While the world all around seems to be heading to hell in a hand basket full of all kinds of strife and hostilities. The mark of a true believer and receiver of GODS Promise of Peace stands as a beacon in the storms of life. Because he has made Peace with his Creator on the Creators terms and conditions in the face of all opposition. The world on the other hand is in chaos because it refuses to meet GOD in the same fashion instead it only wants to do so as a self-willed brat in total rebellion due in part to the fact that it believes its own religious forms as a bull headed youngster. Who is in need of a sever spanking behind the old wood shed with a willow switch or tied to a stake and given 40 lashes minus 1. With that said I will turn again to Pastor Hoekstra's writing on Grace. And then to the ESV translation to look again at GODS Promise of Peace to those who Believe HIM.
"A Reminder Concerning the Word of God's Grace"
"The word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance . . . The word of the truth of the gospel . . . is bringing forth fruit . . . faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Acts 20:32, Colossians 1:5-6, and Romans 10:17)
"These three scriptures, interspersed in our previous meditations, indicate how GOD wants to use HIS word to impact us with HIS Grace. The first passage describes GOD's word as "the word of HIS Grace." This is spoken of in the old testament scriptures as rain that comes in abundance, should any be interested. Like the early and later rains they being the fall and spring seasons. GOD futher explains HIS Grace to us through HIS word. HE offers HIS Grace to us through HIS word. HE works HIS Grace within us as we are nurtured by HIS word, trusting in what the LORD has to say to us. As GOD's word is taken into our hearts, its capabilities are unleashed, demonstrating that it is "able to build us up and give us an inheritance." Those who believed at Thessalonica had such an experience with the scriptures. "For this reason we also thank GOD without ceasing, because when you received the word of GOD which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in Truth, the word of GOD, which also effectively works in you who believe" (1Thessalonians 2:13).
The second passage declares that the word can produce fruitfulness in GOD's people. "The word of the Truth of the Gospel . . . is bringing forth Fruit." Such Spiritual Fruit is the consequence of a restored spiritual life maturing within us. Jesus taught that this life is brought to us by His word. "The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life" (John 6:63). The word of the LORD brings this Life to us initially: "Having been born again . . . through the word of GOD which lives and abides forever" (1Peter 1:23). GOD's word then nurtures the life it originally brought to us: "As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby" (1Peter 2:2).
The third passage gives insight on Faith, which is a vital element of living by Grace. As we have seen, Faith accesses Grace. As it is a portion of the Royal Law of Love and Faith which supersedes the law of sin and death. "We have access by faith into this Grace in which we stand." (Romans 5:2). Here in the third scripture, we are told how Faith develops in our lives. "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of GOD." As we humbly receive GOD's word into our hearts and lives, our faith in whatever HE is proclaiming can be growing.
In light of these grand Truths concerning the scriptures, we would be wise to cultivate the same perspective of essentiality that Job had toward GOD's word. "I have treasured the words of HIS mouth more than my necessary food" (Job 23:12)."
GODS Promise of Peace to those who Believe HIM:
The Divine Promise Gives the Gift of GOD:
Psalm 29:10-11 "The LORD sits enthroned over the flood (the abundant Grace); the LORD sits enthroned as king forever. May the LORD give strength to HIS people! May the LORD blesses HIS people with Peace!"
Abundance:
Sin and Shin.
Psalm 119:161-168 and Proverbs 3:17 "Princes persecute me without cause, but my heart stands in awe of Your words. I rejoice at Your word like one who finds great spoil. I hate and abhor falsehood, but I love Your law. Seven times a day I praise You for Your Righteous rules. Great peace have those who love Your law; nothing can make them stumble. I hope for Your salvation, O LORD, and I do Your commandments. My soul keeps Your testimonies; I love them exceedingly. I keep Your precepts and testimonies, for all my ways are before You."
Proverbs 3:13-26 "Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold. She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed. The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding HE established the heavens; by HIS knowledge the deeps broke open, and the clouds drop down the dew. My son, do not lose sight of these— keep sound wisdom and discretion, and they will be life for your soul and adornment for your neck. Then you will walk on your way securely, and your foot will not stumble. If you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Do not be afraid of sudden terror or of the ruin of the wicked, when it comes, for the LORD Will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught."
Perfect:
Isaiah 26:1-6 "In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: "We have a strong city; HE sets up salvation as walls and bulwarks. Open the gates, that the righteous nation (this is but One Nation as it belongs to GOD and is HIS Possession) that keeps faith may enter in. You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock. For HE has humbled the inhabitants of the height, the lofty city. He lays it low, lays it low to the ground, casts it to the dust. The foot tramples it, the feet of the poor, the steps of the needy."
Like a River:
Isaiah 48:17-19, 54:13 and Ezekiel 34:25 "Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: "I am the LORD your GOD, Who teaches you to profit, Who leads you in the way you should go. Oh that you had paid attention to My commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea; your offspring would have been like the sand, and your descendants like its grains; their name would never be cut off or destroyed from before ME."
Isaiah 54:11-17 "O afflicted one, storm-tossed and not comforted, behold, I Will set your stones in antimony, and lay your foundations with sapphires. I Will make your pinnacles of agate, your gates of carbuncles, and all your wall of precious stones. All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children. In righteousness you shall be established; you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; and from terror, for it shall not come near you. If anyone stirs up strife, it is not from ME; whoever stirs up strife with you shall fall because of you. Behold, I have created the smith who blows the fire of coals and produces a weapon for its purpose. I have also created the ravager to destroy; no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD and their vindication from ME, declares the LORD."
Ezekiel 34:25-31 "I Will make with them a covenant of peace and banish wild beasts from the land, so that they may dwell securely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods. And I Will make them and the places all around my hill a blessing, and I Will send down the showers in their season; they shall be showers of (HIS Grace a true) blessing. And the trees of the field shall yield their fruit, and the earth shall yield its increase, and they shall be secure in their land. And they shall know that I am the LORD, when I break the bars of their yoke, and deliver them from the hand of those (religions of man) who enslaved them. They shall no more be a prey to the nations, nor shall the beasts of the land devour them. They shall dwell securely, and none shall make them afraid. And I Will provide for them renowned plantations so that they shall no more be consumed with hunger in the land, and no longer suffer the reproach of the nations. And they shall know that I am the LORD their GOD with them, and that they, the house of Israel, are MY people, declares the LORD GOD. And you are MY sheep, human sheep of MY pasture, and I am your GOD, declares the LORD GOD."
Legacy of Christ:
John 14:25-31 and John 16:33 (Jesus is speaking) "These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father Will send in My name, HE Will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. 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. You heard Me say to you, 'I am going away, and I Will come to you.' If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. I Will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on Me, but I do as the Father has commanded Me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here."
John 16:29-33 "His disciples said, "Ah, now You are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! Now we know that You know all things and do not need anyone to question You; this is why we believe that You came from GOD." Jesus answered them, "Do you now believe? Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave Me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with ME. I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."
Passes Understanding:
Philippians 4:4-7 "Rejoice in the LORD always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The LORD is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to GOD. And the peace of GOD, which surpasses all understanding, Will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
No comments:
Post a Comment