War and Peace

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=100 BGCOLOR="#CCCCFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="04000640egdysm.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000066" FACE="Arial" ><B>Church of God, In Truth</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT><B>   |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Church of God, In Truth"><U><B>home</B></U></A><B> | </B><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Edification Articles"><U><B>Up Level</B></U></A></FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="id294.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Called to be A Kingdom of Priests"><U>Called to be "A Kingdom of Priests"</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id293.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Sprit of Truth vs the Sprit of decep"><U>The Sprit of Truth vs the Sprit of deception</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id290.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A rare find"><U>A rare find</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id289.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Focus on God"><U>Focus on God</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id288.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A Nation must Honor God"><U>A Nation must Honor God</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id286.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What is Faith?"><U>What is Faith?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id285.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Abrahams family"><U>Abraham's family</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id284.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Women of the Bible"><U>Women of the Bible</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id279.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="How important are Gods Holy days to you?"><U>How important are God's Holy days to you??</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id278.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="I am the resurrection and the live"><U>I am the resurrection and the live</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id259.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Man made traditions have infirtrated God"><U>Man made traditions have infirtrated God's church</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id258.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="How to cope with todays realities"><U>How to cope with today's realities</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id257.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Trials and discouragement"><U>Trials and discouragement</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id256.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Love and defend Gods truth"><U>Love and defend God's truth</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id248.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Roadmap to peace"><U>Roadmap to peace</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id252.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Fear"><U>Fear</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id251.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Differing Opinions"><U>Differing Opinions</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id250.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Are you a Profitable Servant?"><U>Are you a Profitable Servant?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id249.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Roadmap to peace"><U>Roadmap to peace</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id247.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Listen to God"><U>Listen to God</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id246.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Remember the Sabbath to kepp it holy"><U>Remember the Sabbath to kepp it holy</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id244.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="MANS TRADITIONS VS. CHRISTS TEACHINGS"><U>MAN'S TRADITIONS VS. CHRIST'S TEACHINGS</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id241.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Following the footprints of Christ"><U>Following the footprints of Christ</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id240.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Angels?"><U>Angels?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id232.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Alabaster Box"><U>The Alabaster Box</U></A>   |   War and Peace   |   <A HREF="id217.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Spiritual winers AND spritual losers"><U>Spiritual winers AND spritual losers</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id213.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Americas Lawless Spirit"><U>America's Lawless Spirit</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id212.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Satans Snare"><U>Satan's Snare</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id176.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Life Comes From:"><U>Life Comes From:</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id174.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Examine for Passover"><U>Examine for Passover</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id112.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Wave Sheaf, And the Importance of Su"><U>The Wave Sheaf, And the Importance of Sunday</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id113.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Points To Ponder!"><U>Points To Ponder!</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id114.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What Price Unity?"><U>What Price Unity?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id115.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="New Moon New Month!"><U>New Moon - New Month!</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id116.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gods Creation ... His Silent Gospel!"><U>God's Creation ... His Silent Gospel!</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id117.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Who or What is Elijah?"><U>Who or What is Elijah?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id118.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Who are the Three Beasts of Daniel 7?"><U>Who are the Three Beasts of Daniel 7?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id119.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Watching the Signs! ... News"><U>Watching the Signs! ... News</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id120.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Anointing All with Oil?"><U>Anointing "All" with Oil?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id121.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Where is Your Faith? In God, or in the O"><U>Where is Your Faith? In God, or in the Oil?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id122.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Tradition or Gods Word?"><U>Tradition or God's Word?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id123.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What was the Korah Thinking?"><U>What was the Korah Thinking?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id124.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Are You a Blue Angel?"><U>Are You a Blue Angel?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id125.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Passover: Beginning or End of Fourteenth"><U>Passover: Beginning or End of Fourteenth</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id126.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Passover or Lamb?"><U>Passover or Lamb?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id127.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Scriptural Definition of Apostasy"><U>Scriptural Definition of "Apostasy"</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id128.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="True Conjunction vesus Molad"><U>True Conjunction vesus Molad</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id129.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Hebrew Language"><U>The Hebrew Language</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id130.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A Brief History of Judaism"><U>A Brief History of Judaism</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id131.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Judaism is not the Religion of the Old T"><U>Judaism is not the Religion of the Old Testament</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id132.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Let it be seen"><U>Let it be seen</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id133.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Whos Command?"><U>Who's Command?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id134.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What is the Abomination that Causes Deso"><U>What is the Abomination that Causes Desolation?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id135.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Are You Begotten? Born Again? Confused?"><U>Are You Begotten? Born Again? Confused?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id136.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Why Calculate Time fro Jerusalem?"><U>Why Calculate Time fro Jerusalem?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id137.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Are we pure in Heart?"><U>Are we pure in Heart?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id138.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Dark Moon"><U>Dark Moon</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id140.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Prophet Jonah"><U>The Prophet Jonah</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id142.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Two can be One"><U>Two can be One</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id144.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Fishers! Hunters! Watchers!"><U>Fishers! Hunters! Watchers!</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id145.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="True Conversion"><U>True Conversion</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id146.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Petra!"><U>Petra!</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id147.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Fear, The Pit and a Snare"><U>Fear, The Pit and a Snare</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id148.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Five Foolish Virgins"><U>Five Foolish Virgins</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id149.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="One Hour"><U>One Hour</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id150.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="7Steps to DisasterLessons from the Titan"><U>7-Steps to Disaster-Lessons from the Titanic</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id151.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gods Appointed Curriculum for Mankind"><U>God's Appointed "Curriculum" for Mankind</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id152.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="An Army of Chosen"><U>An Army of Chosen</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id153.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Kingdom of Priests"><U>Kingdom of Priests</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id154.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Jewish Roots?"><U>Jewish Roots?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id155.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Galatians CoverUp Part Series"><U>Galatians "Cover-Up" Part Series</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id160.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What does it mean to be sealed?"><U>What does it mean to be sealed?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id161.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gods Awesome Power"><U>God's Awesome Power</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id162.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gods Divine Laws Part 1"><U>God's Divine Laws - Part 1</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id163.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Will God Bind Error?"><U>Will God Bind Error?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id164.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gods Divine Laws Part 2"><U>God's Divine Laws - Part 2</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id165.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="17th Restored Truth Fact or Fiction?"><U>17th Restored Truth - Fact or Fiction?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id166.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Just what do you mean ... the MEAN?"><U>Just what do you mean ... the MEAN?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id167.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Harmony in Gods Creation"><U>Harmony in God's Creation</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id168.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sign of the True Church! "><U>Sign of the True Church! </U></A>   |   <A HREF="id179.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Temples of God"><U>Temples of God</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id181.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Way of Life"><U>The Way  of Life</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id182.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Why we must fast?"><U>Why we must fast?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id183.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Jesus Christ"><U>Jesus Christ</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id189.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Exploring the two Churches of Revelation"><U>Exploring the "two Churches" of Revelation 12</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id190.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Resisting Gods Authority!"><U>Resisting God's Authority!</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id194.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Building a Dream of the Kingdom of God"><U>Building a Dream of the Kingdom of God</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id196.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Blistering Warning"><U>Blistering Warning</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id197.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Three aspects of the gospel"><U>Three aspects of the gospel</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id200.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Elijahs voice message!"><U>Elijah's voice message!</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id205.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Time to Probe and Test"><U>Time to Probe and Test</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id206.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Write it in a Book"><U>Write it in a Book</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id208.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The first shall be last, the last shall "><U>The first shall be last, the last shall be first</U></A></div> <div>    |   <A HREF="id223.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Keep the Sabbath Holy"><U>Keep the Sabbath Holy</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id224.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lagging Behind"><U>Lagging Behind</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id229.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gratitude Toward God"><U>Gratitude Toward God</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id233.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What is Truth?"><U>What is Truth?</U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=200 BGCOLOR="#0000BF" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <B>Church of God, In Truth</B></div> <div> <A HREF="id294.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Called to be A Kingdom of Priests"><U>Called to be "A Kingdom of Priests"</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id293.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Sprit of Truth vs the Sprit of decep"><U>The Sprit of Truth vs the Sprit of deception</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id290.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A rare find"><U>A rare find</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id289.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Focus on God"><U>Focus on God</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id288.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A Nation must Honor God"><U>A Nation must Honor God</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id286.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What is Faith?"><U>What is Faith?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id285.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Abrahams family"><U>Abraham's family</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id284.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Women of the Bible"><U>Women of the Bible</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id279.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="How important are Gods Holy days to you?"><U>How important are God's Holy days to you??</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id278.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="I am the resurrection and the live"><U>I am the resurrection and the live</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id259.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Man made traditions have infirtrated God"><U>Man made traditions have infirtrated God's church</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id258.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="How to cope with todays realities"><U>How to cope with today's realities</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id257.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Trials and discouragement"><U>Trials and discouragement</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id256.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Love and defend Gods truth"><U>Love and defend God's truth</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id248.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Roadmap to peace"><U>Roadmap to peace</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id252.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Fear"><U>Fear</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id251.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Differing Opinions"><U>Differing Opinions</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id250.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Are you a Profitable Servant?"><U>Are you a Profitable Servant?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id249.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Roadmap to peace"><U>Roadmap to peace</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id247.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Listen to God"><U>Listen to God</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id246.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Remember the Sabbath to kepp it holy"><U>Remember the Sabbath to kepp it holy</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id244.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="MANS TRADITIONS VS. CHRISTS TEACHINGS"><U>MAN'S TRADITIONS VS. CHRIST'S TEACHINGS</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id241.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Following the footprints of Christ"><U>Following the footprints of Christ</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id240.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Angels?"><U>Angels?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id232.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Alabaster Box"><U>The Alabaster Box</U></A></div> <div> <B>War and Peace</B></div> <div> <A HREF="id217.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Spiritual winers AND spritual losers"><U>Spiritual winers AND spritual losers</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id213.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Americas Lawless Spirit"><U>America's Lawless Spirit</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id212.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Satans Snare"><U>Satan's Snare</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id176.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Life Comes From:"><U>Life Comes From:</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id174.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Examine for Passover"><U>Examine for Passover</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id112.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Wave Sheaf, And the Importance of Su"><U>The Wave Sheaf, And the Importance of Sunday</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id113.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Points To Ponder!"><U>Points To Ponder!</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id114.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What Price Unity?"><U>What Price Unity?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id115.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="New Moon New Month!"><U>New Moon - New Month!</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id116.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gods Creation ... His Silent Gospel!"><U>God's Creation ... His Silent Gospel!</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id117.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Who or What is Elijah?"><U>Who or What is Elijah?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id118.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Who are the Three Beasts of Daniel 7?"><U>Who are the Three Beasts of Daniel 7?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id119.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Watching the Signs! ... News"><U>Watching the Signs! ... News</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id120.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Anointing All with Oil?"><U>Anointing "All" with Oil?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id121.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Where is Your Faith? In God, or in the O"><U>Where is Your Faith? In God, or in the Oil?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id122.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Tradition or Gods Word?"><U>Tradition or God's Word?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id123.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What was the Korah Thinking?"><U>What was the Korah Thinking?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id124.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Are You a Blue Angel?"><U>Are You a Blue Angel?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id125.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Passover: Beginning or End of Fourteenth"><U>Passover: Beginning or End of Fourteenth</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id126.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Passover or Lamb?"><U>Passover or Lamb?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id127.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Scriptural Definition of Apostasy"><U>Scriptural Definition of "Apostasy"</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id128.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="True Conjunction vesus Molad"><U>True Conjunction vesus Molad</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id129.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Hebrew Language"><U>The Hebrew Language</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id130.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A Brief History of Judaism"><U>A Brief History of Judaism</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id131.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Judaism is not the Religion of the Old T"><U>Judaism is not the Religion of the Old Testament</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id132.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Let it be seen"><U>Let it be seen</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id133.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Whos Command?"><U>Who's Command?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id134.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What is the Abomination that Causes Deso"><U>What is the Abomination that Causes Desolation?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id135.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Are You Begotten? Born Again? Confused?"><U>Are You Begotten? Born Again? Confused?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id136.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Why Calculate Time fro Jerusalem?"><U>Why Calculate Time fro Jerusalem?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id137.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Are we pure in Heart?"><U>Are we pure in Heart?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id138.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Dark Moon"><U>Dark Moon</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id140.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Prophet Jonah"><U>The Prophet Jonah</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id142.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Two can be One"><U>Two can be One</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id144.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Fishers! Hunters! Watchers!"><U>Fishers! Hunters! Watchers!</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id145.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="True Conversion"><U>True Conversion</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id146.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Petra!"><U>Petra!</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id147.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Fear, The Pit and a Snare"><U>Fear, The Pit and a Snare</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id148.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Five Foolish Virgins"><U>Five Foolish Virgins</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id149.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="One Hour"><U>One Hour</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id150.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="7Steps to DisasterLessons from the Titan"><U>7-Steps to Disaster-Lessons from the Titanic</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id151.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gods Appointed Curriculum for Mankind"><U>God's Appointed "Curriculum" for Mankind</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id152.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="An Army of Chosen"><U>An Army of Chosen</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id153.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Kingdom of Priests"><U>Kingdom of Priests</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id154.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Jewish Roots?"><U>Jewish Roots?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id155.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Galatians CoverUp Part Series"><U>Galatians "Cover-Up" Part Series</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id160.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What does it mean to be sealed?"><U>What does it mean to be sealed?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id161.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gods Awesome Power"><U>God's Awesome Power</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id162.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gods Divine Laws Part 1"><U>God's Divine Laws - Part 1</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id163.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Will God Bind Error?"><U>Will God Bind Error?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id164.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gods Divine Laws Part 2"><U>God's Divine Laws - Part 2</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id165.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="17th Restored Truth Fact or Fiction?"><U>17th Restored Truth - Fact or Fiction?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id166.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Just what do you mean ... the MEAN?"><U>Just what do you mean ... the MEAN?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id167.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Harmony in Gods Creation"><U>Harmony in God's Creation</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id168.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sign of the True Church! 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(Jer 17:9) ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo </div> <div> James, "a servant of God and of the Lord" (James 1:1) asks the question? "From where come wars and fighting among you?" (James 4:1). That is an excellent question. Countless dollars and man hours have been expended trying to find a solution to that problem. And yet, we are no closer to a solution today than what we were on the day that Cain slew Abel. </div> <div> The world is filled with conflict and suffering and warfare. Otherwise how can you explain the terrible events happening in Israel and other parts of the world today? And they keep dragging on and on. Why is the world torn by strife and conflict? How can you explain the unrest and hostility here in the United States? And how can you explain the battle in our own homes? </div> <div> James says that the problem originates within man. There is something desperately wrong with man. "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" (Jer 17:9). </div> <div> Man is the great enemy of mankind. We have met the enemy and it is us. Man is the problem. Read what Paul says about it: "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, truce breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good. Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God" (2 Timothy 3:1-4). </div> <div> So Paul says that in the last days, it will be dangerous, perilous times because men will be lovers of self, rather than lovers of God. It is the carnal nature in man that causes the distress in the world. It is man that is behind all antisocial behavior. It is human nature in man that is behind all forms of conflicts, whether it be global warfare, or fighting in our homes, between husbands and wives, children and parents, or in businesses between employers and employees. </div> <div> You see, there is a warfare going on in our own hearts and all the conflicts outside is simply an extension of a conflict that is inside ourselves. </div> <div> Going back to James 4, he answers this rhetorical question in the later part of verse 1. We read . . . "come they not hence, even of your pleasures that war in your members?" He says that strife grows out of passions that are waging war within us. The word translated "passions" is a neutral term. He is not saying that these desires are necessarily bad. He is talking about legitimate desires: The desire for freedom from oppression, the desire for health, the desire to have a mate or to have children or to have some physical need satisfied. These are legitimate drives. But conflict results whenever these desires are disillusioned or frustrated. "You lust, and have not: you kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: you fight and war" (James 4:2). These desires might be perfectly legitimate but when we are frustrated by our own circumstances or when someone with a similar desire comes across our own path and keeps us from fulfilling our own desires, combat ensues. With sufficient provocation we would even kill. There is tremendous violence pent up inside us and if we are driven far enough, we will destroy the other person. </div> <div> One of the Justices of the United States Supreme Court made a statement once that the only difference between a man on death row and the man on the street is a difference in what they do, not a difference in what the men are. Every one of us is a potential killer. If driven hard enough and frustrated over a long enough period of time, we will destroy in order to achieve our end. </div> <div> James continues to say, ". . .you do not have, because you ask not. You ask, and receive not, because you ask amiss, that you may consume it upon your lusts" (James 4:2-3). </div> <div> Here is how James argument is developing. All of us has certain desires, many of them legitimate, but often we are frustrated in the expression of these desires. When we are frustrated we have two options. We can either access our self and get what we want by our self and thus, cause conflict and destruction, or we can ask God. If we ask God, He delights to give. </div> <div> There are some wonderful things said about prayer in this passage. James was a man who knew from experience what prayer is. His teaching on prayer is therefore very practical. He says two things about prayer, essentially in verses 2 and 3. </div> <div> The first is that God wants us to ask. It delights the heart of the Father when we do. Jesus Christ pointed out that if any of us ask the Father, He will not give a stone if we ask for bread, or give a serpent if we ask for fish. Jesus Christ says if you who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Heavenly Father give good things to those who ask Him. "Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" (Matt. 7:9-11). God is a Father who wants to give. He wants us to ask Him for the things we need. It delights Him to answer. It delights His heart to give. James says that when our desires are frustrated, we are to ask our Father, and second, we are to ask according to His will. You see, it is possible to presume to use the Father to accomplish our own end. We can attempt to misuse His power to accomplish our plan. We want our desires met according to our schedule and in keeping with our way. But it might not be God's way, therefore, when we ask, we have to be willing to pray according to the Father's will. We must be willing to say, Lord, this is what I want, this is my desire, but nevertheless, not my will, but your will be done. This is the way Jesus Christ prayed in the garden. He had a very real fear of dying on the cross. He didn't want to undergo that horrible death. His desire to preserve His own life was very legitimate. So He prayed, "Father if it is possible, I ask that this cup pass from me, nevertheless, not my will, but yours be done" (Matt. 26:39). </div> <div> When frustrated, we know that our desires are legitimate, we are to take them to our Father, but when we are to do so with a humble attitude. Learn to say: in Your time and in Your own way Father. </div> <div> A friend of mine use to tell a story of a man who was on his rooftop fixing the television antenna. He lost his footing and as he slipped off the roof he managed to grasp hold of the gutter. He found himself hanging about 20 feet off the ground and so began to shout for help. But there was no one to help him. So looking up to the sky, he said, "Is there anybody up there who can help me?" And a voice came out of the sky and said, "I can help." "What should I do?" the man asked. And the voice from above said, "Let go." The man thought for a moment, and cried, "Is there anybody else up there who can help me?" </div> <div> All too often that is the way we pray. We say, Lord, help me. And God says, I will in my own way and in my own time. And so we start casting about for another solution instead of submitting to His will. When we insist upon asserting our own way, a number of things become apparent. "You adulterers and adulteresses, know you not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. Do you think that the scripture says in vain, The spirit that dwells in us lusts to envy?" (James 4:4-5). The most obvious thing is that we become a friend of the world. So, our selfishness is the essence of the worldliness. That is the world's creed. If you want to get ahead, then do it for yourself. No one else will do it for you. You have to shove and kick your way to the top of the heap. You only go around once, so you have to grasp the brass ring. You have to get what you want out of life. </div> <div> James says that when you feel that we have to get what we desire by asserting ourselves, then we ally our self with the world and its philosophy and thus will become an enemy of God. Why God's enemy? Because God wants to bring peace and understanding to this world we live in. But the world always produced conflict and bitterness and strife. So when we choose to maintain our self, we constitute our self an enemy of God. And what is far worse, James says, we become adulterers and adulteresses. In James 4:4, "Adulterers" is translated, "unfaithful creatures." </div> <div> Men, how would you feel if your wife got $100 from the man next door when she needed money to buy clothes. Or, if when she needed comfort or help or assurances or anything else, she went to all the other men in the neighborhood instead of coming to you? It would break your heart and that is what this does to God. It breaks His heart when we go the world's way. It is as if we were say, Lord, you are not adequate enough. Your way is not the right way. It is not the best way for me. I'm going to have to get what I want by myself from the world. </div> <div> James says the result of this attitude is that we become adulterers and predictably God gets jealous. The scripture says: "Do you think that the scripture says in vain, The spirit that dwells in us lusts to envy?" (James 4:5). </div> <div> A theme repeated throughout the Old Testament is that God is a jealous husband toward His people. It is a righteous jealousy because His bride belongs to Him alone. So when we are adulterers, it makes Him jealous. But the amazing thing is that this jealousy creates in Him a desire not to condemn us. He doesn't cut us off, "but He gives more grace" (James 4:6). </div> <div> That is the kind of heavenly husband we have. When we have gone the world's way and we have become adulterers, He pours His grace out to us. The rest of this passage verses 6-10 is the account of how we can receive that grace. </div> <div> Let's review Jesus Christ's line of reasoning to this point. He says that we all have certain legitimate needs and that often these needs are frustrated. When we are frustrated we can go in one of two directions. We can either ask the Father, according to His will, and wait for Him to meet our needs, according to His own time and His own way; or we can resort to our own strength and uphold our self, causing chaos and conflict and thus becoming adulterers. </div> <div> If we have done the latter, how then can we respond again to the grace of God and return to the place of fellowship? James tells us, "But he gives more grace. Wherefore he says, God resists the proud, but gives grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up" (James 4:6-10). </div> <div> Note that these verses are bracketed with the word humble. Humble yourselves, verses 7, 8, and 9 are essentially a description of how that humbling takes place. It begins by submitting ourselves to God. Are we willing to let God be God? Are we willing to let Him do whatever He pleases? Can we submit to His program for our life and His way of working things out in it? Does God have the right? Doesn't God have the right to determine your circumstances, your marriage state, your hurt and your job situation? Isn't He the potter and you the clay? </div> <div> One of the most powerful parables in the gospel is the story of the man who went into the marketplace and hired men to work in his vineyard. He went at 6:00 am and hired some, he went again at 9:00 am and hired others and again at 12:00 pm and at 3:00 pm and at 5:00 pm. </div> <div> In the evening, he paid all his workers. When they came for the accounting, they all received the same wage. Each received a days wage as agreed. Those who had born the heat and the burning of the day were resentful. They said, we should have more. We had to work in the middle of the day when it was very hot. We suffered. You are not being fair. But the husbandman said, don't I have the right to do as I please with my vineyard? Doesn't God have the right, brethren? Certainly, He does. All we can do is respond by saying, Lord you have the right - and then submit to Him. </div> <div> James says that by submitting to Him we resist the devil. The devils philosophy is: insist on yourself. He is behind the wars philosophy. It is the devils desire for self assertion which caused him to fall. And it was the devil who infected the human race with that attitude. </div> <div> It occurs to me that there are only two options in life. One, if we are submitting to God, then we are resisting the devil. Two, we are submitting to the devil and thus we are resisting God. Option one, if we submit to God, there will be peace and harmony. Option two, if we are submitting to the devil, the result will be conflict and hostility. </div> <div> The next step James says, "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you" (James 4:8). Start laying hold of His resources. He is the one who sustains us in any circumstance. You see, it might be His will not to remove the inhibiting factors and thus, to prevent you from realizing your desires. And yet, in the midst of that frustrating circumstance, He will give you more grace. He supplies us all that we need and ministers to us richly. He provides the strength and the patience for us to endure. </div> <div> James says that it is during this time you "draw near to God, He will draw near to you." You will find Him faithful. He will not abandon you. He will provide everything you need. </div> <div> Then He says we must clean our minds and purify our hearts. He is speaking of the attitudes and reactions which cause conflict. Start with your attitude. "Purify your heart." Let God deal with the inner man and then cleanse your hands. Deal with actions which cause dissensions. "Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness" (James 4:9). That means take attitudes and actions seriously. Don't treat them lightly! An unjust, self- asserted attitude, or action can stir up the most devastating conflict. So don't casually dismiss this exhortation by James. </div> <div> This is not just good advise, not just a pleasant sentiment that he is expressing here. We must let the spirit of God deal with the attitudes and actions which cause conflict within us. Finally, by a way of summary, James says in verse 10, "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up." Let Him exalt you. Don't try to exalt yourself. </div> <div> Paul explains Jesus Christ, "Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross" (Philippians 2:6-8). </div> <div> The Lord had to go to that place of death and that is where we have to go also. We have to be willing to take our most legitimate needs and desires and drives and ambitions and put them to death because Jesus Christ was willing to do that. God the Father exalted Him highly and has given Him the name which is above every other name. The Father exalted Him because He was willing to submit to the Father. And the Father will exalt us if we are willing to submit to His will. </div> <div> ======================== </div> <div> "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you" (James 4:8) </div> <div> ======================== </div> <div> Martin Martinez </div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>