God Is The God Of Patience

This Bible study was presented in 2007. The topic was "patience" - something we all need more of. A very astute observation came out of our conversation.

An inmate noted that we sometimes "try" way to hard to be followers of Christ. We try to "be" Christians. We often try to be followers of Christ by changing our behavior. The fact is though, that will never happen. No matter how hard you or I try, we can NEVER change the inside, the part of us that defines us, the important part,  the part of us God sees, cares about and loves, from the outside.

Paul, in his letter to the Galatians points this out. He calls this the fruit of the spirit (Gal 5:18). Paul is referring to the fact that it's the things inside us, the way we treat others, "humbly out of love", are the signs of those who believe. The way we ARE on the inside is  what matters.

The fact that these come from the inside - not some external force making us behave a certain way, is the way God works.Thats what Paul was saying. He tells them if they want to be circumcised (an external sign) then they will be judged by the law and that Jesus and the freedom He brings is irrelevant to them! He is saying to them God, through Jesus, works from the inside out not the outside in!

Jesus tells us this in many places and in many ways. At one point (I get the feeling He is tired of making a point He had made many times before)  He tells the religious leaders that it is what is on the inside of the cup that matters not the outside.

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• Praise
• pray

Patience = Greek word “hupermone” – compound of “hupo” = under and “meno”  =  abide – together, literally means to abide under. The idea is enduring under a load.

Dictionary.com defines patience this way:

1. the quality of being patient, as the bearing of provocation, annoyance, misfortune, or pain, without complaint, loss of temper, irritation, or the like.
2. an ability or willingness to suppress restlessness or annoyance when confronted with delay: to have patience with a slow learner.
3. quiet, steady perseverance; even-tempered care; diligence: to work with patience.

James 2-6(read) out of KJV

Now out of NLT -  2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

• James tells us that the only way for us to develop patience is to go through some stuff. Then he tells us to go ahead and take and let good, (patience) come out of it.

Romans 8:28 tells us this will happen if we love The Lord.

Roman 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who    love him, and who have been called according to his purpose. 

(ALL OF US CALLED TO HIS PURPOSE)

Romans 15:5   (God is the God of patience)

 5 May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus

                       

1. How does God show us show patience?

Encouragement - Jeremiah  33:3, James 1:5

Harmony with others -  1 John 4:8, Rom 8:39

God is telling us that patience, harmony and encouragement (of others) go together. Since love is the most important thing, 1 Cor a3:13 we can draw a parallel on how important patience is.

James 5:11              (Patience Exemplified)

11 We give great honor to those who endure under suffering. For instance, you know about Job, a man of great endurance. You can see how the Lord was kind to him at the end, for the Lord is full of tenderness and mercy.

1.    With regard to the definitions we have read, how does point to, and encourage us?

Job

Job 1:21 He said,   “I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave.
     The Lord gave me what I had and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the   Lord!”

 Hebrews 6:12        

Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God’s promises because of their faith and endurance

 Heb 6:15 - Then Abraham waited patiently, and he received what God had promised.

1.    How does this show patience?

2.      is faith involved? –

3.      After reading about Job’s trials and Heb 6:12 &15  is faith in God an element of patience?      

·       An example of patient faith:

ACTS 8:26 – 40

·        Phillip had patience with the Ethiopian eunuch to teach and endure his ignorance of The Gospel

·        Phillip patiently waited for the opportunity to fulfill the general calling we all have “to be ready in season and out of season”

Lamentations 3:26 (New Living Translation)

So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the Lord

Romans 12:12

12 Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.

Galatians 6:9  

So let’s not get tired of doing what is good.

·       At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. For our own good and well being.

1. Why should we exercise patience?
2. Do we benefit from showing patience?
3. Do others benefit
4. Do we benefit from other benefiting?
5. How?

The Law - Christ Keeps It Because We Can't

Text:, Col 2:13-15, Rom 5:19

Colossians – Freedom from the law, to expose false teaching religious and self-righteousness through ritual

Romans – Explains Christianity

These two verses sum up what God has done for mankind as He re-established His Kingdom on earth.

A.

Col 2:13   (New living Translation)

You were dead because of your sins and because you’re sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ. He forgave all our sins.

1. Dead because of sinful nature – Sinful nature is in mankind because of disobedience by Adam to God.

Gen 3:1 – 7

·         This passage explains why bad thing happen to good people – why bad things happen in the world

·         You MUST under stand this for anything to make sense

2.    Cut away

a.     circumcision – a ritual God commanded Moses to perform on his people ( his charges ) or oversee it done, in the wilderness.

No law from Adam till Moses

b.    The idea being a setting themselves apart in a way that they will not forget, that

They remember the act of obedience (and disobedience).  – note that obedience is required as He re-establishes His Kingdom.

c.    The ownership was transferred for a time to Satan,  (who had been kicked out of heaven) – God had to do this because this because He is perfect. The Word says – Pslm 138:2 He magnified thy Word above all thy name.  God is a God of perfection. He always does what He says He is going to do – God is CHRACTER

He ALWAYS holds Himself to standards of:

·         Legality

·         Faithfulness – He always does what He says He will do – NEVER forces anything on anybody

3. Made you alive with Christ

a. Made you and I equals – co-laborers – equals – joint heirs

Rom 8:17  -  And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with [him], that we may be also glorified together.

The idea is that if we accept Christ as God into our hearts, then we have Life as He Has – eternal life with God – forever – Part of His Family

B.

Col 2:14    (New Living Translation)

He canceled the record that contained the charges against us. He took it and destroyed it by nailing it to Christ's cross

1.     Cancelled the record – KJV says “blotted out the handwriting”. The idea is that the debt we owe is done away with.

Hebrew word for cancelled is interesting because one of it’s definitions is the canceling of a debt owed. That is exactly the meaning here because when we accept Christ, our accountability or debt that must be paid (God is a perfect God), for the sin inherent in man, by the work Christ did at the cross.

C.            Make a show of them openly

·         Crashed party  in hell – Christ Conquers Death – “more than conquerors in Christ”      

·         Matt 16:19

·         Rom 8:37

·         In ancient times returning king – parade spoils of war and leaders upon re-entry of palace or castle walls

·         Christ exposes the devil to us – makes fun of him – give us the keys to life and death

Calls us more than conquerors – of death

·         Tells us we are the head and not the tail

·         Tells us there is no condemnation

·         Makes provision for sins to be forgiven  - on and on

All of these things are because of Christ and only through Him

It is our jobs to stay in Him

·        Bible study

·        Prayer

·        Meditation – read Word - study

Be All That You Can Be

Pray

• Text

Dictionary.com def. - ARMY

1,	the military forces of a nation, exclusive of the navy and in some countries the air force.

2.	(in large military land forces) a unit consisting typically of two or more corps and a headquarters.

3.	a large body of persons trained and armed for war.

4.	any body of persons organized for any purpose: an army of census takers.

5.	a very large number or group of something; a great multitude; a host: the army of the unemployed.

Hebrew

H1416 gĕduwd ghed·üd' band, troop, army, company, men H2426 cheyl khāl wall, rampart, host, trench, poor, bulwark,  H2428 chayil khah'·yil army, man of valour (Gidion Judges 6), host, forces, valiant, strength, riches, wealth, power, substance, might, strong, misc H2429 chayil (Aramaic) khah'·yil aloud, army, power, most H2502 chalats khä·lats' deliver, Arm, loose, armed men, prepared, take, army, make fat, put off, delivered out, draw out, armed soldiers, withdrawn H4634 ma`arakah mah·ar·ä·kä' army, fight, order, place, rank, rows H4675 matstsabah mats·tsä·bä' garrison, army H6635 tsaba' tsä·bä' host, war, army, battle, service, appointed time, warfare, soldiers, company, misc New Testament (Greek) G3925 parembolē pä-rem-bo-lā' castle, camp, army G4753 strateuma strä'-tyü-mä army, man of war (Eph 6), soldier G4760 stratopedon strä-to'-pe-don army

Most kings have some sort of kingdom and with that some form of government is established

• God has a Kingdom (Matt 6:33… seek ye first,  Mark 1:14 …Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God)

• Kingdom on earth lost by Adam through disobedience… (Rom 5: 19  For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

• Kingdom re-established by Christ –start when born and deal sealed at cross  (Isa 9:6… For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.) (the word government is also translated “responsibility” in some versions)

• Kingdom lost temp (God had plan…  ) – re-established by Jesus, Jesus’ ministry on earth – fully man and fully God (teaching) -then at cross

• Until Jesus comes back The Kingdom Of God re-established in our hearts by being born again  John 3:3 … Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

 

If believers are a “band” or have “something in common” we are, by definition, an army

As soldiers in that army we have a commander, His name is Jesus

·         He is The Name above all Names  (Rev 22:13, Isa 44:6)

·         Alpha and Omega (Rev 21:6)

·         The list goes on and on – all boils down to how God first described Himself and told Moses when asked His Name – He said I Am

He sets Himself apart, distinguishes self as The Head, Ruler, The COMMANDER OF THE ARMY!

If you and I are born again, we are in that army – like it or not

·         Our Commander has given us a mission – expand The Kingdom

1.      Mark 16:15
He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation

2.      go to church or Bible Study – stay connected with other believers   

Ecclesiastes 4:12  Though one may be overpowered,
       two can defend themselves, A cord of three strands is not quickly broke

 Find out who God is from The Word

Find out who The Word says you are

meditate on The Word – daily – making that a priority is the only way you can   do it –

teach children the word–

set example

teach others (introduce them to Christ, about personal relationship)

if you fall back – go back at it

living for Christ is a process it has to be on purpose and because you want to (free will)