Fruit That Remains
Kingdom Patience…
“I am extraordinarily patient, provided I get my own way in the end.”
-Margaret Thatcher
“Most of us recognize that patience is one of the cardinal Christian virtues—we’re just in no hurry to obtain it.” -Albert Mohler
Self-Centric:
Concerned solely with one’s own desires, needs, or interests. -Websters
Self-Rule:
My needs, desires and wants come first before others.
Kingdom-Rule:
I represent one greater than I, and I serve and care for the community of others at His request.
Attributes of Kingdom People
1. Be a servant of all. The greatest is the least…
“Then they came to Capernaum. And as soon as Jesus was inside the house, he asked his disciples,
“What were you arguing about on the way here?”
34 No one said a word, because they had been arguing about which one of them was the greatest. 35 Jesus sat down, called the twelve disciples to come around him, and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be content to be last and become a servant to all.”
Mark 9:33-35 TPT
“Those who are focused on serving others, will be gifted with patience.”
2.Wash another’s feet. Share life with Jesus…
“3 Now Jesus was fully aware that the Father had placed all things under his control, for he had come from God and was about to go back to be with him. 4 So he got up from the meal and took off his outer robe and took a towel and wrapped it around his waist
5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ dirty feet and dry them with his towel.
6 But when Jesus got to Simon Peter, he objected and said, “I can’t let you wash my dirty feet—you’re my Lord!”
7 Jesus replied, “You don’t understand yet the meaning of what I’m doing, but soon it will be clear to you.”
8 Peter looked at Jesus and said, “You’ll never wash my dirty feet—never!”
“But Peter, if you don’t allow me to wash your feet,” Jesus responded, “then you will not be able to share life with me.”
John 13:3-8 TPT
“Only by placing ourselves in a position to tend and care for that which is dirty, can we rise to a place of patience and share life with Jesus.”
3.Live a life that is filled with empathy and compassion. Consider others better than yourself…
“When he saw the vast crowds of people, Jesus’ heart was deeply moved with compassion, because they seemed weary and helpless, like wandering sheep without a shepherd.”
Matthew 9:36 TPT
“We (Christians) generally try to fix people, instead of having empathy towards their circumstance. The church needs the revelation that we do not have to “fix” everything. Through that, we will learn patience.”
TAKE-AWAYS:
The world is not looking for results from the church, they are looking for compassion & empathy.
…When we are results-oriented, we miss the opportunity to be kingdom people who exhibit patience by devoting our time to others.
Realize that the church is not here to dominate culture, but rather, influence & serve culture.
…Patience is about longsuffering and releasing control, not accommodation, and convenience.
Stop demanding that non-kingdom people behave by the virtues of Kingdom Christians.
…Patience means that we devote ourselves to disciple and love people into kingdom ways.
“A life not lived for others is not a life.”
- Mother Teresa