LONG-SUFFERING

Be Long-Suffering Towards All

1 Thess 5:14



Long-suffering does not mean to suffer long.

Long-suffering involves deliberate restraint. It is the patient endurance of wrong or provocation, 

combined with a refusal to give up hope for improvement in a disturbed relationship.

Long-suffering has been defined as "that quality of self-restraint in the face of provocation which does not hastily retaliate or promptly punish." (Vine's Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, by W.E. Vine; Vol 3, page 12)

Long-suffering has a purpose, looking for the welfare of the one causing disturbance. Yes, long-suffering is exercised for the benefit of the one doing wrong. It does not mean condoning of wrong. When the purpose for long-suffering is accomplished, or when there is no point in further putting up with the situation, long-suffering ends. It ends with either good to those giving provocation or with action against the wrong doers. Either way the one exercising long-suffering is not harmed in spirit.

Jehovah God is foremost among those who are "slow to anger", displaying long-suffering.

"...Jehovah, Jehovah, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abundant in loving-kindness and truth..." -Exodus 34:6

(Compare: Numbers 14:18; Nehemiah 9:17; Psalms 86:15; 103:8; 145:8;

 Joel 2:13; Jonah 4:2; Nahum 1:3)

Because Jehovah is infinite in power and wisdom, perfect in justice and love, we would expect him to be "slow to anger", yes long-suffering. Jehovah has full control of his qualities, keeping them in perfect balance at all times.  We can be recipients of Jehovah's long-suffering!

Long-suffering originates with Jehovah and is a fruit of his spirit. 

When God's servants manifest godly patience or long-suffering, they do so under the influence of the holy spirit.  This does not mean, that Jehovah imposes his spirit upon a person. We must willingly yield to it's  influence.  (2 Corinthians 3:17; Ephesians 4:30) We allow the spirit to act in our lives by cultivating its fruits in all we do. After explaining the works of the flesh and then the fruit of the spirit, Paul added: "If we are living by spirit, let us go on walking orderly also by spirit... Do not be misled: God is not one to be mocked. For whatever a man is sowing, this he will also reap; because he that is sowing with a view to the flesh will reap corruption from his flesh, but he who is sowing with a view to the spirit will reap everlasting life from the spirit." - Galatians 5:25; 6:7, 8

If we are to be successful in cultivating long-suffering, we must also cultivate the rest of the fruitage produced in Christians by holy spirit.  May we always ask our Creator to help us manifest long-suffering in our dealings with others and may we do so with  Kindness.

PEACE

The Peace of God

The definition of the Hebrew word: Sha-lohm'

refers to  the state of being free from war or disturbance,

it can convey the idea of health, safety, soundness, welfare, freindship.

 My grrrreat niece enjoying a peaceful moment.

 ...then the wind became calm...

  Can We Aquire True Peace? 

How?

Jehovah is  the God of peace (1Corinthians 14:33)

"May the God who gives peace be with all of you"

-Romans 15:33

Jehovah is the source of peace. It being a fruit of his spirit. 

(Galatians 5:22)

This is the reason true peace can be had only by those who are at peace with God.

Serious trangressions put a strain on a person's relationship with God 

and cause the person to be disturbed. The Psalmist wrote:

"There is no peace in my bones on account of my sin."

-Psalms 38:3

Those who seek and pursue peace must 

"turn away from what is bad, and do what is good" -Psalms 34:14
We need to recognize God's right to determine what is good and what is bad.
Then we need to apply God's righteous standards in our life.
Righteousness and Peace have a very close relationship:

"...Righteousness and peace-
they have kissed each other."
-Psalms 85:10
Without righteousness, there can be no peace.
People who are dedicated to Jehovah God and love his law
 and obey his commandments enjoy true peace. (Isaiah 48:18)

 Calmness and tranquility comes from having a close relationship with the Creator.
 This "peace of God" guards the hearts and minds of true Christians.
 They have the assurance that Jehovah God provides for his servants
and answers their prayers. This puts their minds and heart at rest. (Philippians 4:6, 7)

The peace that Christians enjoy is not to be taken for granted.
They are to be "peaceable".
They are to be peacemakers, going out of their way to establish and maintain peace.
In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus said:
"Happy are the "peaceable since 
they will be called "the sons of God"
-Matthew 5:9 (Compare: James 3:18)
Followers of Christ Jesus are instructed to pursue peace
and do their utmost to be found at peace with God.
(Please read: 1 Peter 3:11; 2 Peter 3:14)

To help in our pursuit of peace, we may need to exercise long-suffering.

-

JOY!

True Joy is a quality of heart.

"Always be rejoicing."
with these words the apostle Paul encouraged the Christian congregation.
(1 Thessalonians 5:16; compare: 2 Corinthians 13:11)

Rejoice means to feel and express joy. It does not mean to be in a constant state of exuberance.
Is it possible to always be rejoicing?
Yes, because true joy is a quality of heart, a deep inner quality, a spiritual quality.
"A joyful heart has a good effect on the countenance..."
-Proverbs 15:13

Joy is a fruit of God's spirit, listed right after love. 
(Galatians 5:22)
This quality is not dependent on external things. However, it does depend on God's holy spirit.
Joy is not a personality trait we are born with, it is a quality that distinquished Jesus and that we can cultivate and put on.  We are encouraged by these words: "clothe yourselves with the new personality, which through accurate knowledge is being made new according to the image of the One who created it." -Colossians 3:10. Yes! Joy can become part of our personality as we imitate Jesus example and pray for God's holy spirit to be active in our lives.

True Joy comes from the deep inner satisfaction of knowing we are doing what pleases our heavenly Father.
 It must be remembered that being a servant of God does not free us from experiencing  family problems, economic difficulties, health issues, or the death of loved ones. These things cause us sorrow, but do not take away our basis for rejoicing in the Kingdom hope, the inner joy that we have in our heart. During times of sorrow we can  "rejoice in the hope." which will help us, "endure under tribulation". (Romans 12:12)

We can hope in the fulfillment of the prophecies of Isaiah, apostle Peter and the apostle John:
"For here I am creating new heavens and a new earth; and the former things will not come to mind, neither will they come up into the heart. But exult you people, and be joyful forever in what I am creating..."-Isaiah 65:17, 18

"But there are a new heavens, and a new earth that we are awaiting according to his promise, and in theses righteousness is to dwell." -2 Peter 3:13

"And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the former heaven and the former earth had passed away...Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his peoples. And God himself will be with them. And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.  And the One seated on the throne said: 'Look! I am making all things new.' Also, he says: 'Write, because these words are faithful and true.'" -Revelation 21:1-5

Yes, it is Joy that helps us endure while under tribulation. We can rejoice in this hope, knowing that the promise of a peaceful new heavens (heavenly kingdom government) and new earth (righteous subjects of God's kingdom) will be our reward to time indefinite! For all God's joyful servants this new heavens and new earth will guarantee a true peace.

Love

I gotta love these two kids, with their chocolate mustaches!

Listed first among the fruitage of God's spirit is LOVE.

 All  the necessary qualities of God's spirit, 

would not benefit us, in fact would not be possible without love. 

(1 Corinthians 13:1-3, 7, 8, 13; Galatians 5:22, 23)

Love is the key Christian quality!

Who should be the object of this love?

Jesus tells us: 

"He said to him: 'You must love Jehovah your God with your whole heart

 and with your whole soul and with your whole mind.

This is the greatest and first commandment. 

The second, like it, is this, 'Your must love your neighbor as yourself.'"

-Matthew 22:37-39

For a follower of Jesus, love goes even further 

notice Jesus' words:

"However, I say to you: Continue to love your enemies and to pray for those persecuting you; 

that you may prove yourselves sons of your Father who is in the heavens,

since he makes this sun rise upon the wicked people and good

and makes it rain upon righteous people and unrighteous."

-Matthew 5:44, 45

God's Kingdom by means of Christ Jesus is based on "the kingly law" of love. (James 2:8) God's chief quality is love, and must be imitated by his servants.

"God is love" -1 John 4:8, 16

When we imitate Jehovah's love in our dealings with others, joy or happiness follows. 

Yes, Love generates Joy!