The Portrait of Patience — Job

Welcome back to our Fruit of Spirit Series.

Galatians 5:22-23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

The Portrait of Patience: Job Perseveres:

Job 1:1-3 (NIV)
1 In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. 2 He had seven sons and three daughters, 3 and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys, and had a large number of servants. He was the greatest man among all the people of the East.

Job 1:8-22 (NIV)
8 Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.” 9 “Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. 10 “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. 11 But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.” 12 The LORD said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your hands, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.” 
 Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD. 13 One day when Job’s sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, 14 a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, 15 and the Sabeans attacked and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!” 
 16 While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The fire of God fell from the sky and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!” 17 While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!” 18 While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, “Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, 19 when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!” 


20 At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship 21 and said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. 
The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised.” 22 In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.

Job 2:3-10 (NIV)
3 Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason.” 4 “Skin for skin!” Satan replied. “A man will give all he has for his own life. 5 But stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face.” 6 The LORD said to Satan, “Very well, then, he is in your hands; but you must spare his life.” 7 So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. 8 Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes. 9 His wife said to him, “Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!” 10 He replied, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.

Come back tomorrow as we start on the next Fruit of The Spirit, Kindness.

The Pursuit of Patience

Welcome back to our Fruit of Spirit Series.

Galatians 5:22-23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

The Pursuit of Patience:

1 Timothy 6:11 (NIV)
Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.

2 Peter 1:5-6 (NIV)
make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness

The Command of Patience

Welcome back to our Fruit of Spirit Series.

Galatians 5:22-23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

The Command of Patience:

James 5:7-8 (NIV)
7 Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. 8 You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.

Ephesians 4:2 (NIV)
2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

Romans 12:12 (NIV)
12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

1 Thessalonians 5:14 (NIV)
14 And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.

The Example of Patience

Welcome back to our Fruit of Spirit Series.

Galatians 5:22-23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

The Example of Patience:

James 1:19-20 (NIV)
19 My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.

Ecclesiastes 7:8-9 (NIV)
8 The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride. 
9 Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.

Numbers 14:18 (NIV)
18 ‘The LORD is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion.

1 Timothy 1:16 (NIV)
16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.

2 Peter 3:9 (NIV)
9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

The Prayer of Patience

Welcome back to our Fruit of Spirit Series.

Galatians 5:22-23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

The Prayer of Patience:
2 Thessalonians 3:5 (NIV)
5 May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.
Colossians 1:10-11 (NIV)
10 And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience

The Endurance of Patience

Welcome back to our Fruit of Spirit Series.

Galatians 5:22-23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

The Endurance of Patience:
2 Thessalonians 3:13 (NIV)
13 And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right.
Hebrews 10:36 (NIV)
36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.
Hebrews 12:1 (NIV)
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
Galatians 6:9 (NIV)
9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

The Waiting of Patience

Welcome back to our Fruit of Spirit Series.

Today, we are going to start talking about Patience.

Galatians 5:22-23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

The Waiting of Patience:
Psalms 27:14 (NIV)
14 Wait for the LORD; 
     be strong and take heart 
     and wait for the LORD.
Psalms 37:7 (NIV)
7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; 
     do not fret when men succeed in their ways, 
     when they carry out their wicked schemes.
Lamentations 3:25-26 (NIV)
25 The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, 
     to the one who seeks him; 
26 it is good to wait quietly 
     for the salvation of the LORD.
Romans 8:25 (NIV)
25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
Psalms 130:5-6 (NIV)
5 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, 
     and in his word I put my hope. 
6 My soul waits for the Lord 
     more than watchmen wait for the morning,
Isaiah 26:8 (NIV)
8 Yes, LORD, walking in the way of your laws, 
     we wait for you; 
your name and renown 
     are the desire of our hearts.
Isaiah 30:18 (NIV)
18 Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; 
     he rises to show you compassion. 
For the LORD is a God of justice. 
     Blessed are all who wait for him!
The Work of Patience
James 1:2-4 (NIV)
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Romans 5:3-4 (NIV)
but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope.