TOPIC — THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT: LONGSUFFERING AND GENTLENESS [SUNDAY, 17TH DECEMBER 2017]
OPENING PRAYER:
Father, grant me grace to mature in patience and kindness.
MEMORY VERSE: “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;.” – Colossians 3:12
BIBLE PASSAGE: 2 Corinthians 6:3-7
3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:
4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;
6 By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,
7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
INTRODUCTION:
Another set of characteristics of the fruit of the Holy Spirit are longsuffering and gentleness as listed in Galatians 5:22-23. Longsuffering is also translated as patience while gentleness is also called kindness. As the Holy Spirit works in our lives, our character changes. Where we had harboured selfishness, cruelty, rebelliousness, and spite, we now possess love, joy, peace, kindness, goodness etc. These fruits reflect the character of God.
TEXT REVIEW: 2Cor.6:3-7
Through patience, believers can understand the writings of the scriptures and thereby have hope. Through patience too, believers can be like minded towards another according to Jesus. (Romans 15:4-5). Believers, through patience and hope, can inherit the promises. Heb 12:6. However, believers can achieve far beyond these through MUCH patience.- 11Cor. 6:4. Apostle Paul endured so much for the cross and became a good example of a person who suffered long( Long suffering) for Christ.
Much patience helped him to:
i. Endure stripes/beating 2Cor.6:5
ii. Endure imprisonment 2Cor. 6:5
iii. Endure tumult/ protest/riot- 2Cor. 6:5
iv. Endure labour, sleepless watching and hunger. 2 Cor. 6:5
Much patience enable him to suffer afflictions and distress, hardships and calamities. 2Cor. 6:4 Paul was able to maintain the status of purity and innocence. 2 Cor. 6:6.
The apostle combined patience with kindness and his love for Christ skyrocketed. He was able to speak the word of truth among liars with only the weapon of righteousness as defense from attack left and right.-2Cor. 6:7. He was not ashamed of dishonor and evil report which ungodly people labeled him with.
2 Cor. 6:8. He rejoiced in sorrow, glorified God in shame, lived in poverty despite available riches, etc. All these were possible because of the fruit of patience and kindness. -2 Cor. 6:8-10. All believers truly need the fruit of patience and kindness.
LESSON OUTLINES:
1. Longsuffering (Patience)
2. Gentleness (Kindness)
LONGSUFFERING (PATIENCE)
i. Long suffering in Greek words is translated as patience.
ii. Patience in Greek means “Hupomone i.e a remaining under”, as when one bears up under a burden.
iii.”Makrothumia” Galatians 5:22, which is compounded as “Makros” and “thumos” means “long and temper or passion” respectively.
iv. ” Long temper” is the ability to hold one’s temper for a long time despite the odds.
v. “Long temper” mean”long suffering” according to the king James Version translation. 2Cor.6:6
vi. “Long suffering” means ability to endure much pain without recourse to violence
vii. It is ability to wait on God to provide comfort and punish wrong doing despite opportunities to retaliate.
viii. It is ability to restrain oneself and think carefully when one is passing through pains.
ix. A person who is not patient will be agitated and revengeful and prone to discouragement. (John 14:27).
x. God is love and want His children to show love rather than revenge. (Romans 12:19; Leviticus 19:18).
CLASS ACTIVITY 1:
Class to mention the benefits of patience.
GENTLENESS (KINDNESS)
i. The Greek word for kindness is “chrestotes”.
ii. Kindness means “compassion, tender concern, uprightness”.
iii. God’s kindness provides Salvation for mankind. (Titus 3:4-5; Romans 2:4; 11:22).
iv. God’s kindness provide security for His children (Psalm 17:8; Matthew 23:37).
v. God demonstrated kindness to Elijah by providing food for him in famine through the widow and later raised the widow’s son from the dead (1kings 17:8-24).
vi. God showed kindness to Hagar and Ishmael by providing water to Ishmael in the wilderness (Genesis 21:9-21).
vii. Jesus showed kindness on several occasions to many people (Mark 6:34; 7:29; 10:46-52).
viii. God gently rescued us when we go astray (Luke 15:3-7,Isaiah 40:11).
ix. Believers should exhibit gentleness or kindness to others. They should be useful or relevant tender, benevolent, gracious
x. The Holy Spirit can help believers to be gentle in this violent world (2Corinthians 6:4-6).
CLASS ACTIVITY 2:
Class should discuss the benefit of gentleness.
CONCLUSION:
The Holy Spirit can help believers to be patience and kind.
CLOSING PRAYER:
Father, let me yield to Holy Spirit to produce the fruit of patience and kindness.
ASSIGNMENT:
Mention 5 things about patience and kindness
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