Spiritual Fruit- Patience
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Handout
We Like to talk about Love. Everyone likes love it feels good. We like to talk about Joy. We like to talk about Peace. These things feel good to talk about. They give us a smile when we have them, And they can make us want them if we don’t.
But we don’t like to talk about today’s fruit.
Remember this is a fruit.
It is present if you are living a life according to the Holy Spirit. If you are not producing the fruits of the flesh, You will be producing and Growing this fruit.
It’s a process. To grow but you will be growing it.
Talking about Patience.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
It’s a hard thing to think about we live in a society of now:
Instant food
Fast Food
TV Dinners
Instant TV
Instant messaging
TXT
We can’t walk because it takes too long
“God, give me patience – Right now” Honest prayer being heard.
So it is hard even think about Patience. Because we don’t really want it. We like our society of now.
Some of you don’t even cook any more takes work and it takes time.
But here it is a fruit of the spirit. Let’s talk about what Patience is.
20 to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water,
As we look at this passage idea we must recognize that it is God that is who we must get our example from. Patience is one of the ways we show who God is.
What does it mean to have patience?
Patience in Greek comes from the word to suffer. It’s the same word we get the word passion from. Like the passion of Christ.
Suffering + Long = Patience
Long suffering. And think about it you never have to worry about patience when you are doing something you enjoy. Lord just give me the patience to eat this chocolate cake. No its always when you are doing something that takes work. Give me patience to not kill these children.
And it goes hand in hand with perseverance.
Perseverance is standing under suffering
And patience is the long fuse when dealing with suffering.
It takes both to get you through.
In the Bible long-suffering Is rewarded, It comes from being tested.
It comes from reading the Scriptures
It is needed to wait on Christ’s return
If we are living a life that produces spiritual fruit we will find ourselves more patient Relying on the peace that goes along with it.
But if we are not then we find our patience wearing thin.
When we get selfish and put ourselves before other
When we become bitter and not dealing with issues
When we let sins separate us from God
Not saying you will not be tired.
Not saying you shouldn’t have boundaries to protect yourselves and to have time to recharge.
But that’s not being selfish that’s being honest about when you need time, And about taking Sabbath that is God ordained.
Example:
When I am taking care of my children like I need to be and I am focusing on being the parent and giving them the love and instruction they need then I am not mad or angry at them. I don’t say things I will regret later
When I, however, start focusing on myself. It’s all about me I don’t want to be the parent any more.I need to watch whatever or do what ever.
Which I could do later if I was just honest and not wanting to make it all about me.
That’s when I get mad at the kids and yell. Why because I am putting the focus on where it shouldn’t be.
God
Idolatry
Wife
adultery
Family
Destroying my first God given ministry
Where Do I fit in the picture. When I do these things properly, I get time too. When My wife is taken care of She doesn’t mind giving me a bit more time to relax when I need it. When my family is taken care of they actually don’t need as much attention.
That’s why we need to be quick to listen, but slow to speak, and slow to anger. And when we persevere with suffering of all kinds. It produces hope that’s what Romans 5 Tells us
But it requires patience.
And patience is important not just important with people. But with God. God is looking for a long term relationship with you. He wants that life of patience as he grows you.
3 He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.
It’s not on bread alone we live but on the very word of God. I love it when Jesus the Word quotes that.. And when we read his scriptures we grow in patience as we grow with Christ. And he Grows us.
Through it all God grows us.
And patience is all about growth. Through suffering. And through a long relationship with Christ. Not looking for a one and done, Or a quickie.
He’s not looking for you to come to Christ and then come to church once a week or once a month and that’s all the relationship you have with him. No he is looking for a solid relationship with you.
A long-suffering relationship
Next Steps
Next Steps
Be Still and know that He is God Psalm 46:10
10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
Patience
Have it?
Or is something blocking it.
Become bitter
Become selfish
Become sinful
It’s not someone else’s fault its yours. You may deal with a lot from someone but still your fault.
How is your relationship with Christ?
The kind that long-suffers together.
Or the kind that almost isn’t
Pray