The Fruit Of The Spirit
Patience
Oct 20, 2024
Galatians 5:22-23 “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!”
If you were to sum up the fruit of the Spirit in one word – it would be ‘
If you were to describe spiritual maturity it would be this very series, we’re in! Showing love for God in people expressed in the fruit of the Spirit.
Paul said, “so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God” – Col. 1:10
You can do good work, but not bear fruit! The fruit of the Holy Spirit is supernatural…Can people have love, joy, and peace, similar to the rest of the traits of the Spirit? Sure…But it’s not fruit OF the Spirit…
o It’s conditional, not relational
o it’s tainted with sin, not supernatural and true!
o It falls short versus fulfills!
The fruit of the Spirit growing inside of us reflects our relationship with God.
When you get close to Jesus, this is what He does in your life.
John 15:4-5 “Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
Today we are learning about the FRUIT OF PATIENCE!
“Count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” James 1:2-4 NKJV
Think of your favorite fruit…
- Think why you like it…
- Patience isn’t one of those fruits we find tastes good or has a nice texture to it…It’s like bitter un-ripened stage of fruit that we wait to pass so we can enjoy later
Ripening…
Fruit ripening is a complex developmental process that includes significant changes in texture, color, flavor, smell, nutrient metabolism, and other quality characteristics that ultimately make the fruit attractive, desirable, and edible to consumers – Intechopen
Doesn’t this sound similar to what James was saying?
The first fruit of the Spirit – LOVE has its own traits
1 Corinthians 13:
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”
The word, ‘patient’ here is, ‘long-suffering’ – same as in the fruit of the Spirit.
Love starts with Patience and ends with endurance/perseverance…
It sets the stage for everything in between and enables us!
Verses on Patience…
Jms. 1:2-4 – ‘knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience’
1 Cor. 13 – ‘Love is patient…’
Pr. 16:32 - Patience is better than power…
Pr. 19:11 - A person with good sense is patient…
Pr. 14:29 - A person of great understanding is patient…
2 Cor. 6:6 - We have proved ourselves to be what we claim by our…patience…
Eph. 4:2 - Be patient with each other…
Col. 3:12 - Therefore, God’s chosen ones, holy and loved, put on…patience…
Patience isn’t built by passivity…
Patience isn’t something you just get through and call it ‘patience’…
You are also waiting IN something right now or waiting ON something to come!
PATIENCE TESTERS
PERSONAL PATIENCE TEST
Personal patience is an inside out job – not outside in!
The God kind of patience is not natural or conditional – but
Pr. 16:32 - Patience is better than power and controlling one’s temper than capturing a city.
This also means patience with
for the righteous falls seven times and rises again – Pr. 24:16
Indeed, we all make many mistakes – Jms. 3:2
for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. – Ps 103:14
There remains no accusing voice of condemnation against those who are joined in life-union with Jesus – Rom 8:1
1 Corinthians says love IS patient…
*The fruit of the Spirit IS patience! It’s a character choice to walk in this*…
If you aren’t walking in the fruit of patience…you can see the results of it in the previous verses in various translations…
Gal. 5:20 – hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outburst of anger, selfish ambition, becoming enemies of people, angry, fighting, senseless arguments, temper, resentments, fits of rage…
Personal patience is your key to endurance and empathy!
Personal patience is your key to championing the other 3 areas!
PEOPLE PATIENCE TEST
This test is so crucial because life is about relationships! It’s not about what we can acquire or achieve! It’s about loving God and people!
What’s the primary reason why we should be patient with others?
*“The Lord…is patient with
The Bible says you may need to have boundaries with impatient people!
Don’t befriend angry people or associate with hot-tempered people, or you will learn to be like them and endanger your soul. Pr. 22:24-25
Patience with people is a two-sided coin…
Who in your life right now is God exercising the fruit of His patience with?
The WHO is not as important as to the WHAT is God doing in you!
The fruit of patience leads to understanding and grace growth in your life!
1 Cor. 13:4 – ‘Love endures with patience and serenity, love is kind and thoughtful…’ Amp
Pr. 14:29 says – ‘A person of great understanding is patient…’
Eph. 4:2 commands – ‘Be patient with each other…’
Col. 3:12 – ‘Therefore, God’s chosen ones, holy and loved, put on…patience…’
When we pre-
Pr. 19:11 - A person with good sense is patient, and it is to his credit that he overlooks an offense.
Psalm 103 – God Is Patient With Us
God is sheer mercy and grace;
not easily angered, he’s rich in love.
He doesn’t endlessly nag and scold,
nor hold grudges forever.
He doesn’t treat us as our sins deserve,
nor pay us back in full for our wrongs.
And as far as sunrise is from sunset,
he has separated us from our sins.
As parents feel for their children,
God feels for those who fear him.
He knows us inside and out…’
Live with a mindset of patience that says, ‘my attitude towards you isn’t about your behavior – not reactive - but about how God sees you and the role He’s given me in your life
PROGRESS PATIENCE TEST
This is the waiting room of life and God!
Pr. 3:5-6 – Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding, acknowledge Him in all your ways, and He shall direct your path!
This is what waiting on God means…
It doesn’t mean waiting around for God to do something. Rather, He’s waiting on you to trust Him!
Pr. Says, we may throw the dice, but the Lord determines how they fall
“Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. 14 Do all things without complaining and disputing.” Phil. 2:12-14
The question is, while waiting. What’s
- What are you working out in your life that reflects your salvation while waiting? What is God working in your heart while you are waiting?
Another area of progress we are tested in is with people…
- This is different than being patient as a reaction to others, but with their personal progress and growth!
God doesn’t wait until you’re mature for him to start loving you. He doesn’t wait for you to straighten up to think you’re good enough for his love. You shouldn’t do that with others, either. You’ve got to be patient with their progress.
“I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns” (Philippians 1:6 NLT).
He knew God was doing a good, long work in the lives of the people in the Philippian church, and he was patient with their progress.
Remember, it’s not the perfection of your life, but the direction of your life.
Remember, that while you are waiting on God, He’s always working in you.
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 2 Pet. 3:9