THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS LONGSUFFERING
Gal.:5:22
Introduction.
For the longest time we have been talking about the fruit of the spirit, as you know I like to veiw this as a Basket that we carry and it’s contents is the fruit that we have in our Life. Every body say this with me. I have a fruit Basket, Now today I want us to look together as we unfo the This fruit and look down deep in our Hearts and life and see where we find this fruit operation in our lifes. And with the help of the lord, see what we can learn about it, Open you bible to Gal:5;22
Gal. :5:22
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
What does it mean to have "Longsuffering"?
#1 Longsuffering in the greek {Macrothumia} = Its made up of 2 words. #1 Long and thumia and it means temper and explosion. "translation" It simply means to have a Long temper.
#2 Someone has said it this way Longsuffering is holding out of the mind before it gives way to action.
#3 Someone else said that it is the self restraint that does not hastily retaliate wrong.
#4 Still another has said it is the forbearance which endures injuries and evil deeds without being Provoked to anger or revenge..
#5 Its power to see things though, and its power under controll.
NOW LETS CONSIDER LONGSUFFERING IN THE LIFE OF AN INDIVIDUAL.
If there was ever a man to develop Patience and Longsuffering it was the man called Job. You know the story, job lost all he had.
His Flocks, his health,his childern, he was later approch by his wife and incourged to just curse God and die,And that did’t end there, his friends as well,
Job 13:15. says..........Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.
NOW HOW DOES ONE DEVELOP THE FRUIT OF LONGSUFFERING?
#1 By being "consistent" in the christian walk.
That means just as Job, he was rock solid, nothen could move him. he knewwho his God was and who he had beleived in. And that was the what keep him from not wavering. It is so easy sometime when we face trouble to just say I am done. But being consistent is what will build the patice.
The one thing that hinders our consists is the lack of Patience.
Collasians 1 :10 and 11 says.
. 10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
NOW LETS CONSIDER "ABRAHAM"
The Promise of a child. There was again great longsuffering on his part.
Heb.6:15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
#2 A Controlled Life.
Being able to give your self to the lord and allowing him to controll you in your thoughts and all you do. I have learned that keeping your mind on christ though out your day. and in all you do will produce controll, Haveing good christian friend and fellowship is very needful in our lifes.
Question. Does any ony know of any one that there life seem to be out of controll?
I sure we all do. But I have learned in my own life, for there was a time for me that my life was so out of controll. I was hot temper, mad at the world, and seem to be anger all the time. no one wanted to be around me, you know what I learned from all that.
A high Temper person constantly destroys friendships, At least that was the way it was for me. Thank God He had Mercy on me and changed my life. Amen
Gal.5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
Eph.4:2 2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love.
NOW LETS CONSIDER THE LONGSUFFERING OF GOD.
#1 Longsuffering is attribute of God
God is patient, with us all. If I was to go around the room and ask each one of you to tell your story on how you came to know christ, There would be many differ story, But one thing would be the same, and that would be that God gave you great longsuffering.
AND THAT BEING THE CASE, WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM THAT?
#1 That Gods Longsuffering is the sinner Rescue.
The only reason that we are still here is his longsuffering and his mercy, he extends beyond human expectation
#2 His Longsuffering is also the sinner Reminder
Ecclesiastes.8:11 says
Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil
2nd Peter 3:9 Says
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.
#3 His long suffering is the sinner Ruin,
It sounds harse but is true that many people have used God’s long suffering to their own destruction.
Story
I have a very family member that says with his own mouth, I can live just the way I want to and do as i please, because I know he is Longsuffering and very pateince and loving, He also says that when it come time for me to die I will call on his name and be saved, It sad that one would beleive such a thing. And I am sure that there may be more in this world that counts on that. I have talked with many myself as a Truck driver traveling the highways. Many has said to me I do as I please. God dont destrub me at all.
You know what I have learned about that?
That the ones that I have meet and have told me these things,
They have Interpret Gods silence as his approval for a life of sin.
For those of you who dont know me, I want to take this time and share with that I am also truck driver and I too was one like that for a long time, Thats why I can say what I do about this. I have a heart for the Lost and as I travel I meet many with al kinds of storys So many sinners take gods Longsuffering to their destruction. And that is sad.
Rom.1:24 says...... Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves:
Now I know this message has been a little differ. I have Prayed many times that God would allow me to experance all that i teach and Preach. for real life storys seem to have great affect on many. So thats why today I wanted to share some conversation that i have had with others. I also want us to be reminded that many are lost and dieing without God all around us. And we need to have Patice and longsuffering with them, Just has the lord had it for us. Amen
LETS PRAY..........
