Worketh Patience
Romans 5:2-4 “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;
And patience, experience; and experience, hope:”
Worketh patience….”knowing that tribulations worketh patience”….worketh.
We are not “zapped” with patience. For the scriptures clearly state; it is worketh patience.
If we are having trouble with a particular set of circumstances in our lives….maybe even having a fit about them…..
…then rest assured we will never acquire “hope”…or we will never “glory in tribulations”…that will enable us to acquire patience.
Patience is one of the strongest virtues of God! Think how patient He has been with His people (me, you) over all the years!
And patience works strength in us….strength to wait on God, on people, and on the right time.
Patience gives us calm assurance that God has not forgotten His Word to us….nor will He.
Patience does not “sit down”….but goes ahead and works today what must be done….keeping our eyes….not on next year, or next week, or next anything….but on the task at hand….”for the glory of God.”
As we receive all things which come to us….as from our Heavenly Father’s hand, we will know patience.
Patience is cheerful endurance…or hopefully keeping oneself under!
Under God’s Will and Way….under the circumstances till God changes them or us.
(Years ago, I taught Romans in our church Sunday School.
We all know the verses:
Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God”
Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
But the context is amazing.
Paul is manifesting in this letter to the Roman Christians….that the whole world is on trial before God!
The measuring stick is: the glory of God! For that was what we were created for….to show forth His glory. [Revelation 4:11]
Here is the God the Judge, Who hath given His laws…and when those laws were grievously rejected and abused…
…He hath “commendeth HIs love toward us”[Romans 5:8]..sending His Son to save all who believe.
Here is God the Son, Jesus Christ, Who hath given Himself to save His people, and give them eternal life to the glory of God. [Romans 5:17]
Here is God the Spirit, Who hath given us the “quickening” to live by the Spirit of God to His glory. [Romans 8:11]
The great example Paul gives is Abraham…for Abraham “believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness” [Romans 4:3]
“Who against hope believed in hope,….and being not weak in faith,….he staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God.” [Romans 4:18-20]
Giving glory to God.
Patience had her perfect work [James 1:2-4] in Abraham….and Paul is saying that it works in us as well.)
Tribulation worketh patience…this tribulation is pressure, afflict, trouble. And in these, we are to give glory to God…
…which is impossible if we have not learned patience.
Hope is the confident expectation that God will do what He says….and that hope will lead to the trying of our faith (tribulations: “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” 2 Timothy 3:12)
And amid these tribulations…pressures, afflictions, troubles….will work patience in us.
Again, patience is a strong attribute of God….and He works it within us, by His Holy Spirit, to be able to cheerfully endure our walk through this world…for His glory.
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 