The Fruit of the Spirit Is: Patience (2)

Introduction

Forbearance. Ability to take a great deal of offense or harassment without losing one’s temper, without becoming irritated and angry, or without taking vengeance. It includes the capacity to bear pain or trials , to withstand severe provocation, and maintain the self-control which keeps one from acting rashly even though suffering opposition or adversity.

H- [ó-rek] “to be long”

G- 1) ὑπομονή (hypomonḗ) [hoop-om-un-ay´] “to remain firm under” —> Jm. 1:2-4 —> endurance, steadfastness

James 1:2–4 ESV

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

2) μακροθυμία (makrothymía) [mak-roth-oo-meé-ah] - more relational “calmness of spirit even under severe provocation to lose one’s temper” —> Gal. 5:22

Joke:

Puzzles

Fishing

It is “makrothymía” or Patience that appears in our passage on The Fruit of the Spirit and that we will focus on today.

Habakkuk

612-589 BC (Fall of J. in 586) Death of Josiah (reforms) into Jehoiakim (Egyptian vassal) - S. Kingdom (Judah) had seen some reforms under Josiah but quickly saw decline again. Social/Religious injustice and violence.

Habakuk cries out to God, *Habakkuk 1:2

Habakkuk 1:2 (ESV)

O Lord, how long shall I cry for help,

and you will not hear?

Or cry to you “Violence!”

and you will not save?

God answers him, *Habakkuk 1:5-6a

Habakkuk 1:5–6 (ESV)

“Look among the nations, and see;

wonder and be astounded.

For I am doing a work in your days

that you would not believe if told.

For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans,

...

Habakkuk’s reply is basically “Whaaaaat?! They’re worse then the wayward Jews are!”

God reassures Habakkuk that though he is using the Chaldeans to bring judgement on the sins of His people, they also will be judged for their wickedness. He makes this statement in *Habakkuk 2:4

Habakkuk 2:4 (ESV)

“Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him,

but the righteous shall live by his faith.

This statement contrasts the wicked and the righteous (NT quotes as core distinction - Rom. 1:17; Gal. 3:11; Heb. 10:37-38) and calls Habakkuk to trust in what God is doing.

Habakkuk’s response? A Psalm of praise: 1) recounting God’s might works and His past deliverance, 2) remembers God’s promise to deliver His people *Habakkuk 3:16

Habakkuk 3:16 (ESV)

I hear, and my body trembles;

my lips quiver at the sound;

rottenness enters into my bones;

my legs tremble beneath me.

Yet I will quietly wait for the day of trouble

to come upon people who invade us.

and in so doing, becomes a shining example for us in living out 2:4

so what does the book of Habakkuk help us learn about PATIENCE?

*The Origin of Patience

These are called Fruit of The Spirit - The indwelling of the Holy Spirit will certainly produce these things because God is these things.

*God is the Origin/Source/ and ultimate example of Patience

*Psalm 86:15 (ESV)

But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious,

slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.

search “slow to anger” and you’ll find multiple references praising God for this

Do we see this in Habakkuk? Yes! - 400+ years since the people had become a nation and were constantly failing at their mission

*Genesis 12:2 (ESV)

And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.

and

*Isaiah 49:6 (ESV)

he says:

“It is too light a thing that you should be my servant

to raise up the tribes of Jacob

and to bring back the preserved of Israel;

I will make you as a light for the nations,

that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”

God demonstrated His patience through <400 years of the Nation’s existence - persistent in their unfaithfulness and S. Kingdom (Judah), even after seeing the North fall because of disobedience to the Lord, continued to be unfaithful

*We owe our salvation to God’s Patience

*Romans 2:4 (ESV)

Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?

and

*2 Peter 3:9 (ESV)

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

So since God is where Patience ultimately comes from, and we are indwelled by Him (through the Holy Spirit), it should be no surprise that Scripture makes it clear that we are expected to manifest His patience in our lives

Galatians 5:25 ESV

If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.

*The Obligation of Patience

*Ephesians 4:1–2 (ESV)

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,

*Colossians 3:12 (ESV)

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,

*James 5:7 (ESV)

Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord...

It is abundantly clear - as God’s people - Patience is not an option

Matthew 18:26–29 (ESV)

So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’

*Matthew 18:32–35 (ESV)

Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”

Will anyone ever wrong us to the degree that have wronged God? No!

So how can we grow in patience?

*The Operation of Patience

Patience is Peace put into action

*Philippians 4:4–7 (ESV)

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

How can we grow in Peace so we can increase our Patience *(arrows)

*Thank God

past, present, & future

*Habakkuk 3:2 (NV)

Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe or your deeds, O Lord.

and 3:13

*Habakkuk 3:13 (ESV)

You went out for the salvation of your people,

for the salvation of your anointed.

You crushed the head of the house of the wicked,

laying him bare from thigh to neck. Selah

World says “Empty your mind” = Peace

Scripture shows us “Fill your heart with Thankfulness” —> Peace

*1 Thessalonians 5:18 (ESV)

give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

When that first twinge of hurriedness flares —> be Thankful: intentional, strategic (World’s slowest water dispenser on our fridge)

*Seek God’s Purpose

Purpose = Will: focus on general will not specific will

*Habakkuk 1:12b (ESV)

...O Lord, you have ordained them as a judgment,

and you, O Rock, have established them for reproof.

God was accomplishing something bigger than immediate deliverance and the difficulties that lay ahead where necessary to accomplish that greater purpose

*Isaiah 26:3 (ESV)

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

*Luke 22:42 (ESV)

saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”

*My will _____(G)______God’s will: P = 1/G

EGR’s in your life? God has them there for a reason. (Extra Grace Required)

*Philippians 1:6 (ESV)

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Instead of losing your temper —> ask God to grant you a deeper love for them

Instead of lashing back at them —> Col 3:13 “bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.”

God wants to use this experience in their life…AND YOURS!

*Remember God’s Promises

Habakkuk 2:3–17 (ESV)

*For still the vision awaits its appointed time;

it hastens to the end—it will not lie.

If it seems slow, wait for it;

it will surely come; it will not delay.

Vision?

Will not your debtors suddenly arise,

and those awake who will make you tremble?

Then you will be spoil for them.

Because you have plundered many nations,

all the remnant of the peoples shall plunder you,

You will have your fill of shame instead of glory.

The cup in the Lord’s right hand

will come around to you,

and utter shame will come upon your glory!

The violence done to Lebanon will overwhelm you,

as will the destruction of the beasts that terrified them,

for the blood of man and violence to the earth,

to cities and all who dwell in them.

and

*Habakkuk 3:16 “I hear, and my body trembles; my lips quiver at the sound; rottenness enters into my bones; my legs tremble beneath me. Yet I will quietly wait for the day of trouble to come upon people who invade us.”

Though Habakkuk’s circumstances didn’t change, he saw them now from a different perspective which allowed him to say,

*Habakkuk 3:17–19 (NIV)

Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, 18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.

19 The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights.

And what lies immediately ahead of him? Will he live to see the fulfillment of this promise? Not in his earthly experience.

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So what promises can we keep in mind in moments of stress, hurriedness, or being unfairly treated? (yes, ultimate joy/peace/rest - but anything else, anything on this side of heaven?)

*Romans 8:28 (ESV)

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

did you catch that …ALL THINGS… —> not “are good” but “work together for good”

Personal example:

When God said “Trust Me”

Romans 15:13 (NIV)

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

And then was told that I could resign or be fired.

Faith takes up the cross, love binds it to the soul, patience bears it to the end.

Horatius Bonar

What about You?

In what circumstances, that exist in you life right now, do you need to: (write it down - actively have it in your brain)

Actively be thankful

Sincerely seek and surrender to God’s Purpose/Will

Trust His promise to bring good

appointment ran late, stuck behind a “Sunday driver?” —> *ALL THINGS

just had an election, maybe your choice of candidate didn’t win? —> ALL THINGS

You’ve prayed for relief from a physical condition, but still it remains? —> ALL THINGS

You have been betrayed, let down, disappointed? —> ALL THINGS

So don’t give up. Take one step at a time. Do what you CAN and stop focusing on and being discouraged by what you CAN’T! Why?

*Galatians 6:9 (NIV)

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

If God allows a trying/difficult circumstance to continue, there is one reason. What He will accomplish through it is an even greater work than its immediate removal. Period.