12/01/2015
Day 5—Longsuffering
Luke 23:26-43
Suggestions for Intercessory Prayer
Feel free to claim other promises as well. Remember, all of God’s biddings are His enablings!
Praise God that He is the One who gives us the power to change.
“Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,” says the Lord of hosts. Zech. 4:6b
Praise God for the ways you see His longsuffering toward you.
The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. 2 Pet. 3:9
Praise God that He never disappoints those who wait on Him.
But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. Isa. 40:31
Ask the Lord to teach you longsuffering.
Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret—it only causes harm. Ps. 37:7, 8
Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy. Col. 1:11
Ask the Lord to teach you how to repay good for evil. Pray for any specific situations in which you need to learn to repay good for evil.
Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Rom. 12:17-21
Ask God to help you see the trials He allows to come upon you as a means of teaching you longsuffering. If you are passing through such a trial, pray specifically for it in your prayer.
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. James 1:2, 3
Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. 2 Cor. 4:16, 17
Ask God to remind you to pray for those who are mistreating you.
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another. Col. 3:12, 13a
Do you know any people going through trials? Pray that the Lord will teach them longsuffering.
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Rom. 8:28
Pray for worldwide unity in every congregation and church entity, based on respect for God’s Word, humble prayer, the Holy Spirit’s power, respect for accepted church policy/process, and full engagement in the mission of the church. Pray for humility in our lives so we will be united in our submission to God’s leading and in the process of making unified church decisions.
Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 1 Cor. 1:10
Pray for strong cooperation and unity between the church organization and supporting ministries in the evangelistic outreach of our church.
And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. Heb. 10:24, 25
Pray for the use of every appropriate social media format to share the three angels’ messages in a creative and fresh manner with the busy people of today.
I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. John 15:5
Mission to the Cities—Pray for the North American Division as they try to reach out to the following cities: New York City, New York; Calgary, Canada; Indianapolis, Indiana; St. Louis, Missouri; Seattle, Washington; San Francisco, California; Oakland, California; Tampa, Florida; and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Pray also for the Northern Asia-Pacific Division and the cities they are trying reach: Tokyo, Japan; Daegu, Korea; Daejon, Korea; Wuxi, China; and Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Pray for God’s Spirit to work powerfully in these cities.
“Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,” says the LORD of hosts. Zech. 4:6
Pray for any personal needs or anything on your heart.
And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Phil. 4:19
Praise God that He has a thousand ways to provide where we see none and that He will answer your prayers.
For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly. Ps. 84:11
At the end of prayer time, you may want to form groups of two or three and pray for the seven people that you have on your list. Pray that He will teach them longsuffering. Claim Colossians 1:11 for them: “Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy. . . .” If you have a personal prayer request that you are not comfortable praying about in the large group, feel free to share with your partner and pray about it together.
Suggested Songs
“Have Thine Own Way, Lord” (SDA Hymnal #567); “Not I, but Christ” (SDA Hymnal #570); “Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior” (SDA Hymnal #569); “Give of Your Best to the Master” (SDA Hymnal #572); “Blessed Assurance” (SDA Hymnal #462).
Ellen White on Longsuffering
But the fruit of the Spirit is . . . longsuffering.—Gal. 5:22
Love is the law of Christ’s kingdom. The Lord calls upon every one to reach a high standard. The lives of His people are to reveal love, meekness, long-suffering. Long-suffering bears something, yea, many things, without seeking to be avenged by word or act.
“Long-suffering” is patience with offence; long endurance. If you are long-suffering, you will not impart to others your supposed knowledge of your brother’s mistakes and errors. You will seek to help and save him, because he has been purchased with the blood of Christ. “Tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.” “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual restore such a one in the spirit of meekness, considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.” To be long-suffering is not to be gloomy and sad, sour and hardhearted; it is to be exactly the opposite (My Life Today, p. 52).
The love of Jesus needs to be brought to bear upon our lives. It will have a softening, subduing influence upon our hearts and characters. It will prompt us to forgive our brethren, even though they have done us injury. Divine love must flow from our hearts in gentle words and kindly actions to one another. The fruit of these good works will hang as rich clusters upon the vine of character. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance”(Review and Herald, Nov. 16, 1886, par. 10).
Try to live peaceably with all men, and let the atmosphere surrounding your soul be sweet and fragrant. The Lord hears every unwise word that is spoken. If you will battle against selfish human nature, you will go forward steadily in the work of overcoming hereditary and cultivated tendencies to wrong. By patience, long-suffering, and forbearance you will accomplish much. Remember that you cannot be humiliated by the unwise speeches of someone else, but that when you answer unwisely, you lose a victory that you might have gained. Be very careful of your words.
Forbearance and unselfishness mark the words and deeds of those who are born again to live the new life in Christ (My Life Today, p. 52).
Questions for Personal Reflection
1. Do you have the habit of taking revenge when someone does something wrong to you? How do you react when people treat you badly? Ask God to teach you to be longsuffering. Claim His promises.
2. Is there someone in your life that steps on your toes and does it purposefully? Ask God to give you patience, love, and forgiveness for that person and to help you show them His love.
