Course: The Ministry
of the Holy Spirit
The Fruit of the Spirit:
Lesson Five
Lesson Title: Longsuffering
Lesson Goal: The student will know the
characteristics of the fruit of longsuffering and apply it to his or her life.
Text: Colossians 1:11, 'Strengthened with all might,
according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with
joyfulness;’
Theme: Longsuffering restrains from anger and
is associated with patience that endures under trials.
· Longsuffering is the fruit of the Spirit that is in contrast to anger.
· Longsuffering does not retaliate under provocation.
· Longsuffering is merciful and does not seek to punish hastily.
One of the hardest things to take is being
despised by those who should be appreciative of what we are doing, 1 Peter
Introductory Story: Watching sport reveals so well human nature.
A football match where millions of people are watching; sometimes hundreds of millions - A player may be seen striking an opponent in anger.
even though he risks losing the opportunity of playing in the next match which may be the greatest match he has ever played in and if he is sent off he risks losing the match for his team. Why was the player unable to restrain himself? He is one of the best players in the world but he cannot beat anger. An uncontrolled temper is a great advantage to the opposing team. It is a weakness that will destroy the career of a talented sports person.
Exposition:
1.
Longsuffering is seen in the
character of the Lord.
·
The Lord delights in mercy,
Micah 7:18. The longsuffering of the
Lord waits for people to repent so that He can show mercy, Romans 2:4; ‘Or despise you the riches of
his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness
of God leads you to repentance?’ The Lord wants all people to repent. He is longsuffering but He will fulfil His
promises. 2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count
slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish,
but that all should come to repentance.
·
His longsuffering cannot deny
His holiness; He will punish the guilty.
Exodus 34:6-7, 'And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed,
The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in
goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for
thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no
means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children,
and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth
generation.'
2. Longsuffering is restraint of anger. 'Be angry, and
sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:' Ephesians
·
Longsuffering seeks to put up a barrier between us
and sin. Being angry is an emotion that can come at anytime. Longsuffering keeps the emotion completely
under control. The
world will say 'take a deep breath before you speak or act' but this does not
deal with a person's nature. Anger can
flare up at any time.
·
Longsuffering will prevent sin from being able to
control our actions. Sin seeks to use anger to take hold of our mind and lead
us into sin, (Genesis 4:6). Cain
allowed envy to control his mind and he committed murder.
3. Longsuffering goes hand in hand with patience. Patience (hupomeno) from 'hupo' meaning under and meno 'to abide'. meaning to remain steadfast under trial, and always have hope.
· Comparison between longsuffering and patience. Longsuffering is being slow to anger, and prevents retaliation. Patience is remaining steadfast under the trial. Romans 5:3 'And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;'
· Strengthened in the power of the Holy Spirit. Longsuffering refers to the strength to restrain. Patience provides the strength to endure the suffering. Patience and Longsuffering are used together in Colossians 1:11 'Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience (hupomeno) and longsuffering (makrothumia) with joyfulness;’
4. Longsuffering looks to the Lord to repay. Romans 12:19-21 'Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but
rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will
repay, says the Lord. Therefore if your
enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing you shall
heap coals of fire on his head. Be not
overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.'
·
We are free to bless our enemies because the Lord
will repay them for their evil deeds.
It isn't that we wish them harm but God is just and sin will not go
unpunished.
Conclusion:
Longsuffering
will…
1.
…reveal
the nature and character of God in the life of the believer. The Lord is longsuffering in His dealings with
people because He desires all people to repent.
2.
…place
a barrier of restraint in the face of provocation. It will not allow anger to control the
actions of the mind.
3.
…go
hand in hand with patience.
Longsuffering provides strength to restrain from wrath, patience
provides strength to endure the trial.
4.
…not
seek vengeance because the Lord will repay.
Longsuffering leaves us free to bless those who do us wrong.