2. THE SPIRIT FRUIT PATIENCE

3. When it comes to patience we are ALL reminded that this is something that has to come from the Spirit.

4. “long” and “temper.”

5. Dr. Martin Groder’s “strategic waiting.” This is a good definition but it doesn’t tell us how we can do it.

6. For a Christian patience is accomplished through a disposition to suffer whatever pleases God in the manner and for the time that pleases Him.

7. James 1:2-8: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.

8. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all

9. without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and

10. tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.”

11. At the foundation of this type of patience is a trust in the Word of God, which states He will work His work in you to make you a better you.

12. Heb. 6:12- “Don't drag your feet. Be like those who stay the course with committed faith and then get everything promised to them.” (Message)

13. “Committed faith” This is “living out the belief that God orders everything for the spiritual good of his children. Patience does not just grin and bear

14. things, stoic-like, but accepts them cheerfully as therapeutic workouts planned by a heavenly trainer who is resolved to get you up to full fitness.” J. I. Packer.

15. This allows us to walk not as if we are waiting for the darkness to come, but as people who are waiting for the light to come! A more excellent way!

16. In comic operas of Gilbert and Sullivan they ask, “Do you know what it is like to seek oceans and find puddles?”

17. How do you respond when that happens to you?

18. We can grow in patience. 1. One of the best places to start is to eliminate what is probably the biggest enemy of patience in your life-HURRY!

19. We can grow in patience. 2. Determine if you have unhealthy goals in your life.

20. We can grow in patience. 3. Provide times of physical and emotional rest in your weekly schedule.

21. We can grow in patience. 4. Let go of our “rights.”

22. We can grow in patience. 5. Remember that the main place we need patience is with people who are not Christ followers!

23. We can grow in patience. 6. Trust the Spirit enough and love Him enough to bring about whatever He desires in our lives, believing that it is the best for us.

24. A More Excellent Way- PATIENCE

25. 1 Peter 1:6-8- “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your

26. faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor

27. when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in

28. him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,”