There is Peace in Following Christ

Speaker: Archbishop Loren Thomas Hines

August 15, 2022

in Spritual Growth

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August 14, 2022
Readings:
Jeremiah 23:23-29
Hebrews 12:1-7,11-14
Luke 12:49-56

There are many different thoughts, ideas, proclamations and opinions about God, about Christ, about scriptures, about the kingdom. But in order to know the truth, we need to focus on His Word. Everything He does has a result. He does not change, like man does. When we look at the life of Christ, we see Him as someone strong and capable of anything, and He is. But if we study further, we will see that He had to go through many struggles. The life He entered into as flesh was exactly the opposite of where He came from, which was perfect. The disappointments, struggles He faced as a human were real. He was human, like us in many ways. He had goals and dreams like us. But He knew that He was going into situations which were against the will of the Father and He had to overcome that. He understood the stubbornness and pride of man. He said He had come to bring fire. What does this mean? It meant He was going to clean up that which was wrong and unrighteous. To change and restore that which was created in perfection. Psalms 66:12 “You made men ride over our heads; We went through fire and through water, Yet You brought us out into a place of abundance.” He was telling us that we may go through the fire or water in our lives, but after we have been cleansed, when our wrongdoings have been washed away and we are purified, the result will be a place of peace and abundance.

We have many weaknesses the enemy has put upon us. Christ said He did not come to bring peace but a sword. At first we would think this sounds contradictory because He gave us peace. What He meant here was there will be conflict in His name. There will be those who will not approve of Him. There will be those who will not accept Christ. There will be the divisions, even among families. We find these divisions even in the church with so many different denominations.

There are only two ways to walk. One is to walk with God, the other to walk with the enemy. If we follow Christ, we will have peace. Christ gave us peace but we have to walk in it. Isaiah 53:10 “Yes it was the LORD’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.” Christ was going through the painful stage of fighting against the forces of evil. He has set the course. The choices are ours. If we look at the world today, evil is becoming more and more prevalent. The enemy has been trying his best to destroy us. Abortion, people choosing whatever gender they want to be in, parents divorcing, children rebelling, diseases increasing.

Christ wants us to know the times we are living in. It’s in following Him that we will have peace. Hebrews 12:2 “Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” When Christ was tempted by the enemy thrice, He did not give in. He stood His ground. He stood on God’s Word. In our hour of weakness, God’s Word will be our strength. God needs a witness, a people who will stand firm. People today are saying Christianity has so many restrictions. If we look at the world today, there are more crimes and more evil. We need to trust and follow Him.