercy, and his grace
over and over and over and over and over again for years. Just thinking about
it, writing it down to share with you is painful still, and brings tears to my
heart.
Living
righteous ain’t easy, but it is liberating.
“…The truth shall MAKE YOU FREE…” (JOHN 8:32 KJV).
However,
until the situation changes and you KNOW it will, you CHOOSE to do the
activities required to DO the LABOR and WORK of God’s love. I CHOOSE to
forgive, show grace and mercy, not be judgmental, demonstrate Godly kindness,
and walk in patient, enduring, Godly love; for years.
Did
I do it perfectly? NO. I stumbled, tripped, fell, made a thousand mistakes, was
rebellious at times, took matters into my hands, totally ignored God’s way, and
confessed a multitude of sins a multitude of times.
Over
the LONG stretch of TIME I finally started getting it more right than wrong. I
eventually took on the attitude of Job. “….all
the days of my appointed time WILL I WAIT, till my change come…” (Job 14:14 KJV). “…WAIT ON the LORD: …WAIT, I say, on the LORD…” (Psalms 27:14 KJV).
“…THOUGH IT TARRY, WAIT FOR IT….”
(Habakkuk 2:3 KJV).
“…My
brethren ….the testing of your faith produces
PATIENCE. But let PATIENCE have its
perfect work, that you may be
perfect (mature) and complete, lacking nothing….” (James 1:2-4 KJV).
GOD WILL TURN IT AROUND. LOVE WILL PREVAIL. IT NEVER FAILS!! HE WORKS OUT THE GREATEST LOVE STORIES OF ALL TIMES. YOUR LOVING RELATIONSHIPS WILL END UP WITH DOUBLE THE HARVEST OF LOVE THAN THEY HAD BEFORE. WAIT ON HIM!
God promises to turn a situation around, and HE
WILL. In the meantime, patience endurance is challenged especially when seconds
turn into minutes, minutes turn into hours, hours turn into days, days turn
into weeks, weeks turn into months, and months turn into years.
Patience endurance is about you depending upon God’s
unchanging LOVE for you. TRUSTING that the fervor of his FIRST LOVE remains
forever faithful and everlasting. “…I
am the Lord, I change NOT…” (Malachi 3:6 KJV). “…God “IS” LOVE…” (1 John 4:4-8 KJV). “…Love is PATIENT and kind…” (1 Corinthians 13:4 NLT). “….The…faithful love of the Lord, [for you], never ends...!”(Lamentations 3:22-23 NLT). “…His faithful love endures forever…” (Psalm 136:1-3
NLT). “…If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for
he cannot deny who he is…” (2
Timothy 2:13 NLT).
Your LABOR and WORK of God will turn into a
PROMOTION. When you get a promotion; you must be trained for the NEW position. “…It is God who WORKS in you to
will and
to act in order to fulfill his good purpose” (Philippians 2:13 NIV). “…Now may the
God of peace … that great Shepherd of the sheep, EQUIP YOU with everything
good for doing his will, and may he work
in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be
glory for ever and ever. Amen” (Hebrews 13:20-21 NIV).
God will keep EVERY promise he has EVER made to you.
HE WILL do what he said he would do. DON’T GIVE UP! “…[God is] … watching
over [his]… word to perform it…” (Jeremiah 1:12 NASB). “…So shall my word be that goeth
forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish
that which I please, and it
shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11 KJV). “…As many as are
the promises of God, in Him they are yes …also
… Amen …” (2 Corinthians 1:20
NASB). “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth
us…” (1 John 5:14 KJV). “…You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it...” (John 14:12-14 NLT).
“…Not one of the good
promises which the Lord had made
… failed; all came to pass…” (Joshua 21:45 NASB).
“…He has granted to [you]…
His precious and magnificent promises…” (2 Peter 1:4 NASB).
You are growing and you are developing. It doesn’t
matter how many days, weeks, months, or years it’s been or what it has cost
you…in the END YOU WIN!!! “…And in the PROCESS of time IT CAME TO PASS…” (Genesis
4:3 KJV).
God is GROWING you INTO the MATURITY necessary for
the CALLING on your life. “….I
PRESS toward the mark for the
prize of the
HIGH CALLING of God in Christ Jesus…” (Philippians 3:14 KJV). “Therefore, brethren, be all the more
diligent to make
certain about HIS CALLING and choosing you; for as long as you PRACTICE these things, you will never
stumble…” (2 Peter 1:10 NASB).
SO, “…GROW to maturity…” (2
Corinthians 13:11 NLT). “…until
Christ be formed
in you…”
(Galatians 4:19 KJV). “….I pray
…that you will keep on GROWING
in KNOWLEDGE and understanding…” (Philippians 1:19 NLT).
THUS, “…let PATIENCE have its perfect work, that you
may be perfect (mature, sanctified) and complete, lacking nothing….” (James 1:2-4
KJV). “Let us NOT become weary in doing
good, for at the PROPER TIME
WE WILL REAP A HARVEST if we do not
give up” (Galatians 6:9 NIV).
There
is a reason you have patiently endured it all and the end result is walking
TRIUMPHANTLY in the CALLING upon your life. “….the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and TO GIVE HIS LIFE as
a ransom for many" (Matthew 20:28).
“But if you suffer for doing
good and you endure it, this is
commendable before God.
To this you were
called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow
in his steps. “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” When they hurled
their insults at him, HE DID NOT RETALIATE; when he suffered, HE MADE NO THREAT.
“INSTEAD,” he entrusted himself to him who judges justly” (1 Peter 2:19-23 NIV).
“…keeping
our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the JOY
awaiting him, HE ENDURED THE CROSS, disregarding its shame…” (Hebrews 12:2 NLT).
“…AT the PROPER TIME WE
WILL REAP A HARVEST if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9 NIV).
“…What
we do see is Jesus, who for a little while was given a position “a
little lower than the angels”; and because he suffered death (death to SELF and death on the
CROSS) for us, he is NOW “crowned with glory and honor.” Yes, by
God’s grace, Jesus tasted DEATH for
everyone…” (Hebrews 2:9 NLT). “…Therefore, God ELEVATED him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth…” (Philippians 2:9-10
NLT).
“…And in the PROCESS of time IT (WHATEVER IT IS) …[WILL COME]… TO
PASS…” (Genesis 4:3 KJV).
God
KNOWS all and every activity you have DONE in order to DO the LABOR and WORK of
God, and he commends you for it.
“…I KNOW THY WORKS, AND THY LABOR, AND THY PATIENCE…..” (REVELATION 2:2 KJV).
However,
God doesn’t want you to forget why you started this WORK, this LABOR, or this
journey of PATIENT endurance.
“….
THOU HAST “LEFT” THY FIRST LOVE….” (REVELATION 2:4 KJV). GO BACK TO YOUR FIRST LOVE, REPENT, AND DO THE FIRST WORKS by depending upon the indwelling Holy Spirit!
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