What%20is%20your%20God%20like?

1
What is your God like?

• Some think of God as they would men.

2
What is your God like?

• Some think of God as they would men.
• The story of an atheist in the 1800s who cried
  out in his lecture If there is a God, let Him
  strike me dead now! After a moment he said See
  there is no God!

3
What is your God like?

• Some think of God as they would men.
• The story of an atheist in the 1800s who cried
  out in his lecture If there is a God, let Him
  strike me dead now! After a moment he said See
  there is no God!
• Someone replied in the newspaper the next day by
  telling a story of an ant that climbed upon a
  railroad track and proclaimed there is no train!

4
What is your God like?

• We can be glad that God does not act like men!

5
What is your God like?

• We can be glad that God does not act like men!
• Gods word makes it very clear that our God is
  longsuffering!

6
What is your God like?

• We can be glad that God does not act like men!
• Gods word makes it very clear that our God is
  longsuffering!
• God made this clear in the giving of the 10
  commandments. (Ex. 344-7)

7
What is your God like?

• Exodus 344-7 - So he cut two tablets of stone
  like the first ones. Then Moses rose early in the
  morning and went up Mount Sinai, as the LORD had
  commanded him and he took in his hand the two
  tablets of stone. 5 Now the LORD descended in
  the cloud and stood with him there, and
  proclaimed the name of the LORD.

8
What is your God like?

• 6 And the LORD passed before him and proclaimed,
  "The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious,
  longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and
  truth, 7 "keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving
  iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means
  clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the
  fathers upon the children and the children's
  children to the third and the fourth generation.

9
What is your God like?

• Moses used this certain character of God in his
  prayer to Him. (Num 1417-19)

10
What is your God like?

• Numbers 1417-19 -"And now, I pray, let the
  power of my LORD be great, just as You have
  spoken, saying, 18 'The LORD is longsuffering
  and abundant in mercy, forgiving iniquity and
  transgression but He by no means clears the
  guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on
  the children to the third and fourth generation.'

11
What is your God like?

• 19 "Pardon the iniquity of this people, I pray,
  according to the greatness of Your mercy, just as
  You have forgiven this people, from Egypt even
  until now."

12
Who Needs the Longsuffering of God?

• What do we mean by longsuffering? (Rom 24)

13
Who Needs the Longsuffering of God?

• Romans 24 - Or do you despise the riches of His
  goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not
  knowing that the goodness of God leads you to
  repentance?

14
Who Needs the Longsuffering of God?

• In Rom. 24 the Greek word is makrothumia.

15
Who Needs the Longsuffering of God?

• Thayers dictionary gives two definitions.

16
Who Needs the Longsuffering of God?

• Thayers dictionary gives two definitions.
• a) patience, endurance, constancy, steadfastness,
  perseverance.

17
Who Needs the Longsuffering of God?

• Thayers dictionary gives two definitions.
• a) patience, endurance, constancy, steadfastness,
  perseverance.
• b) patience, forbearance, longsuffering, slowness
  in avenging wrongs.

18
Who Needs the Longsuffering of God?

• Thayers dictionary gives two definitions.
• a) patience, endurance, constancy, steadfastness,
  perseverance.
• b) patience, forbearance, longsuffering, slowness
  in avenging wrongs.
• All sinful men need the longsuffering of God!

19
Who Needs the Longsuffering of God?

• Men refuse to see the righteousness of God and
  thus minimize their own sins. (Rom 323-26)

20
Who Needs the Longsuffering of God?

• Romans 323-26 - for all have sinned and fall
  short of the glory of God, 24 being justified
  freely by His grace through the redemption that
  is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a
  propitiation by His blood, through faith, to
  demonstrate His righteousness, because in His
  forbearance God had passed over the sins that
  were previously committed,

21
Who Needs the Longsuffering of God?

• 26 to demonstrate at the present time His
  righteousness, that He might be just and the
  justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

22
Who Needs the Longsuffering of God?

• Every man on earth needs it, both the righteous
  and the unrighteous.

23
Who Needs the Longsuffering of God?

• Every man on earth needs it, both the righteous
  and the unrighteous.
• In the scriptures, when a man appears before God
  he immediately becomes aware of his sin and thus
  his need of longsuffering and forgiveness. (Isa.
  65-7)

24
Who Needs the Longsuffering of God?

• Isaiah 65-7 - So I said "Woe is me, for I am
  undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I
  dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips
  For my eyes have seen the King, The LORD of
  hosts." 6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me,
  having in his hand a live coal which he had taken
  with the tongs from the altar.

25
Who Needs the Longsuffering of God?

• 7 And he touched my mouth with it, and said
  "Behold, this has touched your lips Your
  iniquity is taken away, And your sin purged."

26
The Fruits of the Longsuffering of God

• It produces gratitude and humility. (1 Tim
  115-16)

27
The Fruits of the Longsuffering of God

• 1 Timothy 115-16 - This is a faithful saying
  and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus
  came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am
  chief. 16 However, for this reason I obtained
  mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show
  all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are
  going to believe on Him for everlasting life.

28
The Fruits of the Longsuffering of God

• Paul clearly understood the longsuffering of God.
  Are we any different?

29
The Fruits of the Longsuffering of God

• Paul clearly understood the longsuffering of God.
  Are we any different?
• God wants our hearts. The revealing of His
  goodness changes ours!

30
The Fruits of the Longsuffering of God

• Paul clearly understood the longsuffering of God.
  Are we any different?
• God wants our hearts. The revealing of His
  goodness changes ours!
• What if God gave us what we deserved immediately?
  (ex. Preacher who asked this question.)

31
The Fruits of the Longsuffering of God

• What if the Lord had returned in December of
  2004? What if He came today? (2 Pt 39)

32
The Fruits of the Longsuffering of God

• 2 Peter 39 - The Lord is not slack concerning
  His promise, as some count slackness, but is
  longsuffering toward us, not willing that any
  should perish but that all should come to
  repentance.

33
The Fruits of the Longsuffering of God

• Am I only deferring His anger of having it
  quenched?

34
The Fruits of the Longsuffering of God

• Am I only deferring His anger of having it
  quenched?
• It produces hardness and arrogance. (Rom 23-4)

35
The Fruits of the Longsuffering of God

• Romans 23-4 - And do you think this, O man, you
  who judge those practicing such things, and doing
  the same, that you will escape the judgment of
  God? 4 Or do you despise the riches of His
  goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not
  knowing that the goodness of God leads you to
  repentance?

36
The Fruits of the Longsuffering of God

• Again some view God as they would a man.delay
  means weakness.

37
The Fruits of the Longsuffering of God

• Again some view God as they would a man.delay
  means weakness.
• The sinner gains nothing by delaying God.

38
The Fruits of the Longsuffering of God

• Again some view God as they would a man.delay
  means weakness.
• The sinner gains nothing by delaying God.
• The real danger in each of us is becoming
  hardened to the grace of God.

39
The Fruits of the Longsuffering of God

• It produces change and growth in men. (1 Tim
  112-16)

40
The Fruits of the Longsuffering of God

• 1 Timothy 112-17 - And I thank Christ Jesus our
  Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me
  faithful, putting me into the ministry, 13
  although I was formerly a blasphemer, a
  persecutor, and an insolent man but I obtained
  mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

41
The Fruits of the Longsuffering of God

• 14 And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly
  abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ
  Jesus. 15 This is a faithful saying and worthy
  of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into
  the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.

42
The Fruits of the Longsuffering of God

• 16 However, for this reason I obtained mercy,
  that in me first Jesus Christ might show all
  longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are
  going to believe on Him for everlasting life. 17
  Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to
  God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever
  and ever. Amen.

43
The Fruits of the Longsuffering of God

• We need to know what can be and to know that God
  will be with us.

44
The Fruits of the Longsuffering of God

• God knows how to build men.

45
The Fruits of the Longsuffering of God

• God knows how to build men.
• It produces confidence in the justice of God. (2
  Cor 510)

46
The Fruits of the Longsuffering of God

• 2 Corinthians 510 10 For we must all appear
  before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one
  may receive the things done in the body,
  according to what he has done, whether good or
  bad.

47
The Fruits of the Longsuffering of God

• Was Gods longsuffering good news or bad for
  Israel? (Isa 489)

48
The Fruits of the Longsuffering of God

• Isaiah 489 - "For My name's sake I will defer
  My anger, And for My praise I will restrain it
  from you, So that I do not cut you off.

49
The Fruits of the Longsuffering of God

• Is Gods longsuffering good or bad news for us?
  (Rom 25)

50
The Fruits of the Longsuffering of God

• Romans 25 - But in accordance with your
  hardness and your impenitent heart you are
  treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of
  wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of
  God,

51
The Fruits of the Longsuffering of God

• It makes us aware of the providence of God. (Rom
  922-23)

52
The Fruits of the Longsuffering of God

• Romans 922-23 - What if God, wanting to show
  His wrath and to make His power known, endured
  with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath
  prepared for destruction, 23 and that He might
  make known the riches of His glory on the vessels
  of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for
  glory,

53
The Fruits of Our Own Longsuffering

• Longsuffering is a sign of real maturity.

54
The Fruits of Our Own Longsuffering

• Longsuffering is a sign of real maturity.
• It is a fruit of the spirit. (Gal 522-23)

55
The Fruits of Our Own Longsuffering

• Galatians 522-23 22 But the fruit of the
  Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
  kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness,
  self-control. Against such there is no law.

56
The Fruits of Our Own Longsuffering

• It is a product of faith. (Col 110-11)

57
The Fruits of Our Own Longsuffering

• Colossians 110-11 10 that you may walk worthy
  of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful
  in every good work and increasing in the
  knowledge of God 11 strengthened with all
  might, according to His glorious power, for all
  patience and longsuffering with joy

58
The Fruits of Our Own Longsuffering

• Longsuffering is a choice.we put it on! (Col
  38-14)

59
The Fruits of Our Own Longsuffering

• Colossians 38-14 8 But now you yourselves are
  to put off all these anger, wrath, malice,
  blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9
  Do not lie to one another, since you have put off
  the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on
  the new man who is renewed in knowledge according
  to the image of Him who created him,

60
The Fruits of Our Own Longsuffering

• 11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew,
  circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian,
  Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and
  in all. 12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy
  and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness,
  humility, meekness, longsuffering 13 bearing
  with one another, and forgiving one another, if
  anyone has a complaint against another even as
  Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

61
The Fruits of Our Own Longsuffering

• 14 But above all these things put on love, which
  is the bond of perfection.

62
The Fruits of Our Own Longsuffering

• This will eliminate the short fuse and hasty
  accusations. It will also eliminate gossip. It
  will eliminate revenge and cursing.

63
The Fruits of Our Own Longsuffering

• This will eliminate the short fuse and hasty
  accusations. It will also eliminate gossip. It
  will eliminate revenge and cursing.
• Some mistake longsuffering for ignoring the
  person or even worse for harboring hate in
  silence!

64
The Fruits of Our Own Longsuffering

• Longsuffering is essential for the growth of
  Christians and the church.

65
The Fruits of Our Own Longsuffering

• How can true unity be possible? (Eph 41-2)

66
The Fruits of Our Own Longsuffering

• Ephesians 41-2 I, therefore, the prisoner of
  the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the
  calling with which you were called, 2 with all
  lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering,
  bearing with one another in love,

67
The Fruits of Our Own Longsuffering

• The atmosphere of a church can be that of
  optimistic growth and encouragement or that of
  distrust, suspicion and revenge. Which will it
  be?

68
The Fruits of Our Own Longsuffering

• Longsuffering must abound in those who teach! (2
  Tim 41-2)

69
The Fruits of Our Own Longsuffering

• 2 Timothy 41-2 I charge you therefore before
  God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the
  living and the dead at His appearing and His
  kingdom 2 Preach the word! Be ready in season
  and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with
  all longsuffering and teaching.

70
The Fruits of Our Own Longsuffering

• Will I let Gods word do its work?

71
The Fruits of Our Own Longsuffering

• Will I let Gods word do its work?
• Many refuse to give the seed time to work. (Ex.
  Lima bean in jar.)

72
The Fruits of Our Own Longsuffering

• We must make a judgment in those we are trying to
  restore. (Jude 22-23)

73
The Fruits of Our Own Longsuffering

• Jude 122-23 22 And on some have compassion,
  making a distinction 23 but others save with
  fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even
  the garment defiled by the flesh.

74
The Fruits of Our Own Longsuffering

• Longsuffering in my life will have an influence
  on others. (2 Tim 310-12 Rom 1217-21)

75
The Fruits of Our Own Longsuffering

• 2 Timothy 310-12 10 But you have carefully
  followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose,
  faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, 11
  persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me
  at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra -- what
  persecutions I endured. And out of them all the
  Lord delivered me. 12 Yes, and all who desire to
  live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer
  persecution.

76
The Fruits of Our Own Longsuffering

• Romans 1217-21 17 Repay no one evil for evil.
  Have regard for good things in the sight of all
  men. 18 If it is possible, as much as depends on
  you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Beloved, do
  not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to
  wrath for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I
  will repay," says the Lord.

77
The Fruits of Our Own Longsuffering

• 20 Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him
  If he is thirsty, give him a drink For in so
  doing you will heap coals of fire on his head."
  21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil
  with good.

78
The Fruits of Our Own Longsuffering

• Longsuffering must be in our homes!

79
The Fruits of Our Own Longsuffering

• Longsuffering must be in our homes!
• Longsuffering is essential for our salvation.

80
The Fruits of Our Own Longsuffering

• Longsuffering must be in our homes!
• Longsuffering is essential for our salvation.
• That which is in the character of God must become
  a part of our lives!

81
The Fruits of Our Own Longsuffering

• Please do not stop will the knowledge of a few
  facts!

82
The Fruits of Our Own Longsuffering

• Please do not stop will the knowledge of a few
  facts!
• Let Gods longsuffering work for your salvation.
  (2 Pet 314-15)

83
The Fruits of Our Own Longsuffering

• 2 Peter 314-15 14 Therefore, beloved, looking
  forward to these things, be diligent to be found
  by Him in peace, without spot and blameless 15
  and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord
  is salvation -- as also our beloved brother Paul,
  according to the wisdom given to him, has written
  to you,

84
The Fruits of Our Own Longsuffering

• Let Gods longsuffering cause you to be urgent!
  (2 Cor 62)

85
The Fruits of Our Own Longsuffering

• 2 Corinthians 62 - For He says "In an
  acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day
  of salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is
  the accepted time behold, now is the day of
  salvation.