Prayer is one of the basics of a relationship with God. Prayer is not only speaking, but also listening. Prayer is opening our hearts and minds to hearing God speak to us.
Prayer gives us direction. We know that life can be confusing at times. There are times when we feel like we’re pulled in every direction but the right direction. Prayer not only helps point us in the right direction, it also helps keep us going in the right direction.
Prayer helps hold us together. The next time life seems to come apart at the seams, take a few moments to stop and pray. We live in uncertain and challenging times. Sometimes our lives can feel empty and bare. We can feel devoid of life and hope. That’s where prayer can help. Prayer and attending church can revive us and fill us with a fresh outpouring of God’s Spirit! Prayer helps keep our lives from getting all tangled up like a knot. Remember the beautiful verses from Psalm 66: 19 & 20, “But truly God has listened; He has given heed to the words of my prayer. Blessed be God, because he has not rejected my prayer or removed his steadfast love from me.”
From reading John 17: 20-26, we discover that Jesus prays for our unity. I believe that is why the church is here. We are all called to ministry so that we can work together and express that unity for the world to see. There is much in the world that separates us. There is much more that makes us one! There is one thing above all that unites us, binds us together, that breaks down all the walls and barriers. The one thing that binds us and unites us is the person of Jesus Christ. Through Jesus, we experience the love and forgiveness of God. Jesus died for everyone! That’s what unites us, our faith in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior!
Through Christ, we can be united in spite of our differences. You might compare us to a choir or a band. A person sings or plays a specific instrument. Musicians come with their own gifts and personalities. Yet each musician gives themselves to this group. The music lives in them and is brought to life through their unity of mind and spirit. When we weave our personalities, gifts, abilities and ideas into the greater life of faith, we are fulfilling Christ’s prayer for us. Jesus’ prayer for us is that the world will see Christ in us, through our unity and through our love for each other.
Take time this week to read your Bible, attend worship and tap into the power of prayer. It’s the love of Christ living in us, helping us, guiding us, empowering us to forgive and offer the hand of forgiveness that make the words of the song true; “They will know we are Christians by our love.” That’s the only way the world will ever know, not by our
words, but by our love!
http://pastorjimrobinson.bodbean.com
Sunday, June 7, 2009
The Spirit of Peace
When we open our Bibles and read Colossians 3: 15, we are reminded to: “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful.” The peace which the world generally thinks of when they think of peace is dependent upon us. History has proven that we are not always that dependable. When peace is dependent upon us, it usually does not last. Think of all the treaties that have been signed throughout history. Then think about all the treaties that have been broken.
The Greek word used in Paul’s letter had two usages. First of all, it dealt with the whole idea of the serenity or physical and mental peace of a village or country or community and the individual who was in charge of keeping the peace. The keeper of the public peace, was sort of like the western idea of a sheriff and today’s understanding of the police officer whose primary duty is to help us “keep the peace” when we get unruly.
A lot of people are only seeking this kind of peace. They want financial or social peace, but what they are really looking for is not peace but safety. Not peace but security. Not peace but popularity. Not peace but superiority. Not peace but plenty. Not peace but a place in society. A lot of people are only seeking outward signs of peace. They are only interested in an outward appearance. They are not really seeking the Biblical model or Biblical ideal of peace.
The second understanding of peace is related to the Hebrew word, Shalom. Shalom is more than physical peace. Shalom is wholeness, oneness, it is peace of body, mind, soul and spirit. It is wholeness on every level. In John 14:27 Jesus told the Disciples, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.” This is the peace Paul was talking about in Philippians 4:6-7 when he wrote: “Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” This is the peace which fills our hearts with the grace of God in Christ so we can affirm what Jesus told the Disciples in John 16:33: “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.”
Peace comes from the Holy Spirit bearing witness to our spirit that we are the children of God, children who are forgiven and loved. This peace, this Shalom can only be born in us through the love and joy of God’s Holy Spirit which lives and reigns in us. There are so many people in the world who are seeking peace, inner peace in their lives and don’t even really know it. They have worked hard for all that they have and yet now it doesn’t bring the joy or happiness they once thought it would. Take time this week to pray, study your Bible and attend worship and discover the peace born through the love and joy of God’s Holy Spirit. When we have the peace of Jesus it makes all the difference in our lives and all the difference in the world. The answer, the only thing which can bring peace to the troubled soul and the only thing which can fill that emptiness is Christ Jesus. Jesus gave His very life on the Cross so we could know with certainty that our sins have been forgiven. Peace be with you!
http://pastorjimrobinson.podbean.com
The Greek word used in Paul’s letter had two usages. First of all, it dealt with the whole idea of the serenity or physical and mental peace of a village or country or community and the individual who was in charge of keeping the peace. The keeper of the public peace, was sort of like the western idea of a sheriff and today’s understanding of the police officer whose primary duty is to help us “keep the peace” when we get unruly.
A lot of people are only seeking this kind of peace. They want financial or social peace, but what they are really looking for is not peace but safety. Not peace but security. Not peace but popularity. Not peace but superiority. Not peace but plenty. Not peace but a place in society. A lot of people are only seeking outward signs of peace. They are only interested in an outward appearance. They are not really seeking the Biblical model or Biblical ideal of peace.
The second understanding of peace is related to the Hebrew word, Shalom. Shalom is more than physical peace. Shalom is wholeness, oneness, it is peace of body, mind, soul and spirit. It is wholeness on every level. In John 14:27 Jesus told the Disciples, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.” This is the peace Paul was talking about in Philippians 4:6-7 when he wrote: “Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” This is the peace which fills our hearts with the grace of God in Christ so we can affirm what Jesus told the Disciples in John 16:33: “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.”
Peace comes from the Holy Spirit bearing witness to our spirit that we are the children of God, children who are forgiven and loved. This peace, this Shalom can only be born in us through the love and joy of God’s Holy Spirit which lives and reigns in us. There are so many people in the world who are seeking peace, inner peace in their lives and don’t even really know it. They have worked hard for all that they have and yet now it doesn’t bring the joy or happiness they once thought it would. Take time this week to pray, study your Bible and attend worship and discover the peace born through the love and joy of God’s Holy Spirit. When we have the peace of Jesus it makes all the difference in our lives and all the difference in the world. The answer, the only thing which can bring peace to the troubled soul and the only thing which can fill that emptiness is Christ Jesus. Jesus gave His very life on the Cross so we could know with certainty that our sins have been forgiven. Peace be with you!
http://pastorjimrobinson.podbean.com
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