Not By Myself

Philippians 4:13 
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. 

"I" -- personal pronoun
"can do" -- am able to accomplish
"all things" -- that task which has been assigned me
"through Christ" -- not my own will power or personal motivations
"who strengthens me" -- Jehovah-Tsori (Psalm 19:14), Jehovah-'Ez-Lami (Psalm 28:7)

Psalm 19:14 
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

Psalm 28:7
The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.

     What does God want me to do? Be saved from an eternity in hell. Where does He tell me this? John 3:16, 17 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved."

     But that can't be all God wants me to do, right? Right. Next, God wants me to be filled with His Holy Spirit so I can do the rest of the 'chore list' God has prepared for me to do. Acts 1:4, 8 "...wait for the promise of The Father..." and in verse 8 Jesus tells they who have believed on Him for salvation " you shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come on you..".

    Why do we need the power of God's Holy Spirit upon us? Acts 1:8 "and you shall be witnesses to Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and to the uttermost part of the earth." 

    Where are we God's witnesses in the world around us? In Jerusalem (our own city) Judaea (our own country) in Samaria (countries that border ours), the uttermost parts of the earth (everywhere else that God sends us). 

    How are we God's witnesses to the world? Mark 16:15 "..Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature".  By preaching the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ we are being God's witnesses. We believe it, we live it, we speak it to anyone who will listen and hear it. 

     Does every believer need The Holy Spirit? Absolutely! We are not able to function in God's Kingdom without the guidance and leadership of The Holy Spirit working in us. Remember: we can do all things through Christ which strengthens us. How does He strengthen us? With The Comforter which God sent to us after Jesus returned to His Father in heaven. 
     There are so many other chores God wants us to do to accomplish His will in our lives and in the lives of those we share the gospel with that it will take at least another study. Or two. 

     

Real Peace

     There is a peace that passes all understanding. But we won't find it in philosophy. Aristotle can't give it. Ptolemy doesn't have it. Of the hundreds of philosophical ponderings throughout time, none can give that peace which passes understanding. 
     We won't find it in organized religion. Our denominations cannot give us peace that passes understanding. 
     Peace that passes understanding is not in our politicians or governments or even in our military status. Negotiations between countries gives a worldly peace, but this peace is temporary, it is not the peace that passes understanding. They cannot give us that.
     Avoidance of hot topics and news headlines is not peace: it is hiding your head in the sand like an ostrich, hoping whatever it is that frustrates, angers, saddens us will just blow over and leave us alone. That's not even close to peace. 
    Do you want real peace? An everlasting peace? A peace that passes understanding? Come to Jesus now. For He is our Prince of Peace: Isaiah 9:6 "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." 
     He gives peace like no other: John 14:27 "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." 
"And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7 

Only Jesus Christ has real peace, because He Is Peace. Without Him you can never know peace. To know Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior is not only to have this real peace, but to live it, to know it, to breathe it. 
Since you are reading this, you know it is not too late to receive Jesus Christ into your heart, your life. Receive Him, receive His peace.