Today we continue our series entitled, “Grace and Truth” by continuing to look at by continuing to look at The Law given under Moses vs. the Grace provided by Jesus. Our main scriptures are John 1:14 & 17. Let’s look at them again.
(John 1:14 New International Version)
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
(John 1:17 New International Version)
For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
In this series we studied Galatians 3, 4, and 5. We finally got to the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Today we will look at patience. Our text calls it: “patience that endures.”
(Galatians 5:22,23 The Passion Translation)
But the fruit produced by the Holy Spirit within you is divine love in all its varied expressions:
joy that overflows,
peace that subdues,
patience that endures,
kindness in action,
a life full of virtue,
faith that prevails,
gentleness of heart, and
strength of spirit.
Never set the law above these qualities, for they are meant to be limitless.
So what does this mean for you today? A few things.
1. When I read the list of fruits of the Holy Spirit and I see that one of them is “patience that endures,” I immediately think to myself, “I need that.” I need the ability to endure. I am committed to God and His call on my life for the long haul. Walking with God is not a temporary decision for me. I gave my life to Jesus… all of it. I don’t have a PLAN B. I don’t have another option. And since there is no retirement plan for the believer, I see myself walking with God and doing what He called me to do until either Jesus returns or I die. As far as the dying part is concerned, to be clear, by faith I do not believe I will die because I will get old. I do not believe I will die because I will get sick. I will only die when I am DONE! Period! When I can look up to Jesus and say, “MISSION COMPLETE,” I will be ready to go. Until then, my job is to be led of God’s Spirit every day, for everything!
Since I am living with an “I am in it for the long haul” mindset, I will need patience that endures. I must develop endurance because walking in Christ is not always going to be easy or pleasant. If you don’t have patience you will give up, cave in and quit. But if you are led of God’s Spirit, and you meditate/medicate on God’s Word day and night, you will develop patience that endures and there won’t be any QUIT in you! That’s the goal. Speak that. Say, “There’s NO QUIT in me!”
2. What is Biblical patience? Most people think of patience as simply waiting. In one sense this is true, but Biblical patience is more than just “holding on”. The word translated patience in our text is a Greek word that means: steadfastness, consistency, endurance; the characteristic of a man who is not swerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith, even in the greatest trials and sufferings; a patient enduring, sustaining, perseverance.
Biblical patience is the force of consistency. It is the ability to remain the same in the midst of changing circumstances. Patience is more than simply waiting on something to happen. Patience is about remaining consistent while you wait. The goal is to be consistently the same day-in and day-out. When people look at you, they should not know when you are facing challenges. Your disposition should be the same, whether you are in the middle of a faith-fight or not.
A couple of years ago, at the end of the year, I remember sharing my heart on Today’s Word. I said, “This year was one of the most challenging years of my life. This was one of the hardest times for Isabella and me. But thank God we made it through!” When I shared that, I immediately started getting calls from people close to me. My sister was one of them. She asked, “Are you okay? I did not know. What happened?” After I shared a few of the battles we had been through that year, she said, “I did not know. I could not tell. No one would ever know.” And that is basically the essence of what I am teaching today. Biblical patience is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit can enable you to enter every day with a smile on your face, a song in your heart, and a spring in your step, regardless of what you are going through. People won’t be able to tell when you are facing a challenge or not, because you have patient endurance. You are in it for the long haul. You are not swayed, moved, or knocked off course. You keep going, day-in and day-out, no matter what comes your way. You are determined to die EMPTY. You are determined to arrive at God’s overall expected end for your life. You are determined to finish your course. And you won’t allow anything or anyone to stop you, because you have supernatural patience. You have patience that is birthed from the Holy Spirit Himself in your heart. You keep going and you will never quit!
That’s enough for today. I will talk more about this tomorrow.
Declaration of Faith:
Father, Your Word says that I have need of patience. Therefore, I believe and receive it. I overcome trials and testings. The testing of my faith develops patience in me by Your Spirit. Your patience is a fruit of Your Spirit. Your Spirit lives in me. Therefore, I develop patience that endures. I remain consistently the same day-in and day-out. I am not moved, swayed, or knocked off course. Come what may, I enter every day with a smile on my face, a spring in my step and a song in my heart. I am with You for the long haul. I refuse to die until I am DONE! There is no quit in me, because Your patience in perfected in my life by Your Spirit. I will never give up. I will never cave in. I will never quit! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
