1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:18,880 We tend to be an impatient people by nature, don't we? 2 00:00:18,880 --> 00:00:22,400 How many of you enjoy standing in lines waiting on something? 3 00:00:22,400 --> 00:00:28,660 Well, that means you're part of the majority. 4 00:00:28,660 --> 00:00:31,460 We do not like to wait. 5 00:00:31,460 --> 00:00:37,640 We avoid waits if at all possible, whether it's at the gas station, on the freeway, 6 00:00:37,640 --> 00:00:44,120 or in a grocery store, or waiting for the bathroom at home. 7 00:00:44,120 --> 00:00:48,760 We don't like to wait. 8 00:00:48,760 --> 00:00:58,800 This evening we're going to talk about God, who is a God of patience. 9 00:00:58,800 --> 00:01:06,240 We're going to start in Romans 15 as our jumping-off spot and read three verses beginning 10 00:01:06,240 --> 00:01:10,920 with verse 4. 11 00:01:10,920 --> 00:01:21,600 Romans 15 verse 4, for whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction 12 00:01:21,600 --> 00:01:30,840 that through perseverance and the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. 13 00:01:30,840 --> 00:01:39,780 Now may the God who gives perseverance or patience and encouragement grant you to be 14 00:01:39,780 --> 00:01:45,240 of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, that with one accord you 15 00:01:45,240 --> 00:01:52,260 may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 16 00:01:52,260 --> 00:01:58,580 God who identifies himself here as the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ also calls 17 00:01:58,580 --> 00:02:06,520 himself the God of perseverance and encouragement or the God of patience. 18 00:02:06,520 --> 00:02:12,040 God will wait and God does wait. 19 00:02:12,040 --> 00:02:17,320 That has been a characteristic of God from the very beginning because patience is a part 20 00:02:17,320 --> 00:02:20,360 of his very nature. 21 00:02:20,360 --> 00:02:25,960 You see, God is in no hurry unlike us. 22 00:02:25,960 --> 00:02:29,920 We are often in hurries. 23 00:02:29,920 --> 00:02:36,880 I remember when our first child was born that she was born at a particularly busy time in 24 00:02:36,880 --> 00:02:37,880 our lives. 25 00:02:37,880 --> 00:02:42,800 I don't know if you can pick an unbusy time for the birth of a child, but on the night 26 00:02:42,800 --> 00:02:49,400 that she was born I also became the pastor of my first church. 27 00:02:49,400 --> 00:02:55,360 The first year or two of any pastorate is a very busy time as you try to get up to speed 28 00:02:55,360 --> 00:02:59,200 with what's going on. 29 00:02:59,200 --> 00:03:07,960 I can remember that some of the first words that Kelly learned were, hurry up. 30 00:03:07,960 --> 00:03:11,120 I don't think it was she, but it was one of our children that asked me one night as 31 00:03:11,120 --> 00:03:17,200 we were scurrying to go somewhere, Daddy, are we in a hurry again? 32 00:03:17,200 --> 00:03:18,680 Maybe you can identify with that. 33 00:03:18,680 --> 00:03:24,200 But as I look back upon the fact, I regretted that some of the first words that she learned 34 00:03:24,200 --> 00:03:27,920 were hurry up. 35 00:03:27,920 --> 00:03:31,460 We are in too much of a hurry sometimes, aren't we? 36 00:03:31,460 --> 00:03:34,080 God is never in a hurry. 37 00:03:34,080 --> 00:03:38,600 God has plenty of time, you see, because God is eternal. 38 00:03:38,600 --> 00:03:43,480 Now when I say that God is in no hurry, I don't mean that God is dilatory, nor do I 39 00:03:43,480 --> 00:03:45,720 mean that God procrastinates. 40 00:03:45,720 --> 00:03:53,400 It's just that God is in no particular hurry because He will ultimately accomplish all 41 00:03:53,400 --> 00:03:56,720 of His purposes at the right time. 42 00:03:56,720 --> 00:04:05,160 Have you ever wondered why the cross was not immediately after the fall? 43 00:04:05,160 --> 00:04:13,120 Have you ever wondered why the incarnation did not come with the birth of the first child 44 00:04:13,120 --> 00:04:18,200 instead of several thousand years later in Bethlehem with Mary? 45 00:04:18,200 --> 00:04:22,200 It wasn't God's plan. 46 00:04:22,200 --> 00:04:24,040 You see, God was in no hurry to do that. 47 00:04:24,040 --> 00:04:29,240 He allowed generations to live and die on the earth. 48 00:04:29,240 --> 00:04:36,520 And then in the fullness of time, at the right time, God sent forth His Son. 49 00:04:36,520 --> 00:04:42,160 God is patient, not only in the purposes that He has, but He is patient with people as well. 50 00:04:42,160 --> 00:04:45,480 And I'm glad because I'm a people. 51 00:04:45,480 --> 00:04:51,120 Tonight I'd like to especially think about the truth that God is patient with sinners. 52 00:04:51,120 --> 00:04:52,960 That is true throughout the Word of God. 53 00:04:52,960 --> 00:04:55,400 God is patient with sinners. 54 00:04:55,400 --> 00:04:59,480 And I believe there are three reasons why that is true. 55 00:04:59,480 --> 00:05:06,640 In the first place, God is patient with sinners because that magnifies His name. 56 00:05:06,640 --> 00:05:08,180 It glorifies God. 57 00:05:08,180 --> 00:05:15,440 It exposes what He is really like when He is patient with sinners. 58 00:05:15,440 --> 00:05:17,360 God's name is very important to Him. 59 00:05:17,360 --> 00:05:20,360 That's true with all of us, of course. 60 00:05:20,360 --> 00:05:27,320 But even more so with God because God's name, you see, tells us who He is and what He is 61 00:05:27,320 --> 00:05:28,320 like. 62 00:05:28,320 --> 00:05:32,460 Therefore, God is jealous about His name. 63 00:05:32,460 --> 00:05:36,240 That is why one of the commandments says that we should not take the name of the Lord our 64 00:05:36,240 --> 00:05:39,760 God in vain. 65 00:05:39,760 --> 00:05:42,320 We are not to jest with it. 66 00:05:42,320 --> 00:05:49,700 We are not to treat the name of God lightly because the name of God means something. 67 00:05:49,700 --> 00:05:54,160 It is holy, it is sacred, it is to be revered. 68 00:05:54,160 --> 00:06:00,740 That is why, at least in our home, we do not allow our children to even speak slang words 69 00:06:00,740 --> 00:06:02,960 using the name of God. 70 00:06:02,960 --> 00:06:06,400 Gosh, and that sort of thing. 71 00:06:06,400 --> 00:06:15,920 We want to prevent anything that would seem to approach using the name of God in an off-handed, 72 00:06:15,920 --> 00:06:20,280 superficial way. 73 00:06:20,280 --> 00:06:25,280 In Exodus chapter 34, God reveals something about His name. 74 00:06:25,280 --> 00:06:32,160 He is here having a conversation with Moses. 75 00:06:32,160 --> 00:06:43,920 Moses has made a request of God. 76 00:06:43,920 --> 00:06:46,720 He wanted to see the Lord. 77 00:06:46,720 --> 00:06:51,320 I am going to begin reading in verse 5. 78 00:06:51,320 --> 00:06:52,320 It says, 79 00:06:52,320 --> 00:07:02,520 And the Lord descended in the cloud and stood there with him, that is with Moses, as he 80 00:07:02,520 --> 00:07:05,200 called upon the name of the Lord. 81 00:07:05,200 --> 00:07:06,800 Now, how did Moses do that? 82 00:07:06,800 --> 00:07:09,920 I am not sure. 83 00:07:09,920 --> 00:07:11,840 He spoke it. 84 00:07:11,840 --> 00:07:15,880 Was it a prayer? 85 00:07:15,880 --> 00:07:21,920 Was it simply a recitation of the name of God as he knew it in Revelation at that point? 86 00:07:21,920 --> 00:07:25,000 I am not exactly sure what this means. 87 00:07:25,000 --> 00:07:30,240 But in some manner, Moses called upon the name of the Lord as the Lord came in a cloud 88 00:07:30,240 --> 00:07:32,120 and stood there with him. 89 00:07:32,120 --> 00:07:41,880 It says, Then the Lord passed by in front of him and proclaimed, The Lord, the Lord 90 00:07:41,880 --> 00:07:45,240 God, compassionate and gracious. 91 00:07:45,240 --> 00:07:48,880 Now, you see, God is going to begin expounding about His name now. 92 00:07:48,880 --> 00:07:50,880 He says, The Lord, the Lord God. 93 00:07:50,880 --> 00:07:53,160 Now, what about Him? 94 00:07:53,160 --> 00:08:04,840 He says, compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving kindness and truth. 95 00:08:04,840 --> 00:08:08,240 That is what God wants us to know about Himself. 96 00:08:08,240 --> 00:08:14,420 When we use the name Lord God, we should think about terms like these, including the one 97 00:08:14,420 --> 00:08:16,480 that says He is slow to anger. 98 00:08:16,480 --> 00:08:18,980 God is patient. 99 00:08:18,980 --> 00:08:26,000 When God is patient with sinners, it glorifies, it exposes His true nature. 100 00:08:26,000 --> 00:08:28,080 God is patient. 101 00:08:28,080 --> 00:08:31,960 He is long-suffering with sinners. 102 00:08:31,960 --> 00:08:39,240 In being patient with them, He honors His name and glorifies His nature. 103 00:08:39,240 --> 00:08:48,120 So the next time you hear a scoffer or a skeptic challenge God and say something like, If there 104 00:08:48,120 --> 00:08:52,160 is a God, then why doesn't He? 105 00:08:52,160 --> 00:08:54,120 You complete the sentence. 106 00:08:54,120 --> 00:08:56,400 And of course, nothing happens. 107 00:08:56,400 --> 00:08:59,640 And so His conclusion is, See, there is no God. 108 00:08:59,640 --> 00:09:05,320 There was one skeptic of a different generation who said, If there is a God, let Him now strike 109 00:09:05,320 --> 00:09:09,360 me dead on this platform. 110 00:09:09,360 --> 00:09:11,400 He wasn't struck dead. 111 00:09:11,400 --> 00:09:13,640 And he said, See, there is no God. 112 00:09:13,640 --> 00:09:15,440 I'm still alive. 113 00:09:15,440 --> 00:09:19,040 Did he prove there was no God? 114 00:09:19,040 --> 00:09:20,040 No. 115 00:09:20,040 --> 00:09:25,760 Actually, in his foolishness, all he was doing was glorifying God. 116 00:09:25,760 --> 00:09:32,820 He was exposing the nature of God that God is patient with foolish sinners. 117 00:09:32,820 --> 00:09:39,660 God is patient with sinners because, in being patient, it exposes what He is like in His 118 00:09:39,660 --> 00:09:41,200 nature. 119 00:09:41,200 --> 00:09:48,160 It manifests His long-suffering with iniquity. 120 00:09:48,160 --> 00:09:53,640 God is patient with sinners for a second reason, and that is because it gives us an example 121 00:09:53,640 --> 00:09:56,000 of patience. 122 00:09:56,000 --> 00:09:57,800 You know, we are to be a patient people, too. 123 00:09:57,800 --> 00:10:02,960 I don't know about you, but I've learned not to pray for patience because you know 124 00:10:02,960 --> 00:10:06,640 what it takes to get patience, tribulation. 125 00:10:06,640 --> 00:10:12,480 That's the reason that God allows trials to come to us, in part, so that we might learn 126 00:10:12,480 --> 00:10:18,000 perseverance, so that we might learn patience, so that we might reflect His patience and 127 00:10:18,000 --> 00:10:22,760 ourselves be slow to anger. 128 00:10:22,760 --> 00:10:28,200 I think that's something men especially struggle with. 129 00:10:28,200 --> 00:10:34,600 Anger is a common problem in the male species. 130 00:10:34,600 --> 00:10:40,400 I'm sure there are all kinds of reasons why that might be so. 131 00:10:40,400 --> 00:10:48,960 I do know that our Father God wants us men to be slow to anger. 132 00:10:48,960 --> 00:10:56,560 That is an area where many of us, including myself, have to work and trust Him. 133 00:10:56,560 --> 00:11:05,760 In James 5, we have an interesting instruction. 134 00:11:05,760 --> 00:11:12,160 In verse 7, He says, Be patient. 135 00:11:12,160 --> 00:11:17,140 How many of you know the tortoise in Agape land? 136 00:11:17,140 --> 00:11:19,960 What does that tortoise sing? 137 00:11:19,960 --> 00:11:24,880 Be patient, be patient. 138 00:11:24,880 --> 00:11:35,320 Don't be in such a hurry. 139 00:11:35,320 --> 00:11:39,640 There's more, but I'll refrain for tonight. 140 00:11:39,640 --> 00:11:41,720 That's about what he sounds like. 141 00:11:41,720 --> 00:11:47,600 Now, of course, you know why the tortoise is the one who is selected to sing that particular 142 00:11:47,600 --> 00:11:51,880 song and manifest that fruit of the Spirit. 143 00:11:51,880 --> 00:11:52,880 That's what James says. 144 00:11:52,880 --> 00:12:00,960 He says, Be patient, therefore, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. 145 00:12:00,960 --> 00:12:07,120 He says, Behold, the farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil. 146 00:12:07,120 --> 00:12:11,080 We spent the last week on the farm. 147 00:12:11,080 --> 00:12:13,840 My stepfather is doing exactly what it says here. 148 00:12:13,840 --> 00:12:18,720 He is waiting for the soil to produce the crops. 149 00:12:18,720 --> 00:12:20,920 Looks like a good year on the farm. 150 00:12:20,920 --> 00:12:26,240 Maybe too good of a year for the farmer's own good in some respects. 151 00:12:26,240 --> 00:12:31,680 The price of crops will probably go down as a result of it. 152 00:12:31,680 --> 00:12:35,900 There's always yet the possibility of a drought, a very real possibility, the way the weather 153 00:12:35,900 --> 00:12:41,040 system is setting up for this part of the summer. 154 00:12:41,040 --> 00:12:43,720 Farmers have to learn patience. 155 00:12:43,720 --> 00:12:46,840 They don't know what tomorrow's going to bring. 156 00:12:46,840 --> 00:12:47,960 And that is James' point. 157 00:12:47,960 --> 00:12:50,800 He says, Look at the farmer. 158 00:12:50,800 --> 00:12:57,560 He waits for the produce of the soil, being patient about it until it gets the early and 159 00:12:57,560 --> 00:12:58,560 late rains. 160 00:12:58,560 --> 00:13:02,440 He's talking about the weather system in Palestine. 161 00:13:02,440 --> 00:13:06,120 And so he says, You too, be patient. 162 00:13:06,120 --> 00:13:10,480 Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. 163 00:13:10,480 --> 00:13:12,720 He says, Be patient under the coming of the Lord. 164 00:13:12,720 --> 00:13:15,160 The coming of the Lord is at hand. 165 00:13:15,160 --> 00:13:17,520 The Lord is about to come. 166 00:13:17,520 --> 00:13:18,520 The Lord is at the door. 167 00:13:18,520 --> 00:13:22,040 He's just ready to open the door. 168 00:13:22,040 --> 00:13:25,280 So he says, Be patient in light of that. 169 00:13:25,280 --> 00:13:30,360 This word patience here is a word that means long-tempered. 170 00:13:30,360 --> 00:13:35,960 It is the opposite of the word anger. 171 00:13:35,960 --> 00:13:39,480 It is a word that is used of God. 172 00:13:39,480 --> 00:13:43,160 God describes himself as the God of patience. 173 00:13:43,160 --> 00:13:48,840 You'll notice in verse 11 in some translations, again, patience is used in the NASV. 174 00:13:48,840 --> 00:13:49,840 It's endurance. 175 00:13:49,840 --> 00:13:54,440 It's a different word there that means to abide under a load of something. 176 00:13:54,440 --> 00:13:56,840 It's the opposite of despondency. 177 00:13:56,840 --> 00:14:00,280 That's a word that's never used of God. 178 00:14:00,280 --> 00:14:02,480 But this other word is used of God. 179 00:14:02,480 --> 00:14:08,960 Yes, God can be angry, and we'll talk about that in a moment, but God is patient. 180 00:14:08,960 --> 00:14:14,760 He says to us, You too be patient, the coming of the Lord Jesus is at hand. 181 00:14:14,760 --> 00:14:23,120 Now, the word be patient as God is with sinners. 182 00:14:23,120 --> 00:14:24,120 We're in James. 183 00:14:24,120 --> 00:14:31,160 Let's turn a few pages back to the book of Hebrews and look at Hebrews chapter 10. 184 00:14:31,160 --> 00:14:37,040 That's a theme here in this chapter. 185 00:14:37,040 --> 00:14:45,280 He says, beginning in verse 32, but remember the former days when after being enlightened 186 00:14:45,280 --> 00:14:50,680 you endured a great conflict of sufferings. 187 00:14:50,680 --> 00:14:55,940 So he reminds them of a time of suffering that they had experienced. 188 00:14:55,940 --> 00:14:57,480 He says you endured that. 189 00:14:57,480 --> 00:15:00,440 The word is patient. 190 00:15:00,440 --> 00:15:05,960 Partly by being made a public spectacle through reproaches and tribulations, and partly by 191 00:15:05,960 --> 00:15:10,240 becoming sharers with those who were so treated. 192 00:15:10,240 --> 00:15:14,120 For you showed sympathy to the prisoners. 193 00:15:14,120 --> 00:15:19,200 We have a prayer meeting here about once a month for prisoners, focusing primarily on 194 00:15:19,200 --> 00:15:22,560 prisoners behind the Iron Curtain. 195 00:15:22,560 --> 00:15:28,040 We're able to receive the names and pictures of many of these people, and the group that 196 00:15:28,040 --> 00:15:34,040 prays for them prays for them by name, holding them before God. 197 00:15:34,040 --> 00:15:35,440 That's the kind of thing he's saying here. 198 00:15:35,440 --> 00:15:41,480 You showed sympathy to prisoners and accepted joyfully the seizure of your property. 199 00:15:41,480 --> 00:15:47,400 In other words, the government apparently had come in and confiscated what they owned. 200 00:15:47,400 --> 00:15:52,480 How was it that they were able to be patient while enduring that kind of treatment at the 201 00:15:52,480 --> 00:15:53,960 hands of sinners? 202 00:15:53,960 --> 00:15:59,240 He says you know that you have for yourselves a better possession. 203 00:15:59,240 --> 00:16:05,320 He says there's something a lot more important than the things that you possess in this material 204 00:16:05,320 --> 00:16:06,320 world. 205 00:16:06,320 --> 00:16:10,040 It's the spiritual possessions that are ours in Christ. 206 00:16:10,040 --> 00:16:12,680 He says this possession is an abiding one. 207 00:16:12,680 --> 00:16:15,440 In other words, it cannot be taken away. 208 00:16:15,440 --> 00:16:20,760 It's better. 209 00:16:20,760 --> 00:16:27,720 I would hope that these verses would describe us if we came into a situation like this. 210 00:16:27,720 --> 00:16:30,280 Patience at the hands of sinners. 211 00:16:30,280 --> 00:16:34,320 Patience at the loss of the things that we own. 212 00:16:34,320 --> 00:16:38,880 Patience at the loss even of the privileges and freedoms that we have now. 213 00:16:38,880 --> 00:16:43,800 I pray God that day may not come, but it could. 214 00:16:43,800 --> 00:16:49,680 And if that day should come, and even through some unjust means we were to lose the freedoms 215 00:16:49,680 --> 00:16:53,480 that we enjoy, how would we respond? 216 00:16:53,480 --> 00:16:58,600 Well, God says be patient. 217 00:16:58,600 --> 00:17:01,480 Be slow to anger. 218 00:17:01,480 --> 00:17:08,360 I guess this is one of the things that God has written afresh in my heart after our trip 219 00:17:08,360 --> 00:17:11,120 a couple of weeks ago. 220 00:17:11,120 --> 00:17:18,560 As we saw people who are laboring under a communist government, just be patient with 221 00:17:18,560 --> 00:17:21,680 the restrictions they do have. 222 00:17:21,680 --> 00:17:27,480 I mentioned this morning that we saw more freedom of religion than at least I anticipated, 223 00:17:27,480 --> 00:17:29,760 but that is not to say that they have complete freedom. 224 00:17:29,760 --> 00:17:31,960 Of course they do not. 225 00:17:31,960 --> 00:17:37,160 I asked one of the friends that we met there if there might be a possibility of his coming 226 00:17:37,160 --> 00:17:45,800 to the United States for a visit to our church, and he said, no, that's impossible. 227 00:17:45,800 --> 00:17:49,800 He said, if God wills it. 228 00:17:49,800 --> 00:17:50,800 I said, why is that? 229 00:17:50,800 --> 00:17:54,800 Well, he said, I've had restrictions put on my travel. 230 00:17:54,800 --> 00:18:03,600 I can't leave our country for a two-year period beginning, he mentioned, the time. 231 00:18:03,600 --> 00:18:06,720 I said, why is that? 232 00:18:06,720 --> 00:18:14,080 I was perhaps probing a little more than I should have, and his only response was some 233 00:18:14,080 --> 00:18:17,560 difficulties. 234 00:18:17,560 --> 00:18:18,880 He was not angry about it. 235 00:18:18,880 --> 00:18:21,320 He was not fretful. 236 00:18:21,320 --> 00:18:28,300 He was not uptight, but he was willing to abide under those restrictions that were placed 237 00:18:28,300 --> 00:18:30,040 upon him. 238 00:18:30,040 --> 00:18:35,520 When I think of Hebrews 10, I think of people like that. 239 00:18:35,520 --> 00:18:41,400 So he says in verse 35, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward, 240 00:18:41,400 --> 00:18:46,320 for you have need of endurance so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive 241 00:18:46,320 --> 00:18:48,420 what was promised. 242 00:18:48,420 --> 00:18:55,440 In our suffering, we are to be patient with sinners. 243 00:18:55,440 --> 00:19:03,180 There are some of you that are experiencing some difficulties in relationships you have 244 00:19:03,180 --> 00:19:08,960 with ungodly people. 245 00:19:08,960 --> 00:19:13,560 Those of us who have not been in similar situations have a hard time fully understanding the kind 246 00:19:13,560 --> 00:19:17,920 of pressures that you face, but we feel with you. 247 00:19:17,920 --> 00:19:21,080 And as you share that with us, we pray for you. 248 00:19:21,080 --> 00:19:23,480 It is not easy. 249 00:19:23,480 --> 00:19:29,920 It is not easy to be patient at work when you are employed by an ungodly person who 250 00:19:29,920 --> 00:19:36,480 expects certain things out of you that as a Christian you cannot give, lest it compromise 251 00:19:36,480 --> 00:19:39,520 your moral standards. 252 00:19:39,520 --> 00:19:41,840 That's hard. 253 00:19:41,840 --> 00:19:44,280 But God will give you patience. 254 00:19:44,280 --> 00:19:50,400 And in that situation, He wants you to show His own nature by being patient with sinners. 255 00:19:50,400 --> 00:19:56,080 God is patient with sinners because in so doing He gives us an example to follow in 256 00:19:56,080 --> 00:19:57,920 our relationship with sinners. 257 00:19:57,920 --> 00:20:01,840 I think there's a third reason as well. 258 00:20:01,840 --> 00:20:07,680 God is patient with sinners because it grants extended opportunity to the sinner to be saved. 259 00:20:07,680 --> 00:20:10,560 That's why God is patient. 260 00:20:10,560 --> 00:20:20,800 Turn to 2 Peter chapter 3 and look at this familiar verse that many of us go to when 261 00:20:20,800 --> 00:20:26,600 we wonder when God is going to bring judgment. 262 00:20:26,600 --> 00:20:31,960 Aren't we so prone to say, God, send the fire. 263 00:20:31,960 --> 00:20:36,520 Let it fall from heaven, Lord, and lick them up. 264 00:20:36,520 --> 00:20:40,260 We're not so different than James and John, are we? 265 00:20:40,260 --> 00:20:42,280 We thunder a lot as well. 266 00:20:42,280 --> 00:20:51,000 But in verse 9 it says, the Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, 267 00:20:51,000 --> 00:21:01,240 but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance. 268 00:21:01,240 --> 00:21:03,080 God is patient. 269 00:21:03,080 --> 00:21:04,080 God is patient with sinners. 270 00:21:04,080 --> 00:21:11,160 And then again in verse 15 He says, and regard the patience of our Lord to be salvation. 271 00:21:11,160 --> 00:21:15,960 In the context here He's talking about the slowness of the Lord's coming. 272 00:21:15,960 --> 00:21:28,280 Lord, why don't you come and have done with the sinners that attack you, scoff you? 273 00:21:28,280 --> 00:21:31,440 Why don't you come, Lord, and bring judgment? 274 00:21:31,440 --> 00:21:35,400 Well, because the patience of the Lord is salvation. 275 00:21:35,400 --> 00:21:39,160 In other words, God is extending the day of grace for them. 276 00:21:39,160 --> 00:21:42,760 This is what God did in the days of the flood. 277 00:21:42,760 --> 00:21:50,360 God said, my spirit will not always strive with man, for he is flesh, but yet 120 years 278 00:21:50,360 --> 00:21:53,480 his days will be on the earth. 279 00:21:53,480 --> 00:22:00,640 And patiently God endured that ungodly generation. 280 00:22:00,640 --> 00:22:06,720 Extending the day of grace, even while the ark was preparing. 281 00:22:06,720 --> 00:22:10,560 I believe today God is extending the day of grace. 282 00:22:10,560 --> 00:22:13,920 It is all fitting in, of course, to His sovereign plans. 283 00:22:13,920 --> 00:22:19,280 He is not delaying in the sense that He has postponed the coming of Christ. 284 00:22:19,280 --> 00:22:24,340 And yet I believe that God has been patient about the coming, the return of the Lord Jesus 285 00:22:24,340 --> 00:22:30,880 Christ in part in order to grant this ungodly generation in which we live an extra day of 286 00:22:30,880 --> 00:22:31,880 grace. 287 00:22:31,880 --> 00:22:37,320 Indeed, the New Testament teaches us that if God were not patient, none of us would 288 00:22:37,320 --> 00:22:38,320 be saved. 289 00:22:38,320 --> 00:22:46,900 In Romans 2, 4, He says that we ought to recognize the patience of God along with the riches 290 00:22:46,900 --> 00:22:53,820 of His mercy that lead us to repentance. 291 00:22:53,820 --> 00:23:00,440 Even now, unbelievers, even though they do not sense being under God's wrath, are indeed 292 00:23:00,440 --> 00:23:03,280 under the wrath of God. 293 00:23:03,280 --> 00:23:08,840 John 3, 36 says that those that do not have the Son do not have life, and the wrath of 294 00:23:08,840 --> 00:23:12,300 God abides on them. 295 00:23:12,300 --> 00:23:16,200 Present tense, right now it abides on them. 296 00:23:16,200 --> 00:23:18,320 It rests on them. 297 00:23:18,320 --> 00:23:25,040 It remains on them, though they are unaware of it. 298 00:23:25,040 --> 00:23:28,440 God is suspending it. 299 00:23:28,440 --> 00:23:29,880 Someday He will exercise it. 300 00:23:29,880 --> 00:23:37,520 Now He waits, but there will come a day when God's patience will be finished and God will 301 00:23:37,520 --> 00:23:40,240 execute His warning. 302 00:23:40,240 --> 00:23:42,760 God will fulfill His judgment. 303 00:23:42,760 --> 00:23:45,640 God will not wait forever. 304 00:23:45,640 --> 00:23:52,840 That is the warning that is given through the psalmist Aseph in Psalm 50. 305 00:23:52,840 --> 00:23:57,280 With these few verses we will close our scripture study tonight. 306 00:23:57,280 --> 00:24:04,060 Psalm 50, beginning in verse 16. 307 00:24:04,060 --> 00:24:10,640 God is here warning through the psalmist His own people about their carelessness and spiritual 308 00:24:10,640 --> 00:24:12,660 things. 309 00:24:12,660 --> 00:24:17,800 They brought their sacrifices to Him, but it was with an insincere heart, and God is 310 00:24:17,800 --> 00:24:21,160 not pleased with that. 311 00:24:21,160 --> 00:24:24,840 Outwardly they went through the rituals, but their hearts and their actions were far from 312 00:24:24,840 --> 00:24:25,840 Him. 313 00:24:25,840 --> 00:24:32,640 In verse 16, but to the wicked God says, What right have you to tell of my statutes, or 314 00:24:32,640 --> 00:24:35,200 to take my covenant in your mouth? 315 00:24:35,200 --> 00:24:39,320 Why are you quoting scripture? 316 00:24:39,320 --> 00:24:43,120 Why are you claiming the promises that I have given? 317 00:24:43,120 --> 00:24:48,160 For you hate discipline, and you cast my words behind you. 318 00:24:48,160 --> 00:24:50,400 In other words, you don't count them as important. 319 00:24:50,400 --> 00:24:53,020 You just throw them away. 320 00:24:53,020 --> 00:25:00,480 When you see a thief, you are pleased with him, and you associate with adulterers. 321 00:25:00,480 --> 00:25:05,720 You let your mouth loose in evil, and your tongue frames deceit. 322 00:25:05,720 --> 00:25:08,900 He says you can't control your tongue. 323 00:25:08,900 --> 00:25:12,160 You sit and speak against your brother. 324 00:25:12,160 --> 00:25:15,560 You slander your own mother's son. 325 00:25:15,560 --> 00:25:20,500 These things you have done, and I kept silent. 326 00:25:20,500 --> 00:25:22,280 That is God's honest admission. 327 00:25:22,280 --> 00:25:25,580 I kept silent, He says. 328 00:25:25,580 --> 00:25:30,240 You thought that I was just like you. 329 00:25:30,240 --> 00:25:36,800 What He is saying here is that because I was silent and did not bring immediate judgment, 330 00:25:36,800 --> 00:25:42,800 you assumed that I was like you and were just going to pass it off. 331 00:25:42,800 --> 00:25:48,640 God says I will reprove you and state the case in order before your eyes. 332 00:25:48,640 --> 00:25:53,280 In other words, God is saying I am not like you. 333 00:25:53,280 --> 00:25:54,960 I am silent. 334 00:25:54,960 --> 00:25:59,400 I am patient with ungodliness. 335 00:25:59,400 --> 00:26:01,560 But there comes an end. 336 00:26:01,560 --> 00:26:02,680 I am not like you. 337 00:26:02,680 --> 00:26:07,600 I do not put it under the rug and ignore it and pretend it doesn't exist. 338 00:26:07,600 --> 00:26:13,240 He says the day will come and I will reprove you and I will state the case openly in judgment 339 00:26:13,240 --> 00:26:16,840 against you. 340 00:26:16,840 --> 00:26:23,880 God is patient because it grants extended opportunity to the sinner to repent and to 341 00:26:23,880 --> 00:26:28,240 come to Him. 342 00:26:28,240 --> 00:26:36,440 But never should the sinner take God's patience for granted because there is an end to it. 343 00:26:36,440 --> 00:26:38,440 I thank God for His patience. 344 00:26:38,440 --> 00:26:42,720 I thank God for His patience in my life. 345 00:26:42,720 --> 00:26:45,840 I am sure you feel the same. 346 00:26:45,840 --> 00:26:51,920 If tonight we are presuming upon the patience of God, even as His children, it would be 347 00:26:51,920 --> 00:26:58,160 well for each of us to get on our knees tonight and say, Lord, forgive me. 348 00:26:58,160 --> 00:27:03,440 Thank you for your patience, but tonight I am getting my record cleaned up. 349 00:27:03,440 --> 00:27:08,000 This area of need in my life, this area of disobedience, I am repenting of. 350 00:27:08,000 --> 00:27:10,080 I confess it before you. 351 00:27:10,080 --> 00:27:15,600 Let us not presume upon the patience of God. 352 00:27:15,600 --> 00:27:21,160 Evangelist D.L. Moody had a class of young men. 353 00:27:21,160 --> 00:27:26,880 He had won most of them to Christ, but there was one of them that refused to yield to the 354 00:27:26,880 --> 00:27:28,760 Lord. 355 00:27:28,760 --> 00:27:33,120 There came a day when Moody spoke to him, urging him to receive Christ. 356 00:27:33,120 --> 00:27:37,560 Listen, Mr. Moody, replied the young man. 357 00:27:37,560 --> 00:27:43,680 I am going west, and after I have made my fortune, when I return, I promise you I will 358 00:27:43,680 --> 00:27:45,320 accept Christ. 359 00:27:45,320 --> 00:27:48,600 And he turned away. 360 00:27:48,600 --> 00:27:53,500 Moody listened with a sad heart to those words, and some weeks later learned that the young 361 00:27:53,500 --> 00:27:57,200 man was seriously ill and taken to the hospital. 362 00:27:57,200 --> 00:28:04,120 Moody felt led to visit him, and bending over his bed, he urged him again to receive Christ. 363 00:28:04,120 --> 00:28:09,000 But the young man once more refused. 364 00:28:09,000 --> 00:28:15,760 Mr. Moody, he said with a feeble voice, I am planning to go west yet, and when I come 365 00:28:15,760 --> 00:28:20,560 back I will become a Christian. 366 00:28:20,560 --> 00:28:24,920 And with a heavy heart, Moody left the hospital room. 367 00:28:24,920 --> 00:28:32,680 One day the young man did get better and came walking briskly up to where Moody was. 368 00:28:32,680 --> 00:28:35,400 Mr. Moody, he said, I have come to say goodbye. 369 00:28:35,400 --> 00:28:39,400 I am leaving now for the west, like I said. 370 00:28:39,400 --> 00:28:45,120 Again Moody put his hand on his shoulder and spoke to him about the claims of Christ. 371 00:28:45,120 --> 00:28:52,160 The young man became angry and shaking off the hand of the evangelist, he responded, 372 00:28:52,160 --> 00:28:57,760 Mr. Moody, never speak to me again about my soul salvation. 373 00:28:57,760 --> 00:29:01,400 I promised you to make a decision when I have returned, but not before. 374 00:29:01,400 --> 00:29:03,520 Now goodbye. 375 00:29:03,520 --> 00:29:07,940 With that he left. 376 00:29:07,940 --> 00:29:11,600 That night Moody was awakened with knocking at the door. 377 00:29:11,600 --> 00:29:13,480 He answered the door. 378 00:29:13,480 --> 00:29:19,000 There was a young woman who was there with a shawl wrapped around her shoulders. 379 00:29:19,000 --> 00:29:21,840 Mr. Moody, she said, come quickly, come quickly. 380 00:29:21,840 --> 00:29:25,880 My husband is sick, desperately sick, and I am afraid. 381 00:29:25,880 --> 00:29:28,800 Please come at once. 382 00:29:28,800 --> 00:29:34,280 Moody recognized the young woman as the wife of that young man that he had spoken with 383 00:29:34,280 --> 00:29:35,280 that afternoon. 384 00:29:35,280 --> 00:29:39,360 It is no use, was Moody's reply. 385 00:29:39,360 --> 00:29:42,240 Your husband gave me his final refusal this afternoon. 386 00:29:42,240 --> 00:29:43,760 He has crossed the deadline. 387 00:29:43,760 --> 00:29:48,080 It would be useless for me to go. 388 00:29:48,080 --> 00:29:52,320 She continued to beg him and finally got dressed and went with her. 389 00:29:52,320 --> 00:29:57,560 As he mounted the steps, he saw the young man lying on his back in bed with his eyes 390 00:29:57,560 --> 00:30:04,540 open wide, but apparently unconscious of those who were around him. 391 00:30:04,540 --> 00:30:09,240 As he approached, he heard the young man uttering some words. 392 00:30:09,240 --> 00:30:21,360 Looking closely, he detected just two words, too late, too late, too late. 393 00:30:21,360 --> 00:30:30,520 Kneeling down by his side, Moody took his hand and began to pray, but the young man 394 00:30:30,520 --> 00:30:31,520 paid no attention. 395 00:30:31,520 --> 00:30:37,360 He just kept staring at the ceiling with unseeing eyes, crying out, too late, too late, too 396 00:30:37,360 --> 00:30:39,640 late. 397 00:30:39,640 --> 00:30:44,040 Moody did everything that he could to arouse the young man from his condition, but there 398 00:30:44,040 --> 00:30:45,960 was no recognition at all. 399 00:30:45,960 --> 00:30:51,000 Within just a few minutes, the young man died and went into eternity. 400 00:30:51,000 --> 00:30:59,080 The last words on his lips were the words, too late. 401 00:30:59,080 --> 00:31:06,360 God is a God of patience, but there is an end to the patience of God. 402 00:31:06,360 --> 00:31:11,680 There can come a time when it is too late. 403 00:31:11,680 --> 00:31:18,240 My friend, if God is tonight dealing with your soul, understand that He is dealing with 404 00:31:18,240 --> 00:31:28,000 you in patience, and do not presume upon it, but respond tonight gladly and quickly before 405 00:31:28,000 --> 00:31:30,160 it may be too late for you. 406 00:31:30,160 --> 00:31:35,000 Let's pray together. 407 00:31:35,000 --> 00:31:42,520 With our heads bowed, our eyes shut, and as we pray for the Spirit of God to do the work 408 00:31:42,520 --> 00:31:53,280 in hearts which only He can do, as He works and exposes need, as He brings the prick of 409 00:31:53,280 --> 00:32:02,280 conviction upon the soul, will you, my friend, right where you are seated by the uplifted 410 00:32:02,280 --> 00:32:05,880 hand, say, Pastor, call in patience. 411 00:32:05,880 --> 00:32:08,840 God has dealt with me. 412 00:32:08,840 --> 00:32:12,680 I sense tonight conviction within. 413 00:32:12,680 --> 00:32:17,120 I know things are not right between me and God. 414 00:32:17,120 --> 00:32:19,320 Please pray for me. 415 00:32:19,320 --> 00:32:20,600 I sense conviction. 416 00:32:20,600 --> 00:32:25,040 I know God is working with my heart, but I am struggling. 417 00:32:25,040 --> 00:32:28,920 Would you by the uplifted hand say, pray for me? 418 00:32:28,920 --> 00:32:29,920 God bless you. 419 00:32:29,920 --> 00:32:33,520 Yes, a number of you. 420 00:32:33,520 --> 00:32:34,520 Any others? 421 00:32:34,520 --> 00:32:35,720 I want to pray for you. 422 00:32:35,720 --> 00:32:37,320 I am not going to come back and get you. 423 00:32:37,320 --> 00:32:38,320 Yes, God bless you. 424 00:32:38,320 --> 00:32:40,360 I am not going to embarrass you. 425 00:32:40,360 --> 00:32:45,960 But, oh, my friend, let's make tonight the night of business with God, shall we? 426 00:32:45,960 --> 00:32:46,960 Yes. 427 00:32:46,960 --> 00:32:49,280 Any other hands? 428 00:32:49,280 --> 00:32:52,600 God bless you. 429 00:32:52,600 --> 00:32:59,220 Our loving and patient Heavenly Father, thank you. 430 00:32:59,220 --> 00:33:04,160 Thank you that patience is a part of your very nature. 431 00:33:04,160 --> 00:33:12,200 Thank you for extending that patience to sinners as well as to saints. 432 00:33:12,200 --> 00:33:17,480 Tonight there are many of us who have sensed an area of struggle in our lives where we 433 00:33:17,480 --> 00:33:24,280 acknowledge, Father, that you have patiently dealt with us. 434 00:33:24,280 --> 00:33:30,680 I want to pray for these in particular who have conscientiously lifted their hands. 435 00:33:30,680 --> 00:33:40,520 Lord, tonight, before they leave here, I pray that they will settle that issue in their 436 00:33:40,520 --> 00:33:44,000 soul. 437 00:33:44,000 --> 00:34:05,440 In Jesus' name, amen.