Do you experience the peace of Jesus when under pressure?
7 Jun 26
Today's devotional: taken from YouVersion, Devotions on F.I.R.E. Year One
Readings:
2 Chronicles 23
2 Chronicles 24
2 Chronicles 25
John 16:16-33
These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world (John 16:33).
Do you experience the peace of Jesus when under pressure?
Peace comes from relying upon God and experiencing the fruit of the Spirit. The term “fruit” is singular in Galatians 5:22, which shows that the nine fruits mentioned in Galatians 5:22-23 are a package deal. That is, you experience all of “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” as you walk with God. Yet, before you can experience God’s peace, you must be born again. Paul writes, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). Jesus, who is our peace (Ephesians 2:14), imparts peace to us even during times of distress when we trust in Him.
Employment Point: Enjoy peace through the Holy Spirit’s power as you walk with Jesus.
———————
Reflections
I was just sharing this shalom peace that the Lord has given me during my time of distress with an ex-colleague whom I have not met for more than 15 years. It truly went beyond human understanding and the grace, was that he told me I was like a changed person, so different from back then. All thanks be to God! 🙌🏻
“The king and Jehoiada gave it to those who carried out the work required for the temple of the Lord. They hired masons and carpenters to restore the Lord’s temple, and also workers in iron and bronze to repair the temple. The men in charge of the work were diligent, and the repairs progressed under them. They rebuilt the temple of God according to its original design and reinforced it.”2 Chronicles 24:12-13 NIV
- you really need the right people for work to be done. Otherwise things just don’t flow and you will just feel stuck in everything. With the right persons in the right places, things will flow and the ministry will flourish.
“Then the Spirit of God came on Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest. He stood before the people and said, “This is what God says: ‘Why do you disobey the Lord’s commands? You will not prosper. Because you have forsaken the Lord, he has forsaken you.’ ” But they plotted against him, and by order of the king they stoned him to death in the courtyard of the Lord’s temple.”
2 Chronicles 24:20-21 NIV
- This is just sad to read.. Zechariah said was what from the Lord but the people will not listen and even wanted him dead.
- This may well be one of us too. Nobody promised that our future will be bright and sunny. Those days the people persecuted the Lord and if we are like Him, we will likely be persecuted too. But continue to stand firm in our faith our brothers and sisters. Our life on earth is only worth dust but the heavens is where our eternal life continues. What fear is there to die for the Lord. But let us hold fast to the faith and never forsake Him.
“Amaziah asked the man of God, “But what about the hundred talents I paid for these Israelite troops?” The man of God replied, “The Lord can give you much more than that.” So Amaziah dismissed the troops who had come to him from Ephraim and sent them home. They were furious with Judah and left for home in a great rage.”
2 Chronicles 25:9-10 NIV
- the Amaziah at this time still heeded the warning from the Lord. He still fears the Lord, listened and obeyed His commands
“When Amaziah returned from slaughtering the Edomites, he brought back the gods of the people of Seir. He set them up as his own gods, bowed down to them and burned sacrifices to them.”
2 Chronicles 25:14 NIV
- this was the turning point of Amaziah’s life-not for the better but for worse. After having a victorious win, he totally forgot about the Lord. His heart turned to idolatry.
- This is a reminder to us how wins can sometimes lead us to our downfall. We are humans and are weak in our flesh. Thus, we need to always rely on the Lord to refresh us, to renew us and to strengthen our faith. We need to be reminded that pride will cost us and a rather painful one.
“The anger of the Lord burned against Amaziah, and he sent a prophet to him, who said, “Why do you consult this people’s gods, which could not save their own people from your hand?” While he was still speaking, the king said to him, “Have we appointed you an adviser to the king? Stop! Why be struck down?” So the prophet stopped but said, “I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this and have not listened to my counsel.””
2 Chronicles 25:15-16 NIV
- We can even sense the arrogance in his tone. A vast difference from before. How fast our heart can turn, totally ignoring the Lord’s grace.
“A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world.”John 16:21 NIV
- Reading this again, He seems to be saying to look forward to the joy that is to come. Whatever pain there is, is only temporary. That joy will be so overwhelming that it will override the pain
““I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.””John 16:33 NIV
- This is a reminder and also an encouragement to us all that the Lord is with us all the way, even in times of trouble and we will not need to worry because He is already victorious! Praise You Lord!
————————-
The Greatest Source of Power
BY OSWALD CHAMBERS
June 07
Whatever you ask in My name, that I will do… —John 14:13
Am I fulfilling this ministry of intercession deep within the hidden recesses of my life? There is no trap nor any danger at all of being deceived or of showing pride in true intercession. It is a hidden ministry that brings forth fruit through which the Father is glorified. Am I allowing my spiritual life to waste away, or am I focused, bringing everything to one central point— the atonement of my Lord? Is Jesus Christ more and more dominating every interest of my life? If the central point, or the most powerful influence, of my life is the atonement of the Lord, then every aspect of my life will bear fruit for Him.
However, I must take the time to realize what this central point of power is. Am I willing to give one minute out of every hour to concentrate on it? “If you abide in Me…”— that is, if you continue to act, and think, and work from that central point— “you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you” (John 15:7). Am I abiding? Am I taking the time to abide? What is the greatest source of power in my life? Is it my work, service, and sacrifice for others, or is it my striving to work for God? It should be none of these— what ought to exert the greatest power in my life is the atonement of the Lord. It is not on what we spend the greatest amount of time that molds us the most, but whatever exerts the most power over us. We must make a determination to limit and concentrate our desires and interests on the atonement by the Cross of Christ.
“Whatever you ask in My name, that I will do….” The disciple who abides in Jesus is the will of God, and what appears to be his free choices are actually God’s foreordained decrees. Is this mysterious? Does it appear to contradict sound logic or seem totally absurd? Yes, but what a glorious truth it is to a saint of God.
WISDOM FROM OSWALD
There is no condition of life in which we cannot abide in Jesus. We have to learn to abide in Him wherever we are placed.
————————-
Reflections
Abiding in the Lord often reminds us of the verse. ““Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.”John 15:4 NIV
The abiding is a command. This abiding needs to happen before anything else. If we don’t even know the Lord, how can we do His will? And if we cannot do His will, how can we bear fruit?
The greatest source of power does not come from us. It is from our Lord God Almighty. Only He has the power change things, to make things happen and to grant us success in the things that He places us in. We sometimes give that power to someone or something else besides the Lord to have control over us.
Perhaps it may be our friends, or a stranger even. We let those unkind comments get to us and into our hearts, dominating our thoughts and also our actions, eventually being consumed by it.
My brothers and sisters. In the Lord, there is no one who is undeserving, unworthy or even a nobody. We are all somebody and are all the apples of God’s eyes. Do not give to anyone else that authority to override the Lord’s love over us. Continue to abide in Him and be basked in His presence, filled with love, peace and joy.
Let’s pray:
Father we thank You for reminding us that we are all loved by You. A love that cannot be earned by given to us by Your grace. No words or anyone, can take away that love from us. We praise You Lord, for the open doors and for the opportunities to serve You and Your people. Help us all to learn Your ways and be the beacon of light to others who crossed our path so that Your name can be glorified. All praise and thanks be to You O Lord! In Jesus’s name we ask and pray. Amen 🙏🏻
Comments
Post a Comment