Fruits
of the Spirit
Series – Part 4
Patience
Gtcotr/ws101117
Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, humility, self-control. Against
such there is no law.
(From Ashley
Hammonds’ Notes on being A Fruitful Christian) Fruit is grown for
a purpose. It is grown to be eaten in sweetness and enjoyed by the consumer.
The fruits of the Spirit can be understood as fitting into three simple
categories. They each have a primary purpose:
·
Fruit
consumed and enjoyed by the grower
o Love Joy Peace
·
Fruit
intended for friends and neighbors
o Patience Gentleness
Goodness
·
Fruit
we grow and offer to God
o Faith Humility
Self-Control
Patience = The ability to endure and to outlast the problem.
Hebrews 6
12 that you do not become
sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the
promises.
13 For when God made a
promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by
Himself,
14 saying, “Surely blessing I
will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.”
15 And so, after he had
patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
Faith
and patience are the power points of a Believer.
God
expects for us to grow up into Him in all things and to be transformed by the
renewing of our minds so that we might prove what is that good, acceptable and
perfect will of God. We cannot please God without growing the fruits of the
Spirit in our lives. Gardening takes time and attention. Give the time and pay
the attention necessary to plant, cultivate and grow fruit!
Supporting
Scriptures:
2 Timothy 3:10
But you, Timothy, certainly know what I teach, and how I live, and what
my purpose in life is. You know my faith, my patience, my love, and my
endurance.
2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word
of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct,
rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.
1 Peter 3:20 those who
disobeyed God long ago when God waited patiently while Noah was building his
boat. Only eight people were saved from drowning in that terrible flood.
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord isn’t
really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being
patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants
everyone to repent.
2 Peter 3:15 And remember,
the Lord’s patience gives people time to be saved. This is what our beloved
brother Paul also wrote to you with the wisdom God gave him —
