1. 1 Peter 3:20

2.  “Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.”

3.  We must respect and teach all about the longsuffering of God!  2 Peter 3:9  Mortal man has a lack of longsuffering!  The apostles lacked longsuffering - Luke 9:51-56  The servant - Matthew 18:23-35  We need to understand what longsuffering involves  In this lesson we will investigate what the Bible teaches regarding the:  Meaning  Practice  Need and limitations of longsuffering!

4.  The Meaning :  From “Makro” (long) and “Thumia” (temper); suffer (tolerate, allow)  “That quality of self-restraint…does not hastily retaliate or promptly punish” (Vine)  Delayed punishment (or sanctions) due to mercy – not indifference, fear or weakness

5.  Practicing longsuffering!  By God!  In the days of Noah - 1 Peter 3:20, 21  Toward the present world - Romans 2:4; 9:22  2 Peter 3:9, 15  By Christians!  Paul - 2 Corinthians 6:6; 2 Timothy 3:10  Elders (a necessary qualification) - Titus 1:7  All - Galatians 5:22; Ephesians 4:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:15  2 Timothy 4:2

6.  The Need for longsuffering!  Needed to give man time to repent! - 2 Peter 3:9  Needed because of man’s sin and resistance to repent!  Revelation 2:2  Needed because need time to learn and grow!  2 Timothy 4:2  Needed because our need of repentance from others!  Romans 2:4; cf. Galatians 1:6  Needed to preserve unity and peace!  Ephesians 4:1-3

7.  Limits of longsuffering!  Not to be confused with suffering for ever!  God’s longsuffering is limited!  In Noah’s day  1 Peter 3:20, 21  Sodom and Gomorrah  Genesis 18:18-33; 19:24-28  Final Day of the Lord  2 Peter 3:9-10

8.  Limits of longsuffering!  Early Christians had limits:  After correction failed, they took action  2 Corinthians 2:6; Matthew 18:15-18; Revelation 2:21-23  When peace of the church was threatened by hearsay  Titus 3:10; Romans 16:17; 1 Timothy 6:3-5  When the purity of the church was threatened  By immorality - 1 Corinthians 5  By False teaching - Galatians 2:4-5, 11-21

9.  We must appreciate need for longsuffering!  We must practice longsuffering toward all  1 Thessalonians 5:14  We must honor the limits of longsuffering  We must recognize that longsuffering is a fruit of the spirit!

10. “22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”