PATIENCE & FAITH: WE ARE BELIEVERS
(Message by Tanny Keng)
1. Patience And Faith
a) The Bible links together "the patience and the faith of the saints" (Revelation 13:10). God's providence toward you and me and all mankind is such that we must trust God, keep his word, and wait upon him. So our patience toward God stems from our faith in him. One of the descriptions of patience in the Bible says, "Here is the patience of the saints... those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus" (Revelation 14:12).
b) In faith and hope we "by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality — eternal life" (Romans 2:7). This is the nature of our patience toward God.
2. We Are Believers
a) Paul complimented the Christians in Thessalonica on their "patience and faith." They were going through tough times, yet Paul says to them, "your faith is enlarged" (2 Thessalonians 1:3-4).
b) The Hebrews are encouraged to imitate "those who through faith and patience inherit the promises" (Hebrews 6:12). Notice again the connection between patience and faith. The writer goes on to discuss the promise God made to Abraham and Sarah. We realize that they were not perfect in their faith and patience toward God. Had they been fully trusting and patient, Hagar would not have borne Ishmael. Nevertheless, the faith and patience of Sarah and Abraham is a great example to us (Hebrews 11:8-19).
c) The more we trust and believe in someone, the more patient we are toward them. If a tradesman promises to come as soon as possible, we will wait for him more patiently if we trust him and know that he is reliable and means what he says. (The tradesman will also be more patient and understanding of our calls upon him, given that he knows and trusts that we are genuine and not humbugs). Likewise our patience with God depends upon, and is a measure of, how much we trust and believe in him.
d) James says, "...faith produces patience," but I left something important out of that quote. It should read, "the testing of your faith produces patience" (James 1:3-4). God strengthens our belief and trust in him by testing. Each time we pass a test we become stronger in our faith and longer in our patience toward God.
The End ...
1. Patience And Faitha) The Bible links together "the patience and the faith of the saints" (Revelation 13:10). God's providence toward you and me and all mankind is such that we must trust God, keep his word, and wait upon him. So our patience toward God stems from our faith in him. One of the descriptions of patience in the Bible says, "Here is the patience of the saints... those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus" (Revelation 14:12).
b) In faith and hope we "by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality — eternal life" (Romans 2:7). This is the nature of our patience toward God.
2. We Are Believers
a) Paul complimented the Christians in Thessalonica on their "patience and faith." They were going through tough times, yet Paul says to them, "your faith is enlarged" (2 Thessalonians 1:3-4).
b) The Hebrews are encouraged to imitate "those who through faith and patience inherit the promises" (Hebrews 6:12). Notice again the connection between patience and faith. The writer goes on to discuss the promise God made to Abraham and Sarah. We realize that they were not perfect in their faith and patience toward God. Had they been fully trusting and patient, Hagar would not have borne Ishmael. Nevertheless, the faith and patience of Sarah and Abraham is a great example to us (Hebrews 11:8-19).
c) The more we trust and believe in someone, the more patient we are toward them. If a tradesman promises to come as soon as possible, we will wait for him more patiently if we trust him and know that he is reliable and means what he says. (The tradesman will also be more patient and understanding of our calls upon him, given that he knows and trusts that we are genuine and not humbugs). Likewise our patience with God depends upon, and is a measure of, how much we trust and believe in him.
d) James says, "...faith produces patience," but I left something important out of that quote. It should read, "the testing of your faith produces patience" (James 1:3-4). God strengthens our belief and trust in him by testing. Each time we pass a test we become stronger in our faith and longer in our patience toward God.
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