the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Phi 4:7 NKJ)
The peace of God and the faith of God belong together. Peace keeps us constant while the winds and waves of doubts try to assail from without. Peace helps us walk on water though everything looks contrary to it.
The Spirit witnesses with the spirit and reveals the things of God. He is the Spirit of wisdom and the fear of the Lord. The Spirit raises a banner of peace when floods come against us.
The peace of God is the agreement of the Spirit with our spirit. The flesh disagrees and tries to be violent and aggressive. The carnal mind involves in carnal, godless rationalizations. The spiritual mind agrees with and submits to the Law of God.
Discernment is important in all this. The Spirit gives us discernment.
The Spirit forbids and our spirits are not peaceful. The Spirit is the spirit of fearlessness, of courage, of love, of power, and of a sound mind.
Peacelessness creates an insane-like situation. The peace of God guards our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Showing posts with label Peace. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Peace. Show all posts
Sunday, August 21, 2016
Monday, November 23, 2015
Respect for All Religions
For peace and harmony to exist in any pluralistic society, it is important to have respect for all religions. Those who wish to be respected must also show the same respect for others. In the past, religion has acted as a great dividing line and has spurred and continues to provoke among some incidents of violence and hatred. We must learn to respect other religions, but what does this respect involve?
1. It means to respect fellow humans as humans, first of all, as our neighbors. It means to show ourselves as good neighbors to them.
2. It means to respect the religiosity in humans, their quest, their pursuit for spirituality, for purity, for a good life, for a transcendent ideal that lifts us above the world of mere brutes.
3. It means to respect the confessions of saints, of communities, regarding their longing to know the unknown, to be delivered from darkness to light.
4. It means to respect their literature of wisdom and deep meditation on serious life truths.
5. It means to respect their freedom of choice, their convictions, their freedom of conscience and not consider them inferior for their choice or for any changes they make in their convictions on the basis of proper reasons.
6. It means to respect their attempts to rationally (not disrespectfully or violently) communicate their understanding of their beliefs to people.
7. It means to respect them as invaluable members of human society and consider each individual as precious.
But, it does not mean:
1. To think that all contradictory views are equally true. This is illogical.
2. To try to justify oppressive and discriminatory elements in religions.
3. To syncretize or try to blend religions into a new religion. It solves nothing.
4. To keep away from trying to understand faiths of people.
5. To stop sharing your faith with others, if you believe it is true and will help individuals, society, and the nation.
I don't think religious tolerance is the main issue. The main issue is to learn to love our neighbors as ourselves, regardless of their religion.
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Peace WITH God; Peace OF God
The world has lost a number of important things. There are a few things that it is desperately searching for. One of them is peace.
The world has certainly gained a lot of other things in the process of the search for peace. But, they are too artificial to meet the need. For instance, they invented weapons to find peace; but, weapons only increased fear and loss of peace. They invented alcohol and all kinds of drugs; but, these have wrecked lives and destroyed homes. They invented psychological and sociological theories that either denied God or denied His authority, they invented ways to justify infidelity in marriage, pre-marital sex, and the porn industry; the result, more broken hearts, broken health, and broken homes. It seems that whatever man tries to do to find peace only worsens the situation.
The rich man lacks peace; the poor man lacks it as well. The religious man lacks peace; the irreligious man lacks it as well. The policeman lacks peace; the criminal lacks it as well. The viewers of a comedy show lack peace; the comedian lacks it as well.
What is the problem?
The laborer is returning back home with the day’s wages. He feels no peace and instead turns to a pub and drinks all his money up. He still doesn’t have peace. Back at home, his wife and children have been waiting for him to bring home some money. The wife has no peace. The wife sends her children to the pub because she knows their father will be there. They go there. They too have no peace.
The rich man has amassed much gain and invests his money in different businesses. He returns home in the night to sleep, but he cannot sleep. His mind thinks of how he can escape paying the taxes, how he has to protect his money from looters, and issues dealing with dishonesty and untrustworthiness in his own business. There he lies on his soft bed with his head sunk into the soft pillow; but he has no peace.
Now, there are many people who have various answers to this issue. Some say that the problem is bad government; others say that the problem is bad culture; a few others say that the problem is economical. But, let me tell you what the Bible says is the real problem.
1. Raging Passions Inside (James 4:1; 1Pet.2:11). James tells us that the root problem is within us. There is lack of peace in the world (2Chr.15:5) because there is lack of peace within us (James 4:1). Man’s sinful tendencies are too strong for him to escape without the help of God – how can he remain separated from the source of all good, God, and still aim to be good? That is the paradox of the human situation. His autonomy from God (the godless determination of good and evil) separates him from the real Good (because only God is perfect and the perfection of what can be called “good”). At the same time, however, man still craves for the good because the Spirit of God strives with the spirit of man (Gen.6:3) to convict him of sin, righteousness, and judgement. However, in his state of alienation, man is victimized, pulverized, and destroyed by the raging passions within him; increasing his peacelessness in this world, and if not redeemed from such wretchedness, to perpetual peacelessness in the lake of fire.
2. Mental Enmity with God (Col.1:21; Gen.6:5-7). The way man thinks and the things that he imagines are in rebellion against the law of heaven, and because of his evil works he is an enemy of God in his mind. Therefore, the Gospel call is a call to change one’s way of thinking sinfully to thinking according to the will of God (repent, Gk. metanoiea).
What is the Answer?
1. Peace With God (Rom.5:1). The answer is to have peace with God. But, man cannot make peace with God; so, God Himself initiated the peace process by sending His only begotten Son to become our peace, to bring us back to God. Jesus, by means of His eternal sacrifice on the cross, embraced sinful humanity (that crucified Him) with His unfailing love. On the Cross, God’s love kissed God’s justice and Christ provided the ground for our forgiveness and return to God. Jesus became our Peace.
2. Peace Of God (Phil.4:7). Once we have peace with God, God pours out His peace into our hearts which guards and governs our heart, frees us from all condemnation, gives us assurance of salvation, and helps us to know God’s will and purposes and obey the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
Conclusion
God is a God of peace and He wishes His children to also be peacemakers. However, peace cannot be forced on man; man has to make the decision to accept the peace with God through Jesus Christ; then, His peace will guard and govern our hearts and help us walk strongly in the faith that God cares for us, controls all things, and works together all things for good to those who love Him.
The world has certainly gained a lot of other things in the process of the search for peace. But, they are too artificial to meet the need. For instance, they invented weapons to find peace; but, weapons only increased fear and loss of peace. They invented alcohol and all kinds of drugs; but, these have wrecked lives and destroyed homes. They invented psychological and sociological theories that either denied God or denied His authority, they invented ways to justify infidelity in marriage, pre-marital sex, and the porn industry; the result, more broken hearts, broken health, and broken homes. It seems that whatever man tries to do to find peace only worsens the situation.
The rich man lacks peace; the poor man lacks it as well. The religious man lacks peace; the irreligious man lacks it as well. The policeman lacks peace; the criminal lacks it as well. The viewers of a comedy show lack peace; the comedian lacks it as well.
What is the problem?
The laborer is returning back home with the day’s wages. He feels no peace and instead turns to a pub and drinks all his money up. He still doesn’t have peace. Back at home, his wife and children have been waiting for him to bring home some money. The wife has no peace. The wife sends her children to the pub because she knows their father will be there. They go there. They too have no peace.
The rich man has amassed much gain and invests his money in different businesses. He returns home in the night to sleep, but he cannot sleep. His mind thinks of how he can escape paying the taxes, how he has to protect his money from looters, and issues dealing with dishonesty and untrustworthiness in his own business. There he lies on his soft bed with his head sunk into the soft pillow; but he has no peace.
Now, there are many people who have various answers to this issue. Some say that the problem is bad government; others say that the problem is bad culture; a few others say that the problem is economical. But, let me tell you what the Bible says is the real problem.
1. Raging Passions Inside (James 4:1; 1Pet.2:11). James tells us that the root problem is within us. There is lack of peace in the world (2Chr.15:5) because there is lack of peace within us (James 4:1). Man’s sinful tendencies are too strong for him to escape without the help of God – how can he remain separated from the source of all good, God, and still aim to be good? That is the paradox of the human situation. His autonomy from God (the godless determination of good and evil) separates him from the real Good (because only God is perfect and the perfection of what can be called “good”). At the same time, however, man still craves for the good because the Spirit of God strives with the spirit of man (Gen.6:3) to convict him of sin, righteousness, and judgement. However, in his state of alienation, man is victimized, pulverized, and destroyed by the raging passions within him; increasing his peacelessness in this world, and if not redeemed from such wretchedness, to perpetual peacelessness in the lake of fire.
2. Mental Enmity with God (Col.1:21; Gen.6:5-7). The way man thinks and the things that he imagines are in rebellion against the law of heaven, and because of his evil works he is an enemy of God in his mind. Therefore, the Gospel call is a call to change one’s way of thinking sinfully to thinking according to the will of God (repent, Gk. metanoiea).
What is the Answer?
1. Peace With God (Rom.5:1). The answer is to have peace with God. But, man cannot make peace with God; so, God Himself initiated the peace process by sending His only begotten Son to become our peace, to bring us back to God. Jesus, by means of His eternal sacrifice on the cross, embraced sinful humanity (that crucified Him) with His unfailing love. On the Cross, God’s love kissed God’s justice and Christ provided the ground for our forgiveness and return to God. Jesus became our Peace.
2. Peace Of God (Phil.4:7). Once we have peace with God, God pours out His peace into our hearts which guards and governs our heart, frees us from all condemnation, gives us assurance of salvation, and helps us to know God’s will and purposes and obey the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
Conclusion
God is a God of peace and He wishes His children to also be peacemakers. However, peace cannot be forced on man; man has to make the decision to accept the peace with God through Jesus Christ; then, His peace will guard and govern our hearts and help us walk strongly in the faith that God cares for us, controls all things, and works together all things for good to those who love Him.
Thursday, April 10, 2014
Peace
The Bible teaches us that peace is not just the absence of enmity, conflict, or war; peace is a positive grace and gift of Christ (Jn.14:27); it is the fruit of the Spirit (Gal.5:22). In fact, it tells us that peace is inseparable from the person of Jesus Christ, who is our peace (Eph.2:14).
Peace Described As
1. Cancellation of Enmity and Reconciliation with God (Col.2:14; 1:20)
2. Gift of Christ (Jn.14:27)
3. Fruit of the Spirit (Gal.5:22; Rom.14:17)
4. Beyond Understanding (Phil.4:7)
Four Facts About Peace
1. It can be Given (Jn.14:27; Rom.15:13)
2. It can Guard (Phil.4:7)
3. It can Govern (Col.3:15)
4. It can Grow (1Pet.1:2)
Two Aspects of Peace
1. Objective Peace - The fact of being at peace or the state or condition of peace. (External) (1Chr.5:12)
2. Subjective Peace - The experience of having/knowing peace. (Internal) (Phil.4:7)
Two Experiences of Peace
1. Having Peace WITH God (Rom.5:1)
2. Having Peace OF God (Phil.4:7)
Peace with God is the basis for God giving us the peace of God.
Lack of Peace Described As
1. State of Mental Enmity with God (Col.1:21; Gen.6:5-7)
2. Great Turmoil (Heb. mehuwmah, tumult, confusion, disturbance, turmoil, disquietude, panic, discomfiture, 2Chr.15:5)
3. Alienation from the Good (Jer.8:15)
4. Presence of Fear and Terror (Jer.30:5; 2Tim.1:7)
Loss of Peace With/Of God
1. Through Sin (Col.1:21)
2. By entertaining cares, riches, and pleasures of life (Luke 8:14)
3. Because of the love of money (1Tim.6:10)
Source of Peace
1. God the Father (Rom.15:33; 1Cor.1:3)
2. God the Son (Jn.14:27; 16:33; Eph.2:14)
3. God the Spirit (Gal.5:22; Rom.14:17)
Price of Peace With God
1. What Christ Paid: The Incarnation and Atoning Death of Jesus Christ - by His blood (Eph.2:14-16; Col.1:20-22)
2. What the Christian Pays: Loss of Friendship with the World (Matt.10:34-36; James 4:4)
Peace Involves
1. Negotiation (Isa.1:18)
2. Mediation (Job 33:23; Heb.12:24)
3. Propitiation - appeasement of justice (Rom.3:25)
4. Expiation - removal of guilt (Rom.8:1)
5. Forgiveness of sins (Eph.1:7)
6. Reconciliation (Col.1:20; Heb.2:17)
7. Filling the heart with peace (John 14:27; Rom.15:13)
8. Producing fruit of peace in us through the Spirit (Gal.5:22)
9. Guarding the heart and the mind by peace (Phil.4:7)
Effects of Peace
Boldness of Access (Eph.2:17,18)
Unity and Harmony (Eph.4:3)
Freedom to grow (Acts 9:31)
Finding Peace By
1. Faith in Jesus (Rom.5:1)
2. Casting all Cares on Jesus (Phil.4:6,7)
3. Loving God's Word (Psa.119:165; Jn.16:33)
Seeking Peace
1. In Greeting (Luke 10:5)
2. Peacemaking (Matt.5:9; James 3:18)
3. Peaceful Co-existence (2Cor.13:11; Heb.12:14; 1Pet.3:9-11)
4. Moral Non-interference; "mind own business" (1Thess.4:11; Prov.26:17)
5. Fight for Justice (Zech.8:16)
6. Pursue things that make for peace; not contention, controversy, and unnecessary babblings (Rom.14:19,20)
7. Forgiving each other (Col.3:13,15)
Mission of Peace
1. Christ, the Prince of Peace and His Mission of Peace (Isa.9:6,7; Col.1:20)
2. Gospel of Peace (Romans 10:15)
3. Ambassadors of Peace and the Ministry of Reconciliation with God (2Cor.5:18,20)
a. The Ministry is ethical (1Thess.2:3-6)
b. The Ministry is sincere (1Thess.2:7-10)
c. The Ministry is free (Matt.10:8)
Titles of Peace
1. God of Peace (Rom.15:33; 16:20)
2. Thoughts of Peace (Jer.29:11)
3. Prince of Peace - Jesus (Isa.9:6)
4. Covenant of Peace (Num.25:12; Isa.54:10; Eze.34:25; 37:26)
5. Way of Peace (Rom.3:17)
6. Gospel of Peace (Rom.10:15; Eph.6:15)
7. Son of Peace - The one who receives the Gospel of peace (Luke 10:6)
Peace Described As
1. Cancellation of Enmity and Reconciliation with God (Col.2:14; 1:20)
2. Gift of Christ (Jn.14:27)
3. Fruit of the Spirit (Gal.5:22; Rom.14:17)
4. Beyond Understanding (Phil.4:7)
Four Facts About Peace
1. It can be Given (Jn.14:27; Rom.15:13)
2. It can Guard (Phil.4:7)
3. It can Govern (Col.3:15)
4. It can Grow (1Pet.1:2)
Two Aspects of Peace
1. Objective Peace - The fact of being at peace or the state or condition of peace. (External) (1Chr.5:12)
2. Subjective Peace - The experience of having/knowing peace. (Internal) (Phil.4:7)
Two Experiences of Peace
1. Having Peace WITH God (Rom.5:1)
2. Having Peace OF God (Phil.4:7)
Peace with God is the basis for God giving us the peace of God.
Lack of Peace Described As
1. State of Mental Enmity with God (Col.1:21; Gen.6:5-7)
2. Great Turmoil (Heb. mehuwmah, tumult, confusion, disturbance, turmoil, disquietude, panic, discomfiture, 2Chr.15:5)
3. Alienation from the Good (Jer.8:15)
4. Presence of Fear and Terror (Jer.30:5; 2Tim.1:7)
Loss of Peace With/Of God
1. Through Sin (Col.1:21)
2. By entertaining cares, riches, and pleasures of life (Luke 8:14)
3. Because of the love of money (1Tim.6:10)
Source of Peace
1. God the Father (Rom.15:33; 1Cor.1:3)
2. God the Son (Jn.14:27; 16:33; Eph.2:14)
3. God the Spirit (Gal.5:22; Rom.14:17)
Price of Peace With God
1. What Christ Paid: The Incarnation and Atoning Death of Jesus Christ - by His blood (Eph.2:14-16; Col.1:20-22)
2. What the Christian Pays: Loss of Friendship with the World (Matt.10:34-36; James 4:4)
Peace Involves
1. Negotiation (Isa.1:18)
2. Mediation (Job 33:23; Heb.12:24)
3. Propitiation - appeasement of justice (Rom.3:25)
4. Expiation - removal of guilt (Rom.8:1)
5. Forgiveness of sins (Eph.1:7)
6. Reconciliation (Col.1:20; Heb.2:17)
7. Filling the heart with peace (John 14:27; Rom.15:13)
8. Producing fruit of peace in us through the Spirit (Gal.5:22)
9. Guarding the heart and the mind by peace (Phil.4:7)
Effects of Peace
Boldness of Access (Eph.2:17,18)
Unity and Harmony (Eph.4:3)
Freedom to grow (Acts 9:31)
Finding Peace By
1. Faith in Jesus (Rom.5:1)
2. Casting all Cares on Jesus (Phil.4:6,7)
3. Loving God's Word (Psa.119:165; Jn.16:33)
Seeking Peace
1. In Greeting (Luke 10:5)
2. Peacemaking (Matt.5:9; James 3:18)
3. Peaceful Co-existence (2Cor.13:11; Heb.12:14; 1Pet.3:9-11)
4. Moral Non-interference; "mind own business" (1Thess.4:11; Prov.26:17)
5. Fight for Justice (Zech.8:16)
6. Pursue things that make for peace; not contention, controversy, and unnecessary babblings (Rom.14:19,20)
7. Forgiving each other (Col.3:13,15)
Mission of Peace
1. Christ, the Prince of Peace and His Mission of Peace (Isa.9:6,7; Col.1:20)
2. Gospel of Peace (Romans 10:15)
3. Ambassadors of Peace and the Ministry of Reconciliation with God (2Cor.5:18,20)
a. The Ministry is ethical (1Thess.2:3-6)
b. The Ministry is sincere (1Thess.2:7-10)
c. The Ministry is free (Matt.10:8)
Titles of Peace
1. God of Peace (Rom.15:33; 16:20)
2. Thoughts of Peace (Jer.29:11)
3. Prince of Peace - Jesus (Isa.9:6)
4. Covenant of Peace (Num.25:12; Isa.54:10; Eze.34:25; 37:26)
5. Way of Peace (Rom.3:17)
6. Gospel of Peace (Rom.10:15; Eph.6:15)
7. Son of Peace - The one who receives the Gospel of peace (Luke 10:6)
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