WHEN THE PROCESS IS OVER, THE PROOF IS IN THE RESULTS!!

              

THE END RESULT

         THERE WAS A REASON FOR IT ALL

“…let PATIENCE have its perfect work, that you may be perfect (mature, sanctified) and complete, lacking nothing….” (James 1:2-4 KJV).

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“…BY GRACE have ye been “SAVED” THROUGH FAITH; and that NOT OF YOURSELVES, IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD; not of WORKS, that no man should glory…” (Ephesians 2:8-9 ASV). “God has chosen you from the beginning for SALVATION through SANCTIFICATION by the Spirit and faith in the truth…” (2 Thessalonians 2:13 NASB). “….WORK OUT your OWN SALVATION…” (Philippians 2:12 KJV).  

The SOUL is SAVED and then it is SANCTIFED by the working out of your own SALVATION through the indwelling Holy Spirit and the indwelling Spirit of Faith in the truth. God, the Holy Spirit, enables your SOUL to be restored BACK to WHOLENESS. “…He restoreth my SOUL…” (Psalm 23 KJV). “…The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the SOUL…” (Psalm 19 NASB).

Restore the soul to what? Bring it back to what? Return it to what? Restoration is the process of sanctification of the SAVED person. Working out your OWN salvation will help you return to the original created glory and holiness. What was the original glory and holiness?

Back in the Garden of Eden, God said, “….LET US MAKE man in our image, after our likeness…” (Genesis 1:26 KJV).  “…..GOD CREATED MAN in his own image…..male and female created he them…” (Genesis 1:27 KJV).

This is what the bible says about God: “…THERE ARE THREE that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and THESE THREE ARE ONE.…” (1 JOHN 5:6-8 KJV). “….THE LORD IS OUR GOD, THE LORD IS ONE…” (DEUTERONOMY 6:4 KJV). “…THERE IS NO GOD, BUT ONE…” (1 CORINTHIANS 8:4 KJV).

Therefore, God said, “….LET US MAKE man … after our likeness…” (Genesis 1:26 KJV). “…in his own image…..male and female created he them…” (Genesis 1:27 KJV). “…And the LORD God formed man [of] the dust of the ground (body), and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life (spirit); and man became a living soul (soul)…” (GENESIS 2:7 KJV).

The scriptures say, “…I pray …your whole SPIRIT and SOUL and BODY be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ…” (1 THESSALONIANS 5:23 KJV). “…The word of God [is] quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow (body)…” (HEBREWS 4:12 KJV). “…the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and THESE THREE ARE ONE.…” (1 JOHN 5:6-8 KJV). “…..GOD CREATED MAN in his own image…..male and female created he them…” (Genesis 1:27 KJV).

The path to experiencing complete restoration is simply a part of the salvation process. At salvation you are restored to God’s Spirit and you have become ALIVE again. “…And the LORD God formed man [of] the dust of the ground (body), and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life (spirit); and man became a living soul (soul)…” (GENESIS 2:7 KJV).

When you say, “I AM SAVED;” you  are saying, you “WERE”  a spiritually “DEAD” soul and “…separated from the LIFE of God…” (Ephesians 4:18 NIV). “…It is the SPIRIT who gives LIFE…” (John 6:63 NASB).

Before you were SAVED “…YOU… were DEAD in your transgressions and sins…” (Ephesians 2:1 NIV). “…YOU were DEAD in your sins and ... [NOW]…God made you ALIVE with Christ. He forgave [you]… all [your]… sins…” (Colossians 2:13 NIV). God “….made [you]… ALIVE with Christ …when [you]… were DEAD in transgressions…” (Ephesians 2:5 NIV).

Like the prodigal son, “… [YOU (were]…. DEAD and [you have been made]… ALIVE AGAIN; [you were]… lost and [have been]… found…” (Luke 15:24 NIV).

If you were made “ALIVE AGAIN” you were DEAD first. The soul was a DEAD soul. The appetites of the DEAD soul had its effects or influences on you. The effect and influence of the DEAD SOUL is evident through the longings, cravings, or hungers from its demands. “….YOU (your DEAD soul) USED TO LIVE in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations (effects) of our sinful nature (dead soul). ….just like everyone else…” (Ephesian 2:2-3 NLT).

Spiritually DEAD souls express the sinful nature. “…The sin of my SOUL…” (Micah 6:7 KJV). The spiritually DEAD soul is heavily affected by carnality. “….When you follow the desires (influences) of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life WILL NOT inherit the Kingdom of God. …” (Galatians 5:22-23 NLT).

However, if you can say “I AM SAVED now; then you are ALIVE. God, through the GIFT of Salvation restored your DEAD soul and you are free from the effects of SIN, “…He restoreth my SOUL…” (Psalm 23 KJV). “…The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the SOUL…” (Psalm 19 NASB). “IN” Christ you (your DEAD soul) has been restored and made “ALIVE AGAIN.” (Luke 15:24 NIV).

The SOUL is saved (delivered, made whole, freed). The SOUL works out or walks out, or experiences its own SALVATION (deliverance, wholeness, freedom) through a process. “….WORK OUT your OWN SALVATION…” (Philippians 2:12 KJV).  

Working out or experiencing your SALVATION is the PURPOSE of PROCESS. “God has chosen you from the beginning for SALVATION through SANCTIFICATION by the Spirit and faith in the truth…” (2 Thessalonians 2:13 NASB).

Salvation involves saving you from your past, your present, and your future. You are SAVED (past), SANCTIFIED (present), and have ETERNAL LIFE (future). “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be SAVED…” (ACTS 16:31 KJV).  “….ye are SANCTIFIED …in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the SPIRIT of our GOD…” (1 Corinthians 6:9-11 KJV). “…The GIFT of God is ETERNAL LIFE through Jesus Christ ….” (Romans 6:23 KJV). 

Earlier we talked about PROCESS being infused into daily routine, which can became mundane, and involve long stretches of time. Spiritual training becomes a part of your daily routine.

Training means to strengthen one’s information skills and abilities through a sequence of actions that include tasks which result in gaining knowledge where there was none. “… GROW (develop) in the GRACE and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ…” (2 Timothy 3:18 NIV).

Practice is the work that is required to sustain or cement those new skills and strengths. “…Be conformed to the image of his Son...” (ROMANS 8:29 KJV).

Training for new skills and abilities and practicing them is the ideal way to SHAPE new behavior. “…transformed by the renewing (shaping) of [my] mind….” (Romans 12:2 KJV).  

Conditioning is when training, practice, and shaping become the new, habitually response to the situations and circumstances of life. ^“…until we …become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ…” (Ephesians 4:14 NIV).

Molding becomes apparent when the sequence of actions from specific tasks result in a new skill or ability one desires or prefers to repeat.. “… [Therefore]… we all … are changed (molded) into the same image [of Christ] from glory to glory …” (2 Corinthians 3:18 KJV).

PROCESS, therefore, is mostly made up of daily, boring, mundane routines and long stretches of time. Yet to benefit from the untold blessings and miraculously favors of PROCESS; you must take the journey.

Because of the PROCESS in my life thus far I have become what I am. “…by the grace of God I am what I am…” (1 Corinthians 15:10 NIV). Much of the content of this book and others I have written come from my personal experience with PROCESS.

It is a GREAT temptation to abort the PROCESS. We live in convenient and short-cut times where instant results are preferred.

In PROCESS, God’s timing takes precedence. The Sovereign God says, “…"This is the way; walk in it…" Isaiah 30:21 NIV). “…I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye…” (Psalms 32:8 KJV). “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way” (Psalms 37:23 KJV). “…Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God ….which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go….” (Isaiah 48:17 KJV).

Unless you go the path of PROCESS God has instructed you to GO; you won’t finish the journey the WAY God intended for you to FINISH and SUCCEED.

It is IN patient endurance that you learn. It is IN patient endurance you are enabled to possess, or acquire, or restore, sanctify, or gain back your soul (life). “…In your patience (endurance) POSSESS you your souls…” (Luke 21:19 KJV).

It is asked in scripture, “…what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and LOSE HIS OWN SOUL?” (Mark 8:36 KJV). “….he that winneth SOULS is wise…” (Proverbs 11:30 KJV).

“…he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall SAVE A SOUL from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins…” (James 5:20 KJV).

After a person is SAVED, they must – through the indwelling Holy Spirit and the fruit of faith be empowered to walk in the truth -  “….WORK OUT [their]… own salvation…” (Philippians 2:12 KJV).  

 Working out your own SALVATION includes: “…Putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to SAVE YOUR SOULS….” (James 1:21 NASB).

 “…Throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life…” (Ephesians 4:22 NIV). “…you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor…” (Ephesians 4:25 NLT).  “….Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice…” (Ephesians 4:31 KJV).

“….now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth….” (Colossians 3:8  KJV).

“…Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings…” (1 Peter 2:1 KJV).

Working out your SALVATION takes TIME and specific lessons OFTEN take LONG stretches of TIME (days, weeks, months, or even years).

 However, “…WAIT ON the LORD: …WAIT, I say, on the LORD…” (Psalms 27:14 KJV). “…THOUGH IT TARRY, WAIT FOR IT….” (Habakkuk 2:3 KJV).

 “…My brethren ….the testing of your [indwelling Spirit of]... faith produces PATIENCE. But let PATIENCE have its perfect work, that you may be perfect (mature) and complete, lacking nothing….” (James 1:2-4 KJV). “…Dear brothers and sisters …when your faith is tested, your ENDURANCE has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your ENDURANCE is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing….” (James 1:2-4 NLT).

In the last chapter we talked about the GIFT of TIME. TIME often consists of LONG periods of WAITING. WAITING requires PATIENT ENDURANCE. PATIENT ENDURANCE is something that must FULLY develop in order for YOU to mature.

“…My brethren ….the testing of your faith produces PATIENCE. But let PATIENCE have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing….” (James 1:2-4 KJV). “…Dear brothers and sisters …when your faith is tested, your ENDURANCE has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your ENDURANCE is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing….” (James 1:2-4 NLT).

What is PATIENCE? PATIENCE is a calm, content, and non-complaining heart attitude that develops from A LONG endurance of submitting to God’s will while expecting and waiting for his DIVINE justice or promises to come to pass. “…We are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with PATIENCE wait for it...” (Romans 8:24-25 KJV).

“….Wait PATIENTLY for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait PATIENTLY for the Lord….” (Psalms 27:14 NLT).

“….Rest in the Lord, and wait PATIENTLY for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass…” (Psalms 37:7 KJV). “…I waited PATIENTLY for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry…” (Psalms 40:1 KJV).

“…Abraham waited PATIENTLY, and he received what God had promised…” (Hebrews 6:15 NLT).

PATIENCE becomes a supernatural ability to endure offenses, pain, insults, rejection, and other injuries without a negative heart attitude, or vengeful anger, or a desire for retribution. “….WE PROVE OURSELVES by our purity, our understanding, our PATIENCE, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit WITHIN us, and by our sincere love…” (2 Corinthians 6:6 NLT).  “…Be PATIENT toward all men…” (1 Thessalonians 5:14 KJV).  “… Be PATIENT with everyone…” (1 Thessalonians 5:14 NLT). “…A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be PATIENT with difficult people…” (2 Timothy 2:24 NLT).

You are DEVELOPING.

Patience is a hybrid of humility. “….PATIENCE is better than pride…” (Ecclesiastes 7:8 NLT). “…the PATIENT in spirit is better than the proud in spirit…” (Ecclesiastes 7:8 KJV). “…Always be HUMBLE and gentle. Be PATIENT with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love…” (Ephesians 4:2 NLT).

To be patience is a willful determination to suffer, endure, or wait for God to act through injustices and offenses without complaint or discontent. “…Rejoicing in hope; PATIENT IN TRIBULATION; continuing instant in prayer…” (Romans 12:12 KJV). “…The Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait PATIENTLY for God’s promises to be fulfilled….” (Romans 15:4 KJV).

The variant grammatical spellings of the word patient, in the Old or New Testaments, basically mean “to wait,” “to expect,” “to hope for,” “longsuffering,” “endurance,” or “steadfastness.”

PATIENCE is a challenging trait to develop, but even more challenging to sustain.
“…We are PATIENT with those who abuse us…” (1 Corinthians 4:12 NLT). “…Love is PATIENT and kind…” (1 Corinthians 13:4 NLT). “…Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can PATIENTLY endure the same things we suffer…” (2 Corinthians 1:6 NLT). “…We PATIENTLY endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind…” (2 Corinthians 6:4 NLT).

PATIENCE is gleaned by depending relentlessly on God's indwelling Spirit, trusting uncompromisingly in his Holy will, expecting his absolute goodness, and relying upon his WORD. “…PATIENT endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you WILL receive all that he has promised…” (Hebrews 10:36 NLT).

The 21^st century is fast paced and most people are barely willing to wait the few seconds for a red traffic light to turn green.

Patience involves a willingness to wait on God and his Holy will whether it takes days, weeks, months, or years. “…God is pleased when, conscious of his will, you PATIENTLY endure unjust treatment…” (1 Peter 2:19 NLT).

When waiting and expecting God to fulfill his promises, exact injustices, and wroth his HOLY will, believers need the fruit of patience. “….But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering (patience), gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law….” (Galatians 5:22-23 KJV). “…The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, PATIENCE, kindness, goodness, faithfulness…” (Galatians 5:22 NLT).

 “… [You]… are given...exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be PARTAKERS of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance PATIENCE; and to PATIENCE godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ…” (2 Peter 1: 4-9 KJV).

Patience is obviously a fruit of the Spirit, which makes it a trait of God’s divine nature. “…Now the God of PATIENCE and consolation…” (Romans 15:5 KJV). “…the fruit of the Spirit is … longsuffering (patience)….” (Galatians 5:22-23 KJV).

God has the AWESOME ability to tolerate suffering and offenses, with loving mercy, and patient endurance; also known as longsuffering. “…The Lord is not slack …but is longsuffering to us-ward…” (2 Peter 3:9 KJV). “The Lord is longsuffering, and of great mercy…” (Number 14:18 KJV).

Patience is not just a trait you can simple choose to acquire; it is a trait summoned by Godly LOVE. “…Love is PATIENT and kind…” (1 Corinthians 13:4 NLT). “…God is LOVE…” (1 John 4:4-8 KJV). “…every one that loveth …. KNOWETH God. He that loveth NOT KNOWETH NOT God; for God is love…” (1 John 4:4-8 KJV).

Godly love is the motivation behind all acts of patience. “…Love “IS” PATIENT and kind…” (1 Corinthians 13:4 NLT). “… if I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have NOT LOVE, I AM NOTHING. And if I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but have NOT LOVE, IT PROFITETH ME NOTHING…” (1 Corinthians 13:2-3 ASV).

“….LOVE is the fulfillment of the law…” (Romans 13:10 NIV).

“….Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, DO YE EVEN SO TO THEM: for this is the law and the prophets….” (Matthew 7:12 KJV).

“….Thou shalt LOVE thy neighbour as thyself…” (Matthew 22:39 KJV).

“…A new commandment I give unto you, That ye LOVE ONE ANOTHER; AS I HAVE LOVED YOU, that ye also love one another…” (John 13:34 KJV).

“…Owe no man any thing, BUT TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law…” (Romans 13:8 KJV).

“…For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt LOVE THEY NEIGHBOUR AS THYSELF….” (Galatians 5:14 KJV).

“If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt LOVE THY NEIGHBOUR AS THYSELF, ye do well…” (James 2:8 KJV).

“…Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt LOVE THY NEIGHBOUR AS THYSELF. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets…” (Matthew 22:36-40 KJV).

“…Be PATIENT with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of YOUR LOVE…” (Ephesians 4:2 NLT). “…all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another…" (John 13:35 NASB). “…Love is PATIENT and kind…” (1 Corinthians 13:4 NLT).

“…God is LOVE…” (1 John 4:4-8 KJV). God’s love is greater than a man’s offenses against him. God’s love is greater than his adulteries. God’s love is greater than a man’s unfaithfulness. “…God is LOVE…” (1 John 4:4-8 KJV).

God is extravagant with his GRACE-filled chances towards those he loves. His love patiently overrides all your offenses and abuses against him. His “…LOVE COVERETH a multitude of sins…” (Proverbs 10:12, 1 Peter 4:8 ASV).

“If we confess our sins, HE is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness…” (1 John 1:9 KJV). “…For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more…" (Hebrews 8:12 NIV). His “…love COVERETH a multitude of sins…” (Proverbs 10:12, 1 Peter 4:8 ASV).

How many offenses are too many for God? How many chances does he give before His grace is exhausted? “…Where sin increased, [His]…grace abounded all the more…” (Romans 5:20 NASB). God’s “…grace is sufficient for you…” (2 Corinthians 12:9 NASB).  

What can you do to exhaust the mercy (compassion, pity, forgiveness, kindness, sympathy, understanding, benevolence) or the grace (undeserved favor, help, assistance, advantage) of the Living God? “The Lord is longsuffering, and of great mercy…” (Numbers 14:18 KJV).

Why does God give a man or woman so many chances? What is His motive for doing that? “…God is LOVE…” (1 John 4:4-8 KJV). “…The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being PATIENT for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent…” (2 Peter 3:9 NLT). “…Love is PATIENT and kind…” (1 Corinthians 13:4 NLT).

LOVE is the essence of God’s nature. He can’t go against who He is. “…God “IS” LOVE…” (1 John 4:4-8 KJV).

His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts. But his ways are higher than our ways. “…For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts…” (Isaiah 55:8-9 KJV).

People can exhaust the chances they have with others, but there is always another chance with God as long as you are on this earth. . “…He is being PATIENT for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent…” (2 Peter 3:9 NLT). “…Love is PATIENT and kind…” (1 Corinthians 13:4 NLT).

God’s ways goes against the flesh and nature of mankind. Who God is and the way he does things are unnatural to man and they judge it against their own ways of doing things. “Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit. These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself…“(Psalm 50:19-21 KJV).  “…God “IS” LOVE…” (1 John 4:4-8 KJV). “…Love is PATIENT and kind…” (1 Corinthians 13:4 NLT).

It is distasteful (objectionable) to continue to love someone who seems to have exhausted his or her chances and committed such atrocities to another human being, but LOVE covers a multitude of sins. “…LOVE covereth a multitude of sins…” (Proverbs 10:12, 1 Peter 4:8 ASV). God’s “…love is PATIENT … [God’s]…love is kind. ….it KEEPS NO RECORD of wrongs …” (1 Corinthians 13: 4-8 NIV). God “…blotteth out …[your] transgression and remember NOT… [your] sins… (Isaiah 43:25, Hebrews 8:12, 10:17 ASV). “…For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more…" (Hebrews 8:12 NIV).

God’s understanding of mankind is like deep waters and man’s love will drown where God’s love would soar. God can sympathize with your plight with sin, yet he has never sinned. “…For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin…” (Hebrews 4:15 NASB).

God alone can sympathize with your struggle with sin and therefore has the fortitude to love an individual through their deepest issues and concerns. “…LOVE never fails…” (1 Corinthians 13: 4-8 NIV). “…Love is PATIENT and kind…” (1 Corinthians 13:4 NLT).

That kind of love is a mighty weapon against the dark foes of the soul. “…What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? ...Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ... [NO] …But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. … [NOTHING]…will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord…” (Romans 8:31-39 NASB).

Love has the power to continue to reach out, through countless hours, days, weeks, and years, to those who have fallen into the gutters and trenches of life to give them a victorious ending. “…LOVE never fails…” (1 Corinthians 13: 4-8 NIV). He has “….loved [you]...with an everlasting love….” (Jeremiah 31:3 KJV).

There is no greater love than the love of God. “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13 KJV). “…There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life…” (John 15:13 NLT).

I was personally challenged to love someone with patient endurance. I discovered God’s love in the PROCESS and I discovered HOW to love others as well.

This is what I personally learned: Love covers over a lot of offenses. Loving is fully forgiving and doesn’t keep a record of another person’s wrongs towards you. Love is enduring. Love suffers long, because it gives the other person a chance to get it right with you. Love is faithful. Love is loyal. Love involves a sacrifice and therefore will always be costly. Love continues, even if it does not receive anything in return. Love does not come with a wage attachment, where the recipient has to somehow earn it. Love does not come with a partiality tag, where the recipient has to be worthy of it. Love does not come with a merit tag, where the recipient has to be deserving of it. Love is free towards the recipient of it and will not demand anything in return. Love won’t change, even if the recipient changes, walks away, rejects it, follows after another,  is unfaithful, offends,  or totally forgets about it.

How many times did I ask God: “What kind of LOVE is this?” God said LOVE is who he is at his very core and it is his preferred way of being. LOVE is at the foundation of all that he says, all that he does, and all that he is. Love is his GLORY at its finest!!!

While loving my recipient with patient endurance, God also taught me that love is not insecure and therefore needs nothing from the recipient. Love does not have low self-esteem and does not need validation from its recipient. Love is concerned with its own expression and not the expression of the recipient. Love’s only agenda is love.

I found it very hard and challenging to love in this way. It made me feel like a punk or wimp. It made feel as if I was letting the person walk over me and take advantage of my kindness. I clearly saw my ways were definitely NOT like God’s ways, because I didn’t want to love the way God does.

I criticized God’s patient, enduring love and found his kind of love tempted my rebellious heart to the brink of resistance in real life. I found it extremely hard to forgive some of the offenses my recipient of love had committed against me. Yet, God’s Spirit kept reminding me that love covers a multitude of sin.

. “…LOVE covereth a multitude of sins…” (Proverbs 10:12, 1 Peter 4:8 ASV). “…A new commandment I give unto you, That ye LOVE ONE ANOTHER; AS I HAVE LOVED YOU, that ye also love one another…” (John 13:34 KJV). “…Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven…” (Matthew 18:21-22 KJV).

“…Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because HE DELIGHTETH IN MERCY…” (Micah 7:18 KJV). “…In this world we are like Jesus…” (1 John 4:17 NIV). “…Mercy triumphs over judgement.” (James 2:13 NASB). “…Owe no man any thing, BUT TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law…” (Romans 13:8 KJV).

When no one is looking but God and the recipient of your love has offended or hurt you yet again and the Spirit whispers to your heart: “…I delight in mercy” or “love covers over a multitude of sin” or “love one another as I have loved you.” What do you do?   “…God “IS” LOVE…” (1 John 4:4-8 KJV). “…Love is PATIENT and kind…” (1 Corinthians 13:4 NLT).

The flesh dies kicking and screaming, but the indwelling Spirit enabled me to walk in mercy and grace over and over and over and over and over again for years. Just thinking about it, writing it down to share with you is painful still, and brings tears to my heart.

Living righteous ain’t always easy, but it is liberating. “…the truth shall MAKE YOU FREE…” (JOHN 8:32 KJV).

However, until the situation changed and I knew it would, I had to forgive, show grace and mercy, not be judgmental, demonstrate Godly kindness, and walk in patient, enduring, Godly love; for years.

Did I do it perfectly? NO. I stumbled, tripped, fell, made a thousand mistakes, was rebellious at times, took matters into my hands, totally ignored God’s way, and confessed a multitude of sins a multitude of times.

Over a LONG stretch of TIME I finally started getting it more right than wrong. I eventually took on the attitude of Job. “….all the days of my appointed time WILL I WAIT, till my change come…” (Job 14:14 KJV). “…WAIT ON the LORD: …WAIT, I say, on the LORD…” (Psalms 27:14 KJV). “…THOUGH IT TARRY, WAIT FOR IT….” (Habakkuk 2:3 KJV).

 “…My brethren ….the testing of your faith produces PATIENCE. But let PATIENCE have its perfect work, that you may be perfect (mature) and complete, lacking nothing….” (James 1:2-4 KJV).

God promises to turn a situation around, and HE WILL.  In the meantime, patience endurance is challenged especially when seconds turn into minutes, minutes turn into hours, hours turn into days, days turn into weeks, weeks turn into months, and months turn into years.

Patience endurance is about your TRUSTING love for God and your SINCERE love for others.  “…God “IS” LOVE…” (1 John 4:4-8 KJV). “…Love is PATIENT and kind…” (1 Corinthians 13:4 NLT).

It is a PROMOTION. When you get a promotion; you must be trained for the position. “…For it is God who WORKS in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose” (Philippians 2:13 NIV). “…Now may the God of peace … that great Shepherd of the sheep, EQUIP YOU with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen” (Hebrews 13:20-21 NIV).

God will keep EVERY promise he has made to you. HE WILL do what he said he would do. DON’T GIVE UP. I “…am watching over my word to perform it…” (Jeremiah 1:12 NASB). “…So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11 KJV). “…As many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes …also … Amen …” (2 Corinthians 1:20 NASB). “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us…” (1 John 5:14 KJV). “…You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father.  Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it...” (John 14:12-14 NLT).  “…Not one of the good promises which the Lord had made … failed; all came to pass…” (Joshua 21:45 NASB).  “…He has granted to [you]… His precious and magnificent promises…” (2 Peter 1:4 NASB).

You are developing. It doesn’t matter how many days, weeks, months, or years it’s been or what it has cost you…in the END YOU WIN!!! “…And in the PROCESS of time IT CAME TO PASS…” (Genesis 4:3 KJV).

God is GROWING you INTO the MATURITY necessary for the CALLING on your life. “….I PRESS toward the mark for the prize of the HIGH CALLING of God in Christ Jesus…” (Philippians 3:14 KJV). “Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about HIS CALLING and choosing you; for as long as you PRACTICE these things, you will never stumble…” (2 Peter 1:10 NASB).

SO, “…GROW to maturity…” (2 Corinthians 13:11 NLT). “…until Christ be formed in you…” (Galatians 4:19 KJV). “….I pray  …that you will keep on GROWING in KNOWLEDGE and understanding…” (Philippians 1:19 NLT).  

THUS, “…let PATIENCE have its perfect work, that you may be perfect (mature, sanctified) and complete, lacking nothing….” (James 1:2-4 KJV). “Let us NOT become weary in doing good, for at the PROPER TIME WE WILL REAP A HARVEST if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9 NIV).

There is a reason you have patiently endured it all and the end result is walking TRIUMPHANTLY in the CALLING upon your life. “….the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and TO GIVE HIS LIFE as a ransom for many" (Matthew 20:28).

“But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” When they hurled their insults at him, HE DID NOT RETALIATE; when he suffered, HE MADE NO THREAT. “INSTEAD,” he entrusted himself to him who judges justly” (1 Peter 2:19-23 NIV).

“…keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the JOY awaiting him, HE ENDURED THE CROSS, disregarding its shame…” (Hebrews 12:2 NLT).

“…AT the PROPER TIME WE WILL REAP A HARVEST if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9 NIV).

“…What we do see is Jesus, who for a little while was given a position “a little lower than the angels”; and because he suffered death (death to SELF and death on the CROSS) for us, he is NOW “crowned with glory and honor.” Yes, by God’s grace, Jesus tasted DEATH for everyone…” (Hebrews 2:9 NLT). “…Therefore, God ELEVATED him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth…” (Philippians 2:9-10 NLT).

“…And in the PROCESS of time IT (WHATEVER IT IS) …[WILL COME]… TO PASS…” (Genesis 4:3 KJV).