Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.Because we live in a fast-paced society, the fruit of the Holy Spirit of longsuffering (patience), kindness, gentleness and self-control can be a challenge to us, but praise God that with the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, we can make them evident in our lives.
Every fruit of the Holy Spirit describes to us the nature and the character of God. Therefore, the measure of one’s spirituality is based on the fruit of the Holy Spirit manifested in us especially when our flesh wants to dominate in reaction to what we are experiencing.
Patience in the Bible literally means long-temper (as opposed to “short-tempered”), a long holding out of the mind before it gives room to action or passion. It describes a state of emotional calm or quietness in the face of provocation, misfortune or unfavourable circumstances.
Romans 2:4 (NKJV) Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?
God desires all men to be saved. Therefore, He is very patient with us despite our provocation and rebellion towards Him when we were walking in the world influenced by the prince of the power of the air. He had given many of us numerous opportunities to receive Christ, but He endured our nonsense, and patiently waited for us to receive Christ as our Lord and Saviour.
Some of us might be discouraged or frustrated that those we have shared the Gospel with have yet to receive Christ, but we need to remember that it is the work of the Holy Spirit to convict, and because God is patient with them, let us also be patient with them, and not be deterred from sharing the Gospel.
We live in a culture of instant gratification and impatience. Technology and the convenience that it brought, living in a fast-paced society that stresses efficiency and productivity have all contributed to making us more impatient, but if God has been so gracious and patient with us, we should also be patient with our loved ones who are taking a long time to change in their character.
Statistically, there are more women in church than men, and the women may be hungrier for spiritual things than men. Therefore, driven by their impatience, the wives may become critical and in turn condemn their husbands when they don’t seem to measure up to what a Christian should be, or if they have not received Christ as their Lord and Saviour, but it can be counter-productive and even push them away from God and the church. We need to remember that Jesus died for the ungodly and the Heavenly Father waited for everyone to decide in their own time to receive Christ, so let’s be patient like He is.
Sermon Series: Fruit of the Holy Spirit – Patience, Kindness, Goodness and Gentleness
上帝对我们有耐心
加拉太书5：22-23 圣灵所结的果子、就是仁爱、喜乐、和平、忍耐、恩慈、良善、信实、温柔、节制。这样的事，没有律法禁止。
我们生活在一个快节奏的社会中，恒久忍耐（忍耐）、恩慈、温柔和节制这些圣灵的果子可能对我们来说是一个挑战；但是赞美上帝，因着圣灵的力量，我们可以使它们在我们的生命中得以彰显。
圣灵的每一个果子都向我们描述了上帝的本性和品格。因此，衡量一个人属灵的依据是我们身上所表现出的圣灵的果子，特别是当我们的肉体想要对正经历的事情做反应时。
圣经中的忍耐，字面意思是脾气长和（“脾气暴躁”的反面），是指在行动或激情肆虐之前，先长时间先让我们保持头脑平和；是面对挑衅、不幸或不利的境况时情绪上平静或安静的状态。
罗马书2：4 还是你藐视他丰富的恩慈、宽容、忍耐、不晓得他的恩慈是领你悔改呢．
上帝希望所有人都得救。因此，尽管我们行事在受空中掌权者所影响的世界中，对上帝挑衅和叛逆，祂还是对我们非常忍耐。祂给了我们众多人无数的机会来接受基督；祂忍受了我们愚蠢的行为、耐心地等待着我们接受基督作我们的救主。
我们中的有些人可能会因为那些我们与之分享福音的人尚未接受基督而感到沮丧和挫折，但是我们要记住，信是圣灵的工；并且因为上帝对他们有耐心，所以让我们也对他们要有耐心，不让分享福音受阻。
我们生活在一种及时享乐和没有耐心的文化中、生活在一个强调效率和生产力的快节奏社会中，技术及其带来的便利都使我们变得更加不耐烦；但如果上帝如此仁慈和耐心对待我们，我们也应该给与我们所爱的人足够的耐心，如果他们需要很长时间才能改变自己的品格。
数据显示：教会的女性多于男性，女性可能比男性更渴慕属灵上的事。因此，被不耐烦驱，妻子们可能会变得挑剔，并在她们的丈夫似乎达不到一名基督徒应有的标准、或如果他们没有接受基督作为救主时，谴责她们的丈夫；但是这样可能会适得其反，甚至将他们推离上帝和教会。我们需要记住，耶稣是为不敬虔的人而死的，而天父则等着每个人在自己的时间里接受基督，所以我们要像祂一样耐心等待。
讲章系列：圣灵所结的果子 — 忍耐、恩慈、良善和 温柔