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Galatians 5:22-23

“I will grow in patience as I allow the Spirit to govern my reactions.”

INTRODUCTION: Our message series this summer is on the fruit of the Spirit and growing more like Jesus. So far, we have looked at the first three fruit of love, joy and peace. Today we come to the fruit of patience. (Read Galatians 5:22-23 and pray.)

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Have you ever prayed what I like to call “the patience prayer”: “Lord, give me patience, and give it to me now!” Patience is hard to come by and when we don’t have it, we don’t want to wait for it either! We are an impatient people, which means we often rush into things, we are short with other people, and we miss out on the various lessons God has for us while we are waiting.

Patience is part of love. Paul begins his famous description of love in 1 Corinthians 13 with: “Love is patient, love is kind….” (1 Corinthians 13:4) Isn’t it interesting that the very first word Paul chooses to describe love is patience? It’s the same word he uses here in Galatians 5 when describing the fruit of the Spirit. It’s a word that means “to bear patiently with other people’s faults and offenses, to be longsuffering.”

This is the first characteristic of love because it is totally unconditional. It is choosing to love another not because of who they are, but in spite of who they are, in spite of what they do to you or have done to you. It is a love which understands the frailties of human nature and refuses to take offense. It is a love which sees the potential in people and does not demand instant maturity or growth. It is a love which continues to desire the best for others even when it is slandered or abused. It is a love remarkably like God’s.

Patience in the Bible includes the ideas of endurance, steadfastness and perseverance. It also includes the idea of being slow to anger, and then, of course, the Bible also speaks in terms of waiting.

If love has to do with your attitude, and joy has to do with your emotions, and peace has to do with your mind, patience has to do with your reactions. “I will grow in patience as I allow the Spirit to govern my reactions.” Patience has to do with how you react to the people and circumstances in your life. Life is full of obstacles, and we can either fret and fume our way through all of them, or we can learn God’s way of patience. So, let’s look at the fruit of patience together.

I. Patience and God

First, we want to see what the Bible tells us about patience and God. Remember, the fruit of the Spirit is a picture of Jesus, and Jesus is the perfect reflection of God, so we expect to find each of the fruit of the Spirit displayed in God’s perfect character. And praise God, he is a God of patience.

   A. God is patient with history
      – Galatians 4:4; 2 Peter 3:8

First, the Bible tells us that God is patient with history. God has a plan, and he sovereignly works that plan throughout history. He allows the events of the world to unfold slowly. He gives people and nations plenty of time to repent. He is never in a hurry, never rushing things and yet also never lagging behind.

One beautiful example of this is God sending Jesus into the world. We read in Galatians 4:4: “But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son.” (Galatians 4:4) Although God made the promise centuries before, he waited until the perfect time to send Jesus into the world to be our Savior. He will wait again until the perfect time for Christ to return.

God can be perfectly patient with history because he himself is outside of time. The Bible tells us in 2 Peter 3:8: “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.” (2 Peter 3:8) Author Jon Bloom writes: “We prefer to measure time in minutes, rather than months. But the Ancient of Days measures time by millennia.” (https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/how-long-o-lord) Things seem to take a long time for us, but God is patiently working his plan, and we need to trust his timing.

   B. God is patient with us
      – Romans 2:4-5; 2 Peter 3:9

God is not only patient with history. He is also patient with us! We all deserved immediate judgment for our sin, but God patiently waited for us to come to him. In fact, it is his patience and loving kindness that leads us to repentance to begin with. Romans 2 describes it this way: “Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance?” (Romans 2:4-5)

2 Peter 3:9 says: “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9) People may mock God and scoff about the second coming of Christ, but the reason Jesus hasn’t returned yet is because of God’s patience. God is patient with history, and he is patient with us.

   C. Jesus demonstrated the fruit of patience in his life
      – Hebrews 12:2

And then, of course, Jesus as God’s Son demonstrated the fruit of patience in his life while he was here on earth. He was patient with sinners; he was patient with his disciples; he patiently endured the sufferings of the incarnation and the cross.

We read in Hebrews 12:2: “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2) Jesus is presented in Scripture as our perfect example of patience, endurance and perseverance.

II. Things that try our patience

So, those are some of the things the Bible tells us about patience and God. Next, we want to see what the Bible says about the things that try our patience. There are many things that try our patience in life, but the three big ones are waiting, suffering and people.

   A. Waiting (“how long?”) – learn to trust God’s timing
      – Psalm 30:5; Lamentations 3:25-26; Romans 8:24-25

Let’s talk about waiting first. Who here likes to wait? It seems life is full of waiting, isn’t it? Waiting for traffic lights, waiting in lines, waiting for appointments, waiting for test results, waiting for answers to prayer – waiting is a part of life.

You can’t get rid of waiting, but you can change how you react to waiting. Remember patience has to do with your reactions – “I will grow in patience as I allow the Spirit to govern my reactions.”

The big question surrounding waiting is, “How long?” Have you ever asked that question: “How long?” If so, you’re not alone! The phrase “how long” appears sixty-five times in the Bible. Twenty-two of those (one third of them) are found in the Psalms alone. Sometimes it’s us asking God, sometimes it’s God asking us, but it’s a frequent question that appears over and over again in Scripture.

How do we deal with the waiting? We need to learn to trust God’s timing. Psalm 30:5 says: “Weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” (Psalm 30:5) Lamentations 3 says: “The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.” (Lamentations 3:25-26) Romans 8 tells us: “Hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.” (Romans 8:24-25)

When we find ourselves asking the “How long?” question, we need to wait on the Lord and learn to trust his timing.

   B. Suffering (“why?”) – learn to trust God’s purposes
      – Romans 12:12; James 1:2-4

Another thing that tries our patience in life is suffering. This includes any type of hardship or adversity. If the big question surrounding waiting is “How long?” the big question surrounding suffering is “Why?” Sometimes we never learn the answer to that question in this life, and so we need to be patient, and we need to learn to trust God’s purposes.

Romans 12:12 says: “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” (Romans 12:12) James 1:2-4 says: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2-4)

Pastor Lloyd Ogilvie writes, “Patience must be rooted in an overarching confidence that there is someone in control of the universe, or world, and our life. We need to know that God does work things together for good for those who love Him. A patient person knows the shortness of time and the length of eternity. Patience is really faith in action. No wonder it is called an aspect of the fruit of the Spirit. It is one of the matchless characteristics of Christ himself. If we would learn patience, He alone can teach us.” (Thomas Trask, The Fruit of the Spirit, pp. 131-132)

Anytime we find ourselves asking the “Why?” question, we need to be patient in suffering and learn to trust God’s purposes.

   C. People (“how in the world!”) – learn to love people as they are
      – Ephesians 4:2; Colossians 3:13

Waiting tries our patience, suffering tries our patience, and then a third thing that tries our patience is people. And boy do people ever try our patience. If waiting prompts the question, “How long?” and suffering prompts the question, “Why?” people prompt the question, “How in the world! How in the world can people be so maddening? How in the world can they be so frustrating? How in the world can I learn to be patient with them?” Well, remember, you’re a people too, so that means people have to be patient with you! Right? It’s like complaining about being stuck in traffic. You’re not in traffic; you are traffic! We are all part of the problem.

What does God say about patience with people in his word? Ephesians 4:2 tells us: “Be patient, bearing with one another in love.” (Ephesians 4:2) Colossians 3:13 says we should: “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” (Colossians 3:13) If the secret to patience in waiting is learning to trust God’s timing, and the secret to patience in suffering is learning to trust God’s purposes, then the secret to patience with people is learning to love people as they are. People aren’t going to change, so you need to instead.

Husbands, you need to be patient with your wives, and wives with your husbands. Parents, you need to be patient with your children, and children with your parents and with each other. Bosses, you need to be patient with your workers, and workers with your bosses and with each other. Friends, neighbors, church members and even strangers – we all need to be patient with each other.

You also need to learn to be patient with yourself. St. Francis de Sales wrote: “Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience with yourself. Do not lose courage in considering your imperfections, but instantly set about remedying them – every day begin the task anew.” (“To a woman beset by many tasks”; Letter 455 to Madame de la Flechere, May 19, 1608; https://salesianliterature.wixsite.com/spirituality/copy-of-letters-world-202) Sometimes we are harder on ourselves than anyone else. You may have given up on yourself but know that God will never give up on you. Be patient with yourself.

Waiting, suffering and people – these are the things that try our patience. These are all tests of our patience. It’s often been said that you will keep getting the same tests in life until you pass them. If you’re tired of getting the same tests over and over again, perhaps it’s time to start learning patience so you can pass the next time around.

III. Growing in patience

So, how do you do it? How do you grow in patience? Although patience is ultimately a fruit of the Spirit that God grows in you, there are a number of things you can do to help that fruit along.

   A. Remember how incredibly patient God is with you
      – Psalm 103:13-14; 1 Timothy 1:16

One thing you can do is simply remember how incredibly patient God is with you. Psalm 103:13-14 says: “As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.” (Psalm 103:13-14) Paul writes in 1 Timothy 1:16: “I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.” (1 Timothy 1:16)

God is incredibly patient with each one of us. He knows how we are formed. He remembers that we are dust. He has unlimited patience with us as we stumble and fall and do our best to grow in him as Christians. God is love, and therefore God is patient with us. That’s the first thing you can do to grow in patience – remember how incredibly patient God is with you.

   B. Focus on heaven and the glories to come
      – 2 Corinthians 4:17-18; James 5:7-8

And then a second thing you can do is focus on heaven and the glories to come. 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 says: “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:17-18) When you focus on eternity, you gain a better perspective on your troubles and trials in this life.

Notice Paul calls them “light and momentary troubles.” That’s not because they are light and momentary in relation to this life. Paul was put in prison, flogged severely and exposed to death again and again. Five times he received the forty lashes minus one. Three times he was beaten with rods, one time he was stoned, three times he was shipwrecked. He spent a night and a day in the open sea. He often went without sleep. He knew hunger and thirst and often went without food. He knew what it was like to be cold and naked. So, no, these are not light and momentary troubles in relation to this life. But they are light and momentary in relation to eternity.

James 5:7-8 says: “Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.” (James 5:7-8) Christ is coming soon, and when he comes all the troubles and trials of this life will be over and done with. That’s a second way you can grow in patience. Focus on heaven and the glories to come.

   C. Be slow to anger
      – Psalm 103:8; James 1:19-20

And then a third way you can grow in patience is to be slow to anger. The Greek word for patience is a combination of two words – one meaning “long” and the other meaning “temper.” So, the Greek word for patience literally means “long-tempered” or “slow to anger.”

God is slow to anger. Psalm 103:8 says: “The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.” (Psalm 103:8) God is slow to anger, so as we lean on him to grow in patience, we can become slow to anger as well. James 1:19-20 says: “My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.” (James 1:19-20)

When it comes to anger, the fruit of patience is similar to another fruit of the Spirit – the fruit of self-control. We will explore this idea further when we get to the fruit of self-control later in our series.

   D. Ask God to develop the fruit of his patience in your life
      – 2 Thessalonians 3:5

And then, finally, as with all the fruit of the Spirit, don’t forget to pray. All the fruit of the Spirit come from God, so ask God to develop the fruit of his patience in your life. Paul prayed this for us in 2 Thessalonians 3:5 when he prayed: “May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.” (2 Thessalonians 3:5) Ask God to develop the fruit of patience, endurance and perseverance in your life.

CONCLUSION: God is patient with us, and so we need to be patient with each other. Impatience leads to unnecessary stress, conflict and worry. We need to slow ourselves down and learn to trust God’s timing. We need to stop fighting everything and learn to trust God’s good purposes. And we need to stop letting other people push our buttons and learn to love other people just the way they are.

“I will grow in patience as I allow the Spirit to govern my reactions.” My prayer for you this morning is that you will examine your reactions to people and circumstances in light of Scripture and seek to emulate God’s incredible patience with you. I pray that you will seek to eliminate hurry from your life as you learn to trust God’s timing and purposes. I pray that you will ask God to help you grow more like Jesus when it comes to patience in your life.

© Ray Fowler

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Click here for more messages from the Fruit of the Spirit sermon series.
Click here for more messages from the book of Galatians.
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