1
00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:05,080
Well, good morning everyone. 
It is so good to see you all 

2
00:00:06,120 --> 00:00:10,520
this morning and I would please 
encourage you to please pray for

3
00:00:10,520 --> 00:00:13,960
the Global Conference on the 
10th to the 13th. 

4
00:00:14,000 --> 00:00:16,440
And then I know that on the 13th
the young people will also 

5
00:00:17,440 --> 00:00:21,160
gather at New Gen. in Somerset 
West. 

6
00:00:22,600 --> 00:00:29,440
In fact, on from Wednesday and 
Friday, the lead couples in the 

7
00:00:29,440 --> 00:00:34,760
Western Cape gathered, I mean, 
Emmanus with a wonderful time of

8
00:00:34,760 --> 00:00:40,120
prayer and input and simply just
building relationships with 

9
00:00:40,160 --> 00:00:42,640
other leaders across the Western
Cape. 

10
00:00:42,640 --> 00:00:45,760
It was such a wonderful time we 
had together. 

11
00:00:46,120 --> 00:00:48,160
And also we had Teddy Burger 
with us. 

12
00:00:49,400 --> 00:00:54,200
As you know Teddy is such a 
wonderful man of God and had 

13
00:00:54,200 --> 00:00:57,240
worked with the Lord for many 
years and I was the founder of 

14
00:00:57,240 --> 00:01:01,160
New Frontiers International. 
So we really had a wonderful 

15
00:01:01,160 --> 00:01:07,840
time together as leaders. 
And the week before, I was at 1 

16
00:01:07,840 --> 00:01:14,120
Hope last week Saturday at 
Gareth's Church, and I had been 

17
00:01:14,120 --> 00:01:18,600
asked to speak on loving your 
neighbor as well as diversity. 

18
00:01:19,360 --> 00:01:22,760
And we also had a wonderful time
there with Stephen Ryan. 

19
00:01:23,360 --> 00:01:28,280
And yeah, just thankful for the 
Lord, for his faithfulness to us

20
00:01:28,680 --> 00:01:31,400
as a church. 
If you have your Bibles, please 

21
00:01:31,400 --> 00:01:34,560
turn with me to the book of 
Galatians Chapter 5. 

22
00:01:35,440 --> 00:01:46,770
Galatians chapter 5. 
You'll find it in the New 

23
00:01:46,770 --> 00:02:00,240
Testament Galatians chapter 5. 
We will read verse 22, verse 23.

24
00:02:01,080 --> 00:02:06,120
But the fruit of the Spirit is 
Lovejoy, peace, patience, 

25
00:02:06,120 --> 00:02:10,080
kindness, goodness, 
faithfulness, gentleness, 

26
00:02:10,440 --> 00:02:15,120
self-control. 
Against such things, there is no

27
00:02:15,440 --> 00:02:19,880
law. 
I was reminded in preparing for 

28
00:02:19,880 --> 00:02:26,080
this message, which I'm going to
walk through on the subject of 

29
00:02:26,080 --> 00:02:28,680
patience, the fruit of the 
spirit. 

30
00:02:29,680 --> 00:02:34,720
I was reminded that within the 
African context, and not to 

31
00:02:34,720 --> 00:02:39,280
stereotype, but I use this 
example within my own context 

32
00:02:40,160 --> 00:02:44,560
that one of the reasons that I 
have sort of one of the things 

33
00:02:44,560 --> 00:02:48,720
that I've made peace with within
my context is that you are never

34
00:02:48,720 --> 00:02:51,320
to expect the bride to be on 
time. 

35
00:02:53,720 --> 00:02:57,920
So when you get a wedding invite
from Eric and Tim cool to 

36
00:02:57,920 --> 00:03:01,320
somewhere in Cape Town, and I 
said to you, the wedding starts 

37
00:03:01,320 --> 00:03:02,920
at 10. 
I actually mean at 12. 

38
00:03:03,880 --> 00:03:08,320
I don't mean at 10 AM. 
So if if you're there at 10, I 

39
00:03:08,320 --> 00:03:11,840
know that you're Ryan, but but 
we don't start at 10. 

40
00:03:11,840 --> 00:03:15,160
So you sort of know that is 
going to start at 12. 

41
00:03:15,160 --> 00:03:18,360
The only thing that start on 
time is the funeral that we make

42
00:03:18,360 --> 00:03:21,120
sure starts on time the funeral 
but not the wedding. 

43
00:03:21,120 --> 00:03:24,240
So three years ago my wife and I
attended a wedding of our 

44
00:03:24,240 --> 00:03:30,160
friend, a good friends of ours 
and the bride was very late and 

45
00:03:30,440 --> 00:03:31,840
and the husband was quite 
annoyed. 

46
00:03:31,840 --> 00:03:34,600
It's quite upset. 
In fact very hard to see someone

47
00:03:34,640 --> 00:03:36,560
upsetting their own wedding. 
You hardly see that. 

48
00:03:37,320 --> 00:03:42,200
But he was quite upset that his 
bride was late and keep he kept 

49
00:03:42,200 --> 00:03:44,840
on folding and they ignored him.
They were no longer taking his 

50
00:03:44,840 --> 00:03:47,240
calls. 
By the way, says where are you? 

51
00:03:47,720 --> 00:03:50,600
I thought, what do I say to him 
now? 

52
00:03:50,840 --> 00:03:54,600
I said to him, buddy, you must 
remember that you know this, 

53
00:03:54,600 --> 00:03:56,760
this is, this is your day and 
this is her day. 

54
00:03:57,040 --> 00:04:00,040
And in fact, the bride is always
meant to make the grand 

55
00:04:00,040 --> 00:04:03,240
entrance. 
Your job is simply to wait. 

56
00:04:03,240 --> 00:04:07,920
So chill and cool down. 
She'll, she'll come and, and in 

57
00:04:07,920 --> 00:04:14,760
fact, she did come and she 
arrived 2 1/2 hours, but she was

58
00:04:14,760 --> 00:04:17,920
there. 
But I think the Lord also taught

59
00:04:17,920 --> 00:04:22,280
him something about patience, 
that he had to wait. 

60
00:04:23,000 --> 00:04:27,240
And I kid you not, that as she 
was walking down the aisle, the 

61
00:04:27,240 --> 00:04:32,160
way he was weeping and so happy.
It didn't look like that man who

62
00:04:32,160 --> 00:04:36,560
was so upset for his wife, for 
his bride being late at the 

63
00:04:36,560 --> 00:04:41,400
wedding. 
And at times it is we may find 

64
00:04:41,400 --> 00:04:45,240
ourselves as well having to wait
on the Lord. 

65
00:04:47,120 --> 00:04:50,160
And so as we consider together 
this subject of patience and 

66
00:04:50,160 --> 00:04:53,000
having to work to wait upon the 
Lord. 

67
00:04:53,000 --> 00:04:56,360
And I, I found myself having 
reading about patience, that 

68
00:04:56,360 --> 00:05:00,040
when you read different biblical
translations, you find that this

69
00:05:00,040 --> 00:05:04,840
word is translated differently. 
So if you are using an an old 

70
00:05:04,840 --> 00:05:07,920
English Bible like the King 
James, the go Yee type of 

71
00:05:07,920 --> 00:05:11,800
Bibles, you'll find that it is 
translated long term, long 

72
00:05:11,800 --> 00:05:13,920
tempered. 
If you're using the other 

73
00:05:13,920 --> 00:05:16,160
translations, it will not say 
patience, it will say 

74
00:05:16,320 --> 00:05:19,800
long-suffering. 
But if you're reading the modern

75
00:05:19,800 --> 00:05:22,280
translation, they translated as 
forbearance. 

76
00:05:23,320 --> 00:05:26,960
So you find that this word is 
translated in different ways and

77
00:05:26,960 --> 00:05:31,560
in different translations. 
But before we delve into the 

78
00:05:31,560 --> 00:05:35,160
message, I want to in fact, just
share with you what patience 

79
00:05:35,160 --> 00:05:36,960
means as the fruit of the 
spirit. 

80
00:05:37,080 --> 00:05:40,240
So I want you to have this in 
your own mind as we're going to 

81
00:05:40,240 --> 00:05:41,840
walk through this. 
The first thing I think the 

82
00:05:41,960 --> 00:05:45,360
slide should come up is that 
patience is the ability to 

83
00:05:45,400 --> 00:05:50,160
endure for a long time whatever 
opposition and suffering will 

84
00:05:50,160 --> 00:05:53,960
come our way, and to show 
perseverance without wanting 

85
00:05:54,120 --> 00:05:59,480
retaliation or revenge. 
Secondly, patience is the 

86
00:05:59,480 --> 00:06:04,160
ability to put up with the 
weaknesses and flaws of others, 

87
00:06:04,520 --> 00:06:09,080
including other believers, and 
to show forbearance towards them

88
00:06:09,240 --> 00:06:12,680
without getting quickly 
irritated or angry enough to 

89
00:06:12,680 --> 00:06:19,200
want to fight back. 
That's hard, right? 

90
00:06:20,320 --> 00:06:24,880
That to me it is an indication 
that patience is a tough word. 

91
00:06:25,320 --> 00:06:28,200
It demands maturity. 
It demands stamina. 

92
00:06:28,440 --> 00:06:32,520
It demands strength. 
Patience is not easy. 

93
00:06:32,520 --> 00:06:38,000
Patience is hard and that is why
this is a fruit of the Spirit, 

94
00:06:38,000 --> 00:06:40,640
because you cannot do it on your
own. 

95
00:06:40,640 --> 00:06:44,360
You need the power of the Spirit
in order to be patient. 

96
00:06:44,360 --> 00:06:48,000
The Lord needs to grow this 
inside of us. 

97
00:06:49,080 --> 00:06:53,520
The Tyndale Bible provides 
another another definition of 

98
00:06:53,720 --> 00:06:55,440
patience. 
They define it this way. 

99
00:06:55,720 --> 00:06:59,760
It is the ability to take a 
great deal of punishment from 

100
00:06:59,760 --> 00:07:03,680
evil people or circumstances 
without losing 1's temper, 

101
00:07:04,160 --> 00:07:07,520
without becoming irritated or 
angry, or without taking 

102
00:07:07,520 --> 00:07:11,120
vengeance. 
It includes the capacity to bear

103
00:07:11,720 --> 00:07:15,560
pain or trials without 
complaint, the ability to for 

104
00:07:15,560 --> 00:07:19,520
bear under severe provocation, 
and the self-control that keeps 

105
00:07:19,520 --> 00:07:24,240
one from acting rashly, even 
those suffering opposition or 

106
00:07:24,400 --> 00:07:31,040
adversity. 
Patience is hard, but I think 

107
00:07:31,040 --> 00:07:34,520
the best example for patience is
God himself. 

108
00:07:35,000 --> 00:07:38,680
When we read the Old Testament 
we are often find as though God 

109
00:07:38,680 --> 00:07:41,640
is angry in the Old Testament, 
or God is killing people in the 

110
00:07:41,640 --> 00:07:44,920
Old Testament or God is killing 
his own people in the Old 

111
00:07:44,920 --> 00:07:49,120
Testament. 
God of course judges sin and we 

112
00:07:49,120 --> 00:07:51,880
see that throughout the Old 
Testament, but also God is 

113
00:07:51,920 --> 00:07:55,000
loving and merciful in the Old 
Testament. 

114
00:07:55,600 --> 00:08:00,080
In Exodus 34, verse 60 says the 
Lord, the Lord is the 

115
00:08:00,080 --> 00:08:03,720
compassionate and gracious God 
who is slow in anger and 

116
00:08:03,720 --> 00:08:06,240
abounding in love and 
faithfulness. 

117
00:08:06,240 --> 00:08:10,920
God is slow in anger. 
Think about the story, for 

118
00:08:10,920 --> 00:08:14,880
example, of Moses at Mount Sinai
with the Israelis, Moses being 

119
00:08:14,880 --> 00:08:19,760
up on the mountain for 40 days 
and as it comes down we see the 

120
00:08:19,760 --> 00:08:22,720
people of God in idolatry with 
the golden calf. 

121
00:08:23,040 --> 00:08:27,160
At that moment God wants to 
destroy His own people, and 

122
00:08:27,160 --> 00:08:31,640
Moses intercedes for God's 
people, and God spares them. 

123
00:08:32,080 --> 00:08:34,320
And so in the old time we can 
almost see that God, even though

124
00:08:34,320 --> 00:08:39,080
God punishes his own people, but
also God, is patient with His 

125
00:08:39,240 --> 00:08:41,919
people. 
The psalmist puts you this way 

126
00:08:41,919 --> 00:08:45,120
in Psalm 103. 
The Lord is compassionate and 

127
00:08:45,120 --> 00:08:48,600
gracious, slow in anger and 
abounding in love. 

128
00:08:48,800 --> 00:08:51,600
He will not always accuse, nor 
will you harbor His anger 

129
00:08:51,600 --> 00:08:54,760
forever. 
He does not treat us as our sins

130
00:08:54,760 --> 00:08:58,880
deserve or repay us according to
our iniquities. 

131
00:08:59,560 --> 00:09:04,120
God is always gracious, 
abounding in love, not treating 

132
00:09:04,120 --> 00:09:08,600
us as our sin deserves, because 
our sin deserves the the wrath 

133
00:09:08,600 --> 00:09:12,960
of God, and yet God in His mercy
spares us. 

134
00:09:13,360 --> 00:09:16,840
We see this throughout the Old 
Testament as the people of God 

135
00:09:16,840 --> 00:09:23,200
would constantly rebel against 
God over and over again, and yet

136
00:09:23,200 --> 00:09:26,040
God will continue to be merciful
to His people. 

137
00:09:26,240 --> 00:09:31,680
Not only that, God would be slow
in anger and the Israelites in 

138
00:09:31,680 --> 00:09:36,560
Hosea for example, that when the
people of God have gone astray, 

139
00:09:36,960 --> 00:09:38,520
we hear this word from the 
prophet. 

140
00:09:38,520 --> 00:09:43,200
When Israel was a child, I loved
him, and out of Egypt I called 

141
00:09:43,200 --> 00:09:45,760
my son. 
But the more they were called, 

142
00:09:45,760 --> 00:09:49,480
the more they went away from me.
They sacrificed to the bows and 

143
00:09:49,480 --> 00:09:51,200
they burned. 
Incest of images. 

144
00:09:51,600 --> 00:09:55,720
It was I who taught Ephraim to 
walk, taking them by their arms,

145
00:09:55,720 --> 00:09:58,840
but they did not realise I was I
who healed them. 

146
00:09:59,360 --> 00:10:03,880
I LED them with codes of human 
kindness, with ties of love to 

147
00:10:03,880 --> 00:10:05,960
them. 
I was like the one who lifts a 

148
00:10:05,960 --> 00:10:09,320
little child to the cheek and I 
burned down to feed them. 

149
00:10:09,320 --> 00:10:13,280
What a wonderful image of God's 
patience, that even though God 

150
00:10:13,280 --> 00:10:16,840
should destroy his people, the 
judgment should fall on his 

151
00:10:16,840 --> 00:10:18,920
people. 
God says, no, I did not do that,

152
00:10:19,760 --> 00:10:25,320
rather I loved my people. 
Often God is patient with us. 

153
00:10:25,600 --> 00:10:27,960
He does not give us what we 
deserve. 

154
00:10:28,440 --> 00:10:31,120
Rather often as you read the Old
Testament, you find that even 

155
00:10:31,120 --> 00:10:35,320
the prophets where, where, where
like why is God not judging the 

156
00:10:35,320 --> 00:10:37,600
evil people? 
And God says not now. 

157
00:10:38,160 --> 00:10:41,960
I will not judge my people now. 
My hope is that they would 

158
00:10:41,960 --> 00:10:44,960
repent and come back to me. 
These are the pictures of the 

159
00:10:44,960 --> 00:10:48,920
Old Testament of a God who does 
not instantly at times judge his

160
00:10:48,920 --> 00:10:52,760
own people, but rather is 
patient for them to come to him 

161
00:10:53,120 --> 00:10:57,400
in repentance. 
And so keeping that in mind, I 

162
00:10:57,400 --> 00:11:01,720
want to suggest to you three 
ways till we can be patient as 

163
00:11:01,720 --> 00:11:06,320
we consider God who is patient. 
The first thing I want to 

164
00:11:06,320 --> 00:11:10,000
suggest to you this morning is 
patience in prayer. 

165
00:11:11,480 --> 00:11:13,600
It may. 
It was said before and I say it 

166
00:11:13,600 --> 00:11:17,360
again, perhaps God gives us 3 
answers to prayer. 

167
00:11:17,600 --> 00:11:23,240
It is often yes, no, or wait. 
All of us to some extent and 

168
00:11:23,240 --> 00:11:27,120
know about yes and no. 
But if we are true to ourselves,

169
00:11:27,120 --> 00:11:30,280
we do not like when God says 
wait. 

170
00:11:30,840 --> 00:11:33,880
It is hard to wait when we are 
going through financial 

171
00:11:34,120 --> 00:11:37,520
challenges. 
It is hard to wait when a loved 

172
00:11:37,520 --> 00:11:41,040
one is sick and conventional 
medicine is not working. 

173
00:11:41,360 --> 00:11:44,440
It is hard to wake when the 
cupboards are empty and there is

174
00:11:44,600 --> 00:11:48,280
no food and you have to wait. 
It is hard to wait when you are 

175
00:11:48,280 --> 00:11:52,080
single and burning and wanting 
to get married and you see these

176
00:11:52,080 --> 00:11:54,960
notifications on Facebook of 
another friend getting married 

177
00:11:54,960 --> 00:11:57,800
and you wish it was you. 
Those moments are hard. 

178
00:11:58,400 --> 00:12:00,960
We know about yes. 
We know about no. 

179
00:12:01,040 --> 00:12:06,680
But it is often hard to wait 
because waiting at times awaken 

180
00:12:06,840 --> 00:12:11,120
a sense of confusion to us. 
And if in our response to 

181
00:12:11,120 --> 00:12:16,920
waiting at times, maybe at times
unbiblical and so often God 

182
00:12:16,920 --> 00:12:22,960
asked us to wait in our prayers.
Consider with me Abraham. 

183
00:12:23,560 --> 00:12:27,520
God told him that listen, there 
is a promised son that I'm going

184
00:12:27,520 --> 00:12:29,640
to give you. 
I want you to, to, to wait. 

185
00:12:29,720 --> 00:12:33,840
The sun is coming and Abraham is
thinking, listen God, biology 

186
00:12:34,000 --> 00:12:38,640
and logic are not on my side. 
Let me rather do this myself. 

187
00:12:38,640 --> 00:12:43,240
And it goes ahead of God and has
a son with a slave girl. 

188
00:12:44,040 --> 00:12:46,760
That son is not the promised 
son, it is Ishmael. 

189
00:12:47,080 --> 00:12:50,280
God had promised him that just 
I'm going to give you Isaac as 

190
00:12:50,280 --> 00:12:56,480
the promised son and Abraham 
goes ahead and both. 

191
00:12:56,480 --> 00:13:00,560
That story communicates to us 
both patience and impatience. 

192
00:13:01,440 --> 00:13:05,720
Maybe at times we are to like an
Abraham when we are not, to 

193
00:13:05,800 --> 00:13:11,160
walking by faith when we know 
God has promised something, but 

194
00:13:11,160 --> 00:13:14,240
we think let us run ahead of him
and do it anyway. 

195
00:13:15,640 --> 00:13:19,840
At times our own impatience may 
make us to be entitled that I 

196
00:13:19,840 --> 00:13:22,840
deserve something. 
It is my right to have this. 

197
00:13:23,600 --> 00:13:28,920
And when we do that, we walk 
ahead instead of waiting. 

198
00:13:30,800 --> 00:13:34,640
There is a call to Christians to
pray, but also to wait. 

199
00:13:36,280 --> 00:13:41,640
Prayer and patience go together.
Perhaps let me remind you that 

200
00:13:41,640 --> 00:13:45,440
time spent waiting for God is 
not wasted time. 

201
00:13:46,520 --> 00:13:51,080
God uses that time of waiting 
and praying to conform us to the

202
00:13:51,080 --> 00:13:55,280
image of His Son. 
Don't run ahead of God. 

203
00:13:56,360 --> 00:14:01,960
Wait upon the Lord. 
Pray and wait upon the Lord. 

204
00:14:01,960 --> 00:14:06,520
The posture of waiting is to 
wait with the right attitude, 

205
00:14:08,040 --> 00:14:11,680
knowing fully well that the God 
of heaven has heard your prayer.

206
00:14:12,040 --> 00:14:14,640
Therefore, it is not my role to 
run ahead of him. 

207
00:14:15,000 --> 00:14:19,640
Rather, it is to wait. 
And in my waiting I'm waiting 

208
00:14:19,640 --> 00:14:21,760
with the right attitude of 
prayer. 

209
00:14:22,800 --> 00:14:26,600
The psalmist puts it this way. 
I wait for the Lord. 

210
00:14:26,600 --> 00:14:32,280
My soul awaits, and in His word 
I hope my soul. 

211
00:14:32,280 --> 00:14:35,720
I waits for the Lord. 
More than Watchmen for the 

212
00:14:35,720 --> 00:14:41,160
morning, more than Watchmen for 
the morning, but my soul waits 

213
00:14:41,320 --> 00:14:46,400
for the Lord. 
My encouragement to you is 

214
00:14:46,400 --> 00:14:56,360
patience in prayer. 
Wait upon the Lord #2 it is 

215
00:14:56,360 --> 00:15:01,680
patience in trials. 
So patience in prayer and 

216
00:15:01,680 --> 00:15:07,040
patience in trials. 
James one verse 2 to verse 4 

217
00:15:07,040 --> 00:15:10,120
says this. 
The count it all joy, my 

218
00:15:10,120 --> 00:15:12,600
brothers, when you meet trials 
of various kind. 

219
00:15:12,920 --> 00:15:15,960
For you know that the testing of
your faith produces 

220
00:15:15,960 --> 00:15:18,840
steadfastness, and that 
steadfastness have its full 

221
00:15:18,840 --> 00:15:23,200
effect, that you may be perfect 
and complete, lacking in 

222
00:15:23,480 --> 00:15:26,880
nothing. 
The Bible is clear that those 

223
00:15:26,880 --> 00:15:32,560
who believe in Christ will will 
face hostility and difficulties 

224
00:15:32,560 --> 00:15:36,840
in this world. 
Christ Himself is an example of 

225
00:15:36,840 --> 00:15:40,360
the one who suffered and faced 
hostility in this world. 

226
00:15:40,360 --> 00:15:44,720
Therefore, brethren, we too are 
going to face hostility in this 

227
00:15:44,720 --> 00:15:47,320
world. 
Notice this passage does not say

228
00:15:47,560 --> 00:15:54,480
if it says when there is a trial
that has your name and it has my

229
00:15:54,480 --> 00:15:58,400
name, but it is simply a matter 
of time. 

230
00:15:59,520 --> 00:16:02,640
Be reminded, therefore, of these
implications as we think about 

231
00:16:02,840 --> 00:16:06,920
suffering and waiting. 
Number one for the believer, 

232
00:16:07,680 --> 00:16:12,240
Suffering should be no surprise.
We have been warned by Jesus and

233
00:16:12,240 --> 00:16:17,560
the apostles over and over again
that we ought to expect trials 

234
00:16:17,760 --> 00:16:23,320
of various kind, and they are 
not nice and they're quite hard.

235
00:16:24,600 --> 00:16:27,800
But the Bible says expect this. 
In fact, it's first Peter 

236
00:16:27,800 --> 00:16:32,080
chapter 4 that reminds that we 
ought not to be surprised about 

237
00:16:32,080 --> 00:16:35,040
the present's suffering as 
though something strange was 

238
00:16:35,040 --> 00:16:38,360
happening to us. 
Is no expect trials. 

239
00:16:38,360 --> 00:16:44,320
Expect that life is going to be 
difficult and hard at times #2 

240
00:16:44,400 --> 00:16:47,240
the Bible reminds us that we 
ought not only just expect 

241
00:16:47,240 --> 00:16:49,840
suffering. 
But as a believer, we are not to

242
00:16:49,840 --> 00:16:52,800
retaliate. 
We are to follow the example of 

243
00:16:52,800 --> 00:16:57,760
Christ who did not fight back, 
not even in words. 

244
00:16:58,680 --> 00:17:04,839
Believers must be reminded that 
the attitude of Christ to 

245
00:17:04,839 --> 00:17:08,040
suffering was not that of 
fighting, was not that of 

246
00:17:08,040 --> 00:17:12,040
violence, was not that of 
speaking back, but it was the 

247
00:17:12,040 --> 00:17:15,720
one of humility. 
It is easy time to feel like I 

248
00:17:15,720 --> 00:17:18,839
want to retaliate, I want to 
speak back, I want to fight. 

249
00:17:20,960 --> 00:17:24,079
But the posture of the believer 
is not to retaliate, it is to 

250
00:17:24,079 --> 00:17:27,079
follow the example of Christ in 
humility. 

251
00:17:27,319 --> 00:17:30,320
And I know you have the strength
and the power to fight. 

252
00:17:31,240 --> 00:17:34,600
But may I say to you, let us 
follow the great example of 

253
00:17:34,600 --> 00:17:40,280
Christ and humble ourselves even
when we know that we have the 

254
00:17:40,280 --> 00:17:47,280
resources and the tools to be 
able to fight back #3 the 

255
00:17:47,280 --> 00:17:50,800
posture of suffering is to be 
reminded that when believers 

256
00:17:50,800 --> 00:17:58,880
suffer, they are not to quit. 
We are not to, but rather and 

257
00:17:58,880 --> 00:18:06,040
doing, brothers and sisters, we 
are going to fit hatred, 

258
00:18:06,040 --> 00:18:09,320
discrimination. 
Some people in countries are 

259
00:18:09,320 --> 00:18:13,640
even facing imprisonment. 
People in countries are being a 

260
00:18:13,800 --> 00:18:18,040
horrendous way because of their 
faith in Christ Jesus. 

261
00:18:18,040 --> 00:18:19,960
To them this is not just a 
theory. 

262
00:18:19,960 --> 00:18:26,120
To them, it's and we too, as we 
wait upon the Lord, we should 

263
00:18:26,120 --> 00:18:31,200
pray for that very same courage 
that the Lord would help us to 

264
00:18:31,200 --> 00:18:37,600
patiently endure. 
We do not plan when we're going 

265
00:18:37,600 --> 00:18:41,440
to get cancer. 
We do not plan when our son and 

266
00:18:41,480 --> 00:18:45,160
our daughter is going to rebel. 
We do not plan when their 

267
00:18:45,160 --> 00:18:49,240
husband or wife taps out of 
marriage to say I'm I don't want

268
00:18:49,240 --> 00:18:52,080
this anymore. 
No one plans that. 

269
00:18:53,080 --> 00:18:59,000
It just happens. 
Trials meet us on the way. 

270
00:19:01,280 --> 00:19:05,720
Be reminded of Job, for example,
that when tragedy strike him, he

271
00:19:05,720 --> 00:19:09,880
lost his children, he lost his 
wealth, he lost his livestock, 

272
00:19:10,160 --> 00:19:13,640
he even lost his health. 
His relationship with his wife 

273
00:19:13,640 --> 00:19:17,280
was affected and his friends 
said to him, repent, but what 

274
00:19:17,280 --> 00:19:20,040
have you done to God? 
He lost everything in an 

275
00:19:20,080 --> 00:19:26,160
instant. 
And Satan is saying to God, you 

276
00:19:26,160 --> 00:19:29,240
have a transactional 
relationship with Job, Take away

277
00:19:29,240 --> 00:19:32,120
everything from him and then 
we'll see if he'll still serve 

278
00:19:32,120 --> 00:19:35,640
you faithfully. 
Job loses everything and he 

279
00:19:35,640 --> 00:19:44,800
still says my Redeemer lives in 
spite of losing everything. 

280
00:19:48,120 --> 00:19:51,960
This sometimes is life. 
But even in this moment of 

281
00:19:51,960 --> 00:19:56,520
suffering, we ought to be 
patient as these things happen. 

282
00:19:56,840 --> 00:19:58,800
And therefore, how do we then 
respond? 

283
00:19:58,800 --> 00:20:02,600
The text gives us an answer as 
to how we ought to respond to 

284
00:20:02,600 --> 00:20:04,440
this child. 
You said respond with joy. 

285
00:20:04,880 --> 00:20:06,400
Stefan spoke about that last 
week. 

286
00:20:06,600 --> 00:20:10,200
We respond with joy. 
And the other answer it gives, 

287
00:20:10,200 --> 00:20:13,640
it says, it says that that 
steadfastness have its full 

288
00:20:13,840 --> 00:20:15,800
impact. 
In fact, when you check the root

289
00:20:15,800 --> 00:20:19,160
word of steadfastness, it 
actually means patience, 

290
00:20:19,200 --> 00:20:24,960
endurance, being patient under 
immense pressure. 

291
00:20:25,480 --> 00:20:28,840
So can I ask you this morning, 
is there anyone in this room who

292
00:20:28,840 --> 00:20:32,800
is under immense pressure and 
suffering and difficulties and 

293
00:20:32,800 --> 00:20:34,600
you're just going through 
difficult trials? 

294
00:20:34,600 --> 00:20:36,080
Is there anyone like that this 
morning? 

295
00:20:37,120 --> 00:20:39,160
I'm sure there are many. 
Thank you for raising up your 

296
00:20:39,160 --> 00:20:47,200
hands because life at times can 
simply be difficult. 

297
00:20:48,080 --> 00:20:51,640
And church, let's let's be 
reminded when we go through 

298
00:20:51,640 --> 00:20:56,520
trials, we must never deny that 
our trials are painful. 

299
00:20:57,640 --> 00:21:01,200
We are never to to simply try to
fake this. 

300
00:21:02,000 --> 00:21:04,280
Whenever I try to say everything
is going well, when we know 

301
00:21:04,280 --> 00:21:08,240
things are not going listen, at 
times things are just not going 

302
00:21:08,280 --> 00:21:09,560
well. 
That's it. 

303
00:21:10,480 --> 00:21:14,280
Life is just hard at times. 
We never to deny that that 

304
00:21:14,320 --> 00:21:17,760
trials can be painful as they 
painful as they are. 

305
00:21:17,880 --> 00:21:22,280
They can also be profitable 
because they they, they sanctify

306
00:21:22,280 --> 00:21:26,680
us in one sense, conforming us 
to the image of the sun. 

307
00:21:26,800 --> 00:21:31,080
But yes they are difficult in 
the hard. 

308
00:21:34,200 --> 00:21:39,760
I remember my my brother's 
wife's uncle had a had an 

309
00:21:39,760 --> 00:21:47,080
accident few years ago and man 
who was fed running and had a 

310
00:21:47,080 --> 00:21:51,040
good job had a car accident and 
in that accident it paralysed 

311
00:21:51,040 --> 00:21:55,960
him completely until he could 
not do anything by himself. 

312
00:21:56,320 --> 00:22:00,840
Nothing was working. 
He needed 24 hour care. 

313
00:22:01,160 --> 00:22:08,720
In an instant his life changed. 
Life can be hard and you would 

314
00:22:08,720 --> 00:22:11,520
visit him in hospital and he 
would be crying all the time 

315
00:22:11,840 --> 00:22:13,960
because he just realized that 
I'll never be able to do 

316
00:22:13,960 --> 00:22:19,680
anything for myself again. 
Life at times can be difficult 

317
00:22:19,680 --> 00:22:28,480
when we are not to deny that, 
but also often the trials will 

318
00:22:28,480 --> 00:22:32,720
also bring us to perfection 
through patients. 

319
00:22:36,200 --> 00:22:49,800
Patients in prayer, Patient in 
trials #3 Patients in community.

320
00:22:56,400 --> 00:22:59,920
The Cyprian of of of cottage 
said the the following. 

321
00:23:01,840 --> 00:23:05,440
He cannot have God for his 
father who does not have the 

322
00:23:05,440 --> 00:23:10,080
church for his mother. 
To simplify what he's saying, 

323
00:23:10,080 --> 00:23:13,920
there is simply this. 
There's nothing as individual 

324
00:23:13,920 --> 00:23:18,880
Christianity. 
Those who are saved, they become

325
00:23:18,880 --> 00:23:24,120
part of God's unified church. 
That's all he's saying and 

326
00:23:24,120 --> 00:23:26,840
therefore church, we must be 
reminded that even community 

327
00:23:26,840 --> 00:23:30,880
patience is needed. 
We are born into a community, 

328
00:23:30,880 --> 00:23:37,240
into the family of God and most 
of our Christian experiences in 

329
00:23:37,240 --> 00:23:43,560
the life of the local church. 
Since this is the case, loving 

330
00:23:43,560 --> 00:23:49,720
God and hating one another or 
loving God and through to the 

331
00:23:49,720 --> 00:23:54,280
message of Jesus Christ in 
community. 

332
00:23:55,200 --> 00:23:58,920
Ephesians forces one verse 123 
says they say therefore a 

333
00:23:59,000 --> 00:24:03,000
prisoner of the Lord urge you to
walk in a manner worthy of the 

334
00:24:03,000 --> 00:24:05,480
calling which you have been 
called with all humility and 

335
00:24:05,480 --> 00:24:08,440
gentleness with patience, 
bearing with one another in 

336
00:24:08,440 --> 00:24:12,800
love, eager to maintain the 
unity of the Spirit in the bond 

337
00:24:13,080 --> 00:24:16,880
of peace. 
The phrase one another speaks to

338
00:24:17,360 --> 00:24:19,240
community. 
It also means, in fact, 

339
00:24:19,240 --> 00:24:26,000
forbearance with one another. 
Church test. 

340
00:24:26,000 --> 00:24:32,080
Let me slow down here. 
As a community and as a church, 

341
00:24:34,000 --> 00:24:38,920
we must be able to put up with 
things other people do or don't 

342
00:24:38,920 --> 00:24:42,200
do. 
It means as a church, we must 

343
00:24:42,200 --> 00:24:47,920
make an effort to bear with 
others, even those who annoy you

344
00:24:48,080 --> 00:24:52,360
or irritate you. 
Can I repeat that? 

345
00:24:53,200 --> 00:25:00,520
Bear with those who annoy you or
irritate you, Bear with them. 

346
00:25:01,240 --> 00:25:05,400
Forbearance actually means that 
I'm not only bearing with other 

347
00:25:05,400 --> 00:25:08,960
people, but also I am choosing 
to forgive other people. 

348
00:25:09,400 --> 00:25:13,720
That word also means I'm I will 
not hold a grudge against 

349
00:25:13,720 --> 00:25:18,480
another in the community, but at
times I am choosing to overlook 

350
00:25:18,480 --> 00:25:23,120
something unkind that they have 
said rather than fighting back 

351
00:25:23,440 --> 00:25:31,120
with harsh words. 
For parents is learning to be 

352
00:25:31,120 --> 00:25:35,480
patient with others because you 
are aware of your own 

353
00:25:35,480 --> 00:25:38,000
shortcomings and your own 
weaknesses. 

354
00:25:38,920 --> 00:25:42,760
You too have weaknesses. 
You too people have to be 

355
00:25:42,760 --> 00:25:47,000
patient with you. 
Therefore, be patient with 

356
00:25:47,000 --> 00:25:56,040
others as well, including those 
you may not get along with as 

357
00:25:56,040 --> 00:26:00,440
well. 
As we gather in the community, 

358
00:26:00,440 --> 00:26:04,360
be reminded that the church at 
times will face conflict. 

359
00:26:04,720 --> 00:26:07,840
In fact, we see that in Acts 
chapter 6 when the Hellenistic 

360
00:26:07,840 --> 00:26:11,400
Jews feel like their widows are 
not being looked after by the 

361
00:26:11,400 --> 00:26:14,760
Hebrew Jews and the apostle 
says, OK, guys, we need to do 

362
00:26:14,760 --> 00:26:16,640
something. 
Let's get this man. 

363
00:26:16,800 --> 00:26:20,360
That we're going to help that 
ministry as deacons. 

364
00:26:21,080 --> 00:26:24,720
First conflict that we are 
seeing there in that particular 

365
00:26:24,880 --> 00:26:27,960
gathering. 
So conflict is inevitable. 

366
00:26:27,960 --> 00:26:30,920
Sometimes it will happen that 
they strive in the church. 

367
00:26:30,920 --> 00:26:33,640
These things we are not 
exception because there's 

368
00:26:33,640 --> 00:26:38,280
people, but we are called even 
in those moments, to be patient 

369
00:26:38,680 --> 00:26:44,120
with one another. 
We live in a world of social 

370
00:26:44,120 --> 00:26:48,440
media where you can simply 
comment and speak your mind, no 

371
00:26:48,440 --> 00:26:51,400
matter how harmful your words 
are. 

372
00:26:52,040 --> 00:26:55,400
It is seems, though, in our 
culture that the virtue of 

373
00:26:55,400 --> 00:27:01,560
patience is missing. 
We are so impatient, and perhaps

374
00:27:01,560 --> 00:27:04,520
we are impatient with ourselves.
We are impatient with our 

375
00:27:04,520 --> 00:27:07,240
friends, we are impatient with 
our kids, we have patience with 

376
00:27:07,240 --> 00:27:10,240
our husbands or wives, we're 
impatient with our colleagues, 

377
00:27:10,440 --> 00:27:13,440
and we may be even impatient 
with our employees. 

378
00:27:14,840 --> 00:27:19,960
And you quickly get annoyed. 
We need the help of the Holy 

379
00:27:20,040 --> 00:27:24,880
Spirit. 
This is the fruit of the Spirit.

380
00:27:25,920 --> 00:27:30,080
Our patience will always be 
tested in the context of the 

381
00:27:30,080 --> 00:27:35,760
local church, but not just what 
the writer says in Colossians 3 

382
00:27:35,760 --> 00:27:40,160
verse 3 bearing with one another
and if anyone has a complaint 

383
00:27:40,320 --> 00:27:45,000
against another forgiving each 
other, as the Lord has forgave 

384
00:27:45,000 --> 00:27:52,680
you, so you must also forgive. 
We live in a fallen world. 

385
00:27:53,480 --> 00:27:59,680
The devil there is the flesh, 
and so often we must be reminded

386
00:27:59,680 --> 00:28:03,880
that because of that we will 
sometimes be impatient with one 

387
00:28:03,880 --> 00:28:06,040
another. 
Can I even say more strongly, 

388
00:28:06,280 --> 00:28:10,240
will at times might even sin 
against one another. 

389
00:28:11,920 --> 00:28:17,720
But can I ask you this morning 
to heed the words of the Apostle

390
00:28:17,720 --> 00:28:20,640
Paul that even when we sin 
against one another, that we 

391
00:28:20,640 --> 00:28:25,040
maintain the unity of the Spirit
through the bond of peace? 

392
00:28:25,720 --> 00:28:28,360
In other words, when we are 
impatient with one another, we 

393
00:28:28,360 --> 00:28:31,320
disturb our unity in the Holy 
Spirit. 

394
00:28:32,680 --> 00:28:35,160
Therefore, be patient with one 
another. 

395
00:28:36,560 --> 00:28:40,040
Can I tell you why we ought to 
be patient with others? 

396
00:28:41,000 --> 00:28:45,240
And for bear with others is 
because God has been patient 

397
00:28:45,360 --> 00:28:51,840
with you and I God did not treat
us as our sin deserve. 

398
00:28:51,840 --> 00:28:56,560
And God has not stopped. 
He is impatient with us even 

399
00:28:56,560 --> 00:29:01,880
when we sin against Him, God is 
still a patient with us. 

400
00:29:03,280 --> 00:29:05,800
Maybe you've been asking God for
forgiveness on the same issue 

401
00:29:05,960 --> 00:29:09,840
over and over and over. 
And yet God has been patient 

402
00:29:09,840 --> 00:29:14,960
with you, forgiving you, 
receiving you, loving you. 

403
00:29:15,640 --> 00:29:19,280
Therefore, do the same to 
others. 

404
00:29:22,160 --> 00:29:24,680
I close with these three 
questions that I'd like you to 

405
00:29:24,880 --> 00:29:30,360
consider for yourself. 
Number one, in what ways has God

406
00:29:30,360 --> 00:29:37,080
been patient with you in your 
Christian experience #2 in what 

407
00:29:37,080 --> 00:29:44,920
ways do other people have to be 
patient with you #3 in what 

408
00:29:44,920 --> 00:29:49,840
situations make you most likely 
to be impatient with others at 

409
00:29:49,840 --> 00:29:53,240
such times? 
How can you show the fruit of 

410
00:29:53,240 --> 00:29:56,600
the Spirit in your life in 
patience? 

411
00:29:57,960 --> 00:30:02,400
My praise that you'll reflect on
these questions and ponder on 

412
00:30:02,400 --> 00:30:04,440
these questions. 
My praise that the Holy Spirit 

413
00:30:04,440 --> 00:30:07,000
would help you to bear with 
others. 

414
00:30:07,560 --> 00:30:13,160
Therefore, church, be patient in
prayer, be patient in trial, but

415
00:30:13,160 --> 00:30:17,880
also be patient in community. 
Father, we thank you this 

416
00:30:17,880 --> 00:30:22,160
morning to be reminded of 
patience. 

417
00:30:24,760 --> 00:30:28,680
That patience is hard, Lord, it 
is not easy because it caused us

418
00:30:28,680 --> 00:30:32,800
not to retaliate. 
Patience caused us not to fight 

419
00:30:32,800 --> 00:30:36,360
back. 
But patience caused us to lean 

420
00:30:36,360 --> 00:30:41,360
in, Lord, to trust in You that 
when we feel like speaking up 

421
00:30:41,360 --> 00:30:46,280
harshly to others, that we may 
be reminded in those moments 

422
00:30:46,280 --> 00:30:48,080
that this is not the fruit of 
the Spirit. 

423
00:30:49,440 --> 00:30:51,040
Rather, we ought to bear with 
others. 

424
00:30:51,840 --> 00:30:53,200
We ought to be forgiving to 
others. 

425
00:30:53,200 --> 00:30:57,320
We ought to be loving to others.
We ought to be merciful to 

426
00:30:57,320 --> 00:31:00,440
others. 
Help us, Lord Jesus, even in our

427
00:31:00,440 --> 00:31:02,880
homes. 
That's that. 

428
00:31:02,880 --> 00:31:05,800
This becomes practical in our 
homes and our families, even in 

429
00:31:05,800 --> 00:31:11,600
our marriages, in our 
workplaces, in our community 

430
00:31:11,600 --> 00:31:17,760
here as a church, to be those 
who are patient with one 

431
00:31:17,760 --> 00:31:21,680
another, because you are patient
with us. 

432
00:31:22,400 --> 00:31:26,360
Therefore, Lord, help us to 
follow your example of patience.

433
00:31:27,040 --> 00:31:32,240
Help us, Lord, to follow in your
footsteps as the one who was 

434
00:31:32,240 --> 00:31:38,720
humble, the one who was spat on 
and yet never spoke a bad word. 

435
00:31:40,960 --> 00:31:42,720
And so, Lord, we please ask you 
help us. 

436
00:31:44,280 --> 00:31:48,560
May the Holy Spirit help us. 
We ask this Lord, in your name, 

437
00:31:49,320 --> 00:31:49,560
Amen.