The Challenge to Excel Part 4: Patience & Persistence by Dr. Rod Mattoon

About this sermon

If you are going to pursue excellence in your Christian life, then you must comprehend the importance of patience. The journey of the Christian is not a short sprint. It is a long journey that requires patience, especially when matters get rough and difficult. The struggle between patience and impatience is one that will not go away. Patience and impatience tug on our emotions like two teams playing tug of war. They are like two different voices screaming to us how to live and respond and their messages are directly opposite from one another. * Impatience is characterized by complaining and criticizing. Patience is characterized by composure and calmness. * The siren song of impatience says, "Speed Up! Take the shortcut! Use the quick fix!" Patience says, "Slow Down. Do it right! Find a lasting, real solution." * Impatience says, "I want it NOW!" Patience says, "I can WAIT! It accepts difficult circumstances without giving God a deadline to remove it. * Impatience takes risks, is rash and reckless. (Proverbs 14:29) Patience makes a person rational, concerned about rightness and safety. It avoids hasty conclusions. * Impatience makes one HOT-tempered and uncontrolled. Patience makes one COOL, even-tempered, self-controlled. (Proverbs 16:32) * Impatience leads to stress. Patience leads to rest. * Impatience makes a person short with others. Patience makes one long-suffering. * Impatience leads to evacuation or easy surrender of responsibility. Patience leads to endurance and stamina in fulfilling responsibilities. It works out the problem till a solution is found. * Impatience sacrifices the permanent on the altar of the immediate. It can take a reputation which has been under construction for years and tear it down in one moment of impatient, rash, uncontrolled behavior. Patience subdues the pressures of the immediate so that the results of our decisions and actions will be peaceful, productive, and permanent. * Impatience leads to immaturity, incompleteness, and dissatisfaction. Patience leads to maturity, completeness, and satisfaction. (James 1:2-4) * Impatience makes one snappy and nervous. Patience helps keep a person happy and nice. James told us in James 5:8, “Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.” James says, "Be patient!" This is a command and therefore, our duty if we are to excel in our Christian growth. This message was preached on Sunday night, April 18, 2021, at Lincoln Land Baptist Church.

Topics

• Patience
• Perseverance