The God of Patience

Introduction

We are onto another name of God today in our names of God series: God of patience. We will be in Romans 15:1-6 today.

Last weak we went looked at the name the Lord of Hosts and saw He we can find his house pleasant because he has provided peace for us in Christ, he is our Potentate, and Protector. Now today we look at the aspect of God’s patience. God is patient towards us.

During the United States Civil War, U.S. President Abraham Lincoln was under stress and anguish of soul. He was familiar with much Scripture, but was not a Christian. The events were tragic that brought Lincoln’s conversion, but remind us of the patience of God.

On February 20, 1862, tragedy struck the Lincoln’s as their son, William Wallace “Willie” Lincoln, died at the age of 12 years old. “Many noticed that he was seen more frequently with a Bible in his hand and that he spent more time in prayer.… From this time on, Lincoln regularly attended the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church on Sundays—often even going to the Wednesday evening prayer meeting—until his untimely death three years later.”2329 Dr. Phineas Gurley, who was Lincoln’s pastor at the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church, affirmed that “the death of Willie Lincoln in 1862 and the visit to the Gettysburg battlefield in 1863 finally led Lincoln to personal faith in Christ.”2330

Abraham Lincoln (Sixteenth President of the United States)

God often uses difficulties as he patiently orchestrates our circumstances to bring us back to himself.

Let us read now of this God of patience from Romans 15:1-6

Romans 15:1–6 “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me. For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

D. Our God is a God of Patience.

P. God’s patience should humble us and change the way we treat others.

Transition

How should God’s patience change your thinking? Let us examine the Savior, the Scriptures, but also be challenged that we as Saints of God should reveal God’s patience to those around us.

Pray

1. God’s patience seen through the Savior.

Romans 15:3 “For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.”

The Word patience means forbearance. It means to be steadfast through difficulties. It is not someone who easily quits when things are hard to accomplish.

A. Explain: How did Christ not please himself? He lived to do the Father’s will and minister to others.

The Incarnation

Jesus Christ is the sinless Son of God. When he came to earth his sole purpose was to fulfill the will of His Heavenly Father.

According to the God the Father’s plan. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

To fulfill his Father’s will. John 5:30 “I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.” Of which he fulfilled completely. John 17:4 “I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.”

Philippians 2:5–6 “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:”

Jesus lowered himself and limited himself to a human body. The Almighty God humbled himself in His Son Jesus Christ and limited the use of his Divine attributes while on earth.

Hebrews 12:3 “For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.”

Applications:

If we have the power to do it, we often do not want to limit our freedoms to do what we can do.

Jesus limited himself for the purpose of redeeming mankind.

The ministry of Christ

Jesus Christ the God-man came and served his creatures.

Philippians 2:7 “But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:”

Matthew 11:28–30 “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Argue: Jesus knew everything. Why would he take time to lower himself to lowly humans? He was giving us an example to follow. Sometime we think we are big shots and we really need to think humbly about ourselves and treat people with more respect than we do ourselves. Philippians 2:3–4 “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.”

The offering of Christ

There was no other way for mankind to be saved and Jesus willingly gave himself to be our sin offering, our substitute.

Philippians 2:8 “And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

The second coming of Christ

Christ will come again in glory

So to for us when we are risen with Christ we will be called to glory. In the meantime, we are first called to suffer for Christ’s name’s sake as Jesus did for our redemption.

B. Argue

C. Illustrate

Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.

Abraham Lincoln (Sixteenth President of the United States); Anonymous; Ralph E. Enlow Jr.

D. Apply

Christ incarnation reminds us to not be to haughty about ourselves. The God of the universe submitted himself to do the Father’s will. How much more should we who are his servants submit to do His will.

If Jesus could put up with us sinful humans shouldn’t we be willing to patiently forbear those who wrong us and forgive?

Sometimes we think we are so much better than another person. That is sin. We need to humble ourselves as Christ if the sinister deceit of pride has infected our hearts. For pride will most certianly cause us to deal in anger instead of patience. Proverbs 21:24 “Proud and haughty scorner is his name, Who dealeth in proud wrath.”

When we see ourselves for the sinners we are we will humbly submit ourselves to obey whatever God commands instead of elevating ourselves to the status of God and critiquing what we think we should or should not obey. Jesus simply came in obedience to God and so should you and I.

Christ’s service reminds us that we are to be ministry minded and patient as we serve others who may not even be thankful.

Jesus was known for being a man that went about doing good. Acts 10:38 “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.”

You know if we are to follow Christ’s example we ought to be doing good as Christ without preference. Matthew 12:15 “...and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all;”

We are commanded to maintain good works. Titus 3:8 “This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.”

Whom has God called you to serve? Are up serving with a patient steadfastness until the end as Christ did. Let us not be weary in well doing. Our patient God is steadfast in his kindness towards us and we ought to be towards others too.

Christ’s offering reminds us that we ought to be patiently willing to even lay our lives down for their salvation for Jesus’s sake.

Christ’s second coming reminds us that our patience is not for nothing, but God will richly reward it.

2. God’s patience seen through the Scriptures.

Romans 15:4 “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”

Not only did it serve the needs of its own day but it is still relevant in the modern world. Scripture is relevant because it speaks to our deepest needs. It is through the endurance taught in Scripture and the encouragement it brings that we are enabled to live in hope. [Robert H. Mounce, Romans, vol. 27, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1995), 260.]

A. Explain

God works through Adam’s fallen race to prepare the way for his Sons coming.

Adam and Eve - Genesis 3:15 “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”

Cain - Genesis 4:15 “And the Lord said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the Lord set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.”

Noah - Genesis 6:6-8

Genesis 6:6–8 KJV 1900

And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.

Abraham - Genesis 12:1–3 “Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”

Moses - Being called of God and using Moses to give them the 10 commandments.

The Nation of Israel

Judges - Samson though a failure morally God did forbear with Him until his death when he killed more of the Philistines in his death than in his life time. Judges 16:30

United Kingdom

David -

Psalm 103:8 “The Lord is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.”

He committed adultery & murder, but he repented and found God in his patience with us is forgiving and gracious. Psalm 32:5–7 “I acknowledged my sin unto thee, And mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; And thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah. For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: Surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him. Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; Thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.”

Divided Kingdom:

God delayed the captivity of idolatrous Israel and Judah for 200-350 years. While he sent prophets to preach to Israel and urge them to turn away from their idolatry and wholly to the Lord their God. But when they would not listen he remained resolved to fulfill the covenant curses

Yet in their punishment God made sure Israel knew he would restore them again to their land.

Restored - Even when Israel was restored to their land they still had problems worshipping the Lord sincerely although they were no longer worshipping idols. They had problems with sincere worship.

There are many Scriptures that point to examples to the God of patience forbearance with sinful people, either in delaying punishment or showing mercy.

These examples give us hope that God will help us in our weaknesses and forbear with us today.

B. Argue

Why does God show patience to those who sin so much?

It reveals his patience as he desires you and I to repent. 2 Peter 3:8–9 “But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

God even gave Jezebel space to repent. Revelation 2:20-21

God commands and gives space of repentance. Acts 17:30 “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:”

Why so many different examples? God wants you to see how vast his patience is towards us and place our hope in Him.

C. Illustrate:

Hymn: Great is thy Faithfulness

Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father,

There is no shadow of turning with thee,

Thou changest not, thy compassions they fail not,

As thou has been, thou forever wilt be.

D. Apply

Be patient towards others as God is towards you.

Don’t give up when you have failed. Repent and run back to the God of patience.

3. God’s patience seen through the Saints.

Romans 15:1–2 “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.”

Romans 15:6 “That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

A. Explain

The strong selflessly helping the weak. 15:1

Your strength is given to you to help others. Is not this what Christ did for us.

Galatians 6:2 “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”

The saint seeking to build up his neighbor. 15:2

Think of the patience of the Lord Jesus with his disciples as he sought to build them up to be 12 men who would turn the world upside down in a generation. He didn’t get the results over night. It was with much patience that Christ was formed in them.

Paul was persistent with the Galatians even though they seemed to waver in their faith. Galatians 4:19 “My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,”

The saint who lives in oneness of mind with other Christians to the glory of God.

There is a oneness in what they think about God. It is not about winning a battle with another church member, but thinking like Christ and desiring His will to be accomplished.

There is a oneness in what they say about God. Paul wants the believers to be in unity in thought and mind about the Lord Jesus. What a prayer for unity. It is a prayer I pray for Lake Baptist Church. We need a unity in our mind and mouths as we strive to be a church that glorifies Christ.

B. Argue

I am to busy? We are to by love serve one another.

I have my own problems. What was Stephen doing as he was martyred? Praying for his persecutors that eventually led to the salvation of Saul of Tarsus who then was later saved. We know Him as the apostle Paul.

I think it should be this way. Well, stop and ask God to guide you what He thinks it should be instead of inserting your own preferences. Strive to let your every thought and word be in submission to God’s Holy Word.

C. Illustrate

The Weak: My Dad picking up the widow ladies for church. He was very patient and gentle with Mrs. Haas.

Pleasing our Neighbor

President Lincoln was once asked about his attitude toward his enemies. “Why do you try to make friends of them? You should try to destroy them.” “Am I not destroying my enemies,” Lincoln replied gently, “when I make them my friends?”

Anonymous

A well practiced and skilled orchestra yield a beautiful and harmonious sound.

D. Apply

Whose burdens should you be helping to bear?

How have you built up another person in the Lord today. Make it a goal to encourage somebody to stay steadfast in the Lord every day.

Refuse to be negative, but always find something positive to praise God and others for

Conclusion

God’s patience through Christ, Scriptures, and through you his Saint.

God’s patient forbearing towards Abraham Lincoln bringing him to a final conversion and faith in Christ seemed long in coming for someone who had grown up in what we would call a Christian home. God was patient.

How have you seen his patient steadfastness in your life? Praise him for it.

How should you be showing that patient steadfastness towards others in your life. Have you given up on someone? Keep praying for them and being the Christian you ought to be.

Perhaps you have been on the receiving end of God’s patience in that you know that you need to change now. Repent and forsake that sin. Be surrendered to Christ so that others may see God’s patience through you.