THE FRUIT OF PATIENCE
Text: Gal 5:22-23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
1. The Definition(s)
The term “longsuffering” means
There are two words in Greek that are translated as either “longsuffering,” “endurance,” “perseverance” or “patience” in the Bible: makrothumia and hupomone
- Both Greek words generally mean the same thing. However, scholars have noted that each has characteristics that sets it apart. Spiros Zodhiates, in The Complete Word Study Dictionary of the New Testament, p. 939, says,
- Makrothumia is patience in respect to
2. The Ramifications
- Ultimately, longsuffering (patience) deals with or involves the emotion of anger.
- God’s longsuffering, and how it interacts with His anger, is divine. It is often labeled, “righteous indignation.” He is slow to anger.
- Human anger, however, is susceptible to distortion. When anger is out of control there will be no
Longsuffering is needed when frustration hinders progress and when irritations cloud perception.
There are four ramifications connected with one’s failure to learn how to exemplify longsuffering.
1) It
2) It
3) It
4) It
3. The Demonstrations
1) Jesus Christ
Longsuffering is a trait that is seen in the
God clearly holds Jesus up to us as the example we must strive to follow. (2 Pet. 2:20-24)
2) God the Father (2 Pet. 3:9)
- The Bible reveals God’s patience as a quality of His character that deters Him for
3) What about us?
There are at least five areas where longsuffering needs to be demonstrated.
1] Longsuffering needs to be demonstrated in the
- There needs to be a common bond running through each New Testament church; one of peace, unity, and longsuffering, for not every member is on the same spiritual level.
2] Longsuffering needs to be demonstrated in our
3] Longsuffering needs to be demonstrated in the
4] Longsuffering needs to be demonstrated in the
5] Longsuffering needs to be demonstrated in the task of
4. The Development Of Patience
How do I develop patience? By understanding God’s work in me and my reaction to God’s work, people, or circumstances. (cf. James 1:2-4)
Patience is not merely a fixed determination to hold our place in the whipping of the wind, but to make actual progress in spite of it.
A ship may ride out a strong wind with an anchor that holds, yet another may set the sails to take advantage of the wind to bring it closer to its destination. It is this latter attitude that James is encouraging us to have and use.
James makes what seems to be a paradoxical statement in James 1:2: We should count our various trials as joy. Why? Because verse 3 says that doing so produces patience! We need patience so God can mold us into His likeness. Even God cannot produce godly character by fiat.
- James is teaching us that we should not measure the experiences of life by their ability to please our ambition or tastes but by their capacity to make us into God’s image.
How do I react to longsuffering?
1) REPRESSION - This is where you
2) SUPPRESSION - This is where you try to
3) EXPRESSION - This is where you let it all
4) CONFESSION - This is where you