You are equipped with patience. Is this really true?

You have perfect patience! I already hear you arguing no to this. You may totally disagree and point to many areas of your life that would confirm otherwise. However, the Word of God says that as a born-again child, having His Spirit, that you possess the fruit of His Spirit, and this includes patience (1 Corinthians 2:12; Galatians 5:22,23). Now you are probably asking, if I have it, why don’t I see it or act patiently? Knowing that you possess patience is the perfect starting place.

Let’s begin in James 1:2-4. “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing”. Since the Word confirms that you already have the fruit of the Spirit, which includes patience, what the testing of your faith does is to put the patience that you do have to work. So, what is the perfect work of patience?

Before that question can be answered, let’s look at the foundation of patience based on Romans 4:17-21:

· Hear what God says. (What is the word of God that you are standing on?)

· Believe what God says.

· Trust Him; don’t waver.

· Be fully convinced that what God has said He is able to perform; He keeps His word.

· Believing what God says leads to praise, even before seeing a result; praise Him in faith.

· Praising God in faith strengthens you and empowers you to continue to put patience to work.

· You are able to praise because you keep your focus on Jesus.

· Keeping focused on Jesus helps you to endure.

· Know that God’s love for you is unfailing.

You begin to see a process here, suggesting what the perfect work of patience is. Your faith is tested. You believe what God said, so you are steadfast on that word because He said it. The situation may not be lining up with His word, but you have confidence in Him. You trust Him. You are firmly planted upon His word. Even in the midst of unchanging circumstances, you continue to believe what God said. You praise Him. This praise seems to awaken a new level of trust within you; you are empowered to remain steadfast upon His word. You are putting patience to work. Then what happens? Hebrews 10:36 explains.

“Steadfast patience and endurance help you to perform and fully accomplish the will of God, then you are able to receive and carry away what God has promised.” His word is His will.

As patience is put to work, it helps you to remain planted on the word of God and receive all that He has promised! Abraham, David and Joseph confirm the extraordinary results of patience. None of these men possessed the fruit of the Spirit because Jesus had not lived, died and was resurrected. We, however, are living in the age of grace and possess the Holy Spirit because of Jesus. But the Spirit did come upon them. They possessed the strength of God to endure and be patient. Each had a promise made to them by God. Following the promise, years passed before the results of the promise was fulfilled.

· Abraham was promised a son at the age of 75; at the age of 100 the promise was fulfilled.

· Joseph was told at the approximate age of 13, that he would have a place of honor, with others bowing down to him. This promise was fulfilled many years later as an adult.

· David was anointed to be king during his youth, but actually became king about the age of 30.

Each man suffered temptation and trials while they waited, to the degree that they could have easily rejected God’s plan as being true. The circumstances were severe enough to cause them to doubt that they heard from God, but they demonstrated patience. David had moments of reckless behavior resulting in sin, but he remained steadfast on the promise itself. It was necessary for them to endure patiently while they waited for the promise to come to pass.

God’s promises to you, according to what is written in His word, is actually an expression of His love for you. Nothing can separate you from His love (Romans 8:38-39). Therefore, nothing can separate you from the promise, if you believe! Temptations actually come from worldly thinking, that is the natural trying to convince us, persuade us, that God is liar. It is a tactic from the enemy that tries to derail us or distract us from the Lord, keeping us from receiving the promise, which is God’s will for us.

The fact is what God says is true. His word confirms what He has already provided for us, ready and waiting to be received in the natural world if we believe. The fact that we have His word confirming His promises, should cause us to mine the treasure of His word and know exactly what He has provided to us. God refers to this as our inheritance (Romans 8:17). This should give us hope and cause us to be remain on those foundation principles of patience.

James 1:12 says this:

“Blessed is the man who is patient under trial and stands up under temptation, for when he has stood the test and been approved, he will receive (the victors) crown of life which God has promised to those who love Him.” (Amplified Version)

You receive God’s promises by patience! Remember, Jesus came to give you life in abundance to the full until it overflows (John 10:10). This life in abundance is confirmed by His word, and He desires that you experience His blessing.