Peace (Wednesday, January 31st, 2024)
Eph 6:10-15 (NKJV)
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual [hosts] of wickedness in the heavenly [places]. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Ephesians 6:15 (AMP)
and having strapped on YOUR FEET THE GOSPEL OF PEACE IN PREPARATION [to face the enemy with firm-footed stability and the readiness produced by the good news].
The Roman soldier wore shoes that had nails on the bottom so that they could stay planted no matter the terrain they stood on. The peace of God enables you to stay stable in unstable times.
What is the gospel of peace? The good news is that we have peace with God and the peace of God.
peace – shalom – safety, security, tranquility, welfare, health and soundness of body, prosperity, rest, wholeness. It implies nothing missing and nothing broken, but wholeness in every area of your life.
peace – eirene – by implication, prosperity:—one, peace, quietness, rest, set at one again. security, safety, prosperity, intense happiness, “(because peace and harmony make and keep things safe and prosperous (Strong’s)
1 Co 15:58 (NKJV)
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
Luk 6:48-49 (NKJV)
“He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock. 49 “But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great.”
shake – agitate, to cause to totter, wave, rock, topple, disturb, move, overthrow
Mar 4:35-41 (NKJV)
On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” 36 Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. 38 But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” 39 Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. 40 But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How [is it] that you have no faith?” 41 And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”
To live in peace, you must use your authority.
Pro 18:10 (NKJV)
The name of the LORD [is] a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe.
Phl 4:6-9 (NKJV)
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things [are] noble, whatever things [are] just, whatever things [are] pure, whatever things [are] lovely, whatever things [are] of good report, if [there is] any virtue and if [there is] anything praiseworthy–meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
Rom 16:20 (NKJV)
And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [be] with you. Amen.
You Are A Sign: What Does Your Sign Say? (Sunday, January 28th, 2024)
Ephesians 5:8-12 (AMPC)
For once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of Light [lead the lives of those native-born to the Light].
9 For the fruit (the effect, the product) of the Light or [c]the Spirit [consists] in every form of kindly goodness, uprightness of heart, and trueness of life.
10 And try to learn [in your experience] what is pleasing to the Lord [let your lives be constant proofs of what is most acceptable to Him].
11 Take no part in and have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds and enterprises of darkness, but instead [let your lives be so in contrast as to] [d]expose and reprove and convict them.
12 For it is a shame even to speak of or mention the things that [such people] practice in secret.
You are not who you used to be. You are light. You are chosen. You are a miracle! Live like it.
Job 9:10 (NKJV)
He does great things past finding out, Yes, wonders without number.
Psalm 77:14 (NLT)
You are the God of great wonders! You demonstrate your awesome power among the nations.
(MSG)
O God! Your way is holy! No god is great like God! You’re the God who makes things happen; you showed everyone what you can do— You pulled your people out of the worst kind of trouble, rescued the children of Jacob and Joseph.
Matthew 5:14-16 (NLT)
“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.
Psalm 31:19-20 (NLT)
How great is the goodness you have stored up for those who fear you. You lavish it on those who come to you for protection, blessing them before the watching world. 20 You hide them in the shelter of your presence, safe from those who conspire against them. You shelter them in your presence, far from accusing tongues.
fear – reverential awe
protection – also translated as those who trust in You
goodness – God’s goodness is His prosperity, good things, property, supply, and provision. It is good in the widest sense of the word and good to the farthest extreme.
Jer 33:9 (NLT)
Then this city will bring me joy, glory, and honor before all the nations of the earth! The people of the world will see all the good I do for my people, and they will tremble with awe at the peace and prosperity I provide for them.
Act 2:22 (NLT)
“People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know.
Heb 2:4 (NLT)
And God confirmed the message by giving signs and wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit whenever he chose.
John 2:23-3:2 (NKJV)
Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did. 24 But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all [men], 25 and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man. There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”
signs - a sign, prodigy, portent, i.e. an unusual occurrence, transcending the common course of nature – of miracles and wonders by which God authenticates the men sent by him, or by which men prove that the cause they are pleading is God’s
You are a sign and God desires to do signs in your life. You are sign, what does your sign say?
Mark 16:14-20 (NKJV)
Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. 15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 “And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 “they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” 19 So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with [them] and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.
- Believe – What Do You Believe?
Isaiah 59:19 (AMPC)
So [as the result of the Messiah’s intervention] they shall [reverently] fear the name of the Lord from the west, and His glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him and put him to flight [for He will come like a rushing stream which the breath of the Lord drives].
standard – An ensign of war; a staff with a flag or colors
2. Raise Your Sign – Raise Your Standard
Mat 4:12-16 (NKJV)
Now when Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, He departed to Galilee. 13 And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: 15 “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, [By] the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles: 16 The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned.”
Peace (Wednesday, January 24th, 2024)
- Peace comes from preparation
(Luk 6:46-49 NKJV) 46 “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say? 47 “Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: 48 “He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock. 49 “But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great.”
- Come to Jesus
[Heb 11:6 NKJV] 6 But without faith [it is] impossible to please [Him], for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and [that] He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
When you come to God, you must believe He is your answer and that He will reward you.
rewarder – one who pays wages and gives recompense
[Isa 55:3 NLT] 3 “Come to me with your ears wide open. Listen, and you will find life. I will make an everlasting covenant with you. I will give you all the unfailing love I promised to David.
Come to God with wide open ears. Come ready and expecting to hear. Don’t come with your mind made up. Come ready to hear His wisdom and instruction.
2. Hear what Jesus has to say – actually listen
3. Just Do It!
[Jas 1:22-25 NKJV] 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues [in it], and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.
(Luk 6:47-49 NKJV) “Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: 48 “He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock. 49 “But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great.”
shake – agitate, to cause to totter, wave, rock, topple, disturb, move, overthrow
[Act 27:9-26 NKJV] 9 Now when much time had been spent, and sailing was now dangerous because the Fast was already over, Paul advised them, 10 saying, “Men, I perceive that this voyage will end with disaster and much loss, not only of the cargo and ship, but also our lives.” 11 Nevertheless the centurion was more persuaded by the helmsman and the owner of the ship than by the things spoken by Paul. 12 And because the harbor was not suitable to winter in, the majority advised to set sail from there also, if by any means they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete opening toward the southwest and northwest, [and] winter [there]. 13 When the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained [their] desire, putting out to sea, they sailed close by Crete. 14 But not long after, a tempestuous head wind arose, called Euroclydon. 15 So when the ship was caught, and could not head into the wind, we let [her] drive. 16 And running under [the shelter of] an island called Clauda, we secured the skiff with difficulty. 17 When they had taken it on board, they used cables to undergird the ship; and fearing lest they should run aground on the Syrtis [Sands], they struck sail and so were driven. 18 And because we were exceedingly tempest-tossed, the next [day] they lightened the ship. 19 On the third [day] we threw the ship’s tackle overboard with our own hands. 20 Now when neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest beat on [us], all hope that we would be saved was finally given up. 21 But after long abstinence from food, then Paul stood in the midst of them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me, and not have sailed from Crete and incurred this disaster and loss. 22 “And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. 23 “For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, 24 “saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ 25 “Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me. 26 “However, we must run aground on a certain island.”
There are entire storms you can avoid if you follow the leadings in your spirit.
Kerrick Butler 