Sermon series: What Matters Most
Introduction
During this past summer I made a list of chores for each my six children to perform on a regular basis. Each week I reminded them that I would eventually inspect their work. If they were not doing the job they would lose valued privileges.
After repeated warnings, I did a walk-around review of the areas they were responsible for. While most of them did well, a couple of the kids had some problems to correct. They lost a couple days' worth of TV and computer time. They really didn't think I was going to follow through on what I said I would do.
I was being patient.
In much the way that my children reacted differently to my warnings, each of us is living out of our understanding of God's patience. In this passage written by the apostle Paul to a younger minister, he describes three different responses to God's patience.
I. Puzzled by the patience of God
"How could a just God allow _________?" An incredulous world questions the nature of God. Applying human limits of patience to God, they find it impossible to reconcile God's justice with His patience. The patience of God should not be confused with...
Ignorance. God is fully aware of every injustice and difficulty suffered in your life.
Weakness. In reality, God's power is reflected in the restraint He shows towards mankind. The prophet Nahum captures this best when he writes, "The Lord is slow to anger and great in power; the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished." (Nahum 1:3)
Apathy. It would be easy to conclude that God simply does not care about evil. In fact, God's justice and wrath is being delayed and stored until the final judgement. (Matthew 12:36; Romans 2:3-5)
Absence. God is not a distant observer when His people are mistreated. He is present. When He confronted Paul on the road to Damascus, He said, "Why do you persecute me." (Acts 9:3)
II. Pursued by the patience of God (1:12-14)
The word patience is derived from the Greek word makrothumia. It is often translated literally as longuffering.When Adam sinned, God did not charge into garden with a drawn sword. Rather, He walked in and called out for Adam. Similarly, God's patience enables Him to come after us. Jesus said, "For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost."
The patience of God is God choosing to delay His reaction to my sin so that I can reflect and repent of my sin.
In Paul's experience of grace, God chose not to react to...
Character assassination ("blasphemer" 13a). No doubt Paul cursed the name of Christ on many occasions during his active opposition to the gospel.
Deprivation of human rights ("persecutor" 13b). Paul was guilty of doing all he could to destroy the lives of those who chose to follow Christ (Acts 8:3; Galatians 1:13).
Physical and verbal abuse ("violent " 13c). Paul was insolent and insulting before his conversion.
III. Powered by the patience of God (1:12, 15-16)
As a result of God's patience with him, Paul was "strengthened " (lit. empowered) by Jesus Christ to do ministry. To be transformed by the patience of God I have to...
Admit I am a sinner ("and I am the worst of them" 15).
Believe in His Son as Savior ("to those who would believe in Him for eternal life" 16).
Conform to His purpose for my life ("He considered me faithful, appointing me to the ministry" 12b).
Conclusion
How are you responding to the patience of God? Are you puzzled? Are you just beginning to realize that God has been patient with you? Or are you living a new life because of His patience with you?
Illustration thumbnails
Patience as we learn the lesson
"God will bring us back in countless ways to the same point over and over again. And He never tires of bringing us back to that one point until we learn the lesson, because His purpose is to produce the finished product. It may be a problem arising from our impulsive nature, but again and again, with the most persistent patience, God has brought us back to that one particular point."
Oswald Chambers, "Becoming Entirely His (July 31)," My Utmost for His Highest
Patience with an angry teen
As a spiritually lost and very confused teenager, I can recall being so angry at God that I would curse Him aloud in front of friends. The world was a very dark place for me. I had prayed for God to do certain things for my family, and when He didn't I rejected all that I knew of Him. I was truly puzzled by His "inactivity" in my life. I had really quit looking for Him when I was confronted in a gentle way by the gospel of Jesus Christ. Changing my heart passions, the Lord became my first love - shocking friends who months earlier had heard me literally blaspheme God. As I look back, I am truly amazed at the patience of God that pursued me in spite of my offenses.
Related biblical texts
Psalm 50:21 - These things you have done and I kept silent; you thought I was altogether like you. But I will rebuke you and accuse you to your face.
Psalm 145:8 - The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.
Isaiah 30:18 - Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!
Matthew 18:26-27 - At this, the slave fell down on his face before him and said, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you everything!' Then the master of that slave had compassion, released him, and forgave him the loan.
Romans 2:4 - Or do you despise the riches of His kindness, restraint, and patience, not recognizing that God's kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?
Romans 9:22 - And what if God, desiring to display His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience objects of wrath ready for destruction?
Colossians 3:12 - Therefore, God's chosen ones, holy and loved, put on... patience.