Luke 2:13,14

 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

{Colossians 3:15} (NIV1984)

Friend, do you know that peace that passes understanding? Do you have peace with God through His Son? It seems impossible; that God Almighty would have forgiven me for my rebellion, for my sin against a Holy God. I resisted His righteous rule in my life. I was His enemy. But now I have peace with Him through faith in the person of His Son and the work of His Son. I go to sleep at night, content that all is right between God and I, knowing that if I die in the night, I will be welcomed by God. I awake in the morning and no matter what I have to face in that day, I have a sense of peace deep within my heart. When Jesus came to the earth, the angels sang “Peace to men on whom his favor rests”. When Jesus came to my heart, He brought peace. Paul tells us to allow that peace to rule. Take it to the next step. This peace that you have with God, put that peace in charge of your life. Make it ruler, let it influence the way you deal with other people. Why fight with them? What do you need that they can give you? You have peace with the Almighty God.

Thank you Heavenly Father, thank you Precious Saviour, thank you Holy Spirit, for the peace that You provided to me!

1 Thessalonians 5

"Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our
Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed."

{1 Corinthians 1:6} (NIV1984) 

Paul has a very high opinion of the level of God’s grace given to us through the Lord Jesus Christ. He thanks God that the church at Corinth has been enriched in every way, and doesn’t lack any spiritual gift. Paul spent more than a year at Corinth, and knew these Christians well. 

We could think that this verse applies only to the church at Corinth. But in view of Paul’s statement in Romans 15:14 and his directions to the Christians in 

1 Thessalonians 5:14, it seems this verse applies to all local churches, and has less to do with the quality of the people present in the church, then it does to the abundance of God’s grace present in the church, manifested in the gifts given to the individuals by the Holy Spirit.

It is not because of the quality of people at Parkdale, that I can say we have all the people we need, though there are many quality people at Parkdale. I can say this with confidence, because I believe in the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit and the truth that what He asks us to do, He equips us to do!  

May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. (Hebrews 13:20,21)

Galatians 5:16-26

"I myself am convinced, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, complete in knowledge and competent to instruct one another."

{Romans 15:14}  (NIV1984)  

 

What a statement! The great apostle Paul is convinced that the Christians at Rome are competent to instruct each other. How could Paul be so confident about the Christians in Rome? Paul had never been to Rome, nor had he checked out their church services on the web.  Paul is convinced that they are competent to instruct one another because he is convinced they are full of goodness and complete in knowledge. Goodness – the attitude of kindness, generosity and benevolence. Knowledge- the fact of knowing something, apprehending truth, having information. 

Once again Paul hadn’t met them, he hadn’t quizzed them on their systematic theology. But he was convinced they had goodness, knowledge and were competent to instruct each other. Paul was convinced of these things because he knew that the Holy Spirit was inside each person in the Roman church. 

The church of Christ is the work of the Holy Spirit, and the Spirit is within us. We don’t need more training, we need more courage! Be encouraged this morning. Thank the Holy Spirit for His presence with you; for the goodness and knowledge that He brings. Ask Him for the opportunity and courage to add to someone else’s faith today.

Acts 20:13-38

"In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food."

{Acts 6:1}  (NIV1984)  

 

Here we have a record of a problem in the first church. An ethnic group was neglected in the area of physical care, and the fingers were pointed at the “in” crowd. There was one group against another. There is no condemnation of the people who brought the complaint, nor against those accused. 

The record of the solution gives us the model for all churches in every century to follow. The apostles (who were acting as elders of the first church) gave direction for the assembly to select spiritual men who would be given the responsibility to handle food distribution on a continual basis. The assembly, the “regular” people in the church, selected the men, then presented them to the apostles who committed them and their work to the Lord. 

This Spirit led solution to a real problem (that was brought to the apostle’s attention by complaints), makes it clear that the Lord’s church is led by spiritual men who are selected by the congregation. Men who do not rule like dictators, but who serve like the Lord Jesus. The Holy Spirit gives the gifts to the leaders for ministry, and the Holy Spirit gives the wisdom and discernment to the assembly to select the leaders. The church is the work of the Spirit, as He works in and through each person in the assembly.  

Heavenly Father, we are encouraged by being united with Christ; we are comforted from His love. We thank you for the fellowship we have with the Spirit. Help us to be like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. (Phil. 2:1)

Deuteronomy 34

"These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come."

{1 Corinthians 10:11} (NIV1984) 

The people of Israel were examples to us. They were real people, in a real wilderness, with real problems! Yet Scripture tells us that the punishment they experienced was for our benefit. We are the ones who have received the promises of God. We are the ones with the changed hearts, renewed minds, righteous spirits, with the Holy Spirit present within us. Idolatry through pagan revelry, sexual immorality, testing God, and grumbling are all temptations that we face today, and that we can overcome through faith. 

Grumbling seems to be hidden in this list. We think of grumbling as the right of anyone who has a leader. We, who are affected by the decisions of our leaders, have the right to grumble! Don’t we? No. We don’t have the right. Scripture is clear about this! Grumbling in our tents (homes), or in our assemblies is a sin against God, and God will punish those who sin in this way. We hold Moses up as a leader to be admired - if only our leaders had the vision, integrity and giftedness of Moses! Yet those people grumbled against Moses. The problem is with us, not with our leaders.  

Oh Holy Spirit, open our eyes today and show us this hidden sin, that we might be rid of the scourge of grumbling.

Hebrews 4

Therefore God again set a certain day, calling it Today, when a long time later he spoke through David, as was said before: 

“Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.”

{Hebrews 4:7} (NIV1984)  

 

There is a day set aside for the Lord to come back in power and fiery judgement. But there is also a day set aside for every one of us to respond to God’s gracious gift of life in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. This day is a long period of time, so far it is almost 2,000 years long. It is the period of time set by the Father in which people who hear the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ can respond in faith. “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” (2 Cor 6:2) This is the day in which God helps us. All who call on Him in faith will be saved. This is the day we are in right now. Call on Him now, during the day of salvation! Soften your heart, turn toward Him, turn from your sin, turn from your own efforts, turn from your self-reliance. What a glorious, gracious God! What grace the Father has, that this day of His favour lasts as long as it does. Praise His Holy Name! May the Holy Spirit move many people tomorrow, as they hear the gospel all around the world, to respond in faith to the Lord Jesus Christ.