Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid," (John 14:27).
Jesus is our Prince of Peace; therefore, the peace we inherit from him is a supernatural, divine force - a godly enablement to maintain an inner tranquility when all the forces of hell are attempting to break us down. The evil days we're living in are only going to get worse. Men's hearts will fail them for fear of the things they see coming upon the earth (Luke 21:26). Nevertheless, we can prevail in the power of peace.
The spirit of peace will keep you in control. When you lose your peace, you give the control of your emotional state over to another spirit. God's kingdom within you comes in righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost (Ro. 14:17). When you lose your peace, you stop acting like who you are in Christ; you stop acting like the righteousness of God and you definitely lose your joy. Nobody can take these things away from you unless you allow them. The Bible says that if a man's ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him (Prov. 16:7). Whatever you do, make sure your ways, your works, and your words that come into the ears of Almighty God are not anything that you'd be ashamed of; make sure you don't lose either the peace of God or your peace with God.
At least six times in the New Testament God is called the God of Peace:
- Ro. 15:33
- Ro. 16:20
- Phil. 4:9
- I Thess. 5:23
- Heb. 13:20
- 2 Cor. 13:11
We're told to
a) Live in peace (2 Cor. 13:11)
b) Be at peace among ourselves (1 Thess. 5:13)
c) Bear the peaceable fruit of righteousness (Heb. 12:11)
"Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them..." (Ezek. 37:26).
There is such a vast difference between the conviction of the Holy Spirit and the condemnation of the devil. One gives us the ability to approach a merciful and loving God when we know we need forgiveness and cleansing from sins; the other makes us feel ashamed, unworthy, guilty, unloved, unwanted, and punishable. We can get angry at ourselves for our failures and shortcomings; and/or we can be upset with others for theirs. We may struggle with forgiving ourselves and allowing ourselves to find peace with God enough to enjoy His presence and fellowship. Yet, Jesus left a legacy of peace as a means to comfort His people. It's His peace - a peace that passes understanding.
God made provision for peace offerings in the O.T. Levitical priesthood (Lev. 3:1-17). There was one of three reasons for a peace offering: to perform a vow, as a voluntary offering, to show forth thanks. The peace offering represented communion and was a meal shared with the priest and God.
Have you lost peace with God and want to know how to restore it? Of course, repentance is always the first order of spiritual reconciliation. As part of the royal priesthood of believers, our offerings to God are sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving.
"By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name," (Heb. 13:15).
It's important to create a spiritual atmosphere of peace in your soul; worship the Lord and enjoy Him forever! Your communion and your confidence in the covenant He has established will lay a foundation of strength and stability in your walk with God.
When people would come to Jesus to get their needs met, He would not only meet the need, but pronounce peace to remain with them even in parting from Him.
- to the repentant prostitute: "Your faith has saved you. Go in peace" (Lk. 7:50, NKJV).
- to the woman healed of her issue of blood: "Your faith has made you well, Go in peace" (Lk. 8:48).
At the very birth of Jesus the angels sang, Glory to God in the highest and on earth, PEACE, good will toward men! (Luke 2:14). God's will towards men is still a good will. Although sin and wickedness has greatly increased and evil men wax worse and worse, God's Word declares that where sin abounds, God's grace abounds even the more (cp. Romans 5:20; 6:1).
The Gospel is a gospel of peace (Ro. 10:15). Part of our calling is literally a call to peace (I Cor. 7:15). Peace is also a fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22). Do you war within? End the battle. Let the peace of God RULE in your heart (Col. 3:15). God wants to take you somewhere, beloved; but it's first going to require you to establish a foundation of peace. First, peace...
NOT AS THE WORLD GIVES...
It's okay to relax and enjoy the things of this life that Jesus gave us richly to enjoy. Yet, none of those things should serve as a substitute for real peace with God. Many people find ways to conjure peace without any communion with God. That's not the kind of peace we're after. Rather than real peace, there are ways that reduce stress and give people a feeling of mental and/or emotional well- being... if just temporarily. I'm referring to things such as recreational drug use or casual sex. Perhaps it could be things less sinful, such as that morning cup of coffee, a "good" movie, a vacation on the beach. Maybe it's a night out on the town, reading a good book or relaxing while listening to classical music. For some it may be an escape into the arts or just getting off alone somewhere for "peace and quiet"... tranquility. Different strokes for different folks, as they say...
Jesus' peace comes with precious promises. He has gone to prepare a place for us. He has promised to come and get us and take us to where He is. He gives us hope and a future. He sent His precious Holy Spirit as a Comforter to be with us as a constant Companion and spiritual aide. He's given us everything we need pertaining to life and godliness (2 Pet. 1:3).
At the time Jesus spoke peace to His disciples, change was coming. He was about to leave and they would feel uncertain about the future without Him being physically present as He had been in the past. Jesus spoke of going away to a place where they could not follow. What were they supposed to do in the meantime? Often there is a strong temptation to fear... to lose our peace.... when we don't know what to expect... when the future doesn't make sense... when there are major upheavals in our lives. That's why we must trust God and remember all that He has spoken to us.
"You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You," (Isa. 26:3, NKJV).
God has ordained peace for us (Isa. 26:12). Notice what Haggai declares concerning the latter day house of God:
"The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the Lord of hosts," (Haggai 2:9).
The prophecy of the Psalms tells us that "But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace," (Ps. 37:11).
The prophet Jeremiah reveals God's heart and thoughts towards His people, "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end," (Jer. 29:11).
Amen!
" Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen." - Hebrews 13:20-21
We will continue next week, beloved.
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