Comfort: From God and Others (Through life's hell)

Comfort: From God and Others (Through Earth’s Hell)   by Kelly Durant   

 

II Cor. 1:4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God

 

2. The love of God within its multifaceted qualities surrounds anyone who seeks it with a comforting protection: a consoling or comfort in action that alleviates one’s pain. Today what makes the people of the world sick, paranoid, and psychotic is the knowledge that instead of other human beings being loving and looking out for them, there are people in this condemned world full of Satanic narcissistic despots that would kill you in an instant over your choice of religion, political views, or social economic status! The murderous demons out there have always been too numerous! 

 

There was an old Roberto Carlos song that said, “I wish we were civilized like the animals”? Do you recall that song from the 70s? Our world is scientifically and technically advancing in intelligence yet still the vast majority of people are remaining barbaric in their human behavior and relations! Here is an animal story of a bird to illustrate a point on how humans should love and protect one another.

 

Maybe you have heard this story about the firemen that after putting the fire out on a house that burned down they noticed there was a dead bird that had built a nest in the attic. It was all black a charred and disfigured. Then as the firemen looked around the rubble they heard a little chirp. It turns out the bird was a mother and she had given her life covering her chicks from the fire and they came out from under her dead body alive running to fly away.

 

What a powerful illustration of love and comfort! As Jesus said, John 15:12 “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.” Notice here that Jesus did not say family, he said friends. Those that love Jesus share a bond together that is a love and friendship bond more than what any of us could even have with a family member (unless they are your friend in Jesus as well)!

 

3. How many people have died and are dying today as martyrs protecting their Christian friends from being discovered and killed? It makes me sick every time I pray for those in other countries to be reminded that there is a modern day holocaust happening and that dozens of thousands of Christians are being killed every year! Why isn’t anyone is speaking up!? Let’s start a campaign, start a mantra, “Stop the killing of Christians!” Who is going to Africa and the Middle East to comfort the abandoned and broken survivors of these modern day holocausts? Who is freeing the child slaves? As Christians we all need a whole lot more solidarity and much louder voice of outcry to battle against the enemies of God who are murdering and enslaving good men, women, and children today!

 

When the police locally arrest a murderer there is consolation in the community that this person cannot kill another innocent one, right? But today around the globe hundreds die by the hour! When will governments ever see the wisdom of practicing God’s law which is a life for a life? Murderers can only be stopped by their execution or by being in chains until they die. If not stopped, demon possessed murderers murder out of control until dead! If someone would have had the chance to kill Hitler before he attained power, I think no one today would argue that it would not have been morally ethical to take his life in order to prevent the murder of millions of others! 

 

Recently there was a 70 year memorial observance for the Jews that died in the Auschwitz gas chambers. How little news attention it got! How it sickens me that for days on end the news channels will talk about a deflated football yet when it comes to exposing that dozens of millions were murdered just 70 years ago in a World War few highlight its importance! Millions of Christians and priests died as well! If the youth today do not learn from our recent horrible history, then God forbid that it should be repeated again soon by another Satanically inspired murderous dictator! The world offers us hell and more hell, while Jesus offers us love, peace, and the comfort of the healing of our wounds from these atrocities and all suffering! On His return He will stop those who are evil and divide the sheep from the goats! Here is consolation, 1 John 3:15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

 

4. So, what is comfort? The people in the world without Jesus cannot give it nor do they understand that it is needed! I think most of us have at some time or another received comfort or consolation from someone close to us. They listened to us and helped us, but the sad reality is the people of this world offer us no, that is zero, comfort in our pain! Here is an example of this.

 

One time my wife when she was going to go on a flight, trusted in another flight attendant and told her how our son had been taken to jail and that life was really hard for us at the moment. She just wanted a sympathetic ear. The flight attendant saw her tears and probably said, oh, sorry for you. A few weeks later she was on the same plane again with the same flight attendant and preparing the plane she overheard her while preparing the trays telling another one on the crew, stay away from Regina, when she talks to you she will start crying!

 

In other words her cold hearted attitude towards another was, I do not care for your tears, I do not care for your pain, I only care that you make me feel uncomfortable! How selfish people in this cruel world are! How true the statement is, “If you cry you, will cry alone, but if you laugh, the world will laugh with you”!

 

5. Back to the scripture of today… What is the response God expects of us when we encounter a person in pain? We are to comfort them! How do we do that? First of all we must love them as we love ourselves! For example, if someone says I am sad because my son is suffering, then what you and I should do is imagine our own son or daughter suffering in order to empathize and lend a sincere listening ear and practice compassion. You have to accept the fact that your planned activities and priorities just got reshuffled when you are needed.

 

Always you will need to listen, and you may need to hug them, and you may need to read them some encouraging scriptures and promises of God and pray for them. Your comfort should include acts of service so you may need to serve them somehow taking them somewhere, or cooking them something, and you may need to be there for them a few dozen times! Comfort has many ways of being expressed but the fact remains comforting consolation is a product of love and is an action that does something positive to alleviate the pain!

 

6.  So what are the tribulations as mentioned in II Cor 1:4? The tribulations back in the time of the Corinthians for sure included being persecuted by harassment and being made fun of for preaching Jesus Christ. Tribulations take on many forms, but the obvious is that whatever form it takes on that it produces in the one affected a spiritual, physical, and mental anguish. Paul the apostle went to jail, was beaten many times, and suffered greatly for Jesus. He still came out strong!

 

Sufferings in this life are inevitable! I have never met a person yet that has had a perfect life! Everyone has to deal with pain but often we forget that is that way for everyone. Sometimes people are so jealous of others who have fame and money, but if they had to live in their shoes they would not really want their lives. Many people of wealth and position often deal with a child with autism or a problem. They may also be dealing with the embarrassment of a father, mother, or brother who is bankrupting the family due to selfishness or addictions. So if all the envious dreamers could be exposed to the real world of pain and suffering of others that is always masked and hidden from the public, then they would for sure change their mind immediately about the so called good life of fame and fortune!

 

The truth is many people never receive comfort in their pain because they are too proud to expose their weaknesses and hurts to someone in order to allow that person to comfort them. As Christians we must build up trust with others so that when a person gets up the courage to express how much they hurt or how sad they feel, then they must have full confidence in you that you will listen and understand and console them with God’s love! The front mercy seat here (prayer area) is where comfort is found when anyone wants it.   

 

7.  Never minimize another person’s pain! A person grieving over their cousin with cancer may be in as in as much pain as a person who is actually getting an amputation! I hate pain, but God has allowed it to work in our lives, so we just have to accept that reality of life: that pain changes us and it accomplishes what God desires in our growth if we will let it. It is tragic though when people fail the tests of tribulations of life. We feel it differently in different intensities but must not let our pain become a selfish obsession. Those without faith usually do not know how to deal with the pain of life and that is where you and I should step in. We listen, we serve, and we share God’s promises on consolation from the Bible.

 

I recall seeing a documentary on suicide, and it exposed how some people got affected so terribly over something that they took their own lives. There was a case of a strip tease lady that was in a car wreck and in the crash her face got cut on the broken windshield glass but it was stitched back together. She was going to be fine but she was going to have a noticeably big scar on her face. Then a worse tragedy happened, after she saw herself in the mirror she went out and took her own life! She told a friend that she had to end her life because she would never be able to have a way to make a living ever again! How sad a lesson and how wrong her assessment! Her overwhelming emotions were too much and sadly no Christian friend was close that could talk to her first. We must be ready to comfort ANYONE!

 

Try to be sensitive to notice when another, even a person you may not like, is going through a serious crisis, an accident, or a suffering of some kind, because a life just might be saved if you or someone will just reach out and talk to the person comforting them in their pain! It is sad how many people in this cruel world are helpless and abandoned when they are suffering! We need to step up to the plate!

 

8.  Don’t think you need all the answers, just be there for your friend in need! Here is an example from the Book of Job of what his friends did when they saw him in extreme pain. We all know Job lost everything, his family, wealth, and health. Empathy or love is all you need: you may not even be able to have words!

Job 2: 11 Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him.12 And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven.13 So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great.

 

Always ask for the Holy Spirit to be present in all situations. Jesus said he would not leave us comfortless. John 15:26 “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:” God covers us with truth from His realm!

 

The world knows enough hell, let’s show the people in it more heaven! Come now and pray if you are in pain. Know that the Holy Spirit will be with you! Come now and pray for comfort, for the power of God to be present to comfort, and may God use you to comfort another person you may know that is in pain. We are comforted so we can comfort others! Be moved with compassion on suffering humanity today! Your neighbor or your friend needs you!

Use It (What God has given you) or Lose It!

Use It or Lose It!           By Kelly Durant     6:19-22

 Matthew 25:14-33 The Parable of the Talents

2. Many people set new goals for their life, here in the shelter folks do it with their case worker! Everyone should have goals and if not you will be failing God making yourself an unwise steward of your life. If you are not having life happen as you want it, if God isn’t getting His fair share of you,  then who or what is getting in the way? Most always it is your own self to blame! Do you want blessings for hard work, then get busy! There is a lot to do! 

Just remember we all praise the honey bee for his busy work, but we hate the mosquito! The busy-ness you choose must be prayed over, planned and counseled about, and then executed. You don’t want to waste time and energy you can never get back! Many people do choose the wrong professions, disregarding God’s will.

God keeps me out of trouble this way, ha! But King David, and anyone with too much leisure time will get into mischief! As Christians we must always be serving, studying, working and being productive in good things!

3 Some people, however, would love to use your or my time to take them shopping all day or do errands for them! I wish we could spend more time with each other but if you and I do not plan our priorities for the day, we’ll lose all our time in the little the errands of everyone else and not get anything done that we should do! 

It is time to evaluate where your time, talent, and treasure are being spent and determine if you are dedicating enough of it to God or not. He is the judge, not me, but my role is to inspire you to use what you have for Him, or as in this parable of today, warn you of the consequences of not using what you have for God! All I want is for the Lord to tell you what you need to do to come into His joy!

4 In the parable of the talents, we can compare this to our lives. Think of it this way, some people may have 5 abilities while others may have one or two. Some people are excellent with math and money while others are average with it, some people are good with people for good relations and sales, or some people have a musical or artistic ability or sports talent. Everyone has the ability to do something and everyone is needed!

The talents Jesus referred to were literally pieces of money. But in this parable the lending of the money implied a time value to it for an investment yield, or to spend it to make more by buying and selling, a work value of using your brain and talents to produce something worthwhile. 

God is expecting that you apply what you have naturally been given to make it better and more productive, and most importantly giving a return back to Him who gave it you. 

5 The modern problem we have today in the community is that people are not applying their time, talent, and treasure into things that are useful for God and they are wasting away. In the world some people are content to let the government support them all day to watch TV or sit around playing games on the computer and they do not care at all to progress to develop their selves, work or do anything at all because they don’t see the need to. These people have no goals, no ambition, and no future! The poor we have with us always and some are poor due to a lack of the production of anything.

And some people who work so hard at things that will never be of any use to anyone, like the kid who plays video games 7 hours a day and they asked him, “How are you going to make a living at playing a video game that will be outdated in 5 years?” There is no response because it is all wasted time! Or from texting, or social media, maybe only 1 out of 1,000 people can make a living from that!

As in the parable of people who do not use their time, talent, and treasure to produce something for God, they always justify their laziness and self-created limitations, after all they are the victim that no one understands and they want us to feel sorry for them for being so miserable when it is their own fault their situation!

6. In a Corps we managed before Ulysses and Maggie ran the basketball program in the Corps for afterschool and summer camps. How many of you ask questions and then just listen? If you have not learned to listen to people, you will miss learning life lessons on how to progress in things for yourself! The question in my mind was, what makes them be willing to sweat in over 100 degree heat 10 hours a day all summer long to do a something that is not making them very rich really?

He explained he had a supervisor’s job for several years to just sit at a desk all day and not do much at all but he often worked long hours, and he was making $18 the hour. But he was discontent since he had studied 4 years sports training and physical-therapy and he was not applying himself in what he loved to do. So he took a cut in pay to half his salary to do his job from his home and also do the summer hoops camp. 

He didn’t worry for the money; it made him feel good to work with the kids, it was his camp, his show, his passion, his satisfaction was he finally got to do what he wanted to. Now there are 120 families involved and it has become successful after 3 years of hard work! The Corps gym got used and not wasting away! 

He said he use to drive about an hour to work and an hour back and work very late sacrificing his time for a company, so he concluded, why not sacrifice time for something even better?

7. I wish people would come to serve Jesus with this same passion being willing to sweat all day to preach the gospel! Only people with a passion for Jesus pass the test to gain a position of leadership in God’s service. All good things require sacrifice!

Ulises also expressed he even expects us to tell these families about Jesus because he shared that as a kid he had played basketball in our same gym and he recalled that the Captain then always shared a devotional about Jesus. Don’t you and I feel like giving respect to those who respect us and respect our Lord?

So in order to gain something, you have to be willing to give up something! The man with the one talent buried it. Imagine, he was not willing to let it go and take the risk to apply it so he lost what was not his but could have been his if he would have been more willing to work, invest, and use his brains! But investing pays!

8. Not using your body, your mind, your talent, your money, and your time for God is a sin! Some people serve in God’s work many hours a week, others a few hours, but many do not serve at all! In the end you are not the god of yourself to do as you please, you did not make yourself into being, and you are God’s property. So have you asked God in prayer yet, what should I do this year in the Corps and community?

It was your mother that formed you into being by a miracle of God’s design and he brings everyone on this earth for a mission and a purpose, the problem is people are too lazy, too rebellious, and too selfish to do what God expects of them! Because people fail God, we have the world as it is! God is angry when we do nothing and bring Him nothing!

I heard a quote once that “people just want to find a comfortable spot and then stay there until they die”. This sadly sums up the life of many people quite well. 

9 But the most dangerous place for a Christian is a comfortable place! When a person becomes so complacent with all the evil happening around them that they do not care anymore about the sin in the world and the exploitative abuses and extreme poverty and oppressions, and all the souls going to hell, then that person is like that one with the un-invested talent, useless to God! We are soldiers in a war on evil, so tell me about your plan of battle! God and all of us are expecting results!

The fact of life is the majority of people out of the billions that exist everywhere never leave their comfort zone, never leave far away from home to accomplish anything for God, for another, or for their own selves. The majority of people never even consider that they could live a life of adventure living out their passions. Only God can give you and me the vision of how glorious life can be if we will only put him first investing in Him, and most of all being faithful (‘til death)!

The problem is often people do count the costs or serving and after determining that it would come at a great sacrifice, then this person decides that they are incapable of making the investment required putting in all the hard work it. What a mistake to choose poorly!

10 No sacrifice for Jesus goes unrewarded.  Matthew 19:29

29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. 

It is sad too few people are willing to have the patience to store up their treasures in heaven, but what I have experienced is just what this verse states, you gain rewards in this life as well and I do not regret serving Jesus despite how it has cost me a few things like suffering a few thefts, getting hepatitis for 6 weeks, and having to move a few dozens of times with 4 little kids but I would not trade this life for nothing else! I have learned to love the ultra-poor and minister to the ultra-rich which is what Jesus did!  

11. With God you are never allowed to be motionless and unproductive as all things are in motion and like a train, you either get on it when He calls you or you get left behind! God is a God of movement, and He expects production and movement from us! 

You can’t allow yourself to become like a stagnant pool of water or you will become poisonous form the bacteria generated from no inflow and outflow. What kills people spiritually, morally, emotionally, and physically is the lack of movement; when a person does not take in and then give out.  

And the bad part too is when someone gives their time to God others those who are stagnant immediately criticize them like they are crazy to invest and spend energy in something that does not give them an immediate payback. 

12. We have a Salvation Army today because millions have invested in God’s work voluntarily and this is a proof that is God’s work that does store up eternal benefits. William Booth and his wife Catherine were willing to leave the stagnant Methodist church and they lived out their passion to help the people in absolute misery and addiction!   Will the Lord say to you…

Matt 25:21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

What are you planning on doing for God this year? God and everyone expects more from you. Have you even considered setting goals of doing more for God, in the church Corps and community? Today make a promise to God, and then keep it! You will be glad you did it when you are in heaven and your reward will be there for you!

Are You a Peacemaker?

Are You a Peacemaker?                      Matthew 5:9       By Kelly Durant

2.Missionaries have always fascinated me. Today our schools teach only secular, sterile, and usually considerably boring history dealing only with politics and power. But the real interesting stories of history are those about people who went to faraway places for the first time like David Livingston, the Scott who was the first white man in Africa in the 1800’s. He was almost killed several times but saved by miraculous means; you should read his stories! How many of you have heard of him or read about him? Not long ago everyone knew of him and his adventures, along with Hudson, Muller, and Wesley. 

One story worth repeating from the 1950s is the Jim Elliot story. He was one of 5 missionaries that were making friends with the Quechua Indians in deep the jungle of Ecuador which had never had any outside contact with modern man before. For weeks they dropped gifts from their airplane but when the day came to land and meet them they were not received well. All five were killed but here is what I want to emphasize: when authorities examined the area later it was discovered the missionaries had loaded guns but they had chosen not to use them! How Christlike that was! It was in Elliot’s diary that it was better to die for Jesus than to kill for him. He was a man of peace. 

The most famous quote from his diary which I love is this one: “You are no fool to give a life you cannot keep, to gain a love you will never lose”.  Over time the Indians did convert, TTL! 

3. Blessed are the peacemakers! In the end only Jesus’ way and heart changing words brings the peace to the human race. When the angels announced Jesus’ birth to the shepherds, they said, “Peace on earth” (and goodwill to men)! As the old bumper stickers that use to appear on cars reads: Know Jesus, know peace, No Jesus, no peace. 

Why am I preaching on peace today? Like it or not all of us seem to be exposed to an abundance of people who do not practice peace. Some people have the worldly idea they have to always fight for their own and make their point stick not caring if they are disrupting the peace and harmony of the larger group. I thought I should address this issue because amongst ourselves at times everyone experiences inner family or extended family conflicts. These happen inside and outside the church. 

James 4:1 (MSG) 4 1-2 Where do you think all these appalling wars and quarrels come from? Do you think they just happen? Think again. They come about because you want your own way, and fight for it deep inside yourselves. You lust for what you don’t have and are willing to kill to get it. You want what isn’t yours and will risk violence to get your hands on it.

4. Many opinions on current events are circulating right now and some confused Christians even believe that God’s justice includes doing something harmful to others to make a point. Romans 3:8 And why not say, “Let us do evil that good may come”?—as we are slanderously reported and as some affirm that we say. Their condemnation is just. The irony is that even a few so called Christian Reverends vow for justice by demanding things, but justice is never achieved through mob rule, railing words, or violence. Violence usually has a way of being counter-productive as it just brings about even more violence until someone forgives and stops the cycle of revenge. Romans 12:19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.

Regarding character and how to have a controlled one, concerning how we should behave, let’s examine Jesus most famous opening statements to everyone for all generations: 

3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Those who are not full of themselves and proud are ready for heaven)

4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. (Those who are empathetic, and offer consolation to others in pain get comfort returned to them)

5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. (The humble, non-aggressive people will win)

 

6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. (People who want God’s way of doing things)

 

7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. (People who forgive & love as they want to be loved)

 

8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. (Those who are not doing anything corrupt, those who are being holy as God is holy)

And now the emphasis of today:

9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. (So agitators by default are the children of who?)

 

5. Jesus Sermon on the Mount was influencing thousands towards the stopping of the cycle of violence in his day. His entire message was always of peace and of loving your enemies, a feat considered impossible by some. Everything about his message and example was diametrically opposed to the lifestyle and message of all so called glorious oppressive dominions. Recall at that time how badly the Hebrews wanted revenge on the cruel enslaving Romans. 

 

Jesus infused a diametrically contradictory governance model into the world on how to conquer by meekness and peaceful means. It was like pouring vinegar on baking soda, the outcome was a reaction that neutralized the harbored bitter properties. This example eventually served as the means to overcome the aggressive Roman Empire with the new Constantine Holy Roman Empire.  In the words of an oriental saying, the teeth are hard and fall out, but the tongue is soft but remains.

 

So why do we have agitators today trying to stir up division however they can? Do you recall the phrase, “Divide and Conquer”, all of these tactics are Satan’s same old game! The recent racial wars, class warfare, and religious disunity are a product of the obvious concerning politically motivated people: They have their own personal gain agenda, and they feed the inner carnal debauched appetites of others for vengeance, violence, and power. 

 

6. Contrary to this there are outstanding examples of people who changed the world for the better and brought peace to many and even to entire nations.

Let’s look at just a few of these modern day peace heroes and peacemakers who were blessed and blessed others. Who has been successful in diffusing race and economic power differences preventing massive deaths in our own century?

 

One of them is Mahatma Gandhi.  The oppressive English lost the battle with him because his way of protesting was by peaceful means, even fasting until the violence and killing stopped. India won independence from England in 1947 after he had protested many times by peaceful means. Non-violence worked because the world felt sorry for the suffering Indians under the English because the violence used against them was excessive. Gandhi attributed the Bible and the Sermon on the Mount as being a big influence in his life.  An International Day of Non-Violence is observed on 2 October on the birthday of Mohandas Gandhi to celebrate the effectiveness of the victory won from the outcome of his peaceful protests. 

 

7. Another hero of peace is Nelson Mandela. You are aware how oppressive and segregated the country of South Africa was and unjustly he served 27 years in jail. When he was released having fame due to his writings and support of being an anti-apartheid  freedom fighter for the oppressed, he was exalted to being voted in as the President of the country. On his release he immediately said he was called to be a humble servant and he pleaded for all tribes to unite and to not take revenge on anyone. He made a court system in which if the white oppressors were to come voluntarily and confess their sins against the people and ask forgiveness, forgiveness was granted. Quote, “For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others. If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy, then he becomes your partner”. This outraged all the African blacks that wanted revenge on whites for their crimes, but due to these peaceful measures, he prevented even more bloody massacres from happening. May God bless him in his final days on earth, amen? He turned 95 last Thursday 7-18-13!

 

8. Americans also recognize one of their own peacemakers, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: a modern day hero of civil rights and peace. He spoke at protests emphasizing peace and due to his marches, many laws were changed for and more equal rights were achieved for Afro-Americans. Quote, (I Have a Dream Speech) ”With this faith, we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith, we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together…” I think it is a pity his Christian principles are not emphasized enough. When we compare Dr. MLK to others such as Malcom X, Luis Farakan, and other current voices, his gospel of influence outweighs in all areas.

 

9. When we think of peace what verses come to mind?  

Peace emanates from a person pleasing God.

Proverbs 16:7

When a man’s ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

The benefits of being a peaceful person brings on God’s blessings and even good health.

 

Peace comes from knowing God’s word and practicing it.

Psalms 119:165

Great peace have they which love thy law and nothing shall offend them.  Someone could offend you and it will not even phase you because you have your value in God, not in opinions.

 

Peace is directly connected to Jesus and the Holy spirit.  

Galatians 5:22

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

 

People who have peace almost always have a face (happy and calm) that reflects that peace. In our case as Christians, we bring peace (or take it back) according to how people receive Jesus message. Matthew 10:13

If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.   You should be bringing peace to everyone everywhere you go! (If they deserve it!)

 

10. The question today is, are you a real peacemaker as Jesus had intended? I have heard some people in the past take pride in saying, “Oh I’m just brutally honest, I’m just a firey Irish, or I love a good fight”, but these qualities are of the world and not of God. Some people always love going against others just because they enjoy seeing people get bothered and red in the face. 

 

Today God is calling you and me to influence everyone with a peace that is supernatural!  A peace that is divine in nature overwriting your human nature! 

 

Peace means not speaking loud to express your point trying to dominate every conversation because you believe you know more than others. That is pride. Some people even argue Bible?! 

 

Peace means saying, “Hi”, and talking to a person whom you feel has offended you in the past.

 

Peace implies letting others have contrary opinions to yours, and quite often opinions really do not really matter so much from either you or others! But of course Christians should not tolerate people who offend God’s truth in the Bible so when exposed to moral or blasphemous words, practices, or beliefs, we must speak the truth even if it does disrupt the peace.

 

11. There is a time for peace and a time for war according to Ecc. 3: 8  A time to love,

    And a time to hate;

A time of war,

    And a time of peace.

One must evaluate what fight God wants you to pursue though. If you are standing up against hypocrisy, and against sin as Jesus did, then you are correct to disturb the peace and to bring on a war cry provoking conviction in the hearts of evil doers.

 

In the world today, however, beware that many fights are created only as diversion tactics so someone can pull off some bigger scandal and not be noticed since all the focus is on the hyped conflict. Our world is full of political division. By praying (and being watchful) the Holy Spirt can reveal many truths to you so you fight for the right things at the right time.

 

Jesus chose his fight against sin, but not with the drunks and harlots who would easily recognize their wrongs against God, but He disturbed the peace with the religious hypocrites who were damaging the faith of others by misrepresenting the character of our God of love, peace, and mercy.

 

12. Does your face reflect peace to those around you? Peace-making is a lifestyle that can only be lived out by a person who is filled with Jesus peace and the Holy Spirit.  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 heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

 

If you are full of Jesus, then you are full of His peace! Will you start becoming more peaceful as of today? 

 

Final prayer…by St. Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

Where there is injury, pardon;

Where there is doubt, faith;

Where there is despair, hope;

Where there is darkness, light;

Where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,

grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console;

to be understood, as to understand;

to be loved, as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive.

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

Amen.