THE PATIENCE OF THE SAINTS

REVELATION 14:1

A. "HERE IS THE PATIENCE OF THE SAINTS"
  1. Background to the words of our text:
    1. The announcement of the hour of God's judgment
    2. The fall of Babylon
    3. The warning against the beast, his image and the mark of his name
  2. Locating God's remnant church:
    1. The patience of the saints is one of the marks of identity
    2. Keeping the commandments of God is another mark of their identity
    3. And having the faith of Jesus is a third mark of identity B. THE PATIENCE OF THE SAINTS IS THE BURDEN OF THIS MESSAGE
  3. The patience of the saints - what is it?
    1. The Dictionary defines patience as forbearance; longsuffering; endurance
    2. "Patience" in verse 3 is translated "endurance". Patience is a passive virtue. It enables us to grin and bear it under the most trying and testing ordeals; Examples: We naturally think of the patience of Job - James 5:11; Job 2:10. Then we know of the patience of Moses spoken of as "meekness" - Num. 12:3
  4. Development of patience:
    1. Patience does not come easy, it is a virtue that is the fruit of trials and tribulations
    2. Thus the context of our opening text indicate clearly that the remnant of God's people face trouble - bitter opposition - Rev. 12:17
    3. But their trials do not destroy their faith but develops patience or endurance
    4. Said Jesus, "he that endureth unto the end shall be saved" - Matt. 24:13
    5. It is significant that patience is mentioned first that indicates that patience is a virtue highly valued in the eyes of the Lord. C. THE WORK OF PATIENCE; "LET PATIENCE HAVE HER PERFECT WORK"
  5. This indicates clearly that patience is not only passive:
    1. But very active - if patience is allowed full scope and operation in our lives, then we shall speedily mature and enjoy fullness
    2. "That you may become perfect and complete". We know from experience that when trials come our nature seems to shrink back from them, but if we allow patience to have her perfect work, we will be stronger
  6. Let us note what patience will do for us:
    1. It will help us to be calm in the midst of great difficulty and perplexity; Examples: See the Son of man standing in Pilate's judgment hall, bruised, spit upon, wearing the crown of thorns and yet even Pilate had to say, "Behold the man" - John 19:5. Those manly virtues never left our Lord even when the wrath of Satan seemed bent on destroying Him
    2. John Huss prayed for the priest that led him to the place of execution
    3. So did Stephen, "Lord lay not this sin to their charge" - Acts 7:60
    4. Patience enables us to calmly assess the reasons for our trials - Heb. 6:15; I Pet. 2:20
  7. "Here is the patience of the saints":
    1. A saint is one wholly dedicated to a life of Christian virtues
    2. And God uses or displays these virtues to make known and to manifest the manifold grace of God in the life of the saints
    3. Can God point to you, dear brother, and to me as revealing the patience of the saints?
    4. If we are among those that have the faith of Jesus, God can and will use our lives as an example of His grace.


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