“FAITH PRODUCES PATIENCE”
James 1:3
March 9, 2008
Guest Speaker, Founa Augustin
(Summarized Version)
Honestly, it is pretty selfish to talk about Patience when it is one of the fruit of the Spirit that I do not possess. I will not label me standing before you all “preaching” more than “learning” for my own spiritual warfare. How interesting it is when we read James 1:2-4: (all Scriptures from the New King James Version)
“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”
After reading the verse, what is your goal in life? How do you want your life to be? I am pretty sure that peace and love will go a long way in those goals for your life. But guess what?
“The quality of patience will go a longer way toward your goal of creating a more peaceful and loving self. The more patient you are, the more accepting you will be of what is, rather than insisting that life be exactly what you would like it to be. Patience adds a necessary dimension of ease and acceptance to your life. It’s essential for inner peace and a loving self.” (Internet Quote)
For a minute, let’s try to first define faith: (religious belief) it is a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny; (trust) it is to have complete confidence in a person or plan, etc….; all together, it is loyalty or allegiance to a cause or a person. As for patience, it can be defined as the quality of being patient, and what is being patient? Well, it is the bearing of provocation, annoyance, and misfortune, etc.
However, biblically speaking, patience is, first of all, a DIVINE ATTRIBUTE WHICH CLEARLY DEFINES THE CHARACTER OF GOD.
Exodus 34:6: “And the Lord passed before him (Moses) and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering and abounding in goodness and truth.” Longsuffering” is also translated, “slow to anger.”
1 Peter 3:20 speaks of “Christ’s suffering and ours; the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah.”
Secondly, PATIENCE TEACHES US HOW IT IS EXHIBITED IN AND BY JESUS CHRIST.
2 Thessalonians 3:5: “Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and the patience of Christ.”
2 Peter 3:9: “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” Another word is, “The Lord is patient toward us.”
2 Peter 3:15: “The longsuffering (patience) of our Lord is salvation.”
Last, but not least, PATIENCE IS A DIVINE IMPLEMENTATION IN BEHAVIOR OF MEN when identified as “a character received rather than a virtue achieved.” (James A. Fowler)
Galatians 5:22: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”
With all this being said, it is definitely not an easy task, and you can either pray for it, or practice it on your own. It is always best to pray on everything. However, asking God for patience will not emerge without a price, because God is a man of order, and he is not just going to hand you patience without some fair trials. Yes, I said they’re fair. Why? Because he never hands you anything that you cannot handle, but he will test your faith and see if you will rely on your faith to abide in the Word to access that patience that is totally his will.
Moreover, practicing patience is very interesting, where you can try to learn how to deal with annoyance, pain, and/or misfortune, and I believe that is even worse. But I challenge you to do these two things to produce that patience through your faith.
First, OPEN YOUR HEART TO THE PRESENT MOMENT, even if you don’t like it.
Second, LOOK FOR YOUR INNOCENCE IN OTHERS (you will not be so impatient with them).
The more patient you are, the less stress! God bless you all!