Patience

Sermon, Newcastle

January 27th, 1996

Phil Hopwood

Theme Scripture:

Colossians 3:12-15 12 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. (NIV)

INTRODUCTION:

LAST WEEK WE SOUGHT TO PUT INTO PERSPECTIVE THE FACT THAT WE ARE SAVED FREELY BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH ALONE, AND THE ROLE OF GOOD WORKS IN OUR LIVES:
1. We talked about JUSTIFICATION;
  1. and saw how once we are in Christ and he is in us, we have his righteousness imputed to us in a legal sense;
2. And we talked about SANCTIFICATION:
  1. How Jesus living in us transforms our actual lives, guiding, teaching, inspiring and empowering us to live as he lives.

S.P.S:

TODAY I'D LIKE TO DISCUSS AN ASPECT OF CHRISTIAN LIVING THAT IS EMPHASISED OFTEN IN SCRIPTURE; AND EXEMPLIFIED BY THE ONE WHO SEEKS TO LIVE HIS LIFE IN US;
1. PATIENCE:
  1. It is one of those attributes we love to see others exhibit towards, us, but that too often others fail to see us demonstrate towards them as much as they would like
  2. Patience is, as someone said, letting your engine idle when you feel like stripping the gears.
2. The Bible has a lot to say about patience
  1. Today we are going to have time to study just two or three aspects
3. The first aspect of patience we are going to look at is:

BODY:

I: LONGSUFFERING:

LIFE WASN'T MEANT TO BE EASY, MALCOLM FRASER SAID MANY YEARS AGO.
1. One of the major areas of suffering and anguish, stress and difficulty in our lives comes from mistreatment by others
  1. Even to the point of abuse
2. But how are we to deal with wrong treatment
  1. How are we to act towards those who malign us, misrepresent us, mistreat us, our families or our possessions?
3. The natural way is to try and get even
  1. to try and right the injustice by defending ourselves, or going on the offence to try and even things up
  2. To punish, to get justice
  3. To put the other person in their place, correct them, and ensure they won't push us around or hurt or mistreat us again!
THE BIBLICAL RESPONSE TO THE WRONG TREATMENT WE SUFFER FROM OTHERS IS CLEAR;
1. Summed up in one particular aspect of PATIENCE which the KJV translated well, as LONGSUFFERING
  1. Jerry Bridges talks about this aspect of Godly patience in his book, The Practice of Godliness,

This aspect of patience is the ability to suffer a long time under the mistreatment of others without growing resentful or bitter. The occasions for exercising this quality are numerous; they vary from malicious wrongs all the way to seemingly innocent practical jokes. They include, ridicule, scorn, insults, and undeserved rebukes, as well as outright persecution. The Christian who is the victim of office politics or oganizational power plays must react with longsuffering. The believing husband or wife who is rejected or mistreated by an unbelieving spouse needs this kind of patience.

PAUL TALKS ABOUT THIS TYPE OF PATIENCE IN ICORINTHIANS 13:

1 Corinthians 13:4-5

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. (NIV)

Here patience, longsuffering, is shown to be one of the qualities that constitutes Godly love.
The Greek word in v4 makrothumeo {mak-roth-oo-meh'-o}
1. Thayer;
  1. means to suffer long , be longsuffering , patiently endure, to be of a long spirit, not to lose heart
  2. to persevere patiently and bravely in enduring misfortunes and troubles
  3. to be patient in bearing the offences and injuries of others
  4. to be mild and slow in avenging
  5. to be longsuffering, slow to anger, slow to punish
2. it is the self restraint which does not hastily retaliate a wrong. It is the opposite of wrath and revenge
This same Greek word, is listed among the fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22

Galatians 5:22

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, (NIV)

It isn't easy to be mild and slow to get angry, to stop ourselves retaliating against those who we feel have hurt us
How can we make progress in this area that is so important to right relationships, withing the hom, the comminity, at work, school, and in the church?
1. There are several things that God points us to in order to help us deal with problems we feel others have caused us;
  1. Look at one that might not at first appear obvious.
2. Peter and Paul had many in their congregations that were slaves.
  1. As you can imagine many of their masters were not very nice
    1. Not fair!
    2. Harsh, unfair, and abusive
  2. Surely these slaves would be justified in seeking some sort of means to retaliate against their abusive masters
  3. Who could blame them if they rebelled, or poisoned their masters food?
3. Peter talked to these Christian slaves, and helped them to be patient by focusing on one particular aspect of God's way of doing things

1 Peter 2:18-24

18 Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. 19 For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. 20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. 21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

22 "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth."

23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. (NIV)

WHEN PEOPLE SEEM TO BE MISTREATING US, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS WE WANT TO DO IS GET JUSTICE, TO GET EVEN, TO SQUARE ACCOUNTS, TO PUNISH, TO DEFEND OURSELVES ETC.
1. God counsels us to focus on HIS JUSTICE not OURS in these situations!
2. We need to look to the example of Jesus Christ

1 Peter 2:23 23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. (NIV)

FAITH IS THE KEY HERE:
1. Faith in God and his justice
  1. Looking to him to take care of us
  2. To correct others, to punish where he sees necessary, and as he knows is constructive and helpful to the other person
2. We can talk about doctrines, and about our faith and righteousness until we are blue in the face, but issues like PATIENCE are where true Christianity is evidenced
  1. Where the rubber meets the road
  2. Enduring wrong doing, long-suffering is a fruit of true faith
  3. A fruit of Jesus living in us through the Holy Spirit
3. Galatians 5: also lists the fruits of a carnal life, and includes the opposites of longsuffering, and trusting in God for justice
  1. Talks in verse 20 of hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions (NIV)

Romans 12:18-20

18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. 20 On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." (NIV)

As well as telling us to put our faith in God and his justice on our behalf, we are re-introduced to the other major key to longsuffering-LOVE-that we saw in I Corinthians.

READ SOME MORE FROM JERRY BRIDGES;

One of the thoughts that most disturbs a suffering Christian who has not learned patience is this issue of justice. He is concerned that his tormentor will escape justice, that he will not receive the punishment he deserves. The patient Christian who suffers leaves this issue in the hands of God. He is confident that God will render justice, though he knows that this may not occur until the time of our Lord's return (2 Thessalonians 1:6-7). Instead of hoping and waiting for an opportunity for revenge, he prays for God's forgiveness of his tormentors, just as Jesus and the martyr Stephen prayed for their executioners.

1 Peter 4:19 gives a good synopsis of the key to suffering long with mistreatment

19 So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good. (NIV)

Faith in God, and love, are essential foundations for the Godly fruit of longsuffering and patient endurance of hurt
God calls us to trust him to take care of these situations
1. And he leads us through His Spirit to have a change of heart towards those who have hurt us,
  1. To LOVE them instead of seeking to hit back
Is this easy?- NO
1. Is it right- YES
Is it something we all do perfectly?- NO
1. Should we give up because it is too hard? - NO
But if we surrender our human will
1. If we confess to God our sinful attitudes in these areas;
2. God will lead us in faith, assurance, love and enable us to be LONGSUFFERING in such difficult situations!

II. SLOW TO ANGER:

ANOTHER ASPECT OF GODLY PATIENCE IS FOUND IN EXODUS 34:6-7

Exodus 34:6-7

6 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, 7 maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation." (NIV)

We see here that besides being a God of justice, not tolerating sin and mistreatment,
1. God is compassionate, gracious, slow to anger and abounding in love and faithfulness
The aspect I wanted to focus on here, is BEING SLOW TO ANGER
1. See it also in I Corinthians 13:5, where Paul tells us that part of loving is not "being easily angered."
2. We read in Galatians 5:20 that one of the fruits of the carnal human nature is, fits of rage.

James 1:19

19 My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, (NIV)

HOW CAN WE BEST DEAL WITH THE ANGER THAT OFTEN WELLS UP IN US WHEN WE HAVE BEEN PROVOKED, MISTREATED, OR HURT BY OTHERS?
1. One of the best ways is to focus frequently on God's patience with us and other sinful humans
  1. To remember the great abuse and evils we have perpetrated against God, an dhow he has in his love, in his long suffering borne with us, and patiently forgiven us and done his part to restore a right relationship with us

2 Peter 3:9-15 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.

15 Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. (NIV)

Romans 2:4 4 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance? (NIV)

Jerry Bridges;

We are like the unmerciful servant when we lose our patience under provocation. We ignore God's extreme patience with us. We discipline our children out of anger, while God disciplines us out of love. We are eager to punish the person who provokes us, while God is eager to forgive. We are eager to exercise our authority, while God is eager to exercise his love.

This kind of patience does not ignore the provocations of others; it simply seeks to respond to them in a godly manner. It enables us to control our tempers when we are provoked and to seek to deal with the person and his provocation in a way that tends to heal relationships rather than aggravate problems. It seeks the ultimate good of the other individual, rather than the immediate satisfaction of our own aroused emotions.

IF WE HAVE A TENDENCY TO QUIETLY SIMMER IN ANGER; OR HAVE AN EXPLOSIVE NATURE
1. We really have to work at patience under provocation, mistreatment and injustice
2. It is all too easy for us to say, "oh, that's just the way I am, at least everyone knows where I stand, and it is out in the open."
  1. The first step to overcoming any sin, is to understand and confess to God that we are sinning.
    1. In the case of anger, that we have a sinful habit in God's sight
  2. Part of that is studying God's word on the topic of anger, and God's attribute of being longsuffering, patient and slow to anger.
  3. We then need to ask and accept God's forgiveness and his help through His Spirit to change us from the inside out
    1. To transform our thinking from anger, bitterness, resentfulness and seeking justice,
    2. to God's loving approach of patience and longsuffering
  4. We should also apologise each time to the person involved each time we lose our temper or go on the attack
    1. This helps us to be humble and loving, and make a positive step towards rebuilding a damaged relationship
3. As you can see, Patience is a big topic.
  1. Let's cover just one more aspect where patience is needed

III. TOLERANCE OF SHORTCOMINGS, FORBEARANCE:

Romans 15:1-2

1 We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2 Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. (NIV)

EVERYONE HAS SHORTCOMINGS
1. Yet because Christianity focuses on the perfect behaviour of God and His Son, we tend to have very high values, and extremely high expectations of one another
2. John Sanderson, in His book, The Fruit of the Spirit, observed,

Hardly a day passes but one hears sneering remarks about the stupidity, the awkwardness, the ineptitude of others.

WE USUALLY HAVE A LOT MORE DEALINGS WITH THE DIFFICULTY OF SHOWING PATIENCE AND TOLERANCE TOWARDS THE SEEMINGLY DUMB, STUPID, INAPPROPRIATE AND SINFUL THINGS OTHERS DO -
1. than we have with being hurt or provoked by others
2. It seems like people are constantly letting us down, being inconsiderate, unhelpful, unreliable and irritating us and in a million other ways
  1. Gets very frustrating when it happens a lot
3. This is an area where patience is in huge demand
  1. It may be someone who is late, someone who is inconsiderate of our needs or feelings, or someone like a boss or an family member who isn't doing something well enough to make us happy
  2. It maybe a particular a habit of a family member or co-worker that gets on our nerves
  3. It maybe the behaviour or particular beliefs or what we may perceive to be lack of understanding of a fellow Christian
4. Again I think Jerry Bridges puts it better than I can;

The kind of patience it takes to overlook these circumstances is probably demanded of us most often within our own families or Christian fellowships.

Impatience with the shortcomings of others often has its roots in pride. .[Rude remarks about others ineptitude or stupidity] stem from a feeling that we are smarter or more capable than those with whom we are impatient..

Colossians 3:12-13

12 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. (NIV)

We see the connection between patience, or longsuffering, and bearing with each other in verse 13.
1. This is sometimes rendered as forbearance, and means patient, gracious tolerance of the shortcomings and faults of one another
2. Paul goes on to talk of forgiving one another
Notice the key Paul gives to patience, bearing with one another and forgiving, is for us to remember how God treats us when we sin
1. To remember his forgiveness and to learn and be inspired by God's love and forgiveness towards us, and respond in love, gentleness, forbearance, tolerance and forgiveness to one another

NOTICE ALSO THE CONNECTION WITH OUR BEING GOD'S CHOSEN PEOPLE:
1. We are as God's chosen people, to exhibit love, patience and to bear with and forgive one another
  1. If we do these things God and Jesus Christ will be glorified;,
  2. His body, His Church will be a light to the world around
    1. As Jesus himself said,

John 13:34-35

34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (NIV)

LOVE IS THE KEY TO THIS ASPECT OF PATIENCE AS WELL
1. Consider the following scenario;
  1. You have an important job interview at 2pm
    1. Individual has borrowed your car for the morning and is supposed to pick you up at 1:00 and take you there
    2. 50 minutes go by, no sign of them, get a taxi, and arrive 15 minutes late.
  2. How do you feel?
    1. What do we say and do when we finally catch up with the individual?
2. Now let's just slightly alter the story;
  1. Same incident;
  2. But the individual who is late has been rude to you lately, often let you down, and have an arrogant tendency and never apologise
  3. His reason for being late is that he got so busy that he forgot what time it was
  4. How do you feel? What do you say and do?
3. Alter the scenario again;
  1. Same incident; same reason for being late
  2. But the individual who is late is one of your best friends
    1. Previous week took part of their holidays to fix your car engine, and help you paint your roof
  3. How do you feel? What do you say and do?
    1. How different is your reaction to them than the other individual?
4. Lesson from this is that LOVE is the key to patience, tolerance and graciously bearing with one another's faults and shortcomings!

1 Peter 4:7-10

7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. (NIV)

Let's always remember that God loved us in the midst of our sins and shortcomings, he didn't wait for us to be good friends

THE OPPOSITE OF BEARING WITH ONE ANOTHER IS WARNED ABOUT IN;

Galatians 5:13-16

13 You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. 14 The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." 15 If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. 16 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. (NIV)

Again we can see how the fruits of the spirit, especially the various aspects of patience, of love, forgiveness are all essential in the maintaining and building of the Body of Jesus Christ.

PATIENCE AND FORBEARANCE DOESN'T FORBID COMMUNICATION IN LOVE REGARDING PROBLEMS AND GRIEVANCES;
1. But first we must go to God and seek His spirit to guide us in his way of approaching the situation
  1. His counsel is plain;
  2. We are to do all things in love for the best interests of the other person, and not put our interests first
  3. We must get rid of the plank which is in our own eye before we discuss the sawdust in someone else's (Mat 7:3-5)
    1. We must place our hearts before God for his examination, to reveal any desire to get even, to get justice for ourselves
    2. We must get rid of all bitterness, jealousy, envy, intolerance, anger, spite, arrogance
  4. And in any thing we do or say, we need to act as Jesus Christ did towards those who hated and abused and crucified him
    1. We need to act with patience, forbearing, longsuffering, understanding, tolerance, forgiveness and love

1 Peter 2:23 23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. (NIV)

If we are too upset or angry or hostile to follow Jesus example, we should leave the matter in God's hands and refrain from trying to sort it out ourselves

SUMMARY:

Instead of letting others shortcomings and negative actions irritate and anger us, we should use those occasions as an opportunity to forgive others as God forgave us
To treat others as God treats us, and thus demonstrate God's love as a witness and a light, in a dark, impatient and unloving world

CONCLUSION:

PATIENCE IS NOT JUST ANOTHER NICE ADD ON TO OUR LIVES
IT IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THE NEW LIFE IN CHRIST
1. It is something God sees as extremely important
2. It is a beautiful quality of his that in his love and wisdom he wants to place in our hearts and minds
OUR SALVATION DOES NOT DEPEND ON IT, BECAUSE WE ARE SAVED BY GRACE ALONE, THROUGH FAITH ALONE
1. However our INWARD and OUTWARD growth as the body of Christ does depend on the FRUIT of patience being present in large quantities amongst it's members
SO LET'S CONFESS TO GOD;
1. Our human desire to get even with others, to set them in their place when they hurt us or abuse us
2. And our lack of tolerance towards others shortcomings
LET'S ALLOW GOD'S SPIRIT TO LEAD US IN JESUS' WAY OF PATIENCE, LONGSUFFERING, AND GRACIOUS TOLERANCE, LOVE AND FORGIVENESS TOWARDS OTHERS
1. By doing so we will make significant progress in building of the unity of the body of Christ
2. And being the lights to the world of His love that we are called to be!

Galatians 5:22-26

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. (NIV)

Appendix:

KEY VERSES ON PATIENCE:

Romans 2:1-4

1 You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. 2 Now we know that God's judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. 3 So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God's judgment? 4 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance? (NIV)

2 Corinthians 6:3-13

3 We put no stumbling block in anyone's path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. 4 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; 5 in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; 6 in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; 7 in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; 8 through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; 9 known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; 10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

11 We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. 12 We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. 13 As a fair exchange -- I speak as to my children -- open wide your hearts also. (NIV)

Colossians 1:9-14

9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10 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, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (NIV)

Colossians 3:12-15

15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. (NIV)

1 Timothy 1:15-17

15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners -- of whom I am the worst. 16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen. (NIV)

James 5:7-10

7 Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. 8 You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near. 9 Don't grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!

10 Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. (NIV)

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