Jesus said. "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 14:27 (John 14:1-31--in context)
When God calls us, and we turn to Him, confessing Jesus is the Lord, asking Him to save us and putting our faith in Him.
He saves us, and fills us with His Holy Spirit, washing us clean.
This
brings us peace. Not our peace. But HIS peace. This must be understood.
Because we do not nor cannot maintain this Peace ourselves. He does it as we
continue to turn to Him and grow in Him, and know Him. The Word He gives us is Jesus. The Word He gives us are His Promises.
The second part of the verse is what I want to focus on.
"Not as the world giveth, give I unto you"
Because
God doesn't give as the world gives. (You've lived in this world long
enough to know how this world and the people of it give.)
When God gives, it's free to you. He paid for it.
It's a gift not a loan. There is no interest and it doesn't have to be repaid.
He doesn't take it away from us if we fail.
He doesn't use it against us.
He doesn't use it to guilt trip us.
He doesn't hold it over our head.
He doesn't give us something cheap and shoddy.
He doesn't give us a hand me down.
He loves us. He understands us. He works with us. He knows us, if we choose to know Him.
He fixes us and helps to grow us. He doesn't cast us aside.
He is with us always even till the end of the world.
And that's why we have the peace that defies all understanding. (Phil. 4:6-7)
Praise Jesus.
So
what do we do? We remind ourselves of his promises. We speak them
aloud to hear them and drive the enemy away. We remind our selves of the
great things God has done for us. We thank and praise Him for it. This
brings peace as the Holy Spirit works in us.
-----
Bio: Chris Bunton is a writer, poet and blogger from
Southern Illinois. He has published in several magazines, and has
written a poetry eBook called “Against the Man” and an Addiction Recovery eBook called “Made Free: Overcoming Addiction“ a collection of dystopian short stories.“The Future is Coming” and his latest book “The Latter Days‘ is a book on Bible Prophecy and avoiding the deceptions to come.
“Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing
ye are dull of hearing. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers,
ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of
the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of
strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of
righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that
are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses
exercised to discern both good and evil.”— Heb. 5:11-14
God’s Word teaches us that there is a difference between milk and meat when it comes to our growth in Christ.
There comes a point when we have read the Word, over and over. When
we have sat in all the bible studies and read commentary books. When we
have heard all the sermons for years. There comes a point when we are
supposed to be ready to serve Christ.
There comes a point where we step into our gift and start using it
for the Kingdom. When Church is no longer about sitting in the same pew,
listening to the same music, and the same sermon series, from the same
guy who gives only milk to drink.
The burden is on both the leader and the church member to grow.
If all a church member ever gets from the pastor or preacher is milk, then how are they supposed to be ready to consume meat?
If the pastor never hears from the Holy Spirit, or even talks about
the Holy Spirit, then who is guiding this man? Who is giving him his
sermon notes? Does he get his ideas from other preachers in books who
never spoke of the Holy Spirit? Men who never spoke as unto the Oracles
of God themselves?
The preacher is to tell the flock what the Holy Spirit tells him to
preach. It’s not about what the preacher thinks. It’s not a scholarly
task. If he says “I was thinking about this”, he is glorifying himself.
He should be teaching what the Spirit has told him. If he can’t “Speak
as the Oracle of God” meaning that he is speaking what God has told him
to say, then he needs to go sit down. He is too afraid to acknowledge
that he heard from God, because certain members of his congregation
would label him as crazy or false. The congregation should never think
that hearing from God is crazy. We are supposed to converse with God,
and we are supposed to be crazy for Jesus. (1 Peter 4:11)
That
doesn’t mean that a preacher cannot express his own opinion or tell
what his own understanding of the Word is. There are lots of places
where that’s needed. But, his view point must really be from the Word
and the Holy Spirit.
The congregation gets the preacher they deserve. If they are not
ready for meat, then they get a preacher who never preaches meat, and
the congregation will not grow in Christ. If the congregation doesn’t
read the Word, or spend time in prayer or service, fighting the fight of
faith how can they be ready for meat?
If all they know is from Bible classes and sermon series, then they
are babes. They have never been broken or know Christ. They have never
really learned from Him. They are like baby birds sitting in a nest
eating regurgitated food from their parents.
Have you ever read the Word? Have you ever really studied it? Not
cherry picked sermon series, but actually read and studied the Word? If
your pastor started teaching false things, would you really know?
If you get enlightened things from your pastor, and you have never
read or studied the Word for yourself, how do you know you are not just
getting really good milk? How do you know that it’s not just a good
speech? Good speeches can elicit emotions as well. It doesn’t mean the
sermon is from God.
The writer of Hebrews goes on to speak of what Milk is.
“Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us
go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance
from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms,
and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of
eternal judgment. And this will we do, if God permit.”—Heb. 6:1-3
If you do not know the basic doctrines of Christ well enough to go
out and teach others and preach the Gospel, then you are still a babe.
Have you asked the Holy Spirit to teach you? Do you realize your
teaching comes through getting up and serving? Do you read the Word? Do
you have real faith in God? Do you only get your doctrines from one man
teaching milk?
Does your pastor feed you milk, because he wants to keep the flock in
the pen so he can fleece them of tithes? Perhaps, you’re not growing in
Christ because the leader you keep following doesn’t really know Him?
Is he too afraid to preach the meat of the Word because he doesn’t want
to upset the rich people of the church who pay his salary?
We are called to be soldiers in Christ. We are supposed to be serving
God. That means that our pastors, preachers and teachers are supposed
to be letting the Holy Spirit, speak through them for the purpose of
getting people saved and preparing them to go forth and fight the true
fight of faith. They should be leading and providing means for them to
really serve. Not just waiting on tables or doing tasks, but exercising
their gifts for real out in the world. Not just sitting on committees
and doing bible studies.
We are supposed to be telling people about Jesus. Not bringing them
to church so that someone else can tell them about Jesus. The time we
waste between inviting a person to church and them showing up, is the
time Satan draws them away. We are supposed to be prepared to give the
Gospel at the moment Jesus brings someone to us. Not force them to wait a
week to come to church and hope the preacher happens to give the Gospel
that week. Are you really ready to serve? Can you not present the
Gospel? If not, then are you really saved? Do you understand it enough
to really know it? (1 Peter 3:15)
We are supposed to be taught by the Holy Spirit, and listen to his
guidance as He leads us to serve and learn from teachers who really
speak the Word. ( 1 John 2:27, John 16:13)
But, are we “dull of hearing” because we are lazy and sitting in that
same old pew? We have been lulled into a stupor and need woken up? Like
the writer of Hebrews says “For when for the time ye ought to be
teachers, ye have need that one teach you again “
They
had fallen into false doctrine. They had never grown. They did not
really know Christ because they were never taught by Him. They had left
the basic doctrines.
This is why the writer goes on to say some of the most terrifying words in the scriptures.
“For it is impossible for those who were once
enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made
partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and
the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them
again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God
afresh, and put him to an open shame. For the earth which drinketh in
the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them
by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: But that which
beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose
end is to be burned.”—Heb. 6:4-8
He is warning them. They had heard the Gospel. They had woken up with
joy. They had been partakers of the Holy Spirit’s work, and seen Him
move. But, they were still babes. They still consumed milk. They never
grew. This should be a red flag, that they never really got saved.
Since they never grew, they turned away into false things. They
turned from God and his salvation unto their own self-righteousness. You
must understand these are people who are sitting in the church reading
this letter.
They had turned away from the basic teachings of Christ. They had
turned to thinking they were saved by obeying the Law, and by doing good
works, instead of grace
by faith. This is why the writer speaks of relearning the basic
doctrines, when they should be teachers of it. Because they never really
got it.
These people did not lose their salvation,
they never really had it. They never really knew Christ. They just saw
the truth, but never really moved to accept it and become a part of it.
They just sat in their pews and ate the food, clapped to the music and
enjoyed the story telling from the pulpit. But, it never changed them.
It never led them to be saved. It never led them to grow in Christ.
These people are like the folks in the parable of the sower. The
tares among the wheat. They are birds in the tree, stealing the seed.
(Matthew 13)
They never really knew Him. The devil snatched the Word from their
heart. Persecutions and tribulations kept them from trusting God. The
flesh, the cares of this life and the deceitfulness of riches kept them
from really turning to God. They were never saved.
These folks are the foolish virgins. They are the ones who say “have we not done marvelous works in thy name?“.
They are the ones at the wedding feast in the wrong clothes, because
they never really put faith in God for salvation through Jesus Christ.
They trusted in their own works and their own name to save them. They
thought that living a life resisting temptation and not sinning was
knowing Christ. Ignoring the fact that Christ died for those sins, and
giving it all to Him and following Him. (Matthew 22, Matt 25)
They “crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an
open shame” because they never really accepted the salvation from Jesus
the first time. They did not accept the salvation Jesus gave them. They
are like Moses who hit the Rock twice, because his flesh did not allow
him to realize that all he needed to do was speak to the Rock, and get
water. It was his work, he thought, that brought out salvation, not the
finished work of Christ. ( Exodus 17:1-7 ,Numbers 20:1-12, 1 Cor. 10:4 )
We confess our sins and He cleanses us and changes us. That’s the relationship. We don’t change ourselves. Sinners cannot change their own sinful ways, for all they do breeds more sin.
Do you know Him? Are you ready for meat? Are you following the Holy
Spirit? Are you serving in your gift from God? Are you fighting the
enemy, helping and serving others?
Or are you sitting in a pew for years, getting milk from someone who probably should not have been a preacher?
Ask God to save you and grow you.
Bio: Chris Bunton is a writer, poet and blogger from
Southern Illinois. He has published in several magazines, and has
written a poetry eBook called “Against the Man” and an Addiction Recovery eBook called “Made Free: Overcoming Addiction“ a collection of dystopian short stories.“The Future is Coming” and his latest book “The Latter Days‘ is a book on Bible Prophecy and avoiding the deceptions to come.
Ok, so it’s obvious that when a Christian prays they pray in Jesus name. But, why do we do that?
Well, it comes from this verse. Jesus said,
“If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.”— John 14:14, (John 14:13, John 15:16, John 16:23,24,26)
Jesus told us to do it. That should be enough. But, let’s dive deeper.
In the spiritual realms who you know and who you are, matters more
than what you’ve done and how much money you have. Your earthly position
or name does not matter in the spirit.
It is not like this world. It’s based upon truth, and your name. It’s based upon who you know.
Why do I say this.
Read this passage in Acts Chapter 19
“Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call
over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We
adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. And there were seven sons of
one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. And the evil
spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?
And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame
them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house
naked and wounded. And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also
dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord
Jesus was magnified.”
Some religious people tried to cast out a demon. They did not use
Jesus’s name. They tried to cast out the spirit “by Jesus whom Paul
preacheth”. Not because they knew Jesus, but they wanted the power.
The spirit said. “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? “
This demon did not recognize their authority because they had none. They were not known.
This matters and will be explained.
Understand that these sons of Sceva, were professional exorcists in
Judaism. They had standing in their nation and religion. They had
standing in their blood. They were the sons of a chief priest, they had
standing in this world.
But, not in the Spiritual Realms.
You must understand that humans are fallen. We are totally depraved.
Our standing is less than dirt. We are sitting in the camp of Satan,
just waiting for Judgement, Hell and the Lake of Fire. We are sinners.
We have a corrupted nature. We do not know God. Until we turn to Him.
(Romans 3:10-18)
God calls us to be saved. (Romans 1;1, 1:6, Romans 8:28-30)
When we hear that call we turn to Him and ask Him to save us. (Repent) (Acts 2:38)
The picture is when Jesus came to the disciples, and said “Follow me”.
They dropped everything and left it behind and followed Jesus. ( Matt.4:17-23)
So, we confess “Jesus is THE Lord”. (Romans 10:9-10, 1 Cor. 12:3, 1 john 4:1-3, Matt. 16:13-19)
We give ourselves to Him, and we are born again, washed in the blood.
We die to this world and are now known BY Him. We are in Christ. We are
no longer our own. We are bought with a price. He died to purchase us
from Satan who is the god of this world. (John 3:1-36, Romans 5:9,
Romans 6, 1 Cor 6:20, 2 Cor. 4:4 )
Jesus is God. He is Lord. He is equal to the Father and the Holy Spirit. They are God.
So, we become known by Jesus. We are in Him, and what we do is by HIS name. Not our own.
The idea is a servant who does his Masters work. He does it in the name of the Master.
Without Jesus, we can do nothing.(John 15:5)
God the Father, and all things spiritual do not recognize our
position and authority. We have none. But, they recognize that we are a
servant of Jesus’s.
Now, we become known because we are in Christ. This is why Paul was
known. Not for his deeds, or righteousness or good works, but as a
servant of Christ.
When we know Jesus, and have a relationship with Him, we become known in Him.
On Judgement day, we stand before Christ and it matters whether He knows us or not.
Did we climb up some other way? Did we not have on the proper wedding garb? Did we have the oil of faith in our lamps? Did we really know Him? (John 10:1-18, Matt. 22:1-14)
We are acknowledging our fallen status and our submission to Him as our Lord.
We are showing that our name means nothing, it is by his name that we receive anything.
We are showing that we are His servants, and put our faith and trust in Him for our salvation and for everything.
It is a sign of who owns us and who we worship.
It is a witness to the saints, that you are truly in Christ.
Any prayer given, that is not in Jesus, name does nothing.
Do you know Him?
Bio: Chris Bunton is a writer, poet and blogger from
Southern Illinois. He has published in several magazines, and has
written a poetry eBook called “Against the Man” and an Addiction Recovery eBook called “Made Free: Overcoming Addiction“ a collection of dystopian short stories.“The Future is Coming” and his latest book “The Latter Days‘ is a book on Bible Prophecy and avoiding the deceptions to come.
Yes, it is the modern equivalent of the Tower of Babel from the days of old.
It is a picture of the same battle that has been fought between good and evil since the Fall of man. Since the enemy rebelled against God. Since the Lord ascended and the promise of His return was given.
We can see throughout history, the struggle between forces.
We can see the common tongue, in Jesus day was Greek, and the violent Roman empire ruled the known world.
And it was through Greek, Latin and the roads of the Roman empire
that the Gospel was spread, and the saints grew in number, till the
Church became the religion of Rome.
Then, Satan used false leaders in the Catholic Church to suppress the Word, excommunicating and killing anyone who opposed them.
But, the Word was printed and translated into other languages so the
truth and the Gospel could spread. But evil spread with it, and tried to
stop it.
Kings of Europe, rose up and fought wars, colonizing, and spreading
their power around the world. Satan’s servants enslaving, murdering,
worshiping money, and annihilating entire people groups. Putting the
whole world in debt to the fallen ones.
But,
within it the Gospel and God’s Word spread around the world using The
Spanish, French and British languages and empires, as a tool.
Till the world broke free from the Kings, and formed new governments,
and Constitutions promising free religion and free speech to spread the
Gospel and God’s Word around the world.
But a new last days empire has arose, and was taken over by the same
desire to grow, and kill and exploit the world and create a New World
Order Kingdom of the Anti-Christ.
In the midst of it, the Gospel is spread globally, even in restricted countries.
Then the internet came into being. The new Tower of Babel, to unite the world.
But, it allows the saints through social media and websites to spread
the Gospel so the Word can be published in every nation, till the end
comes. (Matt. 24:14)
As governments, corporations and religious leaders work to quell
rebellion and to control free speech on line, working to silence
opposition, and to prepare for the coming of the Mark of the Beast. The saints continue to work.
While things move towards the final persecution of the saints when the Anti-Christ over comes them. (Daniel 7:21, Dan. 7:25, Rev. 13:7)
Till the Lord returns and sets up his ever lasting kingdom.
Are you working?
Bio: Chris Bunton is a writer, poet and blogger from
Southern Illinois. He has published in several magazines, and has
written a poetry eBook called “Against the Man” and an Addiction Recovery eBook called “Made Free: Overcoming Addiction“ a collection of dystopian short stories.“The Future is Coming” and his latest book “The Latter Days‘ is a book on Bible Prophecy and avoiding the deceptions to come.
There are times in our lives when we feel that God has abandoned us.
It seems that He doesn’t hear and we don’t feel His presence or see His
movements in our lives.
I have experienced the same.
God has opened my eyes to the reality of it, and I have listened to Him and grown in Him.
The matter is an issue of faith.
I want you to read this verse.
“But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they
shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.”—Matt. 12:36
Now a lot of preachers want to use this verse to impose fear.
But, I want you to see that Jesus is telling us that God hears every
word. God is so close to us and so interested in us, that every word we
say will be shown back to us when we see Him.
If you are saved and know Him, then this is not a scary thing. It spurs us to greater things.
So, read this verse and believe it. Believe it like God is standing before you telling it to you.
We are made righteous and our faith comes when we believe the Word God has given us. (Rom.10:17, Rom. 4:3)
So, when we think God is not listening or doesn’t hear, we can stand on this verse and say.
“No! God hears every idle word!” And believe it.
It’s not like sending a text message to a friend and we don’t hear back. So, we think “Did he get the text?”
God got it. We can KNOW he got it, because of this verse. We put our faith in it and Him.
Daniel prayed and heard nothing back. Till finally an angel came and
said. We got your prayer the minute you started praying. And I came to
answer but had to fight through the Enemy to get here. (Dan. 10:1-21)
Trust God. Trust His Word.
Our relationship with God is based upon faith. Our faith grows when
we trust his Word and stand on it, and see Him move in our lives
Satan is working to keep you from trusting Him. To keep you from
knowing Him. He seeks to destroy you and keep your faith weak. To keep
you from the battlefield.
This why we cannot trust our feelings. We are flesh. We have a
corrupted nature. We live in a world that is full of distraction, and we
have an enemy trying to destroy us.
“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own
understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy
paths.”—Prov. 3:5-6
When everything tells us God has abandoned us and is not listening.
When the enemy whispers into our mind that we sin too much for God, or
that God has left us or even that He is testing us.
We can stand on the promises of God. We can rely on His Word and the things He has done for us in the past. That is our testimony. (Rev. 12:11)
So we say “No! I trust in the Lord. I’m leaning on Him and the Word says He will direct my paths!”
Have you seen movies where two armies oppose each other and a general
rides on a horse in front of his men and gives them great words of
encouragement?
He is building faith. He is building encouragement. He is trying to drive out fear and stir up morale for the coming battle.
“Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” —(Rom. 10:17)
When we speak the Word, we also hear the Word and it stirs up our
faith in us if we are willing to believe it. Speaking the Word causes
things to happen in reality. God says “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.”—(Isa 55:11)
God’s Word says “I will never leave you nor forsake you”—Heb. 13:5
He is with us. Believe it. Say it to yourself.
“God will never leave me nor forsake me.”
Believe it. Drive the fear and doubt away.
Will the Shepherd abandon the Sheep? ( Psalm 23)
No. He leads us to still waters. He protects us with his rod. His staff comforts us.
Because He is with us. We believe it and know it. He is here.
Do you know the Shepherd?
None of this matters if you’ve never turned to Him and asked Him to
save you. It’s the same faith. He calls us and we realize that we need
Him.
Then, we hear the Word He gives us and we believe it and turn to Him.
Asking Him to save us. Then, He washes us clean in the Blood of Jesus
Christ and we are saved and begin to grow in Him. Just ask Him to save
you. (Rom.10:9-10)
This world is tough. But, the toughness of this world is designed to cause us to turn to Him. Because He is our only Hope.
He is with us.
Believe it. No matter what things look like.
Bio: Chris Bunton is a writer, poet and blogger from
Southern Illinois. He has published in several magazines, and has
written a poetry eBook called “Against the Man” and an Addiction Recovery eBook called “Made Free: Overcoming Addiction“ a collection of dystopian short stories.“The Future is Coming” and his latest book “The Latter Days‘ is a book on Bible Prophecy and avoiding the deceptions to come.
We are called to forgive others. It is one of the hardest things we can be called to do.
“But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Matt. 6:15
We see an example of this in the parable of the servant who owed the King.
He
could not pay the debt, so the king forgave him. Then, the servant
turned around and refused to forgive a fellow servant, so the king
removed his forgiveness and punished the unforgiving servant. —(Matt.
18:23-35)
This is scary business.
So, what do we do?
Well, like everything in life we turn to God. We ask him to teach us
wisdom and lead us into all truth. (Prov. 3:5-6, James 1:5 John 16:13)
First we need to see what the ultimate forgiveness is. What forgiveness does the King offer?
Jesus Christ coming and dying on the cross for our sins. Dying to
offer forgiveness to those who hate Him and killed Him. He says “Father
forgive them for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:24)
That is our image of forgiveness. To die, in order to forgive those who hate us and hurt us.
But hold on because God does not offer a general forgiveness. You
must come to Him and bow the knee and ask him to save you and forgive
you. You must confess Him as Lord. You must turn to Him. (Romans
10:9-10)
Do you remember Judas? Was he forgiven? He was a betrayer?
If he had ran to Jesus and ask for forgiveness, he would have been forgiven. But, we have no record of him doing that.
When you look at what God does, and you look at the parable in Matthew 18:23-35
You will see a pattern. In every case the guilty party asks for
forgiveness, and/or offers to make things right. Then, forgiveness is
given. Then, mercy is given.
Notice in the parable of the unforgiving servant.
“But the
same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed
him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the
throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. And his fellowservant fell down
at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will
pay thee all. And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till
he should pay the debt.” (Matt. 18:28-30)
The unforgiving servant, made it a point to go out and find any
servant who owed him in a very small matter. Then, demanded payment. He
refused to forgive, and sent the man to prison. This is a complete heart
issue. This person did not understand the forgiveness offered. This
person never knew the King.
Are you hunting down the person who owes you? Is it a petty matter?
Are you choking them and demanding repayment for something that you no
longer owe? (Remember the king forgave the debt. This is not about
getting money to repay. This is strictly revenge.) Did the person ask
forgiveness? Did you give it? Did the punishment for the crime outweigh
the pettiness of the crime? Are you wrong? Have you really sought God?
These are questions to ask yourself when you wonder if you are really forgiving someone.
So let’s look at a practical example.
Someone does something wrong to you. What should we do as believers?
We turn to God and ask Him to help us. (Prov. 3:5-6, James 1:5 John 16:13)
We settle the matter with God. We say “Father forgive them for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:24)
We let them off the hook between us, them and God.
We look at what we’ve done. We try to fix it. If we’ve done wrong, we fix it as best we can.
We offer forgiveness to the offender as best as we can between us and God.
That’s all we can do. Our goal is to be right with God.
We cannot force the person to accept the forgiveness or to
reestablish a relationship. All we can do is offer. Just like God
offers.
Jesus tells us that we are to go to the person and try to resolve it.
(Matt. 18:15-17 (Sometimes we can’t do this. It can cause more harm or
damage. Sometimes it is impossible, they are dead or have removed
themselves.)
But, remember our goal is to be right with God. You’ll notice that
the verses to forgive are in the same chapter as the verse instructing
us to go to our brother to solve the problem. Matthew 18. Forgiveness
involves a willingness to resolve.
The bottom line is a willingness to forgive and to be right with God.
It is about turning to God and asking Him to help with the forgiveness.
This is the same with anything. If you were addicted to drugs, would
you not turn to God and ask Him to forgive and help? This is the
relationship we have with Him. He helps us.
All
we can do is to be right between us and God. We cannot force anyone
else to do anything. We listen to the Holy Spirit and let Him guide us
in what to do. We follow the Word as best we can, with an honest heart
with God.
If a chance comes to express forgiveness or to make right, then we do it.
This is what we do between us and God. No matter what.
But, what about Justice?
What about protecting others?
What about fighting evil?
Let’s say you are a member of a church since you were a child, and
let’s say that certain members of the church did sinful things to you.
Things that impacted your faith. Things that ruined your life. Things
that were illegal. Things that hurt others.
Do you just forgive them and let it go and move on?
You can, but what if you hear that they keep damaging other people?
They keep driving people from Christ. They allow others to suffer from
the illegal things they do? They stand in the pulpit demanding that you
forgive while they themselves have refused to forgive and destroyed
others? They treat others as less than them?
Let’s say there’s a child molester in the church or neighborhood. Do you just let it go?
Do you forgive them and let them hurt others?
Let’s say you have a bad employer or manager who destroys your life.
They have done it to others and continue to do so. They break laws and
treat workers terrible. Do you just forgive and move on? Do you let your
employer continue to mistreat people and break laws, because they think
they are above the law?
Perhaps God allowed this to happen so that you will stand up and do
something. Maybe someone prayed 5 years ago for God to help, and you are
the help God sent. Maybe?
If a drunk driver kills your daughter do you just let them continue
to drive drunk and kill others? You can forgive, but what about others?
Doesn’t the authority bear the sword for the evil doer? Isn’t that from God? (Romans 13:1-8)
This is why we turn to God in all matters, but especially in the
matter of forgiveness. We forgive between us and God, then we follow His
Spirit as He guides us. We pray, and watch. We do what He leads.
This is part of our relationship with Him. But, these are serious questions.
“Revenge is mine, I will repay, sayeth the Lord.” —Romans 12:19
Does that mean we just pray and wait for God to move, while someone
continues to hurt others? We can forgive for what was done to us and let
it go, but is it love to just let them do evil to others?
Forgiveness is a hard thing for believers to navigate. This is why we let God direct our paths.
Bio: Chris Bunton is a writer, poet and blogger from
Southern Illinois. He has published in several magazines, and has
written a poetry eBook called “Against the Man” and an Addiction Recovery eBook called “Made Free: Overcoming Addiction“ a collection of dystopian short stories.“The Future is Coming” and his latest book “The Latter Days‘ is a book on Bible Prophecy and avoiding the deceptions to come.
“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and
supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your
hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”—Phil. 4:6-7
You’ve seen the slogan
“Know Jesus. Know Peace. No Jesus. No Peace.”
But, what does it really mean and how do you obtain it?
It’s about having a relationship with Him.
It’s not about Faith, or Trust or Believing.
These things matter and are the first steps needed. They are important.
But, you can put your faith, trust and belief in a rock, and it won’t save you. It won’t bring you real peace.
You must have a relationship with Him. A relationship is give and take.
Faith, Belief and Trust is not. It is one way.
“O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.”—Psalm 34:8
You are “Blessed” when you trust, believe and have faith in Him. That
blessing is the relationship that comes from it. All the treasures in
the world is nothing compared to the relationship.
“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh
to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that
diligently seek him.”—Heb. 11:6
When we put our faith in Him He rewards us when we diligently seek Him.
That’s relationship. We don’t stop at faith. We don’t stop at trust
or belief, we move forward into knowing Him and having a relationship
with Him. Our faith must lead to relationship.
We believe God’s Word, and stand on it in times of trouble. Then we
see God move and we grow in faith and relationship with Him. This brings
peace as we remember how He has been with us in the past. We have seen
Him move.
Remember, the demons of hell believe and tremble, because they do not
confess Him as Lord, they are in rebellion. They do not have a
relationship with Him. Many people pray to receive Christ, but never
really know Him. They never grow in Faith or have a relationship with
Him. (James 2:19)
God calls us. When we hear. When we believe, and turn to Him. Putting
our faith and trust in Him, confessing Jesus as our Lord. Trusting Him
alone for salvation. God places us IN Christ Jesus. (Romans 10:9-10)
Jesus died for us. When we ask to be saved and confess Him as Lord,
God places us within that salvation. He puts us on that Ark of
protection. He washes us with His Blood. We die with Christ, and are
born again with Him. That’s what it means to be IN Christ Jesus. Our
peace comes by being IN Him. It comes through Him, not us.
But, if you do not have a relationship, can you really say you are in
Him? Can you really expect to get anything like peace, through Him?
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves:
it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we
are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God
hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”—Eph. 2:8-10
We are saved by God’s Grace. Not works. We are saved through faith so
we can do good works IN Christ Jesus. The good works are based in our
relationship with Him. We are yoked together with Him in relationship
and service to God and others.
Ok, so what about Peace?
Well, when we are saved we receive the Holy Spirit.
God’s Spirit comes to dwell with us and in us. He comforts us and teaches us.
He helps us in our relationship with God (Himself).
He brings us gifts and develops fruit in our life.
If we do not quench His work. (1 Thess. 5:19)
“…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is
no law.”—Gal. 5:22-23
When the Holy Spirit works in us He develops this fruit if we do not fight Him, or do things to stop it.
Remember, we are fallen beings. So we must develop the fruit because it is not natural for us.
Think of an adult who suffers an injury and must go to rehab to
relearn the most basic things. How to walk. How to eat. How to use their
hands.
It’s tough. It’s painful. It takes time. This is how the Holy Spirit develops His fruit in us.
This develops the relationship.
Understand
that the Fruit is the Fruit of the Spirit. It’s not ours. It’s not our
flesh. It’s Him in us. This is why we fail at times. We fall back into
our old self. Our flesh.
So, if we are really saved, and really seeking Him. Then, things will
come into our lives that will cause us to turn to Him, and the Holy
Spirit will use it to grow fruit in us.
We learn to love because God has shown us that He loves us.
We have peace because God has shown us a thousand times that He is there with us and everything will be fine.
We have joy because we see Him again.
We have patience because we know Him and can wait on Him forever, because he has taught us to.
We know goodness, gentleness and faith because we have learned it by
seeing Him working in our lives, and how he treats us and others.
We have temperance, because we need nothing but Him.
We learn Meekness through brokenness and being rebuilt by Him.
All of this is the relationship, and because of the relationship.
We confess our sins to Him and trust Him. (1 John 1:9)
We pray to Him and trust Him.
We see Him move, over and over again. And know Him.
Now we look at the verse in Philippians, and rightly divide it based upon relationship.
“Be careful for nothing; “…Because we know Him. We know He is with us and loves us.
“but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let
your requests be made known unto God.”…We can discuss anything with our
Father. He is on our side. He is with us and knows how best to help us.
We give thanksgiving because we believe His promise “Whatsoever you ask
in my name I will do.” (John 14:14) So we thank Him, knowing He is
moving.
“And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep
your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”… We have peace because we
know Him and we have his Holy Spirit. That peace is greater than
anything in this world, because God is greater, and we know Him and are
known of Him. He is with us and in us. Remind yourself of this. But,
remember it’s because we are IN Christ Jesus. It’s because we pray in
His name. It’s through Him that we have life, salvation and everything.
This is our peace.
We trust that whatever God does with our prayer to Him will be fine.
He loves us, “And we know that ALL things work together for good to
them that love God, to them who are the called according to his
purpose.” —-(Romans 8:28)
If you are saved, then you are called. If you have the Holy Spirit then you have love for God, and it is being developed in you.
So, why do I not have peace? You might ask.
When you exercise or lift weights you come to a point of muscle
failure. A point where you can’t lift anymore. A point where you strain.
But if you keep working you will eventually lift that weight with ease.
The Holy Spirit is developing fruit in you. It is like exercise. You will be pushed and grow from it.
We turn to God and He helps us, and we see Him moving and our faith grows, our peace grows, our love for Him grows. See?
That’s relationship. He is with us and nothing else matters.
Always turn to God, and He will be there and comfort you and help
you, and you will grow from it. Like a spotter in the Gym who puts his
hands on the bar. He’s got you. He shouts encouragement. You are ok,
just tough it out and trust the one who has your back.
And you will have more peace.
Remind yourself of His promises as you watch Him move in your life.
We encounter something in our life. We lean on the promises God has
given. We speak them out loud and faith grows. We see God move and we
grow to trust Him more, and this brings peace.
Trust Him. Study His Word. Trust His Word.
He’s got you. And that brings peace.
Bio: Chris Bunton is a writer, poet and blogger from
Southern Illinois. He has published in several magazines, and has
written a poetry eBook called “Against the Man” and an Addiction Recovery eBook called “Made Free: Overcoming Addiction“ a collection of dystopian short stories.“The Future is Coming” and his latest book “The Latter Days‘ is a book on Bible Prophecy and avoiding the deceptions to come.
