As we approach the day we call Christmas we hear much said and sang about shepherds, angels, sheep, the manger; these however are not the real “Christmas” story, they are only props surrounding the real message of the occasion, the message delivered by the angel to the shepherds in Luke 2:11 was, “For there is […]
Throughout the Bible God has promised peace to His people. In Leviticus 26:6 He promised Israel that terrorists, wild beasts, and invading armies would be held at bay, and they would live in peace. In John 14:27 Jesus promised His followers, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you”. Digging deeper into […]
As we continue our fast paced journey through the beatitudes we hear Jesus saying, “Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons (children KJV) of God” Matthew 5:9. Being a peacemaker is imitating our Father, Ephesians 2:14. I believe this takes on two different aspects; one is peace between ourselves, peace among men […]
A garden is a place of beauty, and productivity. God has a garden with two aspects; the first is that into which we enter and find the beauty, peace, rest, and refreshment of His presence as we fellowship with Him. It is here that we are fashioned and incorporated into His garden as the seed […]
The Christian life is not a life free of pressure, stress, anguish, adversity, oppression, affliction, and crushing. In fact, when Jesus said, “In the world you will have tribulation” (John 16:33), the Greek word He used is “thlipsis” which means all of the above! The word is actually used of pressing olives or grapes to […]
“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” 1 Timothy 1:15. There was only one reason that Jesus came into the world and that was to deliver from the consequences of sin. He came “to seek and to save that which was lost” Luke 19:10. He stepped into the turmoil and chaos of the […]
Three things God desires for us, among many others, are that we experience the fullness of Love, Joy, and Peace. These are exactly what God sent Jesus into this world to bring to us. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son …” His coming was heralded […]
In Psalm 119:165 the Psalmist cries out, “Great peace have those who love Your law, and nothing causes them to stumble.” He had found a place where there is an abundance of peace (Hebrew Shalom, to be safe, figuratively well, happy, to have friendship and, abstractly, welfare, i.e. to have health, prosperity, and peace). Are […]
The final name or title given to Jesus in Isaiah 9:6 is Prince of Peace, which, in Isaiah’s language, meant that as Prince He would be the head person, such as a chief or captain, of Shalom which includes safety (and figuratively) well, happy, friendly (and abstractly) welfare, i.e. health, prosperity, and peace. As His […]
Isaiah 40 transitions from the declarations of judgment against Israel, Judah, and pagan Nations (brought on by sin and disobedience) in the first 39 chapters, to the return of Judah and Israel from captivity, speaking words of comfort and peace, the ultimate of which would be experienced under the reign of Messiah, with the rest […]