Numbers 14:18 King James Version
“The LORD is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation.”
One of the characteristics of God is "Longsuffering"
What is Longsuffering?
According to Merriam Webster it means: “patiently enduring lasting offense or hardship”
Why is God Longsuffering?
There are many accounts in the Bible that showed God’s longsuffering towards even though we are sinners, because as God says in the following verses:
Ezekiel 18:32 – “For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.” and also in
2 Peter 3:9 – “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
Romans 5:8 –"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
How God's Longsuffering make us whole again?
Back to the title of this message, how does God’s Longsuffering make us whole again? In 2 Peter 3:15 it says – “And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;” As the verse says, the Longsuffering of our Lord is Salvation.
Without God’s Longsuffering there is no Salvation, as we read His promise in the Old Testament.
Isaiah 53:3-11 King James Version
3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
As previous verse 2 Peter 3:9 this is God’s promise from the Old Testament (more than 700 years before the birth of Jesus Christ), that He will endure suffering for us through His Son, Jesus Christ, in order for us to be saved, He already made the perfect blood atonement for our sins, and we only need to believe on Him to receive the free gift of Salvation (Acts 16:31, Rom. 10:9-10). We know that we don’t deserve it but because of God’s love and mercy towards us that He suffered for us so that we may be saved. Such a wonderful God we serve!
As Saved Believer in Christ, there will be times where we will be in a difficult situations or hardships, but know that this is already expected as we follow Jesus Christ while we are yet in this wicked world.
John 15:18-19 King James Version
19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
As we conform to the image of Christ, we too will go through longsuffering because it is one of the fruit of the Spirit.
Galatians 5:22-23 King James Version
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Longsuffering should not discourage you, but rather encourage you as this is a way for God to prepare you to receive more of His grace, glory and power into your life, as what Apostle Paul said in his letter to the Corinthians and Colossians.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 King James Version
9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
Colossians 1:10-11 King James Version
10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
Longsuffering is also a test of faith toward God, similar to the story of Joseph and Job in the Old Testament, where they both endured hardships, and yet they remained faithful toward God, so they were used by God and richly blessed after their trials, in the case of Joseph, he saved both his father Jacob’s family and the nation of Egypt from famine after being a slave and thrown into prison for false accusation, while Job was richly blessed by God much more after enduring the afflictions of the devil and repenting for accusing God for the injustice that he was experiencing after revealing the workings of His creation.
Job 13:15-16 King James Version
15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.
16 He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him.
Job 42:1-6 King James Version
1 Then Job answered the LORD, and said,
2 I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.
3 Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.
4 Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.
5 I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.
6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.
Even if we undergo hardships as long as we keep faithful towards God, God will always be with us, to comfort us.
2 Corinthians 1:4 King James Version
“Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”
John 14:15-18 King James Version
15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
And also trust that the Lord will not give you a trial more than what you can handle
1 Corinthians 10:13 King James Version
13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
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Romans 5:1-3 King James Version
1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
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Hope this may be a blessing to the readers, thank you and good day.
Note: All verses presented are from King James Version.
How to go to Heaven? Find out in the short video below
GOD's Simple Plan of Salvation
If you were to die today for any reason, are you 100% sure you will go to heaven?
This video explains the SIMPLE TRUTH according to the Scriptures. The only way to go to heaven is by:
(1) Admitting that you are a sinner
(2) Believing on the Lord Jesus Christ as your own personal Savior and Lord
(3) Repenting (meaning you are willing to turn away from your sins) of your sins then confessing your sins to God
Jesus Christ willingly sacrificed Himself and shed His precious blood on the cross as a substitute for you, so that you don't have to burn in hell for all eternity because of your sins, and have eternal life in heaven instead.
Watch the video to learn what Scripture says of God's great plan of salvation for you and how to receive His free gift. This is wonderful news. We pray you surrender to Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and to know 100% for sure you will go to heaven when you die!
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