Patience

Patience is:
“Ability to take a great deal of punishment from evil people or circumstances without losing one’s temper, without becoming irritated and angry, or without taking vengeance. It includes the capacity to bear pain or trials without complaint, the ability to forbear under severe provoking, and the self-control which keeps one from acting rashly even though suffering opposition or adversity.”1

WE HAVE TO KNOW…

Galatians 5:16-17 16So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. 17The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.

• It’s the fruit of the Spirit, not the fruit of me.
• We follow the Spirit’s lead. It’s not, “I try as hard as I can, then I bear fruit.”
• Yes, there is our part to put on our new nature (Ephesians 4:24), but it comes from a place of abidance.

John 15:5-9 5Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. 6Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. 7But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! 8When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father. 9I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love.

Let’s break this down…

WHAT ARE WE BELIEVING ABOUT GOD’S PATIENCE? See Psalm 103:8-14
• How can we be patient if we don’t believe God is patient with us?
• Why would He command us to produce something that He doesn’t do?
• What we abide in, we will produce.
• Was God patient with people in the Bible?

Timothy 1:15-16 15This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all. 16But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life.
So what are we to do?
Romans 12:1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.

SO WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE TO BE PATIENT? There are a lot of different forms of patience:

• Abiding in God’s patience, love, and Word
• Having patience with others and bearing with their faults (Ephesians 4:2)
• Having patience with ourselves
• Waiting on the Lord (Romans 8:2, Psalm 37:7, Psalm 27:14)
• Patience in suffering

Romans 12:12 Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.

Don’t give up!

CLOSE
• Have you been abiding in His word and His love?
• Have you been believing lies about God’s patience with you?
• Do you need to repent of your patience with others?
• Are you hard on yourself—holding yourself to unreachable expectations that you need to give to God?

LIFE GROUP QUESTIONS
1) What stood out to you in the message and why?
2) What area of your life do you struggle with patience?
3) What stood out to you when Christian talked about God’s patience?
4) When you look at your patience in your life, is there someone you need to ask for forgiveness? What would that look like?
5) Read Galatians 6:9. Ask: What stands out to you in this verse? How does this verse apply to the message of patience?
6) Read 1 Timothy 1:15-16. Ask: What would applying the truth of this verse in your everyday life look like?
7) Where are you at currently in your life when it comes to abiding? Why is it so important to abide in God’s word, His promises, and His love?
8) Don’t forget to take prayer requests in your group!