Can One have Peace with War
Will there be war
What not to place trust in
What to trust in
DBF Sunday Sermon, Ecclesiastes 3:1-11, various, 3/23/03
I am always amazed during times like this with the questions by people at times like these, who are squandering there lives and times upon themselves rather than seeking after the things of God.
Inevitably people are asking, “Do you think we are in the end times?”
This is and absurd question for most, since Paul rightly told us that we are all living in the end times, especially if we die today or tomorrow, that will be the end of us in this temporal time.
The only question really should be am I ready for what is sure to follow this time of war?
The bible tells us that there are but two choices at the final judgment…eternal life and light in the Presence of God…or eternal hell and damnation in the presence of the Prince of this current world.
This is an opportunity window that God has given each Christian to share their faith and peace, be ready to lift up the dying, lend a shoulder to the crying, and show the love that is our light to this world.
Because of the uncertainty of many, I will speak towards a few things that come up during these times.
The men and women of America, Britain and Australia are working diligently to reign in a state level terrorist who fashions himself to be a Messiah. Well, Saddam you are about 2000 years too late and no man will ever be the Messiah apart from Jesus Christ…so give it up.
We need to beware not to place our trust in our technology, even when it is so very easy to do so. We will look at God’s warning on this behalf.
If we place our hope and trust in anything, lets put it in the only place that will bring us peace and bring safety and protection to our men and women and the innocent people of Iraq whom God also loved enough to send HIS only begotten Son to die for.
Will there be war
Eccles. 3:1-11 (KJV)
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: [2] A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; [3] A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; [4] A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; [5] A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; [6] A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; [7] A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; [8] A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. [9] What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth? [10] I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it. [11] He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.
Will there be war?
There has been wars for the 6000 plus years of recorded human history, there will be wars until Christ returns again in the final battle so the answer is:
Absolutely;
God’s word confirms this;
Genesis 14:2 (KJV) That these made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela, which is Zoar.
Joshua 11:18 (KJV) Joshua made war a long time with all those kings.
1 Samuel 19:8 (KJV) And there was war again: and David went out, and fought with the Philistines, and slew them with a great slaughter; and they fled from him.
2 Samuel 3:1 (KJV) Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: but David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker.
2 Samuel 22:35 (KJV) He teacheth my hands to war; so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.
1 Kings 14:30 (KJV)And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all their days.
1 Kings 15:32 (KJV) And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days.
2 Kings 6:8 (KJV) Then the king of Syria warred against Israel, and took counsel with his servants, saying, In such and such a place shall be my camp.
1 Chron. 20:4 (KJV)And it came to pass after this, that there arose war at Gezer with the Philistines; at which time Sibbechai the Hushathite slew Sippai, that was of the children of the giant: and they were subdued.
Jeremiah 41:12 (KJV) Then they took all the men, and went to fight with Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and found him by the great waters that are in Gibeon.
Daniel 11:11 (KJV) And the king of the south shall be moved with choler, and shall come forth and fight with him, even with the king of the north: and he shall set forth a great multitude; but the multitude shall be given into his hand.
Joel 3:10 (KJV) Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong.
Rev. 6:4 (KJV) And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.
Rev. 6:8 (KJV) And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.
Rev. 19:19 (KJV) And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.
The fact that we are at war is nothing new. Again there have been wars since the beginning of time.
I do hear a lot about the new electronic battlefield being so superior to the battlefields of old. And being a retired military member, I know a lot about the advances.
But, Do you think that the dead soldiers feel it is any different?
Do you think that mothers and fathers of dead soldiers see the superiority of it?
Do you think that the graves, or the ends of those who go to the graves will change?
No to those who lose their lives in war, the technology doesn’t come to mind…and as they come at the great judgment the only question will be have they hoped and trusted in the proper thing? Why?
Eccles. 8:6 (KJV) Because to every purpose there is time and judgment, therefore the misery of man is great upon him.
What not to place trust in
Psalm 33:16-19 (KJV) There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength. [17] An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength. [18] Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; [19] To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.
We have many who consider themselves to trust in God today who truly do no such thing.
Just as in the days of the Old Testament we find ourselves trusting in man and the devices of man. We who have called upon Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior should do no such thing because we are guided to peace by the Holy Spirit that HE sent down to lead us and guide us in HIS peace.
Let’s see places people have placed their confidence in vain…
Judges 9:26 (KJV) And Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brethren, and went over to Shechem: and the men of Shechem put their confidence in him.
1 Samuel 8:20 (KJV) That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.
1 Samuel 28:16 (KJV) Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the Lord is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy?
Have you forsaken God, yet turn to HIM in your troubles, don’t you understand God cannot abide your sinfulness and cannot even look upon you in your sinfulness to start to come and give you peace and safety.
1 Kings 15:18 (KJV) Then Asa took all the silver and the gold that were left in the treasures of the house of the Lord, and the treasures of the king’s house, and delivered them into the hand of his servants: and king Asa sent them to Ben-hadad, the son of Tabrimon, the son of Hezion, king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying,
Are you trusting in riches today? This may have been the beginning of the end for Saddam.
2 Kings 16:7 (KJV) So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, saying, I am thy servant and thy son: come up, and save me out of the hand of the king of Syria, and out of the hand of the king of Israel, which rise up against me.
Or are you trusting in the might of nations or individuals around you? What is here today may be gone tomorrow, do not place your trust in things that are as the mist.
2 Kings 18:21 (KJV) Now, behold, thou trustest upon the staff of this bruised reed, even upon Egypt, on which if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt unto all that trust on him.
You see if we trust in other nations or people, it is similar to the leaven of the Pharisee’s that Jesus warns his disciples of. If our trust is not in God, then it is in sinful man, which the bible tells us…No one is righteous, no not one.
2 Chron. 16:12 (KJV) And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought not to the Lord, but to the physicians.
Where do you trust in your sickness and disease? Trust in the one that can give you life, even after death…
Psalm 60:11 (KJV) Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man.
Psalm 108:12 (KJV) Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man.
Psalm 118:9 (KJV) It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.
Psalm 146:3 (KJV) Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.
Proverbs 25:19 (KJV) Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.
Throughout God’s word he tells us to be very careful in what we should place our trust.
So you ask…
What to trust in
Any who have “truly” called upon the name of Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior know in what we have believed and are persuaded that HE is able…
God’s word of course confirms this fully…
Psalm 33:1-22 (KJV) Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright. [2] Praise the Lord with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings. [3] Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise. [4] For the word of the Lord is right; and all his works are done in truth. [5] He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord. [6] By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. [7] He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses. [8] Let all the earth fear the Lord: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. [9] For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast. [10] The Lord bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect. [11] The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations. [12] Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord: and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance. [13] The Lord looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men. [14] From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth. [15] He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works. [16] There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength. [17] An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength. [18] Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; [19] To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. [20] Our soul waiteth for the Lord: he is our help and our shield. [21] For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name. [22] Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.
King David confidently states;
Psalm 27:3 (KJV) Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.
Jesus Christ tells us in the gospels;
Matthew 24:6 (KJV) And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
Luke 21:9 (KJV) But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.
Trust in the Lord fully and do not lean upon your own understanding.
Luke 1:71 (KJV) That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;
2 Cor. 1:10 (KJV) Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;
Col. 1:13 (KJV) Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
2 Tim. 4:18 (KJV) And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Luke 24:36 (KJV) And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
John 14:27 (KJV) 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 16:33 (KJV)These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Do you have the “peace of God” today?
To have it you must first admit to God that you are a sinner.
It seems to be easy to see and say that Saddam is a sinner. But the bible says all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God…even you.
If you admit that you are a sinner than you can believe that Jesus is God’s only son, who while we were yet sinners God sent HIS only begotten son to die for all who would call upon HIS name as Lord and Savior.
The final step is to truly commit your life to Jesus Christ, this means to go, to do, and the change the things that HE will show you is needed.
If you realize that any situation you are in that is in need of peace, in need of deliverance, or in need of hope…then turn to the only source that can deliver these and peace in any and every situation.
If you would like to pray the sinners prayer or for us to pray specifically for you we ask you to come forward or to let us know.
Closing prayer.
Bruce Landry
ranger1401@hotmail.com
PO Box 1042
Dillingham, AK 99576
