Patience - Draft

Intro

(Walk on stage wearing white coat & stethoscope)

The apostle Paul says, “”

Colossians 3:12 NIV

12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Our clothing, the way we dress, says something about who we are. Our clothing matters because it is a manner of presenting ourselves to others. How do you present yourselves to others? What does your clothing say about who you are?

This jacket is my dad’s. Not my own. I did go to medical school and have often worn a white coat of my own (Show picture).

However, I left medical school to complete a PhD, to become a professor and a pastor. Yet, my clothing communicates something about who I am.

Paul wants our lives to be clothed in the character of Christ. Just as I am wearing the clothing of my father, so likewise does Paul long for us to be identified by the character, the identity of our heavenly dad.

Thus, in this series we’ve talked about being clothed in compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and today we get to explore, what does it look like to be clothed in patience?

What does it mean to be patient

Patience

be patient means to be long suffering or having long passion – waiting a long time before expressing anger. 

The problem we have is not that we get angery, but that we ‘are quick to become angry.

(Fire & Lighter fluid dropper analogy)

Someone cuts us off, and we yell at them

our kids forget to take out the trash after being asked 5x

But Biblical patience looks radically different:

μακροθυμία

makrothymia (mak-roth-oo-mee'-ah)

patience, endurance, constancy, steadfastness, perseverance

patience, forbearance, longsuffering, slowness in avenging wrongs

And we all know this is true - patience is painful.

Story of Impatience

Story options:

Every once and a while, Zae will get really excited when he’s talking and it’ll cause him to stutter. - these moments for me require patience, what helps me endure these impatient moments is love for my kid.

ironman // running is painful and requires patient endurance

waiting at a stoplight // waiting is painful

waiting to hear back from med school or a potential date

We by nature are not patience.

It’s why we invented the car, the microwave, fast food, telephone, email, Chat GPT, social media > news channels, plastic surgery.

So how do we cloth ourselves in a character trait that we don’t inherently have much of? We have to borrow it from our heavenly father Jesus. When we do, we get to bear His image, reflect His divine personality to the world.

With that in mind, what does the patience of God look like?

1 Timothy 1:16 NIV

16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.

It’s “immense patience”, other translations say “perfect patience”.

God’s patience isn’t just waiting, it’s waiting with purpose.

Sometimes we think that waiting in line is being patient, that’s not true you can wait in line and still be impatient.

What are you waiting for? Why do we wait?

Why do we endure people and problems in our lives?

Because patience is love in action. We get a great example of this in the Luke 15.

Prodigal Son

Quick summary of Prodigal Son & how the father was patient in waiting even while his son was wayward.

Luke 15:11–24 NIV

11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. 13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. 17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. 21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

That’s the picture of our heavenly Father with us. We are wayward and estranged. We cause all sorts of problems and yet the Lord waits patiently for us because of His immense love for us. We see this all throughout Scripture.

Story of Scripture Sin & Patience

God creates the world and it is good

Adam & Eve Sin/disobey - now rebellion enters this world

Yet Adam lived for 930 years on the earth, God did not bring about an immediate end to his life.

Adam & Eve have Cain & Abel - Cain takes his brother’s life

Sin spreads across the earth; world full of sin. Full of rebellion towards God; so God decides to flood the earth.

Yet He would not completely eradicate humanity, Noah was a righteous man - He asks Noah to build an ark (70-75yrs)

& The Lord was patient with Noah, cross ref?

God preserves humanity.

Then sin slowly begins to spread again.

So God calls Abraham (175yrs) & his grandson: Jacob had 12 kids & due to some challenging circumstances this family, that then becomes the nation of Israel, ends up in Egypt for 400yrs / 4 centuries

And they are under brutal slavery, crying out to God, so God calls Moses. Then through 10 miraculous plagues, and parting the red sea, Israel spends 40 years wondering in the wilderness because of their rebellion.

God then raises up Joshua to deliver His people into the promised land. THey get there and then in the book of Judges, we see a people who despite having God, decide to do “what’s right in their own eyes”. last line of book of judges

God raises up a woman named Ruth -> Boaz —> Jesse —> Obed —> David

David eventually becomes King of Israel, but He wasn’t perfect. He made mistakes, He commits adultery and murder and yet after being confronted by a prophet, He repents, turns to God and God promises that his linage will last forever.

But how? David wasn’t a perfect King, nor was he a perfect dad. His children rebel against him, trying to usurp his rule.

And as you progress through human history past the life of David and Solomon, you enter the period of the Kings, most of which, there’s a line in the Bible summarizing their lives in which it says “they did what was evil in they eyes of the Lord”, “they did what was evil in they eyes of the Lord”, “they did what was evil in they eyes of the Lord”

2 Kings 13:1 “1 In the twenty-third year of Joash son of Ahaziah king of Judah, Jehoahaz son of Jehu became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned seventeen years.”

And yet in the midst of all of it there’s this line

2 Kings 13:23 “23 But the Lord was gracious to them and had compassion and showed concern for them because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. To this day he has been unwilling to destroy them or banish them from his presence.”

and yet Israel continues to sin. And in 2 King 21:15 we see the heart of God, it says,

2 Kings 21:15 “15 they have done evil in my eyes and have aroused my anger from the day their ancestors came out of Egypt until this day.””

Yet God was patient with them all throughout human history

After the period of the Kings, they are attacked by Assyria and Babylon. Babylon carries them off into captivity and then theres 400 years of silence.

And then Jesus came.

and Jesus endured 33 years on this earth, being mocked, ridiculed, betrayed, a beaten.

And yet, Jesus endured the accusation, Jesus endured betrayal, He endured the cross, endured death and was patient. He endured the cross for six hours, he waited until the wrath of God was satisfied and had been poured out on Him on our behalf.

He then was buried and waited 3 days before conquering sin, death and the devil. WHY? Why was God so patient? Because this is who He is.

God is not slow to act, He is slow to anger. God is patient.

And if that wasn’t enough, the reason you and I are here today along with all the evil in the world is because God is patient!

He is patient with our sin.

We ought to praise God, that He is a patient God!

Story of Patience

All of us long to live in a world without evil and suffering. Jesus will remove all the evil from this world one day; He will eradicate evil from this earth. But the reason He hasn’t done so is because He’s patient.

Romans 1:18 “18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness,”

The reason you and I are still here is because He’s profoundly patient.

Romans 2:4 “4 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?”

The most cross referenced verse in Scripture

Exodus 34:6 NIV

6 And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness,

Psalm 86:15 NIV

15 But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.

Jonah 4:2 NIV

2 He prayed to the Lord, “Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.

Micah 7:8 NIV

8 Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light.

Question

What attribute attribute other than the grace of God is needed for salvation?

Patience - Salvation

2 Peter 3:9 NIV

9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

2 Peter 3:15 NIV

15 Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him.

Salvation is made accessible to us by the patience of God. Without patience, we wouldn’t have an opportunity for life nor for repentance. There would be no way to relate to God if He were not patience with us.

We require patience from God

Others require patience from us. Wherever sin is present patience is needed.

Patience is needed relationally because of sin/offense. 

Col 3:13 - alludes to this, the next trait is forgiveness

Outro

How do we endure that which is painful and requires patience? With love.

Love is the thing that ties together our waiting and our purpose.

Love is what ties together our relationships.

Love is how we patiently endure that which is painful.

Without love patience is impossible. Without Christ’s love patience is impossible.

(Put white coat back on)

JC was clothed in human flesh / we are to be clothed in Christ. 

JC was God clothed in humanity // Christians are called to be humanity clothed in the identity of deity 

Action

Pause at the end of the message and give a moment of quiet to allow the Holy Spirit to impress on each person one relationship in his or her life in which he/she can show patience towards the other person.

Communion/Compassion

Gospel moment?

We see this from Genesis to Revelation

Story of Scripture Sin & Patience

In the beginning, God created the world, and it was good. Yet Adam and Eve rebelled against Him, introducing sin into creation. Though God warned that sin leads to death, Adam lived 930 years—evidence of God’s patience. Their son Cain killed Abel, and sin spread so greatly that God sent a flood. Yet He preserved Noah, giving him decades to build the ark and save humanity.

After the flood, sin returned. God called Abraham, then his grandson Jacob, whose family became the nation of Israel. For 400 years they suffered under Egyptian slavery, yet God heard their cries and raised up Moses. Through miraculous plagues and the Red Sea, He delivered them—but because of their rebellion, they wandered 40 years in the wilderness. Still, God was patient and led them into the promised land through Joshua.

In the book of Judges, Israel repeatedly did “what was right in their own eyes,” yet God raised up deliverers. From Ruth’s line came David, Israel’s greatest king, who also fell into grievous sin. Yet upon repentance, God promised his line would endure forever. Even as king after king “did what was evil in the eyes of the Lord,” God showed mercy: “The Lord was gracious to them and had compassion… to this day he has been unwilling to destroy them” (2 Kings 13:23).

Despite centuries of rebellion, exile, and silence, God’s patience endured. Then Jesus came. For 33 years He endured ridicule, betrayal, and ultimately the cross—bearing God’s wrath for sin. He waited in the grave three days before conquering death. Why? Because God is patient. He is “slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love.”

The reason humanity still exists, despite sin and evil, is because God is patient. His forbearance throughout history points to His desire that people repent and turn to Him. God is not slow in keeping His promises—He is patient, giving time for salvation.

Intro v1

(Walk on stage wearing white coat & stethoscope)

The apostle Paul says, “”

Colossians 3:12 NIV

12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Our clothing, the way we dress, says something about who we are. Our clothing matters because it is a manner of presenting ourselves to others. How do you present youselves to others? What does your clothing say about who you are?

This jacket is my dad’s. Not my own. I did go to medical school and have often worn a white coat of my own (Show picture).

However, I left medical school to complete a PhD, to become a professor and a pastor. Yet, my clothing communicates something about who I am.

Paul wants our lives to be clothed in the character of Christ. Just as I am wearing the clothing of my father, so likewise does Paul long for us to be identified by the character, the identity of our heavenly dad.

Thus, in this series we’ve talked about being clothed in compassion, kindness, humility, gentlenes, and today we get to explore, what does it look like to be clothed in patience?

What does it mean to be patient

Intro v2

Story of impatience.

Patience is painful isn’t it?

Of all the characteristics Paul lists in Col 3:12, it is perhaps the most painful.

We’ve been going through Col 3:12-14 n our current series “Love: The Tie” and on PG XXX it says,

Colossians 3:12 NIV

12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Why is patience painful? How do we endure moments and people that are really challenging in such a way, that when people look at us, they see Jesus?

Intro v3

What attribute attribute other than the grace of God is needed for salvation?

To answer that question turn with me to Col 3:12

Colossians 3:12 NIV

12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Patience

μακροθυμία

makrothymia (mak-roth-oo-mee'-ah)

https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g3115/niv/mgnt/0-1/

patience, endurance, constancy, steadfastness, perseverance

patience, forbearance, longsuffering, slowness in avenging wrongs

Jesus is described as having “perfect patience” 1 Timothy 1:16 “16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.”

Transition sentence???

Prodigal Son

Quick summary of Prodigal Son & how the father was patient in waiting even while his son was wayward.

Wheat & Weeds

Matthew 13:24–30 NIV

24 Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25 But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. 26 When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. 27 “The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’ 28 “ ‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. “The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ 29 “ ‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’ ”

Matthew 13:37–39 NIV

37 He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.

This is a eschatological parable; about the end times. It’s a parable about Kingdom of God vs Kingdom of Satan. In this parable we see two diff types of people with two different desties, one with Christ and one apart from Christ

Matthew 13:40–43 NIV

40 “As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. 42 They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.

All of us long to live in a world without evil and suffering. Jesus will remove all the evil from this world one day; He will eradicate evil from this earth. But the reason He hasn’t done so is because He’s patient.

Romans 1:18 “18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness,”

The reason you and I are still here is because He’s profoundly patient.

Romans 2:4 “4 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?”

Story of Scripture Sin & Patience

God creates the world and it is good

Adam & Eve Sin/disobey - now rebellion enters this world

Yet Adam lived for 930 years on the earth, God did not bring about an immediate end to his life.

Adam & Eve have Cain & Abel - Cain takes his brother’s life

Sin spreads across the earth; world full of sin. Full of rebellion towards God; so God decides to flood the earth.

Yet He would not completely eradicate humanity, Noah was a righteous man - He asks Noah to build an ark (70-75yrs)

& The Lord was patient with Noah, cross ref?

God preserves humanity.

Then sin slowly begins to spread again.

So God calls Abraham (175yrs) & his grandson: Jacob had 12 kids & due to some challenging circumstances this family, that then becomes the nation of Israel, ends up in Egypt for 400yrs / 4 centuries

And they are under brutal slavery, crying out to God, so God calls Moses. Then through 10 miraculous plagues, and parting the red sea, Israel spends 40 years wondering in the wilderness because of their rebellion.

God then raises up Joshua to deliver His people into the promised land. THey get there and then in the book of Judges, we see a people who despite having God, decide to do “what’s right in their own eyes”. last line of book of judges

God raises up a woman named Ruth -> Boaz —> Jesse —> Obed —> David

David eventually becomes King of Israel, but He wasn’t perfect. He made mistakes, He commits adultery and murder and yet after being confronted by a prophet, He repents, turns to God and God promises that his linage will last forever.

But how? David wasn’t a perfect King, nor was he a perfect dad. His children rebel against him, trying to usurp his rule.

And as you progress through human history past the life of David and Solomon, you enter the period of the Kings, most of which, there’s a line in the Bible summarizing their lives in which it says “they did what was evil in they eyes of the Lord”, “they did what was evil in they eyes of the Lord”, “they did what was evil in they eyes of the Lord”

2 Kings 13:1 “1 In the twenty-third year of Joash son of Ahaziah king of Judah, Jehoahaz son of Jehu became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned seventeen years.”

And yet in the midst of all of it there’s this line

2 Kings 13:23 “23 But the Lord was gracious to them and had compassion and showed concern for them because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. To this day he has been unwilling to destroy them or banish them from his presence.”

and yet Israel continues to sin. And in 2 King 21:15 we see the heart of God, it says,

2 Kings 21:15 “15 they have done evil in my eyes and have aroused my anger from the day their ancestors came out of Egypt until this day.””

Yet God was patient with them all throughout human history

After the period of the Kings, they are attacked by Assyria and Babylon. Babylon carries them off into captivity and then theres 400 years of silence.

And then Jesus came.

and Jesus endured 33 years on this earth, being mocked, ridiculed, betrayed, a beaten.

And yet, Jesus endured the accusation, Jesus endured betrayal, He endured the cross, endured death and was patient. He endured the cross for six hours, he waited until the wrath of God was satisfied and had been poured out on Him on our behalf.

He then was buried and waited 3 days before conquoring sin, death and the devil.

WHY? Why was God so patient? Because this is who He is.

God is not slow to act, He is slow to anger. God is patient.

He is patient with our sin.

We ought to praise God, that He is a patient God!

Story of Patience

All of us long to live in a world without evil and suffering. Jesus will remove all the evil from this world one day; He will eradicate evil from this earth. But the reason He hasn’t done so is because He’s patient.

Romans 1:18 “18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness,”

The reason you and I are still here is because He’s profoundly patient.

Romans 2:4 “4 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?”

The most cross referenced verse in Scripture

Exodus 34:6 NIV

6 And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness,

Psalm 86:15 NIV

15 But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.

Jonah 4:2 NIV

2 He prayed to the Lord, “Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.

Micah 7:8 NIV

8 Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light.

Question

What attribute attribute other than the grace of God is needed for salvation?

Patience - Salvation

2 Peter 3:9 NIV

9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

2 Peter 3:15 NIV

15 Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him.