Peace Interacting

"If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men" Romans 12:18.

This verse is part of a practical teaching of Paul's about getting along in life while interacting with the diversity of people.

Guess what? You won't like everybody. You'll find some people weird, mean, oddball, with no similarities to yourself. There are some people you will have to work with on many levels and situations, while your character and manners will clash with theirs every day.

Guess what? Not everyone will like you. Some people will find you weird, mean, oddball, with no similarities to themselves. Some people will have to work with you on many levels and situations, while your character and manners will clash with theirs every day.

Meekness is having great power under complete control.

"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control" Galatians 5:22.

Anyone can burst forth like a huge lightning bolt that randomly crashes around in a storm and fries whatever it hits.

But with the Holy Spirit's power inside a Christian, they're like a huge electric generator. The power to fry everything is there, but the direction and usage is controlled by wires, dials, and switches.

Lightning's power can kill. A generator's controlled power sustains life.

Any situation with the people you don't like can either be helped by your self-control to maintain peace. Or you can explode and harm everyone around you.

As a Christian in discerning situations, God calls us to be the peacemaker. God says we are to be the one who cedes when it is the better situational choice.

"If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men" Romans 12:18.

For God is the power behind you.

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Video : The Angel That Visited The Shepherds Luke 2:9

This video is an excerpt from the sermon giving by Pastor David Ray Jr at Grace Bible Church, Sangerville Maine on Christmas Day, December 25th, 2016. This was part of his advent series on the visitations of the angels to various people during the amazing incarnation and birth of the Son of God, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The sermon title: "The Angel that Visited the Shepherds" from Luke 2:8-21

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.
And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.
Then the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.'
'For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
And this will be the sign unto you; You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.'
And suddenly there with the angel a multitude of heavenly host praising God and saying,
"Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill
toward men!"
Luke 2:9-14

(Transcript of the video)

(Angels) They were aware that He’d laid those things aside for a little while, to come to earth to become one of us. To become a sacrifice really for us. You see, they also knew of the fall of man. They had been informed also that God was going to provide a way for the salvation for man. They knew about that. They knew the prophesy had been made that a Savior would come and that a sacrifice would be made. And they understood all of this and they were praising God because they were seeing God’s grace on display. They were thanking God for His indescribable gift. They were looking into the things… our salvation.

Peter talks about that, when he says that angels long to look into our salvation to try to understand. You see they never experienced the kind of salvation we can experience. They haven’t experienced the grace and mercy and forgiveness that we can experience.

You see, angels have never been forgiven. They’ve never been redeemed . And so they long to look into that. They’re interested in how God is working to save us and make salvation available to us.

You know, if the angels glorify God for this wonderful work, how much more should we raise up our voices and praise God for this wonderful work, and honor our Lord and Savior. It’s the greatest thing we can do with our life, is to live for the glory of God. 

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Video by Susan L. Estes

Re-Posting: They Missed Christmas: originally posted 12/14/13

(2015), I expanded this into an hour long Christmas program performed by my home church on Christmas Eve.

They Missed Christmas

The innkeeper missed Christmas. He turned away a woman heavy with child because she and her husband could not pay enough for him to bother to oust another paying guest.

The guests of the inn missed Christmas. Not one of them took pity on the woman to give up their room for her comfort.

The town of Bethlehem missed Christmas. When the shepherds came into the city seeking the wondrous thing proclaimed by the angels, no one ventured to search out why they were excited.

Months later, the Priests and Scribes missed Christmas.An entourage of men, Astrologers from another country, came because of a new star that had appeared. They knew the prophecy that this new star announced the birth of the King of the Jews. When questioned by Herod about what these travelers were talking about, the Priests and Scribes answered correctly that the King would be born in Bethlehem. Nevertheless, they never went to see for themselves.

Herod missed Christmas. He believed the Travelers about the new King and out of jealousy, he tried to kill the baby to get rid of the threat to his reign.

Many people on December 25 will miss Christmas. Millions will have parties; laugh and exchange gifts but they will miss the real gift of Christmas.

For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulders. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son and whoever believes on Him will not die but have eternal life.

John 3:16

Let us not miss Christmas.

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Preach the Word, In Season & Out of Season

My Husband is in Hospice care, but thankfully he's still at home with me. His in-home care workers come 6 days a week to help me take care of him.

I had prayed some months ago that God would use our house as a place for the gospel to be told to people who come to visit. Specifically that my kitchen would be used for His glory and to somehow save the souls of some people who God would have me talk to.

God is SOOOOOO good! It is amazing how He answers prayers. While the need of my husband is sad, it seems to be the way God is using this time as the answer to my prayer. People are coming into our house where we can present Jesus' free salvation to them.

I had been still praying for that to happen, today God showed me He was willing to grant me the ability. Today, during the time my Husband and I share the Bible and prayer in the morning, I prayed for the salvation of the worker, and that God would help us/me be some way used today to introduce the woman to Jesus.

All of Husband's helpers know we are Christians, as they have all seen us pray together and read our Bibles.

I didn't want to speak during the woman's working time, as that means she would have to listen even if she didn't want to. But after I signed her voucher sheet at the end of her time, she began speaking about seeing angels and an experience she had while visiting a relatives' grave. She thought a dead relative had reached out to her from the grave when something unusual happened while at the grave side.

That was my opening! And she didn't have any more clients today so she stayed another 20 minutes.

After talking a bit about angels, I ended up at the passage of Luke 16 and Jesus' explaining about Lazarus and the Rich Man and how in the Afterlife, there's a gulf between the two eternal places, paradise and hell.
Jesus shows Lazarus is comforted and at peace, without worry, having trusted in God, while the rich man who trusted in his riches was in torment.
And the finality of Jesus' words that 'even if a man comes back from the dead, those who hear him will not believe.' But they have Moses and the prophets to learn from.

I explained as I understood it, that the dead do not have access to the living, nor does Paradise have access to Hell. The opposite is true that Hell has no access to Heaven.

And, although she refused to take an offered Bible tract, she said I had given her much to think about. And I know the Holy Spirit will use the Word to speak to her.

God says, "For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and shall proper in the thing for which I sent it" Isaiah 55:10,11.

The Word of God is how people hear the gospel. Jesus says so.

"For faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God" Romans 10:17.

(Jesus prayed to the Father) "Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. John 17:17.

"For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edge sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart" Hebrews 5:12.

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work" 2 Timothy 3:16,17.

GOD IS SO GOOD!

AMAZING GRACE!

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Complete Swap & Trade--It's A Great Deal!!!

I have a 1 billion dollar, fully furnished home, on 1000 acres of private landscaped land. I offer to completely swap it for your house. Plus it's tax free and I pay for all maintenance for the rest of your life. Also, before you leave your house, you may smash all the windows, break everything inside, destroy the grounds, tear huge holes in every wall, floor and ceiling. You have the privilege of running up a huge mortgage, and homeowner's debt.

And I swap my beautiful home... completely to you for yours, no strings attached...would you take it?

Jesus has such a deal with you.

God has given absolutely everything He had, even going to death on the cross.

He offers you eternal life with Him in Paradise and all you have to do is give Him your life now, with all it's broken pieces, dirty laundry, loaded baggage.

He'll make a complete swap with you, giving you His eternal life, His comfort, His peace, His new birth, His riches in heaven and a new body on the new earth He has prepared for the future.
You exchange all the temporary brokenness of this life for paradise without end in the next.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have become new" 2 Corinthians 5:17.

Everyone born from Adam is dead in their trespasses and sins. Only through Jesus can you be born again into the new life of righteousness and be prepared for God's kingdom.

You can choose to live in paradise with God or you can choose to die forever in hell. God only pleads with you to ask Him for forgiveness and salvation from eternal death. God won't force you to accept eternal life. It's your choice.

While I do not have a 1 billion dollar home to swap--if the offer came to you, would you turn down a 1 billion dollar home that comes without strings?

So- would you turn down God's offer of His free salvation?

"He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him" John 3:36.

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Today's Christians are Modern Daniels

The way the majority of Liberals want to suppress Christianity in America by making laws against us and our worship of God, has similarities to the way the leading rulers of Daniel's day attempted to kill him by making his faith in God illegal.

"Then these men said, 'We shall not find any charge against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God.'" Daniel 6:5.

The modern pantheologist know they cannot be rid of true Christianity attacking us through our law-honoring live-styles, so they attack us through our worship of our God. So like these men set a trap for Daniel in making his worship of God illegal, so today's American Liberal community are attempting to do to us.

"All the governors of the kingdom, the administrators and satraps, the counselors and advisers have consulted together to establish a royal statue and to make a firm decree, that whoever petitions any god or man for thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions."

"Now, O king, establish the decree and sign the writing, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, which does not alter"

"Therefore King Darius signed the written decree."

Daniel 6:7,8,9.

Since it is impossible to eliminate God from the earth, it is only reasonable for pantheologists to attempt to eliminate the people of God from the earth.

So what are we to do in defense?

"Now when Daniel knew the writing had been signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days" Daniel 6:10.

As difficult as it is sometimes, today's Christians need to be as steadfast as Daniel in our faith. We must know we will be attacked for our faith, yet our faith is in Almighty God, the Savior. Let us go into our rooms and pray to our God every day as habitually as Daniel.

Daniel's adherence to his faithful prayers, did result in being thrown into the lion's den, yet God saved him from the people who hated him. We have no guarantee of not being eaten by lions, but God is will intercede for us, making a distinction between us who worship Him and those who work to harm us. (Hebrews 11)

Let our faith be known as our witness. And may our God give us the strength and peace to do so.

"For without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him" Hebrews 11:6.

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Who Did Jesus Die For

Ever think about the millions--billions--of people who have lived before us? All those who will live after us (if the Lord delays His appearing throughout our lives)

Ever think about all the rebellious in the tribulation period?

Christ died for the sins of the world to reconcile everyone to God the Father.

The Natives who met the Europeans who came across the Atlantic. The Vikings. Attila, the Hun. The people indigenous to Australia, Africa, North America, South Americans, and Asia. All the Mayans, Incas. Every nationality, tribe, and people groups.

All the slaves bought and sold before and after the War between the states--and their owners.

Everyone who have died or been buried at sea, since the flood in Noah's day--even those dead before and during that flood.

Everyone killed in WWI and WWII and every war the world has ever fought.

Every baby who died before birth, and in abortions.

Everyone who has been murdered and their murderers.

Everyone in your family tree.

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. 
Romans 3: 23.

For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is
eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. 
Romans 6: 23

God came to earth as a man to die the death earned by everyone being a sinner. He died on the cross, was buried three days and rose again from the grave to prove His death was sufficient for the punishment of all sin.

You name the person and Jesus took their sin. You name the sin and Jesus wore it. He did it even though all of mankind didn't and doesn't know they are lost, from Adam to the last person who dies at Armageddon.

At some point after Adam chose to leave the worship of the true God by his singular disobedience, mankind went on to create false gods. This practice spread throughout the world as nations began leaving and growing apart from their origins in the fertile valley where God made Adam. Romans 1: 18-20 says ALL people have the reason and capability to see God in all His creation, and are without excuse not to seek the True and Living God.

The Bible says no one seeks God. Not one does good. (cf Romans 3: 10--18)

Salvation is God's Amazing Grace! Just because He chose to do it.

There is only one sin that will keep anyone out of heaven--refusing to accept the free gift of salvation God provided for all of mankind.

But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, 

but is in danger of eternal damnation" Mark 3: 29

But

For all who call upon the name of Jesus shall be saved. Romans 10: 13

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Peace, Peace, & Peace

"My 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" John 24: 27.

We sing songs about peaceful times at Christmas. Many people say they ask for world peace at Christmas. There have been large gatherings of multicultural groups striving to produce peace in the world. Musical groups have banded in huge members to try and sing peace into existence. Governments attempt to politic peace into existence. It is a very good thing to strive for and we certainly should do all we can to maintain peace everywhere.

We certainly need peace and almost all these reasoning people have a good idea of how this peace should be accomplished. The trouble with the reasoning is they have yet to find a way to endue everyone with a peaceful heart. For there to be peace throughout the world the peace must come first inside a person before peace comes forth in effective presentation.


We need a peace that does not come with conditions.

"My 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" John 24: 27.

The supernatural peace of God provides that peace. Accepting Jesus brings that inner peace. Born again into the family of God helps us have that peace. It is nothing we produced. It is something Jesus gives.

Yes, yes, yes---may there be peace on earth this year! May many people come to know Jesus as their personal Savior this year!

Amen.

"Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God" Romans 10:17.