HEART TALK - PEACE

PEACE

WHAT IS IT? HOW DO WE FIND IT?

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth,give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

(John 14:27 KJV)

“Great peace have they which love thy law, and nothing shall offend them.”

(Psalm 119:165 KJV)

Years ago, when speaking in a Wednesday evening service on this subject, the Holy Spirit gave me the best definition of peace that I have ever come across. PEACE IS THE ABSENCE OF STRIFE. Inner turmoil and fretting over the things that transpire in one’s life is the exact opposite of what God has promised – and what God has provided – for those who put their full and unwavering trust in God. The battle lines have been drawn long ago, and have been defined as conflict between the flesh and the Spirit. Attempting to deal with life’s challenges apart from absolute dependence upon the Spirit and the promises of God’s Word is futile. PEACE ONLY COMES FROM A FAITH IN GOD AND HIS PROMISES THAT CANNOT BE SHAKEN…OR FRUSTRATED…BY DEPENDENCE UPON HUMAN REASONING. Dependence upon what most people have to offer when one is called to walk through one of life’s deep and dark valleys, for example “the valley of the shadow of death” (Psalm 23) will, more often than not, create inner strife, a troubled and worried, emotional state that is not what God provides for those who seek for it. The Bible tells us to “…seek peace, and pursue it” (Psalm 34:14; 1 Peter 3:18). It is natural, due to the fact that we are human, to have the human element, our emotions, rise up immediately to create fear, confusion, and the temptation to not run quickly to the Lord for His help, for His peace, peace that far surpasses human reasoning at its best.

On four separate occasions the Bible tells us that “the just shall live by faith” (Habakkuk 2:4; Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:38). We are not to walk in fear. Fear paralyzes! Fear breeds mistrust and doubt. It is impossible to walk in faith and in fear at the same time. We live by faith, we die by fear. Some years ago, I watched a newscast where a two-headed snake (at the St. Louis zoo, as I recall) was born. The gentleman said that the snake would not live very long because of the confusion caused by two brains battling with each other. In other words, confusion would kill the snake. God’s Word talks about confusion in 1 Corinthians 14:33. This is a verse that has held me steady many times, one that has helped me to quickly discern if a feeling, or a situation, was ordained of the Lord, or if it was a satanic work of the flesh to bring trouble and strife into my life. Paul wrote: “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace”. I choose to put my full confidence in what is written in the Word of God…always, regardless of how painful, or how potentially devastating a situation may appear to be from the human, emotional, perspective.

Now, you may be wondering why I am addressing this issue. You are right, this preacher has been called upon to face the biggest challenge of my almost six decades in the work of the Lord. My wife of 58 years, 7 months, and 7 days passed from this life on May 31^st. She died in my arms after having told me the night before to “Please let me go…I will be with my Lord.” Everything that I have ever believed, preached and/or taught was called into question at that time. I was faced – in one of my man to Man talk with the Lord – as to how I would react to the fact that my prayers and those of many hundreds of people had seemingly not been answered. We believed that GOD would work a miracle and completely heal her from the cancer that had come back with a vengeance. In one day short of two months she was gone. Would I turn against God? Would I lose my faith? Would I question the validity of God’s Word? Would I stop praying for the sick and for miracles after having seen God work hundreds of them? I settled that matter in my car, on my way to church. His peace filled my inner being as I promised the Lord that I would not blame Him, that I would not lose my faith in His power to heal the sick and work miracles. I would not regress, but I would rather move forward in faith and in ministry. I would continue to pray for the sick and believe God for miracles. His peace filled my being, totally. Consequently, I do not “sorrow as others which have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13 KJV). Lucille asked me to let her go so that she could be with her Lord. I honored her request. And, five days after she was laid to rest I was in the pulpit preaching God’s Word.

How could I do that? Humanly, I should be wallowing in sorrow and grief. This is not what I am taught in God’s Word and this is not what my beloved life partner would want. I will honor my God, and I will honor my wife, by allowing THE PRINCE OF PEACE to give His peace. His peace doesn’t come as humans might expect, or even attempt to give it. It comes on the wings of obedience to His Word and continuous reliance upon Him for inner strength, the strength to stay in the fight, to stay in the race, to finish the course with valor.

This topic is endless. Let me share something that one of Lucille’s nieces (Faith) in Eustis, Nebraska just e-mailed to me. It really does put this preacher’s philosophy in perspective. It is titled TODAY.

TODAY, I will delete from my journal two days: yesterday and tomorrow.

Yesterday was to learn from and tomorrow…well that will be the consequence

of what I can do today.

TODAY, I will face life with the sure knowledge that this day will never return.

TODAY, is the last opportunity I have to live intensely, as no one can

assure me that I will see tomorrow’s sunrise.

TODAY, I will be brave enough not to let any opportunity pass me by,

my only alternative is to succeed.

TODAY, I will invest my most valuable resource: my time in the most

transcendental work: my life.

TODAY, I will spend each minute passionately, to make a different and

unique day in my life.

TODAY, I will defy every obstacle that appears on my way,

trusting I will succeed.

TODAY, I will resist pessimism, and will conquer the world with a smile

and a positive attitude of always expecting the best.

TODAY, I will make of every ordinary task a sublime expression.

TODAY, I will have my feet on the ground understanding reality and the stars’ gaze, and thus will invent my future.

TODAY, I will take the time to be happy and will leave my footprints

and my presence in the hearts of others, not just in the sands of time.

TODAY, I invite you to begin a new season where we can dream

that everything we undertake is possible and we fulfill that dream, with

joy and dignity.

TODAY, why not perform a random act of kindness?

And, if there be those you love, tell them, you don’t know when it

might be your last opportunity.

Tell them, as I have just done…TODAY.

I leave you to prayerfully consider your own philosophy toward life…and death. We are all born to live, to die, to live. I have chosen to follow the example of David following the death of the child born to Bathsheba following his sin (as Nathan the prophet described it). David besought God to spare the child’s life. He didn’t! After seven days the child died. David fasted and lay in the dirt. He refused to eat. He believed that God would be gracious and change His mind. He didn’t! David’s faith could have been totally destroyed. Thankfully, he didn’t let that happen. I will not let that happen to me. When the baby died, David “arose from the earth, and washed and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and CAME INTO THE HOUSE OF THE LORD, and WORSHIPED, then he came to his own house, and when he required (asked) they set bread (food) before him and he did eat” (2 Samuel 12:20). Those of his household, including his servants, could not understand how David could conduct himself in this manner. After all, Jewish custom called for a lot of mourning, a lot of tears, a lot of wailing (even with hired professional mourners). None of this happened. They could not understand. David explained it clearly and concisely. He said, “While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, Who can tell whether God will be gracious to me, that the child may live. BUT NOW he is dead, wherefore should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he cannot return to me” (vv. 22, 23).

I trust that my experience with death will somehow help others to know how to deal with it when the death angel comes calling. To everything there is a time, a season, and a reason. “It is appointed unto men once to die.” This is a fact of life. How we die is much more important than when we die. How we handle death is an issue that each of us, if we haven’t before, will be called upon to deal with. Will we deal with it, leaning hard on the Lord and drawing strength from Him, bathed in THE PEACE OF GOD WHICH PASSETH – IS BEYOND HUMAN COMPREHENSION. Explain it? Impossible! Possible? Absolutely!

Should you desire to communicate directly with this preacher, please do so. Below are ways that I can be reached. And, thanks for listening.

HOW TO CONTACT DR. JERRY JONES

Post Office Box 6986 – Burbank, California 91510-6986 U.S.A.

E-mail: his2u@charter.net

Telephone: 1-818-843-2112

Web Address: http//www.parsontopersonministries.blogspot.com

WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN THE BABY DIES?

OPENING TEXTURAL READING

“To every thing there is a SEASON, and a TIME, to every PURPOSE under the heaven.
A time to be born, and a time to die, a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted.
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up.
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance.
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to get and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

INTRODUCTION
There are portions of God’s Word that, although I have read them many times, and have studied them patiently, I find them difficult to wrap my mind around. I accept them because they are the inspired WORD OF GOD. I do not have to understand all of the Holy Scriptures, but for me it is required that I accept them as the Word of God and to build my faith in God, both for now and the future on them.
The sayings of Solomon could hardly be construed as anything other than having come out of his personal experience. He is saying here that THINGS HAPPEN. We can count on them happening. He has contrasted virtually every facet of life, and we should not attempt to challenge him. We have all been there. To everything there is a SEASON…A TIME…AND A PURPOSE. Please don’t tell me that you understand this, or can wrap your mind around it, especially the “purpose” part of it. Everything is but for a season and a time. We may be able to at least partially understand this, but THE PURPOSE is more difficult to grasp. Only by faith is anyone able to do so.
He…the preacher…sums his twelve chapters of ramblings – in Chapter 12 – by saying, “Then shall the dust return to the earth, as it was: and the spirit shall return to God, who gave it” (12:7). He then gives the best advice that could possibly be given after considering all that he has said: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” (12:13, 14)

NOW, TO ANSWER MY QUESTION, “WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN THE BABY DIES?”
THE BIBLICAL SETTING IS FOUND IN 2 SAMUEL, CHAPTER 12

The chapter tells the story of David’s horrible mistakes with Bathsheba, having had her husband killed in battle so that he could take Bathsheba to wife. Out of that mess, a son is born, and God speaks to the prophet, Nathan, who confronts David with what he had done and how God planned to handle the matter. When confronted, David was immediately repentant.

“And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.
Howbeit, because by this deed thou has given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.” (2 Samuel 12:13, 14)

The emphasis for this message is not going to be placed upon the terrible sin that David committed…a series of sins, actually…but upon how David responded.

“David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in and lay all night upon the earth.
And the elders of his house arose, and went to him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them.
And it came to pass on the seventh day that THE CHILD DIED. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead: for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spake unto him, and he would not hearken unto our voice; how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the child is dead?
But when David saw that his servants whispered, David perceived that the child was dead: therefore David said unto his servants, IS THE CHILD DEAD? and they said, HE IS DEAD,” (2 Samuel 12:16-19)

David’s reaction is swift and decisive. Notice:

1. He immediately besought God for the child…showing that he, for his own reasons, very much wanted this child in his life. He truly loved the child and wanted the best for the child.
2. He fasted and lay all night upon the earth – not your normal behavior
for someone who had everything and the finest of things.
3. He could not be persuaded by his elders to stop fasting and get up
off of the ground.
4. He would not eat bread with them.

All of this clearly shows how traumatized David was by all of this. It shows the ultimate in grieving.
NATHAN HAD ALREADY TOLD DAVID THAT THE CHILD WOULD NOT LIVE, YET DAVID DID WHAT ANY OF US WOULD DO…HE WENT TO GOD TO SEE IF GOD WOULD CHANGE HIS MIND AND STAY THE DEATH SENTENCE FOR THE CHILD. AFTER ALL, THE CHILD WAS NOT THE ONE WHO HAD SINNED. DESPERATE SITUATIONS DEMAND DESPERATE ACTIONS…DESPERATE FAITH! As we are about to see…his praying was to no avail. Was it wrong for David to pray? Absolutely not! God is a God of mercy. David knew this. He felt that God just might have a change of heart and let him keep the child. He did the right thing by praying, but God chose to stay with His decision and THE CHILD DIED. Now…

WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN THE BABY DIES?

What do you do when anyone close to you dies? I honestly believe that David’s response is the right response for those of us who have, are, or will have to face the loss of a loved one. And, it doesn’t have to be because of some horrible sin, or the judgment of God. THINGS HAPPEN! PEOPLE DIE! “It is appointed unto men once to die” (Hebrews 9:27). Everyone will eventually die either a physical death or go through the change that must take place at the time of the resurrection of the dead. We WILL die! How should we handle it? A look at how David handled it should be very helpful.

“Then David AROSE from the earth, and WASHED, and ANOINTED himself, and CHANGED HIS APPAREL, and CAME INTO THE HOUSE OF THE LORD, and WORSHIPED: then HE CAME TO HIS OWN HOUSE; and when he required, they set bread before him, AND HE DID EAT.” (2 Samuel 12:20)

To many people, this seems almost unconscionable, not the proper course of action to take on the heels (only seven days) after the loss of someone as close as an infant son. The servants of his house did not understand David’s actions. Notice:

“Then said his servants unto him, What thing is that that thou has done? Thou didst fast and weep for the child while it was alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread.” (2 Samuel 12:21)

Clearly his servants did not understand David’s actions. He was violating all of the grieving and mourning traditions of their culture. The custom was to grieve, to weep, to even hire mourners to make loud wailings for the dead for an extended period of time. David clearly violated tradition. His response, I believe, speaks for all who understand the sovereignty of God’s actions and the hope of the future for those who are left behind, probably not to grieve and weep without end. Notice:

“And he said WHILE THE CHILD WAS YET ALIVE, I FASTED AND WEPT; for I said, WHO CAN TELL WHETHER GOD WILL BE GRACIOUS TO ME, THAT THE CHILD MAY LIVE?
But now that HE IS DEAD, wherefore should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I SHALL GO TO HIM, BUT HE SHALL NOT RETURN TO ME.”
(2 Samuel 12:22, 23)

For myself having lost my wife of 58 years, 7 months and 7 days on May 31st, these words hold unbelievable meaning, and the advice that I am asking God to help me follow. Oh, that I might have the same confidence in God and the natural fortitude to do as David did. THE WILL OF GOD HAD BEEN DONE, AND AS PAINFUL AS IT WAS, DAVID ACCEPTED IT AND MOVED ON WITH HIS LIFE.

“And David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her, and she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon: AND THE LORD LOVED HIM.” (2 Samuel 12:24)

CONCLUSION

Indeed, God had put away David’s sin (v. 13). David accepted the sovereign will of God and responded in what I believe was the right way. God had chosen NOT to answer David’s prayer. David, being the man after God’s own heart that the writer of the Book of Acts wrote about, did all the right things, including going (first) to the house of the Lord to worship God. HE GOT UP! HE CLEANED UP! HE SPRUCED UP! HE WENT TO DINNER! And, God allowed him and Bathsheba to have another chance at bearing a son. His name would be Solomon, the son that would rule in his father’s stead when David’s life came to an end. In this action we see the gracious God to whom David prayed allowing David’s legacy to continue. GOD IS GRACIOUS and HE IS A GOD OF MERCY!
So what do you do when the baby dies…when someone close to you dies…DO WHAT DAVID DID. His actions are a wonderful pattern for us all to follow.




Another Sermon by
Dr. Jerry A. Jones
Post Office Box 6986
Burbank, California 91510-6986
e-mail: his2u@charter.net

A Message from the Parson!

Hello Everyone!

God bless you one and all! This announcement is not an easy one to make, but it has happened and there is nothing any of us can do to bring my "First Lady" back. You deserve to know and this is my reason for sending this announcement. As you contemplate all of this, listen to that inner voice of God. Pray! Come if you can! Do whatever you are divinely led to do. Believe me, I need everyone I know as I walk through this greatest loss of my lifetime. -- Jerry Jones