B.E.S.T. Shabbat

"“Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword." Matthew 10:34 (NASB) Last chapter we engaged with a radical concept. The Gospel of peace involves how we relate to others. How we relate to others sets boundaries in our heart which affects our relationship to God. The Apostle John tells us: "If someone sdidays, “I love God,” and yet he hates his brother or sister, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother and sister whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God must also love his brother and sister." 1Jn 4:20-21 (NASB) Every broken relationship we have fragments our love for God. As we erect boundaries and walls in our hearts to try to protect ourselves from pain, we also block out God. The preparation of the footwear of the Gospel of Peace requires us to be able to allow the Lord to bring peace and healing to the broken p...

"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 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. 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. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;" Eph 6:10-17 (NKJV) As we have been working on aligning our inner life with God’s word through the spiritual power t...