Longsuffering

Temple Baptist Church - 6-26-2022

Romans 2:1-4

 

Introduction:

 

A. I have been preaching “sorta-kinda” through the fruit of the Spirit but from a different perspective. This morning, I want to look at longsuffering in the Bible. This is a very important message as it has to do with endurance outwardly which affects all of us.

 

B. First, the word “longsuffering” found in verse 4. A word easily understood when we break it down.

 

1. Long – over a long period of time. We live in days of shortness instead of longevity. I remember seeing on a child’s report card, “Gives up too easily.” It was not something written on an individual report but a standard question with a box in front of it to be checked or left unchecked. I have a feeling that if God had a standard report card issued to all His children that it would have the same question and box on it! “Gives up too easily!”

 

2. Suffering – suffer means to allow in a bad sense. We all know what it is to suffer. Suffering is a part of living and not one of us enjoy it. In the Bible, to suffer is to allow something that may or may not be enjoyable! When you are sick, you just have to put up with the suffering that goes along with it. With sickness, you have no choice but to suffer, but spiritually you can allow or not allow.

 

 

C. The first aspect of the fruit of the Spirit in our outward demeanor is an important one: longsuffering!

 

1. Longsuffering defined: patiently enduring lasting offense or hardship.

 

2. Longsuffering synonyms: Forgiving, selfless, accommodating, tolerant, patient, stoic, uncomplaining. I love the word stoic.

 

3. Stoic defined: not affected by or showing passion or feeling.

 

4. “Is everything going your way?” Longsuffering says, “No and neither does it have to go my way.”

 

1. The Longsuffering of the Saviour. The Lord is our example of longsuffering.

 

a. The Lord is longsuffering with Sinners. Hebrews 12:3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

 

But the day will come when His longsuffering with not be there. 2 Peter 3:9-10 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (10) But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. (Sinners need to be saved but God will not force His salvation upon them!)

 

b. The Lord is longsuffering with Saints. Romans 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

 

As I get to the message, I want you to think how longsuffering that God has to you and me! This is the example of longsuffering and His love is the basis of longsuffering.

 

2. The Longsuffering of the Saint. Longsuffering: simply stated is that you are going to have to put up with a lot of “junk” from a lot of people: sinners, and saints!

 

a. Long. We live in days where preachers have no longevity! We get the “glowing” prayer letters and then find out that they have already quit and gone home by the time that you get them. This tells me that they quit in their heart before they left their “post!” I have been here for over 35 years. I am not the man that I used to be so, for you to keep me here for that long, two things had to happen:

 

1) You had to put up with a lot of “junk.” 😊

 

2) I have had to put up with a lot of “junk.” 😊

 

3) HANG IN THERE! Don’t get you “Gives up too easily” box checked!

 

b. Suffering. People have good days and bad days. You just have to put up with a lot of “junk” in this life!

 

1) In the bad days, they may 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. The Good Results of Longsuffering.

 

a. 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.

 

b. 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.

 

c. Longsuffering protects the Testimony of the Church. When people leave churches wrong, the world will soon know.

 

d. Longsuffering protects the Posterity of the Church. When people are miffed at one another, there is division, and our children know and are hurt by it.

 

e. Longsuffering protects our Prayer of the Church. When we are out of sorts with others, we are out of sorts with God and our prayers go unanswered.

 

f. Longsuffering protects the Praise of the Church. If we do not love our brother whom we can see, how can we worship our God whom we cannot see.