There are many misconceptions about PEACE! True peace can only be understood as we consider it from the Lord’s perspective, as it is revealed through Jesus. Jesus is our source of PEACE!
Prayerfully consider: What PEACE is; what it isn’t; understanding God’s covenant of peace; where it comes from; the fruit of peace; secrets to living a peaceful life; how it relates to God’s kingdom; experiencing perfect peace; the wicked cannot experience true peace; peace in the midst of the storms of life; the difference God’s peace makes in our lives;… etc.)
THE WAY OF PEACE
Philippians 4:1 – Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, whom I long to see, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.
DEFINITION OF PEACE
A state of harmony & tranquility. The absence of hostility, the absence of mental stress or anxiety.
SHALOM (Hebrew) – Completeness; soundness; welfare; peace (BDB Hebrew Dictionary).
EIRENE (Greek) – often refers to the inner tranquility and poise of the Christian whose trust is in God through Christ (Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary).
A WALK WITH CHRIST DAILY BRINGS PEACE
Ephesians 5:18 – “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools BUT AS WISE, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be UNWISE, but UNDERSTAND what the WILL of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be FILLED [controlled] with the Spirit.”
Galatians 5:16 – “I say then: Walk [live] in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”
Galatians 5:22 – …the fruit of the Spirit IS … PEACE
IMPORTANCE OF PEACE
Why is peace so important? PEACE is to be the way of life for believers… The way of PEACE is the way of Jesus – He is the way, the truth, & the life. (John 14:6)
RIGHTEOUSNESS BRINGS PEACE AND LOVES PEACE
Psalm 72:3 – The mountains shall bring PEACE to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness.…
Psalm 85:10 – Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
THE LORD MAKES PEACE
Isaiah 45:7 – I form the light, and create darkness: I MAKE PEACE, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.
Psalm 147:14 – HE MAKES PEACE in your borders, and fills you with the finest of the wheat.
His cross provided for peace
Colossians 1:20 – …having made peace through the blood of His cross.
Isaiah 53:5 – He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
and by His stripes we are healed.
Wisdom is PEACEABLE
James 3:17 – …the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then PEACEABLE (PEACE-LOVING), considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 PEACEMAKERS who sow in PEACE raise a harvest of righteousness.
Proverbs 3:2 – For length of days, and long life, and PEACE, shall they (words of wisdom) add to you.
Proverbs 3:17 – Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are PEACE.
Seek PEACE
Psalm 34:14 – Depart from evil and do good; SEEK PEACE and pursue it.
Getting acquainted with the Lord brings PEACE
Job 22:21 – Acquaint yourself (submit yourself to) with God and be at PEACE.
The Lord of PEACE
2 Thessalonians 3:16 – The Lord of PEACE himself give you PEACE by all means…
Philippians 4:9 – Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
Romans 15:13 – Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing…
THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS PEACE
Romans 14:17 – for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.
The Covenant of PEACE
Numbers 25:12 – Wherefore say, Behold, I give unto him my covenant of PEACE:
Isaiah 54:10 – For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from you, neither shall the COVENANT OF MY PEACE be removed, says the LORD that has mercy on you.
Ezekiel 34:25 – And I will make with them a covenant of peace…
PEACE in the midst of the battle
Psalm 55:18 – He has delivered my soul in PEACE from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me.
PEACE in the midst of the storm
Mark 4:39 – And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, PEACE, BE STILL. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
Special note: How can we maintain peace in the midst of trouble, stress, and heartache? When Jesus is with us, there is no need to fear! He is able to bring calm in the storms of life!
PEACE protects from offenSe
Psalm 119:165 – GREAT PEACE have they which love your law: and nothing shall offend them.
Confusion vs. PEACE
Confusion is not from God – peace is from God
I Cor. 14:33 – For God is not the author of confusion, but of PEACE, as in all churches…
As we compare the peace of God and worldly peace (there is “no peace to the wicked”) – real peace is beautiful, and enjoyable / false peace ultimately is ugly, and miserable.
Isaiah 57:19-21 – I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, says the Lord; and I will heal him. 20 But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. 21 There is no peace, says my God, to the wicked.
WORLDLY PEACE VS. GODLY PEACE
Worldly peace often: Strives to avoid troubles; Refuses to face things; Seeks peace through pleasure; considers peace to be the absence of trouble; is sought through positive thinking & the denial of problems; etc…
Godly peace is: A peace deep within; It is a tranquility of mind; A composure; A peace that is calm in the face of bad circumstances and situations; It is more than feelings – even more than attitude and thought; …
Special note: Once we have peace with God, other forms of peace are possible...
Obedience brings peace
PhilIppians 4:9 – The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
Isaiah 48:18 – Oh, that you had heeded My commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea.
THE Meek EXPERIENCE ABUNDANCE OF peace
Psalm 37:11 – The meek … delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
Pleasing the Lord brings peace
Proverbs 16:7 – When a man’s ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
Live a PEACEFUL life
Romans 12:8 – Live PEACEABLY with all men…
Romans 14:19 – Follow after things that make for PEACE, and things wherewith we may edify one another…
2 Timothy 2:22 – Follow PEACE with all men, with all that call upon the Lord with a pure heart.
Maintain peace
Ephesians 4:3 – …Endeavor to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of PEACE.
Special note: There are some things that make for PEACE, and some that don’t… Can you think of some illustrations?
Let’s try to do our best to follow peace with all men… (see 2 Timothy 2:22 above)
JESUS MINISTERED PEACE
Luke 7:50 – And he said to the woman, Your faith has saved you; go in PEACE.
John 20:19,21,26 – …Jesus stood in the midst, and said unto them, PEACE be unto you. 21 Then said Jesus to them again, PEACE be unto you: as my Father has sent me, even so send I you… And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, PEACE be unto you.
God’s thoughts towards us are peace
Jeremiah 29:11 – I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
JESUS PROVIDES THE WAY OF PEACE
BY JUSTIFICATION
Romans 5:1 – “Therefore, having been justified BY FAITH, we have PEACE with God THROUGH our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Special note: We can find peace in our relationship with Him.
BY LOVING GOD’S WORD
Psalm 119:165-168 – GREAT PEACE have those who love Your Law, and nothing causes them to stumble… all my ways are before You.”
John 16:33 – “These things I have spoken to you, THAT IN ME you may have PEACE…
BY PRAYING ABOUT EVERYTHING— JESUS BRINGS PEACE OF MIND
Philippians 4:6-7 – “Be anxious for nothing, but in EVERYTHING by prayer and supplication, with THANKSGIVING, let your requests be known unto God; and the PEACE OF GOD which surpasses all understanding. will guard your hearts and minds THROUGH Christ Jesus.”
by being Spiritually minded — it is life & PEACE
Romans 8:6 – For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and PEACE.
BY LOVING THE BRETHREN
Hebrews 12:14 – •“Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:”
WHEN WE KEEP OUR MIND UPON GOD, JESUS CAN BRING PERFECT PEACE
Isaiah 26:3-4 – “You will KEEP him in perfect PEACE, whose MIND is stayed upon You…”
Philippians 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 (THINK) 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.”
Peace is a blessing from God and brings blessing
Psalm 29:11 – The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace.
Isaiah 54:13 – All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children.
Matthew 5:9 – Blessed are the peacemakers: …
PEACE IS A FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT
Galatians 5:22 – …the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith…
PEACE IS A FRUIT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS AND WISDOM
Peace is a fruit of God’s Word, righteousness, keeping His commandments, wisdom, true spirituality, etc..
Isaiah 32:17 – And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.
James 3:17-18 – 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.
The peace of God is to rule in our hearts
Colossians 3:15 – And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.
PEACE CAN BE HINDERED
BY A TROUBLED AND FEARFUL HEART!
JOHN 14:1 – “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God ; trust also in me.
John 14:27….let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
THE SILENT ROBBERS
Worry & anxiety!
Worry and anxiety are like robbers. They rob us of joy, peace, energy, strength and purpose. Worry can rob us of years of life.
“When you worry, which do you worry about… what might happen or what might not happen?”
According to statistics gathered, an average person’s anxiety is focused on:
40% – Things that will never happen.
30% — Things about the past that can’t be changed.
12% — Things about criticism by others, mostly things untrue.
10% — About health, which gets worse with stress.
8% — about real problems that will be faced.
A John Hopkins University doctor says, “We do not know why it is that worriers die sooner than the non-worriers, but that is a fact…
SEVERAL SCRIPTURE SONGS ABOUT PEACE
PEACE, PEACE, WONDERFUL PEACE (JOHN 14:27)
Peace, peace, wonderful peace – coming down from the Father above… Sweep over my spirit forever I pray, in fathomless billows of love.
THIS PEACE THAT I HAVE THE WORLD DIDN’T GIVE IT TO ME (john 14:27)
This peace (love; joy; Jesus; blessing; gospel; good news) that I have, the world didn’t give it to me… the world didn’t give it and the world can’t take it away.
THERE’S A PEACE INSIDE THAT PASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING (Philippians 4:7)
There’s a peace inside that passes all understanding. There’s a love in my heart that cannot be denied. There’s a joy in my soul that’s full to overflowing — for the King of Kings & the Lord of Lords lives within.
PEACE BE STILL (MARK 4:39)
Peace be still, everything is alright. Just rest in the midst of your doubts and fears and trust in your Father’s might. Wait for JESUS, then walk when He shines the light. Peace be still, everything is alright…
JESUS IS THE PRINCE OF PEACE
Isaiah 9:6 – For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Ephesians 2:14 – For He Himself is our peace, …
John 14:27 – 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
angels announced peace to the world at Jesus birth
Luke 2:14 – “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
Special note: The gospel is the gospel of peace!
Jesus can bring peace even in our physical circumstances
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.”
Let’S see peace multiplied in our lives
I Peter 1:2 – …for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: grace to you and peace be multiplied.
Pray for peace
Psalm 122:6 – Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: …
PEACE AT ALL TIMES IN EVERY SITUATION
2 Thessalonians 3:16 – Now may the Lord of PEACE himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you all.
SUMMARY (Conclusion)
JESUS IS OUR PEACE! He gives lasting PEACE. PEACE is a fruit of His Spirit within us. Let’s always maintain & nurture PEACE. PEACE is the opposite of confusion & strife. TRUE PEACE reveals the kingdom of God. We can experience PEACE in the midst of storms, battles, and adverse circumstances… We can overcome worry & anxiety, and experience PEACE! PEACE is a special gift from God! Let’s always rejoice, and be thankful for the Lord’s wonderful provision of PEACE for His people!
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Special acknowledgement: Thanks to Evelyn Asuncion for assisting with some of the preparation of this message and for sharing it at our online service.
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