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Introduction: This
morning we will be continuing our study of Colossians 3:12-17 as we
study the Believer’s Profile. I am using the word profile in the
sense of observable characteristics. If you were driving
down the road and saw a man hitchhiking who was dressed in tattered
and filthy clothes and carrying a backpack, you probably wouldn’t be
inclined to stop and pick him up. But if you were driving down the
road and saw a man hitchhiking who was wearing a shirt and tie and
dress slacks, and carrying a leather briefcase, you would be more
inclined to stop and pick him up. This is called profiling -
drawing a conclusion about a person based on observable
characteristics.
And believers should have a
profile. We should have certain observable characteristics in our
lives that would compel the people in our neighborhoods and
communities and places of work to draw the conclusion that we are
not like the rest of the world. We are different. Paul has told us
so far in this passage that we are to be marked by compassion,
kindness, humility, and as we saw last
week, gentleness. This morning we are going to
consider patience. If you struggle with patience, let me see your
hand. Read along with me from verse 12 through 14.
And so, as those who
have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of
compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; 13
bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a
complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also
should you. 14 And beyond all these things put on
love, which is the perfect bond of unity.
As we have done each week before
we look at what the Bible has to say about these virtues, let’s
define our word. Who has a good definition for patience? The
lexicon defines patience as “emotional quietness in the face of
unfavorable circumstances.” This is why the KJV translates the
word as “longsuffering.” We aren’t exercising patience when we are
involved in enjoyable activities. We are exercising patience when we
are stuck behind someone going 45 all the way down route 32 from
Greenville to Cairo. That is an unfavorable circumstance, and a
believer is to demonstrate “emotional quietness” in that situation.
Transition: This
morning I want us to see three things about patience. First of all,
let’s note that patience is an attribute of God.
A. Patience is an attribute of God.
As we read these four
verses, I want you to see what they all have in common, other than
the word “patience.” See if you can spot a theme.
Romans 2:4 Or do
you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and forbearance and
patience, not knowing that the kindness of God
leads you to repentance?
Romans 9:22 What
if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His
power known, endured with much patience vessels
of wrath prepared for destruction?
1 Tim. 1:16 And
yet for this reason I found mercy, in order that in me as the
foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect
patience as an example for those who would believe in
Him for eternal life.
1 Peter 3:20 who
once were disobedient, when the patience of God
kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the
ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely
through the water.
Did you see what these verses have
in common? God’s patience is directly connected to salvation. How
many of you have ever wished God would hurry up and punish all the
evildoers in our country? How many of you have ever prayed that God
would destroy Saddam Hussein and Osama Bin Laden? Have you ever
wondered how the early Christians prayed when Saul in Acts 8:1-3
“was in hearty agreement with putting [Stephen] to death.
And on that day a great persecution arose against the church in
Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of
Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 And some
devout men buried Stephen, and made loud lamentation over him.
3 But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after
house; and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison.”
How do you suppose the Christians prayed? I would imagine most of
them prayed for God to destroy that evil man. But I can’t help but
wonder if there were some Believers who had the proper perspective
and instead prayed, “God, would you please save Saul of Tarsus?”
And aren’t we glad today that God did save him?
How many of you have ever wished
that God would just hurry up and send a tornado to destroy the
brewries and distilling factories that are pumping out millions of
gallons of alcoholic beverages that so devestate the lives of so
many thousands of people. Why doesn’t Jesus just hurry up and come
back?
It’s because God’s “emotional
quietness in the face of unfavorable circumstances” brings people to
salvation. How many of you are grateful this morning that God
demonstrated patience with you?
Transition: But
there is another dimension of God’s patience I want to bring out
this morning. Not only is God’s patience tied to His saving
ability, but also God’s patience is also a demonstration of His
wisdom and mercy.
Listen to this quote from F. B.
Meyer. “God has his set times. It is not for us t know them.
Indeed, we cannot know them. We must wait for them. If God had
told Abraham in Haran that he must wait all those years until he
pressed the promised child to his bosom, his heart would have failed
him. So in gracious love, the length of the weary years was
hidden. And only as they were nearly spent and there were only a
few more months to wait, God told him, according to the time of
life, “Sarah shall have a son.” If God told you on the front end
how long you would wait to find the fulifllment of your desire or
pleasure or dream, you’d lose heart. You’d grow weary in well
doing. So would I. But He doesn’t. He just says, “Wait. I keep
My word. I’m in no hurry. In the process of time I’m developing
you to be ready for the promise.”
Do you see God’s wisdom and mercy
in making Abraham wait? Let’s keep this in mind as we find
ourselves in the midst of unfavorable circumstances.
Transition: The
next thing I’d like to point out about patience is that patience is
a fruit, or evidence, of salvation. So not only is patience an
attribute of God, but also it is an expectation of us.
B. Patience is a fruit of the Spirit
Gal. 5:22 But
the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against
such things there is no law.
Ephesians 4:1 I,
therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, entreat you to walk in a manner
worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all
humility and gentleness, with patience, showing
forbearance to one another in love,
1 Peter 2:20 For
what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you
endure it with patience? But if when you do
what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this
finds favor with God.
All these verses make the
same basic point, that patience is something God expects from His
children. He expects us to mirror His character. He expects us to
exercise restraint in the face of unfavorable circumstances. And
when we do this, it is so contrary to human nature that it gets
people’s attention, which opens up opportunities to be a witness.
Which brings us right back to the overall point of the Believer’s
Profile.
But the point I want to make about
patience being a fruit of the Spirit is illustrated by the growth
rate of plants. I remember the first time we ever planted a garden
with the children involved. We spent several days plowing, and then
tilling, and then one day we finally staked out several small plots
and each child got his own area to plant his seeds in. And I’ll
never forget the very next day after planting. Several of the
children ran outside first thing in the morning to see their plants,
and they were sorely disappointed! Why? Because seeds don’t
germinate and sprout overnight.
Oftentimes, we get frustrated by
our lack of fruit. We want to do right. We pray for God to help us
do right. We recognize our need for doing right. But we fail time
and again - especially in this matter of patience. We need to
remember that fruit takes time. Plants don’t grow overnight. And
fruit doesn’t appear overnight. It takes time.
And I want to be careful to point
out that this truth isn’t meant to be an excuse for impatience. We
can’t blow up under some particularly trying circumstance and then
piously say, “Pastor Murray said, ‘Fruit doesn’t appear
overnight.’”
Transition: The
final point I want to make about patience is that patience often has
very practical consequences.
C. Patience has very practical
consequences:
In Hebrews 6:11 - 12, we
read “And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence
so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end, 12
that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through
faith and patience inherit the promises.”
In these verses the author of
Hebrews is thinking about Abraham as we see from verse 13. Have you
ever thought about the practical consequences of Abraham’s patience
and lack of patience? When I speak of Abraham’s lack of patience,
what am I thinking about? His giving into Sara’s suggestion that he
have a child with Hagar, her servant. What are the practical
consequences of that impatience? You read about it almost every day
in the newspaper as Israelis and Palestinians continue to kill each
other. But in mercy, God didn’t allow Abraham’s impatience to
derail His plans, and today you and I are saved because “through
Abraham, all nations of the earth will be blessed (Gen. 18:18).
There was once a fellow who, with
his dad, farmed a little piece of land. Several times a year they
would load up the old ox-drawn cart with vegetables and go into the
nearest city to sell their produce. Except for their name and patch
of ground, father and son had little in common. The old man
believed in taking it easy. The boy was usually in a hurry - the
go-getter type.
One morning, bright and early,
they hitched up the ox to the loaded cart and started on the long
journey. The son figured that if they walked faster, kept going all
day and night, they’d make market by early the next morning. So he
kept prodding the ox with a stick, urging the beast to get a move
on.
“Take it easy, son,” said the old
man. “You’ll last longer.” “But if we get to market ahead of the
others, we’ll have a better chance of getting good prices,” argued
the son.
No reply. Dad just pulled his hat
down over his eyes and fell asleep on the seat. Itchy and
irritated, they young man kept goading the ox to walk faster. His
stubborn pace refused to change. Four hours and four miles later
down the road, they came to a little house. The father woke up,
smiled, and said, “here’s your uncle’s place. Let’s stop in and say
hello.”
“But we’ve lost an hour already,”
complained the hot shot. “Then a few more minutes won’t matter. My
brother and I live so close, yet we see each other so seldom,” the
father answered slowly.
The boy fidgeted and fumed while
the two old men laughed and talked away almost an hour. On the move
again, the man took his turn leading the ox. As they approached a
fork in the road, the father led the ox to the right. “The left is
the shorter way,” said the son. “I know it,” replied the old man,
“but this way is much prettier.” “Have you no respect for time?”
The young man asked impatiently. “Oh, I respect it very much!
That’s why I like to use it to look at beauty and enjoy each moment
to the fullest.”
The winding path led through
graceful meadows, wildflowers, and along a rippling stream - all of
which the young man missed as he churned within, preoccupied and
boiling with anxiety. He didn't even notice how lovely the sunset
was that day.
Twilight found them in what looked
like a huge, colorful garden. The old man breathed in the aroma,
listened to the bubbling brook, and pulled the ox to a halt. “Let’s
sleep here,” he sighed.
“This is the last trip I’m taking
with you,” snapped the son. “You’re more interested in watching
sunsets and smelling flowers than in making money!” “Why, that’s
the nicest thing you've said in a long time,” smiled the dad. A
couple of minutes later he was snoring - as his boy glared back at
the stars. The night dragged slowly, the son restless.
Before sunrise the young man
hurriedly shook his father awake. They hitched up and went on.
About mile down the road they happened upon another farmer - a total
stranger - trying to pull his cart out of a ditch. “Let’s give him
a hand,” whispered the old man. “And lose more time?” The boy
exploded. “Relax, son. You might be in a ditch sometime yourself.
We need to help others in need - don’t ever forget that.” The boy
looked away in anger.
It was almost 8:00 that morning by
the time the other cart was back on the road. Suddenly, a great
flash split the sky. What sounded like a huge peal of thunder
followed. Beyond the hills, the sky grew dark. “Looks like a big
rain in the city,” said the old man. “If we had hurried, we’d be
almost sold out by now,” grumbled his son. “Take it easy, you’ll
last longer. And you’ll enjoy life so much more,” counseled the
kind old gentleman.
It was late afternoon by the time
they got to the hill overlooking the city. They stopped and stared
down at it for a long, long time. Neither of them said a word.
Finally, the young man put his hand on his father’s shoulder and
said, “I see what you mean, Dad.” They turned their cart around and
began to roll slowly away from what had once been the city of
Hiroshima.
Patience is one of those virtues
that has very practical consequences. In this story, a boy and his
dad’s lives were spared because of the father’s patience. In
Abraham’s example, people today are reaping the consequences, both
good and bad, of his actions.
Conclusion: And we
are going to find ourselves this week faced with undesirable
circumstances. It could be as trivial as humid weather, or it could
be as significant as living with an unsaved and abusive spouse. It
could be as trite as your wife not having supper ready when you are
expecting it, or it can be as disruptive as being diagnosed with a
terminal illness. How are you going to respond? Let’s respond in a
way pleasing to God. Let’s clothe ourselves with patience. |
