God makes peace in your borders…
Filed in CCI |Journal,
Yesterday was a day of? rejoicing at Christian Challenge. It was our privilege to? set apart Lane Fletcher to the gospel ministry.? If there was ever a man with the call of a preacher of the gospel,? it is Lane. He has proven himself? in faithfulness both to the Lord and in his serving the? church.?
In addition to our congregation, Christian Challenge overflowed with family and friends. (Of course Lane’s family is my family. His dad was my first cousin.)
The service began with worship. Then Nathan had Jamesette Kile and Jerome Fletcher share a special song at Lane’s request. Jamesette was on the fiddle, Jerome on the guitar, Mike Coutee on the base guitar, and Nathan on the piano. Jerome sang, “I want to stroll over heaven with you.”?
I was the first speaker in bringing a charge to Lane. I spoke on ‘The Messenger and His Message.’ I called attention to the ancient rite of God’s call to be a preacher in that the prophets were preachers. And what makes the feet of the bearer of the gospel beautiful is the message that he brings.
The angel said to the shepherds, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:9,10)
The preacher’s primary role is to bring God’s message of redemption to the world. This is a good news message.
The point is that no one calls themself to the ministry. It is solely God’s choosing. Jesus said, “You did not chose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give it to you.” (John 15:16)?
Actually Noah was the first man to be called a preacher. Peter wrote, “[God] did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a preacher of righteousness, with seven others, when He brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly.” (2Pe2:5)
I shared? five hallmarks of how a man knows he is called to the gospel ministry. They are:
1. The call is innate. This means that the call? will rest upon a person’s heart until he gives place to the call.
2. God’s call to the gospel ministry will carry the witness of? others.
3. The call is irresistible. If a person can stay out of the gospel ministry, he was not called to begin with.
4. The Lord will open doors for ministry for the person called.
5. The one called to the ministry will have shown himself in faithfulness. (God never calls an unfaithful man to the ministry.)
Paul testified to this in saying, “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service.” (1Ti1:12)
But I also need to make a major point. God never calls a person to the gospel ministry because they lived a sinless life. Far from it. The carrier of the gospel? must always remember that he is also? one of those? sinners for whom Jesus came to redeem. We are all sinners saved by grace.
Nathan then brought the primary charge to Lane. He took his Scripture reading from Acts 13:1-3, and from 2 Timothy 4:1-5. He ministered on, ‘Set Apart for Me.’
Nathan was careful to bring out that the gospel minister will face opposition and that he must be sober in all things,? be willing to endure hardship,? do the work of an evangelist, and to fulfill his ministry of? calling. As a seasoned missionary to Mexico, Nathan well knows about these issues.
At the conclusion of Nathan’s charge he washed Lane’s feet while I sang the Christian Challenge theme song, ‘How Beautiful Upon the Mountains.’ We then had the laying on of hands. Brother Larry Basco, pastor of the Sharp Baptist Church, participated in the laying on of hands along with our board of counselors.
I deeply appreciate Brother Larry Basco being with us. A number of my family attend the church he pastors. Brother Larry is truly an humble servant of the Lord.
Perhaps it? needs to be said that? the greatest witness to all that was happening yesterday at Christian Challenge was the Lord Himself. The entire service testified to God’s pleasure. It was a moment to be cherished.
Well, this brings me to my title for this journal entry — God makes peace your borders. Listen carefully to some of the greatest instructions you will ever hear as a child of God.
The Psalmist wrote, “He [the Lord] makes peace in your borders; He satisfies you with the finest of the wheat.” (Psalm 147:14)?
While this Psalm appears to be directed to Israel’s restoration and prosperity, yet it carries certain truths for God’s people of all the ages.? The one truth that is especially relevant to New Testament believers is in the statement ‘He makes peace in your borders.”
One of the greatest witnessing attritutes of the kingdom of God is the governing peace of the Lord. This is why Peter said that it is crucial? for any child of God? to? seek peace and pursue it. (1Pe3:11) The issue is that God’s peace is available to all God’s children. They simply need to seek it out from the Lord.
One of the prophetic titles given to the Lord is, ‘Prince of Peace.’
Isaiah wrote, “For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace.” (Isaiah 9:6,7)
The apostle Paul added to this issue of God’s governing peace when he said, “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.” (Col. 3:15)
The? way that we can know we are truly trusting in the Lord and that we are in the very center of God’s perfect will is that we have the peace of Jesus ruling our hearts. This governing peace is only available to the child of God. It is not available to the world.
The apostle said,? “And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil4:7)
Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” (John 14:27)
The way a child of God gets peace from the Lord is to receive it from the Lord. Jesus said, “My peace I give to you.”
The bottom line issue? is that a child of God must take care to? always live in the peace of Jesus Christ. This is where our true? strength? is found.
If for a moment we began to lose our peace,? it is time to stop.? Very often a moment of prayer will solve the problem. Most often when we lose our peace it is because we are allowing something to trouble us from without. The key is always the same? Stop letting your heart be troubled. And don’t let anyone or anything disturb your peace.
There is so much more I would like to say about God’s peace but I need to find a? stopping place. Hopefully you are getting the picture. Just keep in mind that the world didn’t give it to you and the world can’t take it away.
Sending you regards for the general.? CJ is stretched out on his pillow in my office. Not a worry in the world. Now if that isn’t peace I don’t know what is.? 
Much love coming your way.
Buddy
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