FOS 8 Patience (and the end of Peace)

The fall leaves of middle Tennessee have recently popped with color,

revealing the beauty in God's creation.

Peace Wrap Up

As with love and joy, true peace has us looking to God. Often the peace that the world speaks of is false. In a world filled with sin and brokenness, earthly peace can only be temporary. Many times earthly peace is actually avoidance of the truth. Let’s review our homework and see that fleshed out.

Review from the last lesson:

Definition of peace: Freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions.¹

Luke 1:76-79 In these verses did you see that John the Baptist was the prophet of the Most High? His ministry began just before Jesus’ earthly ministry to prepare the Jewish people for the Messiah (Jesus) and their need to repent. It had been four hundred years since the Jewish people last had a prophet giving them the words of God. They needed to be reawakened to the things of God. Jesus was the sunrise giving light and leading to peace. What kind of peace was Jesus bringing? Let’s look at the other verses in the homework to discover the answer.

John 14:27 ESV - 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

Did you find that this is Jesus speaking? Again we see Him bringing peace—but not the peace of the world. Acts 10:36 also speaks about His peace and tells us it is good news. We find more answers in Romans 5.

Romans 5:1-2 ESV - 1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

These Romans 5 verses speak of the peace between us and God that we gain at salvation. Just as Adam and Eve were sent out of the garden of Eden and the presence of God, we are at odds with God because of our sin. Nothing unholy can survive the presence of a holy God. The Old Testament sacrifices represented the need for the sacrifice of life to be forgiven for our sins and reconciled to God. Those animal sacrifices were inadequate, but Jesus’ sacrifice is perfect. Because of Him, the longing of our hearts to be in a relationship with God can be satisfied since our sin (though still present) is covered with Jesus Christ’s sacrifice. That means when God looks at us, He no longer sees our sin but sees Jesus’ perfection. What a gift. 

2 Corinthians 5:17-19 (ESV) 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

2 Corinthians 5:20-21 (ESV) 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

This is the ultimate peace. We can have peace knowing our future is secure not because we have to work hard and hope we do nothing wrong to earn our way to heaven, but because our future has already been perfectly paid for. We also have peace because we have a God who cares about every detail of our lives (Matthew 6:25-34).

Jeremiah 6:13-16 ESV - 13 "For from the least to the greatest of them, everyone is greedy for unjust gain; and from prophet to priest, everyone deals falsely. 14 They have healed the wound of my people lightly, saying, 'Peace, peace,' when there is no peace. 15 Were they ashamed when they committed abomination? No, they were not at all ashamed; they did not know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; at the time that I punish them, they shall be overthrown," says the LORD. 16 Thus says the LORD: "Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, 'We will not walk in it.'

Jeremiah was a prophet in the days before and during Babylon’s sieges on Judah (the southern kingdom after Israel divided into two). During this time, many false prophets claimed God told them to continue as they were and there would be peace in the land. The truth was in the message God gave to Jeremiah for the people. God called out His people for turning away from Him and worshipping false gods. He told them there would be judgment if they did not repent and return. 

I included the Jeremiah passage because it is easy to become complacent and have false peace when we are lured into accepting the ways of the world. Guard your heart (Proverbs 4:23). Let the Holy Spirit guide you to true peace—not the false peace that says “all is well” and pushes you to turn everywhere but to God.

Isaiah 55:12 (ESV) All of chapter 55 

“For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

This beautiful chapter shows those who come to God for their provision and salvation are filled with joy and peace. These fruit of the spirit combine to create in us a heart that is satisfied. Look to God for your joy and satisfaction.

1. Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Peace. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved October 2, 2024, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/peace

Patience

Luke 8:15 ESV - As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.

Do you remember Jesus’ parable of the farmer who sows the seeds? Read Luke 8:4-15 for a refresher. In the parable, some seeds fell on the path and were trampled, some on the rock and had no moisture, and some were choked out by thorns. The seeds that landed on the rock and next to the thorns both grew and looked like regular plants at first but didn’t have what was necessary to survive. The seeds described in verse fifteen bore fruit with patience and remained.

Sometimes we don’t want to be patient with the circumstances that help us grow in the fruit of the Spirit. God can certainly provide us with the fruit instantly if He desires. And yet, it’s often the times we go through difficulties or have to wait for things that we learn to lean on God and let Him work on our hearts. What a precious gift those things are when we have waited for them!

For Study:

In the original Greek, there were two words that have very similar meanings that are translated as patience: hypomonē and makrothymia. The latter word is the one used in the list of fruit of the Spirit, but verses with either word are helpful to understand how we should grow in patience. In some cases it is translated as endurance or steadfastness, so look for those words too.

Colossians 1:9-12 ESV - 9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

What is the tie between being strengthened with all power and patience? Consider the original audience was the people of Colossae (a Roman province) and it was likely written during the time of the Roman Emperor Nero who was known for his harsh treatment of Christians.

Hebrews 6:11-12 ESV - 11 And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Read Hebrews 5:11-6:16 To get a better understanding. Note that though this may seem like it is saying these believers can lose their salvation, that is not what is described here. It is going back to that concept that if we have truly repented of our sin and accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, our relationship with Him and the Holy Spirit in us will cause us to grow fruit.

What things does this passage encourage you to look at to see if you are indeed bearing fruit? What does it encourage you to do?  How does patience tie in (verses 12 and 15)?

2 Peter 1:3-7 ESV - 3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.

In the original Greek the word hypomonē is used. In some translations, it is listed as perseverance. What do you learn from this list? Why is patience/perseverance/steadfastness necessary?

I don’t know about you, but patience is a hard one from me. Outwardly I may hide it, but inwardly there is always a battle. Let’s pray for one another as we lean into God and let the Spirit have sway in this and other areas of our lives.