You Could die before this sermon Finishes You could Die on your way home Do you know how many things need to work just for your kidneys to work ? I also don’t but I bet it is allot All it takes is a jerk of a hand by someone on the other side of the road. At 90 km an hour and you are a mashed potato. Many of us know somebody who is sick or whose life was robbed from them early or at a young age. It is almost ridiculous to say … It wont be me. How many things must work right in our bodies for us just to take a breath. We should be like thank you Jesus … thank you Jesus. For holding up the atmosphere, for making the oxygen whatever mixture correct .

“Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.”  ― Aristotle

Patient anticipation Patient disposition Patient Imitation

Patient anticipation

Wait for the imminent Day of the Lord  Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord.

Wait like a farmer anticipates the Rain and Harvest See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. . The work between the rains

Wait like a farmer anticipates the Rain and Harvest See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. . The work between the rains The Wait produces change (Abraham)

Wait in expectation of Mercy and compassion 11 Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.

“The strength of patience hangs on our capacity to believe that God is up to something good for us in all our delays and detours.”  John Piper

Patient disposition

8 You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. 13 “And if you will indeed obey my commandments that I command you today, to love the Lord your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul, 14 he will give the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the later rain, that you may gather in your grain and your wine and your oil.  Deut. 11:13-14

9 Do not grumble against one another, brothers,

We think we are better than others We think We are better than God

 so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. 

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;     fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,     over the man who carries out evil devices! 8 Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath!     Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. 9 For the evildoers shall be cut off,     but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land. Psalm 37

Patient imitation

As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 

I come, god, I come I return to the lord The one who's broken The one who's torn me apart You struck down to bind me up You say you do it all in love That I might know you in your suffering My heart and flesh may fail The earth below give way But with my eyes, with my eyes I'll see the lord Lifted high on that day Behold, the lamb that was slain And I'll know every tear was worth it all Though you slay me Yet I will praise you Though you take from me I will bless your name Though you ruin me Still I will worship Sing a song to the one who's all I need

“Patience is more than endurance “Patience is more than endurance. A saint's life is in the hands of God like a bow and arrow in the hands of an archer. God is aiming at something the saint cannot see, and He stretches and strains, and every now and again the saint says--'I cannot stand anymore.' God does not heed, He goes on stretching till His purpose is in sight, then He lets fly. Trust yourself in God's hands. Maintain your relationship to Jesus Christ by the patience of faith. 'Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him.” ― Oswald Chambers