Patience

Patience

The young woman has come to you seeking solace and understanding. She asserts that her burdens are not her own fault, and she is deeply troubled by the reasons behind her suffering. She feels abused, misused, misunderstood, and mistreated, and she expresses a lack of concern for the impact her actions have on others. She is consumed by self-centeredness, and you are called upon by our Lord and Savior to provide her with the help and guidance she desperately needs. Your prayers are essential in this journey of healing and redemption.

As she rambles on, you feel uncomfortable. You listen attentively to her concerns, and time seems to crawl by. When you finally glance at the clock, it feels like hours have passed, yet it’s only been a few minutes. Your instincts urge you to take action. You wish she would steer the conversation in a more productive direction, speed it up, and finally bring it to an end. But as you look at the clock again, you realize that you’ve been waiting for just twenty minutes. Your patience is wearing thin.

The paragraphs above illustrate a minor tribulation, a situation where a person exhausts their patience. 

Patience, a divine gift, enables us to wait upon the Lord, willingly sacrificing our desires and needs to the authority of God. 

James 1:3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 

Tribulation, as defined, is a test of one’s faith. When someone exclaims, “I have no patience!” it’s a clear indication that their faith lacks the strength to withstand tribulations. Therefore, it’s essential to cultivate a strong faith to endure the practice of patience. Patience is demonstrated through our choices, which we make with faith. By patiently nurturing these choices in the Lord, we cultivate patience through prayer, hope, and allowing our decisions to mature. 

Patiently working through your mistakes, offering a loving hand to those who fail, gently pruning those mistakes, and nurturing the right choices into fruition. Patiently trusting that your faith will equip you with the knowledge and wisdom to successfully endure and transform…and patiently waiting for the results of your choices.

Patience stems from self-denial. God the Father bestowed upon us the gift of free will, allowing us to shape our own destinies. Our human father, Adam, possessed the power to make choices between right and wrong. Pride and denial are the common threads that connect right and wrong. Adam’s free will, driven by pride, lacked self-denial and was entirely self-centered. 

Being self-centered and prideful can be defined as wanting what you want, when you want it, and having it right now, all because it’s all about you. This is stated in the Bible: 1 John 2:16. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father, but from the world. Adam’s pride and self-centered decision led to the curse of death for his children and their descendants.

Adams' sin is addressed in the next verse;

1Jn 2:17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. 

If you replace “I want,” with “Jesus wants,” a dramatic transformation takes place. It becomes, “I want what Jesus wants,” “when Jesus wants it,” and “Jesus wants it right now” because it is the Will of God! 

Patience is intrinsically linked to charity. Charity is the divine gift of accepting life’s circumstances as they are despite others' flaws and imperfections. It is the plan of Grace bestowed upon us by God. We are unworthy of His divine plan, yet in His infinite mercy, He extends the plan of Grace to us regardless of our actions. We are commanded to demonstrate charity when individuals engage in unseemly or sinful behavior in any given situation. Charity embodies love and comprehension of God’s will in our lives. Without charity, patience becomes an elusive virtue.  

1Co 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
13:2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 

13:3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. 

13:4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 13:5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 

13:6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 

13:7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 

13:8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
13:9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 

13:10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

13:11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 

13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 

13:13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. 

Patience and endurance are distinct concepts. Endurance refers to the ability to endure a condition or affliction, while patience is a virtue that allows one to endure such conditions with composure and acceptance. It is possible to endure unpleasant behavior from another person without losing patience, demonstrating the distinction between these two qualities.  

Endurance and long-suffering are two different concepts. Long-suffering involves enduring hardships without any enjoyment or sense of accomplishment, while endurance refers to the ability to persevere through difficult situations. If you consistently endure ill behavior from your child, spouse, or friend, you will eventually lose patience with them. Patience is a virtue that requires submitting your will to authority and trusting in the Lord’s commands. By doing so, you can turn your long-suffering over to God. Obeying the Lord’s commandments willingly leads to eternal life.

The Spirit of the Lord wants you to step back and wait for him:

Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

The test of your faith teaches patience, which in turn helps you overcome obstacles and trials, enabling you to conquer the world. Successfully overcoming these challenges instills in you unwavering assurance through the Holy Ghost that the Lord’s promises are indeed true.

Romans 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations as well, knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 
Romans 5:4 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

Revelation 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

James 1:4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. 

The genuine secret to cultivating patience lies in this: Practicing patience involves learning to engage in an alternative activity while you wait.

By: Bro. Charles Cohenour Jr.

Choices,Weights and Hidden Costs

Choices, Weights and Hidden Costs

By Bro. Chuck Cohenour

When a choice is made, it inevitably leads to a consequence. Regardless of whether the choice is right or wrong, every decision has a clear beginning and an end. The significance or the cost of making a decision hinges on the magnitude of the choice being considered.

My father, Elder Charles Cohenour, made a decision in 1984 not to undergo a colonoscopy. Tragically, in 1994, he was diagnosed with colorectal cancer. His doctor informed him that if he had undergone the colonoscopy in 1984, there was a high probability that he would not have developed colon cancer. 

In 1997, at the age of 72, my father passed away. Just before his passing, he expressed his belief that if he had lived, he could have made a significant contribution to the Body of Christ. Reflecting on his life, I’m certain that in 1984, my father felt incredibly strong and confident. He didn’t feel the need to visit the hospital for a routine test that would have cost him more money than it was worth. However, the reality was that he was unaware of the potential consequences until the outcome in 1994. 

Of course, the weight was far greater than he had ever anticipated, and it multiplied exponentially. The weight, or consequence, encompassed every person whose physical health and eventual death would be affected by my father’s. That single decision has had a profound impact on his wife, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, brothers, sisters, his church, the Body of Christ, its members, and even his worldly acquaintances until this day in 2013. The weight began as a mere seed, blossomed into a tree, and eventually transformed into a vast forest. We cannot definitively assess the magnitude of this matter until a final measure is taken!

Being guided by God’s will and making any decision under His leadership will always be the right choice. Adam’s choice to consume from the tree of Good and Evil, believing the fallen angel (Lucifer), also known as the Devil, was a grave mistake. The consequence of his choice was death—the ultimate value of any choice ever made. 

The subtle and inconspicuous impact of my father’s decision to forego colonoscopy is still felt in our family today.  Ironically, some of its effects have been beneficial for the family and its members. Given our family’s codependency on our father’s leadership, his absence has accelerated our spiritual growth and maturity, enabling us to become more independent and self-reliant.  

IIn addition to the detrimental and almost unbearable consequences, my mother’s health, in my opinion, declined more rapidly than it would have if my father had been here to encourage her to take care of herself. My father’s single decision had a profound and far-reaching impact on numerous outcomes.   

My father’s decision to forego a colonoscopy, regardless of whether it was an uninformed choice, a self-imposed one, a poor choice, or perhaps even a wise one, ultimately proved to be the wrong one. If he had been aware beforehand that he would develop cancer a decade later, I am certain he would have undergone the test, if only he had the opportunity to rectify his past decision.  

Not making a choice will still result in the same outcome as being self-willed and choosing the wrong option.  

Adam discovered hidden costs after making an incorrect choice. These costs were as follows: 

(Gen. 3:17) And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast heardken unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; 

(Gen. 3:18) Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; 

(Gen. 3:19) In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

Value is market-driven. The price of any product is determined by the level of demand for it at the moment the buyer decides to purchase it. The exact payment is the amount the producer demands and the amount the buyer is willing to pay. The currency or the items buyers barter with is what the market can afford to pay for the product.    

When we make a purchase, whether it’s a car, a house, clothes, food, insurance, or anything else, there are often hidden costs associated with the product. We must either bear these costs or face the consequences. . 

(Mat 5:25) Agree with thine adversary quickly, while thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. 

(Mat 5:26) Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out of thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing. 

In Adam’s case, he made a choice to purchase something that was forbidden. God explained the consequences of that choice and the price he would have to pay. However, the Devil presented Eve with a different perspective. Eve enticed Adam and offered him something God would not let Adam buy. Lucifer offered Eve godhood! Adam prioritized his own desires and chose to disobey God’s will and follow Eve’s instead. He made a decision to buy something the Devil couldn’t sell him and pay a price he couldn’t afford. This choice continues to impact us to this day! 

When we make a choice to serve our own interests and end up with the wrong outcome, we disobey God. We choose our own will over God’s will. By prioritizing our will over God’s, we are not serving God, but rather our father the Devil. This choice comes at a steep price. 

(Ezk 18:20) The soul that sinneth, it shall die.

The hidden costs of our choices extend beyond ourselves, affecting others as well. Depending on our decisions, the impact can ripple through our families, neighbors, friends, church, and even our enemies. Our choices can either have a godly or devilish effect on those around us. The right choice can help us and others progress toward perfection, while the wrong choice could lead us and others to the Lake of Fire, the second death! 

We need help making choices. The Lord doesn’t want us to procrastinate about making decisions. Instead, He wants us to base our choices on our faith in Him. He instructs us to consult the Word of God through the Holy Spirit. Trust your pastor and seek guidance from those who embody the life of Jesus. Ultimately, we should pray to our Lord for wisdom and discernment, enabling us to consistently make the right choices! 

Written by: Charles E. Cohenour Jr.