Vengeange Is The Lords

Psalm 118:1-6; Romans 12:18-20 KJV; 11th Sunday after Pentecost; Leave vengeance to the Lord and strive to get along even with your enemies.

Love Your Enemy

But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,

Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.

And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat also.

Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.

And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.

For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.

And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.

And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.

But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. 

Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

                                                                          (Luke 6:27-36 KJV)

When Jesus says love your neighbor, he does not mean that we just get to smile when encountering those who hate us. It means we really need to care about them; even when they're not looking. We are to do good to others. 

It does our enemies nor ourselves any good to continue to be hateful. There is no peace to be found in constant battles with one another. There is no peace to be had in constant slander or anything else done to get a one up on an enemy.

“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you." (vs 28) "Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful." (vs 36)

Afterall, how often do our own thoughts or words or actions offend God; yet, in his great mercy he continues to love us. He continues to care for us. Let us be merciful as our Father in heaven is merciful. Let us love others just as our Father in heaven loves us.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

He Frees His Children

And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them:

And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night.

And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.

And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left. 

                                                                              (Exod 14:19-22 KJV)

Pharaoh had let the people go and then had a change of heart. His army pursued the Israelites to bring them back into slavery. But, God had another plan. He intended for His people to be set free. The Lord parted the Red Sea so that His children could pass through unharmed and then He drowned Pharaoh's army when they tried to pursue them.

God intends for His children to be free; to be free to worship Him; to be live in freedom from bondage to those who would use and abuse them. If you feel trapped at the present time know that there is a path to freedom. God who parted the Red Sea for His people to pass through will also open up a path for you. The enemy of God's children will not prevail. 

Trust Him and follow in The Way that He has shown you. Trust His Way who is Jesus the Christ!

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Pray For Your Enemies

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;

Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 

                              (1 Tim 2:1-4 KJV)

There are more than one reason to pray for your enemies. Since humankind tends to be a bit self-centered there among those reasons is a very good; albeit, maybe a bit selfish reason to pray for those who hate us. It is so that as they come to know the Lord Jesus, we too might live in peace rather than stuck in chaos and drama. 

Jesus said:

"But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 

                                                                                    (Matt 5:44-45 KJV)

Life on earth is so short. Why waste it on anger and vengeance? If you are the one who persecutes others than please repent so that you might live in peace. Be kind! And, if you are the one who is persecuted pray for your persecutor to repent and to live life in Christ so that you too might live in peace.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Betrayed

And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people. Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast. And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him. And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him. (Matt 26:47-50 KJV)

A follower; a friend, betrayed him. He betrayed him with a kiss. It takes so little sometimes to turn a friend into an enemy. You don't even have to do anything  out of your norm and you could find yourself in the courts because a friend or even a family member has turned you in to protect themselves and what they desire no matter how trivial that desire might be. 

Those charges against Jesus were charges contrived of false accusations because of such things as fear, jealousy, and even disappointment as in Judas' case when he realized that Jesus did not have the same goals in mind that Judas had. 

It is a sad thing when someone you love turns against you to protect and preserve their future. But, it happens and it happens way to much. There are those who will throw their own children under the bus to keep from being hit themselves.

But, that is not the way with Jesus. He knew that Judas would betray him. Yet, he willingly threw himself under the bus to save us. He willingly bore our sins. He was executed for our sins. He did not turn his back on us. 

Judas betrayed the innocent Jesus with a kiss. May God help us to be faithful to the one who would not betray us. Let our love for the Lord be genuine.

God's Peace - Pr. J

How Majestic Is Your Name

O Lord, our Sovereign,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory above the heavens.
Out of the mouths of babes and infants
you have founded a bulwark because of your foes,
to silence the enemy and the avenger.

When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars that you have established;
what are human beings that you are mindful of them,
mortals that you care for them?

Yet you have made them a little lower than God,
and crowned them with glory and honor.
You have given them dominion over the works of your hands;
you have put all things under their feet,
all sheep and oxen,
and also the beasts of the field,
the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea,
whatever passes along the paths of the seas.

O Lord, our Sovereign,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Psalm 8 NRSV

Pray For Your Enemy

Those who surround me lift up their heads;
   let the mischief of their lips overwhelm them!
Let burning coals fall on them!
   Let them be flung into pits, no more to rise!
Do not let the slanderer be established in the land;
   let evil speedily hunt down the violent!
                                                  Psalm 140:9-11 NRSV

We find the author of Psalms a little more than upset this morning. He wants the persecution against him stopped. He wants vengeance in a big way!

My memory tells me that I have indeed prayed this way myself. But, I know that there is a more excellent way. According to Jesus, we are to "...love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." (Matt 5:43-45)

It is undeniable that there are many who persecute the children of God. The arrogant lay out snares for the innocent seeking to damage or utterly destroy them. But, anger and vengeance only propagates the enmity. Pray for peace; pray for protection; pray for mercy; pray that the LORD will be your strong deliverer; but, also pray for your enemy. Pray that those who hate and persecute you will repent. Pray that they will come to know the LORD and then you will have lost an enemy and gained a brother or sister in Christ.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Remembering

We have sinned, even as our ancestors did;

   we have done wrong and acted wickedly.

When our ancestors were in Egypt,

   they gave no thought to your miracles;
they did not remember your many kindnesses,

   and they rebelled by the sea, the Red Sea.

Yet he saved them for his name’s sake,

   to make his mighty power known.

He rebuked the Red Sea, and it dried up;

   he led them through the depths as through a desert.
He saved them from the hand of the foe;
   from the hand of the enemy he redeemed them.
The waters covered their adversaries;
   not one of them survived.
Then they believed his promises

   and sang his praise.

                            (Psalm 106:6-12 NIV)

Over and over again, God's people rebelled against him.  Over and over again, they suffered because of their rebellion.  Over and over again, the Lord saved them from their own iniquity.

It's the same old story.  It's not just Israel's story.  It is ours.  We have gone astray.  We have all experienced the consequences of our sins. Yet, God, whom we have offended most, continues to forgive. He continues to give to us salvation through Jesus Christ.

As often as we turn and call out to Him, He hears. We remember and confess our past sins and God forgives.  Remembering where we have been is a good thing.  It reminds us who we are not.  We are not God. It reminds us who it is that saves. It is not us.  Only Jesus can save.

But, sometimes we have a different motivation for remembering; especially remembering the sins of others. That motivation is sin itself. It is sin when we remember the past sins of others to make ourselves feel better about our own sins. "I'm not as bad as so and so...."  It is sin when we remember the sins of others, but cannot acknowledge the sin within ourselves.  It is sin when we live in the past and refuse to live in the day that God has given us to live in today, when we do not receive the gift of light and life today; rather choose to live in the darkness of yesterday. 

Remembering the past can be a good thing.  Remembering can help us live fuller lives in Christ today as we remember not to turn our backs on the One who has had mercy on us. But, if you choose to live in the dark past, stop trying to drag others back there with you. There are those who prefer to follow Jesus and now live in the light of God's grace and love.

"Praise the Lord!

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
   his love endures forever."
                               (Psalm 106:1)

 

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Follow In The Way He Leads You

Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left.

The Egyptians pursued them, and all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots and horsemen followed them into the sea.

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may flow back over the Egyptians and their chariots and horsemen.”  Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea went back to its place. The Egyptians were fleeing toward it, and the Lord swept them into the sea. The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen—the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them survived.

But the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left.  
                                                                                                               (Exodus 14:21-23; 26-29 NIV)

Slave to the Egyptians; the Lord was finally leading out of their bondage to a land of promise and hope. But, they were not going easily. The enemy close at their heels they found themselves trapped. How often have we felt cornered and trapped by an adversary? Even as the Lord parted the seas so that the Israelites could pass through unharmed; so shall He always find a way for all of His children. The enemy of God's children could not follow on the same path. They could not overtake them. The Lord closed the road and destroyed the enemy. There may be times when we feel like we might be overtaken and destroyed. But, God's children will never be destroyed for through Jesus Christ we have the hope of eternal life in the promised land; in His eternal Kingdom. He will make straight the path so that we might follow in the way that we must go no matter what might threaten to overtake us.

God's Peace be with you all - Pr. J

Fight The Good Fight; The Right Fight

Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."  Eph 6:11-12 NRSV

 

Sometimes we forget that the battle is not against each other; but, against the spiritual forces that attack every one of us. We often fail to recognize that it is the devil's work to distract us and lead us down wrong paths so that we will not follow in The Way or help others in The Way. He will lead us to infighting to the direct result that we forget that he is the real enemy. He does not want us to live  in the Lord's peace and so we, the whole church on earth, is attacked from within. 

 

Yes, the evil one does manifest himself in humankind and we do find ourselves in conflicts and wars. To protect those who cannot protect themselves there are times that we must engage in physical warfare. But, even in those times the spiritual warfare must be paramount. We can never forget to wear the armor that the Lord has provided us. We are to at all times and in places wear the belt of truth, a breastplate of righteousness, shoes to help us go out and proclaim the gospel of peace, the shield of faith so that the evil one's arrows will be thwarted, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit (which is the word of God). Even as we venture forth wearing this armor we should always and in all places remember to pray. (Eph 6:14-18) Pray in the Spirit that we do the Lord's will and not our own. Pray that God is with us; that, the battle might be won and that the devil have no power over us or any one whom God loves. 

 

God's Peace - Pr. J

Keep Alert!

"Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in your faith, for you know that your brothers and sisters in all the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering." 1 Peter 5:7-9 NRSV

There are some in family who are not totally comfortable with my vigilance. They think that I am too cautious because I usually take the time and make the effort to look past what I see at first glance to what is really going on around us. I like to know who the people really are that are involved in their lives. Social media; the internet as a whole, just as it is used by many employers to see who it is that they are really hiring, can be a very useful tool for parents, grandparents and pastors. I use this tool because I am well aware that sometimes the adversary might come like a roaring lion and sometimes the adversary comes dressed in sheep's clothing. Even wolves in sheep's clothing can be recognized if we know what we are looking for; if we know God's word and discipline ourselves to follow it. I like to know and be prepared for any attacks that my come against my loved ones and that includes all of the people I serve.

There are wars all around us. Some of them are plainly seen. The wars being fought in the unseen realms are not so easily discerned. Often, people are not even aware that they are being attacked. They are won over to the enemy's side without even being aware of it. The adversary knows his enemy. He knows us. He knows what desires and temptations will crumble us. It would be beneficial for us to also know the enemy so that we can recognize him when he rears his ugly head whether he comes to us as a roaring lion or dressed in sheep's or shepherd's clothing.

The more that we discipline ourselves to know the word of God, the more alert we will be to recognize the adversary when he attacks. Discipline yourself in the word. Read the Holy Scriptures daily; hear His word proclaimed at Worship; and then discipline yourselves, to follow the Word, who is Jesus the Christ and you will have no need to fear the adversary.

May the Lord keep you from the adversary; even as He keeps you in the Word.

God's Peace - Pr. Judy

Forget The Former Things

Luke 6:35 NIV

“Forget the former things;    do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing!
    Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
    and streams in the wasteland.
The wild animals honor me,
    the jackals and the owls,
because I provide water in the wilderness
    and streams in the wasteland,
to give drink to my people, my chosen,
    the people I formed for myself
    that they may proclaim my praise."
Isaiah 43:18-21 NIV

Sometimes we get so stuck in the past that we cannot move forward. We get stuck feeling sorry for ourselves and forget to remember and praise the Lord for all the gifts that we have received. Sure, you've been hurt badly by someone. Most people have been. But, that does not mean that everyone is out to get you. Have you considered that the one that you feel wronged you may feel that you wronged them? Have you repented of the wrong you may have done to them? It is not wise to remember perceived wrongs especially when our perception usually comes from our own desires; what we want and not necessarily what may have been for the greater good.

We must learn to trust that all things will work for the good of those who love the Lord. Maybe we ought to begin by asking ourselves if we hate our perceived enemies more than we love the Lord. That is not what God desires of us. He desires us to love our neighbors; even our enemies. We are to do good to those who hurt us; not slander them.

Repent and put God and the love of God first in your life. Forget your anger and bitterness over things past and give praise to the Lord who loves you and loves even your enemy. Then you will you be able to be a faithful witness to the Lord.

May God help us to quit dwelling on the past and move forward according to the good will of God.

God's Peace - Pr. J

The Lord, My Helper, Is With Me

"The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?"
Hebrews 13:6 NIV

Lately, it seems that an unusual amount of people are asking me if I am okay. Not, "how are you?" but, "are you okay?" That, I assume, is a form of greeting that I am not accustomed to. However, when I've replied, "I'm fine," that first question is followed up by another: "Are you sure?" (LOL) Of course, I am sure. I am a child of God. There is nothing that gets better than that. But, I'm beginning to wonder a bit about that follow up question. Are they just super concerned about my well-being or do they know something I don't know? Do I look sick? Am I acting depressed? Is there an enemy lurking about; yet, unseen by me?

It doesn't really matter. I know that my whole life is in God's hands. He has taken care of me my entire life. Nothing happens to me without Him knowing. There have been some really rough times; but, those rough times just helped me to learn to trust in God even more. There is no reason to be afraid of sickness, turmoil, friends, enemies, life, or death. He is my helper. I have eternal life in Christ.

Do not be afraid of anything the world may throw at you. The Lord is with you and for you. All who believe have already entered into the Kingdom, where Jesus reigns!

God's Peace - Pr. J

P.S. I do appreciate all of the concern. It is good to know that people care. I really am okay. God is with me and always will be.