March 2009
This month’s view
continues with God’s absolute truth,
love, and forgiveness for us all, by sharing
His gift of absolute righteousness, peace,
and joy. The Apostle Paul teaches, “For
the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what
we eat or drink, but of living a life of
righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy
Spirit.”1
Absolute Righteousness
The study on righteousness
is endless, but simply put, our God [Yeshua-Tsidkeenu],
in Judea-Christianity, is our righteousness.2
“God alone made it possible for you
[and I] to be [righteous] in Christ Jesus
[through His death, burial, and resurrection].
For our benefit God made Christ to be wisdom
itself. He is the one who made us acceptable
[righteous] to God. He made us pure and
holy, and He gave Himself to purchase our
freedom [from sin and spiritual death].”3
You may say, “I have
no need to be freed from sin.” But
God says that His law is written within
you, that your own conscience tells you
whether you’re doing right or wrong.4
Conscience is that inner facility that indicates
to us whether our actions are right or wrong
according to the standards within our hearts.
God’s standard, the law “…is
to keep people [us] from having excuses
and to bring the entire world into judgment
before God…For all have sinned; all
fall short of God’s glorious standard.
Yet now, God, in His gracious kindness declares
us not guilty. He has done this through
Christ Jesus, who has freed us by taking
away our sins.”5
Righteousness is the ability
to stand in God’s presence without
any sense of sin, fear, guilt, condemnation
or inferiority. “We are made righteous
in God’s sight when we trust in Jesus
Christ to take away our sins. And we all
can be saved in this same way, no matter
who we are or what we have done. For God
sent Jesus to take the punishment for our
sins and to satisfy God’s wrath against
us. We are made right with God when we believe
that Jesus shed His blood, sacrificing His
life for us.”6
Absolute Peace
Do you desire to have absolute
peace with God? If so, pray this from your
heart, “God, I am a sinner. I believe
that you placed all my sin upon Jesus, therefore,
You have forgiven me and cleansed me from
all unrighteousness.7
I confess with my mouth that Jesus is Lord
and believe that You raised Him from the
dead. I believe that I am made right with
You, Father, and that I am saved. I receive
Your Word into my heart. Amen.” Jesus
Christ has given us the ability to reign
as Kings in triumph over sin and death through
Him,8 and to have
peace within.
Peace is a combination
of hope, trust, and inner tranquility in
the mind and soul, brought about by reconciliation
with God through Christ, the Prince of Peace.
“Therefore, since we have been made
right in God’s sight by faith, we
have peace with God because of what Jesus
Christ our Lord has done for us. Because
of our faith, Christ has brought us into
His place of highest privilege where we
now stand, and we confidently and joyfully
look forward to sharing God’s glory.”9
Peace is an important concept
in Judaism. They say the word often: “Shalom.”
The word comes from the root word “shevet,”
which means “to dwell.” It is
the same root word for “Shabbot”
or “Sabbath.” The connection
between these words and their meaning is
best seen in the current situation in the
Middle East. This situation has been present
throughout Scripture. If the Palestinian
Arabs would agree to “dwell”
with the Palestinian Jews [Israelis]; there
would be “peace”—Shalom.10
It will take righteousness to bring about
such peace. “And the work of righteousness
shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness
quietness and assurance forever.”11
Absolute Joy
You may not be experiencing
joy, but Jesus left us an inheritance of
absolute joy. The secret is to dwell [settle
down and make yourself at home] in God’s
love. He taught that He is the true Vine
[from heaven], and that His Father [God]
is the Gardener who prunes us – His
branches. He commands us, saying, “Dwell
in Me [in His love], and I will dwell in
you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if
it is severed from the vine, and you cannot
be fruitful apart from Me.”12
He continues by saying, “I have loved
you even as the Father has loved Me. Dwell
in My love. I have told you this so that
you will be filled with My joy. Yes, your
joy will overflow!”13
Do you desire to overflow
with joy? In order to do so, you must dwell
in God’s love. How? Jude, a half-brother
of Jesus, taught, “But you, beloved
[you be loved], building yourselves up on
your most holy faith, praying in the Holy
Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God,
looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus
Christ unto eternal life.”14
The Apostle Paul says, “And let the
peace of God rule in your hearts…and
be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell
in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and
admonishing one another in psalms and hymns
and spiritual songs, singing with grace
in your hearts to the Lord.”15
There is joy in God’s
presence. As you stay in the presence of
God, joy overflows. The Psalmist David sang,
“Thou will show me the path of life:
in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy
right hand there are pleasures forevermore.”16
When you come up against trials, remember:
you sit at God’s right hand with Christ,
according to God’s Word. As you trust
Him to work through the trial and deliver
you, joy comes. God does His greatest work
during times of trial, but according to
His timing. So sit back, relax in His presence,
and let God do His greatest work restoring
your heart, “…for the joy of
the Lord is your strength.”17
A Prayer For You ...
Our loving Father, Your
son, Jesus told us; His peace He gives us;
He does not give as the world gives. Your
peace, Shalom, is not of this world. Jesus
has overcome the world and we overcome the
problems in this world through faith in
Him. Give us the peace available in Jesus,
for His peace exceeds all our understanding.
He completes us; He dwells with us; He is
our joy. We pray for His strength to overcome.
In Jesus Name, Amen
Scripture References (New Living
Translation):
Acknowledgement: A special thanks
to Sherry for transcribing this months view!
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