Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

August 22
Wednesday


INNER
PEACE

READ:
Isaiah 53:7-9
____________________________

Be courteous; not
returning evil for evil
or reviling for reviling,
but on the contrary
blessing.
__1 Peter 3:8-9
____________________________

How do we react to hostile criticism? If it causes us to strike back angrily at our critics, we need to learn from colonial preacher Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758).

Regarded by scholars as an insightful philosopher, Edwards was vindictively attacked by the ruling body of his church in Northampton, Massachusettes. They felt he was wrong to teach that a person needed to be born again before taking part in the Lord's Supper.

Although he was dismissed from his church, Edwards still maintained a loving and forgiving attitude. One supportive memeber wrote of him, "I never saw the least symptoms of displeasure in his countenance....but he appeared like a man of God, whose happiness was out of the reach of his enemies."

Edwards was simply coyping the example of the Lord Jesus. When the Savior was insulted, He did not repay with an insult. When He was falsely denounced, He remained silent, "as a sheep before its shearers is silent" (Isa. 53:7).

Do you have an inner peace even when criticized? As you ask the Holy Spirit for His help, you can, as Edwards did, respond in a Christlike way to false accusations or gossip.
__Vernon Grounds
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~FOR FURTHER STUDY~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~How do we know when to keep silent and when to defend~~~~~
~~~~~~~~our beliefs? Read Developing The Art Of Gracious~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~Disagreement at discoveryseries #q0906~~~~~~~
____________________________________________________________

The worst criticism of you
can bring out the best in you.

******************Today's Bible Reading __ Isaiah 53:7-9**********

7 He was oppressed and
He was afflicted, yet He
opened not His mouth; He
was led as a lamb to the
slaughter, and as a sheep
before its shearers is silent,
so He opened not His
mouth.

8 He was taken from
prison and from judgment,
and who will declare
His generation? for He
was cut off from the
land of the living; for the
transgressions of My people
He was stricken.

9 And they made His
grave with the wicked__but
with the rich at His death,
because He had done no
violence, nor was any
deceit in His mouth.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

There are four Servant Songs in Isaiah____42:1-7; 49:1-7; 50:4-9; and
52:13-53:12. The last is the clearest description of the sufferings
of Christ in the Old Testament. Isaiah 53 is the peak of the Old
Testament as it takes us to the cross of Jesus. Isaiah 53 describes
the rejection of Christ (vv.1-3). His vicarious suffering (vv.4-6), His
sacrificial death and burial (vv.7-9), and His reconciling atonement
and resurrection (vv.10-12). that these verses apply to Jesus Christ
is affirmed by the New Testament (Matt. 8:17; Mark 15:28; Luke
22:37; John 12:38; Acts 8:32-35; Rom. 10:16; 1 Peter 2:22). Isaiah
53 is quoted or referred to some 85 times in the New Testament.
__SKT

[Mackenaw]

I love this, and it is one Ive struggled with and still tip-toe about. The world teaches differently, way, way differently. It teaches if you are unfairly treated, ridiculed, mistreated that we are justified in getting even. I tell you, it is nearly impossible to take Jesus' stance -- but wait, I said nearly impossible. Through the power of The Holy Spirit, we can. Wooooohoooooooo! But we have to desire it first, then seek Him and condition our mind and body to default to our spirit which is alive with The Holy Spirit and His power. Remember it is His power working through us.


Wooooooohooooooo, Thank You Holy Spirit. Jesus empowered us!!!! Thank You Lord.

Awwwwww Cimi, thank you again for being a faithful servant in diligently finding and re-typing these "Our Daily Bread" messages here for our convenience and pleasure.

Love, hugs and His blessings to you,
Sister Mack

[dubya]

Amen sisters,

That is when you know for sure you have the Love of God, and the Peace that surpasses all understanding down in your soul. When attacked you can walk away silently.

God bless