Peace

Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

Peace is a word that depends upon a relationship.  A rock is at peace until someone picks it up and throws it.  We often speak of the dead being at “peace,” because their bodies are no longer racked with the pain of physical suffering.  We speak of a peaceful society being one where we and our neighbors agree to abide by the rule of law.  Those who are stopped from operating outside of that law are often said to be pacified.  We also speak of peace in relationship to our own thoughts, emotions, and conscience—inner peace, it is called.  Most importantly, there is peace with God and all that entails.

In the context of Galatians 5:22-23, the apostle Paul is comparing and contrasting the works of the flesh with the fruit of the spirit.  Fleshly works are, by definition, carnal.  They originate in and come out of physical/carnal desires.  The root of all fleshly works is selfishness—the fundamental desire for carnally-minded self preservation and illicit self love (2 Timothy 3:2).  When this desire is not kept under control by the spirit, it breaks out into the variety of sins that Paul discusses as the works of the flesh.  All of the works of the flesh oppose peace because they destroy relationships with God and our fellow man.

Peace is a fruit of the spirit because the desire for peace does not originate within the flesh, but rather within the realm of spiritual things.  If we look at the animal world around us, we do not find peace, but rather a constant struggle for survival.  This same struggle would swallow us up were it not for a God-informed spirit’s desire against it.  God commanded the Israelites to offer peace offerings to show that peace does not come without sacrifice.  True peace demands that we sacrifice something.  Paul is calling Christians to sacrifice the flesh, die to self, and live for Christ (Galatians 2:20).  In so doing, we may have true peace both with God and with our neighbor.

Peace begins with God’s informing us that there is a problem between us and Him, and that we are not at peace (Isaiah 59:1-2).  God then informs us that He has provided a plan whereby we may be at peace with Him through His Son’s intermediary sacrifice (Romans 5:8).  Because Jesus died on the cross for man’s sins, God has given Him all authority to pronounce forgiveness of sins (Matthew 28:18-20), and Christ has determined that those who this message and obey it will be forgiven (Luke 24:47).  In brief, when we hear the gospel, believe it, repent of our sins, confess Jesus as the Christ, and are baptized for the forgiveness of sins, we are reconciled to God through Christ and gain peace with Him and with one another (Ephesians 2:13-19).  It is then our prerogative to pursue peace (1 Peter 3:11).

Pursuing peace is not an easy process.  The fact that we must pursue it implies that there are existing enmities.  Others are at enmity with God, at enmity with one another, and at enmity with self.  The Christian’s responsibility in pursuing peace is to aid with each of these circumstances and situations.  We must first be at peace with God, then we may have peace with our fellow man based upon God’s standards of right and wrong; subsequently, we will have peace with self.  This is what Paul describes in Philippians 4:7 when he says, “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Peace is worth pursuing and fighting for, but we must pursue it and fight for it in a godly way.  Employing the works of the flesh in an effort to attain peace (as many seek to do today through ungodly practices and lifestyles) will not result in peace.  True peace only comes through personal self-sacrifice, obedience to God, and in fulfilling man’s purpose of loving both God and our neighbor (Matthew 22:37-40).  Let us seek to employ the spirits that God gave us to exercise peace and so conquer the flesh!

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Temptation Avoidance

Avoiding Temptation

“If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out….. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell” (Matt. 5:29-30).

To some this passage may seem strange and unusually demanding.  Someone may ask, “Are we to take this passage literally?”  The answer of course is “NO” (for one could just as easily sin with his left eye or his left hand).  The point Jesus was making is this: if something has the potential to cause you to sin then you need to avoid it, walk away from it, cut it off and don’t look back (cf. Prov. 4:14-15).  It is far better to sacrifice desire and to inconvenience yourself than to lose your soul over something.

A former alcoholic had agreed to meet a friend at a local bar.  Though he had no intentions of drinking, yet because of the atmosphere, he caved in – a decision that eventually lead him back to alcoholism. Know this, friends: “…each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death” (James 1:14-15).

How are you at avoiding temptation?

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Rebuilding the Faith Rally

This week’s letter comes to you from Washington, D.C., where some of the Focus Press staff has gathered to lay the groundwork for June 26th’s “Rebuilding Faith Rally.” If you haven’t heard about the rally or want to know more, check out the website http://www.faithfulnation.org/. We’re praying and working hard to make the rally a day of uplifting, inspiring, and empowering messages for Christians so we can turn the tide in the war being waged against God’s truth with regards to abortion and homosexuality. This week I want to give three reasons why we’re hosting our day of Rebuilding Faith. So, why are we hosting a rally on the National Mall?

First, it’s time we let our voices be heard. Too many congregations aren’t hearing what they need to hear from the pulpit when it comes to these issues. Even in those congregations where the truth about anti-Christian political issues are preached, we can always do more to take that message outside the four walls of our church buildings. Our religion must be externalized in both a figurative sense (with our actions reflecting what’s in our hearts) and in a literal sense (with our beliefs leaving the pew with us and going along with us as we leave our buildings). What better way to do that than to gather together with Gospel preachers and political officials to focus on God’s truth? Bible-believing Christians are being pushed into the corner and silenced at every turn, and we can’t afford to continue to be silent as our rights to preach and speak the truth grow more and more endangered through “tolerance” every day.

Second, it’s time we set the record straight. When we gather, we will not be gathering as a group of people who hate homosexuals or pregnant mothers who want to make a “choice.” It’s time we make it clear to the culture around us that the things we say about such cultural issues are out of love for both the people around us and for the truth of God’s Word. It’s easy for those outside the church to paint us as unloving or overly judgmental, and at times we make it even easier for them by saying the wrong words or approaching the issues in the wrong way. When we gather to speak the truth and fellowship with kindred spirits, we’re going to discuss the importance of speaking out against sin but we’re going to do it the right way. The world is always going to be the world. The church must speak, act, and think like the church ought.

Third, it’s time we share our passion for the lost and God’s Word with each other. It’s very easy to feel lonely with all that’s going on today. Does it ever feel like you, your family, or your church family are the only ones trying to preach the truth among a generation that has no tolerance for it? Remember that when Elijah had reached rock bottom and thought all of his work was for naught, God reminded him that there were thousands who had refused to bow to Baal. Sometimes that’s all we need to keep going – that shot in the arm that comes with seeing our brothers and sisters running the same race and fighting the same fights. Just imagine singing, praying, and listening to speeches and sermons with hundreds of your brothers and sisters. Imagine the encouragement it will bring. Imagine how you’ll feel heading home knowing you’re not fighting alone, and knowing new ways you can get involved and help make a difference. It’s that exact vision that has us counting down the days (Lord willing) and praying for a successful rally.

So, I hope you’ll seriously consider coming out for the rally. If you can’t make it, I hope you’ll pray for us and those who will be in attendance, that we will be strengthened and that we can all grow from the experience. To those of you who have already committed to come (again, Lord willing), we appreciate your support and can’t wait to be there with you. Bring a friend (or two, or three, or ten)! It’s an exciting time at Focus Press. We appreciate your prayers, support, and fellowship as we all work towards strengthening the church and reaching the lost. Let’s not grow weary in doing good, and let’s keep working while it’s still day!

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John 1 – God Is

In the first epistle of John, the apostle of love declares on three occasions what “God is.” Notice these with me for reflection and study.

First, John declares, “God is light” (1 John 1:5). In his gospel record, he also opened that book of the Bible with the same declaration compared with John the Immerser:

The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe…That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world (John 1:7, 9)

The apostle John may well remember hearing the words of the Lord with his own ears: “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12; 9:5). In fact, his discussion of Jesus being the light of the world was one of the profound discourses John uses in his gospel in conjunction with the miracle of healing a blind man (giving a man light who was living in the blindness of darkness) for creating belief (cf. John 20:30-31). It was in the darkness of void that the first recorded words from God are, “Let there be light” (Gen. 1:3) in the creation of our universe. The word of God often uses light and darkness to teach important tangible lessons of contrast. Jesus would even teach,

Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them. (John 12:35-36)

Second, John declares, “God is greater” (1 John 3:20; 5:9). In a discussion of the activity of love in the lives of brethren, John declares, “For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things” (1 John 3:20). In other words, if the conscious of our heart condemns us because we know that our love is fake, then God is even greater and knows all things. Later in the book when John is mentioning the witnesses of the deity of Jesus, he states, “If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son” (1 John 5:9). God certainly testified to the deity of Jesus at His baptism (Matt. 3:16-17) and at His transfiguration (Matt. 17:5). Jesus would comment, “I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me” (John 8:18). The entire New Testament book of Hebrews is a discourse to Christians who were formerly Jews that Christianity and Jesus Christ are greater! Therefore, with any type of comparison between man and God, “God is greater.”

Third, John exclaims, “God is love” (1 John 4:8, 16). How can we even contemplate our Almighty Sovereign Creator without regarding His love for His created? We need to reflect more upon the love of God. John 3:16 paints the love of God perfectly, as it is one of the first memory verses we have learned from our childhood. Calvary is the portrait of the love of God. The statement of John is true: “We love him, because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19).

Therefore, from the first epistle of John, we learn that “God is light…God is greater…God is love.”

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Singing in the Foyer

I am not exactly sure why I enjoy those fifth Sunday night singings in the foyer, but I really enjoy them. It’s not just because it is different, but because I am reminded again and again of the wisdom of God in making singing part of our worship. These singings allow for so much spiritual growth when we devote ourselves to them.

I enjoy singing in the foyer because we sing, and singing involves our souls. Have you considered that God could have just had us to quote or read passages of Scripture? We often sing songs, like the twenty-third psalm, which are almost completely based on selected phrases from the Bible. Why would not God just have us read those passages in unison? Would it not impact us in the same way and have the same effect? No way! Take time to think of the implication of James 5:13, “Is any cheerful? Let him sing.” Our emotions are tied directly to singing. One might be able to read Psalm 23 without his emotions being stirred, but somehow God made us so that singing touches our souls.

I enjoy singing in the foyer because I can hear so many around me singing. The design of singing is obviously vertical as our voices reach the portals of heaven, but it is also horizontal. God in his wisdom designed singing so we could speak to each other as we sing. The Holy Spirit described what happens in our worship when He said, “Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Eph. 5:19). Those Sunday nights when we sit facing each other allows me to see the joy and faith you have and to be edified by hearing your words. This happens in each of our services, but singing in the foyer allows me to hear so many of those who are there encouraging me to serve the Lord.

I love singing in the foyer because there is a great sense of us being of one heart and mind. The Lord established the church and that church is a family. We are a body where each of us plays a vital role in each other’s life, and this is possible because we are all in the same family, the same body. We have the same goals and values in life. We have the same purpose for living. Paul said, “For to me, to live is Christ” (Phil. 1:21).  This is so apparent to me as we sing together.

I also love singing when we are not in the foyer. Reread this article and realize that what is said of singing in the foyer can happen all the time. It seems easier on those fifth Sunday nights, but singing is of Divine origin, and He designed it to fit every occasion. This Sunday, make a special effort to sing from the depths of your souls as your praise God and speak to those who have your values. It will change your life!

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