Run with Patience

Ecclesiastes 3:4 – A time to weep, and a time to laugh;  A time to mourn, And a time to dance.

Hebrews 4:16 – Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Psalm 130 – Out of the depths I have cried to You, O Lord; Lord hear my voice!  Let Your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.  If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?  But there is forgiveness with You, that You may be feared.  I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His Word do I hope.  My soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning – Yes, more than those who watch for the morning.  O Israel, hope in the Lord; for with the Lord there is mercy, and wit Him is abundant redemption, and He shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.

Sooner or later, we all feel sad, down, or blue.  Life happens.  Solomon wrote of this in Ecclesiastes and the writer of Hebrews assures us we will have times of need in our lives.  However, occasionally, the sadness can become overwhelming and turn into a deeper level of emotional turmoil and can affect us in many different ways. 

This deep level of sadness can be caused by a number of different things including stress, fear, loneliness, guilt, and anger. David wrote his sadness came from unconfessed sin, leading to a groaning in his soul and a loss of strength (Ps 38).  God used sadness to get Nehemiah’s attention to do his work (Neh 1 and 2).  Job experienced financial, personal, and relational losses that led him to curse the day he had been born (Job 1-3).  Elijah was so sad after a great victory that he wanted to die ( 1 Kings 19:4).

How do we know when our sadness has moved from a simple sadness to a more concerning depth?  Scripture tells us many symptoms to watch for.  Psalm 102 describes David’s battle with this.  “Let my cry come to You.”  He write of feeling stricken physically and described losing meaning and purpose in his life: “My days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned like a hearth.  My heart is stricken and withered like grass.”  (102:3-4).  He lost his appetite: “I forget to eat my bread.” (102:4).  He felt isolated and rejected:  “I am like a pelican of the wilderness; I am like an owl of the desert. “ (102:6).  He couldn’t sleep: “I lie awake.” (102:7).  He had frequent crying spells:  “I have eaten ashes for bread, and mingled my drink with weeping.” (102:9). 

Elijah demonstrated both healthy and unhealthy responses to sadness (1 Kings 19).  After the great victory on Mount Carmel, his life was threatened and he became afraid.  He focused on the situation instead of focusing on God.  His fear eventually became so intense, he ran away, isolated himself, and prayed he would die.  A summary of his behavior can be described as the HALT syndrome – a very vulnerable place for anyone to be.  At his most sad state, he was:       

·         Hungry – He stopped eating

·         Angry – he was mad at God for not caring about him

·         Lonely – He left his servant and traveled alone

·         Tired – He collapsed into sleep

God counteracted this syndrome in Elijah’s life at every level.  He responded by providing food for Elijah.  An angel touched Elijah, reminding him he was not alone.  Two times God encouraged Elijah to regain his strength by eating, drinking, and resting.  God brought him out of the HALT syndrome, which enabled Elijah to listen and obey.

This story reminds me of the importance of having a real and personal relationship with God .  When I’m sad, I can feel like running away just like Elijah.  I have to avoid isolating myself, tempting as that may be at times.  I have to remember that, no matter how hopeless I might feel at the moment, God is ready to help and all I have to do is accept that help.  I need to remember to listen to God.  That is where I find my strength and encouragement.  That is where I find the ability to cope with life’s tribulations and that is where I find my hope. 

Discouragement – a battle I’ve been fighting lately.  Tonight in church, while listening to our pastor discuss the book of Nehemiah, I thought of discouragement and how easy it would be to give in to it.  When discouragement sets in – when life gets overwhelming and we have difficulty seeing the way through and out, we are faced with choices.  We can choose to give in and give up.  We can choose to find somewhere or someone on which to place the blame.  Or we can choose to use the discouragement to propel us to new heights.  Nehemiah was such a great example of one who chose to use his discouragement to work his way to great heights.

Nehemiah was a Jewish exile living in Persia.  We know he had proven himself to be a man of trust and integrity because he served as cupbearer to King Artaxerxes.   His job gave him constant access to the king – tasting the food and drink before it was placed before the king.  Many of the Jews had been given permission to return to Jerusalem and rebuild and had chosen to do so under the leadership of Ezra.  Nehemiah learned through hearing the news from Jews who had returned to Persia that, even though the temple had been rebuilt, the wall around Jerusalem had not been.  Nehemiah was discouraged with this news.  In those times, a city without walls was vulnerable to attack – it was a weak city.  Jerusalem would not ever be able to be a strong city, a proud city, or regain its former status until the wall was rebuilt.  It was an overwhelming job – a large job – and one in which it would be difficult to see the possible ways to the end.  But instead of choosing to allow his discouragement lead to despair, Nehemiah worked on developing a course of action to correct the problem.

After praying and planning, Nehemiah took advantage of his close, trusted relationship with the king.  It is somewhat noteworthy that the king so paid attention to Nehemiah that his downcast expression was remarked upon.  The king must have cared something for him.  Nehemiah explained the situation, said a quick prayer, and then boldly asked for everything he would need to go to Jerusalem to rebuild the wall.  The king granted the request and Nehemiah carried out his plan.  The wall was rebuilt.

When we are faced with discouragement, we can choose to allow it to develop into depression and inability to act or we can choose to allow it to motivate us, giving a renewed determination.  Like Nehemiah, we can choose to allow discouragement to motivate us to find a way to solve the problem and not wallow in it, feeling sorry for ourselves.  We can choose to grow from it.  We can choose to allow God to work His mighty changes in us for His glory.  We have the responsibility and freedom to choose.  It is our choice.

Proverbs 24:16  For a righteous man may fall seven times and rise again, but the wicked shall fall by calamity. 

Jude 24  Now to him Who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy.   

Jude makes it clear that God is able to keep us from slipping and stumbling.  However, He also knows that every failure has seeds of growth.  He knows that apart from failure, we would have no need of His forgiveness, His communion, or His help.  In His hands, failure can become one of life’s greatest teachers.  His hands can use failure to refine us in ways successes cannot.  Failure can reach down into the very depths of our souls and expose pockets of selfishness, pride, etc.  It makes us more aware of our own limitations and humbles us.  It increases our sensitivity to others and reminds us that God is not finished with us yet but has promised He will complete the work He has begun in us.

Peter is a good example of someone who fell.  He had boldly told Jesus, “Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble. “ (Matt. 26:33)  He insisted he would never fail, but Jesus stopped Peter’s bravado short when He told him failure would indeed come that very night.   Most of us know how Peter failed Jesus that night by denying Him three times.  Frankly, Peter’s failure had begun the moment he became overconfident and insisted he would never fail. 

Sometimes our first response to failure can be to focus on the failure.  “My ministry is over,” “God will never be able to use me again,” “My kids will be damaged for life.”  Although we must be concerned for the present, we must be careful not to focus on it exclusively.  We need to allow God to help us put failure into the proper perspective. 

Failure is never final until a person quits trying.  As we continue to try, failure is really only a setback and an opportunity to learn from our mistakes.  Proverbs contrasts the righteous person and the wicked person.   The righteous may fall time and time again, but he or she gets back up and keeps trying.  When the wicked person falls, however, he or she is led into a downward spiral that causes calamity.  There is no recovery, no hope, no more trying.

Failure is a part of the human experience.  It can be painful but it can also be a great teacher.  God’s definition of success does not preclude failure, but it does include a willingness to refuse to quit, to learn from our mistakes, and to try again.  Failure can be our greatest teacher.  It can destroy us, or it can immobilize us, or it can simply teach us a lesson about what not to do.  It can rub off our rough edges and soften our hearts.  It can be the first step towards being a great success.  God can use our failures, whatever they may be, to make us the people He wants us to be.

2 Thessalonians 3:6-15  But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us.  For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you; nor did we eat anyone’s bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us.  For even when we were with you, we commanded you this:  If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.  For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies.  Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread.  But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good.  And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed.  Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

A sense of entitlement.  It seems to be growing more and more in our society.  It’s a spirit of dullness and a spirit of “give me” and it seems to be invading our workplace and our nation.  This is not a new thing, not even among Christians.  Paul was writing this epistle during a time when some of the Thessalonians believers had stopped working.  It seems they were relying on the generosity of their fellow believers, supposedly for the sake of being spiritual and waiting for the second coming of Christ – or maybe they were just being lazy.  Whatever it was, Paul had harsh words for this sense of entitlement.

Paul begins this by stating that we are to withdraw from people who are disorderly.  Who are the disorderly?  Paul defines them as those who will not work.    This command in the Greek has the force of a military command and is given in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ who is our Supreme Commander.  The word “withdraw” (stellesthai) means to stay away from; to have no fellowship with.    We are not to be identified in any way with these disorderly people who will not work.  Hanging out with people can also cause them to believe we condone their behavior.  We are to be careful not to do this.

This passage gives four reasons why we are to withdraw from the disorderly.  Verse 6 tells us that the person who does not work disobeys God’s commands and instructions.  The word “tradition” (paradosin) means all the Word of God, whether taught or written.  Pau says he had already taught these people the value of working as it applies to the commands of God and so they are without excuse.  If they continue in this life style, believers are to withdraw from them.  The second reason we are to withdraw is because they have examples and so should know better.  Paul worked day and night in labor and toil.  As a minister of the gospel, he had a right to be supported but chose not to be because he could set a dynamic example for these people.  This is not saying ministers should not be paid a real wage.  Paul obviously saw a problem with these particular people and was trying to set an example. 

Another reason we are to withdraw from disorderly people is because they lose their right to eat.  It can’t be stated any plainer: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.  Note that this is also a command.  Again this is not talking about those who are truly disabled or unable to find employment.  This is taking about people who choose not to work – who choose to sit around doing nothing all day.  There are too many people in the world who are destitute, desperate, and dying.  Almost every church could put people to work, helping the truly needy.  The fourth reason is that those who are idle tend to be busybodies.  Our minds are active things and are never still.  Either it is busy thinking positive, productive thoughts or it is busy thinking negative thoughts.  This is why so many idle people, especially young people, get into trouble today. 

Verses 12-13 command us all to work.  Again this is a forceful command, a command that comes from the Lord Jesus Christ.  We are to earn our living in quietness in contrast to being busybodies.  We’re to work with a quiet spirit and mind our own business – being efficient workers.  We are not to get weary in doing good.  Don’t slack – be a good example for others as unto the Lord.  Some values and goals are important when we consider our work:

·         Pursue your life’s choice of work as a calling from God, whatever it might be, believing that He will guide and prepare you to accomplish a good work.

·         Increase understanding of your interests, personality, style, gifts, and talents.

·         Increase your skill and usability of universal job skills such as analytical thinking, evaluating skills, learning good communication, writing, speaking skills, interpersonal relationship skills, and problem solving skills.

·         Whatever you do, do it with thanksgiving and praise and give glory to God for any achievement.

Work is good for us.  When God placed Adam in the garden, He gave him work to do.  When we see our work as God-given, we have a whole new perspective.  It’s not a necessary evil that takes time away from “spiritual” things, but a gift from God through which we are to grow spiritually and minister to others.  This is the solution for the sense of entitlement.  It also gives a sense of real purpose and the right kind of self esteem.   God needs people in all walks of life in order to reach those who have not heard the good news of salvation. 

Psalm 139:14  I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.

Almost all of us can identify something that we wish could be different in our personalities, or physical or emotional make up.  Many of us have wrestled with congenital or genetic problems about which we have no choice.  Even some of the most powerful Bible characters struggled with this – Moses wished he could speak better, Paul struggled with some thorn in the flesh.  But God took them in their weakness and used them mightily.  2 Corinthians 12:10 reminds us that when we are weak, then we are strong in God.  12:9 reminds us that His grace is sufficient for us and that His strength is made perfect in our weakness.

Psalm 139:14, which we hear so often but seem to have such difficulty applying it to ourselves, clearly states that we are fearfully and wonderfully made by God Himself from the very moment of conception.  God determined our physical being.  It’s difficult when we have genetic limitations but it’s good to remember that He is sovereign over our lives.  We are made in His very image, and we know that He makes no mistakes.  When we face physical or emotional difficulties because of our genetics, we must remember that we are no less important or perfect in God’s eyes than anyone else.  God works through all kinds of people to accomplish His will.

Almost all of us have to deal with at least one major challenge in life, something that can’t be changed.  We can choose to dwell on the problem and our powerlessness or we can choose to focus on God and His character and what He wants for our lives.  We can choose to remember that we are not alone in our struggle – “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man.” (1 Cor. 10:13).  We can choose to remember that God loves us and promises to be with us.  He cares about our situation even if He doesn’t change it.  He desires that we know Him.  As we choose to remember who He is and His love for us, we can avoid living in despair.  We can choose to remember that when we come to the end of our own resources, God’s work of grace in our lives will be more clearly evident.  We can choose to remove our focus from our weakness and to place our focus on what a glorious thing God has given us In Christ.  Remember that God is always at work and wants to work in and through us – just as we are.

Romans 16:1-16  I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea, that you may receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her in whatever business she has nee of you; for indeed she has been a helper of many and of myself also.  Greet Priscilla and Aquilla, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.  Likewise greet the church that is in their house. 

Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia to Christ.  Greet Mary, who labored much for us.  Greet Andronicus and Junia, my countrymen and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.

Greet Amplias, my beloved in the Lord.  Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and Stachys, my beloved.  Greet Apelles, approved in Christ.  Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus.  Greet Herodion, my countryman.  Greet those who are of the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord.

Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, who have labored in the Lord.  Greet the beloved persis, who labored much in the Lord.  Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.  Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren who are with them.  Greet Philogus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them.   Greet one another with a holy kiss.  The churches of Christ greet you.

Sometimes in our culture, we can forget that the church is not a building, not a place nor activity.  It’s easy at times to forget that we are the church.  This is not a passage which is studied often or preached on a great deal but it’s one which I personally find very encouraging.  Throughout the passage, believers are mentioned by name and the emphasis is on unity in the faith and the individual members which make up the Church of Christ.  Each name listed stands as a challenge to us today to follow the Lord ever more closely and serve His people ever more diligently.

First there was Phoebe, a Christian sister who deserved to be welcomed and befriended.  There are several things we can learn from her example.  The name Phoebe is one of the names of the goddess Diana which leads many scholars to believe she was a convert from a pagan religion.  (Actually, when you get right down to it, aren’t we all?)   Paul calls her “our sister,” meaning a sister in the faith of Christ.  Phoebe was a servant (diakonon) of the church at Cenchrea.  This is the same word as deacon.  She apparently served in some official capacity in her local church.  Paul gives two reasons the believers should welcome Phoebe: first believers are to always welcome and befriend other believers in a manner worthy of the saints.  The church is not an exclusive club nor a society of cliques.  Secondly, Phoebe had been a helper (prostasis) of many.   This word implies that she helped, protected, looked after, and provided for many people.  Our example from Phoebe?  We are to be servants of the church, constantly ministering to all who are in need.

Next there is Priscilla and Aquilla, a hospitable couple who opened their homes even as they risked death.  They were close companions of Paul and were originally residents of Rome.  In AD 52, the Roman emperor, Claudius, banished the Jews from Rom and this couple moved to Corinth.  They were tentmakers and went into business for a while with Paul.  Later, they traveled with Paul to Ephesus where they eventually settled.  Throughout their moves, their chief characteristics were an open home and open hearts.  They received the young preacher, Apollos, into their home to instruct him in the faith.  They opened their Ephesian and Roman homes to church meetings.  Paul mentioned that they saved his life, risking their own necks for him.   What can we learn from them?  Hospitality, helping fellow believers in ministry, and a willingness to sacrifice ourselves for the sake of other believers.

Next in the list is Epaenetus, a courageous new convert.  He was probably a member of the household of Stephanas whose house is said to have been the first fruits of Achaia (1 Cor. 16:15).  Imagine the real courage it would have taken to become the first convert to Christ in the middle of a pagan culture!  Think about the changed life and the surrendering of himself to Jesus.  Imagine the attitudes and reactions of his loved ones, friends, and neighbors – ridicule, misunderstandings, questioning, mocking, withdrawal, isolation.  From Epaenetus we can learn true courage.

Then there was Mary, a lady who labored much.  Notice that Mary was a member of the Roman church and Paul had yet to go to Rome at the time of this letter writing.  Therefore, Mary must have ministered to him elsewhere.  In fact she labored so much for Paul and his fellow workers that he commends here for this service.  We have no idea exactly how she served, but we can learn the value of diligent service from Mary.

Andronicus and Junia were early converts who were imprisoned with Paul.  They were perhaps man and wife as Junia is a woman’s name.  The things we know about them are interesting.  We know that they were related to Paul in some way and were imprisoned with him at some point in his ministry.  They were known and highly esteemed by the apostles of Christ and they were believers before Paul, becoming believers before Stephen’s martyrdom (Acts 7:54-60).  They were well known for their willingness to stand up for Christ and to bear testimony for Him, even if it meant imprisonment or death.  May we also be so willing.

Amplias simply has the testimony of being beloved by a minister of the Gospel.  This indicates that he was a man of remarkable love, a man who greatly loved others and was greatly loved by others.  “By this shall all men know ye are my disciples, if ye have love one for another.”  John 13:35

Urbanus was a helper, that is, a fellow worker in the ministry.  There are three things here I find noteworthy.  He was a man who worked side by side with Paul.  He was a man of unusual diligence and he was a man of unusual faithfulness who was loyal to Christ wherever he travelled.  He faithfully witnessed and served wherever he travelled.

Stachys is also called my beloved by Paul.  He was a believer who was characterized by the greatest of all traits – love.  Just imagine the strength of a man whose dominant feature is love!  Apelles was a believer who had been tried and found faithful.  Apparently, he had faced some great trial and had stood up against it, proving his loyalty beyond question.  As far as I know, he was a lay believer yet he stood fast against suffering, trusting the presence of God’s Spirit to carry him through the trial.  Personally, I love the term “approved in Christ.”  What an endorsement!!!

Those who were of the household of Aristobulus were slaves who were owned by Aristobulus, Herod the Great’s grandson.  From this I learn that, no matter where we are, no matter our station in life, Christ loves us.   Herodian was another relative of Paul (there’s no reason for translating suggene as countryman instead of relative).  This reminds me to be faithful to witness to my family.

Paul then greets the believers in the household of Narcissus.  Narcissus was probably the wealthy secretary to the Emperor Claudius and determined the appointments of the Emperor and amassed a great fortune from kickbacks (William Barclay).  It’s important here to note that these believers were so faithful in Christ that they stood up for Him even in this kind of a home environment.  One of the greatest problems believers face is living with unbelievers.  Yet, these slaves in this very prominent household were able to maintain their faithfulness to Christ.  We are called to follow Christ, even if, as the hymn says, none go with me.

Tryphena and Tryphosa were two women who labored much in the Lord.  The name Tryphena means dainty and the name Tryphosa means delicate.  The word labored here means working to the point of exhaustion, toiling to the point of collapse.  These two dainty, delicate women worked like horses for the Lord and His church.  Persis was a beloved woman who also worked hard in the Lord.  She was a woman of such love and ministry that others looked on her as the “beloved Persis.”  She labored every which way she was able.

Rufus, chosen in the Lord, was a saintly man.   Note the word chosen.  Paul does not say chosen by the Lord but chosen in the Lord.  The emphasis here is not election (no matter our belief in this area). The emphasis is on a tenderness, a preciousness, and a warmth – an intimate relationship between the Lord and Rufus.  He was set apart and had an intimate relationship with Christ.  Rufus was probably the son of Simon the Cyrenian who carried the cross for Jesus (Mark 15:21).  What an impact this must have had on his life – watching his father carry the cross of our Lord!  We can learn to be set apart for Christ – to remember the impact of the crucifixion and how it forever changed us.

Rufus’s mother is mentioned next and Paul calls her his mother in the Lord.  On several occasions, she cared for Paul as a mother cares for her own son.  When Paul needed a mother nearby, he knew he could count on her.  Do we treat fellow believers like family?  Can they count on us in times of need?

Several more servants of the Lord are named about whom we know little.  Then Paul exhorts us to greet each other in the same manner as these saints, reminding us that we are also servants and fellow workers in the Lord.  It’s a good reminder to remain faithful to the Lord and to the fellowship of His people.

“And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”  Hebrews 10:24-25