GOD HAS A LOT OF PATIENCE

Psalms 86:15 But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.

1. GOD’S PATIENCE HAS A PURPOSE.

A. GOD IS WAITING FOR US TO CHANGE.

Romans 2:3-4 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

B. GOD PROVIDES THE HELP FOR US TO CHANGE.

–HE MAKES US NEW.

–HE ALLOWS THE SINS OF THE PAST TO ONLY VISIT–NOT CLAIM US. SOME ASPECTS OF OUR DNA ARE FORCED UPON US. IF OUR PARENTS WERE WHITE, WE WILL BE WHITE. IF OUR PARENTS WERE BLACK, WE WILL BE BLACK. THE DNA FORCES SOME THINGS ON PEOPLE. BUT, GOD MADE IT SO THAT SIN COULD BE REJECTED.

Numbers 14:18 The LORD is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation.

–HE HELPS US TO GROW UP AND MATURE. (The word translated “PERFECT” literally means “MATURE” not sinless.)

C. GOD WANTED PEOPLE TO REPENT RATHER THAN TO SUFFER. HE GAVE THEM 120 YEARS UNDER THE HARD PREACHING OF NOAH.

1 Peter 3:20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

2. GOD’S PATIENCE IS SOMETHING TO BE THANKFUL FOR.

A. GOD’S PATIENCE IS SOMETHING HE WANTED PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT. HE REVEALED THIS QUALITY ABOUT HIMSELF TO MOSES WHEN MOSES WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT HIM.

Exodus 34:6 And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,

B. HIS PATIENCE IS AN EXAMPLE FOR US.

–WAITING FOR THE LORD’S RETURN.

2 Thessalonians 3:5 And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.

James 5:7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.

James 5:8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.

–IN BEHAVIOR TOWARD ONE ANOTHER AND THE WORLD.

1 Timothy 3:3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;

2 Timothy 2:24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,

C. PATIENCE WILL BE AN ADVANTAGE TO US.

GOD HELPS US TO GROW IN PATIENCE SO WE CAN GET THE RESULTS WE NEED. GOD DOES NOT ALWAYS ANSWER PRAYER IMMEDIATELY. SOMETIMES HE DELIBERATELY WAITS IN ORDER TO MAKE US PATIENT.

–ABRAHAM WAITING FOR A SON.

Psalms 37:7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

Psalms 40:1 « To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. » I waited patiently for the LORD; and He inclined unto me, and heard my cry.

3. GOD’S PATIENCE HAS LIMITS.

A. GOD HAS SHOWN HIS PATIENCE FOR MANY YEARS.

HE ALLOWED ISRAEL TO BE IN EGYPT, SHOWING THEM PATIENCE UNTIL MOSES.

James 5:7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.

Acts 17:30-31 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom He hath ordained; whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised Him from the dead.