A Servant: The Fruit Of The Spirit ~ Patience

Now the fruit of the Spirit is
LOVE, JOY, PEACE
These 3 are what God wants to do IN US
so that He can accomplish all the others THROUGH us
PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GENTLENESS, GOODNESS
FAITHFULNESS, SELF CONTROL

In a message on 4/27 by Pastor Alex Michelle at New Hope midweek service, he spoke on the difference between SERVING and BEING A SERVANT. Serving can come from a place of self motivation: I need to do this, I like to do this, I’m gifted to do this, others will think well of me if I do this, if I don’t do it no one else will, it makes me feel good to do it, etc. But being a servant is ‘others’ directed, and a servant of God is the vessel through which others see and experience and learn to emulate the patience of Jesus, the kindness of Jesus, the gentleness of Jesus, the faithfulness of Jesus and Jesus’ self control which we witnessed as He chose to go to the Cross for our sake, rather than walking away from the hard choice being a servant required of Him. Being a servant does not come from a work’s ideology, it comes from a heart that sees the needs of others and chooses, out of the overflow of His love, His joy, His peace that fills them, to extend God’s grace. In the spirit of God’s grace I offer meditations, over the next 6 days, on these six Fruit Of The Spirit.

“When you walk in the created purpose of God for your life, you will experience increasing degrees of Shalom – completeness, harmony, fulfillment.”
Pastor Alex Michelle

PATIENCEMark 14:32-41: “Then they came to a place which was named Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” And He took Peter, James, and John with Him, and He began to be troubled and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch.” He went a little farther, and fell on the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him. And He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.” Then He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Again He went away and prayed, and spoke the same words. And when He returned, He found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy; and they did not know what to answer Him. Then He came the third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting?”

Three times Jesus came to find His closest friends sleeping. He’d encouraged them to watch and pray, but they slept. He didn’t lecture them, or preach to them about fidelity to the cause. He didn’t say, “Don’t you know what I’ve been through? Don’t you know how much I’ve endured and will endure for you? Don’ t you know I am about to die for you, and all you can do is sleep!!” No, he simply found them sleeping and only kept encouraging them to pray lest they enter into temptation -- and then went back to praying for them.

Jesus knows our weaknesses and is patient towards us for our own sake. As 2 Peter 2:9 so succinctly states: “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance."

“Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.” Proverbs 14:29

"A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel.”Proverbs 15:18

“Love is patient.” 1 Corinthians 13:4

“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” Ephesians 4:2

Developing this spirit of patience causes us to stay calm under pressure, thus creating calm all around us. Because of Christ’s great love for us, because He humbled Himself and became a servant for our sake, we are exhorted to exercise such humility, gentleness and patience toward others. No one sees God in our anger, in our false-humility, in our hot-tempers; they see Him as the fruit of His Spirit is on display through us. Through our own patience others see love in its purest form.

“The Lord is not slow about keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”2 Peter 3:9

When we serve others out of the abundance of this truth, that God is patient towards us, they in turn experience His amazing patience too as He pursues them with His great love.

The fruit of the Spirit is . . . Patience