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Devotions from Gospel Chapel Ministries HOME SERMONS SERMON NOTES
PERFECT PEACE--FREEDOM FROM ANXIETY
By whom are the unborn children being slain? It is done by the wish of their own mothers. Isn’t that the height of confusion? Is it possible that a mother will not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yes. When Israel was in Egypt, the king of Egypt commanded that their children should be slain, but the state of confusion the Lord has sent for those who love not the truth makes it possible for a mother to murder her own child in her own womb.Where does all this confusion come from? 2TH 2:3-4 says, "Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition." Who is the man of sin? It is the ugly monster, "I," who rules in the heart of man; it is the son of perdition. When you or I no longer love the truth, we are able to turn our back upon the living God.
God does not send the judgment of confusion until there is first this falling away from the love of the truth. No person who walks according to the will of God will live in the confusion which is the curse of those who love not the truth. Who is this son of perdition? In 2TH 2:4 we read, "Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God."
It is the ugly monster, "I;" it is the humanistic teaching of today that proclaims we have the right to choose and do what we decide is right, and we can be exalted. Where did this idea begin? It began in the Garden of Eden when Satan tempted Eve so she would be as God, knowing good and evil. In other words, she could chose what is right and what is wrong. When that takes place, when that begins to be the rule of our life, we live in confusion.
The apostle Paul said this son of perdition, i.e., "the mystery of iniquity doth already work," verse 7, in the church in his day. It is not something that will happen at a certain time in the future when a certain person in a certain time will sit in a certain chair. It is the ugly monster of self that wants to exalt himself above God to decide for himself what is right and what is wrong.
This falling away begins when our love of the truth begins to wax cold by compromising God’s Word. Our nation was founded upon Godly principles; our leaders and our courts upheld the Word of God. Our nation was truly "One nation under God." As the result, it became the greatest nation on earth. The Word of God was taught in the schools, and it was the basis of Supreme Court decisions. Laws were made according to the Word of God, and if they failed this test, our courts struck them down. Our nation became great. Now this nation has turned; it has put away the Word of God. What happened? God has sent His wrath from heaven and has allowed confusion to rule in this nation.
Through compromise, our world has been led into captivity to serve the king of confusion, i.e., that "...MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH," REV 17:5. MYSTERY BABYLON rules the world today. THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS is the abomination of the earth.
As a result of compromising the Word of God, "the mystery of iniquity" now works confusion in the world. Let’s ponder what Jesus taught us. Jesus spoke of the anxiety that shall dominate the world in this time of confusion in LUK 21:25-26. "And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; [Do you know what the word ‘perplexity,’ means? It is taken from the Greek word, ‘Aporia,’ which means ‘to have no way out, to be at a loss mentally, perplexed.’ It is to come to a point of despair.] the sea and the waves roaring; Men’s hearts failing them for fear [Anxiety is fear for the future.], and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken."
Those who profess to be Christians see what is coming upon the face of the earth and are perplexed. Those who are truly Christian are not living in perplexity and anxiety. The professed Christians are the MYSTERY BABYLON. They are the ones who will not allow the truth to prevail. They teach peace, peace, peace through the blood of the cross while they still love the wages of sin. Without any repentance, their hearts will fail them for fear of the things taking place on the earth.
The Lord Jesus tells us this will come in the last days. Anxiety, perplexity, and confusion will reach a climax. What we see in the world today is a result of unbelief and compromising the Word of God. It is the result of spiritual adultery, serving the god of perdition, i.e., self.
When our courts struck down the Word of God as the authority of this nation, when our lawmakers no longer had to take an oath stating they believed in the Lord Jesus Christ before they could hold public office, and when humanism started being taught as the religion of our nation in the schools, we began to see the perplexities mounting up. We see confusion reigning as the result of unbelief. Unbelief is standing in open contempt of the courts of heaven. It is the result of spiritual adultery and serving the god of perdition, the god of self.
True peace, true freedom from anxiety, can only be found in freedom from self. As long as people serve the ugly monster of self, they will be serving the king of confusion. There is only one place a person can come to true freedom from anxiety. True peace can only be found when we are delivered from "self," and come to faith in God as the God of our life.
We read of the one place we can find peace in ISA 26:3-4, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the LORD forever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength." What does it mean to be kept in perfect peace? It does not mean the circumstances change. We will continue to live in the same confusing world, but it is to have perfect peace within this state of confusion. We are able to accept it all as from the hand of the Lord, knowing that we can trust in Him. He will supply our every need, and the gates of hell cannot prevail against us. That produces perfect peace because our minds are stayed upon Him, and we trust in Him. Amen.
On the good and faithful God has set His love;
When they call He sends them blessings from above.
Stand in awe, and sin not. Bid your heart be still;
Thro’ the silent watches think upon His will.Lay upon God’s altar good and loving deeds,
And in all things trust Him to supply your needs.
Anxious and despairing, many walk in the night;
But to those that fear Him God will send His light.In God’s love abiding, I have joy and peace
More than all the wicked, tho’ their wealth increase.
In His care confiding, I will sweetly sleep,
For the Lord, my Saviour, will in safety keep.
Our sermons and devotions are a ministry of Gospel Chapel located in Conrad, Montana. We also have a daily devotion and sermon notes on-line. We pray this devotion has been a blessing to those who read it. Thank you.