BIBLE EXPLORATION

1. In discussing "the fruit of the Spirit", the nine graces listed in 

   Galatians 5:22-23 are often divided into three groups:

   a. The first group contains those graces which turns one's thought

      toward God...

      1) Love (for love is of God)

      2) Joy (for we rejoice in the Lord)

      3) Peace (for from God comes the peace that surpasses

         understanding)

   b. The second group contains those graces that directs our attention

      to our fellow man...

      4) Longsuffering

      5) Kindness

      6) Goodness

   c. The third group of graces refer more directly to oneself...

      7) Faithfulness

      8) Gentleness (meekness)

      9) Self-control

2. We have often examined those graces in the first group (love, joy, peace),

   But seldom do we study the first one in the second group...

   a. The grace is "longsuffering" ("patience" in the NASV)

   b. The Greek word is makrothumia

      1) Literally, it means being "long-tempered" (the opposite of

         short-tempered)

      2) It is defined as "patience, forbearance, longsuffering,

         slowness in avenging wrongs" (THAYER)

      3) "Longsuffering is that quality of self-restraint in the face

         of provocation which does not hastily retaliate or promptly

         punish.  It is the opposite of anger and is associated with

         mercy, and is used of God." (VINE)

   c. If God is longsuffering, we should not be surprised that those

      who "walk in the Spirit" are also longsuffering!

[As we seek to work in conjunction with the Spirit of God to develop

His fruit in our lives, it might be helpful to nurture longsuffering by

recalling some...]

I. EXAMPLES OF LONGSUFFERING

   A. THE LONGSUFFERING OF GOD...

      1. God has been longsuffering toward man

         a. He was in the days of Noah - 1Pe 3:20

         b. He was in His dealings with the nation of Israel - Nehemiah 9:

            16-21

         c. And He is longsuffering today as well - 2Pe 3:7-9; see,

            1Timothy 1:15-16

      2. The purpose of His longsuffering:

         a. That we might have salvation! - 2Peter 3:15

         b. That we might be led to repentance! - Romans 2:4

         c. That those who fear Him and keep His commandments might

            delight in His lovingkindness, even though they have sinned

- See Psalm 103:8-18

 B. THE LONGSUFFERING OF DAVID...

      1. Is best seen in his dealings with King Saul

         a. Saul had made several attempts to kill David

         b. David had several opportunities to kill Saul

            1) In the cave - 1Samuel 24:1-22

            2) In the camp - 1Samuel 26:1-25

      2. Out of respect for the Lord's anointed king (Saul), David

         demonstrated the true meaning of longsuffering:  "slowness

         in avenging wrongs"

[So from both God Himself, and one who was "a man after God's own 

heart" (1Samuel 13:14), we learn what the quality of longsuffering 

involves.  Now let's consider its necessity in the life of the Christians]

II. THE NECESSITY OF LONGSUFFERING

   A. NECESSARY IF WE WISH GOD TO BE LONGSUFFERING TO US...

      1. As Jesus illustrated in "The Parable Of The Unmerciful 

         Servant" (note particularly Matthew 18:32-35)

      2. Compare also the following verses:  Colossians 3:12-13

         a. Christ has forgiven us

         b. Therefore we must be longsuffering and willing to forgive

            one another!

   B. NECESSARY TO MAINTAINING THE UNITY OF THE SPIRIT...

      1. A task we face, in keeping with a walk that is worthy of our

         calling - Ephesians 4:1-3

      2. Without longsuffering, the sins we commit against one another

         will quickly destroy the unity for which Christ died!

   C. NECESSARY FOR PREACHERS AND TEACHERS OF THE GOSPEL...

      1. As Paul charged Timothy - 2Timothy 4:2

      2. As Paul had demonstrated by example - 2Timothy 3:10

      3. No servant of the Lord can faithfully correct those in 

         opposition, without the quality of longsuffering (patience in

         the NKJV) - 2Timothy 2:24-26

[So to be "useful for the Master, prepared for every good work" (see 

2Timothy 2:21), and even to ensure God's longsuffering toward us (see Matthew

18:35), we need to develop the virtue of longsuffering.  Here are a

couple of thoughts on how...]

III. DEVELOPING LONGSUFFERING

   A. THROUGH LOVE...

      1. It is love that "suffers long" - see 1Corinthians 13:4-8a

         a. Unless we love those who have wronged us, there will not be

            sufficient motivation to bear with them

         b. Therefore love (active good will) is fundamental to being

            slow to avenge wrong

      2. By growing in love (to remember how, see 1Thessalonians 4:9; 1John 3:16),

         we will grow in patience!

   B. THROUGH PRAYER...

      1. Paul evidently believed prayer would help the Colossians to

         have "all patience and longsuffering with joy" - Colossians 1:9-11

      2. Certainly the God who is longsuffering (see Psalm 145:8) will

         strengthen those who desire to be like Him!