The Virtue of Patience (Part 2)

In this post I wanted to share a few of the attributes of patience and why patience is so important in the life of the believer.

Attributes of Patience

An attribute is something that is an "inherent characteristic."  Patience has many characteristics that are inherent to it.  Characteristics such as:

• Faith
• Wisdom
• Love
• Strength
• Determination
• Calmness
• Understanding
• Forgiveness
• Persuasiveness

All of these character qualities are a part of patience in the believer.  But more than just knowing these qualities it is vital we understand why patience is so important.

Patience is essential to a life of obedience and it is a vital element in every good relationship.  Whether that relationship is with a family member, friend, or with God, we must show patience.

Patience is also necessary for persevering in prayer.  Too often with our prayers we expect the answer immediately when God has something different in mind.  We have to learn patience and allow for God's timing and that in turn allows us to see God at work.

Patience is a major key to your success in life and it is essential to peace, joy and contentment.  Allow God to work the fruit of patience in your life today.

The Virtue Of Patience (Part 1)

Patience is one of those qualities that does not come naturally for most people.  When it comes to exercising patience, many are like the individuals in a popular TV commercial for a company that negotiates structured settlements where the people shout "It's my money and I want it now!"  Most of us want things "NOW!"

However God's plan for patience in our lives is much different.  Patience is "the will to wait on God without irritation, frustration, worry, anxiety, fear or anger."  God's plan is always the better plan.

When God is working in your life, it's vital that you allow Him to work at his timing.  Remember, "the greater the blessing God has in store, the greater patience He requires."

What Patience Is Not

• It is not a natural trait.   Waiting goes against most peoples natural inclinations.
• It is not a "gift"; it is a fruit of the Spirit.
• It is not a weakness.  Actually patience demonstrates great strength on the part of an individual.
• It is not avoiding adversity.  A person with patience will face adversity head on.
• It is not false hope.  In other words patience isn't a quality where we just hope things will turn out in our favor.
• It is not instability.  People who exercise patience should not be viewed as "passive."  Actually they are being proactive in dealing with problems. 

 

In my next post I will cover some of the attributes of patience and why it is so important in the believers life.

Pastor Temple

The Power Of The Anointing

"But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him." (1 John 2:27)

The anointing that John is speaking of is an anointing that will bring life to your ministry!  It is the empowerment to do the work of the ministry, it's not just something so you can feel good.  There is always a purpose behind this anointing.

The Purpose Of The Anointing

1. The Anointing Has An Assignment -- It is present in your life to enable you to minister hope and healing. (Luke 4:18)
2. The Anointing Has An Authority -- People who walk in the anointing have an authority that is supernatural.  The anointing has the ability to transform.
3. The Anointing Is For A Demonstration Of Greater Works -- Praying in the Spirit and meditating on the Word of God are the two strongest ways to nurture the anointing in your life.
4. The Anointing Is Given To Demonstrate Good In Your Life --  Unfortunately, there are too many selfish Christians that want to do their own thing rather than doing good for others.  God puts His anointing in you so you can help others and bring healing to hurting people.
5. The Anointing Works With The Word -- The Word of God nurtures the anointing.  Whenever you declare the Word of God, the anointing is there to perform it.
6. The Anointing Is Available To Every Believer -- The exciting thing about the anointing is that you received it the moment you accepted Jesus as your Savior.  The anointing is in you to live boldly for the Lord, to endure trials in joy, to heal the sick, and set the captives free!

It's For You

Never think the anointing of God is reserved for only a select few.  Nothing could be farther from the truth.  God has given you the anointing to use to help others.  What actions are you taking to allow God's anointing to flow from you to benefit other people?

Be sure to share this blog with your friends and family.  God bless you and your family this Thanksgiving and remember to always be grateful for all that God has done.

Blessings,

Pastor Temple

Living In The Time Of Jubilee

In the Old Testament, in Exodus 25, God instituted the "Year of Jubilee."  This "Jubilee" was a celebration that happened every fiftieth year and it was a year where "liberty" was "proclaimed throughout the land to all its inhabitants."  This year of Jubilee signified a time when every man who had worked as a servant to payoff a debt, was to be set free and their debt forgiven and they were to be allowed to return to their home. 

In Luke 4:18-19, when Jesus was speaking in the synagogue, He stood up and read from the scroll of the prophet Isaiah and He spoke these words:  "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord."

"The acceptable year of the Lord" that Jesus spoke of typified the year of Jubilee when liberty was proclaimed to all the people on the day of atonement.  When the atonement of Christ is fully embraced, the sick, sinful, helpless, and needy are restored.  When Jesus was crucified it was the year when everyone was made free and we are now living in a time of Jubilee.  The exciting aspect of this reality is that the day of Jubilee became a person not just a time of year.  Our Jubilee has come.  His name is Jesus.

Sound Your Trumpet of Freedom and Victory

In the Old Testament, the beginning of the year of Jubilee was signified by the sounding of a trumpet.  It is time for us to sound our trumpet of liberty and freedom.  There are four freedoms that Jesus has brought to His people.

1. Freedom from Slavery to Satan and Sin:  Romans 6:14 - For sin shall not have dominion over you:  for ye are not under the law; but under grace.
2. Freedom from Sickness and Disease:  Galatians 3:13 - Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us:  for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
3. Freedom from Debt to Satan and to the World's System:  Colossians 2:13-14 - And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
4. Freedom from Fear:  2 Timothy 1:7 - For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Jesus came into our sorrow to lead us into Jubilee.  We have become God's property, bought and paid for, no longer belonging to the kingdom of satan.  Today is your day of Jubilee.  Are you ready to receive the freedom God has for you?

River of Life (Part 2)

In the natural sense there is nothing more refreshing than a cold spring of running water on a hot summer day. This is true not just in the natural but also in the spiritual sense.  Salvation represents a well of water springing up into everlasting life.  Just as our physical body desires and thirsts for natural water, so too does our spirit desire and thirst for the spring of spiritual rivers that flow in our life.

Jesus desires to flow in every aspect of your life; every situation in your life; every circumstance in your life.  The rivers of life can enrich everything you do.  It is up to you to yield as much as you desire to the flowing of the rivers.  You can allow the rivers to flow ankle deep, waist deep, or let them become swimming waters.

As a Christian there should be five rivers flowing out of your spiritual life.

Five Spiritual Rivers That Flow

• Rivers of Revelation (John 16:13) You have the Holy Spirit in you and this allows you to flow in the revelation of God.
• Rivers of Power (Acts 1:8) This river of power enables you to do things that within yourself you could never do.  It is a river to defeat the enemy and to be a witness and testimony to the world about God's great power.
• Rivers of Healing (Acts 19:11-12) When Jesus was in this world He healed the broken hearted, preached deliverance to the captives, recovery of sight to the blind, and set at liberty those that were bruised.  Jesus has now gone to heaven and has left this job up to us.
• Rivers of Miracles - God is a miracle working God and He wants miracles to flow through us.  When Jesus died, miracles didn't stop.  They continued through His believers.  With man a lot of things may seem impossible but with God all things are possible.  (Matthew 19:26)
• Rivers of Compassion (Mark 6:34) Everything Jesus did, He did out of a heart of compassion for people.  If there is one river that you need flowing out of your life, it is this river of compassion.  It is a compassion for the entire world, as well as other Christians.

My challenge to you is to allow God's rivers of revelation, power, healing, miracles and compassion to flow out of your life and into the lives of others.