A REAL BAD WORD IN THE CHURCH TODAY?
YOU NEED WHAT?
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
This is a two part series.
I. LET US DEFINE A FEW WORDS BEFORE WE GET STARTED:
The only people I know with a lot of patience are doctors!
A. PATIENCE:
THE CAPACITY, HABIT, OR FACT OF BEING PATIENT.
To bear pains or trials calmly without complaint.
Forbearance under provocation or strain.
Not hastily
Steadfast despite opposition, difficulty, or adversity.
Able or willing to bear.
B. WAIT:
TO STAY IN A PLACE OF EXPECTATION.
TO DELAY SERVICE.
To remain stationary in readiness and expectation.
To pause to allow a catching up time.
To be ready and available.
A state of attitude of watchfulness and expectancy.
C. PERSISTANT:
To go on resolutely or stubbornly in spite of opposition.
To continue past expected time.
Existing for a long or longer time.
Retained beyond expected time frame.
II. YOU HAVE HEARD OF THE PATIENCE OF JOB?
HAVE WE HEARD ABOUT YOUR PATIENCE?
A. ARE THERE SOME THINGS IN LIFE YOU HATE?
B. YOU KNOW I MIIGHT HAVE TO AGREE WITH IT, BUT I STILL DON’T LIKE IT?
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.
C. IN 1989 I DROVE TO FAITH ASSEMBLY OF GOD AT SMITHS GROVE, KENTUCKY.
I pulled into the gravel parking lot of the church that I have now pastored 17 years.
I felt the Holy Spirit preparing my heart for a move and a change of direction.
I had my Bible near by, and I reached for it, and my Bible opened to Luke 21.
There was a verse that jumped off the page into my heart.
I acknowledged the verse was directly to me, but I did not like the verse.
I absolutely agree with the verse, but I still don’t like it.
The verse is probably much deeper than I want to go...
Luke 21:19 In your patience possess ye your souls.
D. I hope you catch the big picture? I DID! AND I DIDN’T LIKE IT.
Luke 21:19 In your patience possess ye your souls.
E. I DO NOT WANT ANYTHING TO HINGE ON MY PATIENCE.
F. Maybe we have heard of Job’s patience, but honey, I haven’t heard of ours? Have you?
G. I once was visiting a church and the Pastor, a dear friend, introduced me as a modern day Job?
I said, "WHAT?"
III. WHAT DO YOU NEED?
WHAT DOES GOD THINK YOU NEED?
DOES WHAT YOU THINK YOU NEED AND WHAT GOD THINKS YOU NEED MATCH?
A. You can do all that you are suppose to do and still fail miserably.
B. There is more to church than good works and trying. Sometimes there is a lot of wait.
Hebrews 10:36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
C. Sometimes we have done all we can, but there is still more to receiving the whole promise.
Ephes. 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
D. IT IS ALWAYS TO SOON TO QUIT! TRY AGAIN!
IV. WE HAVE FAITH, WE HAVE HOPE, WE DREAM, WE HAVE VISIONS --- BUT THERE IS A GOLDEN RULE TO FAITH --- WAIT! PATIENCE!
Romans 8:25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
V. ONE OF GOD’S GREATEST TOOLS TO GROW AND SHAPE FAITH IS PATIENCE. HURRY UP CHILD, AND WAIT!
A. Abraham and Sarah had to wait? The promise?
The test of 20 years of delaying the answer?
B. Daniel prayed and trusted, but the was a night in the lions’ den.
C. Noah means REST, but he had very little rest.
Noah was mocked. There were no Lowes, Home Depots, or even chain saws.
God never provided Noah with finished lumber.
How will I get all the animals into the ark?
Noah had to develop great patience and trust.
Noah’s works and prayers saved 8 people, one family!
Noah is going to have to maintain faith and works many years when everyone thought he was a crazy pervert.
Noah had to persist and have great patience.
D. RUTH and NAOMI HAD TO WAIT.
Death visited 3 times, patience?
THE NEAREST KINSMAN REDEEMER REFUSES TO DO HIS OBLIGATION.
HE THREW OFF HIS SHOE AS WITNESS, AND THE PATIENCE PAYS OFF, BOAZ AND RUTH --- OBED --- JESSIE --- DAVID --- JESUS.
E. JOSEPH KNEW GOD, BUT HE HAD 13 YEARS OF BONDAGE AND JAIL.
Joseph’s brothers hated him. Is it easy to wait in jail?
F. MOSES WAS TESTED BY PEOPLE? REBELLIOUS, MURMURING PEOPLE? BUT MOSES’ GREATEST TEST OF HIS PATIENCE WAS WHEN HIS OWN FAMILY--- MIRIAM AND AARON TRIED HIS PATIENCE.
Numbers 12:13 And Moses cried unto the Lord, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee.
G. HANNAH WAS A PROVOKED, MISTREATED WOMAN.
Hannah did not allow bitterness and hatred and a revengeful heart to possess her heart.
Hannah was offended and abused.
Hannah did not grow a TROUBLED HEART or a FRETFUL SPIRIT!
HANNAH WENT TO CHURCH AND PRAYED AND CRIED.
While there ELI, the preacher hurt her feelings even more.
HANNAH WAS BROKEN AND HAD A SOFT HEART.
Hannah’s patience and prayer pays great dividends.
1 Samuel 2:21 And the Lord visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the Lord.
VI. WHY DOES PATIENCE HAVE A BAD NAME? PATIENCE HAS A PRICE TAG? BUT THE LACK OF PATIENCE AND FAINTING COST FAR GREATER.
A. I might say, a quart of oil cost $3.00, I will save money and not buy any oil.
B. Then you find out the cost of rebuilding the engine is $3,000.
C. Talk about cost?
Romans 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience,
hope:
VII. I HAVE HEARD PREACHERS SAY DON’T PRAY FOR PATIENCE? WELL, I WILL TELL YOU, YOU DON’T HAVE TO PRAY, PATIENCE IS GOD’S BUILDING BLOCK --- IT IS AUTOMATIC!
James 1:3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
VIII. THERE CAN HIDE GREAT DANGER IN DELAYED ANSWERS AND THE LACK OF REAL PATIENCE AND TRUST IN THE UNSEEN HAND. WE CAN GROW LAZY AND SLEEPY.
Eccles. 9:10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither
thou goest.
A. Delayed answers can birth fainting spirits?
Your heart might fall into searching for the wrong things.
Proverbs 24:10 If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.
B. Fretful spirits and attitudes show a lack of trust in God’s plans and God’s Promises, we don’t want to wait?
C. We grow weary in well doing, we grow troubled hearts, and our labor becomes a burden.
D. Are you prepared to wait with patience on God through dark, lonely nights?
ARE WE WAITING TO GIVE OUR LOVE CONTRIBUTIONS AND OUR SERVICE OF LOVE EVEN WHEN WE CAN’T SEE OR FEEL THE ANSWERS?
E. WITH PATIENCE WE CAN BE FAITHFUL TO OUR POST OF DUTY EVEN WHEN IT SEEMS SO MENIAL AND TRIVIAL THAT WE PONDER WHAT IS THE USE?
IX. WILL YOU WITH PATIENCE HOST OTHERS WITH ZEAL AND EXCITEMENT? CAN WE HAVE PATIENCE WITH PASSION?
A. I often ask this question: What has the most serious hidden danger to the church:
B. ZEAL WITHOUT WISDOM? (zww)
C. Or WISDOM WITHOUT ZEAL? (wwz)
D. I THINK THAT BOTH SYMPTONS ARE VERY DANGEROUS TO GOD’S WORK.
Col. 1:11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
X. REAL PATIENCE IS NOT PRESUMPTOUS AND DOES NOT MOVE UNTIL IT IS GOD’S TIMING.
A. Just because the Red Sea is in front of you does not mean take the crowd and jump in the water.
B. Just because you know Jesus can walk on water?
And that Peter walked on water? Doesn’t mean you can?
C. You better not jump out of the boat and try to walk on water.
PATIENCE KNOWS YOU HAVE TO WAIT ON THE DIVINE INVITATION!
Matthew 14:28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. 29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
D. REAL WAIT--- WAITS UNTIL THE INVITATION AND ORDER IS CLEAR.
E. WAIT AND LISTEN! LISTEN AND WAIT!
F. FRUIT TREES TAKE TIME TO GROW FRUIT!
WAIT!
Luke 8:15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
XI. LONG DISTANCE RUNNERS LEARN THE SECRET TO PACING THEMSELVES FOR THE LONG HAUL!
THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENCES IN SPRINTERS AND MARATHON RUNNERS.
Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
XII. CONCLUSION ON PATIENCE:
Psalm 27:14 Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.
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.
Psalm 130:5 I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.
Isaiah 40:29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. 30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young
men shall utterly fall: 31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be
weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Hebrews 6:12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
WILL WE ALLOW THE HOLY SPIRIT TO ALLOW PATIENCE TO RELEASE HER GOOD WORK IN US?
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Help me? Pass this on to another?
