About Patience

I remember when I was 20 years old, I was not yet in the church, although I started getting interested at that time and I'm studying. I served for one year at the South African Air Force. And during the initial, what they called, basic training, you were not allowed to walk from one place to another. You had to run. Whatever you did, you had to run. And I suppose, whenever if you go to the military, it probably is the same young state. But you had to run. But when you got to the other place, you had to stand and wait. And I was very impatient. So I used to say, just hurry up and wait. And then there was one fellow, let's call it, trainee with me. And he became a good friend of mine during that time period, or those three months, because then he went into a different area and I went into a different area. Then we didn't see each other. But he used to tell me, George, patience is a virtue. And it actually kind of got written in the back of my mind, patience is a virtue. And the question I have for you today is, do you ever see yourself in a situation where your patience is tested? I guess your answer is no, never. Obviously it's not. We all get into situations where our patience is tested, particularly when it's kind of been a long time and it's putting you in under very stressful situations. Our patience is tested. So today, brethren, I want to discuss a little bit about patience, because it is part of a growing process in godly character. Whenever we encounter adversity and difficulties and an opportunity for us to develop godlike grace to the end, and will be a grace that we will be able to use in the life, future, in the future life, when you and I are spirit beings. And so I want to basically go through three different kind of perspectives. First, look at some, particularly a key, one specific key that is, let's call it the beginning of patience for us to grow in patience. Then in the second perspective, I want to highlight that we need to expect trials. And so we gotta have patience. Really, we have to have trials. It's part of our Christian mind. And third, the third perspective, looking at it from a slightly different angle, is that we gotta use the opportunities we have now to develop patience, because there's time and chance. And so you may ask, so why am I going through this? Well, because the outcome, or one of the outcomes of developing patience, like outcome of some other godly characteristics as well, but one of the outcomes of developing patience is the gift of eternal life. One of the outcomes of developing patience is the gift of eternal life. So let's turn to Hebrews chapter 10 verse 36. I have many scriptures today. Some of them I will not turn to, but I will quote them. But let's look at a few. Hebrews 10 verse 36. We read, for you have need of endurance. You know, in the King James Version, it puts patience. We have need of patience. So endurance and patience are kind of similar words. And it says, you have need of endurance of patience, so that after you've done the will of God, you may receive the promise. What is the promise? The promise is eternal life. And so we have a need of being patient, so that once we have done the will of God and being patient till the end, we may receive eternal life. And so, brethren, patience is the ability to wait. It's the ability to continue doing something despite it being mighty difficult. It's the capability of suffering without complaining. Or, if it is applicable, in our case, to recognize the need to repent and change. And so it is very important to have patience, so you and I can navigate through our different challenges that you and I have in life, our different difficulties with a level head.

In other words, it helps us to focus on the long-term goal, rather than on the current short-term setbacks. Because, brethren, this life is short. This life is short. But we had to look at the long-term goal. And so patience develops resilience. And God wants you and I to develop resilience for greater things for us to do in serving in the millennium and beyond. And so, when things don't go exactly the way we want, we need to persevere. Persevere till the end, patiently. We need to glory in difficulties and tribulations, patiently, knowing that these trials and difficulties and tribulations produce what? Perseverance. Patience. Perseverance. And this perseverance helps us to develop what? Character. And this character helps us to develop hope. So, brethren, that's scriptural. Read with me, please, Romans 5, Verse 3 and 4. Romans 5, Verse 3 and 4. Romans 5, Verse 3 and 4. Now, hope doesn't appear in verse 3 and not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, in trials, in difficulties, in challenges. Knowing that these difficulties, trials, tribulations, produce perseverance, endurance, patience, and perseverance, character. Godly character. Holy, righteous, godly character. And character, hope. And hope does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the God's only Spirit, which has been given to us. And so, this is part of a development of character. And let me tell you, character is what God is. He is, he has, and he is a godly, righteous character. We got to develop the image of God. And so, those are basically the mental and moral qualities of God Himself that you and I need to develop. And in Romans 15 verse 5, Romans 15 verse 5, we read, Romans 15 verse 5 read, Now made the God of patience and comfort. That's God's character. He is patient. He gives us time. He's patient that we all may come to repentance. And He gives us comfort to go through those difficult times. And you and I need to be like Him. The problem is, quite often, is that you and I pray about it. And what you and I pray about doesn't kind of come the way we pray. And then you can say, well, God's not hearing my prayers. But could it be, no, this is not my will for you now. Wait, there's something I want for you, or there's something I want for the other person that you just got to wait until something else develops. Or maybe now is not the time. Or maybe the answer is no.

There's an interesting book by a lady called Elisa Morgan. She wrote a book called Naked Fruit, Getting Honesty About the Fruit of the Spirit. And in that book, she mentions that there was a day that she came home feeling really tired, exhausted. Then she got home. The kids needed a whole bunch of laundry to be done. And she was just tired. Then they wanted something else for dinner. And she needed to make a dozen cookies for a sale in school tomorrow. And she was just overwhelmed. And then she became angry. And she says, you know, on the word, she became a monster mom. And it came out through this monster, came out through a tiny hole of emotions and just it burst out. And then she started yelling and blaming and things like that. Can we kind of relate to that? You know, we all have situations when we get angry and explode. I do. We all do. And this lack of long suffering, of patience, is like a tiny hole in a big wall that it just bursts. Look at Proverbs 25 verse 28. Proverbs 25 verse 28. We read, whoever has no rule over his own spirit, in other words, who can't control himself under these emotional situations, is like a city broken down without walls.

Brethren, the key that is like the starting point to the will of patience. That's my first point that I wanted to cover that I mentioned to you earlier on. The key is self-control. Self-control. And it's a key for growth in patience. It's all about control of the self. And part of that is learning to submit.

You know, Christ in the Beatitudes on the Seminar on the Mount says in verse 3, blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. In other words, theirs is the kingdom of God. In other words, blessed are the poor in spirit because they'll receive the gift of eternal life to be in the kingdom of God.

And so one of the first steps towards self-control is to be humble. And the problem is quite often we don't think about being humble and we just kind of say, oh well, it's a great sermon. I really love you speaking, but it's not for me, it's for somebody else.

You know, oh yeah, people are creating the vision, but it's not me. I don't create the vision. And you as a pastor, why are you doing, you're not doing something about it? Tell these people to change. You know, quite often it's like a blind spot. You know, you drive on a car on a road and there's a blind spot. You and I are a blind spot to ourselves. We can't see ourselves. We can see that people, but we can't see ourselves. And so the very next beatitude after humility that Christ referred to is mourn.

Because you and I need to repent. We need to mourn. We need to recognize that we have a part to play sometimes. And then the next beatitude is we got to be meek. We got to be teachable. We got to be moldable. You see, the book of James talks about, particularly in chapter four, where it talks, why they are fights amongst you.

You know that section. I don't have to go through it. It says, why are fights amongst you? And you is not between this country and that country. You are between brethren in the church. Why are there squabbles between you? And then he goes on, he says, a little later, he says, God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil and you'll flee from you. You know, these scriptures probably like the back of your hand.

James chapter four, verse six and seven. We need to submit to God. In other words, to God's mind, to God's speaking to us like that stone small voice. In other words, we need to submit to God's early spirit. And that helps us with self-control and patience. You see, God's early spirit has very scary characteristics. You probably also know, Galatians 5 verse 22 and 23, the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering.

Oh, have you noticed that? Long suffering? In other words, patience and unkindness and goodness and faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Now, quite often you think it's the last one. I like to turn it around, say that's the first one, because you start with self-control. And then you are meek, gentle, teachable. And then you are faithful, you stick to what you say, and you learn to be good and to be kind. And that means you build up patience.

And then that means it leads to peace and joy and outgoing concern. We thought of starting it from self-control and building it up. You see, the problem is we have walls in our lives. And quite often, those walls are damaged by emotions. You know, we have a facade, kind of calm, but then our emotions come out. And why? Because we're not controlling it. We don't have self-control.

And how does it come out? Well, it starts in the heart. And then it goes through the mind, the brain. And where does it end? In the tongue. Something we say, and then something we do. That's why, in James, just before chapter four, we got chapter three. And you know, chapter three talks about the tongue. In James chapter three, verse six, says, The tongue is a fire, a wall of iniquity. The tongue is so set amongst our members that it defiles the whole body and sets on fire the course of nature.

And it is set on fire by hell. You see, so we've got to be careful how we control ourselves, how we allow that in our hearts, out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks, and so it comes out. And maybe it's not just the words, but might be the tongue.

The tone of how we say something. You and I may say the right thing, but it's the tone of how we say it. We've got to be careful with that. There's an article on our website from a lady called Suzanne Borton. She wrote this article about 10, now 11 years ago, 2015. And I'll quote what she wrote in this article. This is one of the brethren who wrote this.

And she says, I had a situation arise with one of my two-hour-long grocery shopping trips with my then two-year-old Tiffany and my six-month-old Farrah. So they went shopping, added two kids in the cart, and we found our way to the juice aisle with rows and rows of bright bottles of juice. Then she says, I realized I had missed a particular bottle that I needed. So I stopped the cart and took a step or two away to get a particular one that I needed.

Then suddenly, out of the corner of my eye, I saw motion in the cart. And the next thing I knew, Tiffany, that's a two-year-old girl, falling out of the cart. And as what when a person does, when you're falling, you're trying to grab onto something. And so she grabbed the nearest thing, which was a little sister's car seat, the handle of a little sister's car seat.

And the two together went tumbling out of the cart. So now I have Farrah screaming. That's the six-month-old. And still crying, strapped in a tipped-over car seat. And Tiffany, the two-year-old one, crying on the floor. So what would be your first instinct? Well, she describes it. My first instinct was to go over, grab Tiffany and say, what in the world were you doing? Why were you leaning out of the cart? Why did you grab your little sister?

But so I turned the word self-control. Came into my mind. And I knew that it was my opportunity to use it. At that moment, I focused all my attention on them, not being concerned with what others in the store were thinking of me as a mother. I first went to Farrah in the car seat, and I got her turned upright again. After examining her and seeing she was fine, I set her to the side, and she continued crying. I then went on to Tiffany and helped her to her feet. The look in her bright blue eyes was one of fear. Not knowing for sure what mom's response was going to be. I looked over to be sure she was okay, and then I took her in my arms, and I gave her a hug.

As I did this, I could feel and see the fear melt away from her. I was so nervous. She calmed down quickly and began to apologize for what she'd done, and she said, Mom, I only wanted to touch the bottle of juice. I didn't mean to fall out of the car and pull Farrah down. Is she okay, Mom? It was a teaching moment for both Tiffany and me. This instance showed me that by controlling my emotions, my actions and turn, and because the turn was much more loving than it would have normally been, and Tiffany's response to me was also much more loving and cooperative than it would have normally been. So this is what this lady in the church wrote. I thought it was quite a meaningful story, quite a simple daily life story that can happen to anyone of us. And what is the lesson? What is the key? It is not to allow our sudden emotional impulses to rule over us. And this is spiritual growth. This is the developing godly character. This helps us to defend ourselves from Satan's tactics. Satan uses our lack of self-control, self-control over our emotions, to cause hurt and division to others. In 2 Peter chapter 1, 2 Peter chapter 1 verse 5, starting in verse 5, 2 Peter chapter 1 verse 5. But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, in other words, making every single effort, add to your 5th virtue and to virtual knowledge, and to knowledge self-control. And to self-control perseverance. Stick to it. Patience. And perseverance, godliness, and godliness, brotherly love, and brotherly love, true godly love. For if you do these things, you'll produce fruit, as it says, and then in verse 10 it says, therefore be even more diligent to make the calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never leave the church. You'll never stop. You'll never leave the church. For that way, you'll be given an entrance into God's kingdom. That's how you'll enter God's kingdom. Put it that's literally what it says. He says, an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. That's God's kingdom. And so, why does God want us to learn to use self-control and to be patient? Because God is the God of patience, and God is the God of self-control. Because if you don't have self-control, we all have been destroyed by now.

And God's early spirit gives you a nice strength and power to overcome. As you and I are led by the Spirit of God, you and I then are the sons of God. Romans 8, 14. In 2 Timothy 1 verse 7, God is not given as a spirit of fear but of power and love and a sound mind. In other words, a balanced mind, a mind that exercises self-control. You see, we've got to grow patiently and don't think that this doesn't apply to you and I, because it does. We have to be humble and wait, exercise self-control, and submit to God's will, because maybe God's will is wait, George, or put your own name. Just be patient. Trust me. I will sort out with that situation, with that situation, with this person, with that person, leave it to me. And therefore, I respect God and trust God. And therefore, I wait for him. We're going to run our our fight with endurance. We got to stick to it. In Hebrews chapter 12 verse 1 and 2, Hebrews chapter 12 verse 1 and 2, it says, Therefore, we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, we just finished reading in chapter 11 about all the witnesses of faith, pillars of faith. So let us set aside every weight and the sun which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance, it was with patience and sticking to it, the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him, endured. And for the joy that is set before us, if you and I can just visualize the same hope, we need to equally endure. Remember, God will never leave or forsake you. Hebrews 13 5. Never. And so we just have to keep going. And so the very first point I've mentioned to you, I wanted to emphasize, is the need of us humbly submitting to God and just, therefore, exercise self-control, trusting God that he will sort it out in his time. But the second point I wanted to mention to you is, I said that expect your patience and expect, I need to expect my patience to be tested to the limit. To the limit. In other words, when you strive, or when I strive to be like Christ, you and I will be persecuted.

The more you strive to be like Christ, the more we're going to be persecuted. And that's why, in Matthew, towards the end of the Beatitude, it says, Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil things against you, falsely, for my name's sake. Rejoice and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in Heaven. For so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. That's Matthew 5, 10 through 12. And so, what is it that you and I have to keep in mind? The purpose. What is God's purpose for us? For you and I to be part of his family. Therefore, we're going to be like Christ. God has a purpose, and he knows why you and I must go through it. You know, Christ said in John 15, 20, if they persecuted me, they'll also persecute you. If they kept my word, they'll keep yours also. Beloved, do not think it's strange, whenever the fiery trial wishes to try you. Don't think it's strange it's going to come. That's 1 Peter 4 verse 12. These are scriptures that come to your mind, surely. Fight the good fight of faith. Lay hold on eternal life. The outcome. That's Paul telling Timothy in chapter 6. In chapter 6. So there is an outcome. There is an end result, which is eternal life. When you and I, when we patiently wait for God, and God has a lot more patience than what you and I have, thank God. Otherwise, I would have been exact long ago. So, when we wait for God patiently, we shall respect to God because he knows what he's doing, and we respect what he's doing. And so we've got to patiently wait for him. That is key to success. Because what is success? Success is have eternal life, right? Success is not making a billion dollars. Success is be in the kingdom of God and have eternal life.

We know that Paul to the Romans said in chapter 2 verse 6 and 7, God will render to each one according to his deeds. Eternal life to those who by patience, continues in doing good. God will render as eternal life for patiently continuing to do good. And so the outcome of patience is a very important outcome towards success. Now, God wants you and I in his family. God will not test us beyond what we can handle. But sometimes you and I think that we are beyond limit. Whether we got it, here it is, and God will help us. And if there is, as we examine ourselves, and as we look at ourselves at these situations, if there is something that you and I need to learn, we need to learn from it. And if needs repent as applicable. And out of that, we've got to be working together to get along with each other patiently in peace and outgoing concern. In James chapter 1 verse 4, difficult scripture for us to understand, but it says, James chapter 1 verse 4 says, But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. Did you realize that patience leads you and I to be complete and perfect and lacking nothing?

We need to take time to read God's various promises to us that He will deliver us, and therefore, wait patiently. Oh, I know it's not easy, but God has a special blessing for you and I if we trust and show respect to Him by waiting patiently, waiting for Him, because that special blessing is the crown of life. Turn to Revelation chapter 2 verse 10. Revelation chapter 2 verse 10. Do not fear any of these things which you're about to suffer Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation 10 days. Be faithful until the end, and I'll give you the crown of life. Remember that God is patient with us, and so for us to be like God, we've got to learn to be patient with us. While there is time, because God's giving us time, God is giving us time. If you look at the very last chapter and the very last words of the book of wisdom and I don't mean Proverbs, I mean Ecclesiastes, the different book of wisdom. In Ecclesiastes chapter 12 verse 13 and 14, it says, let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter. Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is all, this is man's all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every single work of the whole matter. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing with a good or evil. We've got to be patient and wait on God, because God is just and He will make it right.

There is time and chance, and you and I don't know when. We just don't know when. And that brings me to the third point of time and chance, and we gotta wait for God. And to bring that point across, I want to use the lesson of the victory. And that we see in Luke chapter 13, verse 6 through 9. Let's go to Luke chapter 13, verse 6 through 9.

And He spoke the spellable, a certain man at a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it, and he found none. Then he came to the keeper of his vineyard. Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I found none. Cut down, cut it down. Why does it use up the ground? But he answered and said to him, Sir, let it allow the seed also, until I dig around and fertilize it. And if it bears fruit well, but if not, after that, you can cut it down.

What is the lesson? What is the lesson? Well, isn't it one of the great principles of Bible study to read the context? So let's read the context starting from verse 1. And yeah, in verse 1 says, you know, in 13, that they were present at that season, some who told him about the Galileans, whose blood piloted mingled with their sacrifices. You see, there was some atrocity committed by the Roman ruler of that province, upon some or a number of Galileans. And so Christ is now using this opportunity to teach a lesson. And so Christ says and said to them, do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things?

But I tell you, no. But unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Time and chance happens to everybody. Ecclesiastes 9 verse 11. You and I cannot control the events that happen to us. These poor people will, we're just like everybody else. They kind of wear just at the wrong time, at the wrong place, maybe. They were humans with weaknesses and strengths, like you and I. And suddenly, they were caught up in an event that happened to come their way. Maybe they were just at the wrong place in the demonstration, and they got caught up in a demonstration, and they got killed, or whatever it is. But now let's read verse 4 and 5. All those eighteen on whom the tower in Solom fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all the other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, no. But unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Twice. There's two situations where there's nothing, control of the situation. It just happened to be there, and the tower fell on top of them. They were at the wrong place at the wrong time. But it says, unless you repent, you'll likewise perish. Every day, you hear on the news of reports of accidents, of deaths, of shootings. And maybe if you were in that place at that time, you'd have no control. Maybe you and I would have been killed. You see, people get hurt. Good and bad people. Time and chance. An unproductive fig tree in a vineyard is indeed pretty much useless. And if it hasn't produced fruit, a remedy needs to be done that says, take it out! I can use that piece of land for some other one that will produce fruit. Or you and I, unproductive fruit trees or fig trees. Are we alive and breathing? And not really going anywhere? What's happening to your life and to my life? Can we make sense of this confusion around us? Or maybe this very existence that you and I have? Do we know the purpose of life? Well, then you ask me, do you know the purpose of your life? I'm not just talking about as human beings or to be in the family of God, but you, me, I, myself, us. What is the purpose for you? What is the purpose for me? So temporarily, let's put the focus on me or you. What is the purpose God asks for you individually? I mean, God wants us all to be children of God in His kingdom, but He's got a specific role for you that is training you, that is training me.

Or we are just taking up space like this fig tree. There is very no fruit. There is very no fruit. Are we producing fruit? Because there is a bigger purpose specifically for you. God has given you a specific gift, spiritual gift of His Spirit. Oh, you and I are using it. The vineyard's owner, the solution for this in productive tree was very simple. Zap it, cut it down, and why does it take up space?

I'm glad God is not like that to us. He gives us time. God is full of mercy and compassion. He's patient and loving, but He's also a God of judgment. Christ is warning you that it's going to be a time of final judgment unless you repent, unless we change, so that you and I can avoid being cut down or being considered of no value. Don't be discouraged, because the keeper of the vineyard answers the owner in 13.5. 8 and 9. So let it alone this year also, until I dig around it, fertilize it, and if it appears fruit, well, but if not, then you can cut it down. Give a little bit more time. God gives us a little bit more time. That's the key thought. There are things that you and I, God is prepared for you and I, that He wants you and I to learn, and maybe through these trials we are learning something. Maybe the trials are not our fault, but through these trials we are learning something that God is going to use us for. Or maybe it's a trial for the other person, whichever. But yeah, we can see through this parable that God owns us and gives you and I time to grow spiritually. But He also expects you and I to bear fruit, which is a product of a life of good works of righteousness. We are a repent. We are going to change our minds and our character forever along God's way. That's part of that fruit of God's early spirit. Love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. You see, these fruits or these characteristics of God's fruit or God's spirit can be produced by God in us if we allow it and if we use God's early spirit. You see, the parable of the barren victory is there to teach us a lesson of patience and truth, that repentance is necessary and it is possible with God's help. God is patient and grants you and I time to change and bear fruit. You don't know how much time you got left. I don't know how much time I got left. So we better get moving. We better get moving. Patience is a virtue because it cultivates that inner strength and sound-mindness, that self-control to be able to wait calmly and avoid us having hasty decisions and negative consequences. Patience starts with self-control. If you and I are doing God's will, there will be persecution, there will be trials, there will be a need to grow in character for God's greater purpose. But we need to examine ourselves. You know, Brethren, how long ago was the feast? It was just yesterday, wasn't it? Well, there's maybe less time to Passover than what the feast was. The Passover is around the corner. It's maybe time now to start examining ourselves because this year is going to be tough. I mean, just look at what happened in the news over the last few days. It's going to be a tough year. We better be close to God. We better be examining ourselves. But there is one consolation, Brethren, a very important consolation. And that is in Revelation chapter 3 verse 10. Revelation chapter 3 verse 10.

And there we read, Because you have kept my command to persevere. Because you've kept my word about patient endurance.

I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming upon the whole world.