The Wait From What God Promises Is PATIENCE

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The Fruit of the HOLY SPIRIT

Podcast Episode: The Fruit of the HOLY SPIRIT – PATIENCE #6

“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS, AND SELF-CONTROL. There is no law against these things.” [Galatians 5:22-23 NLT]

We need to understand that love is the first characteristic of the fruit of the Holy Spirit. It is well placed at the head of the list, for it permeates all the rest of the attributes. Somehow, if we live a life of love, the other virtues will attend us all the days of our lives. Love is the key that unlocks the entire fruit basket of Galatians 5:22-23, as well as permeating 1 Corinthians 13.

The Prophecy of Simeon

In Luke 2:25-32 NLT says, “25 At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him 26 and had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 That day the Spirit led him to the Temple. So, when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, 28 Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying, 29 “Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised. 30 I have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared for all people. 32 He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and He is the glory of your people Israel!”

Luke introduced another person who would be divinely told of the Messiah’s arrival and who would confirm the baby’s identity. Simeon was spiritually in tune with God: righteous, devout, expecting the Messiah to come. He had all his life held on to God’s promise of a coming deliverer, so through the Holy Spirit, God promised that Simeon would not die before seeing the Lord’s Messiah.

When Mary and Joseph brought baby Jesus to the Temple to present Him to the Lord (Luke 2:22), Simeon was there – having been led by the Spirit to be at the Temple on that particular day. God was ordaining this meeting, in keeping with His promise to Simeon (Luke 2:26).

Mary and Joseph arrived in the Temple to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required. This obedience to the Old Testament law is mentioned several times in Luke. It points out Jesus’ credentials as one who obeyed the law, even from birth, because His parents did exactly as they were commanded. At the Temple, Mary and Joseph met an old man who took the baby Jesus in his arms and praised God. The Spirit led Simeon to recognize this baby as the Savior. Simeon’s song is often called the “Nunc Dimittis,” the first words of its Latin translation. Simeon praised God that He had done what He promised. Luke, writing to Gentiles, pointed out that from the very beginning God’s plan was to offer salvation to all people – Gentiles as well as to Jews.

Simeon sings, “My eyes have seen your salvation.” In this statement is the realized product of patience. God has many things to show us when the time is right. Until then, the wait itself is wonderful. Amen!

God Delivers of His People

In Isaiah 40:30-31 NLT says, “30 Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion.
31 But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

God promised his unfailing strength to those who would “wait” patiently in Him (Isaiah 40:31).

Eagles are the untroubled, unhurried images in this passage. They fly with no suicidal stress in the tension of their wing beats. In fact, there are no wing beats. They simply float a thousand feet above the hurried world of human stress. If we learn how to trust and wait, says the prophet Isaiah, we shall float above the hassled world and see it as God does. When we do, we will wonder why we did not earlier choose to live the patient life. Those who hope in the Lord, demonstrate the power of true inner spirituality. Amen!

Father God Loves Us

In 1 John 3:1-3 NLT says, “See how very much our Father loves us, for He calls us His children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know Him. 2 Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but He has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He really is. 3 And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as He is pure.”

John’s statement at the end of chapter 2 that believers are God’s children caused him to marvel at how very much God loves us that He would allow us to be called His children. Great as He is, God has brought believers into the loving, intimate relationship of children with their Father. John was emphasizing the assurance believers can have that they really are God’s children.

But being God’s children separates us from the world. The world does not desire to know God, and it even refused to recognize our Lord Jesus Christ as God’s Son (John 1:10; 15:18-19), so Born-Again believers can hardly expect the world to understand their special relationship with God as His children.

Not sometime in the future, not when our Lord Jesus Christ returns, but already believers are God’s children. Yet God’s people have a future, as John further explained that we can’t even imagine what we will be like when our Lord Jesus Christ returns. Born-Again Christians have been born into God’s family, and they presently enjoy God’s kindness and blessings through our Lord Jesus Christ. But in the future, they will also fully share in His glory. Believers don’t yet know the specifics, but they do know that when He comes, they will be like Him.

This hints of what this future glory will be like. Our Lord Jesus Christ will be revealed and His people will be like Him, for they will see Him as He really is.

The Greek word for “see” involves more than a merely physiological occurrence; it means “perceiving,” “recognizing,” even “appreciating.” In order for people to truly know each other – to see each other as they really are – they have to share similar experiences. Therefore, in order to see our Lord Jesus Christ as He really is, Christians must experience the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings. This was Paul’s aspiration (see Philippians 3:7-14); it was also John’s, as expressed in the following verse.

In 1 John 3:3 describes that because our Lord Jesus Christ lived without sin (He was pure), believers will keep themselves pure. To be pure means to be morally and ethically free from the corruption of sin. This is an ongoing cleansing process, beginning at rebirth and continuing until the day our Lord Jesus Christ returns. The purer His people become, the clearer will be their view of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is pure through and through. God also purifies us as Born-Again Christians, but we must take steps to remain morally fit (see 1 Timothy 5:22; James 4:8; 1 Peter 1:22).

Here is the verse that settles our destiny: We are awaiting some grand completion. What will we be like? The mirror is too cloudy. We cannot see ourselves. Tomorrow is in the way. But when tomorrow is past, we shall indeed see what we are. Think of this glory: When we finally see how we will be, we will be like our Lord Jesus Christ. It is hard to wait when we expect such a wonder. Yet waiting with our Lord Jesus Christ is a pleasant way to bide one’s time. We who follow our Lord Jesus Christ daily await the finished picture of ourselves. We shall be like Him, and we shall appear as He appears. Such a prospect, outlook, view, vision, or hope is enough to make our waiting glorious. Patience itself works hand in hand with love, and that love in turn makes everything easy. Amen!

Duties of the Gershonite Clan

In Numbers 4:21-28 NLT says, “21 And the Lord said to Moses, 22 “Record the names of the members of the clans and families of the Gershonite division of the tribe of Levi. 23 List all the men between the ages of thirty and fifty who are eligible to serve in the Tabernacle. 24 “These Gershonite clans will be responsible for general service and carrying loads. 25 They must carry the curtains of the Tabernacle, the Tabernacle itself with its coverings, the outer covering of fine goatskin leather, and the curtain for the Tabernacle entrance. 26 They are also to carry the curtains for the courtyard walls that surround the Tabernacle and altar, the curtain across the courtyard entrance, the ropes, and all the equipment related to their use. The Gershonites are responsible for all these items. 27 Aaron and his sons will direct the Gershonites regarding all their duties, whether it involves moving the equipment or doing other work. They must assign the Gershonites responsibility for the loads they are to carry. 28 So these are the duties assigned to the Gershonite clans at the Tabernacle. They will be directly responsible to Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.”

To be in the service of God is to serve in this way. We wait; we take orders, and – no matter how menial our duties – we are thankful to God that we are allowed the privilege of serving Him.

We may often wonder if someday our testimony may read like this: I may be serving God like a Gershonite or something else. But it was a job by which God daily measured our patience. And when we’d folded and unfolded the tabernacle of our God for a thousand times, we rejoiced! Our service made it possible for Israel to worship. And if they have forgotten us, it matters not, for God never forgets. God especially does love those who serve in patience. He blesses those every sunset for all we’ve done that will never be remembered.

So, let’s encourage one to another that whatever and whenever God had called us into any ministry, God always remembers and He loves us. Amen!

Abram and Lot Separate

In Genesis 13:1-4 NLT says, “1 So Abram left Egypt and traveled north into the Negev, along with his wife and Lot and all that they owned. 2 (Abram was very rich in livestock, silver, and gold.) 3 From the Negev, they continued traveling by stages toward Bethel, and they pitched their tents between Bethel and Ai, where they had camped before. 4 This was the same place where Abram had built the altar, and there he worshiped the Lord again.“

Palestine is a highland country, and the entrance from Egypt by its southern boundary is a continual ascent. Modern translations offer the actual Hebrew word Negeb or Negev for south. “South” is a translation of negev, but in Scripture and in present-day Israel, Negeb refers to the area from Beersheba south as far as Kadesh-barnea (“Negeb,” ISBE).

Compared with the other pastoral tribes in the area, an Arab sheik was considered rich who had a hundred or two hundred tents, from sixty to a hundred camels, a thousand sheep and goats respectively. And Abram, being very rich, must have far exceeded that amount of pastoral property. “Gold and silver,” rare among these peoples, was probably acquired from the sale of his produce in Egypt.

His progress would be by slow marches and frequent encampments as he had to regulate his movements by the prospect of water and pasturage. Between Beth-el and Hai – Hai in Hebrew means “the ruin” and recent translations are unanimous in rendering it simply as Ai. This same city was sacked by Joshua during the Israelite conquest (cf. Joshua 7–8). In Joshua, the KJV renders this city as Ai. By camping in the Ai-Bethel region, Abram was returning to an earlier encampment where he had built an altar and worshiped the Lord (Genesis 12:8).

Abram felt a strong desire to renew his faith and piety at his former place of worship. He may have desired to express humility and penitence for his misconduct in Egypt or thank fulness for deliverance from perils – to embrace the first opportunity on returning to Canaan of leading his family to renew allegiance to God and offer the typical sacrifices which pointed to the blessings of the promise. This is similar to what Jacob did at Bethel (cf. Genesis 35:6-15).

It is glorious to walk with God. At every step, we remember where we met Him; how we first served Him and all we still hope for. But the unfolding panoramas of our lives are held together with patience.

Abraham returns to Bethel, where he once celebrated this walk of patience. Being certain of the faithfulness of God in the past, he waited with confident patience for the final fulfillment of every divine promise. The wait is the relationship. The wait is the remembrance.

Abraham must have meditated at Bethel on the why’s and wherefores of covenant faith. God had called him, and he had followed in obedience and patience. But the question “why” must have dogged him constantly. “Why me, God? Why, of all people in the world, should I be so central to your saving dreams for all humankind?”

That maybe our own questions, too. Why did our King Lord Jesus Christ choose a lowly ass to carry Him to ride? Why did our King Lord Jesus Christ choose me a lowly unimportant person to bear Him in my world today? Let alone the King of kings and yet He had chosen us to carry Him in triumph in this world’s parade. Amen!

This concludes today’s message of this Series of Podcast – PATIENCE. Next week, we will start the Series Podcast of the Fruit of the Holy Spirit: KINDNESS

Now, let’s talk about “Prayer and “Salvation”.

Prayer is the key that unlocks and reveals faith. Effective prayer needs both an attitude of complete dependence and the action of asking. Prayer demonstrates complete reliance on God. Thus, there is no substitute for prayer, especially in situations that seem impossible.

So, let our hearts and minds in tune with God, in the power of God, the Holy Spirit. Let’s continuously and persistently pray for God’s perfect will be done. We as Born-Again Christians have been tried and cleansed, we have moved freely into a relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ that is more powerful than it was before our trials. We are at home in the presence and fellowship of God, for we are heirs with our Lord Jesus Christ, more like Him that we could ever have dreamed possible. So, let’s continuously and persistently pray for God’s perfect will be done. Amen!

The principle is that no one has anything of value to bring to God in order to deserve salvation, mercy, justification, or even a second glance from God. The proud will be humbled, but the humble will be honored. Acceptance before God cannot be achieved by good deeds, piety, or any amount of self-proclaimed righteousness.

Let’s never get over the effect of God’s saving transformation on people’s lives. People who were lost in sin, filled with anger and bitterness, give up their hatred and become approachable as we have studied and learned last time. That is, of course, why we minister to others. Those of us who minister are not people to whom (fruit of the Holy Spirit) love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control comes naturally. We are people who have been remodeled by grace. We thankfully leave our old natures far behind as we embrace the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, the first of the list > agape love of God, and in our treatment of others. Amen!

Sunday by Sunday as we come to worship, let me encourage our brothers – and sisters-in-Christ, and I want my readers and listeners to be both strong in the faith and sensitive to others’ needs. Because all, we as Born-Again Christian believers are strong in certain areas and weak in others, we constantly need to monitor the effects of our behavior on others.

In these PATIENCE Series of Podcast, we learned the following PURPOSES of this fruit of the HOLY SPIRIT:

1. Learned the art of waiting on God
2. Reminded us how to receive the blessings of God
3. Learned to live by God’s timetable
4. Learned to think about unhurried or painstaking virtue
5. Learned and knew how to acquire this virtue slowly
6. Learned to wait from what God promises

On every Podcast, I always have three (3) questions we can answer from only these two (2) Sources: The Bible and Guidance of the Holy Spirit. The following are:

First is about our > Observation: What do these passages or Scriptures say to you?

Second is about our own > Interpretation: What do these passages or Scriptures mean to you?

Third is about how we can apply > Application: How do the meaning of these passages or Scriptures apply to you or to your situation?

If you are not sure that you are Born-Again Christian believer or you have relatives, loved ones, friends, neighbors, and people in your circle of influence, please take a look and/or guide them to one of our ministries, “An Invitation To Meet Our Lord Jesus Christ” at https://homefellowshipchurches.org/an-invitation-to-meet-our-lord-jesus-christ/

Let’s give an opportunity for the lost souls to experience on being Born-Again Christian as explained by our Lord Jesus Christ in the book of John 3:13 in the New Testament of the Bible.

It is as simple as A, B, & C > Admit, Believe, & Confess. All Born-Again Christian believers prayed this simple prayer we called “Sinner’s Prayer”

“Father God, I come to in the name of Jesus Christ. I acknowledge and admit that I am a sinner and I need a Savior. I believe and have faith in Jesus Christ who was born of Virgin Mary, died on the Cross for the penalty of my sins, and rose again that I may have the eternal life. I confess and declare Jesus Christ as my personal Savior and Lord of my life. Please comfort, guide, and help me Holy Spirit to live and grow in my spiritual life according to Your Words, purpose, and perfect will of God, in my Lord Jesus Christ name, Amen!”

If you prayed this, “Sinner’s Prayer” sincerely in your heart, you are Born-Again Christian believer. However, you are a spiritual baby who needs to grow up. (See 1 Peter 2:2). You need to find a church or fellowship to grow spiritually. We are glad to establish or bring the fellowship to your own home if it is safer.

Now, let me pray for all of you:

Father God, we come into your presence in our Lord Jesus Christ name, and in the power of the Holy Spirit. Thank you Lord Jesus Christ for Your agape love and forgiveness you have done on the Cross of Calvary, and continue to intercede for us in prayer. Thank you Holy Spirit as our Helper and Comforter. Thank you for the wisdom, knowledge, understanding, courage and strength. We cling, yield, plug-in and tune-in to you Holy Spirit to help us understand God’s Words, obey them, receive Your divine revelation, know the Truth that sets us free, and apply them in our lives, in our Lord Jesus Christ name, Amen!”

Let’s praise and worship God in Spirit and in Truth. Give all thanks to God for all answered prayers.

Please send your > Praise Reports (answered prayers) and New Prayer Requests via email to: TrinityBlessings@homefellowshipchurches.org. God bless you all and our families!

A Call to Repentance and Be Blessed

In Malachi 3:7-15 AMPC says, “7 Ever since the days of your ancestors, you have scorned my decrees and failed to obey them. Now return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “But you ask, ‘How can we return when we have never gone away?’ 8 “Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated me! “But you ask, ‘What do you mean? When did we ever cheat you?’ “You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me. 9 You are under a curse, for your whole nation has been cheating me. 10 Bring all the tithes (the whole tenth of your income) into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and prove Me now by it”, says the Lord of hosts, “if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” [Malachi 2:2.] 11 “And I will rebuke the devourer (insects and plagues) for your sakes and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground, neither shall your vine drop its fruits before the time in the field,” says the Lord of hosts. 12 “And all nations shall call you happy and blessed, for you shall be a land of delight”, says the Lord of hosts.

If the people would obey God, giving as they should, God would flood His people with blessings. There would be an overabundance of God’s blessing if He was given what He requested.

Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse – See 2 Chronicles 31:11; cf. 1 Chronicles 26:20; Nehemiah 10:38; 13:5, 12. If the temple storehouses were empty, it was the people’s fault. God had already blessed them with enough to give a little back to Him.

Instead of destroying our crops (blessings), God would make them come in greater abundance than we had ever imagined possible (Amos 4:9; Haggai 2:19; Zechariah 8:12). The devourer – probably referring to locusts, though the word here is general in meaning (Baldwin). In the Near East, locust swarms are known for their ability to damage huge tracts of agricultural land (see note on Joel 1:4).

A delightsome land – All of the blessings promised to Jacob would come to pass if the people would obey God (Deuteronomy 33:29; Zechariah 8:13). Their land would be a delight to all who saw it (Daniel 8:9).

The problem in Malachi 3:7-12 was the people’s departure from God as reflected by their neglect of tithes and offerings. Two annual tithes were required according to Israelite law – one for the Levites (Leviticus 27:30; Numbers 18:21), and one to be used in worship at the annual feasts in Jerusalem (Deuteronomy 14:22). A tithe was required every three years to provide for the needs of the poor (Deuteronomy 14:28-29). There is debate as to whether this tithe for the poor was in addition to or served as a substitute for the tithe used in worship.

The New Testament pattern for tithing is proportionate giving – a person is to give “in relation to what you have earned” (1 Corinthians 16:2). Certainly a tithe should be given proportionate to one’s wealth, but not all proportionate giving is a tithe.

The anticipation of blessing for obedience to God’s command to tithe was based on the Mosaic covenant, which promised blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience (Malachi 3:10; cf. Deuteronomy 28:15-68). Generally, God will meet the needs of His own people (Psalm 34:9-10; Philippians 4:19), but that is not an unconditional guarantee. There certainly were and are exceptions. Yet, where God chooses not to provide physically, He gives sufficient grace to go without (2 Corinthians 12:9).

The problem in Malachi 3:14-15 was that the people were guilty of arrogant words against God. They were saying, “There is no prophet who is serving God,” and “God is not concerned about justice.” God responded by showing that He did distinguish between the wicked and the righteous. The righteous would be blessed, and the wicked would be judged.