SCARS AND CROWNS… PEACE
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol..com (YouTube: Wade Hughes)
I sat at a table with Dave Roever for a dinner. Dave was in Vietnam on a gun boat when a phosphorus grenade blew up in his hand and totally destroyed his body. He is scarred from hand to toe. He has had 100s of surgeries.
As the discussion at the table was turned. The question was asked: DAVE, WHY DID GOD ALLOW YOU TO BE SO SCARRED. Dave looked around him. There was over 1,000 men in attendance in a little place. Dave answered: WHY ARE THESE MEN GATHERED HERE TO HEAR ME? He went on to say: THEY ARE HERE BECAUSE I AM SCARRED AND I HAVE SURVIVED TO TELL ABOUT IT.
THESE SCARS HAVE OPEN MANY DOORS AROUND THE WORLD. Dave was asked do you blame the Vietnamese? He said: I HAVE GREAT JOY RETURNING TO VIETNAM TO WITNESS AND GIVE GIFTS. SHALOM, PEACE BE TO THEM.
GOD UNDERSTANDS THAT THE CONFLICTS ON EARTH CAN DESTROY MAN. MANY DESIRE PEACE, FEW FIND REAL PEACE IN DAILY LIFE.
TEXT: Luke 2:14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
*PEACE: Peace is more than just absence of strife and trouble, freedom from disturbance, CALM, tranquility, no war, quiet, not bothered, no oppressive thoughts or emotions, harmony, end hostilities, respect. SHALOM.
*SHALOM: Used by Jews as a greeting when meet, when they depart; complete, sound, whole, peace,
SCARS ARE A SIGN OF SURVIVAL. WE MUST ALLOW OUR WOUNDS TO BE HEALED IN PEACE.
WE MUST ALLOW THE HOLY SPIRIT TO HELP US RESTORE OUR BROKEN HEARTS. WE NEED TO FOCUS ON THE GOALS OF FORGIVING. WE NEED MORE LOVE. GOD HELP US GIVE MORE LOVE. One of the gifts of God’s love is to give His PEACE.
Luke 2:12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. 15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
AS JESUS KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH CONFLICT, STRUGGLES AND PROBLEMS ON EARTH. AS JESUS CAME IN PEACE. HE LEFT IN PEACE. HE HAS PEACE TO LEAVE WIITH US.
John 14:27 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.
John 14:27 (MSG) I'm leaving you well and whole. That's my parting gift to you. Peace. I don't leave you the way you're used to being left—feeling abandoned, bereft. So don't be upset. Don't be distraught.
WOUNDS HURT. DEEP WOUNDS ARE HARDER TO SURVIVE. THESE WOUNDS FROM THOSE THAT PERSECUTE AND DESPITEFULLY USE US CAN BRING US TO PEACE.
Matthew 5:43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
CONTRARY WINDS ARE PART OF DAILY LIFE. Fault-finders and critics can never be pleased. We must not waste our time worrying about the words of NAYSAYERS, those who criticize. To have peace we must love hard to love people. LOVE MUST BE THE FOCUS IN OUR HEARTS. CONFLICT IS A PART OF DAILY LIFE. Many times when facing conflict we tend to BLAME OTHERS come instead of walking in peace.
BITTERNESS, BURDENS AND HATRED WILL ALWAYS BACKFIRE and destroy the peace within.
Ephesians 4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
WE MUST INTENTIONALLY PUT OUR LOVE, TIME, TALENTS AND ENERGY INVESTING IN TRUSTING GOD’S PLAN. PEACE IS A DIVINE GIFT TO GOD’S PEOPLE THAT WILL ACCEPT IT.
Galatians 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
GOD’S DIVINE PEACE IS AMAZING. IT IS A PEACE THAT PASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING.
Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:7 (MSG) Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.
Philippians 4:7 (NLT2) Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
IS PERFECT PEACE POSSIBLE?
Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
CONCLUSION:
2 Corinthians 13:11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
2 Corinthians 13:11 (NLT2) Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.
God peace does not mean everything will be easy. God peace does not mean we will be free from conflicts, strife, troubles, struggles and troubles. God peace means we have God with us. With God peace we can face any problem that comes against us. We are living in a mean, cruel world we must remember the world was mean to God’s son and it will be mean to us.
Numbers 6:22 (NLT2) Then the LORD said to Moses, 23 “Tell Aaron and his sons to bless the people of Israel with this special blessing: 24 ‘May the LORD bless you and protect you. 25 May the LORD smile on you and be gracious to you. 26 May the LORD show you his favor and give you his peace.’ 27 Whenever Aaron and his sons bless the people of Israel in my name, I myself will bless them.”
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes)
