Patience Works Series

From The Problem to the Solution

#5 - PATIENCE WORKS

This morning, we are continuing (after a lengthy pause) our series of messages entitled FROM THE PROBLEM TO THE SOLUTION

And the reason that I feel that we should continue on this theme is because God is wanting to take us from…

--the things that are holding us back

--the obstacles that are blocking us

--those reoccurring problems that keep us down

And He wants to take us from THE PROBLEM TO THE SOLUTION

It is TURNAROUND TIME

And by way of review, we started out be telling you the source of all of life's problems

All problems come as a result of one or more of the following…

--world we live

--choices we make

--enemy we face

--people we know

--progress we gain

--God we serve

And no matter what the root of your problem is, we told you that in order to go from the PROBLEM TO THE SOLUTION…

--First thing – Acknowledge the Problem

--Second thing – Make a Word Decision

--Third thing – Find Your Evidence

--Fourth thing – Learn to Listen

And we kind of left off there, and so this morning, I want to give you the 5th thing that you've got to consider when going FROM THE PROBLEM TO THE SOLUTION and that is you've got to learn the POWER OF PATIENCE

Let's read this morning…

•Hebrews 6:12 (KJV) "That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises."

•James 1:2-4 (KJV) "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; (3) Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. (4) But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing."

•James 5:7-11 (KJV) "Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. (8) Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. (9) Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door. (10) Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. (11) Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy."

INTRODUCTION

There are two reasons why we need PATIENCE when we're going from THE PROBLEM TO THE SOLUTION

The first reason is because there will ALWAYS BE PROBLEMS

I didn't say that you would always have the SAME problem, but there will always be problems

Jesus said…

John 16:33 (KJV) "…In the world ye shall have tribulation…"

Therefore, we need patience until we get to that place where the roses never fade

And the second reason we need patience, is because whatever problems we may have – though they can be SOLVED quickly, they almost are never RESOLVED quickly

If your problem is a result of DOING DRUGS and you came to realize that is the source of many of your problems and you repent and quit and go through a program that helps you quit, that SOLVES THE PROBLEM

But the damage that has been done to your…

--body

--mind

--family

--finances

It may take a little longer to RESOLVE because we must understand that there are still effects and consequences to our actions

And quite often what happens a lot of times is that when you decide that there's going to be a change (which solves the problem) things go good for a while, but then some issue from the past crops up, and quite often you're tempted to give up and quit

But here's where the power is – because if you're going to make it FROM THE PROBLEM TO THE SOLUTION, then you're going to have to understand THE POWER OF PATIENCE

And according to our text this morning, James was saying…

--emphatically

--passionately

--prophetically

That PATIENCE WORKS

And for a few moments, I want to talk to you about the POWER OF PATIENCE

And let's look, first of all, at…

1. THE EXPLANATION OF PATIENCE

What is patience?

Someone has said that patience is the ability to idle your motor when you feel like stripping your gears

Patience is a virtue, Possess it if you can,

Seldom found in a woman, Never found in a man!

Webster says that patience is…

•The quality of being patient despite the bearing of provocation, annoyance, misfortune, or pain, without complaint, loss of temper, irritation, or the like.

•An ability or willingness to suppress restlessness or annoyance when confronted with delay.