February 6, 2002
Jesus: the Sword of Peace
"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." - Isaiah 9:6
"Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword." - Matthew 10:34
Are these conflicting verses? "Prince of Peace" and "not peace but a sword"?
Matthew 10:32-38 "Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven. Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law--a man's enemies will be the members of his own household.' Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me." Does that sound pretty harsh for the Prince of Peace?
Something we need to understand about the Prince of Peace is that there is no way you can study His Life and conclude that He came to sing a lullaby to humanity and tell us that, "Sin doesn't matter."
Jesus Christ came in the name of God with a sword to declare war on all of the things that prevent peace.
He's drawn His sword against all of the evil in the hearts of men to uproot all of the evil attitudes and habits. He will make no peace with any of it. Why not? Why can't He just "cut the world a break"? He CANNOT. for the sake of Real Peace.
There was a time at the end of the Revolutionary War when the British General came to surrender to General George Washington. The General began to praise Washington with flowery words about Washington's magnificent military tactics, going on and on. Suddenly, in the midst of the British General's eloquent speech, Washington interrupted him with these words: "Your sword, Sir!"
The Prince of Peace is calling for every sword of rebellion to be handed over, until all things are brought under His feet (Hebrews 2:7), then peace will happen. ("All enemies are His footstool." Hebrews 1:13)
The way Christ makes a way of peace is by showing us how wicked sin really is. and destroying it. Adam was thrown out of the Garden for it. Noah's entire earth population was destroyed by God because of it. Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed because of it. And the Cross of Christ proves that God cannot live in peaceful coexistence with sin! Even God's own Son had to die when He took on sin.
Matthew 10, let's read the context together and see how Christ can wield a sword and be a "Prince of Peace."
Matthew 10:34-"Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword." But what happened just prior to this?
Matthew 9:35-36-"Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd."
Matthew 10:8-"Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give."
Matthew 10:11-17-"Whatever town or village you enter, search for some worthy person there and stay at his house until you leave. As you enter the home, give it your greeting. If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town. tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town. I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Be on your guard against men; they will hand you over to the local councils and flog you in their synagogues."
Matthew 10:28-31-"Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."
Jesus saw the crowds and was moved with compassion. "Go! Bring peace to the starving multitudes. They're scattered. They're easy prey for the wolves. I must draw my sword to make peace! I love them, the hairs on their heads are numbered! I must give them peace. Peace comes from Victory." He took CAPTIVES in His train, and gave THEM gifts!
All of this brings up an important distinction-who are the "enemies" of Christ and who are the "weak"? Christ does have "enemies" or He wouldn't need a sword or need to separate members of a household.
Jesus Christ has "enemies" (Luke 11:23):
the proud (1 Peter 5:5)
those that have called a truce with the world-decided to live their way (James 4:4)
those that teach false doctrine (Revelation 2:6)
lukewarm (Revelation 3:16)
lazy, fearful, unproductive (Matthew 25:26-30)
Christ has "enemies." So what's the difference between an "enemy" and a "weak Christian"? (Not much in actions.) A weak Christian may act exactly the same as a "religious" enemy of Christ. The Difference is the Heart. One wants to grow and change and by the Grace of God keep moving in the Right direction! The other kicks and fumes and finds excuses whenever challenged.refusing to move towards maturity and change. (Tries to find a doctrine that will ease the conscience-2 Tim. 4) For the rebellious, He has a sword. But for the weak (who might have some of the same actions) Jesus, Prince of Peace, has a hug and infinite patience. (Father loves us much as Jesus! Prince! Princess!) That's good news!
In Romans 14 and Hebrews 12:12-13, God acknowledges that there will be feeble and weak and lame in the fold, but His every effort is in Healing them, not tearing them up! The word "weak" or "weakness" is used 87 or 88 times in the New Testament and never once is "weakness" (feeble; without strength) condemned! Jesus will always lean over and carry the rubbery-legged lamb!
A 3-year-old child is another good example of the difference between enemy (gets sword) and weak (gets hug). A 3-yr-old would just as soon yell "NO!" into the face of a king as he would his little sister. He has no understanding! No value system-he's too young. Then consider a grown man yelling "NO!" into the face of the king. Big difference, right? When we are still "babies" in the faith, we'll make those mistakes because we haven't understood the awesome nature of our King! But, as time goes on, it's no longer immaturity, but treacherous mutiny. The Prince of Peace has a sword to meet mutiny, but it's not His desire!
Jesus never tried to minimize sin. He never ignored it. He hates sin with a fury! But by His precious Blood, He paid the price for sin for those who will accept it!(Ephesians 2:14; 2 Corinthians 5:19) He wants to bring peace to His friends-even before they even care. Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, became our peace with the Father by giving His life!
In John 8, the woman caught in adultery was told by Jesus, "I will not condemn you. Go, and don't sin again." If we had been there, I'm sure we wouldn't have heard a thing as she walked slowly away. But Jesus did. He knew the cost of His kindness to her. As she walked away, I'm sure He heard the whiz of the whip as it came towards His back. He heard the mockery and slander of the soldiers echoing in His mind. He heard the weeping of His mother at the foot of His cross. He heard the dull thud of the hammer driving the spikes through His hands and feet. The woman was set free the same way you and I can be set free, but someone paid for it-the Prince of Glory. The Prince came to bring peace to those that will follow Him-the peace of assurance of Life in paradise with Him.
In John 14 and John 16 Jesus said to His disciples, "In this world, you will have trouble, but take heart! I'm giving you My peace! Do you have "trouble" right now? Do you have peace in spite of that? How do you get that peace that Jesus is the Prince of? I'll just consider one more verse with you and you can judge for yourself. Isaiah 48: 17-18-"This is what the LORD says-your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: 'I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go. If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the waves of the sea.'" What is our "peace like a river" dependent on? Obeying God! Isaiah 48:22-"There is no peace," says the LORD, "for the wicked." You know how miserable you are inside when you live in sin, don't you!?
A trustworthy saying: Peace with God brings the Peace of God. Our walking with Him, keeping in step with His Spirit (Galatians 5:25) is the only thing that will allow the "peace that passes understanding" to flow through our hearts and minds even in unbearable circumstances! God is offering you Life and Peace, but many will jump headlong into the Ravine of Destruction. God is offering Jesus Christ; some of you may be choosing Barabbas. Jesus Christ wants to take your broken pieces (or your family, emotions, failures) and give you unbroken peace. Praise God, the Prince of Peace is Reigning! For those who will live for Jesus, there will be "peace like a river." Imagine the Glorious thought of every sin of your past washed away.PEACE WITH GOD!
Written in 1985 by an anonymous group of believers!
February 13, 2002
Some Motivation for Hiding our Life in Jesus
All that can be shaken, will be shaken. The only thing that will be left, when all is said and done...when all the nations and leaders and economies and buildings and business empires have fallen...when all the deeds are done, all the relationships lived, all the work completed, all of our precious time spent, all our money and bank accounts and insurance worthless, all our vanities and egos dwarfed, all the movies and ballgames and "good times" are over...when all the peoples of the earth, past, present and future have bowed their knees before the Throne of our Eternal God...
When ALL is said and done and over with, the ONLY thing left will be Jesus, the Father, His Spirit...the Godhead. That is all that will be left. Nothing else will matter. Nothing else will exist. ALL will be gone forever....EXCEPT for Jesus. All that will be, will be Jesus and the things that are made of Him. That's all!! So the only thing that really matters today, is building up and nurturing the spectacular Life and breathtaking Love of Jesus in our own personal lives and in the lives of others. NOTHING else matters. It's a priority thing. It's a Together thing.
So......What have we done with Him, this day?? How have we looked in His Eyes? Have we taken the time and care to do that today, just simply and lovingly?? Just because? No strings attached? What does He MEAN to us?? Have we found His Peace and Pleasure and Known Him today? How have we responded to His Gestures of Love and Thoughtfulness towards us? They're really precious, you know. :) :) Have we opened our hearts to let His Love and Kindness touch us, and then out to others?
What have we done with today? Have i kept, as best i'm able, my heart fully opened to Him? Been soft and receptive, with arms spread wide to Him and to His precious other chosen ones? Have i invited the pain of the hour with humility and softness? Embracing what hurts, rather than bucking or running away or shielding myself? How have i met those pains and heartaches and troubling times? What have i done when my conscience aches and condemns me? Have a turned trustingly back to Him?
What have i done today with this Jesus who loves me so?? What have i cared about, for Him? Have i kept a "tight ship" in all of my relations with others? No building on any shifting and sinking sands that aren't Jesus through and through? Is His Sweet aroma ever present in those relationships, confirming their validity in His Sight? Have i been sure not to tolerate "friendships" of mixture of any kind? Partly around Jesus and partly around something else? Have i not pampered myself with other false security blankets besides "Jesus loves me, THIS i know??" He's Truly ALL that i need. I don't need "good deeds" to feel good, or people liking me, or comparing to others to pump myself up (pride) or competing with others over anything at all?
The only thing that will be left...is Jesus. Pursuits of my own liking will have vanished in an instant. My fleeting whims and idle talk will seem ohhhh so foolish. My desires for friends or love or respect or popularity or compliments or warm fuzzy times...my lust after worldly ambitions or promotions or self-serving relationships or food or material goods and clothing and "stuff"....or big toys of cars or computers and gadgets and gizmos...all will be nothing and be embarrassingly worthless. All that will be left are those things that are built out from and through and in Jesus' Life and Person. What motivation! That's all that will be left. Nothing more.
So how will you spend your today? We have only a short life to live and so many choices to make...so many people to know and help and love. Let us Together Look to our Champion, Jesus...our Shepherd, our King. Let us hold His Name and Honor high, seeing that His Desires for each other come to pass. Reach out to Father's hand and draw others there with you. Follow the lead of His Holy Spirit in patience and trust. Refuse to build anything other than the Life and uncompromising Truth and Strength of Jesus into the people that you know and live your life with, day to day. Make it your goal to exalt Him with your simple todays and tomorrows in every word, and action and thought and motivation and follow-through. Stay close to Him and in Him, not forgetting Him. I really want to live there. Do you??
You don't want any regrets at the end of your time on earth when your eyes are dim and your body is near dead. Yes, perhaps saved, but so much potential...wasted. You don't want that. You know you don't want to end life that way. Project yourself out there and imagine looking back on what you've done with Jesus and with those you Love. With your children and your neighbors you see every day. Wouldn't it be worth it to decide to die NOW, when THAT choice could mean SO much TODAY?? To sacrifice the temporary for the always-and-forever-lasting Things of Jesus? Choosing to bear the Fruit of His Spirit, NOW with your today?
And by the way, i'm finding that He's not going to force my hand in any of this. :) That's one of those great Paradoxes of His Kingdom. The Call is Strong and Clear to pursue Jesus with all your heart...and you'll not know Life unless you Lose your life completely into His and heartily seek first and lay hold of His Kingdom here on earth. No doubt. But, He'll not beg you or twist your arm or constantly chastise you or badger you into believing Him for His Amazing Invitation into Life and Love and Liberty that will blow our minds. He will hold out His arms, forever, beckoning us, never turning us away....but He'll not chase you down.
You and me, we decide how far we will go... Let's make the very Most of the opportunity we have Today! The Glory of the Picture and the Awesomeness of His Invitation and His Power and Willingness to perform marvelous and miraculous transformations in and through you and me, is staggering. Held out before us is a Feast!!! Find Him, beg Him, pursue Him, run after Him.
"Don't I promise that I'll throw open the very floodgates of heaven? Test me in this and see if it isn't true to the uttermost!!"
With love, Molly
February 20, 2002
(100's of years have passed since these observations were made, and still they ring true -- as a new generation becomes aware of the "devices" of the enemy. The battle -- which is not against mortal foe, but REAL and truly against "principalities and powers" is usually unseen to our human eye, and the limitations of frequency band that our human eyes can identify. Yet, do not believe that because you cannot "see" magnetism or electricity in a light frequency your physical eye is acquainted with, that they do not exist. You know their power, and their ways, and you KNOW they exist by the effect they have - though your eye has never seen them directly. A PERSON, invisible to the physical eye, in the spectrum available to human life, named satan... desires to kill you and I, through lies and subtleties and small decisions. Yes, he exists. And yes, he nearly always accomplishes his goal. The Master said, "broad is the road" of those who are of christian culture, saying 'Lord, Lord' and doing good works in His Name... who still will choose to yield the the enemy , even yet while empowered to Overcome -- and not turn to Messiah in repentance. The Good News is simply this: HE IS ABLE! and TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE! Let us together grow in Grace and Knowledge of Him and His Love and His Ways. These ancient thoughts below will allow you to train the eye of the "inner man" to recognize Father's Grace and Provision, and the stench of the enemy, which is often perfumed with sweet talk from his religious servants and our fleshly rationalizations. Consider and enjoy and do put into practice this equipping, written in 1655. - Mike)
Your state in this life is set out by the word "wrestling." It describes the sharpness of your encounter with the enemy. Paul uses it to convey the notion of a bloody and lasting war between the christian and his implacable opponent. Whether you like it or not, you must go into the ring with satan. He has not only a general malice against the army of saints, but a particular spite against every single child of God. All must wrestle. The length of a man's combat with satan measures the same as the length of his life. We are, as Jeremiah said of himself, born "a man of strife". And having become a saint, the struggle increases. From your spiritual birth to your natural death, from the hour you first set your face toward heaven until you set your foot inside the gate, you will have wars with satan, sin, and self. Israel's march out of Egypt is, in a figurative way, our open declaration of war against the forces of darkness. And when did they have peace? Not until they reached Canaan. No condition the christian finds himself in here below is quiet. Is it prosperity or is it adversity? Here is work for both hands - to keep pride and complacency down in the one, faith and patience up in the other. The christian has nowhere he can call privileged ground.
Some have thought if they were only in a certain situation, removed from a certain temptation, then they would not be such weak christians. A change of air is a great help to an invalid, but do you think you can thus escape satan's presence? No! Even if you were to take the wings of the morning, he would pursue you. A change in circumstances may make him change his method of tempting, but nothing temporal can make him lay down his designs. As long as his comrade, your old nature, is alive within, he will be knocking at the door without. This diabolical opponent will challenge you at every opportunity. He delights to sneak up on you from behind, while you are kneeling, trowel in hand, planting seeds for the kingdom. He knows a scuffle with him will at least detain you, if he cannot stop you altogether. You can see that the christian is assailed on every side by his enemies. How can it be otherwise, when the rumblings of war are deep in the natures of both man and satan? Satan and your old nature may lie down together, but sin and grace never will. Sin will lust against grace, and grace draw a sword upon sin whenever they meet.
A lust held in check but not discarded grows as wild as a trapped stallion. Finally conscience can no longer hold the reins nor sit in the saddle, but is thrown down. Then the lust ranges where it can have its fullest meal and will continue to gorge itself until conscience revives and runs to God for help. Some wrestle with sin but do not hate it. Until the love of a sin is quenched in the heart, the fire will never die out. How is this accomplished? Jerome says one love extinguishes another - that is, the love of Christ must quench the love of sin. Then and not until then will the soul's decree stand against sin.
Your bout with sin and satan is not a weekend sport; it is the final conflict. Strive to put off the old man - that corruption David called his own iniquity. Observe what it is and mortify it daily; it is a favorite handhold of satan's. He will beat a shameful retreat when he finds no iniquity in you to catch hold of - and he dare not touch that in you which is holy. Is your flesh mortified? Now anoint your soul with the frequent meditation of Christ's love. It will help you disdain the offer of sin and, like oil, will make your spirit supple and your will agile to evade the enemy. Satan will find little welcome where Christ's love dwells. Love will kindle love, and flame as a wall of fire to keep him away.
Perhaps you are discouraged, not only by the strength of the enemy, but by your own apparent weakness and the constant contention with sin and self. Be encouraged! There is strong consolation for the christian who struggles with the truth of God's grace and his own inner conflicts with sin (1 Peter 4:1). Why do i find such struggling in me, provoking me to sin, pulling me back from that which is good? Too often we mistake the state of a christian in this life. You are a wrestler. You are not handed immediate triumph over your enemies, but rather are carried into battle to fight them, so that in the process you can understand WHO IS THIS GREAT I AM who is your victory. Wrap your soul in this promise: there is a place of rest reserved for the people of God. You do not beat the air, but wrestle to win heaven and a permanent crown. Here on earth we overcome to fight again. One temptation may be conquered, but the war remains. When death cones, however, God strikes the final blow. We know peace is sweet after war, pleasure after pain. But what tongue can express the joy that will flood the creature at the first sight of God and his eternal home?!!
Written and compiled by Mike Peters
[email protected]
February 27, 2002
Lessons from Moses
"Elijah was a man just like us." - James 5:17
"So was Moses!" - Gary Z.
One of my epiphanies was realizing that the so-called "heroes" of the Bible were people just like you and me. They messed their pants when they were babies, had acne when they were teenagers and struggled with the same types of circumstances and challenges you and I deal with. While some were richer or poorer than me, smarter or dumber than me, stronger or weaker than me; they were all people with feelings and emotions facing the same kind of trials and struggles you and I face day to day. The only difference between the people of the Bible and us is that their lives are on display for the whole world to see and you and I are able to maintain some privacy in our lives.
So anyway, getting to my point, what can we learn from Moses; a man who was "just like us"? When I think of Moses, I see these virtues in him: Passion, Faith, Self-control, Determination, Patience and Love.
Now maybe you're thinking what I'm thinking about myself: "How can Moses be just like me? I don't have all of those virtues!"
Here's the answer: Moses wasn't born with those virtues; those virtues developed over time. The Bible doesn't tell us everything about Moses' early life but we know he grew up as a child of privilege in the Pharaoh's palace. In a phrase: he was "world's apart" from his Jewish brethren and, at least for awhile, probably cared less about their suffering; but God had a different plan for this Goshen-born Jew in Pharaoh's court.
Let's begin with Moses' passion. Moses obviously had passion even when he lived in Pharaoh's house. Once he was aware that he himself was Jewish he took a taskmaster to task by killing him for abusing a Jewish slave. Moses had passion.but he lacked self-control. He tried to rectify the situation in his own strength, by his own wisdom and in his flesh; and he failed.
Can you relate to Moses at this point? I know that I can. Many the times I have taken a situation into my own hands and in my own strength made a complete mess of things. How about you?
Well anyway, God had other plans for Moses; plans that would change Moses' life and the history of the Jews forever. Moses had an experience with God, an encounter, which transformed him from a failure on the run to become the Great Deliverer of Israel: God met Moses in a burning bush. Pretty dramatic if you ask me, and something Moses would never forget. Wouldn't it be great if we all had such dramatic encounters with God? You wake up one morning and your pillow is on fire but the pillow is not consumed? You wouldn't forget that experience now, would you?
But God doesn't always meet us that way. Let's go back to Elijah, who "was a person just like us." In 1 Kings chapter 19 Elijah was waiting for a word from God. A great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks, but the LORD was not in the wind. Then there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.a still, small voice. God was in the whisper. Have you ever heard the LORD speak to you in a whisper? I have.
Moses had an experience with God that changed his life forever. When he returned to Egypt and stood before the Pharaoh, he stood only by faith in the God who met him in the burning bush. Each time the Pharaoh said "you can go" and then changed his mind I believe Moses reminded himself of the burning bush for the courage to approach Pharaoh again. But Moses' experience with God didn't end with the burning bush: It's obvious from the story that Moses was in regular communion with the LORD as God regularly gave Moses words and signs and wonders to take before the Egyptians.
Moses didn't just have an encounter with God.Moses had a relationship with God which fed his faith, tempered his passion with self-control and gave him the determination to keep going even when everything and everyone seemed to be against him. Moses' relationship with God gave him the patience he needed to deal with a bunch of stubborn and demanding people he was called to lead to the Promised Land. Moses' relationship with God gave him a firsthand experience of God's love and forgiveness. Moses knew what redemption was all about. Moses knew what grace was all about. Have you had that experience? Moses experienced God's mercy firsthand and responded to those griping and complaining Israelites with that same mercy. "Forgive us our trespasses...as we forgive those who trespass against us."
God took Moses, who in his own strength and self-righteousness had failed to rescue his own people, and transformed him into the Great Deliverer who would become a metaphor for the Messiah. When God first met him in the burning bush, Moses said "Who am I to bring the Israelites out of Egypt?" and God replied "I WILL BE WITH YOU." That's what it's all about.
So what about you? What about me? Who am I? I've never seen a burning bush, but I've heard His whisper and felt His Holy Spirit within me. I don't thinks I've heard God's voice in the wind or an earthquake or in a fire.but I've experienced firsthand His mercy, His grace and His forgiveness. When I' m scared and can't see God through the fog and darkness, I can remember how He has rescued me in the past and how He was there for people like Moses and Elijah. They were men just like me.not superheroes or superstars. The only reason they could do the things they did was because they trusted in, clung to and relied on the same God I trust in, cling to and rely on: the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph. The God of Moses, Joshua, Gideon, Samuel and David. The God of the prophets and apostles. The God who revealed Himself in the person of Jesus Christ and has taken up residence in my heart through His Holy Spirit.
I'll never be a superhero and I'll never be a superstar; but I can do everything He calls me to do through Him who gives me strength. So can you...so can you.
Gary Zanow
The Grace Cyber Cafe
www.new-mercies.org