The Patience of God — Isaiah Frazier

So before we read from God's Word, let's ask for God's blessing. Our Father, we come with gratefulness at the close of this day for the goodness of God displayed to us even today. Many blessings that we have enjoyed from the sunshine outside to good food.

And our Father, we're thankful for the Word of God that speaks to us. We're thankful that there is a living God in heaven who has a desire to have a relationship with man that he created. And our Father, we know that because of our sin, man is estranged from God.

He is separated from God. And yet God has worked to bring man back to himself. Our Father, how grateful we are that we can come with a message this evening that God's desire is to reconcile men and women back to himself.

So our Father, as we come this evening, we would confess our own frailty and need. We would think of solemn issues that are at hand in the souls of men and women at stake. Our Father, we would come to pray for help to open the Word of God and speak from it.

Father, we pray for blessing even in salvation this evening in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. If you have your Bible, we'll read tonight in Luke chapter 13. Luke chapter 13. We'll begin reading at verse 1.

Luke chapter 13 and verse 1. It says, there were present at the season some that told him that is Jesus of the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answering said unto them, suppose ye that these Galileans were sinners above all the Galileans because they suffered such things?

I tell you nay or no, but except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Or those eighteen upon whom the tower of Siloam fell and slew them or killed them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?

I tell you no or nay, but except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. He spake also this parable, a certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard and he came and sought fruit thereon and found none.

Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this tree and find none. Cut it down. Why cumbereth it the ground? And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also till I shall dig about it and dung it, fertilize it.

And if it bear fruit well, if not then after that thou shalt cut it down. And we'll read a verse. Verse 22 says,. And he went through the cities and villages teaching and journeying towards Jerusalem.

And then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And Jesus said unto them, strive to enter in at the straight gate, the narrow gate. For many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in and shall not be able.

When once the master of the house has risen up and has shut to the door and you begin to stand without and to knock at the door saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence you are or where you're from.

Then you shall begin to say, we have eaten and drunk in thy presence. Thou hast taught in our streets, but he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence you are. Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity, and there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

And let's just drop down to the end of the chapter. Verse 34, the Lord Jesus speaking, O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets and stonest them that are sent unto thee. How often would I have gathered thy children as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not.

Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. Verily, I say unto you, ye shall not see me until the time come when ye shall say, blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. So as the Lord Jesus Christ begins his public ministry, according to the gospel of Luke, he spoke of the need of repentance to a nation that though was so blessed by God had strayed far away from God.

They honored God with their lips, but the Lord Jesus says their hearts were far away from God. And he, as others had gone out preaching the need of repentance, a change in their lives, a turning away from their sin in a turning to God.

And of course, the reception of him as their savior is a one who had come to deliver them from their sins. And the sad reality is this, the Lord Jesus could preach and he, as well as his disciples, could do many mighty works.

But the hearts of the Jewish people were not persuaded to recognize that this was of a truth, a messenger sent from God, and that they were not fit or ready to meet God. Rather, if they continued as they were, they were going to know God's judgment.

They would not listen to this message. And you come over to the gospel of Matthew in chapter 11, and the Lord Jesus, he has to go again to the same cities where he had done many mighty works, because they had still not repented of their sin.

And sadly, the nation of Israel would not hear his message. And we read here in chapter 13 of some that were killed by Pilate. It said there were some that told him of certain Galileans. You remember that the Lord Jesus was from Galilee in the northern part of Israel, that there was some Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.

Now, there isn't much record of what happened here. Simply this, these were men from Galilee from the north. We're not actually under Pilate's jurisdiction. We're likely in the temple offering their sacrifices.

But these men were also known to be revolutionaries, to say it like this, men who would have liked to cast off Roman power from them. And whatever happened there, as they're sacrificing their animals to God, Pilate and his soldiers come in, and these men are killed, and their blood flows with the blood of their sacrifice.

Now, this was told to the Lord Jesus to get a reaction, a response from him. But listen to what the Lord Jesus says. Verse two, he answers and says, suppose ye that these Galileans were sinners, above all the Galileans, because they suffered such things?

I tell you, no. The Lord Jesus understood their thinking. Their thinking was this, as this awful tragedy happened to these people, it was because they were the worst of Galileans, and this untimely, awful death was something that they deserved.

Now, we don't think that way today. I was just listening last night to the experience of a man who was in Libya, when there was a revolution against the government, against Colonel Gaddafi, and Gaddafi sent out mercenaries and opened fire and slaughtered many of the people.

Now, we would say it was his fault, he is a wicked man, and not the fault of those who died. But in this time that we're speaking of, these people, when they heard of the death of the Galileans, they don't speak evil of Pilate.

They, in their mind, in their thinking, say, these men must have deserved this death, because they were worse than all the other Galileans. But listen to what the Lord Jesus says. He says, it is not so.

But he says, I am going to tell you something. Except you repent, except you turn from your sin, you are all going to perish the same. Not necessarily to be slain by Pilate, but that they were going to, if they did not turn from their sins, they were going to perish.

Now, likely, in the context, the Lord Jesus is speaking of the actual destruction that would come upon Jerusalem. But we'll apply it this evening this way, as a message of the same for you and I. We are sinners in the eyes of God.

Each and every day, we offend God with the things that we do, with the things that we say, even with the things that we think. They are an offense to God. And God, in his holiness, will have to move in judgment against us.

And that is why the Lord Jesus says, except you repent, you will all likewise perish. And again, there is a reference to 18 men upon whom a tower fell in Jerusalem. And it killed them. The Lord Jesus says, thank you that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem.

I tell you, no, this was not an act of God against them because of their wickedness. Friend, the problem is, this is so easy for us to see the faults and failure and sins of other people, without understanding the awfulness of our own sin before a holy God.

And that is what the Lord Jesus is doing. He is not going to give an explanation as to why these people perished, but he is going to use it as a lesson, as a voice, as a message to those that listened.

And friend, there are what we call tragedies today. Near and far, there are those who die. And it is not because they are worse or deserving of death any more than anyone else. But the fact of the matter is, it's a voice, it's a message to us of our need of repentance.

That if we continue on as we are in our sins, we are going to perish. We are going to come to meet God in judgment. Friend, we want to tell you very sincerely this evening that the Lord Jesus speaks really of our guilt, each and every one, as sinners before a holy God.

You see, God sees us all on the same plane. It isn't that there are some who are nearly saints, and then there are those who are not doing so good, and then there are those who are the bottom of the barrel.

God doesn't see us like that. The Bible declares it plainly that we have all sinned, and we do not meet God's holy standard. That there is not a righteous man in all the earth that doeth good and sinneth not.

The fact of the matter is, we are all worthy of God's judgment, no matter who you are, where you come from. If you can understand what we're speaking about this evening, please understand that your sin has offended a holy God.

And though our tragedies and things on this earth that we do not comprehend, the fact of the matter is, we are all deserving of God's wrath. Maybe you've heard this before, but there was a man, a rabbi, his name was Harold Kushner, and he wrote a book.

His young son, maybe three years old, was diagnosed with a degenerative disease and was only going to live into his teens. And the title of his book is, Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People? Why do bad things happen to good people?

But friend, it really needs to be changed around. The question really ought to be, why do good things happen to bad people? You and I have offended God in a far greater way than we could ever understand.

As we were considering today the holiness of God, our mind cannot fathom what it means to be completely separate from sin, to be completely pure and perfect. It is something that afflicts us daily. The lusts, the desires of the flesh to seek after things that do not please God, that actually are an offense against God, that grieves the very heart of God.

The fact of the matter is this, that God displays his blessings, his benefits every day towards you and I, who are so undeserving of the least of his mercies. And yet this is the heart of God towards sinners.

The Fruitless Fig Tree and Humanity's Guilt

You come down as the Lord Jesus speaks a parable in verse 6. And he speaks this parable, he speaks of a fig tree planted in a vineyard. Likely not something that was very common, that a fig tree could occupy such a place of blessing.

But what the Lord Jesus tells us is that the owner of this vineyard would come and yearly would come, only to find a fig tree with no fruit. Nothing for his pleasure, nothing that he could enjoy, a fruitless tree.

And this is his declaration, verse 7. Then said he unto the dresser of this vineyard, behold these three years I come. I come seeking fruit on this tree and find none. Cut it down. It was a fruitless tree, nothing that could bring any pleasure to the owner of the vineyard.

In his conclusion is this, it ought to be cut down because there is nothing for me. And friends simply put that as God's estimation of the human race. Each and every one of us dead in trespasses and sins.

We have nothing to offer God. We have nothing to present to God, to please God, let alone obtain the favor of God. And I tell you this solemnly, speaking to you as dear souls, my own dear ones in the meeting this evening, how solemn are the words of the Lord Jesus.

Cut it down. Cut it down. It's unprofitable. It's unfruitful. There is nothing for the pleasure of the heart of God in sinful man. The Bible tells us we are all as an unclean thing. In all the best that we would seek to do, it's all like filthy rags.

Nothing in us worthy of God's favor. And God in his righteousness could say, cut it down. Cut him down. Cut her down. But it doesn't end there. Because you read the man that worked in the vineyard, this is what he says.

Verse eight, he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I dig about it and dung it. And if it bear fruit, well, and if not, then thou shalt cut it down. Friend, can I tell you simply this evening that God's judgment will come against sin.

This is not something to be questioned or something we ought to doubt that the holy God of heaven will bring us into account for our sins. Hebrews tells us that there is nothing that is hidden in the eyes of God, but that we are all accountable to God.

But what we can appreciate this evening is this, that God's judgment has not come. There has not been a divine declaration, cut him down. If you're here in the meeting tonight, God has not said cut her down.

But we are going to think about the patience of God this evening. I don't know if Jason is going to look at the patience of God, but it's something that touches my heart to think that as a poor sinner, I deserve God's judgment.

But at the same time, the patience of God working and striving and laboring in my soul to bring me to repentance in understanding the awfulness of my own guilt, my own sin, that I might turn from it and turn to the Savior for the forgiveness of sins.

Friend, the patience of God has allowed the wickedness of man to go on day after day, hour after hour. We cannot measure, we cannot fathom the wickedness that God sees in this world today. You know what the Lord Jesus says, John chapter 3, God sent not his son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved.

God's Longsuffering and the Promise of Judgment

We're going to read in the book of 2 Peter. To go along with this, it speaks to us of the patience of God. 2 Peter in chapter 3, towards the ends of your Bible, 2 Peter chapter 3, time is also almost gone.

We'll read here, there are those who were scoffers and mockers when it came to the return of the Lord Jesus Christ and his judging the world or the end of the world being consumed with fire. Let's just read here in verse 4 what they said.

Where is the promise of his coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they are from the beginning of the creation. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, whereby the world that then was being overflowed with water perished.

But the heavens and the earth which are now by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day.

But the Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness, tardiness, but as longsuffering to us were, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. So very simply there were men that mocked and scoffed at this word of coming judgment, even as men would do today.

That things carry on as they always have. That there are no consequences for our sin. And there are men who would have said that from the very beginning of creation things just carry on as always. But Peter reminds them this world that God brought up out of the waters was a world that perished by water.

And he tells them the very same world is being reserved by the word of God for a day of judgment and the perdition of ungodly men. But men say it hasn't happened yet, so it won't happen. And men carry on as if it will never happen.

But friend, the reason that God has not moved in his righteousness to destroy men off the face of earth as he did in Noah's day is simply this. He's not willing that you perish. It would bring no pleasure to the heart of God to see men and women banished to the lake of fire because of sin.

But he in his patience is waiting for men and women to recognize their sin. Listen to what it says. God is suffering our sin. He is longsuffering to us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come unto repentance.

You might take for granted, friend, the patience of God. But your sin is daily an offense against a holy God, and he would be perfectly just in declaring no fruit, cut him down. No fruit, cut her down.

But the patience of God says wait. The patience of God says work. The patience of God says maybe there will be a turning from sin. And you want to know what is so sad in the nation of Israel? That God's patience had been abundant.

Israel's Rejection of God's Prophets

We read here that the Lord Jesus was was heading towards Jerusalem. And at the end of the chapter, we have read Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killeth the prophets, and stoneth them which are sent unto thee.

Had God not often warned his people? Had God not spoken to them of their sin? Is that not what you're hearing about from the book of Isaiah today? I have brought up children and they have rebelled against me.

Do you want to be punished? And God would send his prophets to speak to the people that they would turn from their sins lest they die. Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killeth the prophets. And God would send one, and God would raise up another, and they would stone, and they would kill.

But God did not move to completely annihilate the Jewish race. God would be so patient, and God would ultimately send his own son. But what would happen with him? They would cry away with him, crucify him.

The Lord Jesus says, Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killeth the prophets, and stoneth them which are sent unto thee. How often would I have gathered thee as thy children together as a hen that gather her brood under her wings.

Does that not speak of the patience of God? That God could see his messengers killed, stoned, murdered, and yet God would be so patient with his people. Now God did have to move in judgment, and that is a fact that we find in the Old Testament, a tremendous lesson.

But the heart of God was never that, but to offer them forgiveness. If they would turn from their sin, let the wicked forsake his way, the unrighteous man, his thoughts, let him return unto God. And what would they find?

They would find mercy. They would find a God who would abundantly pardon them, forgive them of their sins. What the Bible tells us is what you would not. How sad it is that men and women can harden their hearts toward a merciful, patient, loving, good God.

The Goodness of God Leads to Repentance

My time is gone, but I would like to read in Romans chapter 2 with you, in conclusion to this sad reality, that men would take for granted the patience of God. They would deny the fact that, because God has not moved, there is no judgment for sin.

Romans chapter 2, verse 3 says, thinkest thou this, O man that judges them which do the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? When the word of God never puts in doubt the judgment of God. There are men who might mock, there are men who might doubt, but the word of God makes it plain, do not be mistaken.

There is no escaping the judgment of God. Verse 4 says, despisest thou the riches of his goodness, and forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance. But after thy hardness, an impenitent or unrepentant heart, treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath, and the revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who will render to every man according to his deeds.

How grateful we ought to be for the patience of God, that God daily displays his goodness, not only in the sunshine, not only in the food that we eat, in the comforts that we enjoy, but for those who daily offend God, God is showing his goodness and not moving in judgment.

God is withholding his hand. God, in his goodness, is forbearing. He is suffering our sin. He is displaying his goodness, it says. Do you not know that it is the goodness of God, the goodness of God that leadeth thee to repentance?

But the Lord Jesus tells us, but after thy hardness, if you harden your heart, if you're not willing to turn from your sin, that you are going to treasure up for yourself wrath against the day of wrath, and the revelation of the righteous judgment of God, God in his patience waits.

Friend, how many years has God waited? How many years have you sinned and rebelled and turned your back against God? And God's judgment could come, but God's patience has waited a little long. How many times have you not seen or heard the voice of God as those around you perish, as a warning to you that you need to repent of your sin, lest you also likewise perish?

Has not God been good to you? Friend, why has God been so good to us? Why is God so good to those who are so undeserving of the least of his mercies? And the goodness of God gives ample opportunity to sinners to turn, turn from their sin, and turn to the Savior who is willing to forgive.

But friend, the question for you is this. How long will the patience of God endure? How long do you suppose that God is going to wait for you? How long? We have read in Luke chapter 13, let me work for another year.

Let me fertilize, let me dig about it. And then when you come, if you do not find no fruit, then there is no alternative. There is no other option but to cut it down. Listen to what the Lord Jesus says.

The Lord Jesus says, Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life.

God is waiting, friend, for your repentance, for your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Thank God. Thank God for his patience.