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Our Peace is in Jesus Not the World – Jesus is the Prince of Peace

by Jamie Pantastico | Mar 14, 2023 | Daily Encouragement | 0 comments

In a world full of chaos and uncertainty, it is easy to become overwhelmed and fearful. But as believers, we can find the peace that surpasses all understanding through Jesus Christ. John 14:27 tells us, “Peace I leave with 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.”

This peace that Jesus gives us is not like the peace that the world offers. The world’s peace is temporary and dependent on circumstances, while Jesus’ peace is everlasting and independent of any situation we may face. Through faith in Christ, we have access to this peace that can sustain us in the midst of trials and tribulations.

Romans 5:1 reminds us that “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” It is through our faith in Jesus, the gospel, the Truth, that we are able to have peace with God, and therefore, the peace that He gives us is also a reflection of our relationship with Him.

In Philippians 4:6-7, we are instructed to “Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” We are encouraged to bring all our worries and anxieties to God in prayer and thanksgiving, and in doing so, we will experience His peace that surpasses all understanding.

In a world that has no solutions for believers, we can find comfort and peace in Jesus. His peace is not only a gift but a sustenance that will enable us to navigate through the challenges of life with hope and faith. So let us hold on to the peace that comes from Christ, and not allow the chaos of the world to overcome us, because Jesus has already overcome the world.

‘These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”’

John 16:33

We are Ambassadors of Christ – Every Day!

by Jamie Pantastico | Mar 14, 2023 | Daily Encouragement | 0 comments

‘Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. ‘

II Corinthians 5:20

As we anticipate the Rapture, let us not forget the crucial teachings of the Apostle Paul on how the Body of Christ should serve as ambassadors of Christ.

Here are some verses that we should take to heart and follow in our daily walk. Let us bear the fruit of the Spirit such as love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and self-control. We should also speak the same thing and strive to be perfectly joined together in the same mind and judgment. Brotherly love should abound in us, and we should avoid debates, envy, and backbiting. Let us also shun idleness and gossiping while ministering grace to others through our words. Finally, let us walk in faith, hope, and love, but the greatest of these is love.

Meditate and Study these Bible Verses

Galatians 5:22-26 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

I Corinthians 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

I Thessalonians 4:8-11 He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit. But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more; And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you.

II Corinthians 12:20 For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:

I Timothy 5:13 And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.

Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

1 Corinthians 13:13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

From Genesis to Eternity – A Progressive Revelation

by Jamie Pantastico | Mar 13, 2023 | Daily Encouragement | 0 comments

Understanding the Bible is essential to every Christian’s growth and development in their faith. However, it can be a challenging task for anyone. One of the critical things to understand is that the Bible is a progressive revelation. As we read and study the Bible, we must recognize that it was not all dealt out at once but rather given progressively throughout history. It’s important not to get ahead of God’s revelation and study the Bible in its proper time frame. Additionally, we must rightly divide the word of God, distinguishing what is written to us from what is for our learning, as Romans 15:4 tells us.

‘For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.’
Romans 15:4

Finally, we must take into consideration the context of each passage. Who wrote it, to whom was it addressed when was it written, and what were the circumstances at that time? By doing this, we can gain a better understanding of the Bible and apply its teachings to our lives appropriately.

USE THE TIMELINE FOR REFERENCE

The First 2000 Years – #1 on Timeline

Genesis 1 – Genesis 12
4000 – 2000 BC
For the first 2000 years (Genesis 1–Genesis 12), God dealt with all mankind directly, and everyone spoke one language (Genesis 11:1). There was no law, and there were no instructions for worshipping God. It was based on man’s conscience and what God had instructed Adam, Eve, Cain, and Abel to do. In other words, when a person sinned, they were to bring God a blood sacrifice by faith, and their faith (believing, trusting) in what God had commanded them to do would ultimately save them, just like faith (believing, trusting) saves us today.

The Call of Abraham God Creates a People for Himself – #8 on Timeline

Genesis 12:1-3
2000 BC
Then He made a change and chose just one man out of millions to start a new race of people for Himself, the Israelites, the nation of Israel, and the Jewish people (Deuteronomy 7:6–9; 32:8–9). For the next 2000 years of Biblical and human history, God will deal directly with Jews only, with only nine Gentile exceptions. For nearly 2000 years, from Abraham to Paul, mankind was divided into two groups: Jews and Gentiles. During that time, the Gentile world had no access to God and was without hope (Ephesians 2:11–12).

“The Lord’s Earthly Ministry: Israel’s King is Preaching the gospel of the kingdom” – #13 on Timeline

Three Years: 26 – 27 to 29 – 30 AD
Many believe that Christianity begins with the first chapter of Matthew, but this is not the case. This time period is a continuation of what God did for Israel and is based on the promises and covenants in the Old Testament. As the angel predicted in Luke 1, Christ came to earth to fulfill the promises made to Israel (Genesis 12:1–3), not to the rest of the world’s people. Zacharias’s Holy Spirit-inspired speech in Luke 1:67–75 makes it crystal clear what was going on with the births of both John the Baptist and the Lord Jesus.

“The Call of Paul: God’s Apostle to Gentiles & the Gospel of Grace” – #19 on Timeline

Acts 9:15; Act 20:24; Ephesians 3:1-11
The apostle Paul was called by God as His chosen vessel to preach the gospel of grace to the Gentiles. Around 37 A.D., shortly after the stoning of Stephen in Acts 7 and 8, Paul preached the gospel of grace for 24–26 years.
God then made another change by choosing Paul as a new apostle (Acts 9:15; Acts 20:24; Galatians 1:11–12) with a new message of salvation for both Jews and Gentiles apart from the Mosaic Law and temple worship. God has been pouring out his grace on all mankind since the ascended Lord Jesus revealed the gospel of grace to Paul over 1900 years ago. Salvation is attained through faith alone in the finished work of the cross, which is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

“The Rapture: The Church Meets the Lord in the Clouds” – #22 on Timeline

1 Corinthians 15:51-53; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-7
Next on God’s prophetic timeline is the rapture of the church, which is his body, the body of Christ. When the final Gentile becomes a part of the body of Christ, a trumpet will sound. Then, all those who have died in Christ will be raised first, and right after them, the living members of the body of Christ will join them to meet the Lord in the clouds. From then on, they will be with Him forever.

“The Seven Years of Jacob’s Trouble” – Jeremiah 30:7 – #23

First seal Revelation 6:1; 2 Thessalonians 2:8,9; Daniel 9:27
After the body of Christ is removed from the earth and in glory with the Lord, God will again turn his attention back to his chosen people and bring to a culmination the full 490 years prophesied by Daniel in chapter 9. This period is known as “The Seven Years of Jacob’s Trouble.”

“The Millennial Kingdom: A Thousand Years with Jesus, Satan’s Release, and the Battle of Armageddon” – #25 on Timeline

Revelation 20:1-10

The Millennial Kingdom is a 1000-year period in which Jesus will reign on earth as King of kings from Jerusalem on David’s throne. Israel will be the top nation among all nations, fulfilling the Abrahamic Covenant, which Jesus made with Abraham in Genesis 12.
During this time, Satan will be bound and unable to deceive the nations. But at the end of the 1000 years, Satan will be set free and will lead one last rebellion against God. This rebellion will end in the Battle of Armageddon, where the Lord Jesus, the King of kings, will destroy and crush Satan’s armies. Satan will be tossed into the lake of fire where the antichrist and the false prophet have been for 1000 years.

“The Great White Throne Judgment” – #26 on Timeline

Revelation 20:11–15

Following the Battle of Armageddon, the final judgment will take place, the Great White Throne Judgment, in which all the unsaved will be resurrected bodily from hell and the sea, and they will come face to face with their Creator, the Righteous Judge (Romans 2:16), the Lord Jesus, and be judged according to their works. Those whose names are not found in the book of life were cast into the lake of fire.

Eternity with God – #27 on Timeline

The word of God explains eternity best.

“Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away.” Also, there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “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.’
Revelation 21:1-3

‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”’
Revelation 21:4

‘Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”’
Revelation 21:5

‘And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. ‘
Revelation 21:6

“For with God, Nothing Will be Impossible”

by Jamie Pantastico | Mar 11, 2023 | Daily Encouragement | 0 comments

What Saith the Scripture?

Luke 1:37 states, “For with God nothing will be impossible.” As believers, we can take comfort in knowing that there is nothing too difficult for God. He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think (Ephesians 3:20).

‘Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, ‘

Ephesians 3:20

In Romans 8:28, the apostle Paul reminds us that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. This verse assures us that even in the midst of trials and difficulties, God is working all things together for our good.

In Philippians 4:13, Paul declares, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” This verse reminds us that we can accomplish anything that God has called us to do with His strength and power.

As we face the challenges of life, we can hold onto these promises from God’s Word. We can trust that He is working all things together for our good and that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. No matter what we may face, with God, nothing will be impossible.

Takeaway:

Today, grab your Bible and take a moment to meditate on these verses and allow them to encourage and strengthen you. Remember that God is able to do the impossible and that He is working all things together for your good. Lean on His strength and trust in His power to see you through any challenge that may come your way.

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Pray, Pray, Pray for Each Other – “We are One Body”

by Jamie Pantastico | Mar 10, 2023 | Daily Encouragement | 0 comments

‘Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.’

Philippians 4:6-7

In Philippians 4:6-7, the Apostle Paul provides guidance on prayer. Believers are not to worry, but rather to pray and make requests known to God with thanksgiving. While God may answer prayer requests with a yes, no, or not right now, we already have the answer in verse 7. The peace of God, which surpasses understanding, will keep our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

This peace of God is what separates believers from the unsaved world. We’re going to face just as many problems as the unsaved people in the world around us, but what’s the difference? We have God with us in our problems, we have Him to take us through and we can rest assured of that. So, share the good news of Jesus Christ with the lost around you. Do not be ashamed of the Gospel for it is the power unto salvation Romans 1:16.

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