THE IMPORTANCE OF PATIENCE
By W. G. Guy
Patience defined means: calm endurance during pain, trials, tribulation and trouble, without complaining; tolerating delay; cheerfully and faithfully enduring problems; forbearance, long suffering.
What is interesting is the word patience is not found anywhere in the Old Testament; but it is recorded twenty-six times in the New Testament, as listed below. This means that patience is a very significant part of being a follower of Christ, and being faithful to Him.
Luke 8:15 – (from the parable of the seed) - But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience, (calmly waiting for harvest time).
Luke 21:17-19 – And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake. But there shall not an hair of your head perish. In your patience (and endurance) possess ye your souls. (Thus patience is a vital element of your faith; it has to do with your faithfulness.)
Romans 5:3-4 – And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope: (knowing that God will see you through to the completion).
Romans 8:24-25 – For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience (and endurance) wait for it.
Romans 15:5 – Now the God of patience and consolation (comfort) grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:
2 Corinthians 6:3-10 – Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: but in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings; by pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, by honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; as sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
2 Corinthians 12:12 – Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience (endurance), in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.
Galatians 5:22-23 – But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering (which is patience), gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (Patience, which is longsuffering, is one of the Fruits of the Spirit.)
Colossians 1:11-17 – For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: for by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: and he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
1 Thessalonians 1:2-4 – We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father; knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.
2 Thessalonians 1:3-4 – We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth; so that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:
1 Timothy 6:11 – But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
2 Timothy 3:10-11 – But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.
Titus 2:2 – that the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.
Hebrews 6:11-12 – And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: that ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. (Patience is a vital part of faithfulness.)
Hebrews 10:35-36 – Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. (Patience receives the promise at harvest time.)
Hebrews 12:1-2 – Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God, (patiently waiting for harvest time).
James 1:2-4 – My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. (Patience brings completeness, which is perfection in and of faith.)
James 5:10-11 – Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. Behold, we count them happy which endure (count it all joy). Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord (God’s reward to Job); that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
2 Peter 1:5-7 – And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. (Patience is one of the Fruits of the Spirit.)
Revelation 1:9 – I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, (awaiting harvest time), was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Revelation 2:2-3 – I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience (and endurance), and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: and hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
Revelation 2:19 – I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first. ( Again, patience here refers to being faithful.)
Revelation 3:10 – Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. (“Kept the word of my patience” refers to being faithful to His Word.)
Revelation 13:9-10 – If any man have an ear, let him hear. He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints. (This faith and patience refers to being able to hear and obey.)
Revelation 14:12 – Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. (Patience is an essential element of faith/faithfulness.)
Have you noticed that in these last days your faith and patience is being put to the test to see of what sort it is?
1 Peter 4:12-13 – Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
The conclusion of this matter is: How is your patience? Does it show your faith and faithfulness to Jesus Christ and the Word of God?
