Three Gifts From God, Peace

 Peace. 

We are talking about the three greatest gifts that God can give us. Last time we talked about the greatest, you exist. Seriously, if you were not here, nothing else would matter, right? Life itself is the greatest gift. Everyone who ever walked the earth was gifted this. We talked about the five steps of an anointed life found in Romans 8

"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom He predestined He also called, and those whom He called He also justified, and those whom He justified He also glorified." Romans 8:28-31

1 "For those whom He foreknew," He knew you before you were conceived. He wrote your members in His Book. You were fashioned, or formed, the way God chose you to be.

2 "He also predestined," He set up a plan and a purpose for you to accept Jesus's sacrifice and be called into the family of God. He has plans for you.

3 "And those whom He predestined He also called," This is where you come in. God calls you. You are reading this for a reason. You accepted the invitation to go to Church with family or friends this or past holiday season for a reason. God is calling you.

This is where we will pick up today. Again, if you say “No” nothing is likely to happen to you. You will live your life, and you will die. However, then you will stand before God if you believe or not, and you will be assigned to the place you chose beforehand. You will be on either God’s right or left. Be careful which you choose because then it will be too late. You can say you do not believe in Jesus all you want. The truth is this.

“Therefore, God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:9-11

Now if you say “Yes,” then and only then do you get to step four.

4 "And those whom He called He also justified," Meaning,

"For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him." Romans 8:15-17

Which is the last step.

5 "Them He also glorified." God will glorify you in the end.

We will discuss this last step next time. You are now a child of God. What does that mean? The God, Creator of the universe, the Alpa, and Omega, beginning and the end, the Creator of all that is, was, and or will be, is now your “Abba Father” or? Daddy.

He wants this relationship with you. He wants to be your God. Your King. Your Saviour. But He also wants to be your Daddy. Not just something you think about on Sundays, if you feel up to going to church. No, He wants to be, and is by the way, there with you 24/7. Look what Jesus said here.

“Jesus answered him, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” John 14:23

There is a lot in that one passage. Jesus just told us that He and God and the Holy Spirit, will all come and make their home with us. Look at your earthly family. I am the father of my children here on earth. I am there when they wake up. I'm there when they lay down. I’m there to gift them good things, teach them, and keep them safe. I’m also there when they may not want me to be. Think about that. God wants this relationship with each of us who is faithful and accepts Jesus into our lives. Christianity is not a religion. It is a way of life. It is THE Way. The only way to heaven.

We are not supposed to fear anything. Jesus tells us this.

"I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear, fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him!” Luke 12:4-5

Jesus promises you peace.

“Peace, I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” John 14:27

And again here.

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." John 16:33

King David put it this way.

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” Psalm 23:5

No matter what is happening in the world, we can sit and eat with the Lord and have no fear. Again, Jesus Himself tells us to have no fear, that our heavenly Father knows what wneedof and will meet those needs as long as we are faithful to Him.

"Therefore, I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Isn't life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

He also tells us not to worry about tomorrow.

"Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Matthew 6:25-34

"Seek first the Kingdom of God." Seek His will. Pray, read His Word, and get to know the real God. Your Daddy. Grow in knowledge and in a relationship with Him. Learn what the plan and purpose are for you and your life. You have one.

You are no longer of this world, but you are still in it until God chooses to call you out of it totally to go and be with Him. Forget the wisdom of the world. It is nothing but foolishness. Seek the wisdom of God. Have faith in Jesus. Trust in what He tells us in His Word. Jesus IS the Word in the flesh. Have no fear, rather, have faith. God will give you peace.

“Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. For

“Whoever desires to love life
and see good days,
let him keep his tongue from evil
and his lips from speaking deceit;
let him turn away from evil and do good;
let him seek peace and pursue it.
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and his ears are open to their prayer.
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” 1 Peter 3:8-12

God called you into His family. Did you say “Yes?” Did you say “No?” Is this the first time you really considered saying “Yes?” Then say this prayer, wherever you are, say it with me or in your own words.

"Oh, heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I believed He rose from the dead. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It really is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead, you shall be saved." Romans 10:9. You need to find a Church that God leads you to and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A New Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him." Colossians 3:10

Next time we will discuss the last Gift of God, His Son. Salvation. Life everlasting. Step five.

5 "them He also glorified." God will glorify you in the end.

Email if you wish to contact me, it's truthbygod1@gmail.com

May the comfort of the Holy Ghost, and the peace of our Lord Jesus, be with you all. May God bless and be with you, always.

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus is Lord!