UNDERSTANDING PATIENCE
Notes
Transcript
|ANNOUNCEMENTS|
|ANNOUNCEMENTS|
Blood Drive
Friday, Nov 20
must sign up
Saturday Service Change
6pm service
Starting Nov 28th
|READING|
|READING|
Proverbs 15:18
18 A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but one slow to anger calms strife.
Proverbs 16:32
32 Patience is better than power, and controlling one’s emotions, than capturing a city.
Proverbs 25:28
28 A person who does not control his temper is like a city whose wall is broken down.
Proverbs 29:8–11
8 Mockers inflame a city, but the wise turn away anger. 9 If a wise person goes to court with a fool, there will be ranting and raving but no resolution. 10 Bloodthirsty men hate an honest person, but the upright care about him. 11 A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise person holds it in check.
|INTRO|
|INTRO|
Leighton playing Settlers of Catan
On Tuesday we had just gotten home from soccer practices and my wife, Leighton, and I sat down to play Settlers of Catan
My wife totally blocked him in and then put the robber which blocks you from getting the resource on that number
Then that number was rolled again and again
So, he wasn’t able to get resources to do anything and even if he did my wife had essentially locked him in
Now, I am not trying to dig on my wife, I am just sharing the story
But why?
Well, b/c of how Leighton responded
He didn’t freak out and throw a fit
He didn’t get mad and pout
He didn’t even complain
He calmly sat there and continued to play
And in doing so he exhibited great patience...
Understanding Patience: Outline
Understanding Patience: Outline
What patience is
Three aspects
The testing and development of patience
The outcomes of patience
Three outcomes or benefits
The God of patience
I. What patience is
I. What patience is
three aspects
1. Patience is the ability to keep your anger in check
1. Patience is the ability to keep your anger in check
Where does this statement come from?
From the meaning of the Hebrew word that is translated patience
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.
Let me connect this in Bible...
32 Patience is better than power, and controlling one’s emotions, than capturing a city.
18 A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but one slow to anger calms strife.
“Patience” in Prov 16:32 and “slow to anger” in Prov 15:18 are the same Hebrew word
So, patience is connected to the emotion of anger and the result of it
Or in other words, the absence of patience gives way to anger and unrighteous behavior
It is a lack of self-control or controlling your anger
What is anger?
What is anger?
>> It is a strong feeling of displeasure
>> It is a strong feeling of displeasure
What causes anger?
What causes anger?
>> The belief that we have been wronged, whether real or perceived
>> The belief that we have been wronged, whether real or perceived
So, what is the difference between real and perceived wrongdoing?
Real wrongdoing is something immoral, unethical, or sinful that is done to you.
Examples:
- Someone talks trash/slanders you
- Someone steals your baseball cards
Perceived wrongdoing is not genuine wrongdoing.
Examples:
- Grandma threw away my dad’s baseball cards
- Someone got promoted over you
So, a wrong, whether perceived or real was committed against you and you start to experience feelings of displeasure or anger arise...
At this point either you have the choice to exercise patience or not.
What does it look like to not keep your anger in check or be patient?
What does it look like to not keep your anger in check or be patient?
1. Losing your temper
1. Losing your temper
Illustration #1: Bobby Knight throwing chair… |Show picture|
Feb 23, 1985 playing the Purdue Boilermakers
Bobby Knight, the coach of the Indiana hoosiers, expressed his outrage over his teams performance and the refs calls that during a technical foul shot he hurled a chair across the floor, through the lane of the basket where the shot was taken towards the wheelchair section
This image is forever burned in my brain and where my mind often goes when I think of losing your temper
Interestingly, my brother putting Bobby Knight picture over hole in bedroom door.
Illustration #2: Vail and not getting Halloween candy
2. Getting revenge
2. Getting revenge
Show pictures about revenge…
3. Becoming irritated and complaining
3. Becoming irritated and complaining
1 The entire Israelite community departed from Elim and came to the Wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had left the land of Egypt. 2 The entire Israelite community grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. 3 The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in the land of Egypt, when we sat by pots of meat and ate all the bread we wanted. Instead, you brought us into this wilderness to make this whole assembly die of hunger!”
Now, I want to be clear about something when it comes to anger...
Though anger is often presented or used in the Bible to refer to an emotion considered sinful it is not always.
In other words, anger can be righteous.
“Righteous indignation” refers to the extreme displeasure of a holy heart unable to tolerate sin of any kind.
We see this with Moses...
19 As he approached the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, Moses became enraged and threw the tablets out of his hands, smashing them at the base of the mountain. 20 He took the calf they had made, burned it up, and ground it to powder. He scattered the powder over the surface of the water and forced the Israelites to drink the water.
We also, see this with Jesus...
13 The Jewish Passover was near, and so Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple he found people selling oxen, sheep, and doves, and he also found the money changers sitting there. 15 After making a whip out of cords, he drove everyone out of the temple with their sheep and oxen. He also poured out the money changers’ coins and overturned the tables. 16 He told those who were selling doves, “Get these things out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a marketplace!”
In fact, we are commanded to be angry...
26 Be angry and do not sin. Don’t let the sun go down on your anger,
Righteous anger communicates that we care.
If a child is abused it is right to feel anger b/c of the injustice done.
To not get angry is to not care about the abuse or injustice
But in our anger the command is not to sin.
In other words, don’t let your holy anger turn into an unholy anger.
Patience is the ability to keep your anger in check
2. Patience involves waiting on someone or something
2. Patience involves waiting on someone or something
8 Therefore, wait for me— this is the Lord’s declaration— until the day I rise up for plunder. For my decision is to gather nations, to assemble kingdoms, in order to pour out my indignation on them, all my burning anger; for the whole earth will be consumed by the fire of my jealousy.
The Hebrew word here for “wait” in many contexts, like this one, has the connotation “to be patient” or “to have patience”
Or the idea is to ‘patiently wait’
And I think this is pretty much intuitive or makes sense to us…patience involves waiting and waiting involves patience
Biblically, waiting means to be patient and patience requires that we wait...
Dinner getting ready at our house…Guac…kids come in start eating before ready…tell them to wait or be patient…
Patiently standing in a long line at a store or to vote…if patiently in line at a store we know that requires waiting.
To truly wait is to be patient or to be patient is to wait
Obviously, this implies we are ‘patiently waiting’ on or for someone or something.
waiting on the cashier
waiting in line to get your role of toilet paper
waiting on the person to give you your ballet to vote at your polling place
But there is another who we are asked to ‘patiently wait’ on and that is God.
In fact, this is the most significant use of this word, and we see ‘patiently waiting’ on God all over the Bible.
20 We wait for the Lord; he is our help and shield.
or...
8 Therefore, wait for me— this is the Lord’s declaration— until the day I rise up for plunder. For my decision is to gather nations, to assemble kingdoms, in order to pour out my indignation on them, all my burning anger; for the whole earth will be consumed by the fire of my jealousy.
This is what we are instructed to do again and again - to wait on the Lord
But if you are anything like me, you hate waiting, right?
‘Waiting’ is like a four-letter word for many people b/c it means we don’t get what we want when we want it
So, what can happen is take matters into our own hands or become impatient...
Let me give you an example...
Genesis - Abraham and Sara…sleeping with Ishmael
1 Abram’s wife, Sarai, had not borne any children for him, but she owned an Egyptian slave named Hagar. 2 Sarai said to Abram, “Since the Lord has prevented me from bearing children, go to my slave; perhaps through her I can build a family.” And Abram agreed to what Sarai said. 3 So Abram’s wife, Sarai, took Hagar, her Egyptian slave, and gave her to her husband, Abram, as a wife for him. This happened after Abram had lived in the land of Canaan ten years. 4 He slept with Hagar, and she became pregnant. When she saw that she was pregnant, her mistress became contemptible to her.
Why don’t we patiently wait on the Lord?
Why don’t we patiently wait on the Lord?
Because we don’t trust God and his promises
Our lack of patience is directly connected to our lack of trust in God
Getting revenge…God promises to justly pay all who have sinned
Patience involves waiting on someone or something
3. To be patient is to endure
3. To be patient is to endure
This concept is particularly found in the NT...
Three New Testament words tend to be translated “patience.”
One of those is hypomone which is also often translated “endurance,” “steadfastness,” “longsuffering,” or “perseverance” and tends to have the sense of faithful, patient enduring of persecution and other difficulties for the sake of the gospel and the kingdom of God.
Job is said to have had patience in this sense (James 5:11b)
10 Brothers and sisters, take the prophets who spoke in the Lord’s name as an example of suffering and patience. 11 See, we count as blessed those who have endured. You have heard of Job’s endurance and have seen the outcome that the Lord brought about—the Lord is compassionate and merciful.
To endure means to “remain firm” or “steadfast”
It is as Hebrews implies finishing the race of faith
It is continuing to resist the impulse of anger and/or wait on God despite the difficulty you may find yourself in.
It is continuing on in Christ until He takes us home...
So, to be patient is to endure
II. The testing and development of patience
II. The testing and development of patience
Think of patience as a muscle
How do you determine the strength of a muscle?
How do you strengthen your muscle?
So...
How do you test the strength of your patience and grow your patience?
How do you test the strength of your patience and grow your patience?
>> Through pressure (trials, suffering, hardship). Through life not going as you planned.
>> Through pressure (trials, suffering, hardship). Through life not going as you planned.
This is how our faith and character grow...
3 And not only that, but we also boast in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, 4 endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope.
Endurance = patience
Affliction/pressure leads to greater faith and character
This what James communicates...
2 Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.
Every day, you and I are going to have opportunities for our patience to be tested and developed.
Examples:
driving to work and get cut off
going to the grocery store and waiting in line
coming home after a long day at work to find the side of your house inscribed with the names of your kids
Every day you and I will have our patience tested with the opportunity to develop it
>> Patience is tested and developed through life not going as planned
>> Patience is tested and developed through life not going as planned
So, patience is tested and developed through life not going as planned
III. The outcomes of patience
III. The outcomes of patience
Now, these next three have to do with the benefits of being patient...
So...
1. To not have patience will leave you exposed
1. To not have patience will leave you exposed
28 A person who does not control his temper is like a city whose wall is broken down.
Show Picture of city with a wall around it
with the wall intact it is protected, hard to penetrate; it is safe
but the exact opposite is true if the way broken down
no longer is the city safe, but it is exposed; open to danger
When patience is missing in your life, you are exposed.
How?
Opens you up to making terrible and rash decisions...
KCCI article…burning house down...
Court documents state that on Saturday afternoon, Kyle Hanson, 25, witnessed the victim put garbage in a recycling bin, which made Hanson upset.
"(Hanson) stated to me that his options were to kill the victim, set the house on fire or go for a walk," the police on the call wrote in a report. "(Hanson) chose option two (to burn the house down)."
According to the police report, Hanson got a gas can from a shed and poured the contents on the victim's residence on the 5100 block of Lincoln Avenue. He then lit the fire. The residence was a part of a duplex made up of two apartments.
"The victim was home and inside his residence when the incident occurred," the police report stated. "(Hanson) admitted to officers that he intentionally set the fire because he was upset with the victim."
Authorities said Hanson's actions endangered the victim's life.
Hanson was charged with first-degree arson. He's being held in the Polk County Jail on $25,000 bond.
that hurt others and their relationships with others
that leave their kids not respecting them
that make you not a fun person to be around
And unfortunately, many people have temper problems or are impatient and have paid the price for it, and are living with much regret.
But on the flip-side to be patient you are like a city with solid walls around it...
To not have patience will leave you exposed
2. To have patience is a sign of wisdom
2. To have patience is a sign of wisdom
What does wisdom look like?
8 Mockers inflame a city, but the wise turn away anger. 9 If a wise person goes to court with a fool, there will be ranting and raving but no resolution. 10 Bloodthirsty men hate an honest person, but the upright care about him. 11 A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise person holds it in check.
Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs (10) Order in the Court and in Society (29:8–11)
The setting of v. 9 is the court, in which the recklessness of the fool is given full vent. In v. 11 the wise man controls himself in any confrontation with a fool. If the context is still that of v. 9, one can assume he also restores order to the courtroom and brings a case to its proper conclusion.
So, wisdom is seen in how we handle situations that provoke anger.
It is exhibited through patience, through waiting without becoming angry and sinning
So, if you want to know if someone is wise or not then look at how they handle their anger.
Patience is a sign of wisdom
3. Patience is a great weapon of influence
3. Patience is a great weapon of influence
32 Patience is better than power, and controlling one’s emotions, than capturing a city.
What does Proverbs describe as mighty or powerful?
>> Patience
Solomon says it is even better than capturing a city
Now, that is pretty amazing comparison. B/c for most pinnacle of success is power, which is often demonstrated through control of a huge company or being President, or in this case having control of a city.
But why does Solomon say this?
15 A ruler can be persuaded through patience, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.
How is a person of power persuade or influenced?
>> Through patience and soft speech
It is not by going in and telling them how it is going to be.
No.
It is not by getting angry and losing your temper.
If you are going to persuade a person of power, like a politician or a CEO, etc. then you must be patient...
Proverbs: An Introduction and Commentary Quiet Persistence (25:15)
the quality that is praised is a refusal to be provoked, and the point is that so unassuming a weapon may win surprising victories
Patience is a great weapon of influence
IV. The God of patience
IV. The God of patience
The Bible describes God in many ways, and one of those ways is “slow to anger” or patient.
15 But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love and truth.
6 The Lord passed in front of him and proclaimed: The Lord—the Lord is a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love and truth,
Why is He slow to anger?
4 Or do you despise the riches of his kindness, restraint, and patience, not recognizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?
9 The Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.
Here is the truth: if we have repented and put our faith in Christ then we have benefited from God’s patience.
And as a result, are live a life of patience out of honor to His patience toward us, and as a way to demonstrate to the lost world around us God’s kindness, so they might repent.
Patience is not only what are to do but something we have received.
Patience is not only what are to do but something we have received.
|make an appeal to those who have not repented to do so…this is God’s patience|
In closing...
APPLICATION:
APPLICATION:
1) Look for opportunities to develop your patience
1) Look for opportunities to develop your patience
or I should say look at frustrating situations; situations where you feel anger arising as opportunities to grow your patience
in one sense don’t waste these situations, but seem them as God’s grace to help you to conform to the character of his son
2) Walk by the Spirit
2) Walk by the Spirit
16 I say, then, walk by the Spirit and you will certainly not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don’t do what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, 21 envy, drunkenness, carousing, and anything similar. I am warning you about these things—as I warned you before—that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things.
|PRAY|
|PRAY|