Longsuffering 2: Do we have to put up with ungodliness? YES!

Does it ever feel to you that if you do a certain thing there will always be a certain direct result? For example:

You have no money, so you go to the bank machine…it can be at 2 AM  = Long Line!

You tell a child not to do something = He will do it!

You are late leaving for an appointment or work = no fuel in the car!

You forget your umbrella during dry season = it rains!

You bring your umbrella during rainy season = no rain!

A member of the opposite sex you are crazy about = can’t stand you!

A member of the opposite sex you can’t stand = is crazy about you!

Obviously those are exaggerations, but longsuffering/patience does have real direct results.

As we consider these results let’s keep these questions out in front of us.

·      What are some of the direct results when patience is expressed?

·      What areas do we need patience for in our lives?

·      Why is the Lord so patient?

James 5:9-11 Do not complain, brethren, against one another, that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door.  As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Behold, we count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord's dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful.

James ties the lack of patience to our complaining against each other. He points out two examples of believers that suffered and were patient about it; the prophets and Job. Isn’t interesting that both examples were attacked by there own brethren! The prophets were attack by the people they were sent to help. Job, while being attacked by Satan, looked for help from his friends, yet they turned on him. We need to remember that, this is where our patience will be most tested…from those close to us.

·      Paul exhorts us:

Romans 12:9-12 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer,

Patience is listed often in a group of Characteristics that express Christ likeness.

2 Peter 1:5–6 In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness,

Ephes. 4:1-2 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, [2] with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one another in love,

In the first century the Apostles encouraged the Church to be patient concerning the return of our Lord. Why? There are two reasons:

·      First: We know what being in eternity is going to be like in some extent, because Scripture describes that. The reality of being face to face with Christ is a great driving force, and it is not unusual to want it ASAP. However, if not careful we can lose focus of the purpose the Lord left us here on earth for. We need to remain true to the race He called us to, patiently waiting for His timing of our meeting Him.

James 5:7-8 Be patient, therefore, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains. You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

2 Cor. 4:16-18 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Hebrews 6:11-12 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end, that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

·      Second: The Lord desires as many as are willing, to come to salvation by grace through faith!

1 Tim. 1:15-16 It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. And yet for this reason I found mercy, in order that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience, as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.

2 Peter 3:14-15 Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, and regard the patience of our Lord to be salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you,

Romans 2:4  Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?

If God is soooooo patient to the ungodly…as He was to us…how should we treat those that most offend us? If the unbelieving world witnesses the children of God being impatient with each other…why would they want what we have? They already have that! We need to be like God to those that reject Him…He was patient with us!

Do you pray that unbelievers will come to know Christ easily? When you see behavior that makes you angry, do you wish God would strike them, or save them? When someone close to us…someone we count on, let’s us down, what should we do? What does Christ do? Can He not do that very same thing trough you…if you let Him?