LESSON 24 PATIENCE OF THE SAINTS
John beholds the loyal people of God in contrast to the worshipers of the beast. Of them he says, “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” (Revelation 14:12)
The patience of the saints how obtained:
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience. Romans 5:1–3
Patience—Cheerful (or hopeful) endurance, constancy.
Patience is a desirable character attribute and saves us from many frustrations in life. Patience is commonly understood to mean the ability to endure waiting or delay without becoming annoyed or upset, or to persevere calmly when faced with difficulties. To a degree, people from all religions, even those without any religion, can develop patience. But the patience we will need to stand before God is a consistent endurance. True, godly patience can only come from being justified by faith.
Moreover [let us also be full of joy now!] let us exult and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance. Romans 5:3 AMP
We can be full of joy here and now even in our trials and troubles. Taken in the right spirit these very things will give us patient endurance; this in turn will develop a mature character, and a character of this sort produces a steady hope, a hope that will never disappoint us. Romans 5:3–5 Phillips
Patience is developed by God’s grace and by faithfully enduring the troubles, afflictions, and persecution that come when living for God in a world of sin. Being patient, in the common sense of the term, is good. But we need the patience of the saints, which is steadfastness, constancy, endurance. In the New Testament patience means the characteristic of a man who is not swerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings. Patience is not simply a good attribute to have, true patience is to live for God.
And patience, experience; and experience, hope. Romans 5:4
And endurance (fortitude) develops maturity of character (approved faith and tried integrity). And character [of this sort] produces [the habit of] joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation. Romans 5:4 AMP
To be justified by faith is not only to have sins forgiven; it also involves the development of character. The patience of the saints is to develop endurance and a life of increasing spiritual maturity, a character that can stand the test. God wants us to “be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world” (Philippians 2:15).
If you find the call to patience grows more intense when pressures and hardships and frustrations increase, remember that you are justified by faith. You have access to the grace of God, which can give you the endurance and strength you need. (See Hebrews 4:16.)
Remember the words of Christ: “He that endureth to the end shall be saved” (Matthew 10:22). Endurance builds character, and character is the only thing we can take from this life to the next.
The Word of God a source of patience:
For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Romans 15:4
We cannot have the faith we need unless we get it from the Word of God. “For faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God” (Romans 10:17). We cannot have consistent endurance unless we appropriate the promises of God. To the children of God “are given … exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (2 Peter 1:4).
All the promises, blessings, deliverances, and sustaining grace recorded in the Scriptures are ours to learn from. The God who sustained Moses, Elijah, and countless others is the same God who will sustain us. The patience of Job, Jeremiah, and many other apostles and prophets is the same patience we can receive by faith and God’s grace.
To trust God in sorrow and affliction both now and in the future, we must know “the God of patience and consolation” (Romans 15:5). This comes only as we make the Scriptures our own in faith and life practice.
How to maintain patience:
Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. Psalm 37:7
Rest—Lean upon for support; trust and rely, remain with, a state of mind free of agitation and in reconciliation and harmony with God.
Difficulties, trials, frustrations, and disappointments come to every person to one degree or another. For the saints of God, our patience comes from resting in God. Jesus taught us what this means. “Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:28–30).
Our rest—therefore, our patience or consistent endurance to live by faith—can only come as we yoke with Christ. This involves surrender. As we lean on Him, He takes our burdens, making them lighter. What may appear to be the easy path of the compromised Christian or the unbeliever cannot be our example, for it is an illusion. Resting in God brings true patience, which is a character of faith and love, and will carry us into eternity. In contrast, the easy path is the downward path, the broad road that leads so often to heartache in this life and the loss of eternal life.
For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God. Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness. Colossians 1:9–11
To live a life of patience is to be filled with the knowledge of God’s will. This is not a mystery. To live “by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4) means to live by the counsel of Scripture. To maintain a life of endurance and consistency, we must walk in a way that is pleasing to God. When God’s Spirit impresses upon us our need for Him, we will hunger and thirst after righteousness. (See Matthew 5:3, 6.) Then we can be strengthened by God’s might, enabled to live a life of joy and patient endurance, living by faith in a world of unbelief.
That you may walk (live and conduct yourselves) in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him and desiring to please Him in all things, bearing fruit in every good work and steadily growing and increasing in and by the knowledge of God [with fuller, deeper, and clearer insight, acquaintance, and recognition]. [We pray] that you may be invigorated and strengthened with all power according to the might of His glory, [to exercise] every kind of endurance and patience (perseverance and forbearance) with joy. Colossians 1:10, 11 AMP
The work of patience:
For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. Hebrews 10:36
For you have need of steadfast patience and endurance, so that you may perform and fully accomplish the will of God, and thus receive and carry away [and enjoy to the full] what is promised. Hebrews 10:36 AMP
The manifestation of true patience is seen in doing the will of God. Many unbelievers, and certainly the worshipers of the beast, can be patient in the sense of remaining calm in difficulties or in not getting annoyed when enduring delays. However, only believers have the patience manifested in following God through all the difficulties of life and living by His Word. We have the promise of grace to endure now as well as the promise of eternal life.
To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life. Romans 2:7
The life of godly patience is not an on-and-off experience; it is to be continual. If we fall we must seek the Lord’s grace and forgiveness and carry on, moving forward. “Forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13–14).
The life of patience moves toward the goal with a resolve and a hope that cannot be shaken. God provides the ability to obtain the prize, but it is ours only by faith and consistent endurance.
An example of patient and consistent endurance:
The experience of the apostle Paul provides us with an illustration of patience. At a time when the early church seemed to need the apostle’s labors the most, his liberty was taken away: he was imprisoned. Nevertheless, this was the time for the Lord to work. Not only did Paul write much of the New Testament from prison, his example of patient endurance under affliction and trial encouraged many.
From prison, it seemed Paul could do very little for the cause of Christ. However, while he was incarcerated, the truth found an entrance into Caesar’s court, which at that time was the highest realm of earthy power.
Paul’s Spirit-inspired testimony before the great men of the Empire, while he was in bondage, attracted their attention. Throughout his captivity he was a conqueror for Christ. The meekness with which Paul submitted to his long and unjust confinement, caused many to be drawn to his testimony. Even the guards and soldiers set over Paul saw the Spirit of Christ that filled him and gave him hope. Paul’s experience is to be ours: living for God even in the midst of trials. The saints at the end, like Paul, may lose liberty or their life. But a character of patient endurance means victory for this life and the next.
Trial a part of developing patience:
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. James 1:2, 3
Patience must be developed or we cannot be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. Troubles and afflictions are the life experience of all. The question for a believer then, is shall we bear the troubles patiently or shall we make everything bitter by our complaining? In the natural world gold is put into the furnace that the dross may be removed. Shall we, whom God desires to make more precious than gold not be patient, as the Master refiner works to remove the dross from our character? By faith and trust in God we must refuse to sink into a sad and discontented state of mind, rather we are to count it all joy when we are permitted to endure trials for Christ’s sake.
Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience [forbearance, fortitude]. Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. James 5:10, 11
What is patience? It is the endurance of suffering. In fact the root meaning of the word “patience” means suffering. This is were we get our word a “patient” meaning one in a hospital or otherwise undergoing suffering.
There can be no growth of patience where there is no suffering. Trouble does not destroy patience, but develops it. We develop patience in daily annoyances and trials overcome in Christ.
Temperance an aid to patience:
And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness. 2 Peter 1:5, 6
The apostle says we need the grace of temperance, which is a fruit of the Spirit. (See Galatians 5:22–23.) Temperance, which is self-control, is necessary in order that we may add the grace of patience to our character. The Christian needs to be temperate in all things so that he can be patient, for the self-discipline of being temperate is the self-discipline required to be patient. To develop both patience and temperance in our character is a part of being “partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (2 Peter 1:4).
Enduring accusation develops patience:
For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously. 1 Peter 2:19–23
Patiently—To undergo i.e. bear (trials), have fortitude, persevere.
In a world of sin and darkness, to live for God and by His Word will at times bring heartache and loss. Why? Because to live for God is out of harmony with the world and its practices. Our will aligned with the will of God comes into collision with the practices of this world. This is why Jesus suffered. However, like Jesus, we must bear it all patiently. This is not a grim determination coming from our own efforts. Rather, when we surrender to the will of God, we are enabled to live for Him regardless of what happens. Our surrender to Christ in the midst of difficulties will develop patience, the consistency of a Christian experience that in love for God “beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things” (1 Corinthians 13:7).
Patience in the hour of temptation:
Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Revelation 3:10
Because you have guarded and kept My word of patient endurance [have held fast the lesson of My patience with the expectant endurance that I give you], I also will keep you [safe] from the hour of trial (testing) which is coming on the whole world to try those who dwell upon the earth. Revelation 3:10 AMP
The “word of patience” is the example of Christ, our Master, who endured affliction and trial. The word of patience is the counsel of God lived out in the midst of trial and opposition and the character developed thereby. Those who have the patience of the saints will exercise steadfast endurance to live for Christ, to follow His Word and obey His law, even in the midst of worldwide apostasy. The word of patience, by grace through faith, enables the children of God to live for Him in times of difficulty.
The hour of trial and testing that will come upon the whole world is the mark of the beast, when all will have to make a decision: to obey God or to obey man. Only those who have the patience of the saints will endure and be sealed and saved.
Living a life of surrender is not always a joy. However, we have God’s promise that if we surrender heart and mind, “when it is all over we can see that it has quietly produced the fruit of real goodness in the characters of those who have accepted it in the right spirit” (Hebrews 12:11 Phillips).
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