The Church is not man’s idea; it is God’s idea. It is a place where all the guilty, where all who are suffering from condemnation, and where those who are being pursued can come and take refuge.

12/ 02/25

Gospel Corner

JOEL OSTEEN MINISTRIES
Today’s Word

Today’s Scripture
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:7, ESV

Peace That Surpasses Understanding
If you’re going to live in peace, it’s not going to happen by accident. Every day we have opportunities to get upset, to be worried, to live offended. Life happens. People get on your nerves, unexpected bills come, a friend is rude. If you wait for all your circumstances to calm down and then you’ll have peace, then you’ll quit worrying, you’ll be waiting your whole life. God never promised to keep us from difficulties. He didn’t say we wouldn’t have storms, but He did say He would give us peace in the midst of the storm. He calls it “a peace that surpasses understanding.” That means in spite of what’s going on around you, you can still be at peace. “The medical report wasn’t good, but I’m not going to worry. I didn’t get the promotion. A coworker was rude to me, but I’m not offended. God is fighting my battles.”

You have to protect your peace. You weren’t created to live worried, upset, on edge. You have to turn it over to God and leave it in His hands.

A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You that You didn’t create me to live weighed down by the worry, hurts, offenses, and frustrations that creep in and limit my life. Help me to guard my heart and mind and leave issues in Your hands. I declare that I have Your peace that passes understanding. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

The Old Testament cities of refuge reveal a beautiful picture of Christ as our protection. Now let me show you another type hidden in the teaching on the cities of refuge, and that is the picture of the local church.

The six cities are scattered across the land so a person can flee to the nearest one to take refuge. It is a picture of local churches scattered all around the world. The local church, my friend, is a place of refuge.

The church is not man’s idea; it is God’s idea. It is a place where all the guilty, where all who are suffering from condemnation, and where those who are being pursued can come and take refuge.

You see, it is not God’s heart for you to take this journey of faith on your own. Certainly, you can learn a lot by reading books or watching sermons online, but God’s heart is for you to be part of a community of faith.

In the Father’s house, people experience healing, breakthroughs, protection, and other blessings. God the Father raised Jesus from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, “far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named” (Eph. 1:21). This means that Jesus is far above all sicknesses, all diseases, all terror, all snares, all cancers, all depression, and all addictions.

We all agree that our Lord is above every name, but on this earth, where does this power and dominion reside? The apostle Paul declares, “And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all” (Eph. 1:22–23).

Where is this power today in our broken and fallen world? It is found in the church! His power, His authority, and His fullness are all found in the church—our city of refuge where we can run to and find divine protection!

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