Westside Care Center Tuesday, March 6, 2006

Prayer Prin. 3A: Submis.: Longsuffering w/Joy C. Pat Lanyon

Review: We are now looking at what appear to be results of having a worthy walk. Last time we studied the patience and endurance we are to glorify God’s Will– how to endure God’s will by waiting and trusting, and we looked at Bible examples of those who did. Here are some ...

God’s Hall of Fame gives us several outstanding examples. 1. Noah endured the scoffing of men for 120 years Ge 6:3 while he was building the ark, and Peter calls him a preacher of righteousness 2 Peter 2:5 2. Moses is my favorite in this list of Heroes. He made choices that revealed his faith: He refused to be called Pharaoh’s son, thus choosing to suffer the same affliction other Hebrews received in Egypt at that time. Yea, this meant that he was rejected as an Egyptian. And when he was found out – the murder of the Egyptian – he had to enter a new enduring phase of his life in the Wilderness. And when preparation was done there and he is able to successfully lead the children of Israel out of Egypt, he had to face the stubborn and rebellious Israelite nation in the wilderness for another 40 years and not even enter himself. He certainly knew the ‘enduring’ part of doing God’s will. 3. David is another example of patience and endurance. He was anointed King of Israel early in his life, but waited 7 ½ years before He ruled all of Israel for the remaining 33 years of His sovereignty. He waited for Saul to be removed by God Himself, and endured much bloodshed throughout his lifetime. He endured Absalom’s revolt and left his own kingdom trusting God alone to restore him. He endured Amnon’s near take-over at he end of his reign just before Solomon firmly took control. 4. Daniel is the most admired example in this list even though he wasn’t actually named. And he was probably responsible for the conversion of Nebuchadnezzar, who was one of the greatest kings of the Babylon Empire. His prudence and convictions enabled him to endure great trials with supernatural intervention by God – not to mention special revelations given to him by God that as yet has not been fulfilled.

Colossians 1:9-12 (with outline sectional marking as we are seeking to understand it)

9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that (1B.) you may be filled with the knowledge of His will (1c.) in all wisdom and (2c.) spiritual understanding;

10 that you may 2B. walk worthy of the Lord, (1c1d.) fully pleasing Him, (1c2d.) being fruitful in every good work and (1c3d.) increasing in the knowledge of God;

11 (1c4d.) strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for (1c5d.) all patience and (1c6d.) longsuffering with joy;

12 (1c7d) giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.

We observed last time that these latter principles in this passage are describing more what results in a worthy walk, than conditions for a worthy walk. This week we are considering two difficult-to-join concepts: longsuffering with joy.

The phrase, though, is following our last study on being strengthened by God’s mighty power:

Definitions longsuffering =

from the same as 3116; TDNT-4:374,550; n f

AV-longsuffering 12, patience 2; 14

1) patience, endurance, constancy, steadfastness, perseverance

2) patience, forbearance, longsuffering, slowness in avenging wrongs

God gives His supernatural power for the impossible job of longsuffering, and enables it to be done with joy!

Joy =

from 5463; TDNT-9:359,1298; n f

AV-joy 51, gladness 3, joyful 1, joyous 1, joyfulness 1, joyfully + 3326 1, greatly 1; 59

1) joy, gladness 1a) the joy received from you 1b) the cause or occasion of joy 1b1) of persons who are one's joy