God's Exquisite Garden

PATIENCE

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The meaning of the word patience is an ability or willingness to suppress relentlessness or annoyance. Patience also means a quiet, steady perseverance. The meaning of the word patient is bearing provocation, annoyance, misfortune, delay, hardship, pain, etc. with fortitude and calm and without complaint, anger, or the like.



Almost everything we do in life requires patience. We may get caught in rush hour traffic, long lines in banks or supermarkets. Getting mad does not help the situation at all. If whomever we are to meet knows us, they will not be too upset if we are a few minutes late.

We read in Romans 8:25," But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience."

"My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful. "James 5:11

The Biblical example used here is Job. Job lost all that he had, his children, his health, his animals and his wealth. His wife and his friends gave him ill advice. After all these trials, Job refused to sin and give up.

"In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong. " Job 1:22
Job 2:10," But he said to her, ' You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?' In all this Job did not sin with his lips."

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ...
I Peter 1:6-7 (NKJV)

Do not say,"I will recompense evil "; Wait for the Lord, and He will save you.
Proverbs 20:22 (NKJV)

Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be likeminded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus,
Romans 15:5 (NKJV)

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin that so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
Hebrews 12:1 (NKJV)

Patience is endurance, steadfastness, long-suffering, and forbearance. We are told that we will have tribulation in the world. Through this tribulation, as we handle these trials correctly as God wants us to, we gain character, patience, etc. But our gracious, merciful God has a place prepared for us if He finds us to have lived faithfully until death.

We need to wait patiently for God, to undergo uncomplainingly the different forms of sufferings, wrongs and evils we encounter, and to bear patiently injustices.

"And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. '" Romans 5:3-4

The farmer is an example of patience. In the book of James we read of the farmer who waits patiently for a good crop.

In the first chapter of the book of Joel we are told of the land with perished crops. The prophet urges the people to repent, and God promises the crops will be restored.

"Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth , being patient with it until it receives the early and late rains." James 5:7
"Be dismayed, you farmers, wail, you vinedressers, over the wheat and barley; for the crops of the field are ruined." Joel 1:11

Heavy rains, volcanoes and earthquakes, tempests, tornadoes, hurricanes, and all kinds of crises and disasters sweep over the globe, leaving devastation in their track. We as Christians have something far better awaiting us .

When others aggravate us, we need to deal with these situations according to God's will. The Lord wants us to be caring and loving toward others when they annoy or offend us.

Paul tell us in Ephesians 4:2 ,"... walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, "

Also in Colossians 3:13," Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do."

"And you, masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing your Master also is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him." Ephesians 6:9

Christians are to be patient. As they encounter misfortune, it needs to be done with patience. This is found in Romans 5:3-5.

In Galatians we read where patience is a fruit of the Spirit. From the New King James version in Galatians 5:22," But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. " The New International Version renders the word longsuffering as "patience".


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Our blessed Lord is patient. This is seen in Romans 15:5. The patience of God with sinners permits them time to repent. This is found in Romans 2:4. This is seen in the possible delay of Christ's return.

Also in II Peter 3:9-10," The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it in it will be burned up."

Ecclesiastes 7:8,"The end of a thing is better than its beginning; The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. "

Discussion and study questions:
(1 ) What does God say in the Bible regarding patience?
(2) In what ways can our patience be strengthened?
(3) How are we to react toward others when they annoy us?

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Copyright 2007 Linda Lawrence

Lessons in this Series

About The Author

Print Version of All Lessons


Lesson 1
Attitude


Lesson 2
The Mind of Christ


Lesson 3
Imitate Christ


Lesson 4
Communication


Lesson 5
Taming the Tongue


Lesson 6
Our Legacy


Lesson 7
Compassion


Lesson 8
Confidence


Lesson 9
Courage


Lesson 10
Gossip


Lesson 11
Honesty


Lesson 12
Profanity


Lesson 13
Improper Language

. .

Lesson 14
Faith


Lesson 15
Encouragement


Lesson 16
Humility


Lesson 17
Assurance


Lesson 18
Perseverance


Lesson 19
Strength to
Endure Suffering


Lesson 20
Grieve Not
The Spirit


Lesson 21
Understanding


Lesson 22
Knowledge


Lesson 23
Wisdom


Lesson 24
Purity in Heart


Lesson 25
Trust


Lesson 26
Obedience

. .

Lesson 27
Happiness


Lesson 28
Contentment


Lesson 29
Optimism


Lesson 30
Inner Peace


Lesson 31
Self-Control


Lesson 32
Our Example


Lesson 33
Patience


Lesson 34
Concern


Lesson 35
Testing Of Our Faith


Lesson 36
Mercy


Lesson 37
Grace


Lesson 38
Problems Concerning
Failure


Lesson 39
Practical Results

. .

Lesson 40
Good Works


Lesson 41
Women Teachers
in Bible Times


Lesson 42
Women Teachers
Today


Lesson 43
Having
Good Friends


Lesson 44
Choosing a Husband


Lesson 45
Choosing a Wife


Lesson 46
The Exemplary Daughter
Part 1


Lesson 47
The Exemplary Daughter
Part 2


Lesson 48
The Ideal Mother
Part 1


Lesson 49
The Ideal Mother
Part 2


Lesson 50
The Home As God
Would Have It
Part 1


Lesson 51
The Home As God
Would Have It
Part 2


Lesson 52
Impurity,
. .

Lesson 53
Marriage As God
Would Have It
Part 1


Lesson 54
Marriage As God
Would Have It
Part 2


Lesson 55
The Virtuous Woman
Part 1


Lesson 56
The Virtuous Woman
Part 2


Lesson 57
The Virtuous Woman
Part 3


Lesson 58
Love


Lesson 59
Morality


Lesson 60
Pride & Haughtiness


Lesson 61
Kindness


Lesson 62
Respect


Lesson 63
Modesty


Lesson 64
Lying


Lesson 65
Lewdness

. .

Lesson 66
Incomprehensible
God


Lesson 67
Unsearchable
Riches


Lesson 68
Infinite God


Lesson 69
Holiness of God


Lesson 70
Righteousness
of God


Lesson 71
Attendance


Lesson 72
Omnipresence
of God


Lesson 73
Omniscience
of God

. .












904185: The Fruit of the Spirit is...Patience The Fruit of the Spirit is...Patience
By Lynn Stanley / Focus Publishing Incorporated

Love, joy and peace are fruits of the Spirit most often thought of by Christians. Less frequently do we think of patience or perseverance as a fruit of the Spirit because this fruit is not as pleasant to bear. Lynn Stanley gives us principles that will help us understand biblically and practically why God allows trials in the lives of His children, and how problems can enhance the work He is trying to accomplish in us. Using commentary, biblical text- KJV and NIV are included -and practical application questions separated into 5 days, this study will motivate Christians toward a deeper, more effective relationship with Jesus Christ.


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