Johannes emphasizes the importance of patience and endurance as essential qualities for believers in God's Kingdom. He explains that waiting on the Lord is one of the most challenging aspects of spiritual growth, comparing it to a farmer patiently waiting for crops or a king waiting for his appointed time. Drawing from James 5:7-8, Johannes encourages believers to strengthen their hearts and be patient, highlighting the examples of prophets, Job, and David, who waited for God's perfect timing. He stresses that God's promises and plans often require us to wait, and rushing ahead can lead to failure, as seen in the stories of Saul and the prodigal son. Johannes shares personal experiences, such as the church's move to new premises, illustrating how impatience can cause setbacks, but trusting God's timing leads to divine favor and opportunities for witness. He underscores that even Jesus Christ waited 30 years before beginning His public ministry, demonstrating the necessity of patience. Johannes warns against hasty decisions, emphasizing that true unity and success in God's work depend on waiting for His guidance. Ultimately, he calls believers to cultivate hearts of patience, trusting that God's timing is perfect, and that He is never late but always on time, leading to spiritual blessing and kingship in His Kingdom.
7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. 8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
1 Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.
2 Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.
15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.