GOD WANTS TO GIVE YOU PEACE!

PEACE ON EARTH - THE MESSAGE OF CHRISTMAS!

Luke 2:8-14

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

         “Glory to God in the highest,

  and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

Can we really have peace?

Our world is becoming increasingly worse!
Countries are at war; some are predicting World War III.
The economy is not getting better, so many are having employment difficulties.
So many are battling sickness and even though medicine is progressing, people continue to die.
What kind of peace was God promising?

In the days when Jesus was born, shepherds had the lowliest of all occupations. What could bring peace to their lives? What could bring value to lives that were belittled by all around them?

Only Christ the Lord could bring real and lasting peace. He was the Son of God, who would bring salvation to man and peace with God.

Many are looking for peace today, but they only desire material well-being.

The real message of Christmas is that we can have peace with God. Our eternal state depends on it.

If you know Christ, are you experiencing peace?

Believers can leave their burdens in the hands of God. We have the privilege of prayer. We can talk to God and trust in His sovereign, loving wisdom and power.

Believers can renew their minds through the Word of God. Only then their thoughts will be true, honorable, pure, honorable, just, lovely and commendable.

Believers can enjoy the fellowship of life in the local church. 

It is there where all the ‘one-anothers’ are put into practice

 We must guard our hearts!

When we allow our eyes to wonder and our human desires to guide us, we will quickly lose our peace. The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life which cause us to pursue what is earthly will never produce peace.

Dear friends, Christmas is a wonderful time of the year to consider just where we are looking for peace. God did not intend for us to find mere temporary peace, but to experience a peace that would produce in us gratitude, submission, satisfaction and real hope.

John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

May the angels’ good news of great joy bring you real peace with God, through Christ Jesus. May God use us all to proclaim true peace through Jesus Christ!

Isaiah 9:6
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

WHY DO YOU FEAR? YOUR LIFE COULD BE DIFFERENT!

READ PSALM 27

THE LORD GOES BEFORE ME AND SHINES A LIGHT OVER EVERY SHADOW

Psalm 27

1 The Lord is my light and my salvation;

whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the stronghold of my life;

of whom shall I be afraid?

If we could only live in light of this truth, each of our days would be much different! The Lord goes before me and shines a light over every shadow. The Lord, who saved us by giving His life for us, is the One who has promised to provide clarity and help for the shadows of each day.

My problem, our problem, is that we want to have clarity for tomorrow, too. We fear because of our imagined futures, instead of enjoying the light God sheds on today’s needs.

Our lack of light is also, for many, due to the absence of the Word of God from their daily lives.

Psalm 119:105

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Psalm 43:3

Send out your light and your truth;

let them lead me;

let them bring me to your holy hill

and to your dwelling!

We certainly need the light, so why do we not go to the light? Then we wonder why we fear during difficulties. We fear because we do not know the character of God, because we do not know His Word; we do not know His promises for the same reason.

I desire to live without fear, to know where my Stronghold is and know that I do not need to fear anyone!

Are you worried? Are you overwhelmed by others? Are you facing situations that are too great for you? Well go to the light, rest in the truth!

Enemies are real! But you don’t have to pretend they are not present, or that they are overwhelmingly fearsome.

2 When evildoers assail me

to eat up my flesh,

my adversaries and foes,

it is they who stumble and fall.

3 Though an army encamp against me,

my heart shall not fear;

though war arise against me,

yet I will be confident.

God knows what to do with your enemies. They seem strong, they are evil, but we know who the Victor is! Yes, they might be scheming against you, but our God knows their thoughts and their intentions; He is never taken by surprise. Our hearts do not need to fear, even though our emotions might want to take control. We must be careful about how we are feeding them. Are we informing our minds and hearts with truth, or are we allowing our imaginations to run wild? Our enemies might rise against us, but we can be confident. Confiding in ourselves will make us fall, but confiding in God will give us peace.

You might have already decided what you want an outcome to be, but you need to trust God to guide you, love you, and protect you in the outcome He chooses for you.

Dear friends, I am concerned that we often live in fear instead of trust, in confusion instead of clarity.

Sometimes we allow our feelings to run our lives, instead of God’s truth. There is no enemy who is stronger than the Lord, there is no enemy raised up against you who can take our loving God by surprise. In fact, even a group, an army of enemies, is not stronger than our Lord.

Maybe it’s time to stop and ask yourself, if you are fearful, what the cause is for your fear. And then talk to God about that. I believe that some of us can get so self-focused that our hope is lost. God’s purpose in allowing enemies into our lives is to bring us closer to Him and to teach us to find our security in His arms.

We must confess our sin of distrust and self-reliance, and then align our lives with the truth of the Word of God. Even if you are experiencing a time of peace, I am sure that you have a friend who needs you to help him focus on God in the way David did.

May God help us to enjoy our life with complete trust in our Savior!

LIVING IN DEPENDENT INTEGRITY

WE NEED GOD’S HELP EVERY DAY!

Vindicate me, O Lord,

for I have walked in my integrity,

and I have trusted in the Lord without wavering.

2 Prove me, O Lord, and try me;

test my heart and my mind.

3 For your steadfast love is before my eyes,

and I walk in your faithfulness.

4 I do not sit with men of falsehood,

nor do I consort with hypocrites.

5 I hate the assembly of evildoers,

and I will not sit with the wicked.

6 I wash my hands in innocence

and go around your altar, O Lord,

7 proclaiming thanksgiving aloud,

and telling all your wondrous deeds.

8 O Lord, I love the habitation of your house

and the place where your glory dwells.

9 Do not sweep my soul away with sinners,

nor my life with bloodthirsty men,

10 in whose hands are evil devices,

and whose right hands are full of bribes.

11 But as for me, I shall walk in my integrity;

redeem me, and be gracious to me.

12 My foot stands on level ground;

in the great assembly I will bless the Lord

If read quickly, this psalm it could seem that David has composed a song of boasting. Probably, it was a time when David was being accused falsely and knew he was innocent of those accusations.

David proclaims his integrity in verse one; in verse two, he invites the scrutiny of God; but in verse three, he remits himself to God’s steadfast love and faithfulness.

Only those who have known the everlasting and perfect love of God and His faithfulness can ever hope to walk in integrity. David does not forget that his walk is completely dependent on God’s grace and help.

When we forget our total dependence on God, we will always fall away from a life of integrity. Depending on God requires our submission to his Word, our devotion to purity, and our reliance on corporate life. In this psalm David will mention how much he loves the house of the Lord.

To walk in integrity, a careful choice has to be made, and that is to choose one’s associates carefully. David was careful in evaluating those whom he spent time with. He distanced himself from the evildoers and also from those living hypocritically. This is not implying that we should completely isolate ourselves from the unsaved, but that our close friends should those that are like-minded.

David proclaims his innocence, having ceremonially washed himself, that he may approach the altar, the place of sacrifice for those who recognized their need for God’s forgiveness of their sins.

One of the great blessings of knowing the Lord is the privilege of going to Him for cleansing. John reminds us that everyone sins, and that everyone needs to confess his sins regularly. Our fellowship with God requires confession, and our integrity demands it.

1 John 1:5-10

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.   

Walking in the light requires regular confession of sin. Only those who go to God experience the beauty and privilege of true fellowship with Him.

In verse eight, David proclaims the joy of inhabiting the house of the Lord. He reminds us that God is enveloped by His glory. We must approach God, aware of our need for forgiveness and grateful for the mercy He has shown us in allowing us to have a relationship with Him.

Away from God, men are evil, with no limit to their greediness and selfishness. Why would we ever desire those that live for themselves to be our companions?

David is committed to walk in integrity, but in verse ten he reminds us on what basis he can approach the Holy God. He needs to be redeemed by God’s grace.

Dear friends, do we forget the privilege we have, to have been redeemed, and the amazing grace we have received? Do we forget the responsibility that this demands from us?

Only when we walk in integrity will our feet be stable and our worship true.

It saddens me that so many believe that worship merely consists of singing songs and allowing our feelings to transport us in moments of emotional bliss. Biblical worship is done in spirit and truth.

Philippians 3:3

For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh—

Later in the same chapter Paul writes:

Philippians 3:12

Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.

Paul knew that a life of integrity was the result of pressing on in faithful obedience to God’s Word. Our sanctification was never compared to a walk on the beach, but rather to the life of an athlete or a soldier at war. Dear friends, may we learn from David first, and then from Paul, that a life of integrity is the result of hard and careful diligence. We must never forget that this walk would have never been possible, without God’s work of grace at salvation and His work of grace in us every day of our lives.

May you and I walk well today, in God-driven integrity!

GOD IS FAITHFUL. ARE WE?

OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD IS ROOTED IN HIS GRACE!

PSALM 25

1 To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.

2 O my God, in You I trust;

let me not be put to shame;

let not my enemies exult over me.

3 Indeed, none who wait for You shall be put to shame;

they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.

How many times, in these psalms, we have seen David living in adverse conditions! Enemies and struggles were his way of life. Things are increasingly the same today, for most of the world; any times of relative peace should be seen as gifts and exceptions.

David declares his dependence and trust in the Lord, despite his circumstances. He is asking His God not to allow him to be overcome by his enemies, for that would result in shame for him. In fact, he is confident that his God will not allow any who trust in Him to be put to shame.

Reflecting on these statements, I don’t think they imply that believers will always be vindicated on earth, but that in the end, God will set all records straight. At the same time, I believe, it does imply that God will always provide the strength to go through difficult times with unmatched grace and strength in the Lord.

All believers can rest assured that they will be strengthened, as they are confronted with trials and enemies.

David realizes that he needs to be instructed in the ways of the Lord.

4 Make me to know your ways, O Lord;

teach me your paths.

5 Lead me in your truth and teach me,

for you are the God of my salvation;

for you I wait all the day long.

As David reviews the difficulties of life, his prayer is clear: He needs to know the paths of God. He needs to be taught, because he does not know them naturally. His dependence is also obvious. God is the source of his salvation and he is willing to patiently wait for His instructions.

As we read these verses, something should become very clear for us, as well: if the Lord is the God of our salvation, then He also must be the God Who instructs us. And we should be willing to wait upon His timing. We tend to become very impatient, however, because we have already decided how God’s salvation should be applied to our particular situation. Consequently, we tend to spend less and less time searching for God’s instruction in the Word. David needed to be informed and led, and so do we!

Along with his confidence in God’s help, David realizes that he does not deserve this kind of care.

6 Remember your mercy, O Lord, and your steadfast love,

for they have been from of old.

7 Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions;

according to your steadfast love remember me,

for the sake of your goodness, O Lord!

David relies completely on God’s great grace and love, that provide forgiveness for his sins. His relationship with the Lord began on the basis of mercy and eternal love, and he knows that continuing on that foundation is his only hope.

Are we quick to forget our sins, and the immense grace we received upon our salvation? Are we aware of the immensity of God’s grace and love that surround us? Our relationship with God was unilaterally initiated by Him, and it continues only because of His steadfast love. Left to our inability to invite or merit this perfect love, we would be utterly lost.

David cannot forget that his God is perfect in His character.

8 Good and upright is the Lord;

therefore he instructs sinners in the way.

9 He leads the humble in what is right,

and teaches the humble his way.

10 All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness,

for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.

David makes it so evident that God is upright and man is not. It is sinners whom God instructs in His ways. Although God is gracious and merciful, He still expects man to humbly come to Him for instruction and direction. Man must abandon any notion of self-righteousness or personal confidence. There are amazing blessings in walking with the Lord.

God desires our humble submission. In fact, it is when we are humble before Him that He can teach us and lead us. Those who humble themselves recognize their sin.

11 For Your name's sake, O Lord,

pardon my guilt, for it is great.

12 Who is the man who fears the Lord?

Him will He instruct in the way that he should choose.

13 His soul shall abide in well-being,

and his offspring shall inherit the land.

14 The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him,

and He makes known to them his covenant.

15 My eyes are ever toward the Lord,

for He will pluck my feet out of the net.

David does not minimize his sin, for he knows there is no reason to minimize sin before God. First of all, He already knows about it, and secondly, His grace is sufficient to pardon it. Jesus said that if we love Him, we will obey His commands. David is saying the same truth. Those who fear the Lord are the ones whom God will instruct.

It is wise for us to regularly evaluate our lives and confess our sins. Only those who go to God for cleansing and correction, and walk in His ways, have true friendship with Him. How foolish we are, when we don’t, because our life seems too hard.

16 Turn to me and be gracious to me,

for I am lonely and afflicted.

17 The troubles of my heart are enlarged;

bring me out of my distresses.

18 Consider my affliction and my trouble,

and forgive all my sins.

David again reminds his God that he needs His grace, because life is truly causing him great sorrow and distress. We need to go to God in our times of troubles, not overlooking our need for forgiveness.

19 Consider how many are my foes,

and with what violent hatred they hate me.

20 Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me!

Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.

21 May integrity and uprightness preserve me,

for I wait for you.

David pleads again, for he is hated, and the actions of his enemies are violent. He needs the Lord to protect his soul. He needs God’s help to keep his integrity.

Dear friend, when we are attacked by enemies, we, too, must go to God for help. May our chief concern be holiness and integrity, not revenge and personal justice. We can so easily become troubled and bitter, when we seek quick and earthly justice. May we learn to wait, as the Lord accomplishes His perfect will in us and in those who are against us.

Personal vengeance never produces the glory of God. It never produces peace in our heart. We will be sorry for the consequences of our lack of patience.

22 Redeem Israel, O God,

out of all his troubles.

David ends the Psalm, recognizing the need for God to redeem Israel. We know that God has been, and always will be, faithful to His promises to Israel, and we know that He has always been, and always will be, faithful to us.