Podcast Summary: "The Unsuspected Power of Spiritual Patience"
Times Square Church - Sermons
Host: Pastor Tim Dilena
Date: September 21, 2025
Overview
In this sermon, Pastor Tim Dilena explores the often-overlooked, “unsuspected” power of spiritual patience. Rooted in the biblical teachings from Galatians and various Old and New Testament stories, the message highlights patience as both an evidence of the Holy Spirit and an essential weapon for spiritual warfare. Pastor Tim encourages listeners to see patience not as passive waiting, but as a dynamic, supernatural strength that transforms, protects, and equips believers for God’s promises. With personal anecdotes and scriptural examples, the episode invites listeners to embrace patience as a process of being conformed to the image of Christ, especially during trials.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Patience as Evidence of the Spirit (00:00–08:00)
- Scriptural Foundation: Begins with Galatians 5:22-23, stressing that the fruit of the Spirit is not just love, joy, and peace, but patience.
- True Indicator of a Christian: It’s not outward displays ("foliage") like going to church or knowing verses, but “the fruit of the person of the Holy Spirit in them” that matters.
“You will know them by their fruit, not by their foliage.” (A, 01:30)
- Society’s Impatience: From instant meals to binge-watching TV series, society trains us in impatience, but God calls us to supernatural patience.
2. The Dimensions and Necessity of Spiritual Patience (08:00–18:30)
- Everyday Impatience: Traffic jams, delays, and even personal confessions (like frustrations with flight delays)—all test our patience.
- Patience vs Weakness: Our culture views patience as weakness, but biblically, it's a sign of strength.
- Patience as Spiritual Weapon: Drawing from 2 Corinthians 6, patience is offensive (pursuing God’s promises) and defensive (protecting purity and purpose).
“Patience, spiritual patience, is infinitely more than a nice to have...it is an essential and irreplaceable offensive and defensive weapon of spiritual warfare.” (A, 15:30)
- Definition: Patience is the capacity to wait while remaining in faith.
3. Historical & Secular Affirmations of Patience (18:30–21:30)
- Quotes from Tertullian, Confucius, Edison, and Einstein underscore the universal recognition of patience as a virtue.
“Patience is a tree whose root is bitter but whose fruit is very sweet.” – Confucius (A, 19:30) “Aren’t you glad that God stays with us longer?” (A, 20:15)
4. Biblical Models & The Nature of God’s Patience (21:30–36:00)
- God’s Nature Is Patience: Exodus 34: God introduces Himself as “merciful and gracious and patient and long suffering.”
- Moses’ Example: Contrasted Moses’ impatience (breaking the tablets in Exodus 32) with God’s patience and offer to “give you new tablets.”
“Whatever tablets you threw down…God says, I’m going to bring you new tables. I can still write my laws on your heart.” (A, 29:50)
- When We Break ‘Tablets’: Our impatience and anger can lead to broken relationships, promises, or opportunities, but God’s mercy remains.
“It happened to Moses...sometimes, in our anger and in our impatience, we’ve broken some tablets of God’s will.” (A, 31:50)
5. God’s Patience With Rebellion (36:00–44:30)
- Isaiah 30 and Israel’s Hardening: Even when God’s people are stubborn, God’s response remains gracious; “the Lord will wait that he may be gracious to you.”
- Salvation Requires Response: God’s patience isn’t endless—each person must choose to receive or reject His grace.
6. Patience Through Prophets & Discipleship (44:30–52:00)
- Jonah’s Reluctance: Jonah knew God’s patience but wanted judgment for Nineveh instead—a warning against a hard, judgmental spirit among believers.
“There’s a large portion of the body of Christ today...that the only voice they have for this Nineveh...is a warning, is a judgment. We are called...to be the voice that says our God is patient if you repent.” (A, 50:00)
- Micah: God Delights in Mercy:
“He will again and again and again and again have compassion on us and he will subdue our iniquities.” (A, 51:15)
- Peter’s Affirmation: 2 Peter 3:9—God’s patience means salvation for many, not delay.
7. Developing Patience: The Process (52:00–01:11:30)
- Romans 8:28: God uses all things (past, present, future trials) to shape us into Christ’s image.
- Process Over Comfort: “We are not called to be comfortable as Christians. We are called to be conformed.”
- Patience Is a Fruit Grown in Trials: Patience isn’t grown in “seasons of trophies and triumphs” but through testing.
“In the kingdom of God, there are promises where the only mode of payment accepted is patience.” (A, 01:09:50)
- Modern Example: The story of the African market—sometimes only certain “currency” (i.e., patience) is accepted.
8. Trials That Produce Patience, Wisdom, Faith, and Resilience (01:11:30–01:20:30)
- James 1: Trials are inevitable, unpredictable, unimaginable—but they mature us.
- Threefold Result: Trials develop patience, which nurtures wisdom, faith, and the courage to pursue the “precious fruit”—souls, family, city, nations.
- Hiring Criteria: “The first quality...if it’s any type of ministry, the first question in the interview is: ‘Have you suffered?’...I’m hiring people that have grown in wisdom through the trials.” (A, 01:18:30)
9. Embracing the Process for Greater Purpose (01:20:30–01:34:00)
- Seeking Patience: Don’t seek power without process; God won’t forget our labor of love.
- Biblical Examples: Joseph waited over a decade from dream to fulfillment. David waited 14-15 years after his anointing before becoming king. Even Jesus waited 30 years before starting his ministry.
- Anthony Mantha Story: Like a gifted hockey player who waits years before making it to NHL, there is “a purpose in you” that will only come to fruition through patience.
10. Reasons to Desire and Pray for Spiritual Patience (01:34:00–01:45:50)
- Understanding the Process: God uses patience for both our growth and our protection—sometimes delays are God’s shield.
- God’s Blessings in Waiting:
“God is preparing you for what he has prepared for you.” (A, 01:24:30)
- Resting in God: Psalm 37 and 62—waiting patiently demonstrates trust; patience is both offensive (pursue God’s call) and defensive (protect what God has planted).
11. The 41st Day: Breakthrough After Waiting (01:45:50–01:50:30)
- Powerful Biblical Pattern:
- 40 days of rain—on the 41st, it stops.
- 40 years in the desert—on the 41st, Israel enters the Promised Land.
- 40 days of Goliath taunting—on the 41st, David wins.
- Jesus’ 40 days of temptation—on the 41st, ministry begins.
“The rain will eventually stop...The giant will fall...You will enter your promised land through patience for your day 41.” (A, 01:49:25)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “You will know them by their fruit, not by their foliage.” (A, 01:30)
- “Spiritual patience is an essential and irreplaceable offensive and defensive weapon of spiritual warfare.” (A, 15:30)
- “Patience is the guardian of all virtues.” – Tertullian (A, 19:00)
- “Aren’t you glad that God stays with us longer?” (A, 20:15)
- “If someone told you you could fulfill God’s plan and purposes in your life without developing patience, someone fooled you, my friend.” (A, 01:09:50)
- On process: “We are called to be conformed. In the first service, I got two amens. I got three in this one. I can amen myself.” (A, 01:00:45)
- “In the kingdom of God…there are promises where the only mode of payment accepted is patience.” (A, 01:09:55)
- “God is preparing you for what he has prepared for you.” (A, 01:24:30)
- “He delights in mercy.” (on God, from Micah) (A, 51:30)
- “Patience develops wisdom, and patience develops faith…” (A, 01:17:30)
- The 41st Day Section: A moving conclusion enumerating biblical moments where the breakthrough came after a long season of waiting. (A, 01:46:00–01:50:30)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 00:00–08:00 | Opening, Galatians 5, evidence of fruit
- 08:00–18:30 | Society’s impatience, spiritual lessons
- 18:30–21:30 | Historical quotes on patience
- 21:30–36:00 | God’s patience vs Moses’ impatience, new tablets
- 36:00–44:30 | Isaiah’s warning, God’s waiting mercy
- 44:30–52:00 | Jonah, Old Testament patience, modern church applications
- 52:00–01:11:30 | Developing patience through trials, the necessity of process
- 01:11:30–01:20:30 | James 1, how trials shape patience, wisdom, faith, resilience
- 01:20:30–01:34:00 | Real-life stories, biblical examples of waiting, the “process”
- 01:34:00–01:45:50 | Why seek patience: understanding process & protection
- 01:45:50–01:50:30 | The “41st day” – faith, hope, breakthrough after waiting
- 01:50:30–end | Call to prayer and praise, closing reflections
Conclusion: Call to Embrace Patience
Pastor Tim calls every listener to lift their hands, surrender, and specifically pray for the gift of spiritual patience—both to pursue and protect God’s purposes, trusting the process, and resting in God’s sovereign timing and mercy.
“Lord, I need to be filled with your spirit again. I need the power of your spirit to be patient and for patience to have its perfect way in me.” (A, 01:52:45)
For those seeking encouragement, clarity during trials, or practical biblical teaching on deepening spiritual maturity, this message offers a comprehensive, hope-filled, and relatable guide.