![[ Back ]](../../images/nav_back.png)
![[ Contents ]](../../images/nav_contents.png)
![[ Forward ]](../../images/nav_forward.png)
Galatians 5:22 "But the fruit of the Spirit is ... longsuffering ..."
The Greek word translated "longsuffering" means, patient endurance; to bear with frailties, offences, injuries, and provocations of others, without murmuring, repining or resentment. There is much need for this fruit of the Spirit in our living for God here, and in our service for God, among imperfect men and in an imperfect world. The beauty of Jesus is seen in our dealings with, and attitudes to others.
No one can know God except as He reveals Himself. In this revelation of Himself God makes known His longsuffering. The Revised Version says "slow to anger" This wonderful characteristic of the divine nature leads God to bear long with the sinner. God could have shown mercy and grace, and then withdrawn them, owing to there being no immediate response. His patient endurance explains the length and continuance of history, especially of the gospel age.
His patience led Him to bear long with ancient Israel.
God dealt with them till there was no remedy. God was longsuffering with the apostate church of the Middle Ages. As in the case of Thyatira:
The Lord is longsuffering with believers, drawing them to perfect holiness, and Christ likeness in the fruit of the Spirit.
David knew the violence (Psalm 86:14 ), and evil plans of men - "But You, O LORD" He experienced the enduring patience of God. Our experience also testifies to God's longsuffering.
Does the violence, anger, impatience of the worldly around you cause you to be appreciative of the enduring patience of God?
Longsuffering is a part of the beautiful nature of our Lord. The fruit of the Spirit, LONGSUFFERING, is His disposition in us.
"Consider" means "compare yourself with", "think over". "Endured" - our example. "Contradiction" - "hostility" (NKJV) a contrary argument, dispute. Christ was literally a contradiction to His enemies, who expressed themselves in open hatred and hostility. What longsuffering this called for on the part of our Lord; He purposes to let the beauty of His longsuffering be seen in us. Are you as the only born again person in your place of employment, by the fruit of the Spirit presenting a contrary argument?
Before the high priest He held His peace. To Pilate He gave no answer. In His suffering and reproach of the cross, He answered nothing, except for benediction and prayer. When He was reviled He did not answer with reviling; when He suffered, He uttered no threats; but left His wrongs in the hands of the righteous Judge. What an example of longsuffering - impossible to us without the work of His Holy Spirit in us producing the fruit.
Hear what Jesus had to say about this in
Matthew 5:11,39 "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 39 "But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also."
Without the fruit of the Spirit of longsuffering it is impossible to be able to get within 1,000 miles of fulfilment. He longs to perfect His character in us. Paul's prayer is needed:
We tend to associate His "glorious power" with witnessing and gifts - rarely with longsuffering.
Saints of both Old and New Testaments have manifested this God-like characteristic.
In the absence of Moses, the people requested of Aaron a god they could see, like the heathen. God told Moses of their idolatry and even without seeing the thing for himself interceded for Israel. Moses' anger waxed hot - yet he was so longsuffering that within 24 hours he was again telling the people he would intercede for them, further on we read the amazing prayer of this longsuffering saint:
It was as though Moses could not finish the first part of the sentence - unsure of his ground, he tends to barter with God. His tremendous commitment to the leadership of Israel is shown in his willingness to perish if that was inevitable. His longsuffering patience could not let this people go.
Job was an example of the great company of believer-martyrs of the past and present - longsuffering in their testimony for Jesus sake.
Richard Wurmbrand survived 14 years of communist imprisonment - he suffered physically for his faith to the extent which will shock the complacency of anyone who picks up his book "TORTURED FOR CHRIST". Thousands today are in prisons, being tortured for their faith.
Richard Wurmbrand reminds us in "THE SOVIET SAINTS" that "communism has stamped out many things, including hypocrisy among Christians. Nobody earns anything other than trouble and suffering by being religious, or a faithful church leader. The whole quality of religious life has been changed by this. Diamonds are nothing but black coal put under very heavy pressure. Under the pressure of communism the Christians have become beautiful gems." (page 28).
Throughout the world there is an army of Christians, martyrs today, suffering physically and in whom the fruit of the Spirit, longsuffering is beautifully seen.
When you ask for the beauty of Jesus to be seen in you, are you including longsuffering?
What a catalogue of suffering is given us in 2 Corinthians 11:23-28. We particularly point to 5 of them:
"In Prisons More Frequent" (2 Corinthians 11:23 KJV)
"In Deaths Oft" (2 Corinthians 11:23 KJV)Frequently exposed to death. It seems certain that one occasion he was actually killed, though God mercifully raised him up.
Compare 2 Corinthians 12:1-4.
"Five Times Received I 40 Stripes Save One" (2 Corinthians 11:24 KJV)Inflicted with a long leather strap which was divided into thongs (usually 13), to each thong stones and pieces of metal were attached. Thus the back would soon be lacerated.
"Thrice Was I Beaten With Rods" (2 Corinthians 11:25 KJV)Inflicted on Paul and Silas at Philippi.
"Once Was I Stoned" (2 Corinthians 11:25 KJV)- large boulders as heavy as a man could lift would be hurled at the victim - until the body was reduced to pulp.
Paul could write to Timothy:
Note verse 12. Longsuffering is a saint-like characteristic. Grace changes us and grace gives the power to face with enduring patience the consequences of Christlikeness.
One of the characteristics needed in the local church fellowship, is longsuffering.
We need this among us just as much as at the church at Colosse - the fruit of the Spirit, longsuffering, enables a fellowship to go on functioning and be effective with resultant blessing. It is the fruit of the Spirit "longsuffering" that keeps the peace in each local expression of the body of Christ. This fruit makes unity possible throughout the universal church. Where the fruit of the Spirit flourishes, oneness and unity can be a reality that affects the world (John 17:21 ).
The Lord tells the parable of the longsuffering, patient shepherd who keeps seeking the lost sheep until he finds it. Christ's longsuffering patience with His sheep is continued in His true under shepherds in the exercising of their ministry. Paul says:
and continues:
A man is rejected for the shepherd ministry unless he has a generous supply of this marvellous fruit - as Paul reminds Timothy:
Other forms of suffering arise in many directions, some are from the world - some from self - some from the devil - some from our heavenly Father (Hebrews 12:5-11 ). But no matter from what direction, we need the beauty of the Lord Jesus to be always shining forth in us.
