Romans 14
17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
(If I am troubled, I often ask God to restore my joy, peace, and gladness. God knows how to make things happen for us.)
18 For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.
19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things whereby one may edify another.
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I'm convinced that some have lived a troubled, worried way of life and don't even know what peace is.
Peace: defined
- Freedom from agitation of mind or spirit
- Free from mental tension, anxiety
- State of tranquility or rest
- Freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts
- Freedom from war
- Freedom from strife or disorder
- Stopping of war
- Freedom from public disturbance
- An undisturbed state of mind
- Absence of mental conflict
- Harmony in personal relations
Edify means: "to build" as in building an edifice, an house ... for Christians to edify would mean to build in ways of God.
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I'm 87 years old now. I am partially crippled also. I don't drive car. So most things that I do are sedentary (seated).
Recently I was troubled very much by a church woman. I've never before encountered any thing that I've had as much difficulty from which to recover.
The problem happened by a phone call around 6 pm. I was finally restored by God at mid-night.
I just turned TV off and begged God to help me and to restore my peace and joy. I stayed very still until God worked through the problem.
I don't want to forget my problems when they occur. I want to overcome that problem through God telling me the solution.
I suspect most people want to get through the problem quickly for it hurts when we have such conflict. But we can't push God. We must simply cry out for help from God and wait! Eventually the Holy Spirit unravels the situation and I will know the root of the problem.
In such times, we often think, "I'll say this ... or that." But I don't want my thought- up solution ... I want my deliverance to be from God! What God reveals to me.
Psalm 37:39-40 But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: HE is their strength in the time of trouble.
40 And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: HE shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in HIM.
40 And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: HE shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in HIM.
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I don't have the "right" to say things of myself. I'm a servant of God. I must receive what God wants me to do and say and speak only that word.
I can't say things like, "I just won't speak to you again ..." for what if God gives me a message for that person. I would have to speak or write. I don't serve myself.
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I find fleshly "vows" unwise when we are Christians.
God finally delivered me and gave me what to say ... I wrote it the next morning, waiting until God confirmed to me this was really "HIS" message.
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I must keep myself in a constant state of peace and joy to be sure I'm operating by the Holy Spirit and not by a spirit of my own flesh!
I know there will be much trouble in days ahead for Paul told us what other people would be:
2 Timothy 3 Paul says:
1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection (homosexual, lesbians, abortionists who kill their own unborn children), trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection (homosexual, lesbians, abortionists who kill their own unborn children), trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
(When your goal is to go forward in peace, you may have to stop trying to go forward with a person who causes you to be troubled.)
We can do a lot of harm if we let our flesh take over when there is trouble.
Each of us must have more "self" control for others are likely to have less self-control when devils swarm about the controversy.
Be wise as serpents, but harmless as doves.
I knew I had overcome through God when I could pray for the woman involved and really mean it, not wanting her to suffer injury.
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