Constant Chaos.

Rom 15:13  Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. 

Joh 14:27  Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 

God said to me, "My peace is eternal peace."

Truly the world cannot give us eternal peace. Most people are grateful for a few moments of peace in this crazy messed up Satan ruled world. They grapple for peace from the chaos of living. It's a day to day struggle that assaults all of us. And peace eludes us because the world's anxiousness has infected us with a disease of constant chaos. 

The constant chaos has varying degrees. The constant is that it is always there, the varying degrees makes it so that it can appear quite subdued and bordering on giving away to peace, but then at the slightest provocation the constant chaos begins its ascent. Sometimes that ascent accelerates at a speed we can barely believe exists it is so fast. One moment the constant chaos is ebbed at a low hum of what we know as tolerability, and the very next moment it is screaming at a high roar of unfathomable magnitude. The volume on the chaos has been cranked up in one quick, smooth motion. At other times the constant chaos begins a gradual ascent barely inching up over time but nonetheless it increases, getting us further and further away from a comfortable chaos we've trained ourselves to live in. The thing is, we've really done that. We've conditioned ourselves to live in the chaos of our world, by adopting the various bits and pieces of the chaos we can, and accepting them. When the chaos steps out of our conditioned acceptance and starts to roar around us we long to retreat, we cry out for a moment of peace!  Then quite often the chaos tones down, it lessens to the point of our tolerability and while we might not claim it as a perfect peace, it is our way of life. Chaos lurks all around us, it hides behind every door, it rushes in a barely open window, it slaps us in the face when we least expect or want it, we live the constant chaos life.

God's peace is NOT like this world's peace. It's not a moment of peace here and there, it's not the low chaos life we call peaceful but know it's really not entirely peaceful at all. The stresses and worries we try to leave behind - to get away for a bit of peace and quiet, are still there waiting patiently or not so patiently in the back of our thoughts looking for the tiniest of openings in order to wiggle back up the chaos volume ever so stealthily. The peace we grapple for and seem to rarely find in this world is a peace of false hope taking us up to the pinnacle of happiest only to dash us down upon the rocks of life's upset, time and time again. We live in a Satan run world of that there is no doubt and he'll pass up NO opportunity to give us the false security of the peace this world has to offer. He dangles it before us over and over and like an eager kitten pouncing on a toy feather - we can't resist grabbing that peace he gives. We have to know on some level it is a temporary peace more than likely setting us up for a great fall into chaos, but still we want that momentary reprieve from constant chaos and after-all Satan tells us that maybe just maybe, this time the world produced peace he's offering will last a bit longer than last time. Satan does not want us seeking the peace our God has to offer us. Satan tells us that we must have peace NOW, we deserve a rest from the chaos right this moment, right now in this life we live! We shouldn't have to wait for who knows how long to get the peace God offers. We shouldn't have to place our hope in heaven, setting our affection on things above. Our focus shouldn't be on the eternal life He alone offers us, we have to deal with this current life, right? It's much more important that we focus on the here and now, getting peace wherever and whenever we can, and lamenting all the chaos that interferes with our peace. We want crumbs of the peace pie that fall all around us, rather than placing our desire on the whole pie that we can only get in eternity. Scrambling like rats for the crumbs leftover, thinking we can only survive by eating the crumbs. Satan has a million deceptions to drag us into his world giving peace, all set to keep us from the peace God can and will give us!  God says…

Joh 14:27  Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 

God said to me, "My peace is eternal peace." 

Our hearts are not to be trouble or afraid when we have the eternal peace, the gospel, the good news of salvation- eternal life that awaits all through the love of Jesus Christ who sacrificed Himself for us, to give us this hope now for eternal peace. Peace that this world can never, ever give to us. Our affections must be set on things in heaven, the eternal, the unseen, the past, future, and present of heaven's promises through the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit now and forever! The world's constant chaos ebbing and flowing will seek to distract us from the only real, everlasting peace to come- when our Savior returns for us. He is our HOPE, our Heaven Hope, our Heaven Peace. To have heaven's peace now is knowing the reward that will come after being immersed in Satan's world of constant chaos. Above all the chaos- large and small, above all the temporary peace teasing us with its deception, is the true peace, God's peace. 

Come, Lord, Jesus, come. We long to receive Your promised peace, our affections are set in heaven, with You always! You are the hope in Us now and forever!  By Your will, Your grace, Your mercy, Your love everlasting.

Amen.

Faithful Servant.

 C.S. Lewis  Weight of Glory (Excerpt)

Mat_25:21  His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servantA

"Well done, thou good and faithful servant.” With that, a good deal of what I had been thinking all my life fell down like a house of cards. I suddenly remembered that no one can enter heaven except as a child; and nothing is so obvious in a child—not in a conceited child, but in a good child—as its great and undisguised pleasure in being praised. Not only in a child, either, but even in a dog or a horse. Apparently what I had mistaken for humility had, all these years. prevented me from understanding what is in fact the humblest, the most childlike, the most creaturely of pleasures—nay, the specific pleasure of the inferior: the pleasure a beast before men, a child before its father, a pupil before his teacher, a creature before its Creator. I am not forgetting how horribly this most innocent desire is parodied in our human ambitions, or how very quickly, in my own experience, the lawful pleasure of praise from those whom it was my duty to please turns into the deadly poison of self-admiration. But I thought I could detect a moment—a very, very short moment—before this happened, during which the satisfaction of having pleased those whom I rightly loved and rightly feared was pure. And that is enough to raise our thoughts to what may happen when the redeemed soul, beyond all hope and nearly beyond belief, learns at last that she has pleased Him whom she was created to please. There will be no room for vanity then. She will be free from the miserable illusion that it is her doing. With no taint of what we should now call self-approval she will most innocently rejoice in the thing that God has made her to be, and the moment which heals her old inferiority complex for ever will also drown her pride deeper than Prospero’s book. Perfect humility dispenses with modesty. If God is satisfied with the work, the work may be satisfied with itself; “it is not for her to bandy compliments with her Sovereign.” I can imagine someone saying that he dislikes my idea of heaven as a place where we are patted on the back. But proud misunderstanding is behind that dislike. In the end that Face which is the delight or the terror of the universe must be turned upon each of us either with one expression or with the other, either conferring glory inexpressible or inflicting shame that can never be cured or disguised. I read in a periodical the other day that the fundamental thing is how we think of God. By God Himself, it is not! How God thinks of us is not only more important, but infinitely more important. Indeed, how we think of Him is of no importance except in so far as it is related to how He thinks of us. It is written that we shall “stand before” Him, shall appear, shall be inspected. The promise of glory is the promise, almost incredible and only possible by the work of Christ, that some of us, that any of us who really chooses, shall actually survive that examination, shall find approval, shall please God. To please God…to be a real ingredient in the divine happiness…to be loved by God, not merely pitied, but delighted in as an artist delights in his work or a father in a son—it seems impossible, a weight or burden of glory which our thoughts can hardly sustain. But so it is. "

Know Him.

 We have only the truth. God gives us only truth. Not a single lie ever came from God. God is truth. God is Love. God is our all in all. 

We can study God's word endlessly ever delving into the truths He gives us. In our fallen state of humanity we need to constantly dwell upon God's truths, ever learning, ever relearning, ever continuing to know Him more and more as our all in all. We can't live with God as a thought but not reality. We can't live knowing of God but not knowing Him. If I tell you a lot about a friend of mine you might feel as if you know them, I talk about them constantly, but that doesn't mean you have a relationship with my friend, that you know my friend for yourself, that you have experiences with my friend. We can know of God and read of others experiences with God, the Bible is filled with those who knew God. We have to KNOW God too, not just know of others experiences with God. He is OUR God. He is MY God. He is YOUR God. He wants to know us, and for us to know Him.

"We love him because he first loved us." 1 Jn 4:19

"Herein is love not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." 1 Jn 4:10

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son. That whosever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16

"For the love of Christ constraineth us because we thus judge that if one died for all then were all dead and that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves but unto Him which died for them, and rose again. 1 Cor. 5:14-15

"Thou are worthy o Lord, to receive glory and honor and power for thou hast created all things, and for they pleasure they are and were created." Rev 4:11

(Excerpt)

"Standing on the Threshold. Our study of the book of Romans, while there have been many articles, has not been exhaustive. Indeed, it is impossible to have an exhaustive study of the Bible; for no matter how thoroughly we study any portion of it, we shall still find ourselves but upon the threshold. The more we study the Bible, the more will our best study seem to be only preliminary to further study that will be seen to be necessary. But although we can not expect ever to exhaust the truth, so that we can say that we have it all, we may be sure that as far as we have gone we have only the truth. And this assurance arises not from any wisdom that we have, but solely from adhering closely to the word of God, and not allowing the alloy of human ideas to mingle with its pure gold.

"All Joy and Peace in Believing" Romans 15:8-14

8 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers: 9 and that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name. 10 And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people. 11 And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people. 12 And again, Esaias saith,  There shall be a root out of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.  13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, through the power of the Holy Ghost. 14 And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.

"A Minister of the Circumcision." Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision. Bear this in mind. Shall we learn from it that he saves only the Jews? By no means, but we must learn from it that "salvation is of the Jews."  John 4:22. "Jesus Christ our Lord" was "made of the seed of David according to the flesh." Rom. 1:3. He is the "root of Jesse," which stands "for an ensign of the people," to which the Gentiles seek. Isa. 11:10; Rom. 15:12.  The Gentiles who find salvation must find it in Israel. None can find it anywhere else."

Articles on Romans by E. J. Waggoner Chapter 15 Excerpt

Allow Us To Love As He Loves.

All others without respect of persons…

Rom_2:11  For there is no respect of persons with God.

Eph_6:9  And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.

1Pe 1:17  And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: 

1Pe 1:18  Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 

1Pe 1:19  But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 

1Pe 1:20  Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 

1Pe 1:21  Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. 

1Pe 1:22  Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: 

1Pe 1:23  Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 

1Pe 1:24  For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: 

1Pe 1:25  But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. 

We are told to … PURIFY our souls IN obeying the TRUTH through the SPIRIT unto unfeigned love of the brethren.

UNFEIGNED LOVE of others!

We have to LOVE ONE ANOTHER with a PURE HEART FERVENTLY. 

We can ONLY do this THROUGH the SPIRIT.

Stop thinking you have to manufacture some kind of love for others on your own. Any love you can muster up on your own towards others is contaminated by self-serving in some way because we are self-serving creatures caught up in Satan's snare of self-serving. Our love for others MUST come from THE SPIRIT! The HOLY SPIRIT. GOD- THE HOLY SPIRIT.  Through the HOLY SPIRIT'S love we can love others! God is love, and God alone can love perfectly. God in us can love others with unfeigned love, without any respect of persons. The Holy Spirit sees past all the outer sin layers bogging us down, and right into the heart of us, the human being created by GOD for GOD, the human being that can love only because that human being was FIRST loved by God!

1Jn_4:19  We love him, because he first loved us

We choose GOD, and in choosing GOD we are choosing to allow HIM through God the Holy Spirit to live and work in us as He wills! ALL GLORY TO GOD! ALL, yes, ALL glory to GOD alone! 

We fail, but God does not! God is working in us as we choose to let Him work in us daily!  We fail, HE FORGIVES through HIS LOVE! All glory to God always!

Let us receive each other, as HE receives us, through the Holy Spirit in us allowing us to love, as He loves!

*******

"How to Receive One Another. Finally, "Receive ye one another, as Christ also received us, to the glory of God."  Whom does Christ receive? "This man receiveth sinners." How many will he receive? "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

How will he receive them? "All day long have I stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people." And if they come, what assurance have they? "Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out." Let us learn of him; and remember that, wherever you may open the Scriptures, they are they which testify of him."

Articles on Romans by E. J. Waggoner Chapter 15 Excerpt

If You Believe Not the Old Testament...

 Don't try to separate Christ from the Old Testament. Christ Himself referenced what we call the Old Testament, all the time. Christ even tells us if we do not believe the Old Testament, we can't believe His words. Is there a lot of history and such in the Old Testament that tends to be hard to read because we can't comprehend the need for it? Yes. We have to be led of the Spirit as we read, Old or New Testament. The Spirit will guide us even through the stuff that might be considered hard to read, and lead us to the truths we need so desperately. 

"The Gospel According to Moses. 

It is this lesson that is taught us throughout all the Scriptures: "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope." In the book of Job this is made manifest. "Ye have heard of the patience of Job,  and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy." James 5:11.

In the writings of Moses it is as clearly set forth. Christ says: "Had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me; for he wrote of me. But if ye believe not the writings, how shall ye believe my words?" John 5:46, 47. 

If the gospel according to Moses is neglected, it will be of no use to read the gospel according to John, because the gospel can not be divided. The gospel of Christ, like himself, is one."

Articles on Romans by E. J. Waggoner Chapter 15 Excerpt

He Suffered For Our Reproaches

 "The God of All Comfort."

Ro. 15

3 For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written,  The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me. 

4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. 

5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus; 

6 that ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

7 Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us, to the glory of God.

2Co_1:3  Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort

2Co 1:4  Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. 

God is "the God of patience and consolation." He is "the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God." 2 Cor. 1:3, 4. He takes upon himself all the reproaches that fall upon men. "The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me." Of the children of Israel it is said, "In all their affliction he was afflicted." Isa. 63:9. The words of Christ are, "Thou hast known my reproach, and my shame, and my dishonor." "Reproach hath broken my heart." Ps. 69:19, 20. Yet in all this there was no impatience, no murmuring. Therefore, as he has already borne the burdens of the world in the flesh, he is fully able to bear ours in our flesh, without complaining; so that we may be "strengthened with all might,  according to his glorious power, unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness." Col. 1:11.

Articles on Romans by E. J. Waggoner Chapter 15 Excerpt

Death to Self As We Live.

 This life is truly just about dying because we are to die daily to self. 

As we mostly know, dying is not something that comes easy. So why would we ever expect our dying to self would be something easy to comprehend, easy to learn. To surrender self is to become selfless, and serving others is the only thing we can do. On our own, we cannot be selfless. Our Savior's life is something we have to examine closely. He led a life of dying to self. He lived to serve others in all things. 

Putting God and others before ourselves is a constant setting aside self. We rail against that thought. We do things to keep ourselves as comfortable as we possibly can- emotionally, mentally, physically. We don't like to be torn from our self-bubble of normalcy. We choose ourselves over others all the time in many little and big ways. Our fear of stepping outside of our safety zone keeping our life on an even keel is a very real thing. We go through dramatic changes as we are thrust out of our comfortable ways and into things unexpected. We feel the stress of it all eating away at our comfort bubble and we want to get back to that sweet comfort. We are forced into situations of constant choosing and we need to recognize if we are choosing self over others, over God. To hide from knowing this choice will not make it okay, it will keep us self-serving. We can delude ourselves, but not God, never God. 

Another danger is when we do things to receive self-soothing accolades, loving to hear our praises sung because it reaffirms we are doing good things, we are being self-less, and yet… anytime we take any praise upon ourselves for any good deed we may do, we are taking that praise falsely, selfishly. All glory belongs to God. Jesus gave ALL the glory to God for all that He did. He did NOTHING without the Father. Not a single miracle did He perform on His own, not one.  Not a single iota of glory did Jesus take to Himself so why, why do we insist on seeking the praise of others? Why do we feel crushed when our efforts are not deemed good enough to please those we are seeking to please. We feel that way because we are not supposed to be seeking to please ourselves through pleasing others. We are to seek to please God in all things. Jesus sought to please God in all things… ALL things. We are to do no less, through Him, through the Holy Spirit, through the Heavenly Father.