4. THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS PATIENCE In the fifth month of that same year, the fourth year, early in the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, the prophet Hananiah son of Azzur, who was from Gibeon, said to me in the house of the Lord in the presence of the priests and all the people: “This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.

5. THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS PATIENCE Within two years I will bring back to this place all the articles of the Lord’s house that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon removed from here and took to Babylon. I will also bring back to this place Jehoiachin[a] son of Jehoiakim king of Judah and all the other exiles from Judah who went to Babylon,’ declares the Lord, ‘for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.’” Jeremiah 28:1-4

12. THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS PATIENCE This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease.

13. THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS PATIENCE Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” Jeremiah 29:4-7

14. THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS PATIENCE

15. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.

16. THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS PATIENCE We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all.

17. THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS PATIENCE Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. Romans 8:18-25

18. THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS PATIENCE Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near. James 5:7-11

19. THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS PATIENCE This is what the LORD says: "When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jer 29:10-11

20. THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS PATIENCE

21. How would we know what patience is unless we live in a community who are patient with us and who require us to be patient with them. Stanley Hauerwas

22. THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS PATIENCE So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. 2 Peter 3:14-15

23. THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS PATIENCE