Peacemakers 2

Matthew 5:9-12

In a world of continual chaos and uproar, those who are united with God, through Christ Jesus, must uphold the standard of peace, so that others can hold fast to the hope of a secure eternity with the Father. The church of today, has a mandate to represent holiness, despite the cost. It’s unfortunate that we are living during the end-times, when many have fallen away from the faith, but there is a remnant of believers who have not bowed to the standards of the world, yet strive to maintain a holy, righteous, and peaceful lifestyle, on a consistent basis.

People around the globe are suffering in some capacity, and are desperately searching for peace. Some are dealing with sickness or the loss of loved ones, while others find it hard to keep money in their pockets or food in their homes. With all that’s going on in life, it seems impossible to find a mere ounce of peace. God sees the struggle of man, and desires that none perish, but all come to repentance. God does care about His prized creation, but He wants us to shift our focus off our problems for a moment, and back to what’s important; eternal security. God will take care of His people, but He’s more concerned with the state of their souls.

While the world entertains fear and uncertainty, the children of God should be known for maintaining hope and peace. There should be a noticeable difference in the behavior between those who are of God, and those who are lost. For example, when facing a season of trial and suffering, rather than act as if all is lost and hopeless, we should show men that our God is still in control, despite our possible setbacks. There were many in Scripture who suffered greatly, yet maintained a righteous standard through their suffering. A few examples include Joseph, Hannah, Jeremiah, and the apostle Paul.

God’s grace is sufficient for His people, and His strength is made perfect in their weakness. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7). This truth should encourage believers to change their perspective on their view of life, and shift God’s agenda to top priority. Only through the power of God’s Spirit, can we find the peace that helps us endure all manner of hard times and difficult situations.

Wings Of Faith

Give us Lord, a special faith, unlimited and free, A faith that isn’t bound by what we know or what we see…A faith that trusts the sunshine even when there is no light, a faith that hears the morning song’s soft echo in the night…A faith that somehow rises past unhappiness or pain, Knowing that in every loss Your goodness will remain…A faith that finds Your steadfast love sufficient for all things, A faith that lifts the heart above and gives the spirit wings.

-B.J.Hoff

Fully Persuaded

Romans 4:19-21

If your faith and confidence level in godliness was based on percentages, could you boldly say that yours would be an easy 100?! Do you literally trust God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength? Or, are there moments, when you doubt whether or not God will step in to help resolve some of your issues? In order for anyone to please God, they must have faith, because without it, it’s impossible to please Him. Having faith is one thing, but developing your faith to greater levels, is necessary in order to benefit from all the things God has for those who trust Him.

Oftentimes, men and women stagger at the words God spoke in Scripture, and as the children of God, we sometimes fall short of His glory, by taking our focus off God, and doing things our own way. An example of this took place in the Bible, when Abraham and Sarah decided to help God and bring forth the promise He had made to them, that they would have a child. Rather than continue to wait patiently for God’s plan to play out, Sarah presented her handmaid to her husband, in hopes she would bring for the child of promise. Contrary to their unwise plan, Abraham and Sarah were told, the child would come from their union, and not another. In due time, Abraham’s faith was rewarded, when His 90 year old wife was blessed to conceive. Although Abraham took unwise counsel from His wife, his faith in God’s promise was not weak, but strong. Abraham was fully persuaded, that what God had promised, He was also able to perform.

During times when our faith grows weary, take a moment to consider all who came before us, and the trials and tribulations they endured until their end. Learn from our pioneers of the faith, and strive to grow daily in wisdom, understanding, and faith. The more your faith grows, the more confident you’ll become in the words of Scripture.

Soul Exchange

Matthew 16:26

“For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” Do you value your soul, more than anything this present world can offer? Would you exchange the very essence of your being for money, fame, or any other thing men hold in high regard? In the beginning, God created the world to be inhabited, and enjoyed by man. Unfortunately, things took a major turn in the wrong direction, after the infiltration of sin in the earth. Rather than give due reverence to the one who created all things, men have taken more delight in those created things, over the Creator. The apostle Paul verified this fact when he wrote that men who claimed to be wise, became fools, and served the creature more than the creator. Was the death and resurrection of Jesus enough for you to turn away from the world, and commit your soul to the Father, or have you been drawn away by the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, until serving God is nowhere on your list of things to do?

Judgment Is Coming!

2 Peter 2:1-9

God’s divine order of creation was altered, after man entertained sin, thus initiating inevitable judgment upon the earth. God hates sin, because it’s very intent is to perform the opposite of what He designed man to do. Man was created in God’s image, to do those things that please Him, yet sin caused men to desire not God’s will, but their own.

As the one who created and sustains all things, God has every right to execute judgment as He desires. Contrary to those who believe God will save all people, because He is so loving, and kind, and compassionate, God will pour out His wrath on all unrepentant sinners.

In time past, God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, delivered them into chains of darkness, and left them to await their final judgment. In the days of Noah, mankind had become so wicked, to the point God was extremely sorrowful for what the people had done to themselves. In the same way a parent expresses sorrow for a child who rebels, God was sorry that the people chose sin, rather than a relationship with Himself. God said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from off the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenth me that I have made them.” (Genesis 6:7). God the Father would have showed mercy on the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, had He found ten righteous men there. Unfortunately, none except Lot was found righteous in the sight of the Lord.

Today, churches and religious institutions are littered with false teachers, prophets, and other evil agents, who secretly have brought in damnable heresies among the Saints. Unfortunately, many are being deceived by false doctrines, and are falling away from the faith, but judgment is coming to all who deny the truth of the Gospel, and turn men away from following Christ.

“Beware! God spared not the angels that sinned, and you will meet the same fate, if you don’t repent!” – Ell

The Wrath Of God!

Romans 1:18-23

As evil men continue to take part in promoting satan’s wicked campaign throughout the earth, God in His wrath, stands in position, ready to judge and subdue all who are ungodly and unrighteous.

Men were created good, and free from all wickedness, but when the serpent deceived Eve (and Adam took part), the relationship between God and man has never been the same. Fortunately, for all who accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, God will save them in the end, but to those who remain unrighteous, immoral, and in sin, their eternity will be spent in an everlasting fire, created for the devil and his angels.

There are some who believe God is unfair, and should not be so hard on wicked men, but the God of Heaven and earth is just. In fact, God is super patient, and allows people ample time and opportunity to turn away from sin, and come to Him. The Bible reads it this way, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9 KJV).

God is love, and has expressed His multifaceted compassion since the beginning of creation. The God of creation, desires not that any of His wonderful human beings be lost to eternal damnation, nor face His wrath. For this reason, He offers the free gift of salvation daily, so that anyone seeking the right path, can be saved from this present world of corruption.

Blessed Redemption

Galatians 1:20-24

20 Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not.
21 Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia;
22 And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ:
23 But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.
24 And they glorified God in me.

Everyone deserves a second chance in life, even the man who once persecuted God’s people without hesitation. How do you handle those who were once unruly, but God turned them for good? Do you hold grudges against people whom you once despised, or do you offer a helping hand, to assist them on the path of holy and righteous living?

Googoo Gaga!

1 Corinthians 3:1-11

The more I study and meditate on the Word of God, the more obvious it becomes to see how many churches today are mirror images of the early churches in Scripture. For example, the church at Corinth, would typically find themselves falling into sin, by way of being controlled by their carnal desires. For this reason, the apostle Paul had labeled the Corinthians “babes in Christ”. This fact was proven by their spiritual immaturity and childlike quarrels, through envying, strife, and divisions.

The Corinthian church had split into two halves; one side claimed to be of Paul, and the other of Apollos. Making claims of being rooted from a man is carnality, and the apostle Paul took great displeasure in the church for doing so. The only solid foundation men are to build upon and grow from is, the Son of God. Verse 11 of chapter 3 reads, “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” Jesus is the true foundation of the church, and all those who believe. The apostle Paul, like all ministers are commanded to do, laid the foundation with Word of God, and Apollos continued in the Word, to help the church grow and mature.

The work of God’s ministry involves many different people, with diverse gifts and abilities, but it’s vital to acknowledge, there are no superstars in God’s kingdom, only team players. While we are to give honor to those who are deserving of it, we are not to place any man above the Son of God, because all praise belongs to God, not a man.

Many churches today suffer from the “babes in Christ” syndrome, but if the people replace their carnal desires with those of the Father, only then can the focus of the church be shifted back into the right perspective, and the people can begin to grow from babes, to mature sons and daughters of God.

Separated From Society

Luke 17:11-19

During the days when Jesus walked the earth, many people suffered from various illnesses and diseases, most of which kept them bedridden or unable to carry out daily duties. The worst of those diseases (in my opinion) had to be leprosy, because this illness kept men and women separated from society. Those who were leprous, were required to stand afar off from people considered clean. Aside from facing bitter social rejection, and being treated as outcasts, lepers were required to leave their homes and families, and join with others infected with leprosy, on the outskirts of town. In addition, They were forbidden from having contact with people who did not have the disease, and they had to ring a bell and shout “unclean” if anyone approached them. They couldn’t even go to the market place, and were also forbidden from taking part in worship. The worst fact concerning leprosy was, there was no cure for the diseases back then, so all who suffered from it, could only look forward to a slow, painful, and shameful death.

Living with the horrible condition of leprosy, could not have been a pleasant experience, but our lesson’s text reveals ten who were lepers, and had a life-changing experience, after an encounter with Jesus. While passing through the midst of Samaria and Galilee, Jesus entered a certain village, and was met by ten men, suffering from leprosy. Isn’t it interesting, how Jesus often found Himself among those who were sick or ill? I’m totally convinced, the Son of God knew to place Himself among the sick, so that the glory of the Father could be revealed to the suffering, and onlookers.

In a joint effort, the ten lepers cried with a loud voice and said, “Master, have mercy on us.” Rather than say, “Be healed”, or something of that nature, Jesus gave the men a simple command, “Go shew yourselves unto the priests.” If you’ve studied a little on the history of leprosy, you’ll know that the priests were ordained by God to consider someone to be clean or unclean, based on specifications mentioned in Leviticus chapter 13. But, Jesus told the men to show themselves to the priest, while they were yet leprous… an interesting command. Fortunately, as the men went, they were immediately cleansed. Although only one turned back to thank Jesus for his healing, all ten men, would no longer be labeled an outcast to society, but a welcomed citizen instead.

Unclean!

Leviticus 13:1-8

Leprosy, a name applied to several different diseases, was greatly feared in Bible times. Some of these diseases, unlike the disease we call leprosy or Hansen’s disease today, were highly contagious. The worst of them slowly ruined the body, and in most cases, were fatal. Lepers were separated from family and friends, and confined outside the camp. Since priests were responsible for the health of the camp, it was their duty to expel and readmit lepers. If someone’s leprosy appeared to go away, only the priest could decide if he was truly cured. Leprosy is often used in Bible times as an illustration of sin, because sin is contagious and destructive, and leads to separation.

(Life Application Study Bible pg. 198)