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It's Week 4 of the Fruit of the Spirit 5Ws series and this week we're reviewing the fourth fruit longsuffering. My prayer is that we learn how God biblically defines His fruit, how to express His fruit in our lives, and how to practically walk by the Spirit so we don't gratify the desires of our flesh (Galatians 5:16).
I first blogged about the 5Ws of longsuffering a few months ago. So, today's post will be an expansion of that original post.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. ~Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV)
Fruit of the Spirit– Longsuffering
Who
Who can be longsuffering?
The Holy Spirit is a gift from God (Acts 2:38, 10:45) to glorify Jesus Christ (John 16:14) and only indwells in those that have:
Chosen to make Jesus Christ their personal Lord and Savior (John 14:26)
Believe Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins
Believe Jesus Christ resurrected three days later
Therefore, who can be longsuffering, one of the nine fruits or attributes of the Holy Spirit, as God defines it?
Answer:
Only true believers and followers of Jesus Christ since the Holy Spirit only indwells in them.
What
What is longsuffering?
According to Merriam-Webster's dictionary, longsuffering means to patiently endure lasting offense or hardship. Biblical longsuffering means being extremely slow to anger or "long-tempered" or "long-fused" (as opposed to being "short-fused") while enduring an offense or hardship for a specific duration of time. Hence, we see the dictionary or world define longsuffering as having no end date. Yet, throughout the Bible, it's very clear that God's definition of longsuffering has end dates and is not eternal.
In an article titled, God's Longsuffering is Not Eternal, Eric Lyons describes,
Unfortunately, the picture of God often painted in the 21st century seems to leave the impression that God’s longsuffering will go on forever. Portraits of God’s justice and vengeance often are neglected (Hebrews 10:26-39, Romans 12:19), while His compassionate patience toward sinners is so accentuated that God’s longsuffering is transformed into an eternal patience. Such a concept, however, stands in stark contradistinction to God’s revealed will.
When
When should we be longsuffering?
Key Point: We want to be longsuffering according to God's will only, according to His perfect timing, and His perfect purposes.
This is why it's so important to have a PERSONAL relationship with Jesus Christ– So we're sensitive enough, humble enough, and have a softened heart to hear from the Holy Spirit and get direction from Him on all our matters.
Taking a step further:
If we prematurely end being longsuffering in a situation outside of God's will: We may miss the teaching, lesson, purpose, correction, and/or test that God is trying to complete in our lives.
If we go past God's will in a situation, past His timing for us to be longsuffering: We may enter into a form of sin, bondage, idolatry, and/or demonstrate a lack of faith due to disobedience and proceeding outside of God's will in our lives.
BUT, when we're longsuffering in alignment with God's will in a situation: When we allow the Holy Spirit to tell us when and show us how to endure long, as well as when to endure short, God's will is completed. He's able to use such seasons of offenses and hardships to grow us, teach us, sharpen us, and show us how to be servants like Him. Furthermore, our faith is strengthened, we walk in obedience to God's will, and we demonstrate total dependence on God. This greatly pleases God! And, of course, we know the goal of faith is to secure our salvation (1 Peter 1:9).
Several examples of when God demonstrated start and end dates for longsuffering below. It's interesting to note– Some examples show that God required extended periods, sometimes centuries of being longsuffering. In other examples, God decided His longsuffering would be swift, very short in duration.
Noah and the flood (Genesis 6:9-9:17): God delayed the destruction of the world by water for many years. Scholars estimate Noah spent up to 100 years building the Ark. We know during that time, Noah wasn’t silent. He shared with his friends and neighbors what God had told him. All those people had an opportunity to repent and come back to God. But, they chose to stay in their wickedness and sin. Then, eventually God was like, "I've been longsuffering enough. It's time for the flood (in Noah's 600th year of life), so I can start anew with Noah's family."
Israel's escape from Egypt to the promised land: God allowed the children of Israel to be enslaved for 400 years. He heard all their cries during their time in slavery and decided after 400 years of longsuffering to take them out of Egypt and free them from slavery (Book of Exodus).
Sodom (Genesis 19:24): Six times Abraham petitioned and desperately pleaded on the people's behalf for God not to destroy Sodom (Genesis 18:23-33). And, six times God agreed to spare the city from His vengeance, if as few as ten righteous people were found therein. There wasn't at least ten, so God destroyed the wicked city of Sodom and killed all its inhabitants.
Jesus Christ: He came here for a specific purpose as we know and was incredibly long-tempered with us while here. Yet, even His longsuffering on earth had a start and end date.
Our salvation: Think about how you were before you got saved? Remember how patient, longsuffering God was with you? Think about how God IS STILL long-tempered, long-fused with you even now– post salvation? Yet, we know our time on earth is limited. His patience and longsuffering with us will ultimately come to an end with our earthly death (2 Corinthians 5:10).
Jesus's Second Coming: As Eric Lyons describes, "God has dealt patiently with sinful mankind. Yet, we must recognize that God’s longsuffering with sinners eventually ends. It ended in the days of Noah. It ended for Sodom and Gomorrah in the days of Abraham. And, it eventually will end for all the unfaithful when Jesus returns (2 Peter 3:10)."
Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming. ~Matthew 25:13 (NKJV)
Where
Where is longsuffering applicable?
There are several examples throughout the Bible where God is longsuffering and illustrates where this fruit applies.
One of my favorite examples: Noah didn't start having children until his 500th year of life (Gen 5:32). Next, his sons had to be born and have wives before the Lord appeared to Noah and gave him instructions to begin building the Ark (Gen 6:18). Finally, the flood came in the 600th year of Noah’s life (Gen 7:11). Since we know God knew us before we were even conceived in the womb (Psalm 139:16), one could argue that God gave us at least 600 years to get our act together before He finally decided to destroy the world by the Great Flood and start anew with Noah's family. Talk about longsuffering and God's nature of being long-tempered!
Reference Scriptures: Exodus 34:6, Numbers 14:18-20, Psalm 86:15, Romans 2:4, Ephesians 4:2, Colossians 1:11, 3:12, 1 Thessalonians 5:14, 1 Peter 3:9, 2 Peter 3:15
Why
Why is longsuffering required sometimes?
There are three main reasons:
It's who God is, His very nature. We know God desires that we grow, (from a personal relationship with Jesus Christ) to think, act, and feel like His Son Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20). Simply put– If God is longsuffering with us for and during specific seasons, we must be longsuffering with others for and during specific seasons, as directed by the Holy Spirit.
To become a genuine selfless, giving, agape-loving, God-fearing servant. As followers of Jesus Christ, we are called to serve, give, love, and work with each other. The Bible describes it as forbearing in love (Ephesians 4:2). We attain this ability through growth achieved with the Holy Spirit from various trials, offenses, and hardships God allows or causes throughout seasons in our lifetime.
Receive the gift of salvation. God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). Therefore, God is longsuffering with us to give us more time to turn from our wicked ways and come to Him, in hopes we receive the gift of salvation.
Can you recall a time when you were longsuffering for too long, too short, or not at all? If so, given what we just reviewed above, do you now see where
Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Remember, it's all about progression, not perfection! God loves you! With Him, you got this! Until next post, may God give you His peace and blessings!
~Natasha
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