Monday's Message: In Much Patience

2 Corinthians 6:4-10

4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,

5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;

6 By pureness, by knowledge, by long suffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,

7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

8 By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;

9 As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;

10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

Today lets get into the list of the descriptors of ministers of God we are given in 2 Corinthians 6:4-10. First of all, notice that they come in three ways, “In,” “By,” and “As.” This is interesting how the apostle uses these adverbs; he is describing our relationship to different characteristics or situations. Let’s begin with the first “In”; In much patience. The adverb definition of “in” is: expressing the situation of being enclosed or surrounded by something. Patience is defined as: the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset. This is a huge subject that we could spend a lot of time discussing. Notice also, that he says, Much patience. This is important to notice, and it is the first item listed, suggesting that it will be beneficial to meditate deeply on this point.

The Christian life is to be marked by a patient attitude that is exceeding abundant and can be seen and felt by those around us. In times of stress and heightened emotion, the saint of God should be composed and drawn into a conversation with the Father in expression of trust in His goodness and His greater understanding of our situation and what needs to be done. These times of trouble are the testing ground for our patience in the Lord. Romans 5:3-5, 3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. As we go through troublous times trusting in God we learn and develop our ability to have patience. God calls us to be patient because impatience is dangerous and can have disastrous effects on the life of a believer, and a non-believer for that matter. When we make rash decisions in the midst of an emotional situation we will more than likely not make wise choices and when we forget to prayerfully consider what God’s Word has to say about the matter we show a lack of Godly patience.

Also, God wants us to be patient because He is supremely patient. His judgment is never clouded by emotion or an unwillingness to wait for the proper timing. Another word in the Scriptures that is similar to patience is longsuffering. The first time longsuffering is used in the Bible is describing the LORD in Exodus 34:6, And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth. In fact every time the word longsuffering is used in the Old Testament it is describing the LORD. Psalm 86:15, 15 But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, long suffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth. So we know that God is longsuffering and patient with us and He calls us to be longsuffering and patient with others.

Longsuffering is different from patience though in that it has a connotation of enduring wrongdoing or sin of others, and God obviously has no sin, so I wouldn’t say that we longsuffer with God, but we do need to learn patience with God and His timing. Psalm 27:14, Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

Waiting and patience can be very difficult in our modern world. We have become so accustomed to getting what we want immediately that it can be seemingly impossible to patiently trust in the Lord. Matthew 19:26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. Without God, having a consistent mindset of patience is indeed impossible. Whether we are suffering emotional torment, anxiety, or confusion, or if our ministry efforts seem to be fruitless we must through the power of the Holy Spirit of God learn to have much patience in times of trouble and doubt. We simply cannot exemplify Godly patience without God’s help, it is a fruit of the Spirit and therefore we must be filled with the Spirit to enjoy the benefits of having true, lasting patience. Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. If you are a saved, born again believer, you belong to Christ. Impatience is truly a lust of the flesh and remember, you have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

God is truly patient and longsuffering, for us to be the same we must receive the ability from Him through His Spirit that indwells us. The best ways to learn patience is through times of trouble, trusting in the Lord, also, through prayer and fasting, through Bible reading and memorization and by being in church and in fellowship with your brothers and sisters in Christ.

Romans 15:5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:

Family Friday: Observations of Godly Women

Three observations from the lives of Mary and Elisabeth in Luke chapter 1, an angel appears to Zacharias, the priest. The angel says to him that his wife Elisabeth would have a child. Zacharias found this hard to believe being that Elisabeth was unable to have children and that she was older in age. Zacharias asked the angel, “Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.” Luke 1:18. The angel makes him speechless until the birth of the baby because of his unbelief. In contrast, Elisabeth, Zacharias’ wife, became pregnant and said, “Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.” Luke 1:25. Elisabeth knew that God had worked a miracle within her. Also, an angel appeared to Mary and said that she would have a baby. This was not just any baby, but our Savior and our King, who would take our sins away and redeem us. Mary believes the angel and says, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.” Luke 1:38. A few practical thoughts the Lord gave me from this lesson:

1.) How Mary responded to the angel is how I need to respond to the Lord and His will for my life. Scary and uncertain times may come my way. I’m sure that Mary was fearful of how her fiancé or her family and friends and peers would react to this news of her having a baby. When dark times come my way, and I want to react selfishly and take troubles into my own hands, I need to surrender my will to God and say as Mary said, “Lord, I’m your servant, whatever your will is for my life I trust you.” I know making this kind of statement is hard, but the Lord loves us and wants to use us if we are willing to trust Him.

I love the words to this song, “Sometimes God will take us to unexpected places, but in every situation we will find. God will provide beyond what we imagine, so much more than we can fathom, He will supply.”

2.) We need to take our responsibility of service to God as seriously as Mary and Elisabeth did. My husband made this statement, “Was Mary and Elisabeth’s job of training Jesus and John the Baptist more important than my job of training my children?” I thought this statement was interesting. God has entrusted me and chosen me with the responsibility of training my four children, and loving and serving my husband. How lightly do I take my job? Do I realize that God has chosen me to do His work just as He chose Mary and Elisabeth? In Luke 1:41, Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost. If I’m going to take my job seriously and put my will on the back burner, it will only be done by the power of the Holy Spirit.

3.) Mary believes God. Elisabeth says to Mary in Luke 1:45, “And blessed is she that believed: for there will be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.” When things in my life don’t seem to go as planned, I need to remember to believe God. When I believe God and His plan for my life, it’s only then that I can have true joy. Luke 1:46-47, “And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.” We may not see the big picture of God’s plan for our lives, but we need to trust Him even in the uncertain times. Mary had the responsibility of carrying, birthing, caring for, and training our Savior, Jesus Christ. What a great responsibility! Elisabeth had the opportunity to encourage the mother of Jesus. What a great opportunity! I want to learn from these two great women in the Bible. "Thank you, Lord, for teaching us from your Word how to become better Christian ladies."

Used with permission by Jackie Carr

Thoughtful Thursday: Lovingkindness

Psalm 143:8 “Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.”

Yes, you read it right, but read it again, just in case you missed it.

“Cause me to HEAR thy lovingkindness in the morning;”

Now when things just do not make any sense to me, I tend to get a little frustrated.  When I read this, I started to think “But, this verse was simply written wrong.  I had found the first mistake in the Bible.  Wow, I will go down in history or something!”

Face it folks, how can we hear  lovingkindness, especially in the morning?

I can understand seeing lovingkindness: 

*Neighbors waving as you head to work

*Smiles from co-workers

*Children playing on the swings

*Trees big, beautiful and green

All these things we see:  these are examples of seeing lovingkindness in the morning.  

BUT:  that's not what the verse says:

Psalm 143:8 “Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.”

Cause me to HEAR thy lovingkindness in the morning...

Think about it....how can you hear lovingkindness?

What must we do to hear lovingkindness?

Psalm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.”

Now this is where the rubber meets the road.  God tells us to "Be still".  I don't know about you but I cannot sit still.  I don’t go to movies because I get antsy and need to get up and stretch.

My husband would never take me hunting because he knew I could never sit still long enough.

But here, God is telling us to "Be still". 

What does being still have to do with hearing lovingkindness?  When we are still, what kicks in? 

Our HEARING.  Close your eyes--and listen.

What do you hear? 

Children laughing; dogs barking; birds singing?

What do you hear?

Lovingkindness

Psalm 143:8 “Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.”

Monday's Message: The Ministry

2 Corinthians 6:3-10

3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:

4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,

5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;

6 By pureness, by knowledge, by long suffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,

7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

8 By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;

9 As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;

10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

2 Corinthians 6:3-10 gives us a large list of ways we, as ambassadors of Christ are to approve ourselves as the ministers of God. Again, the qualities we are to exhibit as Christians are sobering and weighty and should be considered with all seriousness by the true follower of Jesus Christ. First of all it says, Giving no offence in anything. We know that we are not being told that the world will not be offended by our message. Simply by looking at the following verses, we see, In stripes, in imprisonments, and in verse 8, By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report. And in 1 Corinthians 1:18 the apostle Paul tells us, For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. And in Luke 6:26 we hear Jesus say, Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.

So we know that as Christians, our Gospel message will be foolishness to most of the world and that people will speak evil of us if we are preaching the truth of God’s word. I believe that when we are told, Giving no offence in anything, that the ministry be not blamed, Paul is speaking of sin. When we preach the truth and then hypocritically sin and the world sees it we are bringing shame to the name of Christ and giving more reason to the unbelieving world to blaspheme God and His word.

Titus 2:5 says, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. When we disobey God’s commandments and decide to live our lives according to our own rules it not only is destructive to us and to our families and our churches, but it ultimately is destructive to the greater Body of Christ. Ephesians 5:27, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

We as Christians are called by God to live our lives in purity and holiness, not because God is a cruel dictator, but because He loves us and the world and He knows that sin will only bring pain and suffering into our lives and He knows that it also can be a stumbling block to others getting saved. It is important to know that we as Christians are called to suffer for our Lord Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:29, For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake. But our suffering should be as a result of people rejecting Jesus because of who He is and what He says and not because of our own sinful conduct. 

Jesus also said in John 15:18-20, If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. 20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. These words speak volumes to our present subject.  We should be hated of the world because of Jesus, not because of our sinful actions or words. Do we really think that if we are living as Jesus, who was crucified for His words, that we are better than Him and that we can follow Him and fit in with the same world that spit on Him and nailed His sinless body to a cross? Of course we would never say that, but when we say we love and follow Jesus and at the same time we are fully accepted by the world that is exactly what our actions are saying.

The apostle Peter tells us in 1 Peter 2:20, For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.

So, as Christians, followers of Christ, ambassadors with Jesus’ Gospel message, we must strive to be yielded to the Holy Spirit every day, and deny our self to live lives consistent with the words of our master, lest we bring blame to our ministry. Next week we will begin to look at the list of attributes we should have to approve ourselves as the ministers of God.