PLEASE BE PATIENT

PLEASE BE PATIENT I. JESUS OFTEN USED A PARABLE, A STORY THAT ILLUSTRATES OR COMPARES TO A “LIKENESS.” A. THE PARABLE OF THE “UNMERCIFUL SERVANT,” TO HELP US UNDERSTAND THE KINGDOM OF GOD. B. MATTHEW 18:23-35 II. THE MEANING OF THE PARABLE: AS FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST; OFFER FORGIVENESS AND SHOW MERCY TO OTHERS. A. THE “DEBT” SYMBOLIZES “OVERWHELMING DEBT OF SIN” WE HUMANS ACCUMULATE. B. THE SERVANT’S PLEA OR REQUEST IS: “BE PATIENT.” C. THE “MASTER” DOES THE UNTHINKABLE, HE FORGIVES THE ENTIRE DEBT. III. THE UNMERCIFUL SERVANT FAILS TO “LOVE HIS NEIGHBOR AS HIMSELF.” A. 1 CORINTHIANS 13:4 B. ANYBODY ADMIT TO BEING “IMPATIENT?” IV. IS LOVE IS PATIENT, THE ROOT OF IMPATIENCE MUST BE THE “LACK OF LOVE.” A. WHEN IMPATIENT, AREN’T WE ARE PRACTICING “SELFISHNESS?” B. EPHESIANS 4:22-24 V. BEING CREATED TO BE LIKE GOD, IN TRUE RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HOLINESS, IS POSSIBLE WHEN WE ARE BORN-AGAIN! A. ROMANS 6:6a GALATIANS 5:24-25 B. BEING “CRUCIFIED” WITH CHRIST, IS NOT ALLOWING THE “OLD” SELF TO REIGN. C. GALATIANS 2:20b MARK 8:34b VI. SALVATION MAKES POSSIBLE—VICTORIOUS LIVING! A. 2 CORINTHIANS 5:17 B. TO DETERMINE HOW WE ARE PROGRESSING AS CHRISTIANS—EXAMINE OUR PATIENCE. C. DEPTH OF LOVE IS MEASURED BY HOW PATIENT WE ARE AND OUR WILLINGNESS TO GRANT MERCY TO OTHERS. D. LESSON FROM THE PARABLE: “THIS IS HOW MY HEAVENLY FATHER WILL TREAT EACH OF YOU UNLESS YOU FORGIVE YOUR BROTHER FROM YOUR HEART.”