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Patience, Possesses Your Souls
Introduction: I heard of a woman that prayed for patience, found out she was pregnant. Then decided God gave her that child to teach her patience. Patience is a necessary trait in living a godly life. 1 Timothy 6.11; 2 Timothy 3.10 See Luke 21.10- 19 I) Defining Patience A) To be of a spirit, not to lose heart 1. In the New Testament the characteristic of a man who is not severed from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials.2. "Patience" implies suffering, enduring or waiting, as a determination of the will and not simply under necessity. ISBE 3. Not easily provoked to anger and wrath B) The ability to wait 1. Do you have patience? Some of us think it is the other person that lacks patience. Some realize it is us. a. We are used to instant results: microwave meals, instant coffee, email, a fast food mentality surrounds most of us. b. I bet every parent here has told their children to be patient and wait. 2. Things that try our patience. Answering the WHY question 5,000 a day, standing in line at the worlds slowest McDonalds, getting put on hold for 5 minutes. 3. Even people of faith in the Bible had a problem of patience. II) Examples A) Abram and Sarai, Genesis 15.3-6 1. God promised them and child but after a number of years they grew impatient and decided to take matters into their own hands, Genesis 16.2ffa. Sarai and Hagar despised each other; Ishmael was not the child of promise, things only got worse. b. Making impatient decisions usually backfires on us. 2. Need patience in family matters. a. In looking for a spouse, dealing with marriage problems, discipline and training of children B) King Saul, 1 Samuel 13.8-14 1. Decided to go beyond his authority a. He felt compelled to do this thing b. How many times is that excuse used to justify impatient decisions 2. Do we lose patience with people? Our spouse, our children, fellow Christians, our parents, so-workers, etc. C) Job 1. He lost much and suffered greatly, Job 1.13-19; 42.12 a. The profit of trials, James 1.2-3; 5.10 2. Life is full of trials – personal problems, health (Christopher Reeves), financial, family, Psalm 73.3D) Those that were slain, Revelation 6.9-11 1. The cries of how long? Jesus asked the question, Mark 9.19 2. Paul was told to wait a while longer, 2 Corinthians 12.7-10 3. Some times we get tired of waiting for justice, Hebrews 10.30 III) Dangers That A Lack of Patience Presents A) Easily upset with self, place too much emphasis on self instead of God Instead of I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me, I just can’t) B) Outburst of wrath and malice toward others for not living up to our desires (Quick tempered) C) Quit when things do not work out quickly (Endurance, not running the race) D) Instead of seeing what you have accomplished you see what still needs to be done E) Becoming a pessimist, seeing the cup half empty instead of half full F) Lose the ability to take a large goal and break it down into small parts III) Patience Means A) Do not give up, endurance, Romans 12.2 1. God was patient with Israel in the Old Testament B) Things are for a season, James 5.7ff 1. Trials that are temporary have a way of seeming forever. It distorts our sense of time and perspective of how much we are suffering C) Faith and Trusting in God, 2 Thessalonians 1.4 1. We may not get what we want today but will eventually. Running the race with endurance. D) Keep your eyes on the goal, Revelation 14.12 1. The mother endures birth pangs, the athlete endures training E) Patience is necessary to develop character, James 1.3-4 1. Take one day at a time 2. Allows people to accept their own failures and those of others Conclusion: In your patience possesses your souls, points out the importance of patience. |