Having Patience
The Bible talks
much about the importance of being patient. In fact it uses several synonyms
for patience. The opposite of patient is hasty, which the Bible also covers. So
we are going to discuss a little of each of these words & what they
mean. Scriptural verses will be provided.
Patience - Forbearance, diligent, endurance, longsuffering,
continuance, holding up under evil, yielding, lenient, to remain under, to wait
& expect.
Hebrews 6:11-15 – And we
desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance
of hope unto the end: That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through
faith and patience inherit the promises. For when God made promise to Abraham,
because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, Saying, surely
blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. And so, after
he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
Luke 21:19 – In your patience
possess ye your soul.
Romans 5:3-5 – And not only
so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation works patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: and hope makes not
ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost
which is given unto us.
Romans 8:25 – But if we hope for
that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
2 Cor. 6:4 – But in all things
approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions,
in necessities, in distresses,…
Col. 1:10-11 – That ye
might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good
work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might,
according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with
joyfulness;
So, we
must endure, keep going & holding on until we make it. If
we let go & give up then we don't make it. We have promises of being
multiplied & blessed if we would just patiently continue in our faith,
possess our beings. We must be willing to go through trials,
tribulations, persecutions, and problems because it will bring about patience,
experience, & hope thus approving ourselves as ministers of God that we
may walk worthy of Him, pleasing Him and are strengthened by Him.
Do know that when you pray for patience... fiery trials will come
to test & to strengthen it.
Heb. 10:36 – For ye have need of
patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the
promise.
Heb. 12:1 – Wherefore seeing
we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay
aside every weight, and the sin which doth easily beset us, and let us run with
patience the race that is set before us.
James 1:3, 4 – Knowing
this, that the trying of your faith works patience, But let patience have her
perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire wanting nothing.
2 Peter 1:5-9 – And beside
this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience
godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness
charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall
neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But
he that lacks these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath
forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
We all
have need of patience and when we allow patience to work in us completely we
lack nothing. When we allow our faith to work in us, it brings about a
change that eventually leads to godliness. That way, when we are professing
ourselves to be Christians, we are not blaspheming God's name via
hypocrisy because we are actually living it and therefore are witnesses to all
those around us of what God can do.
Eccl. 7:8, 9 - … And the
patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. Be not hasty in thy
spirit to be angry: for anger rests in the bosom of fools.
2 Tim. 2:24 – And the servant of
the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient…
Rom. 12:12 – Rejoicing in hope;
patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
1 Thess 5:14 – Now we
exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded,
support the weak, be patient toward all men.
1 Peter 2 :20 – For this is
thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering
wrongfully. For what glory is it if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye
shall take it patiently? But if when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it
patiently, this is acceptable with God.
If we
are patient with circumstances, situations, people, etc... we are able to take
the time to pray about those things and see them truly for what they are as we
have allowed time to develop them. It gives us the opportunity to weigh
every issue to make an educated decision of the best route to go or how
best to deal with someone. Everyone should be respected. However,
if we are hasty, without thinking, we may be disrespectful because we didn't
take the time to think before we spoke or acted. In all these things, as
we are gently patient with our fellowman, our state of mind changes and we
become changed from the inside out and won't have to cover up what we are
feeling and therefore we will be able to give glory to God because of us
surrendering self to the Holy Spirit and allowing it to have its way
within
us.
Join me again as we cover
"Endurance and Being Hasty"