WANT PEACE? FOCUS ON THE JOB AT HAND- NOT THE WIND AND WAVES Phil.4

By Edward O'Hara

God's peace, fellowship, and our relationship with Him does not falter. There is no act you can do, nor choice you can make, once you have believed in Jesus' resurrection and confessed Him as Lord, that will ever change that.

God's love is greater than anything we might do, even if it may appear to be contrary to what made our relationship with Him possible. The power of His love is as a guard over us watching and protecting His children night and day. His love never sleeps. And His love never fails.

This is what prompted Paul to say "33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.

34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

These words provide conclusive evidence that, like our God given rights defined in the Constitution, once we have confessed Jesus is Lord and that He has raised from the dead, our salvation is un-a- lien-able.

Meaning that neither satan nor anyone or anything else can "lay anything to the charge of God's elect". So, once saved always saved is not just a fantastic manipulation of the scriptures. Biblically it is a foregone conclusion. Because by God making us His children through a new birth of a spirit in us that was never there before. We who have believed are actual and literal sons and daughters of God.

Jesus says as much in John3:1-8. And when Paul says confirms Jesus' words in Rom.8:14, he makes it abundantly clear that it isn't because of our works that he says we are God's sons. But, because we have been born of His spirit. Made spiritual by that birth. So that now as sons and daughters of God we can relate to Him, that is to worship God, in spirit and in truth.

This worship is our relationship with Him. Not defined by a continual bowing down. But rather, a perpetual knowing that we are His and He is ours. A knowing that can not come from anything that comes of our natural selves. But, from our communion with His Spirit that shows we are born of God.

This is why we who are born of God never question where we stand with Him. We know we are His children. And that He is our Father. No matter what. This is why previous to Paul saying that nothing can separate the believer from God's love. He tells us why saying, "15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together."

Do you see it there? Paul says we know because the Holy Spirit in us has told our spirit we have because we have been born of God, that we are God's children. And since we are His children we are heirs to His kingdom. Afterward going on to assure us that this can never be lost or taken away. By anything or anyone at anytime or in any place.

So as we are witnessing the end of this dispensation rest in this knowledge and be not afraid. Jesus speaking to the 11 disciples in Mt.28:20 after He rose from the grave said, "18 All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen." And Paul tells us gentiles the same in 2Cor.5:19.

Giving us our marching orders saying, "17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God."

Confirming that this is to be our focus as it was his own saying in 1Cor.1, "20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:

23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;

24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men."

So, while the world seems to be spinning out of control, we must be about our savior's business. Focusing on Him and the job/ministry He has given us to do while it is yet day. Because as Jesus told His disciples when speaking of His earthly ministry, "I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night comes when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world."

This is why we focus our lives on preaching Christ and Him crucified. And do not let ourselves be distracted by the things that are of this world. So that those who will come to God's banqueting table will hear the call and be saved. Just as we who have already heard and accepted God's grace have.

So love with this pure love and do not let the world and it's craziness overtake you. They who are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. Blessings to all who will hear these words and do them. By believing in Jesus' resurrection. And confessing He is Lord.

Do this and you will be born of God's Spirit. Do this and you will have eternal life. Do this and you will be clothed with immortality in the resurrection. Do this and you will inherit God's kingdom. Do this.... and I will see you there or in the air!

This message can also be heard at: https://rumble.com/v3tp37e-want-peace-focus-on-the-job-at-hand-not-the-wind-and-waves-phil.4.html