longsuffering - dissertation

Longsuffering

by Sammie L Turner Jr

     We may better understand what is meant by “longsuffering” when we think of one as having such qualities as patience, not fainting and being able to endure.  (2 Corinthians 6.4, patience; 2 Corinthians 6.1-6, patience, et al; Luke 18.1, not to faint and James 5.11, endure) 

     Longsuffering is the ability to hold on to your Christian faith even in the face of difficulty, pain, adversity, uncertainty, etc. 

     In Galatians 5.22,23 we hear the words of Jesus’ servant Paul, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance:  against such there is no law”. 

   

     What does Paul mean when referring to the fruit of the Spirit, he says, “against such there is no law”? 

     An explanation is, when one demonstrates the fruit of the Spirit, they essentially fulfill the requirements of God’s law.  The fruit of the Spirit dwelling within you automatically causes you to wholly love God, and to love your neighbor (that is, other people) as yourself.  (Matthew 22.36-40).  Thus, demonstrating the fruit of the Spirit is equivalent to fulfilling God’s law.    

     Again, to say there is no law against the fruit of the Spirit suggests there is no rule, authority, nor government which can judge adversely against the power of God’s love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance abiding in our lives. 

     One way to please God is being willing to go through -- whether it’s being patient with others, holding on to your faith in Christ Jesus or for example, completing a difficult project or task. 

     When we live, work and interact with people in religious, social and recreational settings, we should be merciful, kind, humble, meek and faithful.  (1 Peter 5)

     When we suffer long, endure what is necessary and/or tolerate undesirable circumstances and events, we possess the virtue of the fruit of the Spirit which is called “longsuffering”.

     Paul admonishes us to “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving one another; if anyone have a quarrel against any:  even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.  And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.  And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.”  (Colossians 3.12-15)

      

     Let’s stay with God.  Let us trust him to see us through, even in the face of loneliness, ill health, opposition or hurt.

    

     We should be responsible and caring; for others, church leaders, human rights advocates and family, have suffered for us.      We should be willing to help bear the burdens of others; for parents, teachers and friends suffer with us.  (See 1 Peter 5, tend the flock.)

     Listen to Psalms 103.8, “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy”.  Hear also Psalms 78.38, “But God being full of compassion, forgives our iniquity, and destroys us not:  yes, many times he turns his anger away, and does not stir up all his wrath.” 

     Despite our gross failures, Jesus cares for us as a hen gathers her chickens under its wings.  (Matthew 23.37) (See Exodus 34.6,1-9, God is longsuffering; Numbers 14.18,11-20, God is longsuffering; Psalms 103.10-13, the Lord pitieth his children; Isaiah 48.9, God defers his anger and Romans 2.4, God is longsuffering.)

    

     What enables us to suffer long?  The answer is in 1 Corinthians 13.4,7.  “Charity suffers long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth (boasts) not itself; is not puffed up, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things”.  Charity, God’s divine love, helps us to suffer long, excel and succeed, compared to others who may give up.  God’s love helps us to love, even if others are unloving or cruel.

     How do we attain God’s love to bear all things?  Simply, ask, seek, knock and believe, (Matthew 7.8; Hebrews 11.6), allow Jesus to abide in your heart (Revelation 3.20,21) and give God praise!  (See, Isaiah 12.1-6, Psalms 66.2,8, Psalms 66.1-20 and Psalms 150.)     

     How are we not to suffer?  Peter instructs us not to “suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters”.  (1 Peter 4.15)  Neither should we suffer when it is unnecessary.  The Israelites suffered needlessly 40 years wandering in a wilderness, for they displeased God with their complaining and unbelief.  (Numbers 14.26-34)

     How should we suffer?  Peter says, “If anyone suffer as a Christian, Let them not be ashamed; but let them glorify God”.  (1 Peter 4.16)  (See 1 Peter 4.19 and Matthew 5.10-12.)  God loves us when we serve him with thanksgiving and cheer.  (See Psalms 100, 2 Corinthians 9.6-11 and Ephesians 5.18-20.)  God does great things for us when we go through our trials with praise in our hearts.  (See Psalms 66.1-12,20.) 

When Paul and Silas were bound by chains in prison, they sang songs of praises to God.  Their outstanding faith and praise broke the chains that bound them, and the chains of the other prisoners.  God’s divine power and love freed them all from prison!  (Acts 16.25-34)

Trust Jesus to see you through!  His mercy and grace are abundant toward you!  Jesus will bless you with great love, peace, joy and fulfillment in life!  You are his beloved friend! 

     Jesus says, “Come unto me, ALL ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart:  and ye shall find rest unto your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light”.  (Matthew 11.28-30)    

    Jesus, our great example, never gave up!  He did not faint, fail, fall nor falter!  Neither will you!  In the name of Jesus, you are more than a conqueror!  Paul reminds us, “Nay, in ALL these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.”  (Romans 8.37)

     The best is yet to come!  Hold on to God’s unchanging hands!  James, Jesus’ brother proclaims, “We count them happy which endure”!  (James 5.11)  James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ proclaims, “Count it ALL joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh ‘greatness’!”  (James 1.1-3)  (See Romans 8.16,17, God’s children will be glorified with him; and 1 Peter 5.1,10, after suffering we will partake of his glory which shall be revealed.) 

     Remember, “The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us”.  (Romans 8.18) 

     But one of the fruit of the Spirit is “longsuffering”.  (Galatians 5.22)

     Blessed be the name of our Redeemer and loving Savior, Jesus, the only Christ.  Amen.

Sammie L Turner Jr, President

New Life Christian Education and

Ministries – School of Divinity

sammielturnerjr.blogspot.com

#theologian

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tenant - baptism

The Christian believer being baptized is immersed beneath the water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, which expresses the believer’s death to sin and the burial of their old life, and then brought out of the water, which expresses the believer’s resurrection to a new kingdom life in Christ Jesus. 

(Romans 6.1-23)

Dead to Sin but Alive in Christ

1  What shall we say then?  Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

2  God forbid.  How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

3  Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

4  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death:  that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.  (Col. 2.12)

5  For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

6  knowing this, that our old person is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

7  For one that is dead is freed from sin.

8  Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:

9  knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.

10  For in that he died, he died unto sin once:  but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

11  Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

12  Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.

13  Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin:  but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

14  For sin shall not have dominion over you:  for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

Servants of Righteousness

15  What then?  shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace?  God forbid.

16  Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

17  But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.

18  Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

19  I speak after the manner of people because of the infirmity of your flesh:  for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.

20  For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.

21  What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.

22  But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

23  For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

(Colossians 2.1-23)

1  For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at La-odice'a, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;

2  that their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto ALL riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;

3  in whom are hid ALL the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

4  And this I say, lest anyone should beguile you with enticing words.

5  For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.

6  As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:

7  rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

Dead but Risen with Christ

8  Beware lest anyone spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of people, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

9  For in him dwelleth ALL the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

10  And ye are complete in him, which is the head of ALL principality and power:

11  in whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:

12  buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.  (Rom. 6.4)

13  And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, (Eph. 2.1-5) having forgiven you ALL trespasses;

14  blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; (Eph. 2.15)

15  and having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

16  Let no one therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:  (Rom. 14.1-6)

17  which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

18  Let no one beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which they hath not seen, vainly puffed up by their fleshly mind,

19  and not holding the Head, from which ALL the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.  (Eph. 4.16)

20  Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,

21  (touch not; taste not; handle not;
22  which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of people?

23  which things have indeed a show of wisdom in will-worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honor to the satisfying of the flesh.

Uncommon Me by Isaac Carree

the shortest chapter in the Bible

Psalms 117

Praise for the Lord's Merciful Kindness

1  O praise the Lord, ALL ye nations:  praise him, ALL ye people.  (Rom. 15.11)

2  For his merciful kindness is great toward us:  and the truth of the Lord endureth for ever.  Praise ye the Lord.