The Fruit of the Spirit is Longsuffering

1. Read: Galatians 5:22-23

2. About the Text:

1) Longsuffering is one of the fruits of the Spirit.

2) The Greek word is makrothumia.

3) It means “patience, endurance, constancy, steadfastness, perseverance.”

4) Longsuffering is like patience extra.

5) Why ought the Christian to be longsuffering?

3. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.

1. In the Old Testament

1) “And the LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth” (Exodus 34:6).

2) “The LORD is longsuffering and abundant in mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression; but He by no means clears the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation” (Numbers 14:18).

2. In the New Testament

1) “Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?” (Romans 2:4).

2) “And consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you” (2 Peter 3:15).

3) “However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life” (1 Timothy 1:16).

4) “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

3. Longsuffering is thus a fruit of the Spirit.

1. It is a key ingredient to having unity – “with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love” (Ephesians 4:2).

2. Helps us to be fully pleasing to the Lord – “that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy” (Colossians 1:10-11).

3. Helps us to keep God’s commandments. “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus” (Revelation 14:12).

4. Helps us to endure persecution. “Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy” (James 5:10-11).

5. Being longsuffering means not to give up, go back, or abandon the effort. “Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul” (Hebrews 10:38-39).

6. The flesh will not support us in these efforts; only the spirit will.

1. “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching” (2 Timothy 4:2).

2. It takes longsuffering to watch – Read Mark 13:32-37.

3. It takes longsuffering to wait.

1) 2 Thessalonians 3:5 “And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.”

2) James 5:7 “Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.”

4. The flesh does not want to be vigilant; we must use the spirit to watch and wait.

1. Longsuffering/Patience brings strength and strength more patience.

1) Those that wait on the Lord will have the strength they desire – Isaiah 40:31 “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

2) And as we learn more of the Lord’s will and are strengthened by it that will lead us to further patience – Colossians 1:11 “Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness”.

2. We must be longsuffering to sow the seed of the kingdom – “But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience” (Luke 8:15).

3. Longsuffering helps us to teach with the right attitude.

1) 2 Timothy 2:24,25 “And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth”.

2) 1 Thessalonians 5:14 “Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.”

4. Longsuffering fights discouragement and frustration, and gets the work done.

1. The longsuffering inherits the promises.

1) “That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises” (Hebrews 6:12).

2) “For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise” (Hebrews 10:36).

2. Longsuffering leads to eternal life – “To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life” (Romans 2:7).

3. The longsuffering will see the coming of the Lord and our salvation: “Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh” (James 5:8).

1. We ought all to have the fruit of the Spirit of longsuffering because it . . .

1) Helps us Know God

2) Keeps us Faithful.

3) Keeps us Vigilant.

4) Keeps up Working.

5) Helps us Finish.

2. Invitation