Let's reread the Bible verses in the picture
>>Who against hope believed in hope, that he (Abram) might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.<< Room. 4:18
Our topic today is patience
I think that developing this character trait takes at best several years and, depending on the ministry, even decades. We find many examples in the Bible of men who had to learn patience for a long time, often under the pressure of suffering and unbelief.
We can learn patience by being humiliated in front of people, even by having to suffer injustice as a result of lies and slander. Long-term illnesses and major failures in work and family life also sometimes push us to the limits of our endurance.
Moses is a good example of how long he had to learn patience. After fleeing Egypt from Pharaoh's court, his royal status experienced a sharp decline. He had to shepherd the sheep of the Midianite priest, Jethro, for 40 years. Sweat and heat taught patience.
Others were Noah, Abram, Elias, Daniel, Job and other prophets and all the apostles. We never learn patience from mere theoretical studies, but the Holy Spirit leads us many times into situations where only prayer can help us. It is a mercy that He does so. After all, we are being raised for heaven.
The case of Päivi Räsänen and Juhana Pohjola
I already knew that the long-time MP and minister of the Christian Democratic Party, Päivi Räsänen, and the Luther Foundation's bishop Juhana Pohjola would be sentenced to at least a fine by the Supreme Court of Finland (KKO), even though the Helsinki District Court (HelKO) and the Helsinki Court of Appeal (HelHO) had acquitted them.
If Päivi Räsänen, as she has said before, appeals the decision to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR in Finnish), it will still not change the decision already made by the Supreme Court of Finland in her case. She and Juhana Pohjola will have to pay the fines imposed on them and legal costs. The Finnish Luther Foundation was sentenced to a corporate fine of 5,000 euros for the publication of Päivi's Pamphlet.
I could have expected a possible sentence from the Supreme Court of Finland, because it is clearly morally degenerate and is not politically neutral. It has previously approved the Abortion Act, i.e. the murder of human embryos in the womb. It has approved laws that are against science, such as the fact that there can be well more than two genders and that a man can give birth. In addition, its approval includes the amendment to the Marriage Act and its consequences, the elections for Church offices and the current restrictions on religious freedom.
Summary of the decisions of the Supreme Court of Finland from a Christian perspective (according to AI):
"Criticism is often directed at the fact that the Supreme Court of Finland's decisions follow the secularization of society, whereby moral concepts based on the Bible or Christian tradition are marginalized. This is seen as a erosion of traditional Christian values in the legal system."
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT IT IS, BECAUSE THE CASE OF PÅIVI RÄSÄNEN AND JUHANA POHJOLA CONFIRMS IT!
In Finland, there has been no legal action against, for example, the publicly stated position of Islamic imams, according to which, according to the Quran, homosexuals and lesbians should be executed under Sharia law! Instead, the current Speaker of the Parliament, Jussi Halla-aho, was fined for his direct quotes from the Quran, showing that they are against our Western sense of justice and in my opinion it was a clear violation of freedom of speech and religion towards him, as happened now also in the cases of Räsänen and Bishop Juhana Pohjola!
I was also humiliated several times
When I was unemployed, the Holy Spirit led me to work at my little brother's car paint shop in Sweden. He had only attended Swedish primary school, which is much worse than the Finnish equivalent. I had worked hard and achieved the profession of a mechanical construction technician, received further training at TTOL and worked in several professions from 1971-78.
While working at the car paint shop, I felt very humiliated and prayed for mercy from Adonai Yeshua. However, I was able to prove to my little brother that Adonai Yeshua speaks to the ears and can change life situations, even though all my own possibilities were exhausted. Adonai Yeshua then arranged for me a dream job in Finland in 1980 etc!
We, the New Covenant saints who believe in Adonai Yeshua, will be tested as long as we live here on earth, and the level of testing and its difficulty will only increase as we get older. We are studying at Calvary College! We should take this positively, because it will all work out for our best in the end!
Related: In my youth, I was tested especially in the areas of the flesh and ambition. In middle age, in the areas of the temptations of wealth. Now, at 77 years old, I am financially stable and outwardly everything is fine, but pains and illnesses plague me. Through them, I am being prepared for heaven!
The Apostle Paul's Teaching on Patience
The apostle Paul to the Gentiles suffered much for the name of Adonai Yeshua. He was persecuted by Israelites, Gentiles and fellow believers. He was beaten, whipped, and subjected to hunger and thirst. He was forced to fast and be exposed to cold while traveling on preaching tours.
He wrote that he was used to all kinds of conditions because of his preaching mission given by Adonai Yeshua. He was even stoned and fell into a stupor, but recovered from it. He was executed by the sword in Rome during the persecutions of Emperor Nero in 64-67 AD. He managed to teach about patience, for example, like this Rom. 5:1-5
>>1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with Elohim through our Adonai Yeshua HaMashiach: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of Elohim.
3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation workes patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
5 And hope makes not ashamed; because the love of Elohim is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which is given unto us.<<
Songs suitable for the topic
P.S. 1 You can check out the interesting stages of my life from the link below. My life has been a great adventure. There have been successes and setbacks. Adonai Yeshua has always helped me!
P.S. 2 I have also prepared these studies in Finnish. They consist of selected Bible translations and include various hymns:
https://yakov-tutkielmia-sapattina.blogspot.com/2026/03/pohdintaa-sapattina-2732026.html
