5/16/26 Long Suffering In Service to the King

In this series we have notated the proper understanding of long- suffering biblically. The emphasis that many preachers put on the word suffering is not an exact reference or representation Of the proper context of its meaning. The suffering aspect is in relation more to
waiting and having patience I would even dare say an anticipation of their respective areas in which we have taught on the last three weeks. A few weeks ago we learned that long-suffering is entirely biblical as there are several examples of individuals who experience long-suffering in their respective history represented within the word of God. But we need to ask this question-Is it possible to experience long- suffering in ministry?

Hebrews 6:15 “Then Abraham waited patiently, and he received what God had promised.”

We are using this example because Abraham was called by God and bears a covenant with the Lord that benefited us all. The promise was made the expectation was cast and then it was waiting patiently. Now some of us may believe that this expectation has to have the participation between two individuals for it to be fulfilled because the expectation was cast of a family. Biology dictates that the family cannot come about without a male and a female represented so there was work to be done so to speak on Abraham and Sarah’s part in order for this to come about, the problem was it wasn’t occurring at all. All of their efforts were amounting to nothing and year after year after year passed. Abraham did not know what he was doing was ministerial in nature. He was following the Lord’s orders in order to fulfill the expectation of the promise given and this required patience.

Hebrews 10:36 “Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.”

Again, long-suffering as mentioned here patient endurance is what is needed for the purpose of maintaining the plan of God. Seed- time- harvest represented in this verse. Part of carrying out the will of God in the age we are in means doing it through Jesus Christ, in his name and by his leading. The Great Commission is one of many examples in which we plant seed we give a time we expect to harvest. All the while we get a little too caught up and our life circumstances, or lack of patience, misplaced priorities, even indulging and the things of the flesh because we’re craving a rush rather than going through the day-to-day and being there with the same frustrating results of not seeing our efforts amount to what it is we expect to receive.

Not asking you to testify but how many times have we gotten off of the course due to a lack of self-control or discipline or just outright frustration because we are not seeing the harvest as quickly as we would like and the things that we invest in. Some of us lose heart and even
question if the Lord is ever gonna show us fulfillment.

Earlier in the series we focused on Job who Endured immense suffering while remaining faithful to God. This waiting for deliverance made him endure physical affliction as well as relational & financial affliction. This was a man that was the figure of integrity & morality in his community because of his closeness to the Lord.

There was also an examination of Joseph who showed forgiveness after his long suffering toward his brothers who sold him into human trafficking. He ended up in slavery & eventually imprisoned. He engaged in long suffering 13 years before seeing that the Lord was doing
something in this & had not given him a comfortable life but still showed him favor & gave him promotion.

This demonstrates that long-suffering is indeed an OT concept. In the HEB it is ya’chal: To wait, hope, expect. A primitive root; to wait; by implication, to be patient, hope — (cause to, have, make to) hope, be pained, stay, tarry, trust, wait. It is used 41x in OT in 9 books.

This week we are going to demonstrate that it is not only in the NT as a word but it also demonstrated by some of the personalities we read about, but let’s go even deeper let’s look into those doing ministry.

The Magi waited over a yr. in a long journey to present gifts to the Messiah born in a manger. Mary & Martha waited 4 days for the Lord to heal their brother Lazarus.

Then there was Paul, the one called by God to bring the truth of God to the gentiles, known as the gospel. This meant engaging in a counter-cultural message to the masses in mostly polytheistic believing. In order to endure, persevere there was a need to understand the reward
of engaging in this call. Paul knows how this is and dealt with it appropriately with this mindset –

Romans 2:4 “Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?”

But we lose track of how this niceness is also shown in long-suffering, especially when you are engaging in ministry. The tale tells itself in the statistics, those who serve as pastors typically do not last 3 years. They are overwhelmed by long-suffering not taught in the seminary. What is not taught is the opportunity for relational betrayals, as well as financial pressures because FT ministry rarely pays. Do not get caught up in what you see on TV, even on Christian stations it is not common for a preacher to pay his bills on serving because most churches have less than 70 members

While you serve in ministry, especially in this age you will engage in the entitlement & expectations of those you are serving. Whether it is a handshake or providing the needs of those you are trying to help there will be misconceptions as to what it is you are to do for people.

Paul dealt with these issues as well as waiting on God to move in the efforts used to fulfill what the objective was. Results were not always met as expected but the harvest of Paul is found in you today.

Some of us are not engaged in the “professional” calling to ministry but you are given the command to share the gospel as a Christian. You are the one that Jesus put in your respective time frame around specific people to orchestrate the presence of God in that area through
prayer, teaching, even modeling who Jesus is & acting in the authority given to you as an ambassador of heaven.

Guess what some of the things you are going through is spiritual affliction because the Lord is trying to show you something, trying to take you higher in your faith & sometimes that involves pain.

Because if God had not permitted suffering man would not know his limits or his need for God – St. Gregory the Theologian.