Are you at peace?
We can never truly know peace…..until we know the Prince of peace, Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior….by faith.
Romans 5:1 “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:”
This is true peace, a peace with God….so that we may come boldly into HIs presence in prayer. (Hebrews 4:16)
But when we are born again, we can enter into the peace of rest, in all circumstances….
….are we getting it from the Lord?
Philippians 4:7 “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Jesus guides our feet into the way of peace….as our hearts are occupied with Christ.
Only there, under the guidance of Christ, is peace of mind and heart. From fear and imaginations….which is one of the chief causes of anxiety and worry…which rob us of peace.
Isaiah 48:18 “O that thou hadst hearkened to My commandments! Then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea:”
The listening and obedient ear, knows true peace….for our peace is rooted and grounded in the Person of God, and the Word of the Lord….who can not lie.
Isa 26:3-4 “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because He trusteth in Thee.
Trust in the Lord forever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength.”
Perhaps we should ask….what is peace? Is it just being away from strife?
No, for often we have peace in troubles.
Then what is the peace that Jesus gives?
First it is that the wrath that lies hard upon us….when we were rebels against the Lord, in our sin….wrapped up in the world’s ways…
…that is gone.
Jesus is our propitiation….the appeasing of God’s Holy wrath and anger. Jesus took the wrath and condemnation for us, when He gave His life a ransom on the cross.
Second, God’s peace stabilizes us. It makes us immovable in His Will, as we yield to it…..and gives us strength to stand.
Third, God’s peace leads us to joy in the Lord. When we are at rest in the Word of God…and trusting in Him….then we feel His Presence more keenly, and we have His joy.
Fourth, and very important in the days in which we live…..it surrounds us with a protection from the malice of words, and the bitterness of our heart’s reactions to the hatred of men.
They hate Jesus (no matter how they “respect” our beliefs….because He shows them their sin)….and so they will hate us, because we love and belong to Him.
But as we are obedient to the Lord…we will have peace.
Isaiah 32:17 “And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.”
Peace like a river…flowing through us….calming, keeping our eyes on the Lord, and bringing us joy in the midst of sorrow,….that Is God’s Peace….and He has it for everyone of us.
2 Thessalonians 3:16 “Now the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all.”
Peace always…by all means. How wonderful the provision for our journey through this world! How gracious of the Lord to remember and see our troubles, and pain! How loving to surround us…as with His mighty arms….with HIs Peace.
But praise God….He has this peace for all who will come to Him.
Isaiah 57:19 “I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the Lord; and I will heal him.”
Let us have this peace ourselves….
…..and then,…let us publish the gospel of peace abroad.
Isaiah 52:7 “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!”
In the world, we will have tribulation,….Jesus said. But He also said….”Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
How are we to have good cheer?
“These things I have spoken unto you,…..that in Me ye might have peace.”
The Lord knew how much we will need it,…..and He does not withhold even a little of what we need…..
….”in Him”….we have His peace….we can be of good cheer….we can overcome in the faith He gives us, because He overcame. (1 John 5:4-5)
Again, let us have this peace….always…by all means, for He has it for us.
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 