If we do not understand the proper meaning of a word, how can we tell, if we have added it to our lives? How can we even know if we are growing properly as a Christian? So the first thing we want to notice is what the Holy Scriptures means when it talks about adding patience in our Christian growth.
PATIENCE
This point in a Christian’s spiritual growth is one while it is essential, is also one I have found many Christians have the hardest time with and are more likely to make mistakes about. I have seen congregations split over the misunderstanding or the misuse of people insisting on their opinions instead of matters of doctrine. This comes from a misunderstanding of the adding of patience though in many cases the people involved do not even realize this is what they are doing. The purpose of this chapter is to hopefully help newborn babes in Christ and even those who should have grown further to realize the importance of this step in the process of Christian growth.
The word translated patience in II Peter 1:6 is hupomone which is Strong’s NT number 5281 which is translated in other places as steadfastness, constancy, and endurance. According to Thayer’s Greek Lexicon, patience is the characteristic of a man who is not swerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings. A man who is patient, steadfast, sustaining, and perseverance
Patience would be more properly translated in these verses as determination or perseverance. In other words this is point in one’s spiritual growth where they begin setting goals and striving towards those goals no matter what the opposition or persecution. Let us notice patience is added after virtue, knowledge and temperance. Let us remember these steps are given in this order by God. Some people believe the order of these steps does not matter. They are just listed randomly, In other words it does not matter if charity is added first before virtue or knowledge or any other of these Christian graces. I believe that not only are these steps given by God, but the order of the steps is given by God. In other words, you do not start setting goals (adding patience) until you have made sure virtue, knowledge and temperance (self-control) have been added. This is important, because if the goals are not appropriate, tremendous damage can be done to individual Christians as well as entire congregations. In other words before you set a goal you are going to strive towards, no matter what the cost, you have already added virtue to your life. You have examined yourself and made sure the goal has not been set for the wrong reason. You have added knowledge to your life. You have studied and made sure the goal you are setting is scriptural and the right goal to set. It is the right things to do. You have also added temperance to your life. You have examined yourself honestly and made sure the goal is not being set for personal reasons or personal glory or just because you are being stubborn.
After making sure all of the proceeding steps are taken, and the goal you are working on is a scriptural goal to set, you then set the goal and strive towards it. Different goals need to be set at different stages of one’s Christian growth. Each goal set needs to be rechecked on a regular basis to make sure one still understands the goal in the same way. For example, I heard of a congregation that had grown to the point they outgrew their building, so they made the decision to buy some property and build a new building. As the building was progressing, the congregation began squabbling over whether the pulpit stand was going to be in the center of the building or off to one side. Because neither side would give in, eventually, the congregation split over the issue. If at anytime either side has reexamined their priorities, they would have realized God did not care, so why should they care, it was clearly a matter of choice and had nothing to do with doctrine.
GOALS TO BE SET WHEN ONE FIRST OBEYS THE GOSPEL.
1. I will be to every Assembly I can possibly make.
2. I will take part in every aspect of the worship service.
- PRAYER: I will pay attention to every prayer said in order I can say amen at the close, making it my prayer also.
SINGING: I will pay attention to each song and will sing from the heart and make sure I understand the words in order to feed each member of the congregation.
PREACHING: I will listen to every word of the sermon and will study to make sure it is scriptural and then practice the things I learn.
COMMUNION: I will pay attention to each part of the communion and make sure I partake in a worthy manner.
CONTRIBUTION: I will set aside time every week to count my blessings, to make sure I know how much I have been prospered, to determine how much I am going to give, based how I have prospered, based on trusting God and based on knowing as one sows, so they shall also reap.
James 5:7-11"Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door. Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. 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."
As a farmer plows a field, plants the seed, weeds and takes care of the needs of the crop and then waits patiently for the harvest, Christians need to patiently trust in God and patiently do the things God wants them to do. We are to endure like the prophets and Job did, looking to their examples with hope and trust if we endure God will reward us.
Hebrews 6:12-15 "That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise."
We see just as God made promises to Abraham, so God has promised Christians a home in Heaven and just as Abraham endured and trusted God so we patiently must endure till death in order to be given home in heaven. Remember Abraham was promised a son when he was over 70 years of age and he was also told to leave his home and journey to a country God would tell him about. So he packed up and left trusting in God and his promises. Abraham was well over 90 years of age when Isaac was finally born and he wandered for the rest of his life looking for the home God promised him. It was well over 400 years later his descendants finally received the land that was promised Abraham. God is not rushed, but rather he waits patiently until the time is right. God does the right thing at the right time always, whether it takes 1 year or 3,000 years
Hebrew 10:35-36 "Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise."
Christians are encouraged to keep their faith, which brings a great reward. We are warned not to lose our confidence, or simply stated “keep the Faith”, for we have need of patience in order we will receive the promise. We as Christians are told, in these verses, we must add patience in order to have access to the promises of God. God does things at his proper time, because it is best for us. We may not understand now, but eventually we will understand.
2 Peter 3:8-11 "But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 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. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,"
First we are reminded of the patience of the Lord, a day is as a thousand years and a thousand years is as a day. God is not slack, but is instead God is longsuffering. He does not want anyone to perish but he gives time for all to come to repentance. The only reason Jesus has not returned and the Judgment Day come is God is giving people time to repent. We need to strive to add the patience the Lord has shown to our lives.
2 Timothy 4:1-5 "I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry."
Even Timothy, an evangelist, was encouraged to be patient. To do what he was called by God to do, in season and out of season. Preach the Word always, reprove when reproof is needed, rebuke when rebuking is needed, exhort (encourage) always. In this way we do our job and make full proof of our ministry,
I used to take the loss of every person I studied with personally, until I came to understand the example of Noah. Noah labored for approximately 120 years. During time, Noah was given two tasks: 1. Noah was told to build the Ark. 2. Noah was told to warn the people about the upcoming flood. When we look back and see besides his family, Noah was not able to convince anyone a flood was coming. But do we think God considered Noah a failure? No, because God pointed to Noah as a great example of faith. Noah’s job was to warn the people, he could not make any one believe. This is why Noah was such a great and unique man. Every day, he got up out of his bed and did two things. He worked on the ark and he warned the people. For about 120 years, without anyone listened or helping him, Noah continued. When I look at how often I become discouraged even with help, I realize how special Noah was.
This is what the Bible means when it tells us to add patience, watch in all things, do our Christian job, make full proof of our ministry. We need to remember who God is and who we are at all times. We also need to remember God holds us accountable to warn others, that is our Christian job. We can not make people obey God. This does not mean I should not examine how I am doing my job, or I should not try to improve. We need to keep in mind always the example of Noah. Like Noah, your job is simply to warn the people.
Romans 5:1-6 "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly."
We demonstrate our faith by the fact we continue to do our job. Thus we are justified in the eyes of God and we are at peace with Him. Have you ever wondered how the Apostles were able to glory in tribulation? In actuality it is simple, they recognized, as did Noah, what their job was. When tribulations arose, they recognized it was a challenge Satan was throwing their way, hoping to distract them from their job. This is the patience Job and Noah both had. They just did the job the Lord gave them to do and did it under all circumstances. When we endure tribulation, we learn patience. So when we endure tribulation, that is how we add patience, and since adding patience brings experience, and experience brings hope, this is the process God has given.
Have you ever asked yourself, “Why does God allow all of these problems to come into my life?" Here is the answer, “Because God loves us and wants us to grow.” When we are undergoing trials and tribulations, it is how we handle those problems that reveal our character. If we begin to whine and snivel and blame God, it reveals something about our character, but if on the other hand, we endure, and learn to do the right thing under any circumstance, and after all isn’t that what patience is, it reveals something else about our character. This is the only way a Christian can have a hope in God, it comes through experience and experience comes about through patience and patience through trials and tribulations. So the more trials and tribulations we have and when we understand the end of these trials and tribulations are, the more we can rejoice when we are in the midst of problems.
So this is how we realize the way God provides for us and helps us through trials and tribulations, then we can begin to understand through it all, God never leaves us, but he helps us to not avoid the trials and tribulations, but helps us to bear them and help us to overcome them, then our experience brings us renewed hope of a home in heaven.
2 Corinthians 6:3-9 "Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings; By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;"
We need to learn not to give offence under any circumstance. But we need to remember the difference between what the Bible means when it says not to offend, which means to cause to sin and someone getting their feelings hurt. We are to learn not to encourage someone to sin by encouraging them to do something they understand is contrary to the will of God. Therefore if we learn not to give offence under any circumstance, we have learned patience. We need to remember patience is simply the ability to do the right thing under any circumstance.
Hebrew 12:1-7 "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, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?"
Seeing as we have so many examples to look to, let us put aside the things which encumber us and run with patience, the race set before us. Can you imagine someone at the starting line of the Boston Marathon with an iron bathtub strapped on their back? Not only would the extra weight be an encumbrance, but also it would be awkward to run with a bathtub strapped on your back no matter how little it weighed. A runner might practice with extra weight on themselves, but when it came to the real race, they would get rid of all the weight they can and thus they could put a lot more effort into running the race.
Also, we need to remember the race the Christian life is being compared to is not a short fast race, such as a 50 yard dash, but rather it is being compared more than likely what we would today call a marathon. A marathon is a 26 mile race that must be run different than a short 50 yard dash. The running styles are completely different.
To run a marathon, one must not just run all out, they would quickly burn themselves out and have to drop out of the race. To run a marathon, the runner starts off picking a pace one can handle, and stick to that pace. Then as you get your second wind, you have a kick left when it is needed. The Christian life is like the marathon, you need to pick a pace you can run and finish the race and then one run the race, never stopping, never quitting. When you get your second wind, you will have the strength to prevail when needed.
James 1:3-6 "Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed."
Many times we pray and ask God for things, and then complain when God answers our prayers. For example if we pray for patience and wisdom, then trials and tribulations come along and we complain, we need to stop and realize God was just answering our prayers. After all we see here in James Chapter 1, the trying of our faith worketh patience. We need to realize the Bible teaches that enduring tribulations, which when we overcome them brings us patience and in turn we gain experience which brings forth hope. Also we learn the trying of our faith brings us patience which leads to wisdom (which comes from experience). So we have learned that asking God for patience means we are asking for trials and tribulations. Also when we ask God for Wisdom it means we are asking for trials and tribulations in order to gain experience which leads to wisdom.
I am reminded of the time years ago, when my family and I were driving through the Mojave Desert, we were going to my older brother, Ken’s house in Redlands, CA and I happened to mention to my wife it was a shame we never had opportunity to spend very much time with my brother anymore. All of our trips were rushed short vacations and it would be nice if we could stay longer. It was not five minutes later the car started sputtering and came to a stop. I got out and looked under the hood. I had blown the engine on my car. I looked down the freeway and about 20 feet further on, there was a call box. I walked down to call box and called my brother, who just happened to have rented a car dolly and was in the process of getting ready to return it. So, he drove about 70 miles into the desert, picked us up and we had to spend an entire week with him and all it cost me was about $1,000.00. Since then I have tried to remember when I ask God for anything to be thankful anytime He has answered my prayers, especially if God finds a cheaper way to answer them.
James 5:7-8 "Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh."
We need to learn to endure, is we keep on doing the right thing until Christ returns. In the same way a farmer plants his crops, patiently waiting for the rain, we must patiently wait for our harvest, the second coming of the Lord. An example of an ever optimistic farmer was shown in the TV show, Green Acres, Mr. Douglas never gave up hope. I don’t think he ever had a successful harvest, but he never gave up his enthusiasm for what he was doing either.
Hebrews 11:7-10 "By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God."
Noah was given a job, He was told to build an ark and to warn the people of the flood and for over 120 years he labored and built the ark and warned the people. To the best of my knowledge, Noah never had a convert, but he had patience. Every day he got up and did his job. Thus he became our example. We have been given a job. We are to warn the people and we are to build the Church, thus is what we are to do, to get up every day and do our job. That is what adding patience to our Christian life is all about.
Chapter Summary
- 1. The fourth thing we are told to add to our Christian life is patience.
2. Patience is translated from the Greek word, hupomones.
3. One meaning of the Greek word hupomones is steadfastness.
4. One meaning of the Greek word hupomones is constancy.
5. One meaning of the Greek word hupomones is endurance.
6. One meaning of the Greek word hupomones is perseverance.
7. The Greek word hupomones would be better translated determination
8. The Greek word hupomones would be better translated perseverance.
9. The Greek word hupomones would be better translated stubbornness
10. Patience is the point in the Christian life when one begin setting goals and sticking to them.
11. Patience is added after virtue because we must set goals for the right reasons.
12. Patience is added after knowledge because we must set the right goals.
13. Patience is added after temperance because we must set goals with the right motives.
14. A newborn Christian needs to set simple goals they know are right such as being to every worship service.
15. As they mature their goals take more effort and knowledge as they become more complex.
16. One who is long-suffering and patient in serving God will be rewarded with a crown of righteousness.
17. We need to be long-suffering in order to emulate God.
18. Have you started adding Patience to your life? If so what are your goals?
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