1. ‘Say it with fruit …’ (5)

2. Galatians 5:22-23

3. ‘the fruit is … patience’
‘Patience is a virtue …’
not short tempered
or ill tempered
or even quick tempered
but long tempered
cf. Psalm 40:1 – David waited ‘patiently’ …

4. ‘the fruit is … patience’
‘Be patient … God hasn’t finished with me yet!’
it is an attribute of God
cf. 2 Peter 3:9 – Jesus has delayed his return
it enables us to persevere on a bad-hair day
Job personified patience
why we pass through harrowing experiences

5. ‘the fruit is … patience’
they discipline us
they stretch us – ‘boys will be boys, but be patient and boys will be men’
they direct us - Joseph
patience is ‘love under pressure’
need patience to handle failures that come our way
patience in the little things

6. ‘the fruit is … patience’
patience is the ability to put up with other people even when it’s not easy to do
essential in all leadership
Jesus is Mr Patience
cf. James 5:7-8 … the farmer is an outstanding illustration of patience
our God is a God of unimpeachable integrity