Welcome, friends, to another
broadcast of Morsels for Zion's Poor. The scripture plainly says
the king's heart is in the hand of the Lord. As the rivers of
water, he turneth it whithersoever he will. God raised up Egypt
as a mighty warfaring nation just for the purpose of displaying
His power in their destruction. He directed the nation of Israel
to destroy the heathen through warfare, and He chastened the
disobedience of Israel through the same. He raised up the Babylonians
so that they might humble Israel by bringing her into captivity.
Then as the Babylonians gloated in their own prosperity, he sent
the Medes to render judgment upon them in daring to touch
the Lord's anointed. So we can obviously say that
all wars are ordained or predestined by God to fulfill his divine
purpose in the unfolding of history. Yet woe be to those nations who
shed innocent blood. The sons of God are instructed
to be men of peace, and to that end the Lord has ordained to
work in them a love for it and a desire to see its increase
in the earth. Yet the peace which the sons
of God crave and seek him for is not just to see the absence
of earthly conflict. They desire to enjoy a peace
which passeth understanding. It is that peace which the Lord
promised when he said, Peace I leave 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. The sons of God
desire lasting peace, whereas the men of this world are ready
to go to war as soon as they feel threatened or believe that
they have been wronged in some way. The earthly city of Jerusalem
shall never be a city of peace because it is not designed to
be. The Jerusalem whose peace we are to pray for is that heavenly
Jerusalem which is as a bride adorned for her husband, the
kingdom of Christ, the church for which he shed his precious
blood. A prayer for peace in this city is one which shall
indeed be heard and answered, for this is the Father's purpose.
The peace of that city is forever secured by the blood of Christ.
And having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him
to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, I say, whether they be
things in earth or things in heaven, by the shedding of Christ's
blood once and for all, there is remission of sin. The only
barrier to peace between the Lord and His elect was the sin
of a broken law. God is satisfied with the blood
of Christ, and now we are reconciled to Him by this same blood, which
satisfied the demands of His holy law. The peace of that city
is multiplied by the knowledge of its inhabitants. Grace and
peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God
and of Jesus our Lord. The peace which is purchased
by Jesus Christ is perfect, but the knowledge of it by the saints
is not. That is why it is necessary for us to publish peace and glad
tidings unto the church. How beautiful are the feet of
them that preach the gospel of peace and bring glad tidings
of good things. The reprobate are ever learning
and never able to come to a knowledge of the truth. But the sons of
God learn continually of his purpose, to give them peace.
The peace of that city is the rule of its inhabitants. And
let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which he
also recalled in one body, and be ye thankful. This is the principle
which shall ever be the comfort of the Lord's people. Depart
from evil and do good. Seek peace and pursue it. We
are exhorted in the scripture, if it be possible, as much as
life in you, live peaceably with all men. There is no place among
God's people for a cantankerous spirit or one that takes delight
in strife, conflict, and turmoil. We have been called unto peace.
The peace of that city is the pure delight of all who dwell
therein. And the peace of God, which passeth
all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through
Christ Jesus. Peace and hope go hand in hand.
The more clearly a man sees his hope realized, the more at peace
he will be. Now the God of hope fill you
with all joy and peace in believing that ye may abound in hope through
the power of the Holy Ghost. No man can have any expectation
of acceptance with the Lord, except that this gift be granted
unto him. When a man possesses this hope,
then peace like a river will flood his soul, and he shall
be able to put all of his enemies to flight. Now the God of peace
that brought again from the dead, our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd
of the sheep through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working
in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ,
To whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. Do you know this
peace which passeth understanding? For a free CD containing 15 of
these radio broadcasts, send an email to forthepoor at windstream.net