• Many thinking people through history to today Many thinking people through history to today have realized the value of patience.have realized the value of patience.– “Patience is the companion of wisdom”

-St. Augustine– “The two most powerful warriors are patience

and time” -Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoy– “He that can have Patience, can have what he

will” -Benjamin Franklin– “Patience and fortitude can conquer all things”

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

God Wants Us To Have Patience

• He commands it. He commands it. 1 Timothy 6:11; Titus 2:2; 2 Peter 1:61 Timothy 6:11; Titus 2:2; 2 Peter 1:6

• We’re taught about it throughout the Bible We’re taught about it throughout the Bible (Rom. 15:4) and the word is used 34 times (Rom. 15:4) and the word is used 34 times in the New Testament.in the New Testament.

• But what is the value of it?But what is the value of it?

• How can we develop patience in our life How can we develop patience in our life today?today?

• First, let’s define the word.First, let’s define the word.

PATIENCE, n. pa'shens. [L. patientia, from patior, to suffer.][L. patientia, from patior, to suffer.]

1. The suffering of afflictions, pain, toil, calamity, 1. The suffering of afflictions, pain, toil, calamity, provocation or other evil, with a calm, unruffled provocation or other evil, with a calm, unruffled temper; endurance without murmuring or fretfulness. temper; endurance without murmuring or fretfulness. Patience may spring from constitutional fortitude, from Patience may spring from constitutional fortitude, from a kind of heroic pride, or from Christian submission to a kind of heroic pride, or from Christian submission to the divine will.the divine will.

2. A calm temper which bears evils without murmuring 2. A calm temper which bears evils without murmuring or discontent.or discontent.

3. The act or quality of waiting long for justice or 3. The act or quality of waiting long for justice or expected good without discontent. expected good without discontent.

4. Perseverance; constancy in labor or exertion.4. Perseverance; constancy in labor or exertion.

5. The quality of bearing offenses and injuries without 5. The quality of bearing offenses and injuries without anger or revenge. anger or revenge. -Webster’s Dictionary-Webster’s Dictionary

The Value of PatienceThe Value of Patience• It is a good thing to have. It is a good thing to have. James 5:7-11; James 5:7-11;

Hebrews 13:21Hebrews 13:21

• Fruit is brought forth with it. Fruit is brought forth with it. Luke 8:15Luke 8:15

• It helps us with our hope. It helps us with our hope. Rom. 8:25; 15:4Rom. 8:25; 15:4

• It helps us to be like God. It helps us to be like God. Revelation 1:9Revelation 1:9

• It builds our spiritual strength and character. It builds our spiritual strength and character. Colossians 1:11Colossians 1:11

• Helps our faith that we may inherit the Helps our faith that we may inherit the promises of God promises of God Hebrews 6:12; 10:36Hebrews 6:12; 10:36

• Patience prepares our heart for the race. Patience prepares our heart for the race. Hebrews 12:2Hebrews 12:2

How To Develop PatienceHow To Develop Patience

• Trials give us the exercise (opportunity) to Trials give us the exercise (opportunity) to grow strong in patience. grow strong in patience. Romans 5:3-4Romans 5:3-4– We glory in trials knowing that God feels we We glory in trials knowing that God feels we

are ready to grow stronger now and in other are ready to grow stronger now and in other ways.ways.

– We can have the attitude of cheerful We can have the attitude of cheerful endurance knowing that it will do us no good endurance knowing that it will do us no good to think negatively as we endure (Phil. 4:8-9).to think negatively as we endure (Phil. 4:8-9).

– Our faith is tested and proved if we respond Our faith is tested and proved if we respond with growth in patience, and a deeper trust with growth in patience, and a deeper trust and hope in God! and hope in God! James 1:2-4James 1:2-4

How To Develop PatienceHow To Develop Patience• We realize that without patience we shall We realize that without patience we shall

lose our soul. lose our soul. Luke 21:19Luke 21:19

• Therefore it is important to keep patience Therefore it is important to keep patience continually and grow in it. We need it all continually and grow in it. We need it all throughout our spiritual lives. The result will throughout our spiritual lives. The result will be in our reward from God. be in our reward from God. Rev. 3:10; 14:12Rev. 3:10; 14:12

• Many get bored because of inaction, thereby Many get bored because of inaction, thereby causing them to become impatient. Get busy causing them to become impatient. Get busy and keep busy doing the Lord’s work to and keep busy doing the Lord’s work to avoid this problem. avoid this problem. Jn. 9:4; Rom. 12:11Jn. 9:4; Rom. 12:11– You will learn patience through the many failures You will learn patience through the many failures

and mini-successes. and mini-successes. Acts 28:24Acts 28:24

Add Patience To Your LifeAdd Patience To Your Life• It will help you in many ways. Especially add it It will help you in many ways. Especially add it

to your faith (2 Pet. 1:6).to your faith (2 Pet. 1:6).

• Help yourself to a less stressful life by Help yourself to a less stressful life by continually growing in patience. continually growing in patience.

• Come to Jesus today, prepare for heaven!Come to Jesus today, prepare for heaven!– Hear and believe the gospel. Hear and believe the gospel. Rom. 1:16; 10:17Rom. 1:16; 10:17

– Repent of sin. Repent of sin. Luke 13:3Luke 13:3

– Confess Jesus Christ. Confess Jesus Christ. Acts 8:37Acts 8:37

– Be baptized into Christ. Be baptized into Christ. Rom. 6:3-6Rom. 6:3-6

– Then, be faithful unto death. Then, be faithful unto death. Rev. 2:10Rev. 2:10