Sunday, April
6, 2014 am
THE PEACE OF GOD!
Peace is something we all want.
We certainly want it in the world, whether it be the absence of
war between nations, or peace in our neighborhoods or our homes. We seek
lives where stress is minimized.
The definition of peace typically means the absence of conflict.
While peace is something we all desire in the details of this
life, there is a far greater peace with greater implications – and that
is peace with God and from Him.
In our lesson this morning we want to spend a few moments talking
about the peace of God.
a.
What is peace?
From εἰρήνη (eirene) – to be in a state of tranquility or
calmness. Harmony and
concord. A good way to
describe this term is the absence of conflict.
As we have already noted, we desire such in the affairs of this
life, but it really ought to be our goal with our relationship with God
and within ourselves.
b.
The source of this peace – God – “God of
peace” – Rom. 15:33, 16:20, Phil. 4:9, 1 Thess. 5:23, 2 Cor. 3:11, cf. 1
Cor. 14:33. As we can see
there are many passages the directly address God as the God of peace.
c.
The peace of God is an inner
calmness in our lives because we are faithfully serving Him.
Because we serve Him, we know that we are forgiven and loved by
Him. We know that He has made His
home with us (John 14:23).
He dwells in our hearts.
d.
Peace WITH God!
This produces hope which leads to a sense of spiritual calmness
in our lives. Because of
His peace we are at peace with Him. It
is this peace that we strive to achieve.
e.
Phil. 4:6-7, “Be anxious for
nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with
thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace
of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts
and minds through Christ Jesus.”
This peace “surpasses all understanding.”
This means that it is something difficult to describe –
especially to one in the world who doesn’t understand it and doesn’t
want to either. The
reason it is difficult to understand is because it comes from God.
Jesus told His disciples, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I
give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart
be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27)
It rules in our hearts - Col. 3:15, “And let the peace of God rule in
your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.”
Eph. 2:14-18 speaks of Jesus being our peace – in this text He notes –
1) the wall of separation (between Jews and Gentiles, AND
between God and man) is broken down;
2) Through His sacrifice He has reconciled us to God.
3) He came and preached this peace
4) Through Him we now have access to the Father.
a.
This peace does NOT mean we face no
conflict. We know
better. In fact, it is often
conflict that brings out this peace in our lives.
One of the most interesting saying of our Lord to me is Matthew 10:34
where Jesus said, ““Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth.
I did not come to bring peace but a sword.”
Paul in Rom. 5:3-5 spoke of the hope produced by tribulations.
I think of the faithful martyrs of the first century who willingly died
and suffered for Him without letting it overcome them.
Consider Paul and Silas in prison in Philippi (Acts 16:25).
Consider Stephen (Acts 7:54-60).
But it is calmness within that knows that no matter what the world does
to us, it cannot touch our souls or our relationship with God.
a.
By purifying your hearts and minds
– this involves both God’s part (being made right with Him – obeying the
gospel) and us putting forth the necessary efforts to cleanse ourselves.
Romans 8:6 says, “For to be carnally minded is death, but to be
spiritually minded is life and peace.”
Col. 3:15 speaks of the peace of
God ruling in our hearts.
WE must strive to live pure lives if we want peace.
Living with impurities will bring misery, fear, guilt and other
qualities that rob us of our peace.
b.
By seeking it –
1 Pet. 3:10-12, “For “He who would
love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And
his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good;
Let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the
righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the
Lord is against those who do evil.”” (cf. Psa. 34:12-16)
Peace is something we ought to crave.
If there is something in your life producing strife, you need to
deal with it. Physically
that means addressing the problem.
Spiritually it means the same thing.
Consider what Jesus said in Matthew 5:9,
“Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of
God.” NOTICE it says,
“peacemaker” NOT peace-lover.
Sometimes, before you can achieve peace you have to struggle.
c.
By learning to trust in God – that
is what faith is about.
Proverbs 3:5–6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not
on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He
shall direct your paths.”
Isaiah 26:3. In a passage
addressing Judah (and actually looking toward the Messiah and His
kingdom) he says of God, ““You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose
mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.”
Paul in his persecutions trusted in God.
“Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we
should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, who
delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we
trust that He will still deliver us,” (2 Corinthians 1:9–10)
With boldness he said in Romans 8:28, 37-39, “And we know that all
things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are
the called according to His purpose.” (, NKJV) “Yet in all these
things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am
persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor
powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor
any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of
God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
It is sometimes a challenge to trust in God, but it is essential if we
are to enjoy His peace. It
keeps our mind focused in the right direction as we face troubles.
d.
By not worrying – Matt. 6:25-34
finds Jesus speaking about not worrying.
How many fail to find peace because they worry too much about
everything?
NOTE that this does not mean we never show concern – it deals with
anxiety – an obsession with worry.
One of the things it demonstrates is
a lack of trusting God! (see previous point)
Note again Phil. 4:6,7, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by
prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made
known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,
will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
e.
Through self-acceptance – to be a
peace with yourself, you have to accept who you are.
In this I do NOT mean that you accept ungodly behavior in your
life! You have to take care
of your sins. I mean you
need to accept your place in life and if you are striving to do your
best, accept yourself. Don’t
be your own worst enemy!
Rom. 12:3, “For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who
is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to
think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of
faith.” NOTICE how it says
not to think MORE highly than you ought.
Accept your lot in life!
Paul said, “By the grace of God, I am what I am” (1 Cor. 15:10)
Matt. 25:15 – according to your
ability. There are people
who are only “one talent” people.
If that is you, accept it and be the best “one talent person” you
can be.
f.
By being content – Phil. 4:11-13 –
be content in whatever state you find yourself in.
g.
Through keeping His word –
Eph. 6:15 - in
describing our spiritual armor, Paul noted that our feet are to be shod
with “the gospel of peace.”
Psa. 119:165,
“Great peace have those who love Your law, And nothing causes
them to stumble.”
Phil. 4:8-9, “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever
things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure,
whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there
is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these
things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in
me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.”
h.
Through prayer – Again Phil.
4:6-7. When we are anxious,
we need to learn to pray and cast our cares on Him.
He does care (1 Pet. 5:6-7).
James 5:16 tells us that the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous
man accomplishes much.
And don’t forget to pray for others – 1 Tim. 2:1-2 tells us to pray for
kings that we may be able to lead a quiet and peaceable life.
i.
Seek peace with your brethren –
Mark 9:50,
“Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you
season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another.””
Romans 14:19, “Therefore let us pursue the things which make for
peace and the things by which one may edify another.”
There are many reasons for this among them being:
1)We need to be united as brethren and that involves peace – Phil.
2:1-2, Eph. 4:1-3
2) We need them there for us when we are struggling and dealing with the
world.
j.
Live in peace –
Again I remind you of Matthew 5:9, “Blessed are the peacemakers.”
2 Co. 13:11, “Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of
good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and
peace will be with you.”
Heb. 12:14, “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without
which no one will see the Lord:”
Don’t meddle in the affairs of others – 1 Thess. 4:11-12 “that you
also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work
with your own hands, as we commanded you, that you may walk properly
toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.”
It is a rare moment (VERY rare) when one who causes strife or stirs up
things has peace in so doing.
If you want others to treat you peacefully, you do the same for
them (Matt. 7:12).