Practicing Patience Series

Practicing Patience

Galatians 5:22

Introduction: Waiting can be frustrating. We just hate to wait. A poet once said, “Patience is a virtue, possess it if you can, seldom in a woman, never in a man.” Let’s take up this issue of patience.

I. Patience Must Be Defined

A. Consider some secular thoughts. An old Turkish proverb says, “Patience is the key to paradise.” One humorist wrote, “Patience is like a mosquito sitting on the bedside of an anemic person who is waiting for a blood transfusion.” Still another writer states, “Patience is the ability to put up with people you would like to put down.”

B. Look at some scriptural words. There are three Greek words employed in the N.T. “Anecho” – Eph. 3:1-2. This means to sustain or patiently bear with someone or something. “Hupomone” – James 1:3-4. This means to bear up under a load, to endure without giving up and to hang tough in hard times. “Makrothumos” – Gal. 5:22. This means to be slow to anger, to be long tempered. It’s the opposite of a short fuse. John Maxwell said, “You’ll never make it to the top if you keep blowing your top.” Don’t be to quick to fly off the handle.

II. Patience Can Be Difficult

Why is patience so difficult? Because of:

A. Our nature. By nature, we are pretty impatient people. Even the church has picked on that. I read of a church in Florida that promises a 22-minute service. They offer fast music, quick prayers and an 8-minute sermon. For all you who shouted “Amen” dream on!

B. Our culture. Think about our society. We live in a day of fast food, quick print and expressways. Then there is the ten-minute oil change, fax machines and Fed-ex. We run on a fast track and live in the fast lane. This is a rat race world going to the dogs. We have gone from the Pony Express to Sony Express.

III. Patience Has Been Demonstrated

When one studies scripture one will encounter many characters, who demonstrated patience. Abraham and Sarah had to wait for the promised child. Now, granted, they botched things up big time when they took matters into their own hands. We see this happen time and again in marriages, careers and the church. We push the envelope, short circuit the process or pry open the door. See Prov. 3:5-6. Look at David. He had been anointed king, but he had to run for years, hiding in one cave after another, fleeing from Saul. Consider Joseph and his prison term. Study Moses and his desert wanderings. Think of Jesus who waited 30 years to begin his earthly ministry. What about God? He owns the market on patience. He operates on a different timetable than we do. See 2 Pet. 3:9; Ps. 103:8-14; I Tim. 1:15-16.

IV. Patience Needs to be Developed

A. It’s origin. It comes from God not us. In John 15:5 note the word “abide”. It means to continue, dwell, endure, remain and stay. Look at Isa. 26:3. The meaning is to lean or rest.

B. It’s outgrowth. See Isa. 40:31; Prov. 14:29. Be patient with yourself - Phil. 1:6; others – Eph. 4:2; Col. 3:12; and God. Thrust His will, timing and love. He’s patient with you.

Conclusion: “Patience is idling your motor when you would like to strip your gears.” Practice some patience.