Fruit Of The Spirit: Patience Series

-Tonight, we are continuing our series on the fruit of the Spirit as found in Galatians 5:22-23

-We have looked at joy and peace

-Tonight we are going to look at patience

-We have chosen literal fruits to symbolize the Spiritual Fruit

-Joy was symbolized by the lemon

-The kiwi symbolized the fruit of peace

-Tonight, the fruit of patience is symbolized by the coconut

-Some take patience to be one of those unnecessary virtues

-But scripture often admonishes us towards patience

-Hebrews 10:36-37

-Lamentations 3:25-26

-Ecclesiastes 7:8

-Isaiah 40:31

-Still, patience is hard for us to obtain

-And I know we looked at this a few months ago, but tonight we are going to take another look at it from a little bit different angle

-So, let’s look carefully at this fruit tonight

-Remember: These fruit of the Spirit are workings of the Spirit in our lives

-Not things we can obtain by our own effort

-Although we can do things to make them more available to us in greater measure

I. Understanding The Fruit

-The literal meaning here is “long-suffering”

A. Self-restraint

B. Accepting delay or disappointment graciously

C. Pressing on, even under strain

D. Calm endurance realizing God is in control

-Chuck Swindoll once said, "True patience is waiting without worrying."

II. Weeds That Can Crop Up

A. Human nature

-The weed of impatience

-Nobody teaches us to be impatient

B. Pride

-We think the world revolves around us

-The Bible oft speaks against pride and especially in Proverbs

When pride comes, then comes shame; but with the humble is wisdom. (11:2)

By pride comes nothing but strife, but with the well-advised is wisdom. (13:10)

In the mouth of a fool is a rod of pride, but the lips of the wise will preserve them. (14:3)

Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. (16:18)

A man’s pride will bring him low, but the humble in spirit will retain honor. (24:23)

C. Selfishness

D. Anger

-ILL: Quotes On Anger

Thomas Jefferson, in his book Rules For Living, said, "When you’re angry, count to 10 before you speak. And when you’re very angry, count to 100."

75 years later, Mark Twain took those words and revised them. He said, "When angry, count to four. When very angry, swear."

E. Culture

-Culture says to be impatient

-Culture says life is all about YOU

-ILL: Advertising Slogans

-Have it YOUR way

-YOU deserve a break today

-The Bible says life is all about God and others

III. Tilling The Ground Fro A Successful Crop

-This cannot be developed by us alone

-It is a work of the Holy Spirit

-But, we can make a ground susceptible for it to sprout and grow and flourish

A. Stay close to Christ

-John 15:5

B. Slow down

C. Accept frustrations

-James 1:2-4

-Romans 5:1-4

D. Give God your circumstances

-Allow Him to make something beautiful out of them

CONCLUSION

-The fruit of the Spirit is patience

-Let’s allow God to plant and grow that fruit in us in great measure

-II Thessalonians 3:5