“SUFFERING, ENDURANCE, CHARACTER, AND CHARACTER PRODUCES HOPE”

DEC. 16, 2013

“SUFFERING, ENDURANCE, CHARACTER, AND CHARACTER PRODUCES HOPE”

“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. More than that, we rejoice in 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.” Romans 5:2-5

One day Jesus was walking, and the Jews ask Him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name bear witness about me,  but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. John 10:23-27

In the presence of God, and  not recognize the Character of the Son God. As our example His CHARACTER spoke for itself. Especially when He healed the man blind from birth who was now able to see because of the healing touch of the Master. “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”  John 9:5 OH WHAT HOPE FOR ALL.

How could you not recognize the Christ when the elite of the Jews, tried to entrapped a wayward Child of God in the act of adultery who some scholars say was Mary Magdalene, only for the purpose of embarrassing and staining the CHARACTER OF CHRIST, with stones in hand ready to execute, seeked the Master’s approval to condemn.

That was a good opportunity to recognize THE CHARACTER OF LOVE FROM THE GOOD SHEPHERD, but they declined. With the love that a Father would show for His child, He used the same fingers that wrote the 10 precepts that builds the foundation, and CHARACTER OF LOVE FOR THE WORLD.

Yes my friends the same fingers that would point from east, to west for the sins of all, who believed, on the cross at Calvary, He now stooped down to save, and in the sand as he wrote, ask her accusers “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first. In the end only She remained in the PRESENCE OF THE MASTER, THE ONLY HOPE FOR ALL WHO BELIEVE.

“but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons. A ONCE LOST SOUL WHO WAS NOW TRANSFORMED BY THE CHARACTER AND LOVE OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD, LOST HOPE NOW FOUND, OH WHAT A TESTIMONY.

“I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”  2 Corinthians 6:16 If the elite had only look at there CHARACTER IN COMPARISON TO THE  LOVING CHARACTER OF THE ONE who declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. John 6:35 Oh the lost opportunity they passed up FOR REAL HOPE IF THEY WOULD HAVE ONLY BELIEVED.

We could go on forever, but like John says in John 21:25 And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.” But what I need you to focus on today is THE WALK OUR SAVIOR TOOK.

The SUFFERING by the hands of the elite who stayed in suspense and never believed, or recognized Christ as the SON OF GOD, But He continue to ENDURE  for “He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 53: And He did it all to give US HOPE, AND ETERNAL LIFE

My friends Our goal must be to follow Christ to the cross through His Word while allowing the Holy Spirit to Transform our CHARACTER TO BE LIKE CHRIST, and once our CHARACTER IS LIKE HIS “We will then be “called the children of God! “for “it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is 1 John 3:2 OH WHAT HOPE FOR ALL WHO BELIEVES.

So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY