peace – Page 17 – Cross Culture Church

Meditation: April 14, 2013

Posted by Cross Culture Church Categories: Meditations

“Fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.” Philippians 2:2

What the Lord offers the Church should be shared alike by every believer. The benefits of salvation and the joy that accompanies obedience should be experienced by all. It is not enough for merely some to know the grace of the Lord and peace that resides within their hearts. God’s desire is that all should know Him in intimate and endearing ways. The mind can either be one’s best friend or worst enemy. When our minds retain the information of past experiences and attempt to decipher it without the renewing power of the Holy Spirit, division is inevitable. How can our varying experiences and thoughts lead to a unified conclusion? Each would interpret life and God on the basis of his own conclusions. Like-mindedness can only be attained when we hear the same message having the same Spirit in common. The Spirit of Christ is the Spirit of unity. He will take us from where we were to a new place of worship. Then we see Christ together and love Him with the same love. He then takes what is within us and distributes it from our hearts abroad. There is no greater joy than a shared experience of love for Jesus Christ shared with others who love Him as we love Him. We do not ever come together as strangers. We can then fellowship as intimate friends.

07 Apr 0Comments 0Likes

Meditation: April 7, 2013

Posted by Cross Culture Church Categories: Meditations

“ For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.” 1 Thess 5:9-10

The love of God has been directed towards all mankind, but not all know the depth of His love or the greatness of His power. He alone has the power to save us from the judgment that is measured against all ungodliness. He is angry at all things that may interfere with the peace of His beloved. We are saved from sin, but we are also saved from the wrath to come. God will eliminate all things that work against His divine plan that is; the evil works of darkness. The penalty for sin is death. Jesus died for us while we were yet sinners to provide a way of escape from His wrath. Love cannot be expressed without hatred being measured against the enemy of love. It is the opposite side of the same. He will ultimately make all things new. Adversarial things and competing values will soon pass away for Jesus died to abolish sin. It has already been judged through His awesome act of love. Now we can anticipate a life together and forever with Him whereas even death cannot hinder or alter His plan.

05 Apr 0Comments 0Likes

Meditation: April 5, 2013

Posted by Cross Culture Church Categories: Meditations

“The way of peace they have not known, and there is no justice in their ways; they have made themselves crooked paths; whoever takes that way shall not know peace.” Isaiah 59:8-9

There is a peace offered by God that surpasses what the crowd demands. Yes, fairness in judgments must be executed, and the wild behavior of the wayward majority must be regulated by laws. But justice gives what justice demands. Laws alone cannot change the heart. It condemns both the accused and the accusers for all have sinned. It looks into the secret sins of the heart, and the evil practices done under the cloak of darkness. Those sins though unseen, cause disease of the soul. Justice condemns the ways of the wicked. A death sentence is served to all who follow her path.

How can one know the way to peace when the contributing forces of war are unknown? None are aware of why they love what is evil and hate what is good. Yet those who seek both justice and peace are blind to their own guilt. It is the right path that must be chosen if peace is ever to be known. Jesus Christ paid for my sins which were many, thus tearing down the dividing wall which separated me from God. Without having peace with God none would ever know the peace of God. The scales of justice are balanced by His supreme act of love. He gave me a life undeserving for the sacrificed life of His Son. None could argue against His wisdom that provided for me a choice rather than a curse. Now the Way of peace is known for the crooked path I once paved He has now been straightened.

03 Apr 0Comments 0Likes

Meditation: April 3, 2013

Posted by Cross Culture Church Categories: Meditations

“Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, (21) make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” Hebrews 13:20-21

The restlessness of the soul was resulting from the waywardness of the heart. When you were determined to fix your own problems your own way, none of the benefits made available by God through our Lord Jesus Christ could be applied. Now that the struggle has ended as to whether the life of Christ was to be followed because His death was sufficient enough for His life to be our life, we are being made complete. What a difference now in comparison to then. All you need to do is remember how strained the struggle was and how difficult your life would be if His knowledge was absent. But now that you know Him, allow Him to complete the great work within you that He has begun. His objective is to complete you. When your ways please the Lord you are at peace with yourself and even with your enemies. He is the God of peace who will ultimately prove all things according to its character and His original design. Therefore give Him the glory that He so rightly deserves now for it will be His forever and ever. Amen.

28 Mar 0Comments 0Likes

Meditation: March 28, 2013

Posted by Cross Culture Church Categories: Meditations

“And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.” Daniel 2:21

These times are different from any other. There was a time when people both thought and acted differently. The environment has an effect upon the times. The mood is set by the atmosphere. God orders it in response to prayer on the part of His people. During the times of peace and prosperity, the people are at ease. But when trouble comes, there is an unsettling among them. God examines and tries the heart of every person. Rebellion is not the result of the times, but rather the times are the result of man’s rebellion. He changes the times to reflect the attitude on earth expressed towards Him. But when we pray, and seek Him with our whole hearts, a new season of revival will begin. He will give us leaders who are after His own heart when our hearts are directed towards Him. Otherwise those who will lead will reflect the attitude of the people they are leading. Yes God changes both times and seasons but His attention is set upon His people to seek Him for a time of the healing of the land and wholeness among the peoples of the earth.

24 Mar 0Comments 0Likes

Meditation: March 24, 2013

Posted by Cross Culture Church Categories: Meditations

“All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children.” Isaiah 54:13

The instructions given by God to your children will first produce an inner peace. Their hearts will agree with the truth for which they were made to receive and understand. They would no longer be left to themselves to wander from one opinion to the next never knowing which path is the right one to take. But rather, they shall be surefooted in their stance in righteousness and not easily swayed by the winds of strange doctrines that have become prevalent in our day. There is a peace for children to receive. Even though they may not have experienced much of what lies ahead, nevertheless they can face the future with confidence. The instruction of the Lord will guide them when they arrive at certain impasses and a decision is necessary to go in either direction. They will apply their teachings to the situation at hand and not fall prey to the adversary whose objective is to allure them away from the path that leads to life. Each child shall receive his share. None shall be left out for all need the same peace that comes from Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace.

16 Mar 0Comments 0Likes

Meditation: March 16, 2013

Posted by Cross Culture Church Categories: Meditations

“The earth is violently broken, the earth is split open; the earth is shaken exceedingly.” Isaiah 24:17

The earth is violently disturbed as the result of the violent offenses measured against its Creator. It awaits the rule of the sons of God whose aim is to reflect the glory of Jesus Christ. Until then, it is held captive, not willingly but anticipating a liberty that will only come as the rule of the righteous. Some will grow bitter towards God because of the calamities that many inhabitants on the earth are now suffering. They will think of God as being cruel and unfair. But His judgments will ultimately bring an end to sins that often appear to be benign, but are the root cause of wars and all earthly calamities. The mark established by God is not the aim of many leaders who now lead many astray, thus sin runs its full course. He created the earth to be a habitation of rest and peace, but sin has left its mark and produced death. Pray that righteous rulers will arise in order for the people to rejoice because the Prince of Peace is ruling over them.

14 Mar 0Comments 0Likes

March 2013 Article: “Safe and Secure From All Alarm”

Posted by Cross Culture Church Categories: Articles

God’s objective is to make us both safe and secure. Uncertainties leave the majority in a state of flux and wonder fearful of the future. “What if” questions often plague the mind with the unending possibilities of disastrous occurrences.They restrict the activity of those who would otherwise move in a proactive direction facing the needs of today and resolving them. Many who were chosen for such a time as this, are too busy worrying rather than engaging in a process of clear and productive thinking. Productive thinking requires one to process information leading to a conclusion. Without it, one is caught up into circular thinking which leads to the same place where the journey first began. Too many are going around in circles rather than progressing towards an end that could produce a permanent resolve to what most people worry about.

The first thing to consider is that none of the occurrences in life are merely random. God is a God of order who arranges circumstances and conditions for the ultimate good of those who love Him, and oversees and intercepts the decisions made by those who despise Him. He is not an absentee God, but is aware of the smallest of detailsregarding everything that moves. The question then is why aren’t things moving in a course that would contribute to our peace of mind? He has predetermined that no individual would ever find true peace until they find it in Him. Therefore the inner disturbances of the soul are the result of man’s decisions and not God’s ultimate purpose for humanity. Things are not going as planned, but the plans of God are not thwarted by the misbehavior of man. Therefore the peace that is sought after is not being found. The complexity of the matter appears to be overwhelming, thus many people feel hopeless.

There are so many things pulling us in different directions. There are so many choices to be made in life with unknown consequences. Yet it is too easy to do what one think is right without the right information. Even though much information is available to us today, yet most are clueless as to how to apply the information in the right order to provide safety and security for the future. Information alone is not sufficient in making right decisions. Wisdom is also needed if we are ever to discern the difference between things that appear to be fused together.

Security, safety, and hope are contained within the simple message of Jesus Christ and Him crucified. The gospel message puts into words the sentiments of the heart of humanity so that his dilemma is made clear in words. At the same time the Word of God has been given in order to communicate to us the sentiments of the heart of God in order for us to understand and know Him. It appears to be too deep and difficult to understand because sin has dulled the heart and ears of men leaving them to their own second-handed intellect passed down from one generation to another, yet void of godly wisdom. What one thinks that he knows causes a strain for him and prohibits him from listening to God’s voice.Then His Word is dismissed as being too abstract or obsolete. If the truth was to be told, it was the preoccupation of the heart and soul in pursuit of what is thought to be the resolve rather than embracing what has already been given as the permanent resolve to each challenge.To acknowledge God in all your ways is an admission that there are more things unknown by you than what is known. Since it is impossible to know what is needed apart from Him, the posture that must be taken is to first listen to Him, then to wait on Him to reveal to us as to how His Word is to be applied to our lives. He will then guide you and guide others through you towards those things that really matter.

13 Mar 0Comments 0Likes

Meditation: March 13, 2013

Posted by Cross Culture Church Categories: Meditations

“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,” Jude 24

God has the ability to stabilize our walk and keep us from staggering. It is the staggering walk or the unsettled and unsure steps that eventually lead to a fall. We don’t have to waver in unbelief, but can maintain a steady confidence that God is all that He says in His Word. The world has a dizzying affect upon all who focus their attention in its direction. The contrary winds of error spoken by the majority blow in such ways as to cause the fainthearted to sway under its control. But God has a path that is straight and the power to keep us straight on the path. It leads to the Presence of His glory as one who has victoriously endured the pressures that otherwise would have caused us to drift away. Even if we stumble or stagger or even drift for a moment in time, He gets us back on course and teaches us what we need to know in order that we may stand erect in the center of the storm. There His peace abides and we learn to trust in Jesus as Lord over the storm.

01 Mar 0Comments 0Likes

March 2013 Article: “Safe and Secure From All Alarm”

Posted by Cross Culture Church Categories: Articles

God’s objective is to make us both safe and secure. Uncertainties leave the majority in a state of flux and wonder fearful of the future. “What if” questions often plague the mind with the unending possibilities of disastrous occurrences.They restrict the activity of those who would otherwise move in a proactive direction facing the needs of today and resolving them. Many who were chosen for such a time as this, are too busy worrying rather than engaging in a process of clear and productive thinking. Productive thinking requires one to process information leading to a conclusion. Without it, one is caught up into circular thinking which leads to the same place where the journey first began. Too many are going around in circles rather than progressing towards an end that could produce a permanent resolve to what most people worry about.

The first thing to consider is that none of the occurrences in life are merely random. God is a God of order who arranges circumstances and conditions for the ultimate good of those who love Him, and oversees and intercepts the decisions made by those who despise Him. He is not an absentee God, but is aware of the smallest of detailsregarding everything that moves. The question then is why aren’t things moving in a course that would contribute to our peace of mind? He has predetermined that no individual would ever find true peace until they find it in Him. Therefore the inner disturbances of the soul are the result of man’s decisions and not God’s ultimate purpose for humanity. Things are not going as planned, but the plans of God are not thwarted by the misbehavior of man. Therefore the peace that is sought after is not being found. The complexity of the matter appears to be overwhelming, thus many people feel hopeless.

There are so many things pulling us in different directions. There are so many choices to be made in life with unknown consequences. Yet it is too easy to do what one think is right without the right information. Even though much information is available to us today, yet most are clueless as to how to apply the information in the right order to provide safety and security for the future. Information alone is not sufficient in making right decisions. Wisdom is also needed if we are ever to discern the difference between things that appear to be fused together.

Security, safety, and hope are contained within the simple message of Jesus Christ and Him crucified. The gospel message puts into words the sentiments of the heart of humanity so that his dilemma is made clear in words. At the same time the Word of God has been given in order to communicate to us the sentiments of the heart of God in order for us to understand and know Him. It appears to be too deep and difficult to understand because sin has dulled the heart and ears of men leaving them to their own second-handed intellect passed down from one generation to another, yet void of godly wisdom. What one thinks that he knows causes a strain for him and prohibits him from listening to God’s voice.Then His Word is dismissed as being too abstract or obsolete. If the truth was to be told, it was the preoccupation of the heart and soul in pursuit of what is thought to be the resolve rather than embracing what has already been given as the permanent resolve to each challenge.To acknowledge God in all your ways is an admission that there are more things unknown by you than what is known. Since it is impossible to know what is needed apart from Him, the posture that must be taken is to first listen to Him, then to wait on Him to reveal to us as to how His Word is to be applied to our lives. He will then guide you and guide others through you towards those things that really matter.