"There is Peace in the Word of the Lord"

A story and teaching found in the background of a new CD "Intimacy 3 + Peace and Presence."

With the new CD, a different approach was taken, which would be a little out the recent norm. It is a third installment to the "Intimacy" series of music we have done. This one, even then taking a different course. The next few blogs, I want to give some background on this CD.

"There is Peace in the Word of the Lord" is a song that realistically was written quickly and "on the spot." But what is within is a message that needs to be heard. "There is peace in the Word of the Lord" is a fact that no matter what circumstance we may be in, no matter the situation, this is a fact that holds true everytime. An old wisdom statement my mother used to give each time when there would be a searching for direction in life, or a "new" step to take, she would say, "Remember the Word of God says, 'Seek peace and pursue it!'" This a way of finding direction that never fails, it stands everytime.

But what about the one who is in a trial, a time of attack, or even, a time of a need for encouragement? Again, There is peace in the Word of the Lord. But the song goes on to say, "There is Hope found in His Love." This the hope needed that will cause you to "Look up!" It is that hope which gives the strength and encouragement needed to stand in those "not so easy" times. The chorus then comes back to say: "There is hope to rise above."

In His promises, He is faithful to them all. In His love, His tender mercy, He says that He cares for us, and that we should "cast" our cares upon Him. In His promises, He says that He will be with us until the end, He says that He has overcome the world. He then says, He will carry us. Here is that Peace to know from His Word, that hope to have, found in His love. It is that He loves you! He cares for you! It is that you are never out of His reach!

Even though a meditational CD, it is meant for "Quiet Time" and in that a refocusing and refreshing on the facts of His love, mercy and grace. But also a prayer for the heart of the listener. So if you find yourself needing direction, hope, encouragement... know this..There is peace in the Word of the Lord.

Prayer's Obedience of Faith

"But if you stay joined to me and my words remain in you, you may ask any request you like, and it will be granted!... When you obey me, you remain in my love" (John 15:7, 10)

If you make the morning hour holy to the Lord, the day with its duties will be holy.

Do not forget the close bond between the inner chamber and the outer world. The attitude of prayer must remain with us all day. The object of prayer is to unite us with God that we may have Him always with us.

Sin, thoughtlessness, and yeilding to the flesh or to the world make us unfit for communion with God and bring a cloud over the soul. If you have stumbled or fallen, return to God in prayer. First invoke the blood of Jesus and claim cleansing by it. Do not rest till by confession you have repented of and put away your sin. Let the precious blood really give you a fresh freedom of approach to God.

Remember that the roots of your life in the inner chamber strike far out in body and soul so as to manifest themselves in daily life. Let the obedience of faith, in which you pray in secret, rule you constantly.

The inner chamber is intended to bind us to God, to supply us with power from God, to enable us to live for God alone. Thank God for the inner chamber and for the life which He will enable us to experience and nourish there.

The Obedience of Faith

"The Lord appeared to (Abram) and said, 'I am God Almighty; serve me faithfully and live a blameless life. I will make a covenant with you'" (Genesis 17:1-2)

In Abraham's life we see not only how God asks for faith but how He develops faith by the gracious training that He gives. When God first called Abraham, He gave the great promise, "All the families of the earth will be blessed through you" (Genesis 12:3). When he reached the land, God promised that the land would be his. Before the birth of Isaac, in the words of our text, God sought to strengthen Abraham's faith. Step by step, God led him until his faith was perfected for full obedience in the sacrifice of Isaac. From the very beginning, Abraham obeyed God and believed His promises, even when his circumstances seemed to be in conflict with those promises.

God makes great demands on our faith as well. If we are to follow in Abraham's footsteps, we too are to live in the land of spiritual promise with nothing but His word to depend on. Bow in prayer before God until He speaks to you too: "I am God Almighty, serve me faithfully and live a blameless life." When Abraham heard this, he fell on his face and God talked with him. There you have the secret birthplace of the power to trust God for everything that he promises.

The Spirit and the Blood

"So we have these three witnesses, the Spirit, the water, and the blood, and all three agree" (1 John 5:8)

Baptism by spirit is an external sign of inner renewing and purifying through regeneration. The Spirit and the blood are spiritual expessions, working together in regeneration: the blood for forgiveness of sins, the Spirit for the renewal of the whole nature.

There is spiritual oneness in the Spirit and the blood. Through the blood we obtain the Spirit, as through the blood we are redeemed and purified to recieve the Spirit. Only through the blood can we pray with confidence to recieve the Spirit.

There may be some sin in your life of which you are hardly conscious but which grieves the Spirit and drives Him away. The only way to avoid this is to believe that "the blood of Jesus his Son, cleanses us from every sin" (1 John 1:7). Your only right to approach God is through the blood of the Lamb. Come with every sin, known or unknown, and plead the blood of Christ as your only claim to forgiveness.

But do not be content with just the forgiveness of sins. Accept the fullness of the Spirit which comes by the blood of Christ. Do not for a moment doubt that you have a right through the blood to the fullness of the Spirit.

As one who has been redeemed by the blood, give yourself to God as His purchased possession, a vessel ready for Him to use, a dwelling place of the Holy Spirit.