The Spirit of Freedom VII – Long-suffering

Colossians 1:11English Standard Version (ESV)

¹¹ being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy;

 

Colossians 3:12English Standard Version (ESV)

¹² Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,

 

Galatians 5:22King James Version (KJV)

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

 

Exodus 34:6–7 (ESV)

⁶ The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, ⁷ keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.”

Exodus 34:7 (ESV)

7 keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.”

 

Nehemiah 9:16–21 (ESV)

16 “But they and our fathers acted presumptuously and stiffened their neck and did not obey your commandments. 17 They refused to obey and were not mindful of the wonders that you performed among them, but they stiffened their neck and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt. But you are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and did not forsake them. 18 Even when they had made for themselves a golden calf and said, ‘This is your God who brought you up out of Egypt,’ and had committed great blasphemies, 19 you in your great mercies did not forsake them in the wilderness. The pillar of cloud to lead them in the way did not depart from them by day, nor the pillar of fire by night to light for them the way by which they should go. 20 You gave your good Spirit to instruct them and did not withhold your manna from their mouth and gave them water for their thirst. 21 Forty years you sustained them in the wilderness, and they lacked nothing. Their clothes did not wear out and their feet did not swell.

 

Nehemiah 9:26-27King James Version (KJV)

26 Nevertheless they were disobedient, and rebelled against thee, and cast thy law behind their backs, and slew thy prophets which testified against them to turn them to thee, and they wrought great provocations.

27 Therefore thou deliveredst them into the hand of their enemies, who vexed them: and in the time of their trouble, when they cried unto thee, thou heardest them from heaven; and according to thy manifold mercies thou gavest them saviours, who saved them out of the hand of their enemies.

1 Peter 3:20 (ESV)

20 because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water.

 

2 Peter 3:3-4King James Version (KJV)

³ Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,

⁴ And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

2 Peter 3:5-7King James Version (KJV)

⁵ For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:

⁶ Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:

⁷ But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the Day of Judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

 

Romans 2:4King James Version (KJV)

4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

 

Acts 17:30-31King James Version (KJV)

30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent:

31 Because he hath appointed a day, in 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.

2 Peter 3:9King James Version (KJV)

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 Peter 3:15King James Version (KJV)

15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;

 

1 Timothy 1:15-16King James Version (KJV)

15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

 

Colossians 3:8-10King James Version (KJV)

⁸ But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

⁹ Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

¹⁰ And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

 

Ephesians 4:1-2King James Version (KJV)

4 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,

2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

 

1 Corinthians 13:4King James Version (KJV)

⁴ Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

 

Colossians 3:13King James Version (KJV)

13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

 

2 Corinthians 6:4-6King James Version (KJV)

4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,

5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in watchings, in fastings;

6 By pureness, by knowledge, by long suffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,

 

1 Thessalonians 5:14-15King James Version (KJV)

14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.

15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.

 

1 Thessalonians 5:15King James Version (KJV)

¹⁵ See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.

 

Luke 17:3-4King James Version (KJV)

3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.

4 And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.

 

2 Timothy 4:2King James Version (KJV)

² Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.

 

Colossians 3:18-21King James Version (KJV)

¹⁸ Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.

¹⁹ Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.

²⁰ Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.

²¹ Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

 

1 Peter 2:18-20King James Version (KJV)

¹⁸ Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.

¹⁹ For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.

²⁰ For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.

 

Ephesians 4:1-2King James Version (KJV)

4 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,

² With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

 

Colossians 3:1-2King James Version (KJV)

3 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

² Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

 

Colossians 3:8King James Version (KJV)

⁸ But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

 

Colossians 3:12King James Version (KJV)

¹² Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering

 

1 Corinthians 13:4King James Version (KJV)

4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

 

Proverbs 14:29King James Version (KJV)

²⁹ He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.

 

Proverbs 16:32King James Version (KJV)

³² He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.

 

Proverbs 14:17King James Version (KJV)

¹⁷ He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.

 

Proverbs 15:18King James Version (KJV)

¹⁸ A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.

 

The Spirit of Freedom-VII

Long-suffering

1. Col 1:9-14 : Our redemption in Christ compels us to a worthy walk, fully pleasing the Lord (fruitful, knowledge, strength–patience and longsuffering)
2. Longsuffering: Self-restraint that does not hastily retaliate against a wrong (opposite of wrath and revenge).
3.  Wrath of man does not work the righteousness of God, Jas 1:19-20.
4.  So, must put on longsuffering (patiently address life), Col 3:12.

 

22. LONG-SUFFERING IS FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT, Gal 5:22.
23. Long-Tempered (makrothumia: makro, “long”; thumos, “wrath, temper”).
24. “Long-suffering is that quality of self-restraint in the face of provocation which does not hastily retaliate or promptly punish; it is the opposite of anger, and is associated with mercy” (Vine 377).
25. “Patience is the quality that does not surrender to circumstances or succumb under trial; it is the opposite of despondency and is associated with hope, 1Th 1:3; it is not used of God.” (Notes on Thessalonians, Hogg and Vine, 183, 184)
26. “The power to see things through” (Barclay, Flesh and Spirit, 92).
27.  Long-suffering Focuses on our Attitude and Expressions Toward Our Fellow Man.  (God is longs. toward us; so we are to others.)

 

1. THE LONG-SUFFERING OF GOD.
2. Long-suffering is God’s Character in Dealing with Man, Ex 34:6-7.
3. In longsuffering, God shows mercy, grace, goodness and truth.
4. Yet, longsuffering it will not allow God to overlook sin, 34:7.
5. cf. God didn’t quickly retaliate in anger, although His punished sin, Neh 9:16-21.
6. What God’s Long-suffering accomplishes (its effects):
7. It is the sinner’s warning against complacency/hardening of heart, Ex 34:7.
8. Long-suffering of God is not a license to sin. God is just – He will punish sin.
9. cf. Flood: God’s judgment preceded by period of warning (expression of God’s longsuffering), 1 Pet 3:20 (Gen 6:3).
10. Mockers, 2 Pet 3:3-4. God will judge/destroy ungodly (2 Pet 3:4-7)
11. It is the sinner’s opportunity to repent, Rom 2:4.
12. Without God’s longsuffering, repentance would be impossible – all would be immediately destroyed!
13. “The patience of God waits when the impatience of man would long since have acted in destructive anger” (Barclay, 95).
14. God is not slack (slow) in punishing, but is long in giving the sinner an opportunity to change, 2 Pet 3:9.
15.  It is meant for our salvation, 2 Pet 3:15;.

-Man’s unrepentant sin turns it into condemnation (Gen 15:16)

 

III. WE ARE TO BE LONG-SUFFERING (our character), 2 Pet 1:4.

10. The New Man has a Long-Temper toward Others, Col 3:8-10.
11. It is part of our calling, Eph 4:1-2.
12. An expression of real love, Col 3:13 (1 Cor 13:4).
13. Its companion is forgiveness, Col 3:13; Eph 4:31-32.
14.  A Mark of True Discipleship, cf. 2 Cor 6:4-6 (apostles).
15. Specific Areas Where We Must be Long-suffering, 1 Ths 5:14-15.
16. By not repaying evil for evil (5:15).
17. When sinned against – forgive, cf. Lk 17:3-4.
18. When preaching the gospel (2 Tim 4:2).
19. Home:  Dealing with conflict; disciplining children (Col 3:19, 21)
20. At work (1 Pet 2:18-20).
21. During trials (Rom 12:12, 17-19).

-Make longsuffering our very way of life (Eph 4:1-2). HOW?

 

1. HOW DO WE DEVELOP AND MAINTAIN LONG-SUFFERING?
2. Give Ourselves Fully to Christ, Col 3:1-2, 8 (12).
3. Put away wrath as a way of dealing with others (intimidation).
4. Be preeminently committed to live for Christ.
5.  Increase Love for God and for Others, 1 Cor 13:4.
6. Quality of love: increase love to improve longsuffering.
7. Eliminate self-vindication and self-justification, replacing it with the ability to suffer long (endure wrongly).
8. See the Wisdom and Power of Long-suffering, Prov 14:29; 16:32.
9. Prov 14:17: You can be right, but a “short temper” compromises your effective use of the truth (gives a reason to adversary to accuse you and ignore the truth you seek to promote).
10. Prov 15:18: Helps settle strife (Eph 4:2-3).
11. Long-suffering is evidence of humility; Temper is prideful.

 

Conclusion

1. Long-suffering of God waits today as in the days of Noah, calling sinners to repentance and salvation (1 Pet 3:20; 2 Pet 3:9, 15)
2.  But, God will not wait forever before He punishes our sin.
3.  We must live as new people in Christ, true disciples, giving ourselves fully to Christ, increasing our love while seeing the wisdom and power (spiritual profit) of being longsuffering.