'....NOT AS THE WORLD GIVES...."

"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."  (John 14:27)

Do you know why our Lord Jesus could say to us, "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you"?  He could/can say that because Jesus "left" Himself with us and in us.  He did not say, "Here is peace, now good bye."  

Jesus does not hand out "peace."  Ephesians 2 says that Jesus, "....is our Peace."  Jesus says to you and me, "....I am with you always, even to the end of the age....I will not leave you comfortless....I will never leave you nor forsake you."

Perhaps key to this glorious reality is, "....not as the world gives do I give to you."  

Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You that You do not give, "....as the world gives...."  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"....GOD'S MYSTERIOUS PLAN...."

"I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God's mysterious plan, which is Christ Himself.  In Him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."  (Colossians 2:2b, 3--NLT)

The Interlinear Greek Bible says, "....of the mystery of God [which] is Christ."  This Theology is consistent in Scripture, to wit, "....the mystery of God is Christ", Himself.  Any human in any people group on Planet Earth who is searching for the True and Living God will only find Him in Jesus Christ.  

Sermons, worship songs, books, etc.,  which do not affirm our text are keeping people back from, "....all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge," so that we may know the One True Living God in Jesus Christ.  No one knows forgiveness of sin apart from Jesus Christ.  No one has peace apart from Jesus Christ.  "....This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ Whom You have sent."  In short, not some formula, but knowing God is Eternal Life.

The glorious revelation of history is that this same Jesus invites, "whosoever will," with His glorious Words, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me"----to live and fellowship/participate in us in our life's journey.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I say that "Good News" is not sufficient to describe Who Your Are and what You do.  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

PSALM NUGGET, OT LESSON, NT LESSON

"Revive me, O Lord, for Your name's sake!  For Your righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble."  (Psalm 143:11)

OT LESSON:

"But this is what I commanded them, saying, 'Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be My people.  And walk in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well with you.'"  (Jeremiah 7:23)

NT LESSON:

"Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, Who,...made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant...."  (Philippians 2)

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

THIS IS THE TRUTH

"Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith.  Test yourselves.  Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?-- unless indeed you do not stand the test....For we can do nothing against the truth, but only for the truth."  2 Corinthians 13:5 & 8)

"....Jesus Christ is in you....For we can do nothing against [this] truth, but only for [this] truth."  Now there are many throughout history who have attempted to, "....do...against the truth..," of our text, "....that Jesus Christ is in you".  The only power they have is when anyone succumbs to the idea, the theology that the Living Triune God is everywhere but, "....in you".  

So many religious cliches, which have become popular in recent decades, strengthen the bad theology against this truth.  The truth is, "....that Jesus Christ is in you",  and me before and after those great meetings, right now in fact, always, everywhere, forever.  This is, "....the truth."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I so thank You for, "the truth."  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2