Polygamy is a not allowed in the New Covenant. However, the Bible says if we’re to produce any spiritual fruit, we’ll need to be concurrently married to these two ‘ladies’ – FAITH and PATIENCE.
You see, ‘Tensions’ – apparently contradictory truths in scripture – are not only for theologians and seminarians; when it comes to practical Christianity, you need to know how to keep these two ‘ladies’ in your house without causing conflict.
Are you praying for a miracle? Sister Faith insists it must be NOW! Deaconess Patience, on the other hand, says impetuousness is a sign of carnality and spiritual immaturity; she says you must be willing to wait!
Heb 11:6 says “Without faith, it is impossible to please God”. That means God is turned off by those who approach Him without any expectation of His intervention. Our Lord said in Mk 11:24, “Whatever things you desire, WHEN YOU PRAY, believe that you will receive them, and you shall have them.” He’s saying that you shouldn’t expect to get anything from God if you come with a this-is-my-need-but-you-can-solve-it-at-your-own-convenience mindset. You must be earnest and importunate in your prayer.
Now, the same Hebrews that tells us “Without faith, it is impossible to please God” also tells us that, “You have need of patience, that, after you have done the will of God, you might receive the promise” (Heb 10:36).
What gives?
To receive the promise, I need to be both importunate AND patient? Isn’t that a contradiction?
Well, not really. You need Faith to birth the seed of the miracle, but at the same time you need Patience (like a surrogate mom) to carry the miracle to full time delivery.
Many Believers have much faith, but their lack of patience keeps killing the miracle mid-term. On the other hand, many feel that their not ‘disturbing’ God about their problem is proof of patience. That’s an empty womb that’s not going to birth anything whatsoever.
You need both. Heb 6:12 admonishes us to be “followers of them who through faith AND patience inherit the promises.
Receive whatever you have desired among those promises NOW in Jesus’ name.
AMEN.
GREG ELKAN