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

He Who Overcomes

1st John 5:4-5

"For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?"

Are you an overcomer? Do you want to be an overcomer? Two questions any professing Christian needs to ask themselves because this world and everything in it is passing away. Jesus promised many blessings to those who overcome, overcome what you ask? The world, the flesh, Satan, strongholds, demonic forces of evil, and sin to name a few.

The Lord desires all His chosen vessels to be overcomers NOW, not just when we all get to heaven! There were saints who were overcomers in the first century church and had reached maturity in Christ.

1st John 2:12-14 

"I write to you, little children, Because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake. I write to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, Because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children, Because you have known the Father. I have written to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, And you have overcome the wicked one."

We are called to walk as Jesus walked and be conformed into His image, to follow His footsteps and overcome the world just as He did.

1st Peter 2:21

"For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:"

John 16:33

"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

Jesus told His disciples that in Him they would have peace, but in the world they would have tribulation, and they sure did, most of the original apostles and disciples were martyred, tortured, and persecuted, BUT Jesus told them be of good cheer because He overcame the world, and He calls us to do the same today. Even though Jesus suffered a horrible and shameful death on the cross He was full of joy because He knew what awaited Him after the resurrection!

Hebrews 12:1-2

"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance 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 the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

In the book of Revelation the Lord lists many wonderful blessings for those who overcome, and every saint of God can inherit those eternal blessings in the spirit now and in the age to come eternal life!
 
I am posting a video that does a wonderful job listing all the scriptures in Revelation about overcomers, may we all run the race to win the overcomers prize!
 

 

 

In His Love,
Tyrone

Weaknesses VS The Spirit Of God

Well….what I know is that I have many weaknesses and have been praying to the Lord in order to overcome them by the power of the Holy Spirit. But something I have been experiencing in the years I have been walking with God: In my weakness His power is manifested and His strength is perfected in me and even in the midst of my weaknesses I feel strong in the Lord’s power which is manifested in me and I can always see that He gives me strength to overcome my weaknesses through His Holy Spirit that operates inside my vessel! Praise the Name of Jesus!

But is there anybody else who has weaknesses in the Scriptures and could overcome them? And How did they do that? Let us see together:

Paul pleaded with the Lord about his weaknesses and the Lord talked to him

2 Corinthians 12:7-10

And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Here we see how we must rely on the grace of God and His strength in order to keep ourselves strong, we cannot keep ourselves standing up for righteousness by our own flesh, by our own human efforts, we need His grace and strength.

Many men and women who overcame their weaknesses by faith

Hebrews 11:32-35

And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: 33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, escaped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the mouths of the sword, acquired power from weakness (*769), became strong in war, made armies of foreigners to yield. 35 Women received their dead by ressurection.

Here we see that FAITH is the key to deliver us from many things for it is impossible to please God without faith, that is why it is so important to HEAR the word of God and obey it, for faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. Take a quiet time every single day to get out of the busy and noisy life you live and and separate yourself and pray to Him with all your heart and in sincerity, knowing that if you rest in Him and trust He is in control, you will be able to be strong in difficult situations and see His mighty hands and tremendous power.

Paul is saying He was with those brothers and sisters in weakness

1 Corinthians 2:2-5

For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 3 I was with you in weakness (*769), in fear, and in much trembling. 4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human[b] wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

Here we see that strength is not in what a man can know, in men’s wisdom or speech, but in the Holy Spirit, He is the One who has the power and all wisdom to teach us how to walk as true disciples of Jesus Christ and be filled with faith to be strong in every situation always, no matter how hard and impossible it might be for the human eyes.

Jesus was crucified in weaknesses and we are weak in Him too

2 Corinthians 13:4

For though He was crucified in weakness (*769), yet He lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you.

Here it shows that many saw Jesus as a weak and helpless man in His crucifixion, but His resurrection showed that He holds life and death in His hands and that death could not hold Him at all for He even has the keys of death and Hades Himself. Many people can see us (followers of Jesus Christ) today as weak and helpless people, but the power of God is the one that keeps us protected and joyful and that CHRIST in us is the power that does everything! We are to display to the world the light and power of God which is in us through the Holy Spirit.

(*769) weakness = 769. astheneia as-then'-i-ah from 772; feebleness (of mind or body); by implication, malady; morally, frailty:--disease, infirmity, sickness, weakness.

But I praise God that He left us the Comforter who helps us in our weaknesses as:

Romans 8:26 says:

Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us[b] with groanings which cannot be uttered.

Here we see that God knows that we do not know how to pray and what to ask many times, and the Holy Spirit intercedes for us to the Father in the correct way in order for us to have an answer to our needs. But it is necessary that you pray every day to the Father though.

I hope this message can encourage you to be on your knees every single day and pray to the Father and tell Him all your weaknesses and how much you need Him for everything and the Holy Spirit will take your prayers to the Father interceding for you. If you are not a born again Christian yet, repent and confess your sins to the Father, be baptized and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, so you can also be helped by Him in your weaknesses. Keep faithful and trust the word of God always!

Much love in Christ,
Cynthia R. Palmer

In The Desert

Peace and Grace be abound upon all the saints;

My dear brothers and sisters and all those who are reading this word. I would like to share some things that are happening with me and my husband during this time and encourage each one of you NOT to stop in the middle of the way for every trial and test have an end!

Let me first share some of the things that happened in the desert, wilderness or remote place through the Scriptures:
Matthew 3: 1-3 : In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: "A voice of one calling in the desert, Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'

Exodus 14:11, 15-17 -They said to Moses, "Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt?
15 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground. I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them. And I will gain glory through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen. 18 The Egyptians will know that I am the LORD when I gain glory through Pharaoh, his chariots and his horsemen.

Matthew 4:1-2 : Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.

Matthew 15:33-39 : His disciples answered, "Where could we get enough bread in this remote place ( desert, wilderness) to feed such a crowd?" "How many loaves do you have?" Jesus asked. "Seven," they replied, "and a few small fish." He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. 36Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people. They all ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was four thousand, besides women and children. After Jesus had sent the crowd away, he got into the boat and went to the vicinity of Magadan.

Exodus 33:11 - The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend.

Luke 5:16 - But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

Acts 16: 13 -14: On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message.

Acts 7:38 - He was in the assembly in the desert, with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers; and he received living words to pass on to us.

Luke 1:80 - And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the desert until he appeared publicly to Israel.

A desert, spiritually speaking is a place where you are tested, tempted, tried and refined, a place where the Lord brings the provision, even though you cannot plant in it and there is not water, a desert does not display much beauty, but the hands of God are constantly at work! A desert does not have much comfort, but there is miracle! A desert is a place of preparation for the servant of God to be able and enabled to do God's work according to His will and not the servant's! A desert is a place that the discomfort takes you closer to God and you talk to Him and He speaks to you! A desert is a place where we pray to God, we run to His presence and seek His face! A desert is even a place where the chosen ones can preach the gospel of Jesus Christ! And also a desert is a place where you are taken by God and you can also choose to complain like the Israelites did ( But I must advise you that if you choose to complain, your time in the desert can be longer and harder)!

In conclusion, the desert is NOT a place for you to die, but for you to get closer to God and put your trust in Him that everything that you are passing through is under His will and His control and all the things cooperate for the good of those who trust Him!

I would like to encourage you that is passing through the desert of loneliness, hardships, preparation, difficulties, suffering, ect... This desert is to bring you closer to God, so embrace what God is doing in you and for you and know that His will is good, perfect and pleasant and all this will turn to your good and after that, when you see the purpose clearly, you will know that all He did was to have you approved for a good work ahead and make you grow and be complete in Him!

Much love in Christ,

Cynthia R. Palmer