“ENDURANCE PRODUCES CHARACTER!”

 Romans 5:1-5                 (ESV)

PEACE with GOD Through FAITH

“[1] Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with GOD through our LORD JESUS CHRIST. [2] THROUGH HIM we have also obtained access BY FAITH into this GRACE in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of GOD. [3] Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, [4] and “ENDURANCE PRODUCES CHARACTER”, and character produces hope, [5] and hope does not put us to shame, because GOD’S LOVE has been poured into OUR HEARTS through the HOLY SPIRIT WHO has been given to us.”

GOD HAS A PLAN!  Regardless of what mankind does “on his own”, GOD USES those deeds, and misdeeds, as parts of HIS PLAN!  

Remember Moses, a man whose oratory skills were EXTREMELY flawed, was trying to explain to GOD why he wasn’t the best choice to lead the Children of GOD out of Egyptian captivity?  GOD explained to him in Exodus 14:4 when HE says “I WILL GET GLORY OVER PHARAOH…..AND ALL HIS HOSTS!”  And sure enough, the most powerful kingdom known to man at the time was buried in the Red Sea by the CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSES!!!

When GOD SPOKE this world into existence, HE KNEW that mankind would require a SAVIOR for the redemption of our sins.  HE CREATED us in HIS IMAGE, but with a free will to CHOOSE or REJECT HIM.  HE KNEW what would be NEEDED for our redemption, yet HIS LOVE was EXPRESSED as HIS SON paid that PRICE on Calvary!

Slow-Tongued Moses was used in THE PLAN!  GOD caused Moses to be reared by Pharaohs daughter, and then Moses slayed an Egyptian guard because of the hatred of the Israeli people, causing Moses to flee to “the wilderness”!  But remember, GOD USES those deeds, and misdeeds, as parts of HIS PLAN!  GOD HAD A PLAN’!

GOD USES “our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and “ENDURANCE PRODUCES CHARACTER”, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because GOD’S LOVE has been poured into OUR HEARTS through the HOLY SPIRIT WHO has been given to us.”  

It is IMPERATIVE to remember that no matter how difficult and painful our situation is, “ENDURANCE PRODUCES CHARACTER”, not so that humanity can be GLORIFIED, but so that GOD WILL BE GLORIFIED!!!

“THE POWER!”

 

Ephesians 3:20-21                 (ESV)

“[20] Now to HIM WHO is able to do FAR MORE ABUNDANTLY than ALL that we ASK or THINK, according to “THE POWER” at work within us, [21] to HIM be glory in the church and in CHRIST JESUS throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

It is difficult beyond belief to describe exactly what these verses say to this soldier of the Cross!  Reading these very familiar verses causes me to very humbly ask WHY HE CHOSE me???

When we attempt to imagine “THE POWER” of THE CREATOR, words of mortals are simply not adequate.  I have “THE POWER” of JESUS CHRIST is living inside of me (Galatians 2:20), so why should I doubt myself?  “THE POWER” of THE CREATOR lives inside of me, but I have to YIELD to HIS direction and leadership.  

Verse 20 above states that HE (JESUS) is able to do FAR MORE ABUNDANTLY than ALL that we ASK or THINK!!  So why do I fret and worry about ANYTHING?  Our CREATOR literally CONTROLS what we DO and THINK, so we just NEED to TRUST and OBEY HIM!!!

Could this be the reason why being Brain Damaged in 2007 by the Brain Hemorrhage gave me such PEACE??  I did not even have the capability to “get in out of the rain”, but GOD HAS ME, which gave me PEACE beyond description!  “THE POWER” of THE CREATOR was in CONTROL of my life!!  HE IS FAR MORE COMPETENT THAN I WAS/AM/EVER WILL BE!!!

“THERE IS NO WATER!”

 

Psalm 63:1                 (ESV)

My Soul Thirsts for You

A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah.

    “[1] O GOD, YOU are my GOD; earnestly I seek YOU;

        my soul thirsts for YOU;

    my flesh faints for YOU,

        as in a dry and weary land where “THERE IS NO WATER”.”

Have you ever been SO THIRSTY that the ONLY way to satisfy yourself is a drink of water??  Nothing added to it!  So sweetener!  No artificial coloring!  Nothing but PURE, COOL, REFRESHING, WATER!!!

As I mature, both physically AND SPIRITUALLY, I am becoming more and more attracted to PURE WELL WATER. We are BLESSED to have well-water at our home that is EXCELLENT!  We had a friend selling water purification systems come to our house earlier in life and tried to “test” our water to see if we could benefit from a new filtration system that he was selling.  He had test tubes to analyze the water in, but our water tested perfectly and he didn’t try anything else to make the sale!

The sense of having JESUS in your life is that multiplied by infinity!!  There is NOTHING that SATISFIES like JESUS CHRIST in your life.  HE was with me when I was UNBEARABLE in my early years!  HE was with me and my friend walking the mall in August 1982.  HE was with me on February 17, 1984 when I was BLESSED in marrying a girl I met while walking the mall in August 1982.  HE was VERY MUCH with me in July 2007 when my Brain developed a near fatal leak.  HE was with me in April 2017 when I experienced a “pulled muscle” in my chest that was alleviated with QUADRUPLE BYPASS SURGERY the following week.  HE has NEVER let me down, regardless of how many times I have been moving TOO FAST to get HIS INSTRUCTIONS for the PATH HE has PLANNED for me!!!

“THERE IS NO WATER” that can satisfy you, WITHOUT JESUS in your life!  HE is the ULTIMATE SATISFACTION!  When wealth, possessions, and THINGS become more important than THE THINGS OF GOD, you can REST ASSURED that HE hasn’t left you!!  Even though I don’t treat HIM as I should, and don’t give HIM the PRAISE and ADORATION HE deserves, HE NEVER LEAVES me!!!  Even when “THERE IS NO WATER”, JESUS IS STILL THERE FOR ME!!!

“Psalm 63:1

 

“LET HIM ASK GOD!”

 

James 1:2-8                 (ESV)

Testing of Your Faith

“[2] Count it all joy, my brothers, WHEN you meet trials of various kinds, [3] for you know that the testing of your FAITH produces steadfastness. [4] And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, LACKING IN NOTHING.

[5] If any of you lacks wisdom, “LET HIM ASK GOD”, WHO gives generously to all without reproach, AND IT WILL BE GIVEN TO HIM. [6] But let him ask IN FAITH, WITH NO DOUBTING, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. [7] For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the LORD; [8] he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”

Although I was VERY BLESSED when I survived the Brain Hemorrhage in 2007, getting back into the life “this world” had me operating in was NOT something that I felt in the least bit comfortable with!  So after I understood that knowledge, I began looking for a way to “get out” of the proverbial “rat race” and began working at a TOTALLY DIFFERENT pace.  

The feeling that I had within the first few months of being POST-STROKE was so relaxed and unencumbered!!  Just feeling FREE from the stress and anxiety that comes with fitting into the operations of “this world” is exhilarating!!  

I CHOOSE to NOT be in the mainstream, but to LIVE in HIS WAY!!  Unless we are NOT in this body, living in “this world”, we WILL BE exposed to “the enemy”, which has his name for a reason!!  HOWEVER, at least in my brain-damages mind, focusing on avoiding “the enemy” takes me away from celebrating the TREMENDOUS VICTORY that JESUS CHRIST has consistently PROVEN, just in my life alone!!

Whenever, not “in case”, “the enemy” decides to make his existence known in my life, I will remember to “LET HIM ASK GOD” to once again make satan FLEE, as is written in James 4:7!!  “The enemy” isn’t scared of me, but “LET HIM ASK GOD” and he is like a scared puppy!!!

“ON THAT DAY!”

1 Samuel 3:9-14                 (ESV)

“[9] Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant hears.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

[10] And the LORD came and stood, CALLING AS AT OTHER TIMES, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for YOUR servant hears.” [11] Then the LORD said to Samuel, “Behold, I AM ABOUT TO DO A THING in Israel at which the two ears of everyone who hears it will tingle. [12] “ON THAT DAY” I WILL FULFILL against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. [13] And I declare to him that I am about to punish his house forever, for the iniquity that he knew, because his sons were blaspheming GOD, and he did NOT RESTRAIN them. [14] Therefore I swear to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever.””

There are times when GOD speaks to me in a WAY that is unmistakable and I want to wake up the next day ready to continue HEARING from HIM???  But GOD just doesn’t seem to be as PRESENT as HE was before??  

Did I say or do something wrong for GOD to NOT be SPEAKING TO ME as before?  Can I just go to sleep now and wake up later and HE not still be PRESENT?  

The SPIRIT OF GOD IS NOT to be taken for granted, and HE IS NOT automatically going to LISTEN when we ARE NOT BEING STILL (Psalms 46:10!).  We CANNOT dictate that we will ever be where we need to be to HEAR from GOD again!  We MUST be WILLING AND READY to SUBMIT OURSELVES (James 4:7-10) to HIM and SEEK HIM WHILE HE IS NEAR (Isaiah 55:6)!  

Eli and his sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were Priests of THE LORD at Shiloh.  But the “sons of Eli” were NOT CHOSEN, and they were set to be REMOVED (killed) by GOD! 

HEARING FROM GOD isn’t something that that can be done at the whims of the hearers!  “ON THAT DAY” has to be in the PLAN OF GOD!  I need to be READY to HEAR when HE SPEAKS!!!

“HOW CAN WE KNOW THE WAY!”

 

‭‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭1‬-‭6‬                 (HCSB‬‬)

““Your heart must not be troubled. BELIEVE IN GOD; BELIEVE ALSO IN ME. In MY FATHER’S house are many dwelling places; if not, I would have told you. I am going away to prepare a place for you. If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come back and receive you to MYSELF, so that where I am you may be also. You know the way to where I am going.” “LORD,” Thomas said, “WE DON’T KNOW where YOU’re going. “HOW CAN WE KNOW THE WAY?“” JESUS told him, “I AM the way, the truth, and the life. NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH ME.”

In the Scripture above, THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSES (JESUS) had just COMMUNED with HIS Disciples in the Upper Room.  It was a somber and private moment that would carry DEEP THEOLOGICAL and PROFOUND MINISTERIAL TRUTHS!  

Working out the details regarding the payment of sins FROM THE BEGINNING OF TIME would require planning unlike any known to humanity.  “BELIEVE IN GOD; BELIEVE ALSO IN ME” is a statement that JESUS made above that EXPLAINS everything, IF ONLY YOU BELIEVE!!  But you CANNOT BELIEVE unless you have been CHOSEN “before the foundation of the world” (Ephesians 1:4)!  With GOD, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE (Matthew 19:23).  

Because the question asked by Thomas to JESUS in the Scripture above is “HOW CAN WE KNOW THE WAY” is SO consequential, the answer needs to be PRECISE, because mankind would surely get the answer wrong!!!  Mankind has NO POSSIBILITY of going to GOD without the Sacrifice of JESUS being made on the Cross of Calvary!!  HE IS THE ONLY WAY!!!

Mankind has NO valid answer to Thomas’s question!  We have NO OTHER way except for FAITH in JESUS!!  So JESUS explicitly said to Thomas “NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH ME” and whether it is BELIEVED or not depends on whether or not we are CHOSEN by HIM BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD (Ephesians 1:4).  JESUS IS THE ONLY WAY ….. PERIOD!!!