Championing Stability-1 Series

CHAMPIONING STABILITY—Psalm 119:165

Attention:

Tactful Lieutenant:

A certain lieutenant was brilliant in military matters, but lacked a few social graces.

One day he called a soldier in to the office & said "Kramer, your grandmother died."

Understandably, the soldier’s spirit was completely destroyed.

The colonel pulls the lieutenant aside & says, "You have got to be a little more tactful. I have some books at home that can help you."

The lieutenant read the half-dozen books lent to him by the colonel & before long he was ready for the next crisis.

Private Taylor's grandfather had passed away.

So the next morning, at reveille, the lieutenant said, "Men, take one step forward if you have a grandfather still living? Most of them step forward as instructed. The lieutenant quickly says, “Not so fast, Private Taylor!”

The lieutenant was not very good at Championing Stability as he should have been.

God’s people are also to be Champions(protectors/fighters for) of Stability!

Veteran’s Day has everything to do with maintaining peace & security in our homeland.

Maintaining peace & security has multiple fronts upon which it is sought & fought. We commend you for your service to these United States!

We should be those who Champion Godly Stability, individually & corporately—as a church & as nation.

The Psalmist Championed the stability & security of God’s people.

The Holy Spirit champions the stability of God’s people.

When or Where is the stability of God’s people championed?

3 measures/gauges of the stability of God’s people.

1—The stability of God’s people is championed within...

Your/Their PEACE(:165a)

Explanation:(:165a)

:165a—“Great peace have those who love Your law, And nothing causes them to stumble.”

Veteran’s Day—These give & gave of themselves for the sake of peace. That peace being limited to the absence of war, or martial occupation. That absence of martial conflict is sought so that God’s “great peace” can be a upon those within our country.

“Great peace” can be your possession! It can be had by anyone!

No matter your station in life(cf.-point #3), you can have “great peace”!

So, If you are looking for “peace”, then know that you ‘can’ have it!...

...If you are looking for “peace”, then know that you ‘can’ not only have “peace” but “great” “peace”!

There are at least 3 dimensions(‘withs’) to God’s peace:

(from Ken Sande’s book, ‘The Peacemaker’)

i. Peace with God

•Jesus made it possible for us to have peace with God.

Col. 1:19-20—“For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, & by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.”

Rom. 5:1-2—“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, & rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”

Col. 3:15(cf.-iii.-‘Peace with Ourselves’)—“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; & be thankful.”

ii. Peace with(in) Ourselves

•Internal peace yields—wholeness, contentment, tranquility, order, rest, & security.

Isa. 26:3-4—“You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You. Trust in the LORD forever, For in YAH, the LORD, is everlasting strength.”

Isa. 48:18—“Oh, that you had heeded My commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, And your righteousness like the waves of the sea.”

Jn. 16:33—“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

Col. 3:15(cf.-i.-‘Peace with God’)—“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; & be thankful.”

iii. Peace with Others

•The presence of genuine harmony, understanding & goodwill among people, particularly among God’s people!

Rom. 12:9-21—“Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless & do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, & weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”