MEM

Ephesians 6:14 Stand firm therefore, 15 … with the preparation of the gospel of peace; (NAS unless indicated; Highlighting by MEM)

And your feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace. The Gospel is so called, because it makes men to be of peaceable tempers and behavior, and gives peace to distressed minds: it directs the way to eternal peace, and publishes peace made by the blood of Christ… ετοιμασια signifies a "base", or foundation; …a firm and solid knowledge of the Gospel… which yields a sure foundation for the Christian soldier to set his foot upon, and stand fast on…

ISBE: (edited)

gos'-pel (to euaggelion): The word gospel is derived from the Anglo-Saxon word which meant "the story concerning God." … the Greek word euaggelion, means "good news." It proclaims tidings of deliverance. - It means a gift from God. It is the proclamation of the forgiveness of sins and son ship with God restored through Christ. It means remission of sins and reconciliation with God. David H. Bauslin

Isa 52:7 How lovely on the mountains Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who announces peace And brings good news of happiness, Who announces salvation, And says to Zion, "Your God reigns!"

(5) Peace should be a prominent feature of the Messianic times (Isa 2:4; Isa 9:6, "Prince of Peace"; Isa 11:6; Ezek 34:25; Mic 4:2-4; Zech 9:10).

(1) The gospel in Christ is a message of peace from God to men (Luke 2:14; Acts 10:36, "preaching .... peace by Jesus Christ"). It is "peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ," in Ro 5:1; an essential element in the spiritual kingdom of God (Ro 14:17).

RECONCILIATION Holman Bible Dictionary (edited for length)

Old Testament The idea of reconciliation between two people and between Israel and God was dominant in the Old Testament though there was no specific term to express it. The Hebrews viewed sin, whether intentional or unintentional, as a breach of the covenant between God and Israel. Sin brought about an estrangement between God and the nation or God and the individual. Provisions were made for Israel and the individual to be restored in God’s favor. The Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) was designated as the day when unintentional sins of the people could be forgiven (Lev. 16:1-31; 23:26-32).

New Testament the concept of reconciliation is prevalent throughout the New Testament…

Gen 1:26 Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." 27 And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

Gen 2:17 but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you shall surely die."

Gen 3:22 Then the LORD God said, "… now, lest he stretch out his hand, and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever" -- 23 therefore the LORD God sent him out from the garden of Eden, to cultivate the ground from which he was taken. 24 So He drove the man out; and at the east of the garden of Eden He stationed the cherubim, and the flaming sword which turned every direction, to guard the way to the tree of life.

Rom 7:5 For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions… were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death.

Gen 3:15 (To the Serpent) And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel."

Romans 10:15 …Just as it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring glad tidings of good things!"

Spiritual Peace (From the Holman Bible Dictionary - edited for length)

God is "the God of peace" (Romans 15:33; Philippians 4:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 13:20). The Gospel is "the good news of peace" (Ephesians 6:15; Acts 10:36) because it announces the reconciliation of believers to God and to one another (Ephesians 2:12-18).

God has made this peace a reality in Jesus Christ, who is "our peace." We are justified through Him (Romans 5:1), reconciled through the blood of His cross (Colossians 1:20), and made one in Him (Ephesians 2:14). In Him we discover that ultimate peace which only God can give (John 14:27). This peace is experienced as an inner spiritual peace by the individual believer (Philippians 4:7; Colossians 3:15; Romans 15:13). It is associated with receptiveness to God's salvation (Matthew 10:13 ), freedom from distress and fear (John 14:27; John 16:33), security (1 Thessalonians 5:9-10 ), mercy (Galatians 6:16; 1 Timothy 1:2 ), joy (Romans 14:17; Romans 15:13), grace (Philippians 1:2; Revelation 1:4), love (2 Corinthians 13:11; Jude 1:2), life (Romans 8:6), and righteousness (Romans 14:17; Hebrews 12:11; James 3:18).

Such peace is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22) that forms part of the "whole armor of God" (Ephesians 6:11, Ephesians 6:11, 6:13), enabling the Christian to withstand the attacks of the forces of evil. In both the Old and the New Testament, spiritual peace is realized in being rightly related to God and rightly related to one another. Hulitt Gloer

RECONCILIATION - Bringing together of two parties that are estranged or in dispute. Jesus Christ is the one who brings together God and man, with salvation as the result of the union. Reconciliation basically means "change" or "exchange." The idea is of a change of relationship, an exchange of antagonism for goodwill, enmity for friendship. Attitudes are transformed and hostility ceases.

2 Corinthians 5:18-21 Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ, and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were entreating through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Matt 5:9 "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

Col 1:13 For He delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. 15 And He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities -- all things have been created by Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.

Col 1:18 He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the first-born from the dead; so that He Himself might come to have first place in everything. 19 For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fulness to dwell in Him, 20 and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.

John 14:26 "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.

John 16:33 "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world."

Phil 4:6 NLT Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Phil 4:8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, let me say one more thing as I close this letter. Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 9 Keep putting into practice all you learned from me and heard from me and saw me doing, and the God of peace will be with you.

Isa 9:6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

Mark 9:50 "… be at peace with one another."

"Set your heart to listen and expect to receive the inner witness and peace of the Spirit who will lead you into truth.

1Cor 1:3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

2Pet 1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,

"Do you offer casual greetings to your friends and make small talk? Yeshua imparted peace to His disciples. This was not a perfunctory greeting or vague expression of good wishes. It was a deliberate action with real consequences. Do you understand the power of what you say? For your words have meaning and will have an effect whether you speak them with thought and purpose or not. Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and by your words you shall be established, or shall fall. Therefore let your words be as well driven nails, building the Kingdom of God by speaking blessing to others, for you too are able to impart peace."

Numbers 6:22 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 23 "Speak to Aaron and to his sons, saying, 'Thus you shall bless the sons of Israel. You shall say to them:

24 YHVH bless you, and keep you;

25 YHVH make His face shine on you, And be gracious to you;

26 YHVH lift up His countenance on you, And give you peace.'

27 "So they shall invoke My name on the sons of Israel, and I then will bless them."

Ps 29:11 The LORD (YHVH) will give strength to His people; The LORD will bless His people with peace.

Romans 15:33 Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

(* editing is done to shorten length - you are encouraged to read the full commentary where applicable)

Proverbs 2:1 My son, if you will receive my sayings, And treasure my commandments within you, 2 Make your ear attentive to wisdom, Incline your heart to understanding; 3 For if you cry for discernment, Lift your voice for understanding; 4 If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures; 5 Then you will discern the fear of the LORD, And discover the knowledge of God.

YHVH all good things come from You - and Yeshua said "Seek first the Kingdom of God…."

1John 3:1 See how great a love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God; and such we are…

1John 1:3 what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, that you also may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.

Father may we never forget Your great love -Your reconciliation and restoration- that we may be Your children

1. From where did the Magi come?
2. Which book tells about the altar of sacrifice, the construction of the tabernacle, and the institution of the Priesthood?
3. Where was Peter when Cornelius sent for him?
4. How did the Galatians welcome the Apostle Paul at first?
5. When Joseph’s brothers returned home from Egypt the first time, what did they find in their sacks?
6. Who was the beggar who was laid at a rich man’s gate?
7. Who said, "Get rid of that slave woman and her son"?

(Lessons from humility and happiness)

Col 3:10 and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him 11 -- a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all. 12 And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.

YHVH thank You for the good news of Peace and our call to be in the likeness of Yeshua.

When we fall short and fail to turn to YHVH for forgiveness and reconciliation we have lost the great sense of peace. From the following Psalm we learn to pray so that we will know the true meaning of peace/restitution as provided for by YHVH thru Yeshua.

Ps 32:3 When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away Through my groaning all day long. 4 For day and night Thy hand was heavy upon me; My vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer. Selah.

Ps 32:5 I acknowledged my sin to Thee, And my iniquity I did not hide; I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD"; And Thou didst forgive the guilt of my sin. Selah.

Ps 32:6 Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to Thee in a time when Thou mayest be found; Surely in a flood of great waters they shall not reach him. 7 Thou art my hiding place; Thou dost preserve me from trouble; Thou dost surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah.

Eternal One, may we learn to acknowledge our sin quickly, calling to be forgiven and restored to Your presence.

For a day in your courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. (Ps 84:10)

Material in this section is based on various prayer diaries.

15. Other FOUNDATION can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
(1 Cor 3:11).

16. In his TEMPLE EVERY WHIT of it uttereth His Glory.
(Psalm 29:9 [marg.]).

17. A GIFT is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth. (Prov 17:8).

PHILLIPS SCREWDRIVER: Normally used to stab the vacuum seals under lids or for opening old-style paper-and-tin oil cans and splashing oil on your shirt; but can also be used, as the name implies, to strip out Phillips screw heads. 

STRAIGHT SCREWDRIVER: A tool for opening paint cans. Sometimes used to convert common slotted screws into non-removable screws and butchering your palms. 

(Ouch!) Have a good day!

Reconciliation G2643 (Strong’s)

- Transliteration: Katallage - Phonetic: kat-al-lag-ay'

- Definition:

Reconcile G2644 (Strong’s)

- Transliteration: Katallasso - Phonetic: kat-al-las'-so

- Definition:

Change G236 (Strong’s)

- Transliteration: Allasso - Phonetic: al-las'-so

- Definition:

apallássō. This means "to alter by removal," "to do away," with such nuances as "to dismiss," "to liberate," "to absent oneself," "to withdraw." In Heb. 2:15 for "to liberate," and in the middle in Acts 19:12 for "to withdraw," "leave," and in Lk. 12:58 for "to break free," "escape."

diallássō. This word has such varied meanings as "to alter or exchange," "to distinguish oneself," and "to reconcile." It occurs in the NT only in Mt. 5:24 in the sense "to reconcile," i.e., to see to it that the offended brother renounces his anger.

katallássō. With the thought of "change" predominating, this word can mean "to change," "to exchange," and "to reconcile" or "reconcile oneself."

B. katallássō in the NT.

1. Husband and wife. Greek marriage records have apallássesthai for marital separation and katallásesthai for reconciliation. Along these lines a separated wife is told in 1 Cor. 7:11 to "be reconciled to her husband," the meaning being, not necessarily that she is at fault, but that she is actively to seek reconciliation.

a. In the NT only Paul uses the term for the divine-human relation. God is not reconciled, nor does he reconcile himself, but he himself reconciles us or the world to himself (2 Cor. 5:18-19), while we are reconciled to God (Rom. 5:10) … katallássein denotes a transformation of the state between God and us and therewith of our own state, for by it we become new creatures (2 Cor. 5:18), no longer ungodly or sinners, but justified, with God’s love shed abroad in our hearts (Rom. 5:6ff.). God has not changed; the change is in our relation to him and consequently in our whole lives.

b. Reconciliation is through the death of Jesus (Rom. 5:10). He was made sin for us and we are made God’s righteousness in him (2 Cor. 5:21). Thus reconciliation is parallel to justification (cf. "not imputing" in 2 Cor. 5:19). In it guilt is removed. Yet reconciliation also entails a change whereby the love of Christ comes to constrain us and we no longer live for ourselves (2 Cor. 5:14-15). On the basis of God’s reconciling act in Christ the call goes out: "Be reconciled to God" (2 Cor. 5:20). Reconciliation is not just a transaction but has personal effects which are known to the conscience and may be adduced in answer to opponents (2 Cor. 5:11ff.). These effects are the work of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 5:5) who enables us, even though we are sinners, to walk in the Spirit (Rom. 8:4). By the Spirit we are thus made active in reconciliation through the word of reconciliation that comes to us as a request (2 Cor. 5:20). Yet we are active only in the sense of receiving reconciliation, not of effecting it, so that we may also be said to "be reconciled" (passive) in Rom. 5:10.

c. "We" are said to be reconciled in Rom. 5, and "the world" in 2 Cor. 5, but there is no opposition between them, for the world stands for the same thing as "we" in its widest range. Insofar as the ministry of reconciliation continues, and much of the world has still to hear the word of reconciliation, reconciliation has an ongoing aspect-not, of course, in the sense that its basis in Christ’s death is incomplete, but in the sense that people have still to be reconciled to God and thus to become new creatures in whom God’s love is shed abroad by the Spirit.

d. The hostility between God and us is not mentioned in 2 Cor. 5 and only alluded to in Rom. 5, but it obviously includes not only our enmity against God but also God’s wrath against sin (Rom. 1:18ff.) wherein divine displeasure corresponds to human disobedience (Rom. 8:7-8). Reconciliation is effected by Christ’s death inasmuch as this is not just to our advantage, or a revelation of God’s love, but a vicarious action (2 Cor. 5:20), an exchange, in which the God who judges is also the God who reconciles. Yet reconciliation is a broader term than justification, for if it embraces forgiveness (Rom. 5:9-10) it also establishes a basis for the appeal of 2 Cor. 5:20 and finds fulfilment in the loving response which this appeal evokes.

katallagḗ. The meaning is first "exchange," then "reconciliation." Used only by Paul, in the NT it denotes a divine dispensation. Paul’s word and work are the word and ministry of katallagḗ (2 Cor. 5:18-19). They bring God’s reconciling action in Christ before people by an appeal which leads believers to "receive reconciliation, (Rom. 5:11). In this sense the reconciliation of the world is a continuing action through the ministry (Rom. 11:15).

apokatallássō. This word does not occur prior to the NT and is found only in Colossians and Ephesians, where it has much the same sense as katallássō. Christ is now the subject as well as God or the plērōma (Col. 1:20, 22; Eph. 2:16). Reconciliation is preceded by human enmity but enables us to stand in the judgment (Col. 1:22). It is connected with the conclusion of peace and a new creation (Eph. 2:15), not merely the removal of guilt. Reconciliation with God brings reconciliation of Jews and Gentiles (Eph. 2:16). It also embraces supraterrestrial beings (Col. 1:20) in what some exegetes see as a restoration of cosmic order, possibly through subjection to Christ (cf. Col. 2:10).

metallássō. "To change," "to exchange." In Rom. 1:25 God’s truth, i.e., his self-revelation (1:18ff.), is "changed" into a lie, i.e., the idolatry that sets other things in place of God. This leads in Rom. 1:26 to the "exchanging" of natural relations for unnatural; this sexual perversion is the consequence of the religious perversion.

2Chr 15:1 Now the Spirit of God came on Azariah the son of Oded, 2 and he went out to meet Asa and said to him, "Listen to me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin: the LORD is with you when you are with Him. And if you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.

Biscuits and sermons are improved by shortening

People who matter are aware that everyone else does, too

For those who fought for it, life has flavor the protected will never know

No sense in being pessimistic, it wouldn’t work anyway

To desire is to obtain; to aspire is to achieve

Ah, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, offspring of evildoers, children who deal corruptly! They have forsaken the LORD, they have despised the Holy One of Israel, they are utterly estranged. (Isaiah 1:4; ESV)

 
The Bible is primarily the story of God. We learn the story of God through the life experiences of a particular people group: the nation of Israel. While the purpose of the Bible is to make the true God known to all peoples, he is revealed for the most part through this one people. This is summed up in the first book of the Torah, where God says to Abram, "...in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed" (Genesis 12:3; ESV).
 
As the story of the Scriptures unfolds, there are many wonderful accounts of God's magnificence demonstrated through ancient Israel: Moses standing before the world power of his day to lead his people out of slavery; Joshua leading the nation in conquest of the Promised Land; David defeating the giant; Elijah calling down fire from heaven. But these and other shining moments are actually the exception rather than the rule. For the most part, Israel failed in its mission to be God's light to the nations. Isaiah's words that I began with don't only apply to the time in which he spoke. They are rather a reflection of much of Israel's experience right through the Scriptures.
 
Even though Israel did fail to live up to the standards God set for them, God revealed through them one of the most important truths that we as human beings must learn in order to know God - that on our own we cannot live up to his standards. Hundreds of years after Isaiah indicted Israel for its failure to follow God, another member of the nation of Israel wrote, "Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God (Romans 3:19; ESV).
 
Israel was indeed chosen to reveal God to the world, but a component of that was to make it clear that all people, whatever our background, cannot, on our own, be what we were intended to be. Israel was chosen to demonstrate what we all really are - sinners in need of God's forgiveness and grace. [The Gospel of Peace]
 
God's purpose in choosing Israel is only truly fulfilled as we recognize this need. It is when we stop pretending that we are better than we are and accept our dismal human state that we will be in a position to know God. Later, Isaiah says, "'Come now, let us reason together,' says the LORD: 'though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool'" (Isaiah 1:18; ESV). God desires to change us, but unless we recognize our sinful condition, we will never avail ourselves of his offer to do so.
 
In a day when self-focus is expected, self-fulfillment is encouraged, self-improvement is assumed possible, and personal autonomy is viewed as a right, it is difficult to see ourselves reflected in the failure of ancient Israel. But our refusal to do so doesn't change reality. Until we humble ourselves to accept that we, like Israel of old are "laden with iniquity, offspring of evildoers, children who deal corruptly", then that is exactly what we will be.

*(This document may be edited for length)

Blessed be YHVH (Genesis 14:20 And blessed be God Most High…)

Ps 122:6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: "May they prosper who love you.

Ps 122:7 "May peace be within your walls, And prosperity within your palaces."

Ps 122:8 For the sake of my brothers and my friends, I will now say, "May peace be within you."

Ps 122:9 For the sake of the house of the LORD our God I will seek your good.

1. The east - Matthew 2:1

2. Leviticus -

3. In Joppa - Acts 10:4-5

4. As if he were an angel of God, as if he were Christ Himself - Galatians 4:14

5. Their pouches of silver - Genesis 42:35

6. Lazarus - Luke 16:19-21

7. Sarah - Genesis 21:9-10