Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore, let us go forth to him outside the camp, bearing his reproach. For we have no continuing city here, but we seek one to come.
Select a thought to read by choosing a collection, the month, and then the day:
A letter from Sister Sandy
Bro. John:
The Lord has been teaching me some wonderful lessons today on “peace”. The backslidden children of God, we know, have no peace.
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That’s right, Sandy. I remember this verse from Isaiah: “There is no peace, says my God, to the wicked.” There is another verse which describes the inward turmoil of the ungodly as being like the restless sea, always moving, always after something, and never satisfied.
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The goal of the ungodly is to try to turn us from ours. So what are they holding onto? God said in Jeremiah: “Why then is this people of Jerusalem slidden back by a perpetual backsliding? they hold fast deceit, they refuse to return.”
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Yes, but in some cases, it is not that they will not return (repent); it is that God will not allow them to repent. Remember what Hebrews 12:17 said about Esau? “He found no place for repentance, though he sought it carefully, with tears.”
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This morning, I was thinking on how those backslidden children of God have no peace, and how they often continually persecute those who choose to live according to the righteous ways of God. The Spirit reminded me of what Jesus did when he suffered one attack of words upon who he was.
Matthew 26
59. Now, the chief priests, and the elders, and the Sanhedrin kept trying to obtain false testimony against Jesus so that they might put him to death,
60. but they found none; though many false witnesses came forward, they found none.
61. Finally, two false witnesses came forth and said, “This man said, ‘I have power to destroy the temple of God and to rebuild it within three days.’”
62. And when the high priest had risen, he said to him, “Do you answer nothing? What is it that these men testify against you?”
63. But Jesus was silent. And the high priest answered and said to him, “I adjure you by the living God that you tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God!”
Then the Spirit added: “Holding your peace is more than just being silent. It is holding ONTO your peace!”
Brother John, that was SO good to me! I had always thought of “holding your peace” as just being silent and not responding. But, it is more. It is not being moved. It is not debating. It is not giving the enemy ammunition to fire back at you! And it takes humility. It is as your grandmother said, “Not a ripple on the water”.
We can hold our peace, and hold ONTO our peace, by not being moved by the deceitful words of backslidden children of God. Jesus was terribly abused and crucified, but all the words and actions of men could not steal from him his peace. When he finally answered the high priest that day, it was not only with peace, but with the Authority given to him by his Father:
“Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.”
God help us to hold onto our peace, and not be moved by men who have none.
Sandy
“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.”
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That is wonderful, Sandy, a real lesson from the Lord.
Thanks,
Pastor John