Developing Patience

Developing Spiritual Character:

Developing Patience:

Galatians 5:22-23

Patience is a mark of maturity!

(To download and print blank sermon notes to complete while you listen, click HERE.)

“Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.” (Proverbs 14:29)

Four Things That Test Our Patience

1. Interruptions

“Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”” (Matthew 19:13–14)

Our best laid plans are often interrupted!

2. Inconveniences

“But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.”” (Luke 10:40)

3. Irritations

“And Ahab went into his house vexed and sullen because of what Naboth the Jezreelite had said to him, for he had said, “I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers.” And he lay down on his bed and turned away his face and would eat no food.” (1 Kings 21:4)

We must learn the lesson of the Oyster

4. Inactivity

“And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise.” (Hebrews 6:15)

God uses all of these things to develop patience in our lives!

My Part In Developing Patience

1. Nurture my walk with the Lord

“And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.” (Mark 1:35)

“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

The fruit of patience is developed in my life as I stay Connected to Jesus Christ

2. Develop a new perspective

“These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.” (Hebrews 11:13)

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” (Romans 8:18)

“For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,” (2 Corinthians 4:17)

We Need To Learn To Look At Things From:

• God’s Perspective

 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8–9)

God is in control – He is accomplishing His purposes!

• The perspective of Others

“Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:4)

Walk a mile in another’s shoes

3. Cultivate a sense of humor

“A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” (Proverbs 17:22)

If you can Laugh at it, you can Live with it

4. Trust in God’s Timing

“Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.” (John 11:5–6)

Impatience grows as we walk by Sight and not by faith

“for we walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7)

God Isn’t In A Hurry!

Making It Personal:

• Have you responded to the patience of God toward you (2 Peter 3:9) by turning from your sin in repentance and turning to Christ in faith and surrender?

• In what area(s) of your life do you most need to develop and display patience?

• What specific steps will you take in the next 30 days to: Nurture your relationship with God? Develop a new perspective? Cultivate a sense of humor? Trust in God’s timing?