Long-suffering
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Introduction
Introduction
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
Ability to take a great deal of punishment from evil people or circumstances without losing one’s temper, without becoming irritated and angry, or without taking vengeance. It includes the capacity to bear pain or trials without complaint, the ability to forbear under severe provocation, and the self-control which keeps one from acting rashly even though suffering opposition or adversity.
The usual Hebrew expression for patience is related to the verb “to be long” and involves the idea of being long to get riled or slow to become angry.
Two different Greek words are translated by KJV translators with the word “patience.” One of the words has the idea of “remaining firm under” tests and trials and is better translated “endurance” or “steadfastness.”
The other Greek word is related to the above Hebrew meaning and refers to patience as “long-spiritedness” or “calmness of spirit” even though under severe provocation to lose one’s temper.
The Longsuffering of God
The Longsuffering of God
The great biblical illustration of patience in operation is God himself. Several passages speak of him, in conjunction with other gracious attributes, as “slow to anger.” In a context which stresses Israel’s rebellion and provocation of God, he is contrasted as a God who is forgiving, gracious, compassionate, slow to anger, and abounding in loving-kindness.
They refused to obey, And they were not mindful of Your wonders That You did among them. But they hardened their necks, And in their rebellion They appointed a leader To return to their bondage. But You are God, Ready to pardon, Gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, Abundant in kindness, And did not forsake them.
The psalmist declares, “Thou, O Lord, art a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness”
But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, Longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth.
‘The Lord is longsuffering and abundant in mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression; but He by no means clears the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation.’
The Lord is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.
So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the Lord your God, For He is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and of great kindness; And He relents from doing harm.
So he prayed to the Lord, and said, “Ah, Lord, was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore I fled previously to Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm.
In addition, the virtue of a patient spirit on the part of mankind is extolled in the OT, especially in Proverbs (14:29; 15:18; 16:32; 25:15; see also Eccl 7:8).
The end of a thing is better than its beginning; The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
The NT also stresses the patience of the Lord. It is God’s kindness, forbearance and patience that lead people to repentance (Rom 2:4).
Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?
This attribute of God is seen clearly in his patient enduring of Pharaoh who fitted himself for destruction.
What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction,
God was patient in holding off the flood for the sinners of Noah’s day while the ark was being built, thereby giving more time for repentance (1 Pt 3:20).
who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water.
Probably the greatest of the NT references to God’s patience is in 2 Peter 3:9.
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.
The delay in Christ’s return is not an indication of slowness on God’s part, says Peter, but of his long-suffering, not being willing that anyone should perish. A specific reference to Jesus Christ’s patience is made by Paul who claimed that, in his case, Jesus was able to demonstrate perfect patience (1 Tm 1:16).
However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.
Christian Long-suffering
Christian Long-suffering
Patience then, which is an attribute of our God and of our Lord Jesus Christ, is also to characterize each Christian. Paul’s prayer for the Colossians is that they might demonstrate this quality (Col 1:11).
strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy;
It is one of the characteristics of the fruit of the Spirit in our foundational Scripture for this series.
It is an attribute of love in 1 Corinthians.
Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;
Long-suffering is listed as a virtue.
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;
In addition, Christians are exhorted to be patient (1 Thes 5:14).
Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.
This is quite possibly one of the hardest areas for Christians to walk in continuous victory. We are constantly being bombarded with things that test our level of patience in any given moment. However, the Bible is very clear about how we are to address this issue.
If we are not, we will be treated as the slave in the parable which Jesus told. This slave pleaded with his lord, to whom he owed a great sum, for patience, promising to pay all. The lord was patient and forgave all the debt, until he found out that the slave had refused to show the same patience to a fellow servant who owed him a pittance in comparison (Mt 18:26–29).
In some contexts, the word “patience” takes on the more general meaning of waiting long and expectantly for something.
The farmer waits patiently for the crop to come.
Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain.
Abraham waited patiently for God’s promise to give him the land of Canaan to be fulfilled and died without seeing what was promised, although still believing .
And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise,
Finally, all Christians are commanded to be longsuffering until the coming of the Lord
Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain.
Elwell, W. A., & Beitzel, B. J. (1988). Patience. In Baker encyclopedia of the Bible (Vol. 2, pp. 1619–1620). Baker Book House.
Becoming Long-Suffering
Becoming Long-Suffering
The process to becoming a patient person when you have had obvious issues with it might sound as appealing as having three layers of skin removed and taking a bath in salt water. Yet, as we have already shown here today, not only is it needful to be longsuffering, it is mandatory.
It is quite obvious that many Christians that behave impulsively and are easily agitated are not walking in the Spirit as they may claim. This is an area that can become very contentious , very quickly.
It is always sad and sometimes disturbing to see people that claim to be disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ behaving impetuously due to their lack of patience. It goes from disturbing to disgusting when we see supposed Christian leaders show their lack of the Spirit’s fruit in their lives.
Helpful tip: If you have the strong urge to “let someone have it”, or “give someone a piece of your mind”…don’t.
TAKE IT TO THE LORD!!!!!
Some may even claim that they cannot help themselves because of a “righteous indignation” that rises up in them. Be careful brothers and sisters to not use that excuse too often.
I don’t want to say it doesn’t happen, but I can tell you it isn’t always righteous what bubbles up in our spirit sometimes.
We must STAY BEFORE THE LORD in all of our ways. Praying, Reading the Word, Faithfulness to God’s Commands.
Another huge key for us is to keep the Fear of the Lord before our eyes.
I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,
with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,
endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling;
one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
Brothers and sisters, this is without a doubt the easiest way to test for the fruit of God’s Spirit to be in operation in a person’s life. Very few people possess patience naturally.
But in contrast, when the Holy Spirit IS in operation in a person’s life and patience is displayed in the face of horrible situations, it is pretty easy to spot that person in a culture that celebrates insane behaviors.
Patience is not held in high regard by most people in modern society.
Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain.
You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door!
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.
But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your “Yes” be “Yes,” and your “No,” “No,” lest you fall into judgment.