"...God hath called us to peace," (I Cor. 7:15b).
"But the fruit of the Spirit is ... peace..." (Gal. 5:22, excerpt).
"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body..."
(Col. 3:15).
I don't know who else this message may be for, but it is certainly for me. One inmate wrote this week in response to these blogs on Peace: "The more I give in to anger, the less joy and peace I feel. I make some excuse about this place [prison]; but, I can leave and get away from the person [that's making me angry]. But in truth, if I don't change on the inside, it's the same no matter the event or person."
All week long my peace has been challenged. One frustrating event after another has come crashing down upon me. In these days when Satan knows his time is short and he is seeking whom he may devour, he will use his weapons to disturb our peace and to cause the cares of this life to choke out the Word of God until it becomes unfruitful (Mark 4:19). Luke 8:14 says that the cares of this life keep the Word of God from bringing any fruit "to perfection". In other words, we do have the word of God in us, but we will birth to the wind, as it were. We need to maintain the peace of God. It has taken several weeks of pondering on this message and praying, to come to this realization: If there are things in my life that continually disturb my peace and it's obvious that I have not received the grace of God to deal with it, then it is something that needs to be cut out of my life.
Any message we get from God must find practical application in our lives, meaning, the Word must bring about a change somehow. If this word isn't changing you, you will not be ready to walk in the power that God wants to release to you. It may take much struggle and warfare to get to the place of righteousness, joy and peace in the Holy Ghost, but here is what we learned last week about these things (righteousness, peace and joy which is the substance of the kingdom of God):
"For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men," (Romans 14:17,18).
The place of peace is in itself, a place of power. When you can maintain peace in the midst of a crisis, you are demonstrating the power of peace. That peace is so powerful that it can extend itself to cover and protect others around you. What might have happened if Jesus had not spoken peace to the storm (Mark 4:35-41)? What if He hadn't been on the boat that day? What if the outcome had been left totally up to His disciples? Perhaps the water would have filled the boat to the point of sinking. However, when Jesus said, PEACE, BE STILL, a great calm came over the sea and wind.
As our Prince of Peace who has caused us to inherit HIS Peace, what can you and I accomplished through the power of that peace?
I recall an event that happened in my home some years ago when a rather contentious, unpleasant man and his wife were spending the weekend with us. From the moment he arrived, the whole atmosphere of our home darkened with his negative words and self-centered conversations. While trying to be good hosts, we had "given the floor" to him to speak; but the more he spoke, the worse we were all feeling. We could feel the conflict between good and bad, light and dark. The love and peace and joy that was normally prevalent was replaced by irritation, anger, confusion and a myriad of negative thoughts and energy.
I had a hard time sleeping that night. When morning came, I felt depressed, knowing that this man was in my home and I wasn't looking forward to another day like the day before. So, I began to pray and ask God for wisdom on how to restore the peace that we were accustomed to. As I spent time alone with God in my bedroom, praising and worshiping Him to strengthen my spirit, He showed me that I was to take the private praises and make them "public", as it were. In other words, when I stepped out of my bedroom, I came out with a praise on my lips and declaring that this was a day that the Lord had made and that we would rejoice and be glad in it. I kept lifting my voice in praise before everyone in the house until I felt the darkness break and the peace return.
What was so amazing in that experience is that the countenance of our guest not only lightened up with smiles, but his conversation that day was not negative, bitter or self-centered. Instead of us entering his "atmosphere", we made him enter ours. And it lasted the remainder of their time with us. Speak peace. Praise God and He will set a table before you in the very presence of your enemies. Someone's spirit is going to dominate an atmosphere. If you are carrying the peace of God, it might as well be your spirit!
How ironic that the devotional I use on a daily basis, gave me this verse this week:
"And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children," (Isa. 54:13).
I am praying for all of my children - both natural and spiritual - that the Word and Will of God become firmly established and manifested in their lives. When we walk in righteousness, God extends His favor to our seed (children). I can stand on this promise: that MY children will be taught of the Lord, and MY children shall have GREAT peace. Amen. You can claim those promises too. Your peace is not just confined to you. It will spread out and cover and protect others as well.
FIRST PEACE, THEN POWER
"Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you," (Luke 10:19).
In our first message on peace (April 21, 2013) we shared the story from Luke 10 about how Jesus sent 70 unnamed disciples two by two into every city that He was going to visit. Read Luke 10:1-19 again. Did you notice that when Jesus sent them out as sheep among wolves with the message about the kingdom of God being near, that they could only heal in places where they were accepted? If they entered a city where they were not accepted, they were instructed to shake the very dust from off their shoes and move on to the next place. They were not to engage in any conflict because He had sent them out in peace.
It's not until they return successfully from this assignment, that Jesus then says to them, "I give you power...". That's present tense. In other words, I believe because they had followed instructions and returned successfully, they were "promoted" to another place. God always rewards those who are obedient. Never think that your labor is in vain. When you do the right thing, there is a reward, beloved. It's easy for me to believe that these 70 disciples were among the 120 that were gathered in the upper room when the Day of Pentecost was fully come. Oh, yes! "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth," (Acts 1:8).
When the resurrected Lord appeared to His hiding disciples this is what He had to say to them:
"Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you" (John 20:19).
Jesus' first words were of PEACE.
"And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.
21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you," (John 20:20,21).
A second time, the Lord Jesus Christ speaks the word of Peace to His disciples. First Peace. Then...
"And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost," (John 20:22).
We know that they were to receive power AFTER that the Holy Ghost had come upon them (Acts 1:8). So, this then is a principle in the Word of God: He gives you peace before He gives you power. What happens when a person has power, but not peace? That is not the order of God.
The anti-Christ understands that in order to look and act like God, and be accepted through deception, he must come in peaceably:
"And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many..." (Daniel 8:25).
Yes, Satan will come in sheep's clothing, but Jesus warns us that we are to inspect "fruit", not gifts. (read Mt. 7:19-21, 22-24; 2 Thess. 2:9).
Do not be deceived! Do not be impressed by prophetic gifts or people working miracles, signs and wonders. No not be impressed by the "appearance" of peace. Check out the "results" of a person's lifestyle and ministry. Do they have the fruit of the spirit as listed in Gal. 5:22-23? There is no substance to artificial fruit. How is their life affecting the lives of others: for better or worse? There is a peace of God that rules in our hearts. If something or something disturbs that peace... if a "red flag" goes up in your spirit, be diligent to seek the Lord and know the reason for it. Do not be naïve. This is a day to stand strong.
In Jesus' name.
Amen.
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