Peace and Joy in the Holy Spirit

"For the kingdom of GOD is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." 
-- Romans 14:17

The One ... (Luke 15:1-7)

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."

Then Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”

-       Luke 15:1-7

The Trinity GOD is Love!

God can only be love because of the perfect union of the Trinity – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. If God was alone – meaning no Trinity – then such isolation would result in a non-loving being. And, with the lack of the existence of love, such a being would not have created the universe and the community of people on the earth. Without the community of the Trinity, there is no opportunity to express love – and love is action based. Indifference, which is the opposite of love, would not be a reason for the creation narrative. But thankfully GOD is love! (I John 4:8 & 16) His creation is evidence. Unfortunately, the creation separated themselves from the Creator by the act of disobedience. The good news is, His creation is given the opportunity to be a part of His perfect community by responding to His ultimate gift of love as described in John 3:16 & 15:13 and Romans 5:8 & 19.

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“For GOD so loved the world that He gave His only Son, whoever believes in Him will have everlasting life.”

-         John 3:16

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

-         John 15:13

“… GOD demonstrates His own love for us in this: while we were yet sinners [separated from GOD], Christ died for us.”

-         Romans 5:8

“For just as though the disobedience of one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.”

-         Romans 5:19

BE BOLD!

"... be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

- Joshua 1:9

"... enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus."

- Acts 4:29-30

"If God is for us, who can be against us?"

- Romans 8:31b

Integrity and Humility

A person of integrity and humility does not need to convince others of said character with words.

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"Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool."
-- Proverbs 19:1

"Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth; an outsider, and not your own lips."
-- Proverbs 27:2

To Whom Do You Listen?

"... 'Which is right in God's eyes: to listen to you [rulers, leaders, governments], or to Him [Jesus the Messiah]? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help but speak about what we have seen and heard.'" ~ Apostle Peter

-- Acts 4:19-20

To Equip His Church

"... Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining the whole measure of the fullness of Christ."

- Ephesians 4:11-13

"Do not quench the Holy Spirit."

- I Thessalonians 5:19

Three Are Stronger than One, or Two.

“Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.

A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” 

– Ecclesiastes 4:12

An Eternal Perspective

An Eternal Perspective

"'Meaningless! Meaningless!'

says the Teacher.

'Utterly meaningless!

Everything is meaningless.'" 

What do people gain from all their labors 

at which they toil under the sun?" 
- Ecclesiastes 1:1-3 

"For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for [Jesus] will find it What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?" 
- Matthew 16:25-26

What Jesus Says About Prayer

“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. “This, then, is how you should pray: “ 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.'"

- Matthew 6:5-13

The One True Good News! - Pauline Epistles Series

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel -- which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God's curse! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God's curse! Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ. I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.

- Galatians 1:3-12

Live By the Spirit - Pauline Epistles Series

... the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

- Galatians 5:22-26