Emphasize Reconciliation Not Resolution
Work hard at living at peace with others. 1 Peter 3:11
Jesus said, Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Matthew 5:9
Christ did not indulge His own feelings as scripture says: The insults of those who insult you fall on me. Romans 15:3
Excerpted with permission from Daily Inspiration for the Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren, copyright Zondervan.
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Bible Prophecy Foretells The Times Of Restoration Of All Things What Will Be Restored To Its Former State When Will This Longed
The apostle Peter spoke of the coming times of restoration of all things . The word restoration implies a return to a former, original, normal, or unimpaired condition, or the restitution of something taken away or lost . Just what is this prediction about?
Peter was speaking of a future time when things would be restored to their original state. The apostle explained that God had spoken this prophecy by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began and that Jesus would remain in heaven until it was time for this event to unfold. Christs return and the times of restoration are thus linked together, and many Bible passages point to these events happening in various stages, right here on earth.
Reflections In The Word
2 Chronicles 7:14If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. ~Matthew 6:9
During the Dedication of the newly constructed Temple, Solomon prayed to God, asking Him to forgive and restore the people of Israel when they sinned . God then told Solomon that, when the Israelites sinned, they would be restored after going through a four-step process. Gods Word is eternal therefore, this four-step process has unequivocal application to Christians today. Christians ARE Gods people called by His name.
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How Do I Rest In Gods Love
When you take yourself of a situation and rest, youre trusting God. You dont have to sit and meditate on his word all day to experience the rest he provides.
Resting in His love can be found by giving up control or praising Him for your current situation, even if its not what you wanted.
What do you need to rest from this week? Do you trust God enough to take care of you while youre resting?
If We Will Repent Of Our Spiritual Failures God Will Restore Us And Use Us Again In His Service
The turning point for Peter involved two things: the crowing of the rooster, which reminded him of Jesus prediction and, the Lords turning and looking directly at Peter . What a look that must have been! I dont know whether they were moving Jesus from one place to another, and He caught Peters eye as He was being pushed along or, whether He was inside, but within visual range. Normally a guilty person wont look you in the eye. But the Lord turned, which probably caught Peters attention. Then He looked at Peter and Peter looked at the Lord . Peter instantly fell apart in repentance and godly sorrow over what he had done. He went out and wept bitterly.
A. The path of restoration requires repentance.
I can only briefly comment on several aspects of repentance:
Remembrance of Gods Word.
Peter remembered the word of the Lord . All repentance begins when we remember the word of the Lord. What does the Lord say about what I have done? That is the issue. Men may minimize my sin: Dont worry about it! Everyone slips up occasionally. Dont be too hard on yourself. But Gods Word is the final authority. It tells me that I have sinned.
Conviction of our sin.
The Lords look penetrated down to Peters conscience. Jesus didnt have to say anything. Peter was deeply convicted in his heart. He didnt try to paper over it or make excuses or rationalize it away. Conviction acknowledges that God is right and Im wrong.
Godly sorrow over sin.
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Lost Years Of Our Lives
What do lost years look like for us? Lost years are years that you cant get back, and they come in many varieties.
Lost years are fruitless years. A lot of hard work was done in the years the locusts had eaten. After everything was destroyed, the people must have thought, All this work and what do I have to show for it? Some of you know this pain in the world of businessa failed venture, a bad investment, a misguided policy, and all the effort that you put in day-by-day, month-by-month, year-by-year led only to massive disappointment. You think, What has come of all my time and all my effort?
Lost years are painful years. Im thinking of those who have lost a loved one. You had plans for the future, but now you fear the coming years may be empty. Im thinking also of those who live with illness in the body or the mind. You assumed that you would always be able to do what you used to do. You have to find a way to live with the disappointment that you cannot.
Lost years are loveless years. A division comes to a family, alienating loved ones. Children grow up, and those years cannot be recovered. A marriage quietly endures in which love has been burning low for many years. You see a couple who are really in love, and you say, I wish I could be loved like that. Or you have not yet met the person you would like to meet. It feels like the years are moving on. You can never get them back. The locusts have eaten them.
Wives Be Submissive And Faithful
This is one of the major reasons for marriage issues
Dont get me wrong men have their problems too
But women are the backbone of every family
They unite the home and keep the family going in hard times
The man is the head of the family
This arrangement is set up by God
So, if you let yourself be submissive to your husband, it is always unlikely there will be any issues
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What Does The Bible Say About A Restored Soul
Apr 10th, 2011 / Salt and Light
He makes me to lie down in green pastures He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His Names sake.
Does your soul need to be restored? Restoration carries many definitions. Restoration of a cherished possession to a close approximation of its former glory is one form. Restoration of a lost pet to its owner is a reestablishment of cherished companionship. Restoration of a marriage entails the removal of barriers militating against harmony and replacing them with good habits founded upon trust. Restoration of your health is the healing of the body to the degree that is fitting for an average person of your age. But, just what is the thought behind a restored soul?
The pastoral setting of Psalm 23 tends to make you think of the salutary effects of a good vacation. Rests in green pastures and walks by still waters certainly sound refreshingly good for both the body and the soul! What you need to remember is that David is not speaking about a sheeply vacation he is telling you what a good shepherd does for his sheep every day, every season. This is a shepherds commonplace care for his sheep.
The good shepherd sees to the feeding and care of the flock, and his wisdom is displayed in his leading. The places of his choice are always with the sheeps need in mind.
What Does The Bible Say About Calling On Psychics
What does the Bible say about calling on psychics?
We are warned by Yahweh not to call on familiar spirits. Seeking to commune with any other spirit being besides Yahweh is strictly forbidden. Yahweh has commanded that all worship must go to Him. He is zealous for His people and will not allow them to commit idolatry in such wicked ways.
And the soul that turns to them that have familiar spirits, and to the wizards, to play the harlot after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people
Dr. E.W. Bullinger in his Companion Bible says that these familiar spirits are evil spirits impersonating human beings. Ghosts are nothing more than evil spirits trying to confuse mankind. Yahweh says that when a person dies that their spirit returns to Him and all their thoughts perish in the grave. Our spirit is our life source that Yahweh has given to us.
Many people today consult psychics, fortunetellers, astrology and other such spiritualism hoping that they can obtain the answers to life, but they do not realize that they are actually calling on Satans spirit realm. Many who play with ouija boards are ignorant of the fact that they are involving themselves in the spirits of darkness.
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All Curses Will Be Removed
When Adam and Eve rejected Gods instructions in the Garden of Eden, they lost access to the tree of life. They and all humanity, which followed their example of rejecting God, would temporarily be subjected to a curse on the earth, bringing a life of toil and the dying process. Because of Adam and Eves disobedience, God said, Cursed is the ground for your sake. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you .
God will eventually remove every curse on man saying, There shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him .
Finally, because there will be no more sin, there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away .
Paul explains that after the resurrection of all who have ever lived, the final curse and enemy of Gods creationdeath itselfwill come to an end . God the Father will then make the earth His home as well. As a voice from heaven announces in conjunction with the arrival of the new heaven and new earth, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God .
Reconciling Our Relationship With Others
15. Matthew 5:23-24 So then, if you bring your gift to the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother and then come and present your gift.
16. Matthew 18:21-22 Then Peter came up and asked him, Lord, how many times may my brother sin against me and I have to forgive him? Seven times? Jesus told him, I tell you, not just seven times, but 77 times.
17. Matthew 18:15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
18. Ephesians 4:32 Instead, be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you.
19. Luke 17:3 Watch yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him. If he repents, forgive him.
20. Colossians 3:13-14 Put up with each other, andforgive each other if anyone has a complaint. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Above all, be loving. This ties everything together perfectly.
21. Matthew 6:1415 Yes, if you forgive others for their sins, your Father in heaven will also forgive you for your sins. But if you dont forgive others, your Father in heaven will not forgive your sins.
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Christian Quotes About Reconciliation
The Cross is the ultimate evidence that there is no length the love of God will refuse to go in effecting reconciliation. R. Kent Hughes
In Christ alone, and His payment of the penalty for our sins upon the Cross, we find reconciliation to God and ultimate meaning and purpose. Dave Hunt
When we allow Gods love to trump our anger, we are able to experience restoration in relationships. Gwen Smith
Our love ought to follow the love of God in one point, namely, in always seeking to produce reconciliation. It was to this end that God sent His Son. C. H. Spurgeon
The first to apologize is the bravest. The first to forgive is the strongest. The first to forget is the happiest.
The very God whom we have offended has Himself provided the way whereby the offence has been dealt with. His anger, His wrath against sin and the sinner, has been satisfied, appeased and He therefore can now thus reconcile man unto Himself. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Love chooses reconciliation over retaliation every time.
Reconciliation heals the soul. The joy of rebuilding broken relationships and hearts. If its healthy for your growth, forgive and love.
Reconciliation is more beautiful than victory.
God can restore any marriage no matter how battered or broken. Stop talking to people and get on your knees with God.
Sympathize With Their Feelings
Look out for anothers interests, not just for your own. Philippians 2:4
A persons wisdom yields patience it is to ones glory to overlook an offense. Proverbs 19:11
Lets please the other fellow, not ourselves, and do what is for his good. Romans 15:2
Do not use harmful words, but only helpful words, the kind that build up and provide what is needed, so that what you say will do good to those who hear you. Ephesians 4:29
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The 4 Major Themes Of The Bible: Creation Fall Redemption And Restoration
There are 4 main themes that interconnect the history of the Judeo-Christian worldview. The first is creation. In the beginning, God created time and the universe by His power, turning nothing into something .
He created the stars, galaxies, fish, cucumbers, trees, giraffes, and his greatest work of all, humankind. God placed the man Adam and his wife Eve in the Garden of Eden, a perfect environment, and gave them the responsibility to tend the garden and take care of the animals.
Meanwhile, a mighty angel named Lucifer, who was once created perfect, rebelled against God because of pride and envy. He was cast out of heaven and took the form of a serpent. He tempted Eve to disobey God by eating something God told her not to do, for her protection, and when this happened, both the man and the woman felt shame and their relationship became fractured from God.
This is often referred to as the second major theme of the Bible. The Fall of man, or as Christian scholars would say, original sin. This means that human beings are no longer born morally good, but are born with an evil inclination to disobey authority.
To rescue the Israelites, God raised up a prophet named Moses, from the tribe of Levi, to bring the people out of Israel out of Egypt and back to the land which had been promised to Abraham.
Examples Of Reconciliation In The Bible
29. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting peoples sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.
30. 2 Chronicles 29:24 And the priests killed them, and they made reconciliation with their blood upon the altar, to make an atonement for all Israel: for the king commanded that the burnt offering and the sin offering should be made for all Israel.
Bonus
John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life but the wrath of God abideth on him.
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The Tree Of Life Will Again Be Offered
When Adam and Eve were removed from the Garden of Eden because of disobedience, they lost access to the tree of life, which represented eternal life. Adam and Eves descendantsall humanitylikewise lost access to this tree because of their sins.
Part of the restoration, as Jesus Christ explained, is that this same tree of life will be made available again: To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God .
And speaking of those who would dwell in New Jerusalem, John wrote, Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city . See more detail in the article The Tree of Life.
What Did Jesus Say About Rest
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.~Matthew 11:28-30 NIV
Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.~Mark 6:31 NIV
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Jesus Christ Is The Advocate For Sinners
1. 1 John 2:1-2 My little children, Im writing these things to you so that you might not sin. Yet if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the FatherJesus, the Messiah, one who is righteous. It is he who is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the whole worlds.
2. 1 Timothy 2:5 For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanitythe man Christ Jesus.
3. Hebrews 9:22 In fact, according to the law of Moses, nearly everything was purified with blood. For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.