Why Possessing Patience Is A Powerful Step to A Faith Filled Life

In this week’s episode, we take a look at the valuable traits of patience and long-suffering. I mean it’s more valuable than gold because being exercised in this discipline can put gold in your pocket. In the days of instant coffee and fast-food service, we have come to expect short waiting periods. We struggle with patience daily; we get tied up in knots. Why? Because God is not on our schedule. We want to hurry up and wait while He wants us to be patient, to wait on Him. Abraham waited twenty-five years for the son God promised him. The promise came but he messed up along the way because he thought he’d help God out. Patience or the lack thereof played a part in all of this. William Carey, the father of a modern missions movement, had to be patient before the first Hindu convert was baptized in India. Did he wait for a few months? Was he patient for a year or two? The Lord gave him the grace to wait seven years until he could see the fruit of his labor. What if he didn’t wait? What if he quit in year six? The next time you have to wait for a slow traffic light to change, put on the garment of patience … and use the time to pray think, or plan. Make use of the time, patiently so; enjoy the wait!¹ Enjoy the wait! — Now there’s a novel thought. Don’t get frustrated by the wait — enjoy it. Why Possessing Patience Is A Powerful Step to A Faith-Filled Life. That’s our focus on this week’s Light on Life.

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You can view a basic transcript of this podcast at the bottom of this section.

Accept the Challenge

Each week’s podcast contains a call to action. The Word of God will not produce in your life unless you put it into operation.
This week’s call is:

Patience is more than a virtue. It’s a fruit of the spirit that can grow and be developed.

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Testimony is vital to a believer’s life. We overcome by it (Rev. 12:11). Each week’s podcast also contains a question designed to encourage testimony.
This week’s question is:

Question: What has been your experience operating in the area of patience and long-suffering? Give an example of how this giant fruit of the spirit was a positive force in your life.

Episode Resources:

We are currently teaching in the book of First Thessalonians. You can click on the links below to listen to some of these podcasts.

About Emery

Emery committed his life to the Lord Jesus Christ over 47 years ago and has served as both a full-time pastor and an itinerant minister. He and his wife Sharon of 40 years emphasize personal growth and development through the Word of God. The ministry of the Holy Spirit is the focus and the hallmark of their mission. Read more about them here.

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If you enjoyed the podcast, please rate it on Stitcher Radio and leave a review. If you have a suggestion for a Bible topic, you would like to see taught, or if you have a question, please e-mail me at emery@emeryhorvath.com

Prayer

Father God grant unto us a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of this area of patience and longsuffering. We will put it into practice, that’s our commitment. We ask you for your help in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Podcast Notes

Patience and Long-suffering for Jesus’ Followers

1 Thessalonians 5:11–14 (ESV) — 11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. 12 We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. 14 And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.

In a previous podcast, we saw that there were four things we need to be responsible for on an ongoing basis.
These four areas are located in verse fourteen.

Admonish the Idle.
Encourage the Fainthearted
Help the Weak
Be patient with All

We covered three out of the four.
The one responsibility that we need to look at is this last one on: be patient with all.
All is a vital word.
Patience has no racial distinction.
Patience plays no political favorites.
Patience knows no family boundaries.
Patience has no respect of persons.
We are to be patient with all.

Gladys and Rhonda walked along the sidewalk after church. They were on their way home, thinking about meals planned for later that afternoon and casually discussing the morning service. “That was a great sermon on patience,” remarked Rhonda. Gladys replied, “Yeah, but he went five minutes long.”²

That includes pastors and long-winded Sunday School teachers.

Patience and Long-suffering: Defining Terms

So, what does the word ‘patience’ mean?
I’m glad you asked that and with that thought here is the Definition of the Day.
The word ‘patient’ here is the Greek word ‘makrothymeite.’
Now, normally, I don’t give out the transliterated Greek because it’s hard to remember and so it doesn’t add value to people.
In this case, I’m making the exception because there’s another Greek used for the word patience.
It’s the word hypomonē.
Makrothymeite and hypomonē – what’s the difference between these two words?
It’s a subtle difference but it’s there.
The word patience here — makrothymeite — means to be enduring or to be even-tempered while putting up with trying circumstances; longsuffering is the synonym.
Long-suffering is being long-tempered as opposed to being short-tempered.
The Amplified Bible says “Love endures long and is patient and kind.
Some people endure long but they are not very kind while they do it.
You can suffer long, but not be longsuffering.
So, what’s the difference between the two Greek words makrothymeite and hypomonē both translated patience — both translated longsuffering?
Makrothymeite is patience with people — so we’re talking patience in human relationships.
Hypomonē is patience with circumstances — so we’re talking patience in difficult situations.

Patience and Longsuffering: The Greek Word Hypomonē

We defined the word ‘makrothymeite’ for you which means means to be enduring or to be even-tempered while putting up with trying circumstances with people.
Hypomonē, the other Greek word for patience, is the capacity to hold out or bear up in the face of difficulty, patience, endurance, fortitude, steadfastness, and perseverance.
Here’s a scriptural example of hypomonē or patience in difficult situations.

Romans 12:12 (ESV) — 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

Be patient in tribulation — you see that’s circumstances not people.
Here’s another example.

Hebrews 12:1–2 (ESV) — 1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

The word hypomonē occurs twice here — once in each verse.
In verse one, it’s the word endurance to run the race.
In verse two, it’s the word endured, speaking of how Jesus handled the cross.
So you can see what the writer of Hebrews is trying to communicate.
Do you see how Jesus exercised patience in His ordeal with the cross? — do you see how He remained under that load when He could have, as the Sons of God, called legions of angels to deliver Him out of all of that unpleasantness?
Do you understand the fact that Jesus exercised the capacity to hold out or bear up in the face of difficulty?
How He showed fortitude, steadfastness, and perseverance?
That’s what Hebrews says — you see Jesus exercise patience? — you go and do likewise.
And you can — we’ll show you here why you can.
Listen to Jesus as Luke records Him.

Luke 21:12–19 (ESV) – 12 But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake. 13 This will be your opportunity to bear witness. 14 Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, 15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. 16 You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. 17 You will be hated by all for my name’s sake. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish. 19 By your endurance you will gain your lives.

By your endurance — that’s the same Greek word for patience — by hypomonē, by bearing up under these difficult circumstances that Jesus just got through telling us about, you will gain your life.
Listen to how other Bible translations handle verse nineteen.
The phrase ‘by your endurance’ in the NIV, and the NLT, is translated as ‘by standing firm’ you will gain your life.
The Contemporary English Version has it as ‘by being faithful to me.’
‘By your endurance’ is translated as ‘by continuing to have faith’ in the New Century version.
‘By continuing to have faith’ is the New Century Version [NCV].³
And with that thought, here is the Quote of the Day.

A faith that fizzles before the finish had a fatal flaw from the first.⁴

Patience and Long-suffering: A Prodigious Fruit of the Spirit

Now, you don’t have to work to acquire patience.
You already have it.

Galatians 5:22–23 (ESV) — 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Patience is a fruit of the recreated born-again human spirit.
These nine fruits are part of the new you.
If any man is in Christ, he is a new creature.
Old things are passed away, the scripture says, and all things have become new.
So, coming into line with this reality will change how you pray.
People pray, ‘Lord, give me more love.’
You know they get into a situation where they act a little ugly and they think, ‘Man, I need more love.’
‘If I had more, I wouldn’t be acting this way.’
You’re wasting your time praying this.
You already have what you’re asking for.

Romans 5:5 (ESV) — 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

The love of God is already in you.
You just have to act like it’s so and yield to it.
Saying it a different way — you don’t have to work to acquire it — you already have God’s love in your heart.
The more you let love have its way, the more you will grow in it and, the less ugly you will act.
When people pray, ‘God give me more love’ what they get confronted with is more ugliness in people.
Now you have a chance to walk in love.
Now I don’t know about you but there’s enough ugly not to be asking for any more of it.
Any of the nine Fruits of the Spirit work this way.
That is, you don’t need to pray for it.
Patience? — you don’t need to pray for patience.
Have you ever heard anyone pray along these lines?
Anytime people have prayed for patience, God answered that not by giving them what they already had but by giving them opportunities to use what they already have.
Things got really tough for these people to the point where they said, ‘I will never pray that prayer again!’
That’s how I learned not to pray that! — watching them deal with all that trouble.
There’s enough trouble available on Planet Earth that you need to exercise patience without asking for extra.
Now, understand that if patience is a Fruit of the Spirit that means God has that trait in abundance.

2 Peter 3:9 (ESV) — 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

The KJV says it this way.

2 Peter 3:9 (KJV) — 9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

The ESV says God is patient towards us — the KJV says that He is longsuffering — same Greek Word.
Rick Renner says that the Greek word patience or longsuffering is makrothumeo, which is a compound of the words makros and thumeo. The word makros depicts something that is long, and thumeo is the word for anger. When compounded, the new word makrothumeo is the picture of the long restraint of anger — thus the reason it is often translated as patience or longsuffering. But it is actually the picture of God holding back His anger.⁵
With that thought, here is the Illustration of the Day.

When Robert Ingersoll, the famous atheist, was lecturing, he once took out his watch and declared, “I will give God five minutes to strike me dead for the things I have said.” The minutes ticked off as he held the watch and waited. In about four-and-a-half minutes, some women began fainting, but nothing happened. When the five minutes were up, Ingersoll put the watch into his pocket.⁶

What was that?
The patience of God — God holding back His anger — I rest my case.

Patience and Promise

Hebrews 6:11–12 (ESV) — 11 And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

The word sluggish means to be lazy, slow, and apathetic.
Sluggish is directly placed opposite of earnestness in the text.
We don’t want you to be lazy, slow, or apathetic.
Instead, be earnest — that is be swift of movement or action. Be in haste, use some speed haste, — have some pep to your step.
Pep to your step for what?
For receiving God’s promises.
God’s Promises come by covenant — but they are not automatic.
The Lord promised Israel a bunch of land for themselves and their descendants.
It’s called the Promised Land for a reason.
But, just because it was promised didn’t mean to just fell in their lap.

Hebrews 3:19–4:3 (ESV) — So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief. 4:1 Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. 2 For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. 3 For we who have believed enter that rest,

You see Israel was given the promise but that generation of people didn’t acquire it because of unbelief — that’s the faith part.
They weren’t willing to enter into the land because they heard the report about giants — they weren’t patient enough to walk out God’s plan.
God’s plan to give them the land involved entering it and defeating the inhabitants of it.
That means going to war — going to battle.
It means a bit of struggle against an adversary.
It means some expenditure of energy and resources.
God is the source of all of that — all Israel had to do was to walk all of this out and the land would have been theirs — that’s the patience part.
Sometimes the patience part means you don’t SEE [big emphasis on the word SEE] the fulness of what’s promised right away.
That’s why you need patience.
Here’s a Bible fact — you can write this down — you can acquire or gain anything God promised through faith and patience.
In fact, this is the only way to acquire it.
In need of healing? — Faith and patience are the ticket.
In need of direction for your life? — Faith and patience are the tools you need.
In need of finances? — you’re getting the idea — faith and patience.
Whatever you need — faith and patience.

Patience and Longsuffering with People

So, we have seen that there are two Greek words for patience.
Let’s talk about the Greek word used in our text which is patience with people.

“There is an ancient legend that Abraham invited into his tent a man, who at mealtime gave no thanks to God for His mercy. Whereupon the patriarch drove him forth into the desert unfed and unsheltered. But in the night God touched Abraham and awoke him, saying to him, “Where is the stranger?” Abraham said, “When he did not fear you, nor thank you, I drove him forth.” God rebuked him, saying, “Who made you his judge: I have borne with him all these years. Could you not bear with him one night? Have you learned nothing from my mercy to you?” It would be a miracle indeed if the love of God for a lost world begat no love in the hearts of those whom His love bound with Himself.”⁷

The scripture says this.

Romans 12:18 (ESV) — 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

To live peaceably would have to mean exercising patience.
It would have to mean speaking softly to people.
It would have to mean swallowing instead of reacting.
It would have to mean moving slowly instead of reacting in haste.
It would have to mean holding your peace instead of spewing out sharp words that injure or wound.
Love endures long and is kind.
You may think that this is so hard to do because ‘you don’t know the people I have to put up with.’
You can do it though: “You can do anything if you have patience. You can carry water in a sieve—if you wait until it freezes.”⁸
What’s the deal in real-life terms with this patience piece?
It’s all about the waiting part and managing the pressure that you sense.
The pressure of wanting to quit — the pressure of wanting to give up.
The pressure because you would rather have the answer now than later.
The pressure you sense because you don’t want to wait.
You would rather take matters into your own hands.
When you take matters into your own hands, you take the situation out of God’s hands.
Why should He work on it, if you are?
Do you think that He needs help?
The enemy will put pressure on you to throw away the Word — to get off your stance of believing that you have received.
He’s going to tell you that your faith is not working — it’s no good.
You missed God — you’re unworthy — blah, blah, blah.

Mark 4:14–20 (ESV) — 14 The sower sows the word.

It is so telling in this area of patience, that God uses the field of agriculture as a way to express how God’s Word works when acted on.
Everyone understands that you don’t put a corn seed in the ground and get a corn stalk the next day.
Every farmer understands that there is a time to harvest.
The time to harvest is where patience comes in.

A common sight in America’s Southwest desert is the century plant. It’s unique. The century plant (Agave Americana) thrives in rocky, mountainous, desert sites. It has dramatic, splayed leaves that grow up to a foot wide. The plant can reach twelve feet in diameter. But what makes the century plant unusual, as its name suggests, is its long reproduction cycle. For twenty or thirty years (no, not a literal one hundred years), the six-foot-tall plant stands the same height and puts out no flowers. Then one year, without warning, a new bud sprouts. The bud, which resembles a tree-trunk-size asparagus spear, shoots into the sky at a fantastic rate of seven inches per day and reaches an eventual height of twenty to forty feet. Then it crowns itself with several clumps of yellowish blossoms that last up to three weeks. Like the century plant, many of the most glorious things that happen to us come only after a long wait.⁹

The time to harvest is where patience comes in.
What if I die while I’m waiting? — you’ll still be healed.
You’re going to get healed one way or the other.
Of course, we want to stay on Planet Earth so we can continue to be effective in building the Kingdom of God.
Now if have other reasons to be healed — like maybe you want to enjoy the grandchildren and watch them grow up or you want to experience retirement — just understand that Heaven is the greatest retirement home there is.
It’s the lack of the reality of heaven and the unscriptural uncertainty of death — I’m talking about the fear of death, that is the real issue with impatience.

Hebrews 2:14–15 (ESV) — 14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.

The fear of death enslaves.
When you get free of that, patience becomes more viable.
It looks like this: “I’ve got time to wait — I have forever.”
I’m talking about ‘Why Possessing Patience Is A Powerful Step to A Faith-Filled Life.’

Father God, I thank you today for your Word. I thank you that we have this giant fruit of the spirit that helps us in our relationships, in our encounters with circumstances on Planet Earth, and as an essential tool in receiving all that you’ve promised to us your kids. We thank you for this in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

You guys have a great God week and we will see you next time for another edition of Light on Life.

Why Should You Embrace Patience to Overcome Trials? – [James 1:2-4]

__________
References:

Leadership Ministries Worldwide, Practical Illustrations: Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians (Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide, 2001), 104. ↩
Citation: Adapted from an original cartoon by Dave Veeman and Larry Thomas, The Best Cartoons from Leadership Journal, Volume 1 (Broadman & Holman, 1999) ↩
Exegetical Summaries ↩
R. K. Kendall, Roy B. Zuck, The Speaker’s Quote Book: Over 4,500 Illustrations and Quotations for All Occasions (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 1997), 129. ↩
Renner – Sparkling Gems 2, 1574 ↩
G. Curtis Jones, 1000 Illustrations for Preaching and Teaching (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1986), 146–147. ↩
Paul Lee Tan, Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations: Signs of the Times (Garland, TX: Bible Communications, Inc., 1996), 1069. ↩
Discipleship Journal, Issue 33 (May/June 1986) (NavPress, 1986). ↩
Craig Brian Larson, 750 Engaging Illustrations for Preachers, Teachers & Writers (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2002), 388–389. ↩

emeryhorvath.com

Equipping people to pursue God's glory

Why Possessing Patience Is A Powerful Step to A Faith Filled Life

Podcast: Light on Life Season Ten Episode Thirty-Nine

by Emery Horvath

Listen to the Audio

Click to Listen | Right Click to Download |Subscribe in PlayerFM

Read the Notes

Accept the Challenge

Join the Conversation

Episode Resources:

We are currently teaching in the book of First Thessalonians. You can click on the links below to listen to some of these podcasts.

About Emery

Subscribe to the Podcast

Share the Love

Prayer

Podcast Notes

Patience and Long-suffering for Jesus’ Followers

Patience and Long-suffering: Defining Terms

Patience and Longsuffering: The Greek Word Hypomonē

Patience and Long-suffering: A Prodigious Fruit of the Spirit

Patience and Promise

Patience and Longsuffering with People

Listen to the Audio

Click to Listen | Right Click to Download |Subscribe in PlayerFM

Read the Notes

Accept the Challenge

Join the Conversation

Episode Resources:

We are currently teaching in the book of First Thessalonians. You can click on the links below to listen to some of these podcasts.

About Emery

Subscribe to the Podcast

Share the Love

Prayer

Podcast Notes

Patience and Long-suffering for Jesus’ Followers

Patience and Long-suffering: Defining Terms

Patience and Longsuffering: The Greek Word Hypomonē

Patience and Long-suffering: A Prodigious Fruit of the Spirit

Patience and Promise

Patience and Longsuffering with People

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