Outlines of Messages

Peacemakers or troublemakers

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Peacemakers or troublemakers

The Old Testament

‘The man said, The woman you put here with me - she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it. Then the Lord God said to the woman, What is this you have done? The woman said, The serpent deceived me, and I ate.’ (Gen. 1:12-13).

The Bible presents a record of a long human history of interpersonal relationships. Adam and Eve, the first married couple, had a disagreement about the reasons for their sin in the Garden of Eden.

Two sons of Adam and Eve had a disagreement that led to murder. Then, as the population multiplied, the earth was filled with hostility. A few years after the flood, herdsmen of Abram and Lot were fighting severely. There were many family disputes, and a whole succession of wars continued throughout the Old Testament history.

The New Testament

The disciples of the Lord Jesus argued among themselves about who would be the greatest in heaven: ‘At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ (Matt. 18:14).

In the early church, Ananias and Sapphira lied to their fellow believers. The Jews and Greeks were at odds with each other, and there were disputes over doctrine.

Many times in his Epistles, the Apostle Paul commented on the disunity of the church and asked for peace. In his own missionary activities he was concerned about conflicts, and on one occasion he wrote to the Corinthians expressing the fear that if he came to visit he might find: ‘…debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults…’ (1 Cor. 12:20). There was much confusion and other proofs of interpersonal tension and sin.

Are you a peacemaker or a troublemaker?

The Apostle Paul warned Timothy not to be quarrelsome, especially over unimportant things. He ‘must not be quarrelsome…’ (2 Tim. 2:24). Timothy should not be kind of person who is always fighting over something or other. Other Bible passages offer instructions to live in harmony, to demonstrate love, and to replace bitterness and wrath with kindness, forgiveness, and compassionate actions.

After a warning against those who cause trouble because they do not control their tongues, James notes that quarrels and conflicts come because of personal lust and envy. Then in the midst of an exciting list of practical guidelines for living, we read the Apostle Paul’s instructions to avoid revenge: ‘Do not repay anyone evil for evil!’ (Rom. 12:17).

The Lord Jesus and the biblical writers were peacemakers who, by their example and exhortation, expected believers to be peacemakers: ‘Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.’ (Matt. 5:9).

Dr. Czeslaw Bassara ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ; www.proword.eu)

Partners at work

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Partners at work

Exodus 17:8-13

1. Joshua partnered with Moses
Joshua was given the mission of leading the counter attack against the Amalekites. It was important for Joshua to attack the threat with great physical effort.

Moses took the mission of a different nature. Moses went to the top of the hill with the staff of God. It was important for Moses to attack the threat with spiritual effort.

The piece of wood was used to do great things and it was that staff that God used to express His power to the entire world. The staff was a symbol of God’s concern for His people.

Both avenues were needed to confront the threat they were facing. Could Joshua have made both the physical and spiritual effort at the same time? No! Could Moses have made both the physical and spiritual effort at the same time? No! The simple truth is that these partners, accomplished more together than they ever could separately.

2. The soldiers partnered with Joshua

Not much is mentioned about this but we need to remember that Israel did not have any kind of an army at all. Up to this point there had been no need for an army and this would have been the first major threat that they had since they left Egypt. It was God who took care of Pharaoh’s army at the Red Sea. Israel was forced into this fight and Joshua went to the men of the twelve tribes to raise an army.

In order, for Joshua to raise an army, he had to gain their partnership for the battle. The men had to agree to go out and fight or there would have been no army to lead. Joshua needed other people to help him get the work done. He needed other people to come together with him and give their strength and support his efforts.

3. Aaron and Hur partnered with Moses

Just as Joshua gathered others to fight, Moses gathered others to help in the spiritual struggle.
Moses raised his hands! It was a big thing because as long as Moses’ hands were raised, the Israelites were winning the battle.

Moses raised his hands with the staff of God. It was the model for the work of God in the past and when Israel needed a miracle, Moses stretched out his hands. The staff had become the symbol of God’s power and help.

Aaron and Hur helped Moses as he became tired. They gave him the support and the strength that he needed to complete the mission. The stone provided support for Moses and as they lifted his hands Moses had the strength he needed.

Partners work for a common goal.

Partners add their abilities and strengths together to help each other.

Partners give their all to support others and partners work to strengthen everyone else.

We need to put these principles into our Christian ministry, too!

Dr. Czeslaw Bassara ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ; www.proword.eu)

Our responsibility for others

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Our responsibility for others

(Matt. 25:31-46)

When we help (or do not help) our fellow Christians who are hungry, naked, sick, or imprisoned, we are helping (or not helping) the Lord Jesus.

Our love for each other was the mission strategy of the Lord Jesus. (John 13:35)

The foremost command of Jesus, our Lord was that we love each other, and lay down our lives for each other. (John 13:34-35; John 15:12-14, 17)

The Law of Christ is fulfilled when Christians ‘carry each other’s burdens.’ (Gal. 6:2).

Love of Christians for one other is defined by the Apostle John as sharing  material possessions with other Christians who are in need. (1 John 3:16-19)

Helping Christians in need is defined by the Apostle Paul as ‘the proof of our love,’ and proof of our obedience to the Gospel. (2 Cor. 8:13)

We are commanded to ‘love not just with word and tongue, but with actions and in truth.’ (1 John 16-19).

We are to wash one another’s feet as a sign of humbly serving. (John 13:14)

How can we be a blessing to one another?

By teaching:

Teach one another (Col. 3:16).
Instruct one another (Rom. 5:14).

By encouraging:

Encourage one another (Col. 3:16; Heb. 10:25).
Exhort one another (Heb. 3:13).
Speak the truth to one another (Eph. 4:25).
Spur one another to love and good deeds (Heb. 10:24).

By edifying:

Edify (strengthen, build up) one another (1 Thess. 4:1; 5:1, 11).
Edify one another gathering together each one with a hymn, a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or its interpretation. (1 Cor. 14:26)

By giving spiritual care:

Confess our sins one to another and pray for one another (James 5:16).

Dr. Czeslaw Bassara ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ; www.proword.eu)

My SMS to God: I want to invest wisely! Help me!

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My SMS to God: I want to invest wisely! Help me! (Luke 12:33-34; Matt. 6:19-21)

What can we do with our life?

We can waste it.

We can spend it.

We can invest it.

We do not want to waste our life on wild partying, on drugs or alcohol. We do not want to waste it on being lazy, procrastinating, and throwing away opportunities.

We do not want just to spend our life. We do not want to spend it trying to be the best and reach the top of whatever it is. We do not want to spend it on doing whatever it takes to reach our goals and running here and there. We do not want to spend it on being self-focused and looking out for only number one.

We do want to invest our life. We want to give back out of the things we have been blessed with. We want to use our time and talents to make a difference in the lives of others and we want to invest in them by being their true friends and taking the Gospel to them! (Gal. 5:13) The Apostle Paul said this: ‘You have been blessed so much, you have freedom because of what Jesus Christ did on the cross, you are free, but do not get this freedom confused for anytime God grants us a blessing, including freedom from sin, we are to use these blessings to serve others out of love.’ When God blesses us, it is not for our own extravagance, but it is for the chance to make an investment in the life of others. One of the blessings we have been blessed with is the Good News about the Lord Jesus Christ.

How can we invest our lives?

1. Investing through words (Heb. 3:13; Prov. 25:11).
Encouraging each other can have an effect on keeping each other from sinning! Children are literally dying for love today, and our words can pay huge dividends when we invest them with love into their lives.

2. Investing through actions (1 Peter 2:12; Matt. 5:16).
While words are powerful, actions do speak louder than words, as we all know. As Christians we are under the microscope, people are going to watch the things that we do closely to see if we are walking the walk, and not just talking the talk.

3. Investing through prayer (James 5:15).
Prayer really does work. When we pray for others, we are asking for a Divine investment to be made in their lives. Before we ever evangelize people, we should make investments of prayer for them. There is nothing that can make us love someone more than a prayer for them, and nothing that can influence someone more than a heart felt prayer for God to come and work in their life.

God has called us to invest in the lives of others with words, actions and prayer. Prayer: Dear God, help me to invest wisely in others: in words, actions and prayer!

Dr. Czeslaw Bassara ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ; www.proword.eu)

Living in harmony with one another

Living in harmony with one another

(Rom. 12:9-16; 1 Cor. 1:10-17)

The Bible has several other ‘One another’ commandments for our daily living. These include: ‘encouraging, admonishing and accepting one another’ and several others. We must realize that although we are all different, we are all called into a special relationship with God and with one another.

The church is called into a vertical relationship with its God and Saviour and a horizontal relationship with those who are different. Both the people we know and do not know yet, must experience and demonstrate Christ’s desire for harmony.

Have fellowship one with another!

‘But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.’ (1 John 1:7)

Forgive one another!

‘I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.’ (Eph. 3:13) ‘Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.’ (Eph. 4:32) ‘Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.’ (Col. 3:13)

Greet one another with a holy kiss!

‘All the brothers here send you greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss.’ (1 Cor. 16:20)

Kisses mentioned in the Bible:

· Kiss of affection (Gen. 27:26-27; 31:55; 33:4; 48:10; 50:1; Ex. 18:7).

· The kiss of the penitent woman at the feet of the Lord Jesus (Luke 7:38).

· Deceitful kiss (Prov. 27:6).

· The kiss of Joab, when he killed Amasa (2 Sam. 20:9-10).

· The kiss of Judas, when he betrayed the Lord Jesus (Matt. 26:48; Luke 22:48).

· The holy kiss (Rom. 16:16; 2 Cor. 13:12; 1 Thess. 5:26; 1 Peter 5:14).

· The kiss of love (1 Peter 5:14).

Wait for one another to break bread!

‘So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for each other.’ (1 Cor. 11:33).

Bear one another’s sufferings!

‘If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.’ (1 Cor. 12:26)

Dr. Czeslaw Bassara ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ; www.proword.eu)