25 In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit.
Judges 6:6 (Today's New International Version)
6 Midian so impoverished the Israelites that they cried out to the LORD for help.
When there is no problem, most people hardly remember the Lord.
But when problem comes, they cry out to God.
Judges 6:11-24 (Today's New International Version)
11 The angel of the LORD came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites. 12 When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said, "The LORD is with you, mighty warrior."
Gideon was hiding from the Midianites while threshing wheat but the angel of the LORD called him mighty warrior. This was a prophecy because Gideon was about to become a mighty warrior as the Spirit of God would be with him.
13 "Pardon me, my lord," Gideon replied, "but if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, 'Did not the LORD bring us up out of Egypt?' But now the LORD has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian."
14 The LORD turned to him and said, "Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you?"
15 "Pardon me, my lord," Gideon replied, "but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family."
16 The LORD answered, "I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites together."
17 Gideon replied, "If now I have found favor in your eyes, give me a sign that it is really you talking to me. 18 Please do not go away until I come back and bring my offering and set it before you." And the LORD said, "I will wait until you return."
19 Gideon went in, prepared a young goat, and from an ephah of flour he made bread without yeast. Putting the meat in a basket and its broth in a pot, he brought them out and offered them to him under the oak.
20 The angel of God said to him, "Take the meat and the unleavened bread, place them on this rock, and pour out the broth." And Gideon did so. 21 With the tip of the staff that was in his hand, the angel of the LORD touched the meat and the unleavened bread. Fire flared from the rock, consuming the meat and the bread. And the angel of the LORD disappeared. 22 When Gideon realized that it was the angel of the LORD, he exclaimed, "Ah, Sovereign LORD! I have seen the angel of the LORD face to face!"
23 But the LORD said to him, "Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die."
24 So Gideon built an altar to the LORD there and called it The LORD Is Peace. To this day it stands in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
INSOMNIA is a present day problem all over the world. What keeps you awake? ...financial worries, midlife crisis, marital conflicts, unanswered prayers, bad decisions in life...Insomnia is the absence of peace.
There are three common things we struggle against:
1. world realities confronting us;
2. Satanic forces prowling at us; and
3. Our own flesh betraying us!
All these can cause stress and the tell-tale signs of a stressed-out person are:
1. questioning God
Judges 6:13 (Today's New International Version)
13 "Pardon me, my lord," Gideon replied, "but if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, 'Did not the LORD bring us up out of Egypt?' But now the LORD has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian."
2. focusing on his weaknesses
Judges 6:15 (Today's New International Version)
15 "Pardon me, my lord," Gideon replied, "but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family."
3. lack of faith and confidence in God's power
Judges 6:22-23 (Today's New International Version)
22 When Gideon realized that it was the angel of the LORD, he exclaimed, "Ah, Sovereign LORD! I have seen the angel of the LORD face to face!"
23 But the LORD said to him, "Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die."
On the contrary, if you have peace or SHALOM there is:
1. completion and fulfillment
2. sense of wholeness
3. presence of God in your life
4. harmony in relationship
John 14:27 (Today's New International Version)
27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
Some say, "I will have peace if all my obligations are already paid!" or "I will have peace if I already saved enough for my retirement." They are consumed with earthly things that they forget that there are higher things that one must be concerned with. The spiritual determines the physical. If we focus on the physical, we end up losing both.
We must remember the things that take away our peace:
1. disobedience and sinfulness
Ephesians 2:3 (Today's New International Version)
3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.
Isaiah 57:20-21 (Today's New International Version)
20 But the wicked are like the tossing sea, which cannot rest, whose waves cast up mire and mud.
21 "There is no peace," says my God, "for the wicked."
What to do:
Ask for God's forgiveness and have His peace...but more than that, receive God's forgiveness and sin no more.
Colossians 1:19-22 (Today's New International Version)
19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. 22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—
2. problems and worries over many things
Philippians 4:5-7 (Today's New International Version)
5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
To restore the peace: have faith and confidence in God
Isaiah 26:3 (Today's New International Version)
3 You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.
Psalm 4:8 (Today's New International Version)
8 In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety.
3. disharmony and discord
Matthew 5:9 (Today's New International Version)
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Romans 12:18 (Today's New International Version)
18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
To restore peace: LOVE AND TRUST again!
2 Corinthians 13:11 (Today's New International Version)
11 Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.
Colossians 3:15 (Today's New International Version)
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
Invite the Holy Spirit to come into your heart to taste for yourself the sweetest fruits accorded to those who fully trust in Him.
Psalm 34:8 (New King James Version)
8 Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
Galatians 5:22-25 (Today's New International Version)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
SHALOM! ...and may the peace of God be with you all.
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