LEARN TO WITHSTAND PRESSURE

By:  C. Dollar

Developing the fruit of the Spirit should be one of the primary goals of every Christian who desires to walk in God’s power. Contrary to traditional teaching, however, the fruit of the Spirit is love. In the same way that an apple is composed of seeds, a stem, core and skin, the fruit of love is comprised of joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance (Galatians 5:22, 23).

The fruit of the Spirit, or love, was deposited in your spirit man when you became born again. It is your responsibility to cultivate that seedling so your love can be perfected and fear can be cast out of your life.

Longsuffering is the part of the fruit of the Spirit that enables Believers to obtain the promises of the Word of God. Longsuffering is “patient endurance.” “That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself. Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise” (Hebrews 6:12-15).

Abraham obtained the promise of God—his son, Isaac—after he had patiently endured. Likewise, as you diligently obey what God tells you to do in spite of your circumstances, you will see longsuffering develop in your life. Abraham waited 25 years to receive the promise of God. Are you willing to wait that long?

Hebrews 10:36 says, “For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.” Longsuffering is an important quality to have if you want to see the promises of God manifest in your life. Do not give up, cave in or quit when you do not see the answers to your prayers right away. Know that if God said it, He will do it. In the meantime, make the most of the opportunity to develop your love by cultivating patient endurance, or longsuffering.

Scripture Of The Day: “For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.” - Hebrews 10:36 (KJV)