Day 141: How to Find Peace in Adversity

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This is the Bible with Nikki and Piper Gumble, they are 140. How to find peace in adversity. For 2,000 years, followers of Jesus PERSON have faced adversity, opposition and persecution. In many places Pippa and I have visited over the years, Christians NORP face physical persecution. In fact, persecution of Christians NORP around the world is probably worse than at any time in history. We do not at this time face physical persecution in the West.However, as we see some of the messages that are emerging from those with their stated intention of eradicating faith, it is clear that the aggression and vehemence of the attacks may increase. Opposition is bound to come. Those who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus PERSON will be persecuted. Opposition comes from those who are far away from us, the Philistines in the Old Testament passage for today,and also sadly, sometimes from those closer to home, the Pharisees in the New Testament WORK_OF_ART passage. How do you find peace in adversity? From Proverbs 12 LAW. The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

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Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment. Deceit is in the hearts of those who plot evil, but those who promote peace have joy. No harm overtakes the righteous, but the wicked have their fill of trouble. The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy. The prudent keep their knowledge to themselves, but a fool's heart blurts out folly. Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in forced labour. Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up. The righteouschoose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray. The lazy do not roast any game,

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but the diligent feed on the riches of the hunt. Promote peace.

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The antidote to opposition and evil is to walk in the opposite spirit, to be those who promote peace. The writer contrast, the deceit in the hearts of those who plot evil, with joy for those who promote peace. How can you do this? First, bring healing. Promote peace with your words.Rash language cuts and maims, but there's healing in the words of the wise. Words are so powerful. They can hurt deeply, but they can also heal. Second, be truthful. Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.Truthful words are not only cathartic, they also have a lasting impact. They endure forever. Third be restrained. Fools blurt out folly, but a prudent person is reluctant to display his knowledge. Knowledge is like underwear it's useful to have but not necessary to show it off. The mere fact that you know the answer does not mean that you should give it. I'm always so impressed by the restraint of hosts and helpers on Alpha who do this so well. Fourth, be kind. Anxiety weighs down the heart. God wants you to enjoy life to help others not to be weighed downby anxiety. A kind word cheers up other people's hearts. By an encouraging word, you can transform a person's day or even their life. Lord, help me to be a person who promotes peace and who speaks words of healing, truth, restraint and kindness. New Testament from John 11 and 12.

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Therefore, many of the Jews NORP who had come to visit Mary and had seen what Jesus PERSON did, believed in him. But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus PERSON had done. Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedron ORG. What are we accomplishing, they asked. Here is this man performing many signs.If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans NORP will come, and take away both our temple and our nation. Then one of them named Caiaphas PERSON, who was high priest that year, spoke up. You know nothing at all.You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish. He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish NORP nation,and not only for that nation, but also for the scattered children of God to bring them together and make them one. So from that day on, they plotted to take his life. Therefore Jesus no longer moved about publicly among the people of Judea GPE. Instead, he withdrew to a region near the wilderness to a village called Ephraim GPE, where hestayed with his disciples. When it was almost time for the Jewish NORP Passover, many went up from the country to Jerusalem for their ceremonial cleansing before the Passover. They kept looking for Jesus PERSON, and as they stood in the temple courts, they asked one another, what do you think? Isn't he coming to the festival at all? But the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that anyone who found out where Jesus PERSON wasshould report it so that they might arrest him. John PERSON Chapter 12

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Six days before the Passover,

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Jesus came to Bethany GPE, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus PERSON had raised from the dead. Here a dinner was given in Jesus PERSON' honour. Martha served while Lazarus PERSON was among those reclining at the table with him. Then Mary took about half a litre of pure nard, an expensive perfume. She poured it on Jesus PERSON' feet and wiped his feet with her hair,and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages. He did not say this because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief.As keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it. Leave her alone, Jesus PERSON replied. It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me. Meanwhile, a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus PERSON was there and came not only because of him, but also to see Lazarus PERSON, whom he had raised from the dead.So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus PERSON as well, for on account of him, many of the Jews were going over to Jesus PERSON and believing in him.

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Live in peace. God is sovereign. He uses even the worst things for good. Supremely, we see this on the cross. The very worst plot ever, torture and murder of the innocent son of God was used by God to bring salvation to the entire human race. This being the case, you can live in peace, trusting that God will use even the worst things that you face in life for good.Jesus PERSON faced evil plots. The motive appears to be envy, a sin the religious are prone to. People were envious of Jesus PERSON because he had so many followers and seemed to be more successful than the religious leaders. Out of envy, the chief priests and the Pharisees called the meeting of the Sanhedron ORG.The Sanhedron was the Supreme Court of the Nation ORG. It comprised 71 members, including the High Priest. The chief priests were the majority, and the Pharisees NORP an influential minority. They asked, what are we accomplishing? It was a very good question. They were envious of the popularity of Jesus PERSON and plotted to take his life.They meant it for evil. God meant it for good. Caiaphas, who was high priest from AD 18 to 36, prophesied, it is better for you that one person die for the people than that the whole nation perish. God is able to speak through an unwitting agent. John PERSON comments, he didn't say this of his own accord,but as chief priests that year, he unwittingly prophesied that Jesus PERSON was about to die sacrificially for the nation, not only for the nation, but so that all God's exile-scattered childrenmight be gathered together into one people. Perhaps because he knew of the plot against him, Jesus PERSON no longer moved about publicly. Instead, he withdrew. He stayed with his disciples. But this was not to be the end of the opposition that Jesus PERSON faced.Most painful of all must have been the opposition from Judas PERSON. When Mary pours the perfume on Jesus PERSON' feet, Judas PERSON objects, Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It's worth a year's wages. This on the face of it is a perfectly good objection. But we read, he did not say this because he cared about poor. It must have been so distressing for Jesus PERSON that hisfriend and disciple Judas PERSON was in fact stealing money from the gifts made to Jesus and his disciples by generous donors. Jesus simply responds to Judas PERSON's objection, you'll always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me. Jesus PERSON was certainly not encouraging complacency about the poor. The fact that we will never obliterate poverty in the worlddoes not mean that we should not try. After all, compassion for the poor was central to Jesus PERSON' ministry. Rather, Jesus was turning the attention of his disciples to the significance of what Mary had done. While all this was going on, plans against Jesus PERSON were being formed. Envy can lead to murder. Not only did they plot to take Jesus' life, they also made plans to kill Lazarus PERSON as

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well, because he was leading many people to faith. Extraordinarily, we see God's hand at work through it all. Despite opposition and wrongdoing, God's ultimate plan was still fulfilled. What Jesus PERSON' opponents meant for evil, God used for good. Lord, thank you that I can live in peace, knowing that in everything you work for the good of those who love you. Old Testament from 1 Samuel 5 to 7.

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After the Philistines NORP had captured the Ark of God,

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they took it from Ebenezer to Ashdod GPE. Then they carried the Ark into Dagon PERSON's temple and set it beside Dagon. When the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, there was Dagon PERSON, fallen on his face, on the ground, before the Ark of the Lord. They took Dagon PERSON and put him back in his place. But the following morning when they rose, there was Dagon PERSON, fallen on his face, on the ground, before the Ark of the Lord.His head and hands had been broken off and were lying on the threshold. Only his body remained. That is why to this day, neither the priests of Dagon PERSON nor any others who enter Dagon's temple at Ashtod step on the threshold. The Lord's hand was heavy on the people of Ashdod GPE and its vicinity. He brought devastation on them and afflicted them with tumours. When the people of Ashdod GPE saw what was happening, they said, The Ark of the God of Israel must not stay here with us,because his hand is heavy on us and on Dagon PERSON our God. So they called together all the rulers of the Philistines NORP and asked them, What shall we do with the Ark of the God of Israel? They answered, Let the Ark of the God of Israel be moved to Guth PERSON. So they moved the Ark of the God of Israel.But after they had moved it, the Lord's hand was against that city, throwing it into a great panic. He afflicted the people of the city, both young and old, with an outbreak of tumours. So they sent the Ark of God to Ekron GPE. As the Ark of God was entering Ekron GPE, the people of Ekron cried out. They have brought the Ark of the God of Israel round to us to kill us and our people. So they called together all the rulers of the Philistines NORP and said, Send the Ark of the God of Israel away.Let it go back to its own place, or it will kill us and our people. For death had filled the city with panic. God's hand was very heavy on it. Those who did not die were afflicted with tumours, and the outcry of the city went up to heaven.

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1 Samuel, Chapter 6 When the Ark of the Lord had been in Philistine territory for seven months,

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the Philistines NORP called for the priests and the diviners,

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and said, what shall we do with the Ark of the Lord?

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Tell us how we should send it back to its place. They answered, If you return the Ark of the God of Israel, do not send it back to him without a gift. By all means send a guilt offering to him. Then you will be healed, and you will know why his hand has not been lifted from you. The Philistines NORP asked,what guilt offering should we send to him? They replied, five gold tumours and five gold rats, according to the number of the Philistine NORP rulers, because the same plague has struck both you and your rulers. Make models of the tumours and of the rats that are destroying the country, and give glory to Israel GPE's God. Perhaps he will lift his hand from you and your gods and your land. Why do you harden your hearts, as the Egyptians and Pharaoh PERSON did? When Israel's God dealt harshly with them, did they not send the Israelites NORP out so that they could go on their way?Now then, get a new cart ready, with two cows that have carved and have never been yoked. Hitch the cows to the cart, but take their calves away and pen them up. Take the Ark of the Lord and put it on the cart, and in a chest beside it put the gold objects you are sending back to him as a guilt offering. Send it on its way, but keep watching it. If it goes up to its own territory towards Beth Shemesh GPE,then the Lord has brought this great disaster on us. But if it does not, then we shall know that it was not his hand that struck us, but that it happened to us by chance. So they did this. They took two such cows and hitched them to the cart and penned up their calves. They placed the Ark of the Lord on the cart,and along with it the chest containing the gold rats and the models of the tumours. Then the cows went straight up towards Bethsheimesh GPE, keeping on the road and lowing all the way. They did not turn to the right or to the left. The rulers of the Philistines followed them as far as the border of Beth Shemesh GPE. Now the people of Beth Shemesh were harvesting their wheat in the valley, and when they looked up and saw the ark, they rejoiced at the sight. The ark came to the field of Joshua PERSON of Beth Shemesh, and there it stopped beside a large rock. The people chopped up the wood of the cart and sacrificed the cows as a burnt offering to the Lord. The Levites NORP took down the ark of the Lord, together with the took down the Ark of the Lord,together with the chest containing the gold objects, and placed them on the large rock. On that day, the people of Beth Shemesh GPE offered burnt offerings and made sacrifices to the Lord. The five rulers of the Philistines saw all this, and then returned that same day to Ekron GPE. These are the gold tumours the Philistine NORP sent as a guilt offering to the Lord. One each for Ashdod, Gaza, Ashcolon, Gath, and Ekron GPE. And the number of the gold rats was according to the number of Philistine NORP towns belongingto the five rulers, the fortified towns with their country villages. The large rock on which the Levite NORP set the fortified towns with their country villages. The large rock on which the Levite set the Ark of the Lord is a witness to this day in the field of Joshua PERSON of Beth Shemesh. But God struck down some of the inhabitants of Beth Shemesh, putting 70 of them to death because they looked into the Ark of the Lord. The people mourned because of the heavy blow the Lord had dealtthem, and the people of Beth Shemesh GPE asked, Who can stand in the presence of the Lord, this holy God? To whom will the ark go up from here? Then they sent messengers to the people of Kiryeth Giarim, saying, the Philistines NORP have returned the Ark of the Lord. Come down and take it up to your town.

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1 Samuel chapter 7.

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So the men of Kiryeth Giarim GPE came and took up the Ark of the Lord. They brought it to Abinadab's house on the hill, and consecrated Elie Azar PERSON his son to guard the Ark of the Lord. The Ark remained at Kiriath-Jarim a long time, 20 years in all. Then all the people of Israel GPE turned back to the Lord. So Samuel said to all the Israelites NORP, If you are returning to the Lord with all your hearts,then rid yourselves of the foreign gods and the Asturaths NORP, and commit yourselves to the Lord and all your hearts, then rid yourselves of the foreign gods and the Asthmaiths NORP and commit yourselves to the Lord and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines. So the Israelites NORP put away their bales and Ashteroths and serve the Lord only. Then Samuel said, Assemble all Israel at MISPA FAC, and I will intercede with the Lord for you. When they had assembled at MISPA FAC,they drew water and poured it out before the Lord. On that day they fasted, and there they confessed, we have sinned against the Lord. Now Samuel was serving as leader of Israel at MISPA FAC. When the Philistines heard that Israel had assembled at Mizpah GPE, the rulers of the Philistines NORP came up to attack them.When the Israelites heard of it, they were afraid because of the Philistines NORP. They said to Samuel PERSON, do not stop crying out to the Lord our God for us, that he may rescue us from the hand of the Philistines NORP. Then Samuel PERSON took a suckling lamb and sacrificed it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord. He cried out to the Lord on Israel's behalf, and the Lord answered him. While Samuel PERSON was sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to engage Israel in battle. But that day, the Lord thundered with loud thunder against the Philistinesand threw them into such a panic that they were routed before the Israelites NORP. The men of Israel rushed out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines NORP, slaughtering them along the way to a point below Beth Carr GPE. Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, thus far the Lord has helped us. So the Philistines NORP was subdued, and they stopped invading Israel's territory. Throughout Samuel PERSON's lifetime, the hand of the Lordwas against the Philistines NORP. The towns from Ekron to Gath that the Philistines had captured from Israel GPE were restored to Israel, and Israel delivered the neighboring territory from the hands of the Philistines NORP, and there was peace between Israel and the Amarites NORP. Samuel continued as Israel's leader all the days of his life. From year to year, he went on a circuit from Bethal to Gilgall to Mizpa GPE, judging Israel GPE in all those places.But he always went back to Rama, where his home was, and there he also held court for Israel GPE, and he built an altar there to the Lord. Pray for peace.

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God never forgets a single prayer you pray, even though you may forget. Things may have happened to you today as a result of prayers that you prayed years ago and you've forgotten all about them, but God is still working on them in his timing.Keep stacking up the prayers. Persevering prayer prevails. Under the old covenant, the Ark of God was the place where God was supremely present. It was the location of God's glory. Yesterday, we read that the glory had departed from Israel GPE, for the Ark of God has been captured. You may sometimes have to wait a long time for the Lord to act and answer your prayers. It was a long time, 20 years in all.All the people of Israel GPE mourned and sought after the Lord. I feel we prayed for a long time if we prayed for a week, but they'd prayed for 20 years for their country before God PERSON acted. The path to deliverance often begins when we return to the Lord with all our heart. Samuel PERSON said, if you're truly serious about coming back to God, clean house, get rid of the foreign gods and fertility goddesses. Ground yourselves firmly in God, worship him and him alone, and he'll save you fromPhilistine NORP oppression. They did it. They got rid of the gods and goddesses, the images of Bail and Ashtra PERSON, and gave their exclusive attention and service to God. The first thing you need to do in your life when you're seeking God's presence and help is remove anything that is drawing your attention and focus away from God.After the return to the Lord, there it was a need for a period of confession and repentance, which was shown by their fasting. On that day they fasted, and there they confessed, we have sinned against the Lord.Finally, it was Samuel PERSON's intercession and persistence in prayer for 20 years that brought the people of God victory. Samuel PERSON said, I will intercede with the Lord for you. They said, pray with all your might,and don't let up. Pray to God our God, that he'll save us from the boot of the Philistines NORP. Samuel cried out to the Lord on Israel GPE's behalf, and the Lord answered him. They recognized it was an amazing answer to prayer.Thus far as the Lord helped us, they were delivered from the power of the Philistines NORP and there was peace in the land. Lord, I commit myself to you again to serve you only. Forgive my sins and the sins of your people. I cry out to you for deliverance and peace. May we see many people in this land put their faith in Jesus, finding peace in adversity. Pippa adds, one Samuel chapter 5, verse 4 says,

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but the following morning when they rose, there was Dagon PERSON the God they'd been worshipping, fallen on his face, on the ground, before the Ark of the Lord. His head and hands had been broken off and were lying on the threshold. Only his body remained.When the presence of the Lord is in a place, the power of God is released, and false idols lie broken on the ground.