Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever - Fenelon

[Baruch]

“Never be in a hurry; do everything quietly and in a calm spirit. Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever, even if your whole world seems upset.” - Fenelon

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https://plus.google.com/u/0/+Sermoni...GyxWn9E

[Lou Newton]

Thanks Barry. This is very good advise. Amen.

It seems to me that Jesus was always at peace and never in a hurry. He was calm and did not speak of act with haste.

The only possible exception that I can think of is when Jesus cleared the Temple with a whip and went around overturning the tables of the money lenders:

John 2

Jesus Clears the Temple Courts


¹³ When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. ¹⁴ In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. ¹⁵ So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. ¹⁶ To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” ¹⁷ His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.”

¹⁸ The Jews then responded to him, “What sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?”

¹⁹ Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”

²⁰ They replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?” ²¹ But the temple he had spoken of was his body. ²² After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.

²³ Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, many people saw the signs he was performing and believed in his name.^[d]24 But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people. ²⁵ He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person.

Wow, I am touched every time I read this passage. It seems Jesus not only got angry, but after that He plainly revealed to all who are seeking the Truth, that He is The One and Only God Almighty when He said, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”

Then the passage goes on to remind us all that we are sinful men.

Edit: I would really like to hear the thoughts of others about this passage and the truth that Fenelon states.

[redsoxmaloney]

Thanks Barry. This is very good advise. Amen.

It seems to me that Jesus was always at peace and never in a hurry. He was calm and did not speak of act with haste.

The only possible exception that I can think of is when Jesus cleared the Temple with a whip and went around overturning the tables of the money lenders:

John 2

Jesus Clears the Temple Courts


¹³ When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. ¹⁴ In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. ¹⁵ So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. ¹⁶ To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” ¹⁷ His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.”

¹⁸ The Jews then responded to him, “What sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?”

¹⁹ Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”

²⁰ They replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?” ²¹ But the temple he had spoken of was his body. ²² After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.

²³ Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, many people saw the signs he was performing and believed in his name.^[d]24 But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people. ²⁵ He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person.

Wow, I am touched every time I read this passage. It seems Jesus not only got angry, but after that He plainly revealed to all who are seeking the Truth, that He is The One and Only God Almighty when He said, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”

Then the passage goes on to remind us all that we are sinful men.

Edit: I would really like to hear the thoughts of others about this passage and the truth that Fenelon states.

I'm awful at being patient. It's only by arm fulls of grace can I be remotely patient. It's a good word.

[Baruch]

Thanks Barry. This is very good advise. Amen.

It seems to me that Jesus was always at peace and never in a hurry. He was calm and did not speak of act with haste.

The only possible exception that I can think of is when Jesus cleared the Temple with a whip and went around overturning the tables of the money lenders:

John 2

Jesus Clears the Temple Courts


¹³ When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. ¹⁴ In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. ¹⁵ So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. ¹⁶ To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” ¹⁷ His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.”

¹⁸ The Jews then responded to him, “What sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?”

¹⁹ Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”

²⁰ They replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?” ²¹ But the temple he had spoken of was his body. ²² After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.

²³ Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, many people saw the signs he was performing and believed in his name.^[d]24 But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people. ²⁵ He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person.

Wow, I am touched every time I read this passage. It seems Jesus not only got angry, but after that He plainly revealed to all who are seeking the Truth, that He is The One and Only God Almighty when He said, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”

Then the passage goes on to remind us all that we are sinful men.

Edit: I would really like to hear the thoughts of others about this passage and the truth that Fenelon states.

Neither did Joseph flee from his master's adulterous wife in patience and calm. There is a time and place for everything.

We have peace with God through the blood of Christ. We should appropriate it, and walk in it.

Jas 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. 18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. 19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: 20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

Pro 16:32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.

God is faithful and steady as a rock. He keeps His covenants. Man cannot even change the color of one hair on his head let alone keep his promises, thus every covenant God intends to endure He makes with Himself: as when He put Abraham to sleep.

God is swift to hear and slow to wrath. He is eternally speaking, and His word is truth. Man is a liar and disposed to follow his own desires, so when we speak we'd be wise to check our words.

The angels excel in might, yet they could not rule the nations justly (Psalms 82). A casual look at history clearly shows the mayhem in the path of the princes, earthly and celestial, their peak achievement the slaughter of our beloved Lord and Savior.

Jas 3:6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. 7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: 8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. 11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? 12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. 13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. 14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

James preaches with all malice against the unruly tongue. A world of iniquity. It sets on fire the courses of nature. And hell itself sets the tongue on fire to speak unlawfully, with fruits of envying, strife, and lies sowing confusion and every evil work. No wonder we will be judged for every empty word.

Jas 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

Jesus said, Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God. The Spirit teaches that from a place of patience and peace we can best discern good fruits from bad, and avoid acting and reacting in haste.

In Jas 3:13, meekness conveys strength or power under discipline and self-restraint. This is absolutely a grace of God, for if He were not longsuffering (restraining His justice) we would have been consumed. James ties the wisdom of God solidly with peace.

Psa 46:1 To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Psa 46:2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
Psa 46:3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
Psa 46:4 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.
Psa 46:5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.
Psa 46:6 The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.
Psa 46:7 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
Psa 46:8 Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth.
Psa 46:9 He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.
Psa 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
Psa 46:11 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

Selah: suspension of music; pause. God is sovereign even over striving mankind and all his destructive inventions. Everywhere the voice of the LORD commands men to know that He has made peace with us, through the blood of His own Son, Who is our refuge and strength, and a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. We shall have peace.

[glen smith]

French Roman Catholic Archbishop François Fénelon (6 August 1651 – 7 January 1715) was of nobel birth and lived his life in palaces. He also is quoted as saying “"Above all, do not allow yourself to be bewitched by the evil charms of geometry."” He very typical of the royalty inhabiting Roman Catholic positions of power in the seventeenth century of the French King Lois XIV. You know, during the time of the Inquisitions and Christian French Huguenots.

Quotes, I think, to be worth repeating ought to be measured by both context and author. Therefore the one by Fénelon fails both tests. The quote that always sends me on attempted apologetics is by Karl Marx, the German philosopher and economist. As translated from the German it is often paraphrased as "religion... is the opiate of the masses.” (I am trying not to go off on this!) Most people quoting this have not read anything by Marx. The full quote from Karl Marx translates as: "Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the masses". Let me go off just to say as a misused quote why the author should be considered right enough about economics to be an authority in world religions or Christianity in particular? And we know how those who tried his economic theory fared. In theory I liked his plan. The problem with it was he did not account for the depraved nature of man.

On the other hand, I have collected a good many quotes by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. I pay attention to what he has written because he died a Christian martyr at the explicit order of Hitler, and he hits hard at what a Christian should be. He wrote it and he lived it! I tried to read his book, “The Cost of Discipleship,” five times over several years before I could read through it. I wasn'’t a good enough follower of the Lord Jesus to be put under condemnation by the pressure of what is in his book. It is also like quotes by Oswald Chambers. Such men have meaningful things to say about our Christian life, and I don't think Archbishop Fénelon did - but I've not read his material on social reforms.

[Lou Newton]

French Roman Catholic Archbishop François Fénelon (6 August 1651 – 7 January 1715) was of nobel birth and lived his life in palaces. He also is quoted as saying “"Above all, do not allow yourself to be bewitched by the evil charms of geometry."” He very typical of the royalty inhabiting Roman Catholic positions of power in the seventeenth century of the French King Lois XIV. You know, during the time of the Inquisitions and Christian French Huguenots.

Quotes, I think, to be worth repeating ought to be measured by both context and author. Therefore the one by Fénelon fails both tests. The quote that always sends me on attempted apologetics is by Karl Marx, the German philosopher and economist. As translated from the German it is often paraphrased as "religion... is the opiate of the masses.” (I am trying not to go off on this!) Most people quoting this have not read anything by Marx. The full quote from Karl Marx translates as: "Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the masses". Let me go off just to say as a misused quote why the author should be considered right enough about economics to be an authority in world religions or Christianity in particular? And we know how those who tried his economic theory fared. In theory I liked his plan. The problem with it was he did not account for the depraved nature of man.

On the other hand, I have collected a good many quotes by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. I pay attention to what he has written because he died a Christian martyr at the explicit order of Hitler, and he hits hard at what a Christian should be. He wrote it and he lived it! I tried to read his book, “The Cost of Discipleship,” five times over several years before I could read through it. I wasn'’t a good enough follower of the Lord Jesus to be put under condemnation by the pressure of what is in his book. It is also like quotes by Oswald Chambers. Such men have meaningful things to say about our Christian life, and I don't think Archbishop Fénelon did - but I've not read his material on social reforms.

Very thought provoking comment Glen.

How true about Marx. His whole philosophy failed every place it was tried. If he was a so called expert in economics, and he failed at that, why would anyone even read his comment about religion, which he knew nothing about.

But today we have many in the US that are so uninformed about recent history that they are eager to try his economics. These same people that seem to think ignorance is bliss, also think Marx and expert on religion.