Olive Branch Discipleship Ministries

Sin, lawlessness, rebellion. We are seeing and experiencing a breakdown of the rule of law and support of law in our world today. Protesting is a right given to make the people's desires and disagreements known to the governing powers and to initiate change. However, the rioting and destruction of personal and governmental properties is lawlessness and rebellion and totally decimates a city and income.. We in this nation of the USA have been subjected to that and continue to be. This is being experienced around the world in many cities and it is not right. Innocent cities and neighborhoods suffer destruction and loss of businesses, homes and jobs. Children and adults are being killed, and law enforcement officers. So what is the point?

This is intimidation and manipulation by evil and destructive forces. As Believers in Christ we are not called, or sanctioned, to do this. We are not called to lawlessness or rebellion but to peaceful and purposeful protesting only.

There has got to be some changes made for sure. Every person is special and important to God - and should be to us also. So, to initiate this very important and needful change we must come together in some sort of agreement that is beneficial to all. Anger, resentment and accusations need to be set aside. We must create some new rule of law with our law enforcement and government that people of any race or color is dealt with the same and without grave danger to any. There is no place for color discrimination with Christians, no prejudices and no preferences. None of us had the say in the color of our skin or of race of people in which we were born. We all have a God-given right to live free and productive lives and with safety.

Sin is a separation from God and is a dangerous place to be. God is not a Republican or a Democrat, He does not discriminate. He is righteous and holy and demands that from those who follow Him. This is required from each person and should be evident in each one as a "fruit" of their life. Even unbelievers know the right thing to do whether they do it or not, God's Word is written on our hearts as our conscience. We are to do right because it is the right thing to do.

Hebrews 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith (in God the Father), with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience (sin, anger, rebellion) and our bodies wash with pure water (for service to Him).

Hebrews 10:16-17This is the covenant (lifetime agreement) I will make with my people on that day, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their hearts and I will write them on their minds. Then He adds, Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.

Acts 10:34Then Peter began to speak: I now realize (after he was called to a Roman Centurion, a non-Jew, and Peter was prejudice) how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation (and race) who fear Him and do what is right (righteous).

Galatians 3:28 (Paul declares) There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all ONE in Christ Jesus.

Let us become educated and purpose to learn how to live in unity and be willing to disagree peacefully but learn to work to a common good Let us take the emotions our of it, all the anger and apprehension.. must recognize that we all have the right to our opinion but we are to do no harm to those who hold a differing opinion. As we talk we clarify if we have a mind to do so. Let us, as human beings who all have the same desires of life, grasp the concept of good and evil and what righteousness is and how to just do the right thing because it is the right thing to do. God will honor that.

Let's make our businesses thrive and our neighborhoods become safe for our families and children. Each peoples, each neighborhood, needs to step up and step out to do this. It is up to you to do the right thing, to turn from sin and anger and rebellion and to God. God is the only lasting peace maker.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father remind me that it is your good will for me to learn to live in peace and do no harm to others or to their properties, including my government's. Remind me that your word tells me:

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity, Psalm 133:1.

I am so grateful that you love all humans as one and all those who believe in you as one. You do not desire that any should perish but come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and join the Family of God and all that means.

Thank you Father for all your goodness and mercy and forgiveness, help me to freely pass it all on.         Amen

- Pastor Sandi

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7.8.20

"Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD. the people He chose for His inheritance." Psalm 33:12

We have just celebrated our Independence Day on July 4th. This was independence from British rule and it cost many, many lives for our freedom. At this time our nation is struggling again with inequality and our streets have been filled with protesters and rioters. There are definite changes that have got to be made, without question, and we must remember that one person is not greater or lesser than another, regardless of gender or race. Father God is the God of all, He is the creator of all, and He has no favorites of color.

Galatians 3:8 "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, neither is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."

Genesis 1:27 "So God created mankind in His own image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them."

I believe the Lord wants this nation to be one people, regardless of race or color. It is time for unity and not division. Division seems to hurt the most vulnerable more than others. Where is freedom when one is pressed beyond measure? Freedom should be coupled with peace and concern for fellowman. It will take all of us to do this, unity of purpose. We MUST determine and purpose no more violence and no more deaths.

We must clean up our neighborhoods of this violence for our children's sake.

Psalm 133:1 "Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity

Freedom: the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance, restraint, or fear of reprisal. In an orderly fashion.

Unity: moving together as one in an agreement, with harmony, for the very best of both.

Unfortunately man cannot do this alone, too many agendas and too many offenses. Man wants what he wants and it usually will involve some form of power over another.

James 4:1-2 "What causes fights among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God."

So, back to our verse of Psalm 33:1 "Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people He chose for His inheritance."

Our answer and our solution is to come together under the work of Jesus Christ, loving and praying for each other in His Name, living up to the first and second laws

of the Kingdom of God on earth:

Mark 12:30-31 "Love the Lord your God with all your soul and with all your mind and with all you strength (heart) . The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no greater commandment these."

The nation whose God is the Lord is then blessed with peace, unity, goodness, mercy, and great favor, the understanding of God the Father and the desire to serve Him, crowding out all others. Freedom from all strife and wars. Would you not like to live in a nation like that? We have the option to, step by step and one by one. Start in your family, into your neighborhood, schools, work, church. Then it will spread into leadership and government as we learn to vote and elect people whose concepts line up with the word of God. It is not hard but it does take purposing and discipline and focus. It starts one on one, one person turning into God away from self, becoming His vessel of peace. We will eventually live in a world like this after the Second Coming of Christ but wouldn't it be something if we could live as Jesus prayed for us in

Mathew 6:9-13, especially verse 10) "..your Kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven."

There is no strife, no agendas, no quarrels, no racism or sexism, or any 'isms' in heaven, no wars, no hate, no violence, and no entitlements in the Kingdom of Heaven and it is meant to be the same here on earth through true Christians.

This attitude has got to change in our nation, in our neighborhoods, on both sides It is to start in the Church and with the boldness of Pastors to teach this, over and over and over again, until we, the people, get it. It has to start one on one, too much blood has been shed for our freedom in this nation and it is time to 'get it' and stop. Love dictates respect, kindness, patience, mercy, forgiveness, accountability, responsibility.

Many lives are at stake here, our children's lives are at stake here, their future is at stake here.

We use to be "One Nation under God." We could be again...………………..

-Pastor Sandra Matheson

Prayer:

Dear Father God, forgive us as a nation for our sins of prejudice and entitlements, for our sins against you and your Word. We need to have our eyes open to see what is happening and the destruction that is following.Forgive us and heal this land, bringing us into peace and unity, respect for one another. Help us to lay down our past and help us move into our future so we may truly say we are a nation under God and all that it means. We want your goodness and your mercy, your blessings for all in this nation. Help us recognize hate and to stand against it, teach us your love and your peace. We don't want any other voices in this nation that continue to spew out hate and division under the guise of equality. We need healing and peace, no more blood, no more destruction of people's lives and livelihood. We need voices of reconciliation and unity with forgiveness. Let us stand against those who devise violence and death, whoever they are. Guide us in the courage to purpose to lay down our differences and our offenses, our senses of entitlements. We desire peace. Amen