The Marks of a Christian: Patience
GAL. 6:17 From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.
JAMES 1:4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
We live in a rapid pace society. Everything is instant, fast food, microwavable, quick-serve, Jiffy Lube, fast-paced, never a dull moment. One of the last virtues we want is patience. Oh, we want others to be patient with us but it is so very hard to be patient toward the other fellow. The word patience means ‘a willing to suffer.’ It means self-control, it means the ability to wait and not to rush into things. If ever there is a virtue we need to earnestly pray for and seek to have in our lives it is patience.
I. EXAMPLES OF PATIENCE
A. Paul – had a thorn in the flesh. We don’t know what. Temper, Opposition to the work, Eye trouble.
1. He prayed for its removal – 3 times.
2. God answered, “My grace is sufficient for thee.”
3. God sometimes may remove your thorn but he always supplies grace.
B. Moses – placed him over 2 million + people. How slow they were, how unfaithful, complaining, turned his back and they made a golden calf, but he continued on.
C. Jesus – his disciples couldn’t grasp his teaching properly and fully till after His resurrection. Many times he said, “Ye do not yet understand."
1. 3 ½ years Judas and Peter walked with him yet one betrayed him and the other denied Him thrice.
2. He was patient at His trial. Not one word of bitterness, right down to enduring the shame of the cross he said, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do."
3. Even after his resurrection, on the road to Emmaus Luke 24: 25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: 26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? 27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
II. QUALITIES OF PATIENCE – “Lord I need patience and I need it now!”
A. The ability to wait. The hardest hour the soldier lives through is Zero hour – the hour just before the big charge into battle.
1. Many of us know how to labor but we know nothing of waiting. Prayer is waiting on God.
2. Isa. 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
B. Resignation – We must learn to resign ourselves to the will of God. Story – Man visited a deaf and dumb institute. He would write a question on the board and pick a student to come answer it. CRUEL QUESTION – “If God loves you, why did he make you as you are? Several children sobbed but one little girl came to the board and wrote Matt. 11:26 “Even so, Father for it seemed good in thy sight.” Job said, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust him…” Jesus said, “Not my will, but thine, be done.”
C. Endurance – Flag pole sitters, hands on car the longest to win it, or Football in ice, rain, or snow sitting on hard benches yet if the game goes to overtime they not only stay but they cheer about it. These things are worthless and shall perish but when called upon to get into the daily grind of faithfulness for the sake of souls and God’s glory – so soon we weary in well doing. Many join churches but do not endure, many make pledges and vows to God and don’t last 2 weeks. We need to learn the lesson of endurance in every walk of life. Endure sound doctrince.
III. PRACTICE OF PATIENCE
A. We need patience in the presence of life’s mysteries.
1. Some people want to throw the Bible out because they can not understand all of its mysteries. Ex: Some say we don't have a soul because you can’t see, hear, smell, touch, or taste it. Ever see pain, hear it, taste it, smell it, or touch it. But its there.
2. We simple do not have the capacity to receive some things. John 16:12 “I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.” We need to trust God. Prov. 3: 3-5 We ought to be willing to let God know more than we know.
B. We need patience when we are under a great disappointment.
1. Sometimes we plan big things and when they fall through we’re heart broken. That is the time to be patient. That is when we take up our cross and follow Christ.
2. Often it is in the times of defeat that men give up altogether. Even in the greatest moment of disappointment we as Christians can believe God that “all things work together for good…”
C. We need patience when things are moving slowly.
1. As parents we need to be patient with a dull or slow child.
2. As teachers we need to be patient with a backward pupil.
3. As God’s children – He is always patient with us.
4. Sometimes we are impatient as we perceive or believe things are not moving swiftly enough to suit us. Ex: Caverns – Stalactites, Stalagmites = 1 inch of growth takes 100 years.
5. Often we can not see much progress in our Christian work, but if we are doing it God’s way we must wait and see it done in God’s time. We plod on and God is faithful and He will give the increase.
Psa. 130:5 I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.
Psa. 37: 7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. 8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. 9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.
Psa. 27: 14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
Psa. 46: 10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.