The Longsuffering of the Lord
“The Longsuffering of the Lord”
2 Peter 3:9
Introduction
I would like to talk about the long suffering of the Lord
It is understandable that believers would ask question “How Long Oh Lord
That is what the psalmist said in Psalm 13 – four times he says it
But what starts out with a sigh ends with a song as David contemplates the goodness of the Lord as he goes through a particular trying experience
And that is perhaps the way that all of us may feel when we are going through a trying experience important to keep in mind that the Lord is purifying our faith that though it be tried with fire may be found unto praise and honor at the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ
In the parable of the unjust judge the widow cried long and hard to the unjust judge – who though he had no vested interest in her at all still answered her for her importunity
Shall not God avenge His own who cry to Him day and night though He bear long with them?
James 5:7 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.
The Lord suffers with us as He bears long with us
Acts 9 – think of Lord Jesus who said to Saul of Tarsus on Damascus turnpike – Saul, Saul why dost thou persecute me – Lord identifies w/ His Church
Heb 4.15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
1 Peter 5.7 – Casting all your care upon Him for He cares for you
The Lord cares for His own and suffers long with them
But that is only one aspect of the Long suffering of the Lord
Another aspect of the long-suffering of the Lord is for the sinner waiting for them to come to Him
The Lord cried out Come unto me all ye that labor 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 of heart and your shall find rest for your soul
And so the call goes out far and wide for sinful men and women restless men and women to come unto to the sympathizing Savior to find joy, peace and rest in Him and yet many still don’t come
Many still want to remain in their sin and in their sorrow thinking that they will be able to pull out of it on their own
All the time the Lord Jesus is calling out Come unto me
In John 7 – on the last day – the great day of the feast – it says that Jesus cried out – not His normal way of doing things (Isa 42 tells us) and in the concourse If anyone thirsts let Him come unto me and drink He who believes in Me as the Scripture says – out of his belly will flow living water
And yet men and women continue to try to drink water from cisterns – broken cisterns of this world that spiritually dry that cannot satisfy
O Christ in Thee my soul hath found,//And found in Thee alone,
The peace, the joy I sought so long,//The bliss till now unknown.
Now none but Christ can satisfy,//None other name for me,
There’s love, and life, and lasting joy,//Lord Jesus, found in Thee.
And despite all this the Lord Jesus holds out and He is not sent back by the father because of God great love for the world – holding back for that one sinner who may turn to His blessed Son tonight – waiting, wanting to save
Not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance
So that they might enter into life – all should come unto repentance all
Does the grace of God reach all?
Eph 3.19 – says that we might comprehend to some extent the love of Christ what is the width, and length, and height and depth – to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge
All people no matter what the problem in their lives might be
The Rich young ruler who came to the Lord and said – what must I do to be saved and when the Lord helped him to identify the problem – money it says that beholding him – he loved him – but still the rich young man was unwilling to part with his love for money – thinking that money would satisfy his deepest needs
Ps 62:10 Do not trust in oppression, Nor vainly hope in robbery; If riches increase, Do not set your heart on them. …
Pr 23:5 Will you set your eyes on that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; They fly away like an eagle toward heaven.
Rom 2 – tells us that the goodness of God leads men to repentance but some people trample under the goodness of God and disregard His blessings and attribute all their wealth to their power/strength instead of letting ack. Lord
The Lord has every right to judge men and women in their sin and yet He suffers long with for them wanting them to come to the knowledge of truth
Adam and Eve -- God could have judged Adam and Eve in the Garden when they ate of the fruit and yet He did not
Manasseh - God could have judged Manasseh the last son of godly Hezekiah because he seduced Israel to sin more than all the nations whom the Lord had cast out and yet He did not – why – because God was suffering long for the sinful Manasseh until he turned around – what an example of grace of God!!
For all that Manasseh did – sacrificing His sons and built altars in the house of the Lord and worshipped all host of heaven God still forgave Him
God’s grace still rules and reigns today – this is the day of grace
2 Co 6:2 For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
Is 55:6-7 Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.
People in Noah’s Day – the Lord held out for the people in Noah’s day
Even though the thoughts of their heart was only evil continually yet Christ preached by the Spirit through Noah to the people for well over 100 years attested to the longsuffering of God for His creation
For God so loved the world that HE gave His only son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting love
Herein is love not that we loved God but that He loved us and gave His Son a propitiation for our sins – a satisfactory sacrifice for our sins
1 Pe 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.
And the witness of God is still there – filling our hearts with food and gladness as Paul sad to the people at Lystra – the goodness and grace of God to men and women everywhere
Cities of Refuge – making it possible for the manslayer – accidental death to escape the judgment that his actions deserve – all goodness/grace of God!!
A city of refuge – whom the sinner can flee to
Israel in Lord’s Day
Mt 27:25 And all people answered and said, “His blood be on us and on our children.”
Ac 2:39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”
Saul of Tarsus – even Saul of Tarsus who later became Apostle Paul said
1 Ti 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.
He calls himself a blasphemer – injurious but God had mercy on him because he did it ignorantly in unbelief
Why – because the Lord was longsuffering – waiting holding out until Saul would turn in faith and trust the Savior
Ga 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Is 61:1 “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; Is 61:2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn,
Lk 4:18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; Lk 4:19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” Lk 4:20 Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him.
Acceptable – YEAR – a long time, but the Day of vengeance (quick) of our God
The Long suffering of the Lord because He understands what is at stake – men and women perishing in their sin
John 10.10 -- That you might have life – that is eternal life and have it more abundantly (the promise of the life that now is!!—all the blessings of the Christian life to be enjoyed now – peace and joy and the knowledge of sins forgiven – the care and keeping of Christ the assurance of salvation – the guidance and anointing of the Holy Spirit
You need to come into the ark – today before the door and day
Ac 17:30 Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent,
And God wants you – friend to come to grips with your life – and ask the hard question – why keep Him waiting any longer
Come to Him today !!