The fruit of patience
The quality which keeps the believer
from responding to negative situations out of hatred and anger. The capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble,
or suffering without getting angry or upset.
Greek – Mekrothymia: Long suffering
bearing fruits without complaint
I Cor. 13:4 – “love is patient“
I Thess. 5:14 – “be patient with all men
Patience in Suffering
James 5:7-8 (NIV) 7 Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. 8 You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.
Tribulation works patience
Rom 5:3 And not only so, but let us have joy in our troubles: in the knowledge that trouble gives us the power of waiting; Rom 5:4 And waiting gives experience; and experience, hope: Rom 5:5 And hope does not put to shame; because our hearts are full of the love of God through the Holy Spirit which is given to us.
Rom. 15:5 – “the God of patience”
Heb. 10:36 – “you have need of endurance
James 1:3,4 – “test of your faith produces endurance”
What to do when you in life’s waiting room?
- Remember there is a natural delay between planting and harvesting
Ecclesiastes 3:1 To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven: 2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot
- Remember there is an unseen battle going-on
Ephesians 6:12 (ESV) For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
Dan 10:11 The angel said to me, “Daniel, God loves you. Stand up and listen carefully to what I am going to say. I have been sent to you.” When he had said this, I stood up, still trembling. Dan 10:12 Then he said, “Daniel, don’t be afraid. God has heard your prayers ever since the first day you decided to humble yourself in order to gain understanding. I have come in answer to your prayer.
- Remember God is preparing us for a blessing
1 Peter 1:6-7 (NLT) 6 So be truly glad.[a] There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. 7 These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.
Romans 8:24-25 (MSG) 22-25 All around us we observe a pregnant creation. The difficult times of pain throughout the world are simply birth pangs. But it’s not only around us; it’s within us. The Spirit of God is arousing us within. We’re also feeling the birth pangs. These sterile and barren bodies of ours are yearning for full deliverance. That is why waiting does not diminish us, any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting. We, of course, don’t see what is enlarging us. But the longer we wait, the larger we become, and the more joyful our expectancy.
4. You are good company while you are waiting
Psalm 118:5-6 “Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free. The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”
Romans 8:38-39 “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
5. God always keeps his promises
In the waiting room you do not focus on what you can’t do. You focus on what God can do.
Habakkuk 2:3 (CEV) At the time I have decided, my words will come true. You can trust what I say about the future. It may take a long time, but keep on waiting— it will happen!
4 things to do in waiting
- Write down the things that you have learned during the waiting so you don’t forget – otherwise you will go through it again.
Numbers 33:2 (NLT) At the Lord’s direction, Moses kept a written record of their progress.
The way to the promise is through the wilderness
- Act as though you already have it.
Mark 11:24 (NIV) 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
3. Imitate the habits of strong faith
Philippians 4:9 (NLT) 9 Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.
These habits are:
Keep on Praying – Matthew 7:7 (NIV) “Ask and it will be given to you. Keep on Serving – Waiter – Serving. Keep on going to church – Hebrews 10:25 (NIV) not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing. Keep on sowing – Ecclesiastes 11:6-8 (NLT) Plant your seed in the morning and keep busy all afternoon, for you don’t know if profit will come from one activity or another—or maybe both.
- Trust God instead of worrying
Matthew 6:27 “Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”
Matthew 6:34 “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself”
1 Peter 5:6, 7 “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”