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VALUES THAT MAKE VIRTUOUS


THE POWER OF PATIENCE, SELF-CONTROL AND SUBMISSION TO GOD
Ecclesiastes 7:8; I Corinthians 9:25; Proverbs 16: 32; James 4: 7

As human, a whole world of opportunity is before you, you can attain very great heights in all spheres of life and make heaven in the end. For this to be possible, among other things, you must possess the virtues of patience, self-control and submission to God’s will. Someone says, the only way we can mess something up is to rush into it (to be impatient). On the other hand, the Bible calls patient people, happy people (James 5:11). To attain mastery in anything (spiritual or temporal), one must have self-control according to the Holy Bible (I Corinthians 9:25). In other words, self-control is one of the virtues required for the achievement of great heights both in the spiritual and secular endeavours. Also, God’s will is good, perfect and pleasing (III John 2), submitting to it, therefore, would yield the best possible outcome for us now, later in life and in all eternity. The virtues of patience, self control and submission to God, therefore, are very powerful and should not, in any way, be relegated to the background. 
1.      Explanation of Patience, Self-Control and Submission to God
Psalm 25:4, 5; 1 Corinthians 9: 24-27; Galatians 5:22, 23; Matthew 26:39; James 4:7.
Patience means bearing pains or trials calmly or without complaints. It also means to be steadfast despite opposition, difficulty or anxiety. Saul, for lack of patience, forced himself to do what he was not supposed to do and consequently lost the throne (1 Samuel 6:6-14). As a Christian youth, patience requires that you insist on knowing the mind of God about the moves you are about to make and ensure that it agrees with God’s word before action is taken (Psalm 25:4, 5; 130:5). It also means that you will not sin by forcing yourself to do something before God’s time like Saul. Self control is the ability to control one’s emotion, behaviour and desires in order to obtain some reward or avoid some punishments later. Self-control is required in every area of our lives. “And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things...”(1 Corinthians 9: 25). We must have and manifest self control in the use of our tongue and other members of our body, in the use of time, in eating, sleeping, music we listen to and even what we think about (Philippians 4:8). It should be part of our lives in all we do. Submission means to yield to the control of a superior power. Submission to God, therefore, means to yield to the control of God. It suggests that you abandon your own will and do God’s will (Romans 12:1, 2). Obviously, God sees and knows what we don’t know, it really makes sense to submit to Him if we do not want to fail (Isaiah 55:8, 9).
2.       Examples of Patience, Self-Control and Submission to God
37:5,28; 39:2,4,6,21; 40:23,41,44; James 5:11; 1 Corinthians 9:27; Matthew 26:36-38; Numbers 26:33; 27:1,7

Joseph heard a dream. He was hated, maltreated, sold into slavery and imprisoned; yet he did not complain nor offend God. Later his dream came to pass. Esther and her people patiently waited on God until they were delivered from Haman’s plot. David had to wait for years to ascend the throne. Job bore his tribulation patiently until God intervened.  Paul was a good example of self-control.  Jesus, our perfect example, demonstrated submission to God when He needed to go to the cross. Zelophehad’s daughters waited patiently for their inheritance. As a Christian youth, you must exercise patience while looking for admission or making up for deficiencies in your O’ Level results. You must not yield to the temptation to cheat in examination, bribe people for admission, patronize special examination centers, get-rich-quick syndrome, cybercrime, cultism, immorality, etc.
 
3.      Excellence through Patience, Self Control and Submission to God
James 5:11; Isaiah 30:18; Psalm 27:14; Isaiah 40:28-31; 64:4; 1 Corinthians 9:27; Proverbs 16:32; 1 John 5:14, 15; Mark 8:35; Matthew 6:33

Real happiness is for the patient (James 5:11). Waiting patiently for God brings blessings, strength, renewal to do exploit and many more. “For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him (Isaiah 64:4). David, Josiah, Joseph, Ruth and a myriad of others excelled in life as they patiently waited on and for God. Self control will help you not to become a castaway. A self-controlled person before God is better than a mighty warrior that takes a city (Proverbs 16:32). Praying according to God’s will guarantee answers to all our requests. Seeking God’s kingdom and its righteousness by submitting to His will bring about the meeting of all our needs. The way to get the best is to submit to God (Mark 8:35).
In conclusion, note that (i) patience is not inactivity or delayed action; (ii) the Spirit of God and our knowledge of who God is enables us to manifest these virtues (Galatians 5:23). You need to be born again if you are not and study to know more about God to enable you manifest these virtues. God is always at work on the behalf of His people who are patient, disciplined and submissive to Him (2 Chronicles 16:9; 1 Peter 3:12).  
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Interactive Session  Make a list of things you know or areas in your life that you are presently lacking any of these virtues and prayerfully present same to the Lord today for a change, A great change is on the way.
QUESTIONS
1.      Explain what you understand by (i) patience, (ii) self-control and (iii) submission to God.
2.      Mention some Bible characters that exhibited the virtues of (i) patience (ii) self-control and (iii) submission to God. And how can we apply this in our contemporary time?
3.      Mention a Bible character that showed impatience and the consequence. Are youth very patient in a world like ours today?
4.      Identify some rewards of (i) patience, (ii) self-control and (iii) submission to God.

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