Tag Archive for 'Peace'

A God Directed Life!

by Jonas Harley | August 17, 2010

There is no doubt you want God to direct your life. I’m sure at some point in your life you have echoed what the psalmist said, “Shew me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths” (Psalm 25:4).  There are countless people and organizations that are gladly willing to offer you advice and guidance for your life. I want to submit to you that a God directed life never falters and I will biblically prove it to you in Proverbs 3:5-6. In order for God to direct your life you must follow these three commands.

You must trust in the Lord with all your heart (3:5a) – The key word here is trust. It means confidence, to cling to, to confide in. You will never follow someone who you do not trust. You will not place your entire trust in a person whose character you have no knowledge of. A good leader will be trustworthy among his or her followers. The reason many Christians struggle with allowing God to direct their life is due to the fact that they do not know their God very well. Ashamedly, many Christians have a surface and academic knowledge of God, but when it comes to making life altering decisions they struggle in trusting Him with all their heart. If you want to live a life that is directed by God you must take some time to establish a biblical view of God. Your trust will be in proportion to your love for God and your love is in proportion by your knowledge of God.   

You must not lean into your own understanding (3:5b) – The key word here is lean. It means to support one’s self, to rely, to prop up. A good illustration of this key word is observing someone on crutches. When you choose to not trust in the Lord with all your heart your natural default is to trust in your own knowledge and wisdom (understanding). Wow! It’s scary to think that if you fail to trust God you will naturally depend in your own ability and judgment to make decisions! God says you are fool! Proverbs 12:15 states, “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes…” To lean into your own understanding is an act of self-confidence that communicates there is no God! Remember, a God directed life never falters. You must depend and lean into God’s wisdom and understanding that is found through Scripture and in prayer.

You must acknowledge Him in all your ways (3:6a) – The key word here is ways. It means road, course of life, journey. It covers every area that life brings your way. God cares and loves you so much that He wants you to recognize (acknowledge) Him in every area. This keeps you on the right path, functions as accountability, and serves to keep you focused. When you are acknowledging God in all your ways that results in a God directed life!

Now, here is the best part. If you obey these three commands that are stated in Scripture, there is a promise that follows. God will direct your paths (3:6b)! This means God will make your paths straight. In other words, you have the blessings of God directing your life! God is your guide! A God directed life never falters! Amen!

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Peace Between Believers!

by Jonas Harley | April 20, 2010

According to a recent (April, 2010) study by the Barna Group, nearly four (4) out of every ten (10) non-churchgoing American adults (37%) said they avoid churches because of negative past experiences in churches or with church people. Simply put, there is a lot of unresolved conflict existing among Christians today that is causing many to quit church or “warm a pew”.

Please read Philippians 4:1-3. This passage presents how you can practically maintain peace between other believers. 

1) Your Biblical Command to Pursue Peace (v.1). Paul makes a wonderful transition that builds on what he had just written about in Philippians 3:12-21 about spiritual growth. He expresses his loving, loyal, and pastoral heart to the believers at Philippi and then presents an imperative (very important) command to the local church believers to “stand fast”, which means to stand firm in the faith of Jesus Christ! However, in order for your local church to stand firm its members (including you!) must be united, “striving together” (Phil. 1:27)!

Disunity is always the result of unresolved conflict that hinders the entire local church from standing firm in an unstable world. When you refuse to pursue interpersonal peace you actually hinder your local church from biblically and effectively fulfilling the great commission (Matt. 28:19-20)! Think about it, the unresolved conflict that you have in your home or with another church member could end in a fractured family life or church split! Conflict in your interpersonal relationships is like termites to a house, cancer to the body, and cavities to the teeth, it will destroy churches, marriages, families, friendships, and other relationships. You are directly commanded by God to “stand fast” and in order to do that you must be united with others!

2) You must Pursue Peace with Others (v.2). There was an unknown heated dispute between two faithfully serving women in the church at Philippi over some personal preference which was creating disunity and hindering the church’s command to “stand fast in the Lord”.   

Paul urges Euodia and Syntyche to biblically and immediately settle their conflict and restore harmony in the Philippian church. Paul understood that disunity posed a crippling threat to the church just as much as doctrinal error would. It’s very tragic that many fundamental, Bible believing and teaching churches are known for disunity rather than unity! The root of all interpersonal conflict is the sin of pride. Proverbs 13:10 states, “Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.”   

Remember, conflict is unacceptable in the body of Christ and it is always YOUR responsibility to resolve the conflict. Consider the following 2 biblical mandates:

1.  If someone has sinned against, offended, wronged, insulted, snubbed, hurt, slighted, or mistreated you = Read Luke 17:3 – You must humbly go to them and seek reconciliation (peace).

2.  If you have sinned against, offended, wronged, insulted, snubbed, hurt, slighted, or mistreated someone else= Read Mathew 5:23-24 – If you receive word or perceive that you have sinned against someone you must quickly go and ask forgiveness in order to restore unity.

Obeying these 2 clear command is honoring to God and He will greatly bless you! Matthew 5:9 says, “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.”

3) You must Help Others Pursue Peace, when Necessary (v.3).  Because of the seriousness of their disagreement, Pastor Paul publicly addressed the entire local church to help these two women resolve their conflict and restore unity if they did not reconcile privately. Again, Matthew 5:9 says, “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” If there are people in your family, church, or other relationships that are in conflict with one another you are commanded to biblically help them reconcile till unity/peace is restored.

Being at odds with other believers is unacceptable in the body of Christ. A local church that is standing firm (Phil. 4:1) will and must have unity. All conflict evaporates when all parties involved have the mind of Christ (see Phil. 2:3-5).

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