Bishop T.D. Jakes taught "The Shock of Suffering", and in revelation God ministered to my soul. I often will tell a person the most important fruit of the spirit is the Long-suffering fruit. It's never really taught on, it's never really preached about, in fact it is renamed in different versions of the Bible. Here's an example:
KJV: 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
AMP: 22But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness,23gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.
I declare to you that while the breakdown of the Amplified Version gives more expression, the King James Version, I believe is more accurate.
Jakes starts out with the beauty of Palm Sunday and how the Residents of the city have laid their garments at Jesus' feet. But by the end of the week the masses have turned on Jesus and accepted a killer in His stead. Pastor John Hannah in his radio broadcast declared the Garden of Gethsemane pays homage to a failed Adam in the Garden of Eden while the second Adam (Jesus) overcomes and carries His Cross.
T.D. Jakes goes on to say "I earned the right to preach this message" which is probably the most powerful thing I've heard in some time. He understand what it is to partake of the Long-Suffering Fruit as do I. For it takes sacrifice! You're not eligible to partake of the Long-Suffering Fruit if you have not sacrificed of yourself.
The Federal Government wanted me to snitch on 17 others in order that I be set free. This is prior to 911 so you needed more than one testimony to get a person locked up. 168 up to 210 months in prison and/or LIFE if the Judge decided. And while a life sentence was warranted for the works I've done, God made a way where I was given a downward departure for post pre-rehabilitation. That was without assisting the government and earning its 5K1-Motion.
God had other plans for my life and the Long-Suffering Fruit was apart of it. God purged me while in prison and it became a lonely path, as was the path of Jesus during His incarceration. Mary looked on as Jesus suffered as did my wife during my incarceration, but Mary nor my Wife couldn't partake of Our sufferings. Don't get me wrong, they suffered, but they didn't experience the Long-Suffering Fruit.
My teachings in a prison began in a sermonic moment with the Fruit of the Spirit and a lot casted upon me to teach the fruit of Long-Suffering. Again, not everyone can partake of the Long-Suffering fruit I explained to the men in prison. I went on to say but scripture declares if you suffer with Him you'll reign with Him. So while it appeared I was alone, I was never alone. My Grandmother would send me $50 a month out of her monthly retirement. Cursed me out when I told her to stop. Sacrifice!
As an add-on, My least favorite book in the Bible is the book of JOB. JOB understood the Long-Suffering Fruit almost more than anyone I've seen in scripture next to Jesus. And while restoration is key in JOB's journey, the hedge that was removed by God has always bothered me. John the Revelator understood the Long-Suffering Fruit. Peter being hung upside down on a cross understood the Long-Suffering Fruit. That great thorn in his side we debate over released Thirteen books of the Bible, all credited to a Christian Killer that was commissioned by Jesus Himself to suffer-long. I'm talking about Saul whom later became the Apostle Paul after his blinding experience.
The loss of my Grandmother while incarcerated. The loss of head of household. The loss of influence and the projection of public humiliation in my communities news papers. The aftereffects of incarceration after 10 years of imprisonment. Truth is, not everyone can partake nor will they survive. Long-Suffering. People are killing themselves. Persons are purposely passing along viruses. Thousands have died in an error of coved-19 and here we are faced with a global challenge that has caused many of us to fear a virus more than we fear God. Long-Suffering.
T.D. Jakes goes on to say in moments of uncertainty, in moments you feel like God has left you, in those moments you believe that all is loss, God will go with you through your storm. This is not feel good theology for you may not survive your storm but no matter what God is with you whatever the outcome.
Isn't it interesting that the very creatures God created, beat Him. The very creatures God created, spat upon Him and flogged Him, and placed a crown of thorns on His head. Yet His greater hour was His darkest moment. He still forgave us of our sins.
I'll stop there but know that this week is about long-suffering and salvation.
Andrew Tyler
