TRUE PEACE

by: Rev. Leon Aguilera

Whether on the television or radio, the talk show host Sean Hannity often partially quotes John 14:27, by saying, “…Let not your heart be troubled!...” The verse of Scripture in its entirety says, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” Everyone wants peace, but the Giver of peace is often ignored. It is not enough to simply say, “let not your heart be troubled”; one must know the only One Who can still the troubled waters of life. 

When we were in Israel we were greeted by Jew and Gentile alike with these words, “Sholem Aleichem”, meaning “Peace be upon you.” This expression was used as often as we say “hello” in the western world. There is probably not an area of the world where peace is so in jeopardy than the Middle East and yet the one thing they long for is peace. Psalm122:6 teaches us to “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem….”

In my youth, the Cold War was looming.  Whereas our previous communist enemies feared reciprocal death and injury should they begin war, the unnerving thing about the world we live in today is there is an enemy dedicated to our demise that does not fear repercussions from free countries. The Islamic jihadists would consider themselves blessed by Allah if they should die in their “unholy” war. Sadly, the confused jihadist would not be in Hell for five seconds before finding out instead of peace and blessing, he shall be consigned to chaos and the curse from God forever. Never has man desired peace, true peace than the people in the world we live in today. “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace…” (I Corinthians 14:33).

1. The unconverted have a longing for peace with God. 

The Bible says, “There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked” (Isaiah 57:21). “The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace” (Isaiah 59:8). Jeremiah lamented, “They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace” (Jeremiah 6:15).

Merely longing for peace will never give peace. Promising peace will never give peace. “Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man” (Psalm 60:11). How true the adage: “No God; no peace. Know God; know peace!” Without Christ, mankind is lost. Isaiah tells us, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way…”(Isaiah 53:6). Yet Solomon reminds us, “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Proverbs 16:25).

2. Only the believer in Christ has peace with God.  

In the previous point I quoted part of Isaiah 53:6; let me give you the whole verse: “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Because we have gone astray we find ourselves so lost that we cannot find our way, so Christ took the penalty of our sin and the punishment our sins required on His own person, “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:6). 

Paul said in Ephesians 2:12, “That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world.” Hopeless and helpless is the description of all of those outside the saving grace of God. The apostle went on to say, “For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace” (Ephesians 2:14,15). The word “enmity” in the Greek language means actively hostile. Colossians 1:20 states, “And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.”

3. The obedient believer possesses the peace of God.

Every believer has peace with God, for the Bible says, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1).  However, not every believer is enjoying the peace of God. The Bible says, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6,7). The peace of God is sharing the nature of God. God never worries and is never out of control. We too will not worry or be out of control when we trust Him. Years ago a man was carrying a fifty-pound sack of potatoes from the market to his home. His friend was passing by in his wagon and said, “Let me give you a ride!” He gladly climbed aboard and sat next to the driver on the bucket seat, but kept his bag of potatoes draped over his shoulder. His friend said, “Why don’t you drop your potatoes in the back of the wagon?” The man replied, “It is enough that you carry me; I’m not going to let you carry my potatoes also.” How foolish! If the man is in the wagon, the driver is already carrying the potatoes too! Are we not often like this man -- we are full of worry when the Bible tells us to, “Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee…” (Psalm 55:22). If Christ can take care of our sins (and He does), He is more than able to take care of our worries (and He will) as well! 

Isaiah 26:3 says, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” The same verse in the NIV reads, “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” This modern attempt at translation of Holy Scripture has missed the whole point; they left out the phrase, “…whose mind is stayed on thee….” Peace does not come simply because you have a steadfast mind, but through a Person and that Person is Jesus! We must stay our minds on Him. The result is peace.

4. The Christian is to propagate this peace.

Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God” (Matthew 5:9). The Old Testament tells us, “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation…” (Isaiah 52:7). Paul re-affirmed this truth in the New Testament when he said, “And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” (Romans 10:15). Jeremiah said to those in captivity in a heathen land, “And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the LORD for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace.” (Jeremiah 29:7). In so many ways, our country has been led into captivity by the rampant sin we have embraced. If our leadership would come to Jesus we would enjoy peace like overflowing and refreshing waters, “O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea” (Isaiah 48:18). It might do all of us well if when we put on our shoes in the morning that we would also pray that God would help us to put on our “evangelism shoes” and look for every opportunity God gives us to be a witness, “And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace” (Ephesians 6:15).

THE “ARC” OF THE COVENANT

by: Rev. Leon Aguilera

God saved the earth in a boat that was 450 feet long, 75 feet wide and 45 feet high and divided into three levels.  It was taller than a 3-story building.  It was 90 feet longer than a football field.  It is a true story that is confirmed world-wide. In at least five hundred different ancient cultures, you will find a story of the world destroyed by a deluge of water. The Bible gives us the factual details with the why, the when and the how. 

Our hero is Noah. The Bible says, “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD” (Genesis 6:8). “By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith” (Hebrews 11:7).  The story is epoch.  To say the flood changed the world is not using hyperbole or exaggeration. In Genesis 7: 11b, 12 it says, “…all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights.”  From the time that Noah and his family walked into the ark and stepped out on the ground was just over a year.  What can we learn from this ancient story of Noah?

1. When we live any way we want, we never engage in God’s plans and purposes.  Read Genesis 6:1-6. Multiply is what God wants mankind to do. This was the original command given to Adam and Eve, “And God blessed them, and God said unto them,  Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth” (Genesis 1:28).  I must note here that God’s intention was not only that mankind should multiply, but he is also to control the environment around him.  He was commanded to take dominion, which means to subjugate and rule.  The problem is, he did not rule himself. “He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city” (Proverbs 16:32).

                        In Genesis 6:2, the sons of God were referred to as the righteous generations of Seth; the daughters of men as the unrighteous generations of Cain. The phrase  “…they took them wives of all which they chose,” contrasts with Proverbs 3:5 and 6, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”   In all matters, especially those important life-altering decisions, we are to trust God, not our own wisdom. One of the greatest commendations God ever gave a man was when Solomon requested, “Give me now wisdom and knowledge  that I may go out and come in…” (II Chronicles 1:10a).   He phrased it like this in I Kings 3:7, “...I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.” God granted to the man who admitted he did not know how to navigate through life the great gift of His wisdom. We are to bring everything to God and allow Him to direct the paths. We see in Genesis 6:4, these hybrid offspring were called “…Men of renown,” but the Lord said, “…it grieved Him at His heart” (Genesis 6:6). When man runs contrary to God’s plans, his purposes will be thwarted.

2. There comes a time when God’s tolerance comes to an end.  Read Genesis 6:5-7. “And God saw that the wickedness was great in the earth….” Man was doing anything and everything his wild and intemperate mind could imagine and the telling phrase is, “...his heart was only evil continually.”   There was no let-up so God declared, “And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them” (Genesis 6:7).   Psalm 103:8 says,“The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.” If we continue to shun His mercy and His call to repentance, eventually time runs out: “Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh” (Proverbs 1:24-26).  Proverbs 1:28-31 goes on to say that those in rebellion would call on the Lord, but He will not answer and instead He will give them the rewards for their evil deeds.

3. Never underestimate the power of one surrendered individual.  Read Genesis 6:8,9. We see in the midst of this wicked world, one man stood alone, “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD” (verse 8). He walked perfectly with God and pleased His Lord in every way.  We often get discouraged because there appear to be overwhelming odds of wickedness around us.  Oh, how wise it would be if we would be that one man, that one woman who is “...just and perfect in his generations…” (Genesis 6:9). God used one man, Moses to lead the children of Israel out of bondage.  He used one young man named David to defeat the giant Goliath.  He used one boy’s lunch to feed a multitude.

4. God is a Covenant-Making and Covenant-Keeping God.                          Genesis 6:18 tells us, “But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee.”  A covenant is not a contract between you and another person; it is a vow between you and God.  It may involve another person such as in marriage, but a covenant is primarily a vow to God that is required to be kept.  God always keeps His word, “Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations” (Deuteronomy 7:9). Noah built the ark within 120 years. God sent the animals two by two to Noah “…two of every sort shall come unto thee…” (Genesis 6:20c). The Bible said, “And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the LORD shut him in” (Genesis 7:16). When the rains fell and the earth opened up her fountains from the deep all the people and animals on the land perished. All died but Noah and his family.

Read Genesis 9:11-16. God declared, “I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth” (Genesis 9:13).  The word for “bow” is the Hebrew word, “qesheth,” which is the same word for “battle bow.” When a warrior pulls his bow, the arc is aimed toward the man with whom he is at war.  Thank God, the arc is not aimed at us as it was in the judgment of the flood. Through His Divine mercy,  Christ took the penalty for our sin. The rainbow ever reminds us of this truth.

Have you ever seen the rainbow from the window of a jet?  When looking down, you will see the full circle of color. Yet when you look at the rainbow from the earth you see the shape of the bow.  What is God saying?  God promised He would not destroy all flesh by water again (Genesis 9:15,16).  Remember God hates sin; He must judge it.  The bow (which is a battle bow) arches upwards toward the heavens. The only way He is able to hold back His judgment upon the wicked world we live in this long is because Jesus took our sins to the cross.  The bow was turned and pointed to Heaven after the flood.  When God looks at us, it is through the multicolored bull’s-eye of His love.  You never see the rainbow on a clear day. You see it in the convergence where the sun and a storm come together. Our stormy sins were conjoined to the Son of God on the cross and a prism of mercy was formed. The rainbow tells us that the Promiser keeps His promises. “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief” (I Timothy 1:15). 

LIVING THE STRESS-FREE LIFE

by: Rev. Leon Aguilera

“To fret” means that you have a worry or feeling of unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome. In Hebrew the word  we translate “fret” is charah, which means to glow or grow warm; figuratively (usually) to blaze up, to kindle, be displeased, and grieve. The statement that  someone is “hot and bothered” really defines a fretting person.  Four times in Scripture we find the phrase “fret not.” In the order of their occurrence, we find God is telling us not to worry about people who do wrong. “Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity”  (Psalm 37:1).  Then God reminds us not to be bothered when the blessing is on the wicked and not on us. “Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass” (Psalm 37:7). God commands us not to try to “even the score” in a fretting, vengeful spirit. “Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil” (Psalm 37:8). Biblical wisdom is refusing to be envious toward the life of the unregenerate. “Fret not thyself because of evil men , neither be thou envious at the wicked” (Proverbs 24:19).

One thing for sure, God will even every score and we need to always remember  that much of our reward, if not realized here, will be granted in Heaven. Jesus reminds us when this happens to “Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets” (Luke 6:23).  You’re in good company and our Lord is keeping the record.

To live in a continued state of “fretting” would be living in stress.  Stress is the continuation of pressure or the fretting state of mind. You might say fretting are the steps that lead us into a state of stress. Let’s examine three ways to live stress-free:

1. You can triumph over the waves beneath you.

Psalm 121:3 says, “He will not suffer thy foot to be moved….” When I see this promise, I immediately go to the incident of Peter losing his footing on the waves of the Sea of Galilee.  The Bible records, “But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary” (Matthew 14:24).   After Jesus challenged Peter to walk with him out on those boisterous waves, we see this take place: “But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him…” (Matthew 14:30,31a). Without hesitation, our Lord picked up the sinking disciple out of the angry waves, steadied him and led him on to the boat.

Probably the highest and most ferocious swells in the world are found here. Yet in spite of the warnings imminent death awaiting prospective surfers, there are times this beach is crowded with surfers ready to catch the wave.  In the world of sports there is not much greater thrill than surfing. You are not being pulled or yanked by any man- made device; you are riding the waves that our Creator has designed dramatically in His creation. If you are on top of the wave, you are having unceasing fun.  If you are beneath the wave, you may be fighting for your life.

The same stress generated in the wave can either give you a ride or scare of a lifetime...it all depends if you are on top or underneath.   All of life is equipped with stress; our relationship with Jesus and obedience to Him determines if we are on top (emotionally) or beneath. I often claim this promise: “And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them” (Deuteronomy 28:13).

2. You will be shaded from the sun.

Psalm 121:5,6a says, “The LORD is thy keeper the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day....” Under a hot sun, we can be burned and made very uncomfortable.  In the course of a lifetime, even too much exposure to the sun can bring on cancer. In the Middle East, where the Bible was written, the effects of the sun can be brutalizing.  The deserts of this area can soar upwards to 122 degrees. The intense heat can cause heat cramps, exhaustion and stroke, which could lead to unconsciousness or even death.  So, in this area of the world in which the Bible was written, desert heat is nothing to joke about.  God was telling us He will provide shade from all debilitating circumstances, even the effects of the hottest sun.  There is no heat that He cannot cool and no thirst that He cannot quench. Walking in stress is like walking on a continuous desert, whereas walking with the Lord is a walk in a continual oasis.

3. You shall be protected from the moon.

Psalm 121: 5a, 6b says, “The LORD is thy keeper...nor the moon (smite thee) by night.” Now you may wonder what danger awaits us in the moonlight?  A man approached Jesus who had a son that was totally out of control. He said, “Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water” (Matthew 17:15).  The word “lunatic” in Greek is: seleniazomai, which comes to us from a word that means to be moon- struck, i.e. crazy.  In English the word is from late Latin lunaticus,  from Latin luna ‘moon’ (from the belief that changes of the moon caused  intermittent insanity). Philosophers such as Aristotle and Pliny the Elder argued that the full moon induced insane individuals with (what are now diagnosed) bipolar disorders by providing light during nights which would otherwise have been dark, and affecting susceptible individuals with sleep deprivation which would, in turn, trigger dysfunction.  It seems man has been fascinated with moodiness and troubles that seem to be affected by the lunar calendar. Emergency rooms are full when the moon is full.  Now, do not be concerned; no one is going to start howling like a wolf just because of the changing of the moon!  As a matter of fact, I believe a lot of behavior is induced because we believe that a certain change of season will automatically affect our nature and environment. Whether an illness is psychosomatic or real, Jesus is the answer!                                  

Although the disciples were impotent in helping the youngster, Jesus rebuked the demonic influence and the boy was healed from that very hour. What comfort all of us should enjoy, knowing that Jesus can eliminate not only the stress we experience from everyday temptations for anxiety, but for protection on every day in our lunar or calendar year.