Peace with the world or peace with God?

Matthew 10:32-39  Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.  33  But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.  34  Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.  35  For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.  36  And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.  37  He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.  38  And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.  39  He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

Mark 8:36-38  For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?  37  Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?  38  Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

 John 14:27  Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 

John 16:33  These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

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As much as I would love to have world peace, I know that this isn't, at this present age, what the gospel is given to us for. It's not to have peace in the world or a trouble free life. It's to have peace with God.

James 4:4  Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

Every Christian will go through some form of tribulation, trouble or trials. Not all things will go smooth sailing, maybe for some of us, we'll have a life full of trouble but if we have peace with God, then He gives us the strength to go through every single one of them.

So if someone preaches to you and tells you God wants you to have your best life now or a purpose driven life or how to have good self-esteem in our faith... that's not what the Gospel of Jesus Christ teaches.

It teaches that we may have our worst life now, maybe as you walk with God those around you may believe you have no relevant purpose to society, self-denial.

2 Timothy 3:10-12  But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,  11  Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.  12  Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

Holiness is what it's all about. Giving up on what we want to accomplish for us, and finding out what God wants to accomplish in us.

Some of us have tried so hard to follow God and maybe are discouraged. Maybe we feel like, "God why am I so sinful? Why did you save me? I'm not strong enough to endure... "

And the truth is not that we have gotten weaker, but in a sense we have come to realize just how weak we are without Jesus.
It shows a repentant heart. And from my experience feeling discouraged at times, it's better to have a heart that recognizes sins and weaknesses with a willingness to keep pushing, than to accept it as something we'll never get over and give in to it.

I encourage you, even if you have to fast and pray in the week, just get closer to God. We've all been so preoccupied with so many other things, so lets just run to Him, and unload the burdens we may have been to proud to admit even to ourselves. It may just be that God will have to break some of us to realize just how useless we are without Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 4:12-16  Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:  13  But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.  14  If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.  15  But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.  16  Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

Jesus went through hardships, the apostles went through hardships, the first time believers went through it too, so we really shouldn't be surprised when it happens to us.

So in your tough times, make sure you have peace with God. It's not about world peace. The world is passing away one day, you know?

1 John 2:15-17  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  16  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.  17  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Don't be afraid to encourage those around you, they very well may need it more than you know. Just like you may have need to read this. God bless!

He is Able

So I had initially found the songs from Michelle Utley Thompson at Sermon Index, I was poking around the Interwebs to see if I could find the lyrics  to one of her songs, "He is Able", I was feeling a bit down today, frustrated with life, I truly felt so burdened today, I actually said to myself, "I give God thanks that this life is not all that I have to look forward to..." and that song I had intended to learn because I needed comfort. The Lyrics go a little something like this:

He is Able

Like peering through a window blurred with rain,
Emotions run together in a flood of doubt and pain.
We pray the best we can,
But we must leave it in His hands.

Yet I know when my eyes fail to see, He is able.
And even though it seems impossible to me, He is able.
But if He chooses not to move
In the way we prayed He would be confident,
He is working it all together for my good.
I will stand behind His word, for He is able.

Questions seem to haunt us night and day:
How could God allow our hearts to be turn this way?
Does He listen when we call?
Or is He even there all?

Yet I know when my eyes fail to see, He is able.
And even though it seems impossible to me, He is able.
But if He chooses not to move
In the way we prayed He would be confident,
He is working it all together for my good.
I will stand behind His word, for He is able
He is able

And as the night is in wait dawning
And if it ever fades away,
I stand to face another day.
I will stand behind His word
For He is able, He is able, He is able

Sometimes we have down times, I know, I've had my fare share, even when I'm smiling, I may be having a frustrating day, but why smile? Because others need to see a smile that day, they need to be comforted and know that regardless of the sinking ships we seem to be in on a daily basis, that God is able to deliver us out of them all. I must give thanks for the friends and family that God has given me, that eases the passage of life... May they make it in,  we can all hang out for eternity. This is the beauty of the gospel, those who accept Christ Jesus, the Son of God shall receive this beautiful promise:

Revelations 21:4

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Don't consider the distance, consider the destination. Don't give the devil a chance...

Will you have your tears wiped away?

The song list has been updated!!

Those Who Wait Upon the Lord Shall Renew Their Strength

Job 14:1 - 14
1 Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.
2 He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.
3 And dost thou open thine eyes upon such an one, and bringest me into judgment with thee?
4 Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.
5 Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass;
6 Turn from him, that he may rest, till he shall accomplish, as an hireling, his day.
7 For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease.
8 Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground;
9 Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant.
10 But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?
11 As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and drieth up:
12 So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.
13 O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me!
14 If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.

Job, in his trials, reflects upon the frailty of mankind and what short time he has to live. He also compares man to that of a tree; that when a tree is cut down it has hope to grow, even from a small bud but when man is cut down he will not rise again.

Yet even in what seems like utter despair for Job becomes hope, even for us:

Job 14:14 If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.

We may not know our appointed time but we can wait each and everyday until our change comes. Regardless of our trials, no matter how long it takes, if can endure for the the time and trust in God each day that He knows EXACTLY what He's doing. We can be sure that when the change comes, it will be most glorious.

John 5:1-9

1 After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

2 Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.

3 In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.

4 For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.

5 And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.

6 When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?

7 The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.

8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.

9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.

Now consider this man. He had a problem for 38 years. That is a long time. It must be frustrating for this man, when he is about to go into the pool, that there is another person there ahead of him. This does not have anyone to help him to get into the water. 38 years this man is waiting for deliverance. He could have given up the first 10 or so years of trying but he still tried.

Then Jesus steps in and the scripture says that He knew that the man had the problem for so long. Jesus Christ came to him and asked this impotent man a simple question: Wilt thou be made whole?

The man states his dilemma and Christ responds: Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.

Bless the LORD! We have to be patient as we wait for our deliverance. It may be rough and things might seem hopeless at times but remember this:

Romans 5:3

3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

James 1:2-4

2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

James 5:7

7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.

Consider this man, a farmer. He plants seeds and waits for it to grow. So too is our walk with Christ. The farmer does not just plants the seed and then go for a time and come back expecting the plant to just be fruitful.

No.

He first clears the land of weeds, rocks and debris. Then he tills the soil and rake it nice and proper, putting time and effort into it.

He toils for this land to be prepared, then he plants the seeds. He doesn't leave it. He waters it everyday he can, he clears around it when weeds and bugs come along and puts the time and effort into it and expects it to be fruitful.

Let's even take a flashback on the children of Israel, while they were in bondage under the Egyptians for 400 years.

For so long they were there and the Lord hearkened to their cries, and sent deliverance through Moses. And even while they were freed from captivity and were at the Red Sea, they murmured and complained wanting to go back to Egypt, wanting to find some other way out of the situation, maybe the left or right route. But Moses proclaimed that they should stand and see the salvation of the LORD, and God cut a straight path through the sea for them to walk on.

It is important to remember that even if things don't go the way you want it when you want it, remember not to go down to Egypt for help nor turn away from the path of righteousness.

Isaiah 31:1

1 Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD!

Deuteronomy 5:32

32 Ye shall observe to do therefore as the LORD your God hath commanded you: ye shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.

God bless in the name of Jesus Christ our LORD, Saviour and Redeemer.

Song: ChristOurLife - I Will Wait (Live)