You know that feeling where you know what to do so you just go for it, there is another feeling where you don't know what to do so you just wait. There is yet another situation where, to an extent, most is out of your reach, so you get to wait - it's this bit I am talking about.
We’ll do some deep study today.
Hebrews 6:11-15.
11. And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:
12. That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
13. For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,
14. Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.
15. And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
Let's look at Abraham. God said I'll bless you with Isaac, he had to wait believing (better put; faith and patience - Hebrews). It was after he had patiently endured that he obtained the promise. In fact, I believe, if we can pass the test if waiting, then we can pass the test of doing (even when it is tough). Again as Abraham had to wait on the promise, when God said go sacrifice Isaac (what I'd call the tough do), he actually went. When a promise is obtained through faith and patience, we learn to surrender it back to God – recognizing it is a gift from God. Wow, that's a revelation.
Patience is one aspect of the fruit of the Spirit that we don’t often talk about. Let’s look at it through the Life of Jesus. The life of Jesus teaches three key revelations about patience:
But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. James 1:4.
Whether it is the revelation of His perfect will or the actualization of His reveal (perfect) will, the process always works patience in us. We see Jesus in Gethsemane having to crucify the flesh so as to obtain the promise – first he had to confess his surrender to God’s will, then he had to act in obedience to God’s will. He could have obtained the glory without the cross – but that was not The Father’s perfect will. But through patience (Hebrews 12:2) he obtained the promise – our redemption and the Power in His name (above all names). Jesus demonstrated the patience (gift of the Spirit) through His obedience. He showed that patience is not just waiting, but being obedient to His word while we persevere (Philippians 2:8).
Also throughout the ministry of Jesus, we see that understanding God’s time has a great deal to do with patience – the miracle of Lazarus’ resurrection (John 11), the Pentecost experience (Acts 2).
Finally, point 1 does not in any way imply that God always chooses to delay His promises, but rather that God’s will in line with his promise is to perfect the godly nature in (and reveal himself to) us – being through patience and His word, Romans 15:4.
* From our key text, patience precedes the promise (Hebrews 6:15).
Point 2 - Patience is a sign of, and births spiritual maturity.
In point 1 we saw how Jesus modeled patience through persevering obedience, in point 2 we will see how he modeled patience through persevering prayer and faith.
* From our key text, Paul is admonishing His listeners to follow those who model faith and patience, which seems to identify faith and patience as signs of spiritual maturity (Hebrews 6:12).
Point 3 - Patience (with faith) brings God glory.
We see in Hebrews 11:6 that we need faith and patience (diligence) to please God.
Jesus brought glory to the Father through his total dependence on the Spirit and patience through the cross experience.
So, when God says be still and know that I am God… – He means I (God) will be glorified in your patience and trust. Psalms 46:10. (As with point 1, we saw Jesus demonstrating patience through obedience, faith is also demonstrated through obedience). We see the same implication when Moses disobeyed God by striking the water instead of speaking to it. Numbers 20:8-12. In verse 12 God says to Moses: Because you have not believed Me, to treat Me as holy in the sight of the sons of Israel… So through disobedience he showed lack of trust and therefore failed to honour God.
These references, again point out that the patience which brings glory to God is (not just waiting but) obedience to his command while waiting on the promise.
Ponder on John 4:34, 15:8. How does it relate bringing glory to God? Remember patience is one of Galatians 5:22 fruit of the Spirit.
Let’s finish up with an admonition from James 1:4. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
Remain forever blessed.
We’ll do some deep study today.
Hebrews 6:11-15.
11. And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:
12. That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
13. For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,
14. Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.
15. And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
Let's look at Abraham. God said I'll bless you with Isaac, he had to wait believing (better put; faith and patience - Hebrews). It was after he had patiently endured that he obtained the promise. In fact, I believe, if we can pass the test if waiting, then we can pass the test of doing (even when it is tough). Again as Abraham had to wait on the promise, when God said go sacrifice Isaac (what I'd call the tough do), he actually went. When a promise is obtained through faith and patience, we learn to surrender it back to God – recognizing it is a gift from God. Wow, that's a revelation.
Patience is one aspect of the fruit of the Spirit that we don’t often talk about. Let’s look at it through the Life of Jesus. The life of Jesus teaches three key revelations about patience:
- God’s perfect-will cannot be obtained without patience.
- Patience is a sign of, and births spiritual maturity.
- Patience (with faith) brings God glory.
But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. James 1:4.
Whether it is the revelation of His perfect will or the actualization of His reveal (perfect) will, the process always works patience in us. We see Jesus in Gethsemane having to crucify the flesh so as to obtain the promise – first he had to confess his surrender to God’s will, then he had to act in obedience to God’s will. He could have obtained the glory without the cross – but that was not The Father’s perfect will. But through patience (Hebrews 12:2) he obtained the promise – our redemption and the Power in His name (above all names). Jesus demonstrated the patience (gift of the Spirit) through His obedience. He showed that patience is not just waiting, but being obedient to His word while we persevere (Philippians 2:8).
Also throughout the ministry of Jesus, we see that understanding God’s time has a great deal to do with patience – the miracle of Lazarus’ resurrection (John 11), the Pentecost experience (Acts 2).
Finally, point 1 does not in any way imply that God always chooses to delay His promises, but rather that God’s will in line with his promise is to perfect the godly nature in (and reveal himself to) us – being through patience and His word, Romans 15:4.
* From our key text, patience precedes the promise (Hebrews 6:15).
Point 2 - Patience is a sign of, and births spiritual maturity.
In point 1 we saw how Jesus modeled patience through persevering obedience, in point 2 we will see how he modeled patience through persevering prayer and faith.
- As a sign of spiritual maturity [persevering prayer]
- Births spiritual maturity (intimacy) [persevering faith]
* From our key text, Paul is admonishing His listeners to follow those who model faith and patience, which seems to identify faith and patience as signs of spiritual maturity (Hebrews 6:12).
Point 3 - Patience (with faith) brings God glory.
We see in Hebrews 11:6 that we need faith and patience (diligence) to please God.
Jesus brought glory to the Father through his total dependence on the Spirit and patience through the cross experience.
So, when God says be still and know that I am God… – He means I (God) will be glorified in your patience and trust. Psalms 46:10. (As with point 1, we saw Jesus demonstrating patience through obedience, faith is also demonstrated through obedience). We see the same implication when Moses disobeyed God by striking the water instead of speaking to it. Numbers 20:8-12. In verse 12 God says to Moses: Because you have not believed Me, to treat Me as holy in the sight of the sons of Israel… So through disobedience he showed lack of trust and therefore failed to honour God.
These references, again point out that the patience which brings glory to God is (not just waiting but) obedience to his command while waiting on the promise.
Ponder on John 4:34, 15:8. How does it relate bringing glory to God? Remember patience is one of Galatians 5:22 fruit of the Spirit.
Let’s finish up with an admonition from James 1:4. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
Remain forever blessed.