Patience

This is one of the things the Lord has been dealing with me :"BE PATIENT" and I am very thankful that He is for I want to be an overcomer in every weakness that I may have in my soul that can hinder the fullness of Christ in my life. I want to have all the fruits of the Spirit and exercise them well. So, this is actually a study I am doing for myself about patience and I am sharing with you.

What does Patience mean? (wikipedia)

Patience is the state of endurance under difficult circumstances, which can mean persevering in the face of delay or provocation without acting on annoyance/anger in a negative way; or exhibiting forbearance when under strain, especially when faced with longer-term difficulties. Patience is the level of endurance one's character can take before negativity. It is also used to refer to the character trait of being steadfast.

Galatians 5:19-26

¹⁹ Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery,^[c] fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, ²¹ envy, murders,^[d] drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. ²⁴ And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵ If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. ²⁶ Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Can you already identify in you if you are crucified for the flesh or not? If patience (longsuffering) is a FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT, it means I need to have the Spirit of God in order to have TRUE LONGSUFFERING! It means that without the Spirit there is NO FRUIT! It means that if I am lacking in any of these gifts, I still need to crucify my flesh and DIE to myself in order to have His fruits in me! So simple, but so deep this truth !!!! Let us face it in order to be delivered from the works of the flesh. Because the scriptures say that if we bear NO FRUIT we will be CUT OFF! So, better to face what you must change now while there is still time!!!

Romans 8:25 (New Interlinear Greek-English Bible)

But if we hope for what we do not see, through patience we eagerly expect.

Patience in this verse means: 5281. hupomone hoop-om-on-ay' from 5278; cheerful (or hopeful) endurance, constancy:--enduring, patience, patient continuance (waiting).

So, if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly expect it cheerful, patiently, enduring whatever we need until we can touch it and see it! :-) Aleluia Jesus! :-)

Romans 15:4-6 (New Interlinear Greek-English Bible)

⁴ For whatever things were written before were written for our instruction, that through patience (5281) and encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. And may the God of patience and encouragement give to you to mind the same among one another according to Christ Jesus, ⁶ that with one accord and with one mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Just God can give us patience, nobody else! And you also see in these verses that even to have HOPE you need to have patience and you also need to encourage yourself through studying the Scriptures. In conclusio: To expect things with confidence you must have patience and also study the Scriptures.

What is hope? (wikipedia)

Hope is the belief in a positive outcome related to events and circumstances in one's life.^[1] It is the "feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best" or the act of "look[ing] forward to with desire and reasonable confidence" or "feel[ing] that something desired may happen". ^[2] Other definitions are "to cherish a desire with anticipation"; "to desire with expectation of obtainment"; or "to expect with confidence".

2 Cor 1:1-6  (New King James Version)

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, ⁴ who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. ⁵ For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. ⁶ Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring (5281) the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.

Here Paul is explaining that he and his companions suffered greatly in order to bring "comfort and salvation" for the Corinthians. The "sufferings of Christ" are the ones we suffer also to do ministry and also the ones we suffer to be like Him, like His image. But just as Christ comforted them, God would also comfort the Corinthian believers ( and also us today) when we suffer for our faith and to be like Christ as well. God gives us strength to endure all the trials and tribulations. He blesses us with comfort, strength and patience, so we may also comfort, be strong and patient with others.

2 Cor 6:4-10

But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience (5281), in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, ⁵ in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings; ⁶ by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, ⁷ by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, ⁸ by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; ⁹ as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed; ¹⁰ as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

Paul always considered what his actions communicated about Jesus Christ and we should also consider how we act and react to everything in our lives so we may be like Christ and never make people reject Christ. If we are always short in patience, people will perceive that , it will communicate that you are lacking in something in your walk with Christ. The scriptures say that the Holy Spirit helps us in our weaknesses, so we must seek God's face in order to be helped in everything we ourselves cannot figure out or destroy the root!

James 5:7-12

⁷ Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. ⁸ You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
⁹ Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned.^[c] Behold, the Judge is standing at the door! ¹⁰ My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. ¹¹ Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.

Even to wait for the Lord's return we must be patient! :-) We have the examples of the prophets and Job to follow! Even the farmers have to wait so patiently for their crops to grow. They cannot rush the growing of the fruits, vegetables, etc....they must wait for the right time and we must wait the time of the Lord for everything in our lives as well IF we want our lives to be led by Him! We have a bunch of examples in the scriptures of patience, suffering, persecution and we should follow the example of the prophets, our brother Job and many others, for the end intended by the Lord for us is always perfect!

1 Peter 2:20-22

For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently (see below: 5278), this is commendable before God. ²¹ For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us,^[f] leaving us^[g] an example, that you should follow His steps:
²² “ Who committed no sin,
Nor was deceit found in His mouth”;^[h]

5278. hupomeno hoop-om-en'-o from 5259 and 3306; to stay under (behind), i.e. remain; figuratively, to undergo, i.e. bear (trials), have fortitude, persevere:--abide, endure, (take) patient(-ly), suffer, tarry behind.  

Note that not every time you do good you are going to receive a positive response, Jesus only did good, therefore many hated Him, many persecuted Him, but not because He was a bad man, but because He was speaking what the Father was telling Him to speak! The truth alone will be the reason why many will hate you, many will persecute you, many will not want to be near you, many will despise you, but if you do good and suffer patiently, this is commendable before God. Never give up following Christ's example!

Romans 12:10-12

¹⁰ Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; ¹¹ not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; ¹² rejoicing in hope, patient (enduring -5278) in tribulation(in trouble -see below: 2347), continuing steadfastly in prayer; ¹³ distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.

2347. thlipsis thlip'-sis from 2346; pressure (literally or figuratively):--afflicted(-tion), anguish, burdened, persecution, tribulation, trouble.

We are called by God to endure pressure, anguish, burdens, persecutions, tribulations, troubles. And who likes all these things? If we could escape all of them we would, wouldn't we? But the Lord is calling us to follow His footsteps, His example. He endured all things, He overcame the world, and we can too IN HIM!

1 Cor 13:4-7

⁴ Love suffers long (see below: 3114) and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; ⁵ does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; ⁶ does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; ⁷ bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.    

3114. makrothumeo mak-roth-oo-meh'-o from the same as 3116; to be long-spirited, i.e. (objectively) forbearing or (subjectively) patient:--bear (suffer) long, be longsuffering, have (long) patience, be patient, patiently endure.

Note that if you are not patient with the ones you say you love, your love is stained and needs to be cleansed, the love inside your heart needs to be worked out by God in a way that you will have patience even when the love you give you receive nothing in return! This is the love Christ teaches us! He first loved ones when we were still in sin.

2 Tim 2:24

²⁴ And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient (see below: 420), ²⁵ in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, ²⁶ and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.

420. anexikakos an-ex-ik'-ak-os from 430 and 2556; enduring of ill, i.e. forbearing:--patient.

There is no servant of the Lord that knows nothing about suffering! If you have never suffered being in Christ, it means you are not a disciple of Christ, you are not following Christ's footsteps!

1 Thessalonians 5:14

¹⁴ Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient (3114) with all.

2 Peter 3:9

⁹ The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering (3114)toward us,^[b] not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

Proverbs 14:29

²⁹ He who is slow (H750)  to wrath has great understanding, But he who is impulsive^[c] exalts folly. 

750 'arek aw-rake' from 748; long:--long(-suffering, -winged), patient, slow (to anger).

Proverbs 15:18

¹⁸ A wrathful man stirs up strife, But he who is slow (H750)to anger allays  (H8252)contention. 

allays = 8252 shaqat shaw-kat' a primitive root; to repose (usually figurative):--appease, idleness, (at, be at, be in, give) quiet(-ness), (be at, be in, give, have, take) rest, settle, be still.

Proverbs 16:32

³² He who is slow(H750) to anger is better than the mighty (H1368) , And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city. 

 We can clearly see that the man who is patient to wrath has great understanding, quiets the contentions and is better than the powerful and the strong!

Luke 2:25

²⁵ And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting (4327) for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.

4327. prosdechomai pros-dekh'-om-ahee from 4314 and 1209; to admit (to intercourse, hospitality, credence, or (figuratively) endurance); by implication, to await (with confidence or patience):--accept, allow, look (wait) for, take.

2 Timothy 3:10-12

¹⁰ But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering (see below: 3115), love, perseverance (see above: 5281), ¹¹ persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra—what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. ¹² Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

3115. makrothumia mak-roth-oo-mee'-ah from the same as 3116; longanimity, i.e. (objectively) forbearance or (subjectively) fortitude:--longsuffering, patience.

Hebrews 6:13-15

¹³ For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, ¹⁴ saying, “Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.”^{[d] 15} And so, after he had patiently endured (3114), he obtained the promise.

Revelation 1:9

   ⁹ I, John, both^[e] your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

In brief, we see that to be patient is not an option if you are in Christ, you must be patient, you must endure tribulation, you must endure pressure, you must be an overcomer, you must have the fruits of the Spirit! You must overcome the world, the flesh, the lusts, the pride, we must endure temptations, we must pass the tests and trials otherwise they will come back for us to be able to overcome them if we really want to be holy! So, do not be surprised if you are asking the Lord to  be like Him and have His fruits bore in you and you start facing everything that takes your patience away! This is the work of God to make you an overcomer, to deliver you! Remember that!

I pray that the Lord may grant me and you patience, endurance, forebearing in everything we still don't like, we still feel pricked in our flesh with, that we still need to be worked on for us not to be anyhow hindered to have the fullness of Christ in us and for us to never be an obstacle for anybody's salvation!

In Christ's love,

Cynthia Palmer