Winning The War: Replacing Impatience with Patience

• KNOWING OUR ENEMY: Impatience robs us of Joy. It prevents us from experiencing the fullness of God’s joy and from growing intimately with Jesus. In common with worry and anger, Impatience grabs control over us when we lose our focus on Christ and look only at ourselves and circumstances. Impatience steals joy from our church when it prevents us from encouraging and deeply caring for one another To quote Dallas Willard:

“ Many well meaning (persons)…cannot succeed in being kind because they are too rushed to get things done. Haste has worry, fear, and anger as close associates; it is a deadly enemy of kindness, and hence of love.”

• DISCOVERING OUR DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD: The only way to win over impatience is to cultivate the two side of PATIENCE . Like a sharp double-edged sword, Patience will prove to be our all powerful weapon which can help us win over the damaging effects of our rushed and impatient life styles.

SIDE 1: Makrathumia –the ACTIVE edge of the patience “sword” It means to be [LARGE] in self-restraint or control.

• It is used of God….”THE Lord is PATIENT with you, not wanting anyone to perish (2 Peter 3:9)
• It is used of people…” Be patient…until the coming of the Lord” (James 5:7)

SIDE 2: Hupomeno— the PASSIVE edge of the patience “sword’

• It means to [abide under] or a willingness to bear [hardship or criticism] for Christ.
• “all men will hate you because of me but he who stands firm (patiently endures) to the end will be saved. (Matt. 10:22)
• “Be PATIENT in affliction (Rom.12:12) /”love always PERSEVERES (I Cor 13:7)
• “ A patient (person) has great [understanding] … Prov. 14:29

C. DETERMINING THE STEPS TO REPLACING IMPATIENCE WITH PATIENCE

• [YIELD MYSELF] DAILY TO THE HOLY SPIRIT (Ephesians 5:18)

---more literally, be full of what the Holy Spirit produces—spiritual fruit such as PATIENCE or long-suffering. (Galatians 5:22)

* WAIT ON [GOD’S TIMING] (I Samuel 13:13)
Refusal to wait is to act foolishly—the word Foolish means to lack [moral and spiritual sense]

* REFLECT ON GOD’S NATURE ( James 5:7)
-“The Lord is full of compassion and mercy” (Ja 5:7)
- Focus on God’s character (Psalm 103:8-13) increases my [faith and patience]

• REMEMBER [THE RESULTS] OF MY PATIENCE ( James 5:7, 11)
• “See how the farmer waits… /”you have heard of Job’s perseverance and what the Lord finally brought about (James 5:7b, 11b)

--REWARDS of the farmer’s patience—[great harvest]
--REWARDS of Job’s patience---- [life of blessings]

• FAN THE HOPE OF THE GOSPEL AND KEEP THE [EMBERS OF PATIENCE] ALIVE (Romans 15: 5-6, 13)

• “…I pray that God ,who gives you hope, will keep you (joyful) and full of peace as you believe in Him.” (Romans 15:13a, NLT )
• keep reviewing God’s word (Romans 15:4)

• DEVELOP THE DISCIPLINE OF [STILLNESS] (Psalm 37:7)

--“Be STILL and wait patiently for the Lord”

• BUILD [STRUCTURAL FORMS ] FOR PATIENCE AND ALLOW GOD TO

FILL THEM.
--develop habits that will assist you in becoming more patient