Peace with God

Jesus Christ came to reverse the effects of the fall. He brings peace with God, peace to the human heart and peace between persons…the Bible Speaks of peace with God. Jesus Christ has made it possible for rebellious humans to be reconciled to God through his atoning death on the cross and his resurrection. “Therefore,” the Bible says, “being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1).

From God’s point of view we are already at war with him. We need reconciliation; we need peace with God. Christ alone can change the human heart.

Where does war come from? How did it start? The first war was when Cain killed Abel. Why? Because sin was in Cain’s heart. The book of James answers the question of where war comes from; “Come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?” (James 4:1). That is why human solutions alone cannot solve in any lasting way the problems we face in our world. Only Christ can deal with our deepest problem. The deepest problem we face is the spiritual problem of the human heart that needs to be reconciled to God and forgiven of its sin. …Billy Graham

Object Lesson

A pastor went to see a man who didn’t attend very faithfully. The man was sitting before a fire, watching the warm glow of the coals. It was a cold winter day, but the coals were red hot, and the fire was warm. The pastor pleaded with the man to more faithful in meeting with the people of God, but the man didn’t seem to be getting the message.

So the pastor took the tongs beside the fire place, pulled open the screen, and reached in and began to separate all the coals. When none of the coals was touching the others, he stood and watched in silence. In a matter of moments, they were cold…the man got the message

Don’t ever try to argue with the Devil. He’s better at arguing than you are, having had thousands of years of practice.

You will never know what you’re good at until you try.

Being a Pastor is easy, if you can: counsel like Solomon, preach like Paul, work like Edison, and budget like Franklin.

 The true measure of God’s love is that he loves without measure.

Jesus loves me this I know,

For the Bible tells me so;

Little ones to Him belong,

They are weak, but He is strong.

Yes, Jesus loves me (3)

The Bible tells me so.

The Concerns of a Christian

First, seek the kingdom of God –

 “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well”…Matt. 6:33

Care for other Christians –

 “so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other”…1Cor. 12:25

Concern for all the churches –

 “Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches”…2 Cor. 11:28

Preaching the kingdom of God –

 “Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ”…Acts 28:31

Pray for everything –

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God”…Philippians 4:6

Give cheerfully –

“Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver”…2 Corinthians 9:7

Practicing hospitality –

“Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality”…Romans 12:13