A Perfect Peaceableness

When we talk about peace and well being usually it is based on a set of conditions; My bank account is healthy, My family is doing well, my career is on track, my children are secure and progressing according to my expectations, people love me, I drive a nice car and I live in a nice home. .. If these set of conditions, as an example, exist.. then peace, well being is at hand.... This would be a fairly accurate definition of peace and overall well being... The Hebrew word for this kind of peace would be Shalom...

Shalom defined = completeness, wholeness- safety, welfare, health, prosperity- quiet, tranquility, contentment, peace, friendship.

There is another kind of peace, not based on a set of outward conditions, not based upon or dictated by whatever is happening at the moment....I might call this a supernatural peace ..meaning this peace overrides whatever is happening in the natural realm.. It's source is from heaven and is not bound by earthly conditions ..


John 14:27
"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.

The peace of Jesus is a state of well being imputed to Christians and this peace or Shalom allows us to live victoriously no matter our outward conditions.. This is what Paul was saying when He said I can do all things through Christ who straightens me.. , .. Generally this scripture shown in Philippians is used when we talk about an impending task .. and we say "I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me".. However, the proper use of the text is more in line with.. , I can endure all things through Christ... , Or I have peace and it is well with my soul not matter the circumstances.. ,


Phil 4:11
Not that I am implying that I was in any personal want, for I have learned how to be content (satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or disquieted) in whatever state I am.

Here Paul is saying I have no lack of peace no matter my condition..


Phil 4:12
I know how to be abased and live humbly in straitened circumstances, and I know also how to enjoy plenty and live in abundance. I have learned in any and all circumstances the secret of facing every situation, whether well-fed or going hungry, having a sufficiency and enough to spare or going without and being in want.

The secret my friends is found in Jesus.. Paul had the heavenly peace.. a heavenly well being .. a heavenly Shalom..

Let us bring every concern, every care, every heart ache to Jesus, and He in turn will give you His peace, His well being and His state of restfulness..


Matt 11:28
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.]


Matt 11:29
Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls


Phil 4:7
And God's peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Some most sobering information

This may not be a popular post... But.. so be it..

I found this to be some most sobering information. Especially in light of the numerous Apostles and Prophets that are found in today's Church.. living in lavish homes and driving expensive cars.. forgive me if I am skeptical.

• Apostle
  Manner of Death
  Peter (Simon Peter),Bible writer
  Rome, Italy(Nero)
  54-68AD
  Homicide:crucified head down,at his own request
• 
  Andrew, son of a John & brother of Peter (Matthew 4:18)
  Edessa, Greece
  ?AD
  Homicide:severely scourged & tied by ropes on x-shaped cross where he hung 2 days to expire
• 
  James,son of Zebedee & Salome and elder bro. of John (not bro. of Jesus) the Bible writer
  Jerusalem, Israel(Herod)
  44 AD(the 1st martyred)
  Homicide:beheaded with sword; Mark 10:39 & Acts 12:1-2
• 
  John,son of Zebedee and bro. of James;Bible writer
  Ephesus, Turkeyor Turkish Isleof Patmos
  98 AD
  thrown in boiling oil but unharmed; died of Natural causes in Ephesus
• 
  Philip of Bethsaida
  Hieropolis, Syria
  Homicide:crucified
  Bartholomew (Nathaniel)
  India orArmenia
  Homicide:beaten/flayed, and crucifiedhead down
• 
  Thomas (Didymus)
  Edessa, Greece
  Homicide:lanced by idolatrous priests & burned up in an oven
• 
  Matthew (Levi), of Capernaumthe Bible writer
  Nadabah, Ethiopia
  about 60AD
  Homicide:axed to death with a halberd
• 
  James (son of Alphaeus);Bible writer(? half bro. of Jesus?)
  Jerusalem, Israel
  AD66
  Homicide:thrown down from the Temple tower & not dead so clubbed to death with a fullers club at age 94
• 
  Jude (Thaddaeus...Judas Lebbaeus)
  Edessa, Greece
  AD72
  Homicide:crucified
• 
  Simon the Zealot(the Canaanite)
  Brittainnia, Europe
  Homicide:crucified
• 
  Judas Iscariot
  Jerusalem, Israel
  Suicide:by hanging Matt. 27:5
• 
  Matthias (the 11 remaining Apostles chose him to replace Judas)
  Jerusalem, Israel
  Homicide:stoned and beheaded
• 
  Paul (chosen by Jesus on the road to Damascus)
  Rome, Italy
  66 AD
  Homicide:beheaded

The bigger the call, the greater the sacrifice... , that is why Jesus said

John 12:23
And Jesus *answered them, saying, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.


John 12:24
"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.


John 12:25
"He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal.


John 12:26
"If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.


John 12:27
"Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, 'Father, save Me from this hour'? But for this purpose I came to this hour.

Eph 2:20
having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone,

Are there Apostles today, I would suspect until Jesus returns we will have the five fold ministry gifts. However I do believe there is a large number of imposters as well.. The call of GOD is not necessarily a glamorous call filled with material excess and with Hollywood type trappings..

Matt 11:8 "But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Those who wear soft clothing are in kings' palaces! Matt 11:9 "But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and one who is more than a prophet.

Matt 11:10 "This is the one about whom it is written, 'BEHOLD, I SEND MY MESSENGER AHEAD OF YOU, WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY BEFORE YOU.'

Matt 11:11 "Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist! Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

I must make a short comment here.. why does Jesus say that John is the least in the Kingdom of GOD??? It is simple, the day of Pentecost had not yet come.. when we would ALL have access to GOD through faith in Jesus and the agency of the Holy Spirit.. This was not in John's day.. nor did John have the measure of the Holy Spirit that we now have..

Acts 1:8
But you shall receive power (ability, efficiency, and might) when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria and to the ends (the very bounds) of the earth.

What about Christians that deny the power of GOD being active today.. for some reason they say it has passed????? And that there are few demonstrations of GOD's real power in the earth..

Again a simple response;

Matt 13:58
And He did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief.

2 Tim 3:5
holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.

GOD's power is clearly evident in the World today.. there are countless testimonies.. to substantiate this truth... But, nonetheless..

These are the last days .. and deception is rampant.. we must be in line with the LORD's Spirit in order to discern what is good and what is evil.. keep your spiritual antenna on high alert..

1 John 4:1
BELOVED, DO not put faith in every spirit, but prove (test) the spirits to discover whether they proceed from God; for many false prophets have gone forth into the world.

2 Cor 11:13
For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.


2 Cor 11:14
No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.


2 Cor 11:15
Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.