#2can You Invest A Little More?patience

#2 INVESTING IN PATIENCE

By Wade martin Hughes, Sr.

Kyfingers@aol.com

Part#1 Investing patience.

TEXT:

Hebrews 10:36 FOR YE HAVE NEED OF PATIENCE, THAT,

AFTER YE HAVE DONE THE WILL OF GOD,

YE MIGHT RECEIVE THE PROMISE.

Isaiah 40: 28-31 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.

29: He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.

30: Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:

31: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

James 1:3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

James 1:4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire wanting nothing. What a goal, WANTING NOTHING, entire.

Eph. 6:13 ... Having done all, to stand.

2 Timothy 2:24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive: but be gentle to all men, apt to teach, PATIENT.

Investing Patience BURNED OUT AND BURNED UP!

Today, we continue pondering PATIENCE and the role patience has in this race we run.

We are using the text of Hebrews 10:36 and 2 Timothy 2:24.

HOW POOR ARE THOSE THAT HAVE NO PATIENCE?

I had the honor and privilege of pastoring a little missions work in the mountains of eastern Kentucky for 8 1/2 years, 1350 sermons.

I touched many lives in my tenure there, but my ecclesiatical trophy case grows nothing but dust.

My name is unknown, and my hand’s reach is very small.

It is my intention to BE FAITHFUL until my call home.

I recall a very handsome and smart pastor coming to pastor about the same time I moved there in 1981. In 3 months, the Freewill Baptist Church he pastored doubled. We had a very close fellowship and often prayed together over common needs. I often lusted after his looks, wisdom, and the growth that came to "his church" under his leadership.

In two years the church doubled again.

One night I was awake and heavy burdened for him. I prayed until morning for him. I called him and asked him to meet me for lunch at the hospital. We sat in the far corner and ate.

I told him of the strange, heavy burden I carried for him.

He started crying. I started crying. He shared with me... His deacons never shared THEIR load of visitation, their office appeared to be titular, in title only. The Sunday School teachers were always late or never showed up for classes, and never called. He could not get his leadership to come to prayer. The young people were not as serious as he thought they should be. He never had any family time.

He could not please the people. Some thought the music was too loud and too fast, others thought he preached too long.

His wife bought a new dress and some discussed that in a negative way.

My great successful brother was like POPEYE, HE HAD ALL HE COULD STANDS AND COULD NOT STANDS NO MORE.

I said, "IT APPEARS YOU ARE ABOUT BURNED OUT!!"

He replied, I AM NOT ABOUT BURNED OUT, I AM BURNED UP..... !!!

Here with all his success and salary, he threw up his hands in disgust. I tried to reach him. We had a prayer and left.

In two weeks, I read in the news paper he had resigned and he was leaving the area.

My dear, successful friend was discouraged and could not see what God had accomplished.

I later found, ... he left pastoring and was driving a long distance truck making 3 times the salary and no stress. Later, I heard he and his wife were separated. Then later divorce and remarriage. He saw his kids on holidays. He never attended church.

I often ponder my friend.

One day, I received a call ... an invitation to lunch.

I met the successful, handsome, wise man.

As I waited for him, I pondered my success has always been limited, I am not smart or good-looking.

Why did he quit? He came to my table, ... now several years had passed. Our children were teenagers and we had gray hair.

I wanted so bad to ask him, was it so bad you had to quit pastoring, but I did not.

Before we left the table, he cried and so did I.

He said, "Remember that day we ate lunch at the hospital and you was broken for me? That day in my bitterness and disappointment I left the hospital, the Holy Spirit tried to soften my heart, but I refused.