Patience and Forgiveness

How Patience and Forgiveness are vital to survive in the world today.

Romans 5:3–4 “And not only that, but we also boast in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope.”

Think of a garden. We must be patient as we plant seeds and wait for them to sprout. If we don't care for the garden with love and forgiveness (even towards weeds!), it won't thrive. One farmer learned this the hard way when he lost an entire season due to his inability to forgive the bugs that ate his crops. Just as in life, recognizing the need for patience and forgiveness is essential for growth and harvest.

Introduction:

Good morning, I hope everyone is well. Let us pray:

Sermon introduction: Patience is a virtue we must all posses, it is like the saying goes, “ Good things come to those who wait.” God has a time for all things and in all things God is faithful. Being a mature Christian is understanding this virtue and staying steadfast in our faith with the Lord. Galatians 5:22–23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things.” The apostle Paul states this being a fruit of the spirit, and states that the Law is not against these things. This is a virtue that we have to seek within the Holy Spirit. Forgiveness is a trait needed by all people, it is a vital part of being a Christian and serving the Lord. It says in Matthew 6:14–15 ““For if you forgive others their offenses, your heavenly Father will forgive you as well. But if you don’t forgive others, your Father will not forgive your offenses.”

Main Point 1: The very truth of this is how we can rest in the knowledge of how God labors tirelessly, day and night, year after year, without taking a respite. He does not absolve himself of his duties or abandon us. Having Patience in the Lord and understanding he is working for us always should give us peace. Patience is the ability to endure difficult situations without losing our temper or becoming frustrated. The truth is that in the world we live in things will not happen when we want it too and we have to stay steadfast in our faith and pray constantly as mentioned in Philippians 4:6 “Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” And In James 1:19–20 “My dear brothers and sisters, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger, for human anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness.” When we have anger and lack of patience we tend to act unjustly and allow the enemy to take over. Once we regain the awareness that we have made a vital mistake then we as Christians should ask for forgiveness and forgive each-other. Ephesians 4:32 “And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.” We have the tendency to hold grudges and be angry at one another. I want to tell you a quick story about how being angry and holding grudges costed someone everything.

Imagine a young woman who, for years, harbored resentment against a colleague who was promoted over her. This anger festered, influencing her work environment and relationships with others. Eventually, she lost her job due to a toxic work atmosphere she created. Like the unmerciful servant in Matthew 18, her refusal to forgive not only affected her career but also trapped her in a cycle of bitterness, leaving her with nothing.

Main point 2: Forgiveness is one of the most powerful gifts we can give, both to ourselves and to others. In Matthew 6:14–15 ““For if you forgive others their offenses, your heavenly Father will forgive you as well. But if you don’t forgive others, your Father will not forgive your offenses.” Forgiveness is not always easy. It often requires us to confront our pain and the hurt that others have caused us. But when we take offense then we are in a position to act against God’s will. Giving forgiveness is one of the hardest things anyone can do, you are taking yourself out a standpoint of pride and being humble to the fact a mistake happened. But God’s love for us by sending Jesus to take on our sins so we may live shows how we are truly forgiven. John 3:16 “For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”

Refection: In public settings, such as community events, it’s easy to encounter individuals whose opinions may deeply differ from yours, leading to frustration or heated exchanges. To practice forgiveness, intentionally listen when someone expresses a viewpoint that offends you. Take a few deep breaths and seek to understand rather than respond immediately. Later, you might choose to engage them in conversation over coffee, aiming to build a connection rather than a debate. This patient approach can bridge gaps and cultivate a spirit of community.

Conclusion: It will take time to develop a calm mood towards things that do not happen right away or things people may do to you. Refer to the verses in this sermon to better equip you with knowledge to love one another, to forgive others and ourselves, to be patient, trust the Lord, etc… Remember the Lord says in John 13:7 “Jesus answered him, “What I’m doing you don’t realize now, but afterward you will understand.”” So it is not in your design to understand everything. Take heart in waiting, be steadfast in the commands and words of the Lord. Pray with out ceasing and Proverbs 3:5 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding;”

Patience and forgiveness, are vital to survival in today’s world. When the devil plays tricks on our minds and tells us to take offense, to be hasty, or to hate; it drives a wedge into the relationship with the Lord. When we take offense towards things others have said and hold grudges we disobey the Lord’s command. The devil will throw things at us to make us stumble and fall into sin, but we as Christians have to call for a ceasefire. We have to cast our worries and afflictions upon the Lord who has already one the battle for us. He has redeemed us and called us his own.

Let us pray:

Lord, we come before you seeking for understanding on how to forgive one another, to love one another and to have patience in the time where we do not understand. Allow us to learn from our mistakes and lean on you for understanding father. May your will be present in our lives as we carry on with everyday activities. I want to lift up any unspoken prayer requests, Lord you know the burdens and pain they are facing. I pray for safety to and from where ever we may travel this week. I pray for guidance down my journey to serve you. Allow us to return in your house with many more lessons and wisdom. I pray for our protection when we serve you in the community and knowledge on how we can use patience, forgiveness and temperance to honor your will.

I pray all of this in your name, you are the alpha the omega, the beginning and the end, the true messiah and we praise your name on the highest of mountains father.

Amen

Verse List:

Romans 5:3–4 “And not only that, but we also boast in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope.”

Galatians 5:22–23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things.”

Matthew 5:14–15 ““You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house.”

Philippians 4:6 “Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

James 1:19–20 “My dear brothers and sisters, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger, for human anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness.”

Ephesians 4:32 “And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.”

Matthew 6:14–15 ““For if you forgive others their offenses, your heavenly Father will forgive you as well. But if you don’t forgive others, your Father will not forgive your offenses.”

John 3:16 “For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”

John 13:7 “Jesus answered him, “What I’m doing you don’t realize now, but afterward you will understand.””

Proverbs 3:5 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding;”