PEACE....

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  The Hebrew Bible uses a familiar but significant word, shalom. In its purest sense, shalom means "peace." The connotation is positive. That is, when someone says, "Shalom," or, "Peace unto you," it doesn't mean, "I hope you don't get into any trouble"; it means, "I hope you have all the highest good coming your way."

Most people in our world don't understand peace as a positive concept. All they know is the negative aspect of peace, which is merely the absence of trouble. The definition of peace in many languages of the world illustrates that. For example, the Quechua Indians in Ecuador andBolivia use a word for peace that literally translates, "to sit down in one's heart." For them peace is the opposite of running around in the midst of constant anxieties. The Chol Indians of Mexico define peace as "a quiet heart." Those may be beautiful ways to put it, but they still seem to leave us with only the negative idea that peace is the absence of trouble.

Close to the meaning of the Hebrew word shalomis the word used by the Kekchi Indians of Guatemala, who define peace as "quiet goodness." The term they use conveys the idea of something that is active and aggressive, not just a rest in one's own heart away from troublesome circumstances.

The biblical concept of peace does not focus on the absence of trouble. Biblical peace is unrelated to circumstances; it is a goodness of life that is not touched by what happens on the outside. You may be in the midst of great trials and still have biblical peace. Paul said he could be content in any circumstance; and he demonstrated that he had peace even in the jail at Philippi, where he sang and remained confident that God was being gracious to him. Then when the opportunity arose, he communicated God's goodness to the Philippian jailer, and brought him and his family to salvation. Likewise, James wrote, "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials" (James 1:2).

Where does a man find the kind of peace that is not just the absence of trouble--the kind of peace that cannot be affected by trouble, danger, or sorrow? It is ironic that what is surely the most definitive discourse on peace in all of Scripture comes from the Lord Jesus on the night before He died in agony. He knew what He was facing, yet He still took time to comfort His disciples with the message of peace:

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. (John 14:27)

The peace Jesus is speaking of enables believers to remain calm in the most wildly fearful circumstances. It enables them to hush a cry, still a riot, rejoice in pain and trial, and sing in the middle of suffering. This peace is never by circumstances, but instead affects and even overrules them.
 

The Nature of Peace

The New Testament speaks of two kinds of peace--the objective peace that has to do with your relationship to God, and the subjective peace that has to do with your experience in life.

The natural man lacks peace with God. We all come into the world fighting against God, because we are a part of the rebellion that started with Adam and Eve. Romans 5:10 says we were enemies of God. We fought against God, and everything we did militated against His principles.

But when we receive Jesus Christ, we cease being enemies of God--we make a truce with Him. We come over to His side, and the hostility is ended. Jesus Christ wrote the treaty with the blood of His cross. That treaty, that bond, that covenant of peace declares the objective fact that we now are at peace with Him.

That's what Paul means in Ephesians 6:15, when he calls the good news of salvation "the preparation of the gospel of peace." The gospel is that which makes a man who was at war with God to be at peace with Him. This peace is objective--that is, it has nothing to do with how we feel or what we think. It is an accomplished fact.

Romans 5:1 says, "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God." We who trust Christ are redeemed and declared righteous by faith. Our sins are forgiven, rebellion ceases, the war is over, and we have peace with God. That was God's wonderful purpose in salvation.

Colossians 1:20-22 says that Christ "made peace through the blood of His cross.... And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach."

A sinful, vile, wicked person cannot come into the presence of a holy God. Something must make that unholy person righteous before he can be at peace with God. And that's exactly what Christ did, dying for sin, imputing His righteousness to sinners. So Paul says we are no longer enemies but are at peace because we are reconciled.

It is as if God were on one side, we were on the other side, then Christ filled the gap, taking the hand of God and the hand of man and placing them together into the same grip. We have now been brought together through the blood of the cross of Jesus Christ.

Whereas God and man were once estranged, they have now been reconciled. That is the heart of the gospel message, as Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:18-19. But Jesus is not talking about objective peace in John 14:27. The peace He speaks of here is a subjective, experiential peace. It is tranquility of the soul, a settled, positive peace that affects the circumstances of life. It is peace that is aggressive; rather than being victimized by events, it attacks them and gobbles them up. It is a supernatural, permanent, positive, no-side-effects, divine tranquilizer. This peace is the heart's calm afterCalvary's storm. It is the firm conviction that He who spared not His own Son will also along with Him freely give us all things (cf. Romans 8:32).

This is the peace that Paul speaks about inPhilippians 4:7: "And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." The peace of God is not based on circumstances like the world's peace, so it doesn't always make sense to the carnal mind; Paul says it is a peace that surpasses comprehension. It doesn't seem reasonable that such peace could exist in the midst of the problems and troubles Christians go through. But this is divine, supernatural peace; it cannot be figured out on a human level.

The word for "guard" in Philippians 4:7 is not the word that means to "watch," or "keep imprisoned." It is a word that is often used in a military sense, meaning "to stand at a post and guard against the aggression of an enemy." When peace is on guard, the Christian has entered an impregnable citadel from which nothing can dislodge him. The name of the fortress is Christ, and the guard is peace. The peace of God stands guard and keeps worry from the corroding our hearts, and unworthy thoughts from tearing up our minds.

This is the kind of peace men really want: They want a peace that deals with the past, one where no strings of conscience dipped in the poison of past sins tear at them and torture them hour by hour. They want a peace that governs the present, with no unsatisfied desires gnawing at their hearts. They want a peace that holds promise for the future, where no foreboding fear of the unknown and dark tomorrow threatens them. And that is exactly the peace through which the guilt of the past is forgiven; by which the trials of the present are overcome; and in which our destiny in the future is secured eternally.
 

The Source of Peace

This subjective, experiential peace--the peace of God--has its foundation in the objective, factual peace--peace with God. The peace of God is not obtainable by those who are not at peace with Him. God alone brings peace. In fact, inPhilippians 4:9, 1 Thessalonians 5:23, and again inHebrews 13:20, He is called "the God of peace."

Jesus Christ is also seen as the One who gives peace. Jesus said, "My peace I give to you." Notice He says "My peace." Here is the key to the supernaturalness of this peace: it is His own personal peace. It is the same deep, rich peace that stilled His heart in the midst of mockers, haters, murderers, traitors, and everything else He faced. He had a calm about Him that was unnatural and nonhuman. In the midst of incomprehensible resistance and persecution, Jesus was calm and unfaltering; He was a rock.

Those who knew Him might have come to expect it, but you can imagine how it must have confounded His enemies and those who didn't know Him to see someone that calm. When Jesus appeared before Pilate, He was so calm, so serene, so controlled, and so at peace, that Pilate became greatly disturbed. He was furious that Jesus was standing before him fearless; and in a near frenzy, Pilate said, "Do You not know that I have authority to release You, and I have authority to crucify You?" (John 19:10).

Then in perfect peace Jesus replied, "You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above" (John 19:11). That's the kind of peace Jesus is talking about. That's the kind He gives to us. It is undistracted fearlessness and trust. So the source of peace is Christ.

In fact, Christ is seen throughout the New Testament as the dispenser of peace. In Acts 10:36, Peter says, "The word which He sent to the sons ofIsrael, preaching peace through Jesus Christ."Second Thessalonians 3:16 says, "Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace." Jesus Christ gives us His own personal peace. It has been tested; it was His own shield and His own helmet that served Him in battle. And He gave it to us when He left. It should give us the same serenity in danger, the same calm in trouble, and the same freedom from anxiety.
 

The Giver of Peace

The Holy Spirit is the Giver of this peace, and He dispenses it as a gift. Galatians 5:22 says one aspect of the fruit of the Spirit is peace. You might ask, if it was Christ's peace, why is the Holy Spirit giving it? The answer is in John 16:14, which says, "He will glorify Me; for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you." The Holy Spirit's ministry is to take the things of Christ and give them us.

Notice that every promise Jesus made to His troubled disciples on the night before His death was rooted in the coming of the Holy Spirit. Christ promised life, union with deity, full understanding, and peace to those who are His disciples, but it is the Spirit of God who takes the things of Christ and gives them to us.
 

The Contrast of Peace

In verse 27, Jesus says, "Not as the world gives, do I give to you." In other words, His peace is not like the peace of the world. The world's peace is worthless. Since 36 B.C. there have been nearly 15,000 wars. Before World War II the world had an average of 2.61 new wars every year. But since World War II despite all of mankind's "enlightenment," and organized efforts for world peace, there have been an average of three new wars every year. The New York Times once observed that "peace is a fable."

The only peace this world can know is shallow and unfulfilling. Most people's pursuit of peace is only an attempt to get away from problems. That is why people seek peace through alcohol, drugs, or other forms of escapism. The fact is, apart from God, there is no real peace in this world. The peace of putting your blinders on, of going to bed and forgetting it, is fleeting and worthless. And yet people try desperately to hold on to this kind of mock peace.

It is futile pursuit. Godless individuals can never know true peace. They might know only a momentary tranquility--a shallow feeling, perhaps stimulated by positive circumstances mixed with a lot of ignorance. In fact, if unsaved people knew what destiny awaited them without God, the illusion of peace borne out of ignorance would evaporate instantly.

People today live in a form of existential shock. They don't understand their own being, they don't know who they are, where are going, or what they do when they get there--if they get there. I recently saw a sign on a man's desk that said, "I've got so many troubles that if anything else happens to me, it will be two weeks before I can even worry about it."

That is a commentary on the plight of modern man, but the truth is, the real reason a person can't find peace has nothing to do with emotions or environment. If you lack peace, it is not because of your mother, your father, your grandmother, the church you were reared in, or a bad experience when you were a child. The Bible tells us why people don't know peace. Jeremiah 17:9 says "The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick." The King James Version says "desperately wicked." Isaiah 48:22 says, "There is no peace for the wicked." Man's heart is desperately wicked, and thus he cannot find peace.

Throughout the land of Judah in Jeremiah's day, problems were rising up fast. A great army was coming in to destroy Jerusalem and take the people into captivity, and they were frightened. Peace was being removed from the land, and there was destruction coming like they had never experienced.

Jeremiah 6:14 says, "They have healed the brokenness of My people superficially, saying, 'Peace, peace,' but there is no peace." In other words, they tried to patch up their evil ways and then said, "Peace, peace, everything is okay." There was a lot of talk about peace, but there was not genuine peace. In chapter 8, he says, "We waited for peace, but no good came; for a time of healing, but behold, terror!" (v. 15).

A few chapters later, the prophet repeats the same observation: "Have You completely rejectedJudah? Or have You loathed Zion? Why have You stricken us so that we are beyond healing? We waited for peace, but nothing good came; and for a time of healing, but behold, terror!" (14:19). Then, Jeremiah put his finger on the source of the trouble: "'Do not enter a house of mourning, or go to lament or to console them; for I have withdrawn My peace from this people,' declares the Lord" (16:5). Where there was sin, there could be no peace.

We can expect nothing different in the end times.Revelation 6:4 says that when the Tribulation begins there will be a brief period of peace, but after about three and a half years, peace will be taken from the earth. Luke 21:26 says people's hearts will fail them for fear.

The world's peace doesn't exist. It is a lie and cannot exist. No individual without Jesus Christ can ever have peace, and no world without God can ever know peace. If a person has a moment of peace in this world, it is only a camouflage hiding the eternal pressure of God's judgment.
 

The Result of Peace

Jesus shows us the proper response to His promise of peace, "Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful" (John 14:27). We ought to be able to lay hold of this peace. It is there, it is ours; but we must take hold of it. It is interesting that He says "I give you peace," then He says, "Do not let your heart be troubled." The peace He gives has to be received and applied in our lives. If we lay hold of the promise of the very peace of Christ, we will have calm, untroubled hearts, regardless of external circumstances.

If you have a troubled heart, my friend, it is because you do not believe God--you don't really trust His promise of peace. Anxiety and turmoil seldom focus on present circumstances. Normally, anxiety is trouble borrowed from either the past or the future. Some people worry about things that might happen. Others' anxieties come out of the past. But both the future and the past are under the care of God. He promises to supply our future need, and He has forgiven the past. Don't worry about tomorrow or yesterday. Jesus said, "Each day has enough trouble of its own." (Matthew 6:34). Concentrate on trusting God for today's needs.

The peace of Christ is a great resource in helping us to know the will of God. Colossians 3:15 says, "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful." The word translated "rule" is the Greek word brabeuo, which means "to act as umpire." Paul is urging the Colossians to so depend on the peace of Christ that it becomes an umpire in the decisions they have to make in life.

Do you have a problem, or a decision to make? Let the peace of Christ make that decision for you. If you have examined a planned action in the light of God's Word--and His Word does not forbid you from going ahead with it--if you can do it and retain the peace of Christ in your heart, then do it with the confidence it is God's will. But if you find you do not have a sense of peace and God's blessing about it, don't do it.

Don't try to rationalize about your decision; you may find it makes good sense from the rational point of view. But will it rob your soul of rest and peace? Do you have a sense of confidence that God is in this? If you don't have peace, it is probably the wrong thing to do. Let Christ's peace be the umpire that makes the calls. That is how we are to govern our behavior.

There are two conspicuous reasons I don't like to sin. One is that sin is an offense to the holy God I love. He hates sin, and my love for Him makes me want to please Him. The other reason is that I don't like the way I feel after I sin! Sin destroys my sense of peace, and it breaks my sense of communion with God.

Look again at Colossians 3:15. Paul says here that peace belongs to every Christian. He calls it "the peace of Christ...to which indeed you were called in one body." Our peace with God and the peace of God that rules our hearts is a foundation of Christian unity. If we disregard that peace, if we refuse to let it be the umpire, we cannot have unity in the body of Christ, for everyone will be doing his own thing, and the body will be divided.

The peace of Christ is also an unending source of strength in the midst of difficulties. As Stephen sank bleeding and bruised under the stones of a cursing mob, he offered a loving, forgiving prayer for his murderers, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them!" (Acts 7:60). Paul was driven out of one city, dragged almost lifeless out of another, stripped by robbers, and arraigned before ruler after ruler. Yet he had an uncanny peace. He wrote,

Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and day I have spent in the deep. I have been on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches. Who is weak without my being weak? Who is led into sin without my intense concern? (2 Corinthians 11:24-29)

That is the same peace you and I have; he just applied it. Paul also said,

We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. (2 Corinthians 4:8-11)

But he wrote,

Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. (vv.16-18)

In other words, Paul didn't focus on his problems, but on the promises of God to sustain and ultimately glorify him. Trouble comes and goes, but glory is eternal. Paul understood that, and that's why in the midst of his trials he could write to the Philippians, "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!" (Philippians 4:4).

To have that supernatural peace available puts us under obligation to lean on it. Colossians 3:15 is not a command to seek peace, but rather a plea to let the Lord's peace work in us: "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts." You have this peace, now let it rule.

Perfect peace comes when our focus is off the problem, off the trouble, and constantly on Christ.Isaiah 26:3 says, "The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, because he trusts in You."

In the midst of a society in which we are constantly bombarded with advertising and other worldly pressures designed to get us to focus on our needs and problems, how can we keep our minds focused on Christ? By studying the Word of God and being taught by the Holy Spirit and permitting Him to fix our hearts on the person of Jesus Christ.

Most people who lack peace simply have not taken the time to pursue it. God's peace comes to those with the personal discipline to stop in the midst of the maelstrom of life and take time to seek Him. It is a condition of peace that we cease from life's activity and know Him. He commands, "Be still, and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10, King James Version). And to those whose minds are steadfastly fixed on Him, He gives the gift of peace. 

Tough Love. It's time.

You throw a 50 cent coin at a beggar and to your surprise he stands up and shows you so much gratitude for it. I mean it’s not much, but for the fact that they were grateful for the 50 cent, doesn’t it compel you to give them a little bit more because they were grateful for little? Well ungrateful people will give you a totally different reaction.Ungrateful

No matter what you do for these people, it will never be enough. This type is usually family members or friends that you care deeply about. They know that you will never leave them stranded and in turn take your compassion for granted.

It’s like going to buy petrol for instance, after you have paid, the petrol attendant won’t say “thank you” in fact they shouldn’t because you are expected to pay. Which brings me to the problem with ungrateful people:  They have a sense of entitlement. Why should they thank you, when you HAVE to do A, B and C for them? You are expected to do stuff for them!

You can buy the whole earth for these people, but they won’t be grateful for it because it didn’t come with the moon. Often times they will give you deceptive appreciation, saying “thanks” with a thousand complaints underneath their breath. These ones will side with your enemies and not hesitate to give false witness against you because you never give them the best (according to their expectation). So when people congregate to say you’re a terrible person, they will definitely add to that conversation.



I’ve had to deal with my fair share of ungrateful people, and trust me being constantly overlooked hurts. Now I know better, and learnt valuable lessons from them. I have learnt to:

Give without expectation
Never inconvenience myself to accommodate them. I can only give what I can
Not to beat myself up if I can’t help them at that time
To give more assistance to the people that actually does appreciate my efforts.  Gratitude invites more blessing
I can actually survive life without them (they actually need me more than I need them)
My greatest advice on how to deal with such people is to STOP doing stuff for them! Or just give the bare minimum. Maybe then they will realise the value you add to their lives and show you appreciation. You know what they say: “You never miss the water until the well runs dry”

We were all created to serve one master and that is God. You don’t owe anybody anything, possibly if they are your minor child, even in that case there are limits. Yes we are commanded to love one another and give the other cheek, but at certain times, tough love goes a long way in gaining respect and teaching people to say Thank you.

It’s the same with God, when we thank him for little, He blesses us with more!

Remember...There are people that are impossible to please. No matter how well you do, or how much you love them or give them, it will never be enough for them….

JEALOUSY

Jealousy
 

Stop Making Assumptions That Fuel Jealousy We all make assumptions from time to time. If you observe that someone is shivering, you might offer him or her a blanket or jacket. Your guess that the person is cold might be accurate, or there may be something else going on that you are unaware of. Many of the assumptions that we make, like this one, are relatively harmless and benign. Other assumptions can actually cause pain and disconnection in our love relationships-- particularly those leaps that fuel jealousy! When you make an assumption about your partner without evidence to confirm your perceptions, you could very likely experience jealousy and all of its damaging effects. Your jealous habit can easily be fueled by stories that are created in your mind springing from those assumptions. Chelsea is grateful that her husband Ric is such a nice guy. The trouble according to Chelsea, however, is that Ric is a nice, attractive and gullible guy. In her eyes, women just can't stay away from him. She worries that one day he'll walk right into an affair without even knowing it until it's too late. Chelsea trusts Ric completely, but has absolutely no trust for the many women who seem to flock to him. When they are out at a party, Chelsea feels like she has to "stake her claim" and make it clear that he's taken. On a few occasions, Chelsea has even had arguments with other women who she feels were being too friendly with him. Realize that you are making assumptions.  When you can remain aware of how you are feeling-- particularly when jealous feelings arise-- you can more easily gain clarity about what's going on in your relationship and begin to move closer to your partner. Get into the habit of taking a few moments to ask yourself how you are feeling and pay attention to the stories you might be telling yourself. If a thought or story comes to you that seems to be attached to jealousy, ask yourself if you know this to be true. Pay attention to the clues your body may be giving you when negative assumptions come into your mind. Chelsea begins to check in with herself a few times a day every day. She begins doing this when she is feeling calm and is in neutral situations. She then starts practicing questioning her assumptions in contexts that tend to trigger her. She realizes that her stomach tightens and she feels slightly ill when jealousy begins to build. At a dinner party recently, Chelsea keenly became aware of these body sensations as a female acquaintance of theirs starts a conversation with Ric. Rather than rush over to Ric and this woman, Chelsea stopped herself and tuned into her feelings. Meet your assumptions with curiosity  The stories that you are telling yourself about your partner might be partially or completely accurate. It could be that the woman at the dinner party is trying to engage Ric's attentions in inappropriate ways that he just doesn't see. On the other hand, it could also be that what Chelsea thinks is going on is completely off the mark. Perhaps this woman needs some advice about an issue that Ric knows a lot about. The woman's intentions may be quite innocent and absolutely not what Chelsea initially assumes them to be. Get curious about what you believe to be true that is fueling jealousy within you. We are not suggesting that you interrogate your mate or the other person in the situation. Instead, start out by getting curious within yourself. Ask yourself if you know this assumption to be absolutely true. Consider if your perceptions are coming from your own fears and insecurities or from plausible information you can truly rely on. You might end up asking for more information from your partner about a particular situation. This can help you get clearer about what is a story and what is accurate. Before approaching your mate with questions, however, get into a calm state of mind and think about how you can phrase your questions so that they are not accusations. Later on at the dinner party, Chelsea might ask Ric about his conversation with the woman. She might inquire about the issue they talked about, coming from a place of curiosity, of course. We all make assumptions. But when those stories we tell ourselves lead to jealousy that then causes disconnection, it's time to take a step back. Ask yourself if the pain and growing distance between you and your partner is worth the leap you take when you make assumptions. Practice questioning the stories you tell yourself and NOT your partner as you move closer to letting go of jealousy and toward a deeper love with your mate.

Question: Should Christians go to parties? Attend Functions where sin and immortality surround them? What does the Bible say about partying?"

With spring comes warm weather, Cookouts, camping out, NASCAR....many opportunities to party. 

Question: Should Christians go to parties? Attend Functions where sin and immortality surround them? What does the Bible say about partying?"

Answer:The short answer to this question is “it depends on the party.” Parties are popular because they are fun opportunities to get together with friends, meet new people, and to relax and enjoy one another’s company. As human beings, we are designed to be social creatures. We live in groups, work in groups, and socialize in groups. So when we desire to party, we are responding to the need for human interaction, fun, and relaxation. This is normal and natural.


For Christians, the desire for human interaction has the added dimension of wanting and needing fellowship. The Greek word translated “fellowship” in the New Testament is koinonia, which means “partnership, participation, social interaction, and communication.” The important concept for Christian fellowship is “partnership.” The Bible tells us we have been called into fellowship (partnership) with Christ (1 Corinthians 1:9), with the Father (1 John 1:3), and with the Holy Spirit (Philippians 2:1). John tells us that, as believers, we have fellowship with one another by virtue of the blood Jesus shed for us on the cross (1 John 1:7). Paul adds the idea that to fellowship with Christ is to partake of His suffering (Philippians 3:10). We are also warned that we are not to have fellowship with evil (1 Corinthians 10:20). Just as light and darkness are incompatible, so there should be no fellowship between Christians and sin.

The problem with the question “should Christians go to parties?” is that the “parties” being asked about are almost always not “fellowship parties.” There is no reason to even ask the question regarding parties that are focused on Christian fellowship. No, this question is almost always in regards to parties that involve alcohol, drugs, and/or sex. Certainly, there are non-Christians who can party innocently, but a party that involves things that are immoral and/or illegal must be avoided. As believers, we are to guard ourselves against temptation, remembering that “bad company corrupts good character” (1 Corinthians 15:33). Further, attending parties where sinful activities occur—even if we don’t participate in them—weakens our witness and brings reproach on the name of Christ (Romans 2:24)."Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness" (2 Timothy 2:19).

There are those who might see going to these parties as an opportunity to share Christ with unbelievers, and while we are to be ready with an answer for the hope within us at all times, that presupposes unbelievers at a party are interested in the gospel. Rarely does such an opportunity arise at a party where drinking, drug use, and sexual activity are occurring. Therefore, while Christians should take every opportunity to fellowship with other believers, we must be discerning about opening ourselves up to temptation or anything that would compromise our life in Christ and our witness to a watching world. 

Our Words.... OUR LIFE'S LEGACY

As a person becomes older, sobering thoughts concerning the brevity of life and the certainty of death seem to increase. One must ask, “For what will I be remembered?” Everyone will leave a legacy; some lives paint a destructive picture, while others a helpful picture. Often those who leave the greatest legacy are not elegant or prominent figures, but kind and humble servants who lived to God’s glory and TRUTH.

All day, every day, we have the chance to speak words that bring life or death. Whether we are talking to our families, peers, co-workers, strangers, or even ourselves, the words we use will either tear down our build up. It says in Prov. 18:21, “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” This means everything we say, either leads to life or to death and that which we choose, we will receive. If we choose to speak in a manner that is harsh, hurtful, condemning, gossipy, dishonest, or deceitful, we are then choosing death. But, if we choose to speak words that are encouraging, peaceful, healing, kind, lovely, and uplifting, then we are choosing life. We find this to be true in Prov. 12:18,“Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”

It often seems that negative words are easier to say, take root much deeper, and are far more common. However, that doesn’t make it right. Most of us probably beat ourselves up a bit verbally, from time to time, but we shouldn’t. Whenever we tell ourselves, I’m so fat, stupid, lazy, ugly, boring, or sinful, we are choosing death. Anytime we call ourselves names or put ourselves down, we are speaking death over ourselves, and worse we are insulting God, who created us in His image and loves us with an everlasting love. This type of verbal assault isn’t usually only directed inward at self, but it typically is directed outward at others also. When we insult others, lie, speak maliciously, or gossip, to or about other people, we are speaking death not only to them, but to ourselves too! We should be ever mindful to control the words we speak, as it says in Prov. 4:24, “Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips.”

On the other side of this, there are words that build up. When we compliment praise and affirm, others or ourselves, we are speaking life. When we do the right thing verbally, like tell the truth or put a stop to gossip, we are choosing life. When we say positive affirmations to ourselves or speak the Word out loud, we are choosing life! (I mention positive affirmations because it’s been said that it takes ten positives to erase one negative.) None of us really have any idea of the power we hold to impact another’s life – a kind word, a sincere compliment, or a gentle affirmation might be exactly what someone needs to make it through another day. The Bible confirms this in Eph. 4:29, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”And further, in Prov. 15:23, “A man finds joy in giving an apt reply— and how good is a timely word!”

Just as it is important to guard the words we say, we must also guard the words we receive. Unfortunately, there will be times that mean-spirited or hurtful words come our way and there is little we can do about it. But, we do not have to receive them, accept them or give them credibility. We should tell ourselves, I reject that, and then move on. Do not let them take root within you.

Generally speaking, we must use words to correct, and, or, resolve conflict. There may even be times we have to take a stand for righteousness. However, it is possible to speak truth in love, correct with gentleness, give constructive criticism and rebuke with restraint. If we are not mindful of that, and choose our words, and our tone, carefully, we can hurt others and escalate the situation. Again, the Bible confirms this in Prov. 15:1, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” And too, in Prov. 17:27, “A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered.”

We are known by our actions and our words. Whether we like it or not, if we are a Christian, we are a walking testimony. If we say we are Christians, but don’t act or sound like a Christian, what does that say about our testimony (and our Jesus)? When we speak death to others, we chink away at the integrity of our conversion. We destroy our witness. This is beautifully and picturesquely addressed in Luke 6:44-45, “Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thorn bushes, or grapes from briers. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.” We are known by the fruit we display. What kind of fruit do we reveal when we talk?

The Bible is literally filled with references to the tongue, mouth, words, lips, etc that pertain to the way we speak. I’ve only chosen a few. The Bible makes it abundantly clear that we are to control our speech, because the words we say lead to life or death. The Bible shows us how to speak in a way that gives life, Eph. 5:19-20 says, “Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” So please, join me in thinking before speaking, so that with our words, we build up, encourage and choose life, and TRUTH always.

Do you have

FAITH in the Face of DEATH?

Does God always heal? If the faithful are anointed, are they  assured of healing? What if death follows? Can you reconcile an anointing in faith and a subsequent death? HOW can you have faith in healing if you might die?

Death stalks God's congregation. Some people die after being anointed. When death strikes, consternation often runs through the Church because some don't understand that death may follow even though people are anointed in full faith.
God wants us to have absolute, unwavering, all-abiding faith in healing. He miraculously heals thousands of the faithful every year, so we can know He is Yahweh-Ropheka—The God That Heals! Even so, death can come! How can this be?

Has it troubled you?

God provides a reasonable, scriptural answer.

Healing in the Church

Jesus Christ healed one person after another. He intervened, and the sick and afflicted were raised up in full, vibrant health and life. He restored them and made living really worthwhile.

Jesus conferred this power on His Apostles and they continued—after His death—to heal in this same miraculous way. Throngs of people were raised up whole and sound because of the divine intervention of God. Those who asked in faith were healed!

The ministry of God has the very same power today. Thousands of hale, hearty, robust people are living witnesses to this dramatic fact. God continues to work miraculously in His Church today just as He did centuries ago. You can have faith God will heal you!

But You May Die!

Nonetheless remember, "it is appointed unto men once to die" (Heb. 9:27). Jesus Christ died and was buried! John the Baptist had his head chopped off (Mark 6:27). He is dead! The Apostle James was killed (Acts 12:1-2). He too, is dead!

God could have immediately healed each one of these men—but He didn't!

He could have stuck the heads of John and James back on their bodies. But He didn't! John, the last of the original Apostles, eventually died—apparently of natural causes. He too is dead! Buried! His body is only dust today.

First God tells us He will heal all our diseases and then He says everyone must die. Is God playing a game? Can we explain this?

Certainly!

God's Way!

The fact is, God has always worked in this way. The life of one of God's greatest prophets thoroughly demonstrates this. Elisha was God-chosen and appointed to succeed to Elijah's office. He had a double portion of spiritual power. His life was crammed chock-full of an astounding series of miracles. He evidenced continually to the boundless,   infinite  POWER   OF  GOD!

Those   miracles   undeniably   attested that Yahweh is the Eternal God who heals!

Elisha had the right to use God's power. And he did!

He healed the death-laden waters of a spring (II Kings 2:19-22). Next he cursed a mob of sneering delinquents — forty-two of them were ripped and torn by bears.

Time and again he forecast the political and military future of his own country and its enemies (II Kings 3:11-27; 6:8-23, 32-33; 7:1-8:15; 9:1-10:28;  etc).

Generously, miraculously, he gave a bankrupt widow enough oil to fill every available container she could borrow— so her sons would not be sold as slaves  (II Kings 4:1-7).

He fed, filled, and sated a hundred men with only a meager supply of food (II Kings 4:42-44). He made iron float  (II Kings 6:1-7).

He was instrumental in Naaman's being healed of dreadful leprosy (II Kings 5:1-9). More than this, he RESTORED TO LIFE a youth already dead!! Elisha knew, understood, experienced, used the healing power of God. He had unabashed, utterly complete, out-and-out faith in God the Healer.

Yes, CERTAINLY, Elisha knew that God heals!

His faith was so overwhelming that, finally, after his own death, a man hastily cast into his sepulcher was at once raised up—resurrected—when the dead man's body touched Elisha's decaying bones.

Nonetheless,  at the end of his life, Elisha one of God's most powerful and faithful prophets—fell sick. And, get this now, he died of that sickness and was buried (II Kings 13:14, 20). God intends that every natural man finally die! But this does not mean that the faithful finally run out of faith. Neither does it mean God runs out of healing power. Positively, it does not mean God forgets to heal.

It does mean we must understand that patience is a factor in working out  God's  plan.

PATIENCE!

When we look back into the life of the father of the faithful, we find that Abraham had to wait 25 long, long, long years for the answer to God's promise concerning Isaac. Abraham was seventy-five years old when he was called to go into the land of promise (Gen. 12:1-4). He waited patiently— faithfully—for the son through whom his family would grow great—as numerous as the sand by the sea. But until that first son came there could be no beginning of the great nation which had been promised. That son, Isaac, wasn't born until Abraham was one hundred  years  old   (Gen.   21:5).

During those 25 years Abraham demonstrated his faith. His faith grew and grew. It was fortified through the years. His faith was built! And finally the fruit of that faith was the beginning of the whole nation of Israel.

The patriarchs' lives are continual reminders that time is involved in the working of real faith. If we look forward into Genesis 25:20-26 we find that Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah. He prayed to God asking that his barren wife deliver a son to him but it took 20 years to get the answer—20 long, long years. You see, he was sixty years old before the twins. Esau and Jacob, were finally born.

More Historical Evidence

Shortly after Israel escaped from the land of sin God revealed Himself as the Healer (Ex. 15:26). He healed those people—of that, there is no doubt. There is no room to question this— His Word stands fast and secure and
completely explains the situation. Nonetheless, these people who had God as their Healer, all died in the next forty years! Joshua and Caleb lived a little longer but they also finally died—and they had proved their faith in Him by being willing to go up against the giants in the promised land.

We can review these historical events and readily agree that time was a necessary factor in the establishment of the faith of the patriarchs. We can also believe—even if not so easily—that it may be needful for our faith to be tried for a time so that we may be perfected. Yet, we are apt to have great difficulty in being faithful if the waiting runs off into the time of death. But be assured that the faith of God transcends even the mighty strength of death. The faith of God overcomes, conquers, nullifies death—the ghastly, haunting, enemy of all mankind. Faith gives life to those who are truly faithful.

God's Point of View

We must take our minds off the immediate, physical, what-we-want solution! We have to look at it from God's  point  of  view.

Notice Lazarus' illness and death (John 11:1-45). Grasp the significance of this startling chain of events. Lazarus was so sick that his sisters feared for his life. They knew who could heal him — they had complete faith that Christ would heal him (John 11:21-22). But Christ did not immediately respond to their plea. He allowed Lazarus to die!

Lazarus wasn't forgotten. Rather, Christ made the astoundingly impressive point that it is the resurrection which is of paramount importance.

Lazarus was only raised to resume his transient physical life but this gave living proof that—even as this particular healing subdued death temporarily—it is God's purpose and plan to triumph decisively over all disease and death (John 11:76). We must clearly  realize  this!

Spiritual Children

All of the things that happen during this life are for the purpose of developing sons of God—spiritual children. Even death enters into the Plan of God in order that it too may have its part in the perfection of God's children. So far as He is concerned, it is the Kingdom—His family—which is important! No matter the time involved, no matter the tests that ensue, no matter how lengthy the trials may be, it is the production of living spiritual children that overshadows all other considerations. God is building His Kingdom—His family—and expects us to keep it as our primary goal.

We need to look beyond mere physical life. Look beyond just the taking of a few more breaths. Look into the reality of SPIRITUAL, IMMORTAL LIFE.

Physical man simply wasn't made to live forever. We need to get this fact firmly established in our minds. God told David that an average man's lifespan would be about seventy years (Ps. 90:10). God did not intend that mortal, physical man live forever. Such a concept is completely outside of God's Purpose. God does not want physical Sons—He wants SPIRITUAL Sons!!

A Proper Attitude

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had the kind of attitude that you and I ought to have. We should not be overcareful about sustaining our physical lives. We should not be greatly concerned about simply living a little longer. Rather, we should meet life and its problems in the attitude of overcoming so that finally we will be spirit. We should simply make up our minds that we are not going to serve any other god or worship any other being or system knowing that if our God wants us to live a little longer He will see to it that we do. He will deliver us from all of our trials if only we trust Him completely (Dan. 3:16-18). These three young Jewish lads knew that physical death was not the end. They had hope in the resurrection which was promised by their God. We too can have faith that there will be a resurrection to life. We too can have the hope that we will be in that resurrection healed  of all our infirmities, diseases, and afflictions.

Faith in Spite of Death

Remember David had an infant son who was very ill (II Sam. 12:15). David prayed to God with all fervency. For seven days he lay on the ground fasting and beseeching God to heal his child. David had an all-abiding faith that the child would live. His relationship with God was very intimate. He had personal, direct communication with the God who heals! He knew God as few men have known the Eternal. Nonetheless, David's son died!

He fasted, he wept, he prayed, as long as there was breath in the child, as long as the child was alive. When the child died he did not lose faith. He didn't throw up his hands in despair, wail, moan or condemn God. But that's what his servants would have done—that's what most people would do. David knew his prayer was going to be answered. His vision of the future became more acute. He looked down through time to the resurrection and expected to see that dead child completely healed! He did not lose faith. He did not give up on God. He did not become distraught. But rather, once the problem had been disposed of to  God's  satisfaction,  he  simply  left the whole matter in God's hands.

All of the heroes in the Bible have died. The really great men about which the Bible speaks-—those who walked and talked and ate with the Logos—are dead. They "knew the score," however. They knew what the ultimate reward is going to be. They knew where life came from and they knew who had control over it. They were intimately associated with the God who is The Healer. But they didn't become all wrapped up in mere physical existence —vaporous, temporal life—every last one of them—Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, and all of the other faithful who are listed in the eleventh chapter of Hebrews—looked forward to a better RESURRECTION.

They Kept the Real Goal in Mind!

The mere fact that they had to suffer physical discomfort for a while, the fact that they had to meet the vicissitudes of life with faith did not deter them. They were not concerned when they were cast off or cast out. They were not hampered when they found themselves ill or facing a sword of the tyrant. They simply relied on God.

They were content with the way in which God dealt with them. They were assured that ultimately God would provide them with the perfect solution. They believed God even as they moved into the very jaws of death. Death and the grave did not dissuade them from their established faith.

They died in faith! They were willing to die! They knew that mere physical death does not limit God. They knew that God planned for men to die.

Reflect for a moment. Do you lose faith in God if He does not heal you immediately? Of course you don't. Well then, must He heal you in twenty minutes? twenty days? twenty weeks? twenty years? Of course not! The answer is always the same if you are faithful. If you know God and trust Him implicitly you'll wait on Him.

You see, God made time. He is superior to it. God made physical life and He is superior to that, too. A thousand years is as a day to our God. And so if He chooses to wait until the resurrection—for your benefit—for your healing, why fret, nag, whine, weep, why lose faith? If we lose faith we deny God and are in the process of losing our salvation.

Physical Healing Only the Beginning

God is the God who heals but physical healing is only a first step in His Plan. It is spiritual healing which is really important.

Christ died—remember that! And He is our example. We need not fear death when we have a Saviour that has shown us we can come out of death into immortal life. Christ rose from the dead completely healed. He was healed forever from the cuts, bruises, contusions and mutilations which had wrecked His physical body. We can be assured that we too will be healed when we arise in the resurrection. Christ has provided for this greater healing.

It is far easier for God to provide us with the simple physical gifts which we want and need. It is easy for Him to give us food, clothing, air, water, physical life! It's easier to provide us with these things than with spiritual healing and life. Each of us recalls that Psalms 103:3-4 gives us the promise of physical healing. But let's look at that scripture a little closer. You see, He does promise to forgive all of our sins. He promises to heal all of our diseases. But in the very next verse He also promises to redeem our lives from destruction. He is referring to the resurrection, eternal life, complete spiritual healing and ENDOWMENT WITH SPIRITUAL LIFE!

Abraham trusted the Eternal for everything. God provided him with all of the physical blessings which made him a happy, prosperous, and completely successful man. Abraham understood that he could trust Him with something which was dearer to him than his own personal life. He trusted God with the life and the death of his only son—that promised son, the seed from which was to spring the nation promised by the Eternal God.

Because he trusted this God—had faith in Him—he was willing to kill Isaac. He was willing to turn Isaac into a lifeless lump of flesh because God gave him the directions. You see, we must do more than just believe there is a God—we must submit to His authority. We must admit that He has a Plan that is worthwhile. We must look to the end of the matter. If we hesitate, veer, stay inactive, then we prove that we don't really believe. Have faith that God will heal you no matter what. But understand further that faith to be healed of physical infirmities is only the very first step toward absolute faith. It requires much more faith to   believe—really   believe—THAT   THE DEAD WILL COME TO LIFE, THAT THE DEAD   WILL   BE   HEALED. Each One of us has to be willing to enter death in faith knowing that our healing is assured. And so when you hear about someone in the Church who has died don't be in despair or dismay. Don't wonder whether God is still powerful. Don't wonder about the faith of the individual who has died. Don't wonder —just have faith. For faith will provide the solution. Faith raises the very dead. Faith provides for healing—COMPLETE
HEALING, ABSOLUTE HEALING, THE HEALING OF DEATH  ITSELF.

And a Christian may have to die to-prove his faith in that!