Jesus Gives Peace

Posted on by josiahkagin

We live in very uncertain days! The recent news of the unprovoked terrorist attacks of Hamas on the people of Israel is both shocking and unnerving. I stand with Israel and unequivocally condemn the evil actions of Hamas. God promises to bless those that bless Israel, therefore it is vital that we do so in these days. “And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” (Genesis 12:3)

These times can create much fear in our hearts and fear is a powerful motivator. Whether it is the threats of global terrorism, our own struggles, relationship tension, job security or whatever is dominating your thoughts right now, we can be driven by our fears. Yes, our hearts are prone to fear, but Jesus desires to give us peace. Consider these words from Jesus Christ.

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 16:33 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.

So how should we live in these uncertain days? How should we talk with our co-workers? How should we encourage our families?

  1. Listen to the words of Jesus and believe them. Be sure to read the Word of God each day, assemble in church for the preaching of the Word whenever the doors are open and let the Word of God direct and dominate your thinking. Be expecting His soon appearing to rapture the church. Titus 2:13 say,  “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;”
  2. Seek Jesus Christ in prayer and gather with others to do the same. Philippians 4:6 tells us, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.“
  3. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Psalm 122:6 says, “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: They shall prosper that love thee.” We understand that ultimately this is a prayer that they would accept the Prince of Peace as the Messiah — Jesus Christ. This is the need of the whole world!
  4. Think truth. In a world full of evil and corruption, it is very easy dwell on matters that cause us to be be despondent and depressed. Philippians 4:8-9 helps us know specifically how to think. “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.“
  5. Communicate the Good News of Jesus Christ with the lost. 1 Peter 3:15 urges us, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:”

Finally, in our recent trip to Israel, the Lord allowed us to meet and be blessed by the ministry of Joel Rosenberg. He is a born again Jew and currently lives in Israel. He is an author and host of the Rosenberg Report on TBN. He also is the founder of All Israel News. I have found their reporting at AllIsrael.com and on Joel Rosenburg’s social media updates on X to be helpful. 

May the God of peace give you peace as your trust in Him.

All the Fiery Darts

Posted on by josiahkagin

“Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.” (Ephesians 6:16)

We should be aware that satan has fiery darts with your name on them each day. However, God has given you a piece of armor to stop EVERY ONE of them, the shield of faith. Faith is total trust and dependence upon God. It is taking God at His Word. In this case, it is in full faith using the very truth of God’s Word as a shield from the darts that satan will throw at you. The words “above all” indicates to us that the shield of faith is a high-priority piece of armor.

Let’s think about how this would look in our daily lives. As you get in the car to leave for work, satan throws a dart of worthlessness at you. He tells you that you are of no value to God. Do you believe it? Does he get to write your reality? He should not! Instead of meditating on that dart satan has thrown, go to the Bible and see what God says about you. God says that those who are in Christ are indwelt by the Spirit of God and ARE the children of God. He says that His children are His workmanship, His masterpiece, His work of art. God views you as valuable! By faith hold God’s truth up as a shield against that dart of worthlessness.

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” (Romans 8:1)

“The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:” (Romans 8:16)

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)

Every person is intrinsically valuable to God because He created them. Even though man sinned against Him and is separated from Him, God valued a relationship with mankind so much that He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die in place of man. Jesus did not just die but rose again. He offers all who will believe on His name the total forgiveness of sin and eternal life. God thinks you are valuable!

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17)

Now it is time to take the shield of faith up in your hands!

A Plan to Read

Posted on by josiahkagin

D.L. Moody wisely said, “The Bible was not given for our information but for our transformation.” In order for the Bible to transform our lives, it must be in our lives.

I am inviting my church family and others who want to join me to read through the Bible chronologically via the YouVersion App Bible reading plan. Gain a better understanding of the order of biblical events and the historic context in which they unfolded. The One Year ® Chronological Bible gives readers a fresh look at the Bible. With the full text divided into 365 portions for daily reading it allows readers the opportunity to read through the Bible in one year.

JOIN THE PLAN
ADD TO MY CALENDAR
Chronological Bible Reading PlanDownload

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Easter Journey: Wednesday

Posted on by josiahkagin

On Wednesday of the Passion Week, Jesus is spending the final hours before His arrest with His twelve disciples. Very difficult days were ahead for them as their faith would be severely tested. Before all this, Jesus brought them to a quiet place, alone in an upper room where He celebrated the Passover with them and tenderly demonstrated some very important lessons.

In tonight’s Growth Point Service at watchGBC.com, we will look at Christ’s time in the Garden of Gethsemane as well as His arrest. Thank you for following the Easter Journey! We hope it has encouraged you!

Photo Credit: Lumoproject.com

Easter Journey

Posted on by josiahkagin

As we approach this Easter, it is my desire to take a special online journey with you through the passion week of Christ beginning with the Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. That will be the subject of my Palm Sunday message. You can join us for that message at watchGBC.com at 10:30am (EST). Monday through Friday, I will post a video right here on my blog, at watchGBC.com and at our Facebook page. These videos will track the events of the passion week and give a brief devotional thought. I hope this journey will encourage you and motivate your love for Jesus Christ.

God on Trial

Posted on by josiahkagin

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When you stop to consider the events of this Wednesday about 2,000 years ago, it is mind-blowing that the creator and sustainer of life was put on trial by His own creation for sins He had not done. In the late hours of Wednesday, Jesus Christ was put on trial as a criminal. By Thursday He would be hanging on the cross. There he would take upon Himself the wrath of God for your sin and mine. While all Israel celebrated the passover in Jerusalem, just outside the city, on a hill called Golgotha, Jesus would become THE final passover lamb.

About a year ago, I preached a sermon series through the Gospel of Mark. I thought that I would share the sermons related to the events of the Passion Week beginning today.  On this day, I encourage you to meditate on your Savior, Jesus Christ.

Wednesday—God on Trial (Keynote)

Thursday—Viewing Calvary (Keynote)

Sunday—His Resurrection calls us to Total Abandonment (Keynote)

Timeline of the Passion Week

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