Today’s Scripture ReadingToday’s Scripture Reading

Proverbs 14:29Proverbs 14:29

Real Christians Are Real Christians Are PATIENTPATIENT

Proverbs 14:29Proverbs 14:29

How Do You Cope With These Events?How Do You Cope With These Events?

•The person in the 10 items or less The person in the 10 items or less line in the grocery store has 32 items line in the grocery store has 32 items in her cart.in her cart.

•Your child asks, “Why?” for the Your child asks, “Why?” for the twelfth time as you’re trying to twelfth time as you’re trying to explain something.explain something.

•You have number 47 at the MVD and You have number 47 at the MVD and they are on number “3”they are on number “3”

•You desperately want to buy You desperately want to buy something but you don’t have the something but you don’t have the money right now.money right now.

True Patience is a VirtueTrue Patience is a Virtue

Patience is a virtue,Possess it if you can.

Found seldom in a woman,Never in a man.

• We do not come by it NATURALLY.We do not come by it NATURALLY.• Yet it is an indispensable part of the Yet it is an indispensable part of the

fruit of the Spirit in EVERY Christian.fruit of the Spirit in EVERY Christian.• Real Christians are patient. Where Real Christians are patient. Where

does patience come from? Can we does patience come from? Can we really have it?really have it?

Why Do I Have To Be PatientWhy Do I Have To Be PatientANYWAY?ANYWAY?

Patience is for the birds! I want Patience is for the birds! I want to kill something!to kill something!

I must be patient because GodI must be patient because God

has been patient with mehas been patient with me

•Romans 9:22-24Romans 9:22-24 -- What if God, -- What if God, choosing to show his wrath and make his choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath—prepared for objects of his wrath—prepared for destruction? What if he did this to make destruction? What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory— even us, whom he also advance for glory— even us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but also from called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?the Gentiles?

2 Peter 3:8-92 Peter 3:8-9

““But do not forget this one thing, dear But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a friends: With the Lord a day is like a

thousand years, and a thousand years are thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.The Lord is not slow in keeping like a day.The Lord is not slow in keeping

his promise, as some understand slowness. his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone He is patient with you, not wanting anyone

to perish, but everyone to come to to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”repentance.”

Patience Is A Cousin To ForgivenessPatience Is A Cousin To Forgiveness

Matthew 18:21-35 as compared to Matthew 18:21-35 as compared to Matthew 6:12-15:Matthew 6:12-15:

•How many times do we forgive a How many times do we forgive a transgressor?transgressor?

•The one who was patient forgave the The one who was patient forgave the debt. The one who refused to be patient debt. The one who refused to be patient cast his debtor into prison.cast his debtor into prison.

•The prayer of the Lord leaves no doubt The prayer of the Lord leaves no doubt that our forgiveness depends on our being that our forgiveness depends on our being forgiving toward others.forgiving toward others.

Colossians 3:12

We are commanded to We are commanded to CLOTHE ourselves in CLOTHE ourselves in

patience…patience… ““Therefore, as Therefore, as God's chosen God's chosen people, holy and people, holy and dearly loved, dearly loved, clothe yourselves clothe yourselves with compassion, with compassion, kindness, humility, kindness, humility, gentleness and gentleness and patience.”patience.”

CompassioCompassionn

KindnessKindness

HumilityHumility

GentlenessGentleness

PatiencePatience

Patience is an Attribute of True Love

• 1 Corinthians 13:4

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not

proud.”

Lord Grant Me Patience……and do it NOW!

• Galatians 5:22-23But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience,

kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

• Patience is another fruit of the Spirit.

Patience Comes Only With Time and Maturity

Proverbs 19:11 -- A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.

Good Work – Good Fruit

• Colossians 1:10-11 -- And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience…

• We must learn to defeat the enemies of patience:

• Impatience

• Anxiety

• Stress

• Irritability

• Vengeful attitudes

• Discouragement

The Genuine Joy of a Lifestyle of Patience

• Patience helps us to endure injustices

• 2 Corinthians 6:3-10

–Paul endures beatings, troubles, hardships, distresses, imprisonments, exposure, sorrows, poverty, riots, bitter toil and many other things because: “in purity, understanding, patience and kindness” were his. (verse 6)

2 Timothy 3:10-11 –

You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them.

Patience Helps Us Wait For The Coming of the Lord

“Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near.”

James 5:7-8James 5:7-8

• Patience is a sign of true maturity

• Ecclesiastes 7:8-9 -- The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride. Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.

Patience Promotes Harmony in the Church

• 1 Thessalonians 5:14-15 -- And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.