LOVE IS PATIENCE
THE MYSTERY OF SOUND (TMS)
TOPIC: LOVE IS PATIENCE
SPEAKER: EMMANUEL ILLIYA
We've been on a series, a series on love
We've been studying the book "The most excellent way" by J. Render Caines
We're on the third chapter already and this night we'd be talking about Patience from 1Corinthians 13:4
This chapter is as interesting as it is important and by way of summary, we can say the chapter talks about these four parts:
We have it here that "Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant"
We'd be talking about half of the first sentence i.e LOVE IS PATIENT
1. God's patience with man
2. Examples of patient men from the scriptures
3. Relationship between patience and wisdom (slightly)
4. GOD is patient with us, we should be patient with others too
1. We can see how that despite all things GOD was patient with Cain, Noah, Sodom, Israelites, David, etc
2. Moses was patient enough even to ask for his name to be blotted out of the Lamb's book of Life instead of the Israelites to be punished!!! I still can't fathom that (Exodus 32:32)
JESUS was also patient to the point of death just for us
3. Patience is really linked with wisdom
Proverbs 16:32
Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city (NIV)
Proverbs 9:11
A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense (NIV)
Proverbs 14:29
:Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly (NIV)
All these you could easily see from the book, and I counsel that you make time to study it.
Now let's do something little
Bless your heart dear
We must understand that by every act of GOD, HE is meant to be a pacesetter for us!
Remember JESUS being the firstborn and our worship leader right?
As such, every move of GOD the Father is a gateway to endless possibilities for me HIS son!
Hallelujah!
Remember JESUS' words in John 14:12
"Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father."
Are we saying we've attained that height yet? Obviously not.
But this is can never be right to simply assume that a certain 'day of the Lord' is coming when we all will be able to do those things.... No! Beyond being passive about these things, we must actively work by faith till we are perfected by GOD HIMSELF
Right, I'm glad we're following despite the network issues and our tough days.... GOD bless us all
Remember Hebrews 5:14?
But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
We must practice, by faith we're patient.... We'll keep rising from one level of that glory to the other as seen in 2Corinthians 3:18
And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. (ESV)
Also if you study our anchor verse to the end, you'd realize around 1 Corinthians 13:9-13 that there's a perfection which is yet to come. So we're confident that the little we can accomplish today will be perfected by GOD
Someone might ask:
"What if I fail?"
That's a good question, but in truth the fear of failure alone have hardly stopped anyone from failing.
Of course let's not forget that GOD has got to be a just judge so there will be repercussions for failing to use the grace made available in this regard. But we're grateful HE's our father too... Hallelujah
Just in case the devil is trying to bring to your attention how that you've failed to be patient in a lot of ways, remind him that GOD is aware and HIS love is unwavering!
Romans 8:38, nothing can separate us from GOD's love
Then again before we failed, GOD had a plan already according to Revelations 13:8 which makes it clear that the Lamb of God was slain before the foundations of the earth.... We must balance it again anyway, we don't have any excuse as Colossians 10:13 would say "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it."_
Thank you for being patient I really don't get this network
As the next item would state, it means we're matured already.... Smiles
Now let's talk a little about patience being an evidence of growth and maturity
Remember Peter who was quick to take off a servant's ear when JESUS was betrayed?
Same guy's patience could be seen in the nature of his death... How can a man see a vision of his death, yet walk into it knowing it's GOD's will???
I doubt if that's the kind of "GOD's will we've come to believe lately... But as Job would say, even if you slay me yet will I serve you!!!
That's maturity in patience
Remember also the same David who vowed to kill a man's whole household when he was offended? The same guy who had a man murdered over his wife.....
When fullness of maturity came in patience, he stopped his men from killing a man who clearly insulted him (2Samuel 16:11-12)
Our seminars now last for two hours but like I said, we won't take too long... It's an hour already and by GOD's grace we should be done soon
I've carefully avoided talking about Patience in our relationships (which seems to be the most obvious part that needs talking about).
That is because the real context of love (the greatest commandment) and soul winning (the great commission) ought to be placed above relationships..... Mind you none is unimportant
But since it affects us all, let's bring it home by talking about patience in relationships
Then we'll be done for the night
For this, I might need quick responses please....
Why is it easier to be patient towards a stranger than the ones we truly love? (Or claim to at least)
If you doubt that, consider why you'd apologize to someone who steps on your foot in a gathering even if he's at fault!🤔
...be patient with.....
Think these words through:
"Expectation is the basis for offence"
This seems simple but if we can work on that, we can work on how much we get offended.... Thereby reducing our 'chances of being impatient'
So, if we can make room for our loved ones to make mistakes (like we all do) thereby acting like our Father's children, then I can guarantee you that many relationship fights will be averted
One more thing
I'm sure we all have at one point or the other gotten angry or even left a relationship of any kind because the other was not 'good enough' or well behaved.
We could argue on and on that we tried our best to change them, but then I tell you one thing: you don't have the power to "Change" anyone as that could only be done by GOD the same way HE changed you
This might sound harsh but it's the truth:
If you cannot be patient in waiting for GOD to fix another person then you don't believe HE can! And if you don't believe HE can, then your own SALVATION is questionable too since it's the same GOD who justifies!!!
Think about that
One thing that helps you to be patient with people is your ability to stop viewing them from the outside! Judge the intents of their hearts like your FATHER does.
For instance: someone burns your clothe with the iron, the fact that they ironed it alone is what you should judge!
Someone served you a dish with too much or too little salt, but they tried to feed you right?
Someone promised to call but didn't, they said it in the first place because you're valued right?
Mother/Father shouts and tells you what to do, wait! Do they hate you? Their methods might be wrong but that love is the motivation, they just might be trying to save you from repeating their mistakes
So next time someone disappoints you, try to think about what they are going through, how hard they might have tried, how many times you've disappointed people, how often you fail GOD, and how that you should imitate HIM in this patience....
Like Daddy Todd Dulaney would say "it may not be easy, but LORD I'll keep running to you"
Thank you HOLY SPIRIT of GOD for teaching us once again, you told me you only need a platform from which you'd brood over these precious hearts. Thank you for raising questions and touching us in those simple ways, finish the work Father.... And at the end may you be glorified as we learn how to abound in patience like you. Thank you King JESUS! You have our love forever
E.A Isaiah
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