Patience
Patience means long suffering, slow to anger (H750 arek). Is patience necessary in our walk with the Creator? Seeing that it is one of the fruits of YAH’s RUACH (SPIRIT) that we are to possess, I would say that it is absolutely necessary in our walk with the Creator,
“But the fruit of the RUACH is agapℇ, joy, peace, longsuffering (patience), gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 humility (meekness), temperance: against such there is no Torah.
24 And they that are Mashiach’s (Messiah’s) have atoned the flesh with the affections and lusts.
25 If we live in the RUACH, let us also walk in the RUACH” Gal 5:22-25.
Yacob (James) 1:2-6, “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3Knowing this, that the trying of your faith works patience.
4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of Alohim, that gives to all men liberally, and upbraids not; and it shall be given him.
6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.”
Ah ha! So, life’s tests, the ups and downs of temptations, experiences, and adversities, are to try our faith. When we succeed, our faith brings about patience. (To learn more about what faith really is and how to achieve it, check out my first blog article, “What is Faith?”). Okay, now we know that the characteristics of the fruit of YAH’s RUACH we are to acquire build one upon another. So, what comes after we have had our faith tried and have obtained patience?
Rom 5:1-5, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with Alohim through our Master Yahshua Mashiach:
2 By whom also we have access by faith into this favor (grace) wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the esteem of Alohim.
3 And not only so, but we esteem in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation works patience;
4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
5 And hope makes not ashamed; because the love of Alohim is shed abroad in our hearts by the RUACH Ha’Qadosh (Set Apart Spirit) which is given unto us.”
Those words are divinely beautiful because brother Shaul (Paul) expounded on faith, trials of life, and patience expressed above by brother Yacob (James).
As expressed, we must first obtain one aspect (fruit) of the RUACH before moving on to obtain the next aspect of Father’s RUACH. It’s like putting in hard work on the job and obtaining a raise (promotion). As we put in hard work we receive raise after raise, after raise, which draws us closer to YAH, strengthening our relationship with Him.
To recap, in order to gain patience, we must first acquire faith. Being tried and justified by faith we also gain peace (another fruit of the RUACH). Afterwards we must also work to then obtain experience which leads to hope!
What exactly are we obtaining when we obtain experience and hope, as the English does not translate these two aspects well? In the Hebrew, the word experience more accurately means, to diligently observe (H5172 nacash). In the Greek the word is dokimé (G1382), meaning trial or proving. This makes way more sense when we consider Shaul telling us to, “Prove all things, hold fast that which is good” 1 Thess 5:21. As well as what brother John tells us in 1 John 4:1, “Beloved, believe not every ruach (spirit), but try the ruach whether they are of Alohim: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.”
What of hope? What exactly does hope mean? In Greek and Hebrew hope means, expectation (G1680). However, the Hebrew is so much more profound. The word for hope (H8615 tiqvah), represents a cord, as YAH is spiritually our lifeline. We are to be completely attached to Him and not the world. I don’t know about you, but I’m getting goosebumps just thinking about the profound ahava (love) our Father has for those who ahava Him.
Why go into so much detail when reading Scripture? It is important that we examine the true meaning of words if we are expected to walk in the meaning of those words in our quest to live in YAH’s RUACH and draw near to Him. One of the biggest ways the Father speaks to us is via His Word. If we do not properly examine it, we are wasting our time and will not grow spiritually.
Let’s go back and examine some aspects of Yacob 1 (James) more closely as there are some hidden nuggets in there that need light shown on them.
Yacob 1:3-6, “Knowing this, that the trying of your faith works patience.
4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of Alohim, that gives to all men liberally, and upbraids not; and it shall be given him.
6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.”
We are told to let patience have her perfect work, that we may be perfect an entire. So what exactly does that mean? Let’s read this (verse 4) as it should have properly been interpreted via the actual Hebrew rendering of the words & somewhat via the Greek,
“But let longsuffering (patience) conceive completeness, upright in doing, that ye may be complete, upright and whole, lacking nothing.”
Now that’s Scripture instruction we can take ahold of and actually do! Let’s keep going. Verse 5 above informs us that if we lack wisdom we are to ask it of Alohim, but we must ask Him in faith. Without first obtaining wisdom one cannot go on to obtain the knowledge and understanding to even embark on faith. “The fear of YAH is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do His Commandments: His praise endures forever” Ps 111:10.
To ask for wisdom in faith without wavering means to request in steadfastness; in firm support of our Creator. For in depth detail on what faith is see my first blog article, “What is Faith?” Also for an excellent breakdown on wisdom itself you may want to check out, “The 12 Fundamental Laws of Wisdom,” by Joseph Joshua.
Summary
Patience is long suffering, slow to anger (H750 arek). We must strive to be upright in all that we set our hands on to do, that we may be complete, upright and whole before our Creator, lacking nothing. Lastly to obtain patience and other characteristics of YAH required of us is a spiritual growth process:
1. Fear (reverence) YAH & gain wisdom and understanding
2. Understanding leads to performing YAH’s Commandments (please see my
book, Above Torah: What the New Testament Truly Reveals about “the Law.”)
3. Acquire Faith without wavering then
4. Acquire Peace, which leads to
5. Patience, which in-turn leads to
6. Experience, & all that aids one in
7. Acquiring Hope
The word for hope (H8615 tiqvah), represents a cord, as YAH is spiritually our lifeline. Let’s get and stay connected to our lifeline!
