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GOT PEACE

11/15/2018

I realize the title is bad grammar so let me rephrase it. Do you have peace?

In these days peace seems to be an elusive commodity. There is never a shortage of things to worry about. If you don’t have anything to worry about, the enemy of our souls stands ready to help you come up with something.

Around the year 64 AD the apostle Paul found himself in a Roman prison. If anyone had just cause for a little anxiety, it was Paul. While he sat in jail, adversaries of the gospel were trying to damage his ministry. Several of the churches started by Paul were undergoing major challenges. Add to that Paul’s uncertain future. Crazy Nero was on the throne. History records the atrocities committed by this Roman Emperor. Paul knew all too well what Nero was capable of.

And yet it was in this setting that Paul gave a timeless strategy for peace. Paul said this in Philippians 4:6-7, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Those verses contain a biblical proposition and promise. Proposition: worry about nothing, pray about everything. Promise: the peace of God will guard your heart and mind. One word of caution. To continue to worry while you pray is to undermine the process and forfeit God’s peace. So start praying, stop worrying, and God’s peace will come.

Then notice what Paul went on to say, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4:8-9).

There is no way a believer can live in peace when their thought life is messed up. Before going down an avenue of thought, run it through the checklist. Is it true? Is it noble (worthy)? Is it right? Is it pure? And so on. Be as discriminating with the thoughts you think as you are with the food you eat.

In old times a gang of thieves would put a young child through a small window so he could unlock and open the door. Oftentimes, entertaining one wrong thought can open the door to a whole gang of thoughts that steal your peace. But right thinking results in peace.

Got peace? If not, remember Paul’s points --

It’s important that you pray (Phil. 4:6-7)
It’s important how you think (Phil. 4:8-9)

Remember and do this, and the God of peace will be with you in any and every situation.

Pastor Todd Weston

LAISH

11/8/2018

The name of the city was Laish. It was located in the territory possessed by the northern tribe of Dan. The phrase “from Dan to Beersheba” was a familiar saying in Israel. It meant from the farthest point northward (Dan), to the farthest point southward (Beersheba). Dan was originally given territory just northwest of Judah, but the original allotment proved too small. So five Danite spies were sent farther north to locate additional land.

That’s when they stumbled upon the secluded city of Laish. Lazy Laish. Judges 18:7 says the people of Laish lived carefree lives. With no apprehension of danger, without the slightest thought of enemy attack, the people lived in what proved to be a false sense of security. What you don’t know can hurt you.

The text also indicates that Laish was ill-guarded. “They lived a long way from the Sidonians and had no relationship with anyone else.” Cut off from their Syrian neighbors to the north by Mount Hermon, and from the Sidonians to the West by the Lebanon range, Laish was totally isolated. But since the city was located in a fertile area along springs that fed into the Jordan River, an attitude of self-sufficiency was prevalent among its citizens.

All of that changed in Judges 18:27 when the enemy launched a surprise attack, killing the inhabitants and burning the city. Laish was an easy target because along with the carefree attitudes of the people, verse 28 says, “there was no deliverer, because it was far from Sidon, and they had no ties with anyone.” They cared for nobody and therefore, in their hour of crisis, nobody cared for them.

Satan loves it when Christians isolate themselves and fail to connect with a local church. He is delighted by Christians who have a Laish-like-go-it-alone attitude. The enemy zeroes in with glee on those who lack ties to the Body of Christ. Living far from the fellowship of believers, secure in their isolation, and with no apprehension of pending danger, these disconnected saints become easy pickings.

This self-inflicted defeat is easily avoidable. How? By taking seriously the instruction of Hebrews 10:25, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some.” Don’t be like some who pride themselves on having no ties with any church. Don’t join the ranks of “the done’s” who profess a relationship with Jesus, but have divorced themselves from His Church.

Run from Laish-minded Christians. Get connected. Get involved. Be faithful. Build relationships. Immerse yourself in the fellowship of God’s people. Hang out with believers who love the Church of Jesus Christ. When the hour of need comes, you will not find yourself isolated and alone. Rather, you will experience the love and support that comes from being actively connected to a strong family of faith.

Pastor Todd Weston

JOINER

11/1/2018

It was a nightmare of a marriage from the start. She was a wife unloved by her husband. His heart belonged to another, and it always would. He was an unsuspecting groom tricked into the marriage by the bride’s father, a devious old schemer named Laban. Caught in the web of a polygamous triangle, she was destined to live the rest of her life as the woman love forgot. In spite of this, Leah genuinely loved Jacob and would remain true to him until death dissolved their sad union.

Leah was nice, but her sister Rachel was drop-dead gorgeous. While Rachel owned Jacob’s heart, Leah was having his babies. A lot of them! The first was Reuben, whose name means “Behold a son.” Leah chose the name saying, “The Lord has surely looked on my affliction. Now therefore, my husband will love me” (Genesis 29:32). Then came Simeon which means “Hearing,” for Leah said, “Because the Lord has heard that I am unloved, He has therefore given me this son also” (Genesis 29:33). Despite the fact she had given Jacob two sons, Leah failed to capture her husband’s love.

Then the third son was born, and his mother named him Levi meaning “Joined.” Leah reasoned, “Now this time my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons” (Genesis 29:34). That’s a tall order to place on any child — to be the means by which your parents are united in a loving relationship. Unfortunately, it didn’t work. Levi the joiner failed to live up to his name. Jacob and Leah died as they had lived.

Later in the Old Testament we learn that from Levi’s descendants came the priestly tribe of Israel. They offered sacrifices on behalf of the people in an effort to unite them to a holy God. The attempts of the Levitical priesthood were more successful than those of their dear, departed ancestor, but still incomplete.

And then we turn to the pages of the New Testament where we read about the birth of another Son. The prophet Isaiah spoke of this Son when he wrote, “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given…and His name will be called…Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). Mary’s Son would succeed where Leah’s son failed. This Son would be the ultimate Joiner, Uniter, Peacemaker, and Mediator, “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5).

Through Jesus Christ and His death at Calvary, we can be joined in right relationship with the Father. The Bible word is reconciliation, and it signifies the broken relationship is now healed. Christ has the ability to heal our relationship with God, and our relationships with people. A broken marriage. An estranged child. A wounded friendship. All can find healing in Jesus.

Where Levi and his descendants fell short, Christ succeeded! And He did so for you and for me.

Pastor Todd Weston

RLA Pastor's blog

GOT PEACE

LAISH

JOINER

Pastor Todd

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