READ: JAMES 5:7-11
Another characteristic
of the ground is patience. James 5:11says: “Behold, we count them happy which endure.
You 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”. One of the greatest
challenges facing the church today is impatience. Some people cannot be patient
with their spouse, boss at the office, pastor or leader in the church or even
God. In their dictionary, the words ‘wait’ and ‘hope’ have been deleted a long
time ago. Anything they want must be given to them now or never. The micro-wave
mentality that is in the world is fast catching up with them. Are you
impatient?
“Whoso keeps the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof: so he that waits on his master shall be honored” (Proverbs 27:18). If you pray but cannot wait for the answer, you will truncate the process. It is only those who can wait upon God that will receive their request. Can you go to the house of the president on his invitation and ask him to hurry up? Will you become angry and walk out on him? But many people who cannot do that to their president do it to God. Whenever you get impatient with the church service and walk out, you have walked out on God. What will you do when you are in need and run to Him but He repays you in your own coins by walking out on you? May God never walk out on you.
“In your patience possess you your souls” (Luke 21:19). It is only those who are patient that will be able to gain their lives. Many desire to reach the top without going step by step. We want the glory but not the story. According to Isaiah 28:9-10, you need patience if you want Him to teach you knowledge and give you understanding. God’s way is to grow you little by little. Not every growth is a healthy one. The boil is a growth but a very painful one which can become big within an hour. Similarly, the ground can be very silent. Jump on it 100 times it will not make any sound. Proverbs 10:19 says it is the wise who keeps his mouth shut. Ministers of God should learn to be quiet because that is where their strength lies (Isaiah 30:15). The reason some find it difficult to fast is because they cannot keep their shut. When will you ever hear from God if you are always talking? An inflated balloon whose mouth is open will lose all the air inside. If you don’t learn to shut your mouth, it will remain the point of leakage for the anointing that comes into you. Beware!
“Whoso keeps the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof: so he that waits on his master shall be honored” (Proverbs 27:18). If you pray but cannot wait for the answer, you will truncate the process. It is only those who can wait upon God that will receive their request. Can you go to the house of the president on his invitation and ask him to hurry up? Will you become angry and walk out on him? But many people who cannot do that to their president do it to God. Whenever you get impatient with the church service and walk out, you have walked out on God. What will you do when you are in need and run to Him but He repays you in your own coins by walking out on you? May God never walk out on you.
“In your patience possess you your souls” (Luke 21:19). It is only those who are patient that will be able to gain their lives. Many desire to reach the top without going step by step. We want the glory but not the story. According to Isaiah 28:9-10, you need patience if you want Him to teach you knowledge and give you understanding. God’s way is to grow you little by little. Not every growth is a healthy one. The boil is a growth but a very painful one which can become big within an hour. Similarly, the ground can be very silent. Jump on it 100 times it will not make any sound. Proverbs 10:19 says it is the wise who keeps his mouth shut. Ministers of God should learn to be quiet because that is where their strength lies (Isaiah 30:15). The reason some find it difficult to fast is because they cannot keep their shut. When will you ever hear from God if you are always talking? An inflated balloon whose mouth is open will lose all the air inside. If you don’t learn to shut your mouth, it will remain the point of leakage for the anointing that comes into you. Beware!
MEMORIZE:
JAMES 5:8 –Be you also patient; establish your hearts for the coming of the
Lord draws near.
