Weekly Bread

Peace. Peace. Peace. It seems as if this has been one of man's greatest quests in life. We want peace in our homes, mind, families, communities, state, nation, and peace that extends into the entire world. Although this appears to be one of man's deepest desires and strongest pursuits, it’s one of the most challenging for man to maintain.

In today’s world, there is conflict and turmoil in every area of life because of the absence of man's pursuit of God's way of doing things. Every time we demand our own way, real peace moves further away. Every time laws are passed or demands made excluding God, we move toward independence- the framework for separation and division.

Independence within itself isn’t wrong, but independence without God is dangerous and divisive. Government, on any level from civil to self government, desperately needs the foundation of God's ways. In our pledge of allegiance, we declare the unifying of our states as one nation under God, undivided with liberty and justice for all. This is an accurate and needful confession of belief for our nation. This has been a lifeline for our nation, because within it our faith is revealed. It brings people together with a common goal and belief system concerning the acknowledgement of our need for God.

The term “God” used in the pledge of allegiance is the One who loves man and sent His Son, Jesus Christ. Not God as we perceive Him to be based upon our own ideas of whom or what God is. Some believe Him to be angry, vindictive and uncaring; while others see Him as a figment of the imagination.

The Bible is the book of revealing truth, which clearly conveys His character, desires and mode of operation in the affairs of man. God is for peace on the earth and among men. The angels said in Luke 2:14, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." This verse reflects God’s desire for man to know real peace; but it comes into man's life by receiving His Son, Jesus Christ as Lord. Knowing Him is to know peace. In Isaiah 9:6, He’s called The Prince of Peace.  This means He’s the head, captain, chief, general, governor, keeper, lord, ruler and steward of peace, which leaves us with the conclusion that apart from Him, there’s no real peace.

Once a person starts walking with Him and discovering His ways, then peace is promoted in their life and is extended to others as well. The blessing begins to flow, driving out the curse and turmoil because it’s attached to the makers of peace. Jesus said in Matthew 5:9, "Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God".  There will always be conflict and turmoil when we demand our way and forsake His. May God’s ways come alive more than ever in our lives and His peace be known by all who come in contact with you.

In Amos 3:3, we read;

“Can two walk together, except they be agreed?”

The answer is."NO!" The most prevalent sin in the church today is unbelief. People don’t believe the Word of God. They believe parts of the Bible, but that is not good enough. We are supposed to believe all of the Bible. We are supposed to agree with what God says in His Word.

In Romans 3:3-4 we read;

“For what if some did not believe? Shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.”

As born-again believers, if we are going to experience the blessings of God, we must believe what God says-no matter what we feel like, what we hear, or what we see. God’s Word must become a reality of truth in our heart.

Now, let’s go back to the third chapter of Amos. According to Amos 3:3, if you don’t believe God’s Word, you are not walking with God. How can you agree with something you don’t believe? You can’t.

So, if you are not in agreement with God’s Word, you are not walking with God. The key word here is “with”. If you are not walking with God, then who are you walking with? The flesh. When you are walking with the flesh, you have to operate in your ability, by your senses; and you are setting yourself up for failure.

In Mark 10:27 we read;

“And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.”

Do you see it? With God all things are possible, not by yourself or with the flesh, but with God. When we are in agreement with what the Word of God says, then we are walking with God; and it releases His ability to produce protection, health, prosperity, wholeness, and soundness and causes them to overflow in our lives.

In Romans 4:3 we read;

“For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.”

As I close, I want you to see this. It doesn’t say Abraham believed in God. We know he did, but it says that Abraham believed God. In other words, his faith was in the fact that “God said it, and it’s so”. Abraham was then justified, or made right, because he believed God. If you and I will believe God’s Word and come into agreement with God and what He says, then you and I will begin to see the wrong things in our lives begin to change and be made right.

Be encouraged! Walk with God by agreeing with His Word, and remember that your circumstance or situation will be justified or made right by saying what God’s Word says. Amen.