YOUR MISSION SHOULD YOU CHOOSE TO ACCEPT IT… PATIENCE
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes) (Several part lesson.)
YOUR MISSION SHOULD YOU CHOOSE TO ACCEPT IT --- WALK IN PATIENCE.
*PATIENCE: to be calm, gentle, no tantrums, ability to endure difficult times, situations and people. Refuse to give up. Refuse anger and bitterness. To bear with one another, to bear burdens and problems calmly without complaint.
WHY IS PATIENCE A DIRTY WORD? PATIENCE IS ASSOCIATED WITH TROUBLE AND TRIBULATION.
Romans 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
Romans 12:12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
As a child was in a revival service where a lady said: PRAY THAT I DEVELOP PATIENCE. The people around her prayed. The next night the lady came in the church crying. She explained her husband ran off with her best friend. A preacher said: You got what you asked for… tribulation brings patience. I knew this was foolishness. She never prayed for her husband to run off with another woman. This trial was already in the making before the prayer. I DON’T CARE HOW CLOSE YOU WALK WITH GOD, GOD WILL STRETCH YOUR PATIENCE AS A MARK OF MATURITY. Patience is not a dirty word. If you live you will develop patience or you will die.
ONE OF THE GREATEST GIFTS YOU COULD EVER GIVE AND RECEIVE IS PATIENCE. IS IT POSSIBLE WE ARE IN DESPERATE NEED OF PATIENCE?
Hebrews 10:36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
Hebrews 10:36 (MSG) But you need to stick it out, staying with God's plan so you'll be there for the promised completion.
Patience is defined as suffering without complaining, without getting angry, without getting upset. My dad taught: KEEP YOUR TEMPER, NOBODY ELSE WANTS IT. I think the lack of patience can hurt you and your family. Do we allow our circumstance to define our emotions?
BIG DEAL? FRUSTRATION KILLS PATIENCE! THE JOURNEY OF LIFE IS FULL OF DISAPPOINTMENTS, HURT AND PAIN.
SO WHAT? WHO DO YOU BLAME? MOSES WAS VERY HURT. Life and ministry had been very disappointing as he was dealing with mean, disobedient and stubborn people. Moses allowed the lack of patience, the circumstances and understanding to define his reaction and behavior. The lack of patience doesn’t seem like a big deal? WE MUST REALIZE CHOICES HAVE CONSEQUENCES. My heart sympathizes with the man of God. I don’t blame Moses. You know what: I lose my temper and my patience dealing with problems AND PEOPLE.
THE MISSION IF YOU CHOOSE IS HIT THE ROCK. NASA, WE HAVE A PROBLEM, A BIG PROBLEM. HAVE YOU EVER NOTICED GOD CHANGES PLANS? GOD HAS GIFTS FOR HIS PEOPLE. LIGHT AND WATER ARE ESSENTIAL TO LIFE… GOD HAS A PLAN. GOD TELLS MOSES SMITE THE ROCK.
Exodus 17:6 Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.
THE MISSION HAS CHANGED…PATIENCE KNOWS WHAT WORKED YESTERDAY MIGHT NOT WORK TODAY? THE TEST OF PATIENCE IS THE WILLINGNESS TO CHANGE AND CLEARLY LISTEN TO THE HEART OF GOD.
Patience must trust by faith the plan of God. TAKE YOUR ROD! THEN SPEAK TO THE ROCK. THE PROBLEM IS MORE THAN HITTING OR SPEAKING. PATIENCE IS ABOUT ATTITUDES AND ACTIONS.
Numbers 20:6 And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they fell upon their faces: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto them. 7 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 8 Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.
We live in a day of INSTANT DEMAND AND FAST FOOD. We despise patient waiting. We demand INSTANT GRATIFICATION. We wait at red lights, the garage, doctor’s offices. WE GROW WEARY WAITING. We are not searching for opportunities to wait. This pain, this problem, this trial, this storm --- they are all opportunities.
SO WHAT? MOSES WAS FRUSTRATED. MOSES WAS TIRED OF ALL THE COMPLAINING, BACKBITING AND MURMURING. MOSES IS NOT ACTING BY FAITH. Moses’ frustration gives birth to a bad attitude lacking in PATIENCE WITH GOD’S PEOPLE.
Numbers 20:9 And Moses took the rod from before the LORD, as he commanded him. 10 And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of
this rock? 11 And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also.
THE LACK OF PATIENCE IS A BIG DEAL AS IT REVEALS A BIGGER PICTURE OF INTERNAL UN-BELIEF AND A LACK OF TRUST.
Numbers 20:12 And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.
Moses’ frustration takes on a CIRCUS LIKE ATMOSPHERE, I WILL SHOW THEM! With much frustration and little patience MOSES IN ANGER HITS THE ROCK. BIG DEAL? Wait, we must know Moses allowed his lack of trust and patience to sow seeds that will affect the CONSEQUENCES OF HIS CHOICES. Life teaches us we will REAP THE SEEDS WE SOW.
WHEN I TAUGHT SCHOOL THE SMART, GOOD STUDENTS WERE NOT THE REAL TEST OF MY TEACHING SKILLS. MY BIGGEST CHALLENGE WAS THE POOR, LAZY STUDENTS LACKING IN ZEAL AND ENTHUSIAM.
MISSION IMPOSSIBLE WILL WE ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE THAT GOD CAN BRING CHANGE? Life is not I WILL SHOW THEM. Life is about gentle love and patience. PATIENCE COMES BY GOD’S TENDER MERCIES AND AMAZING GRACE.
Psalm 37:7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
ARE YOU TEACHING PATIENCE? We have a desperate need of patience. I read where a mommy had several kids and she locked them in a cave behind her house. They had no human contact. When social services found the kids they could not walk or talk. The kids were identified as deficient mentally. An old couple took the kids into their home. The kids ate like slopping a pig. WITH GREAT PATIENCE the couple walked and the kids watched. Soon the kids were walking. The kids listened to them talking and began to talk. The couples sat table and used forks to eat, soon the kids developed eating and social skills. The kids learned to love worship at church. There was nothing wrong with the kids minds. THEY NEVER HAD AN EXAMPLE TO OBSERVE AND MIMIC. ARE WE SETTING AN EXAMPLE OF PATIENCE IN FRONT OF OUR KIDS?
WHY DOES IT TAKE A BABY SO LONG TO LEARN TO WALK? How many days does a baby crawl? As a BABY learns to walk it is not a ONE TIME EVENT… LEARNING IS A PROCESS. In this process we must learn mercy and grace by PATIENCE and PERSISTENCE.
WHAT IS A MIGHTY OAK TREE? IT IS A NUT THAT STOOD ITS GROUND IN PERSISTENCE AND PATIENCE.
Persistence and patience can identify seasons so we can prepare for what is coming.
Galatians 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
Galatians 6:7 (MSG) Don't be misled: No one makes a fool of God. What a person plants, he will harvest. The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others—ignoring God!—
LIFE IS ABOUT HOW WE RESPOND TO SITUATIONS. LIFE IS MORE THAN WORDS AND ACTIONS. LIFE IS ABOUT ATTITUDES AND REACTIONS. JOY IS NOT ALWAYS FOUND WHERE EVERYTHING IS WONDFUL AND PERFECT. MUCH OF LIFE IS ABOUT OUR REACTIONS AND RESPONSE TO THE SITUATIONS WE FACE.
MANY OF THE GREATEST LESSONS OF SPIRITUAL LIFE MAY NOT BE CLEARLY UNDERSTOOD. ONE LESSON HARD TO TEACH AND LEARN IS ABOUT PATIENCE- DUE SEASON…
You do not realize what I am doing right now, but you will later.
John 13:7 Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.
*PATIENCE: to accept suffering, trouble and delay without getting angry or upset. To suffer without complaining or becoming annoyed. Calmly endure pain, to endure difficult situations and difficult people, steadfast, endurance.
PATIENCE MUST TRUST DIVINE TIMING, IN DUE SEASON --- AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME.
Galatians 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. Galatians 6:9 So let's not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don't give up, or quit.
Galatians 6:9 (MSG) So let's not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don't give up, or quit.
*WE HAVE HEARD OF THE PATIENCE OF JOB. THAT IS NOT THE QUESTION. THE QUESTION TODAY IS HAVE WE HEARD OF YOUR PATIENCE?
James 5:11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
James 5:11 (MSG) What a gift life is to those who stay the course! You've heard, of course, of Job's staying power, and you know how God brought it all together for him at the end. That's because God cares, cares right down to the last detail.
Every now and then we hear of a person or an event that stands out. There is an important lesson both in the Old Testament and the New Testament. “THE PATIENCE OF JOB.” Job was a man of integrity and he was determined to please the Lord. Job was a man that displayed endurance and extraordinary patience in the midst of personal and family tragedy. Job’s example was that through all his trials, loses and pain he remained calm and trusting in God’s divine plan even when he nor his friends could understand what was happening.
PATIENCE MEANS WE MUST LEARN TO HOLD OUR TONGUE IN DARK SEASONS OF LIFE.
Job’s lesson was about PERSEVERANCE, PATIENCE AND TRUSTING GOD’S RESTORATIVE POWERS. Job remained faithful with a good attitude.
THESE OBSTACLES WE FACE CAN BE GREAT OPPORTUNITIES. We must remember GOD NEVER ANSWERED ANY OF JOB’S QUESTIONS. Patience teaches us that GOD BLESSES HIS PEOPLE IN SEASONS OF CRISIS. This trial can challenge us to trust by faith.
* PATIENCE: to be calm, gentle, no tantrums, ability to endure difficult times, situations and people. Refuse to give up. Refuse anger and bitterness. To bear with one another,
PATIENCE MUST ACKNOWLEDGE WE NEED TO BE SLOW TO ANGER?
James 1:19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
Ephesians 4:2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
Ephesians 4:2 (NLT2) Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.
AS WE LEARN TO WAIT GOD TEACHES US TO TRUST HIS DIVINE TIMING. PATIENCE STRETCHES OUR FAITH.
Psalm 37:7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
PATIENTLY WAITING CAN BRING GREATER BLESSINGS. Greater than VS less than.
Job 42:10 And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.
PATIENCE PROBABLY BEGINS WITH SELF DISCIPLINE AND CONTROLLING YOUR THOUGHT PATTERNS. IF YOU REFUSE TO CONTROL WHAT YOU ARE THINKING YOU WILL NEVER CONTROL YOUR ACTIONS.
If you don’t change the way you talk and think you will never control your emotions. (THE TRAP)
Zechariah 9:12 Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee;
CONCLUSION: HAVE YOU EVER NOTICED NEGATIVE PEOPLE ARE DEPRESSED, COMPLAINING, NAGGING FUSSING AND GRIPPING, THEY FALL INTO A TRAP AND THEY ATTRACT SITUATIONS TO COMPLAIN ABOUT. A PRAISER FINDS JOY IN LITTLE THINGS. THEY ARE THANKFUL AND KIND. THEIR WORDS ARE SWEET AND THEY WILL ATTRACT THINGS TO BE THANKFUL FOR… THEY WILL PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSING FLOW.
NO ROOTS, NO FRUITS. SICK ROOTS UNSTABLE TREES! (Several part lesson.)
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes)
