FRUIT OF SPIRIT LONGSUFFERING Galatians 5:22
The Fruit of the Spirit manifests itself in nine different aspects—three inward, the soul—three outward, the body—three upward, the spirit. If any of the nine are missing, one is not filled with the Spirit.
These three aspects of the fruit of the Spirit work with each other. First, we must be right inward. Secondly, we must be right outwardly. Thirdly, if we are not right inwardly and outwardly, we cannot be right upwardly!
The first aspect of the fruit of the Spirit in our outward demeanor is an important one: longsuffering!
Longsuffering defined: patiently enduring lasting offense or hardship.
Longsuffering synonyms: Forgiving, selfless, accommodating, tolerant, patient, uncomplaining. I love the word stoic.
“Is everything going your way?” Longsuffering says, “No and neither does it have to go my way.”
Longsuffering: simply stated is that you are going to have to put up with a lot of “junk” from others!
1. People have bad days, say dumb things, or otherwise transgress “your space” in some way so you can either ACT or REACT.
2. If you react, your response can fuel a fire than needs to be put out. Wrong reactions are like fighting a house fire with gasoline! Things fail to have a harmonious outcome.
3. If you act and are right with the “love-joy-peace” aspect of being filled with the Spirit, you will be longsuffering, forbearing, and forgiving. You are not offended, do not offend, and then you get the harmonious result that God wants.
F. You just have to put up with a lot of “junk” in this life! We need look at longsuffering from a local church perspective. Probably the number one problem and greatest enemy of the local church is personal conflict.
1. Most people do not leave the church over doctrinal problems.
2. They leave over hurt feelings – root of bitterness
First mention Of Longsuffering – Exodus 34:6 And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,
1. The Lord Is Longsuffering To Sinners – Numbers 14:18 The LORD is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation.
2. The Lord Is Longsuffering To Saints – Jeremiah 15:15 O LORD, thou knowest: remember me, and visit me, and revenge me of my persecutors; take me not away in thy longsuffering: know that for thy sake I have suffered rebuke.
Our Example in longsuffering is the Lord Jesus Christ in His relationship with you and I individually.
Ephesians 4:31-32 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: (32) And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
Colossians 3:12-13 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; (13) Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
1. Longsuffering protects the Unity within the Church. We are brothers and sisters in Christ and are to love one another with our whole heart fervently. Charity, or brotherly love, covers a multitude of sins.
1 Cor. 13:4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
2. Longsuffering protects the Purpose of the Church. When people get hurt and leave a church, missions giving is always the first thing that pays the price.
Colossians 3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
3. Longsuffering protects the Testimony of the Church. When people leave churches wrong, the world will soon know.
2 Tim. 3:10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
4. Longsuffering protects our Prayer Life. When we are out of sorts with others, we are out of sorts with God and our prayers go unanswered.
Ps. 5:11 But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.
5. Longsuffering protects the Worship of the Church. If we do not love our brother whom we can see, how can we worship our God whom we cannot see.
1 John 4:19 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
Victory Baptist Church 03 February 2021 victorypalmetto.com