My Peace
On the way to Gethsemane, when Jesus knew that out of fear, HIs disciples would desert Him….Jesus gave this Word of comfort:
John 14:27 “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.”
This should be the ruling factor of our lives….His peace…
…for He has given it to us, to use. (I leave with you…..I give unto you. Both of these are personal….”you”)
Sometimes I believe that we think of Christ’s blessings, as presents we only receive once in a while….but He has deposited HIs peace within us, by the Holy Spirit….we must yield to it.
His Peace should flow like a river through us….bringing our ragged thoughts into order….stilling our wounded hearts….and making our wills become strong for His Will.
HIs peace will maintain ourselves…and help with others, as it flows through us.
This is what He promised through His Spirit on the Temple steps during the Feast of Tabernacles:
John 7:38-39 “…..He that believeth on Me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake He of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him should receive:…”
But what hinders the Spirit from flowing?
1 Thessalonians 5:19 “Quench not the Spirit”
We need to stop choking HIm off, in our reasons and emotions.
“Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid”. Let not….means that we have the grace to stop our hearts from being “troubled” (which means to stir up or agitate.)
In other words, don’t let people or circumstances stir us up and get our eyes off of the Lord.
How can we not? For there are many things which touch us…that “bring us to our knees”!
But that is it….if they bring us to our knees….we pray….then we “let” His peace place us on our feet again….and we trust Him and His Word.
Jesus said…”Let not your heart be troubled” before in this chapter….for He gave the answer to this “agitation” that comes to us….
….”ye believe in God, believe also in Me.”
Place your whole being on God and I…..for My Father and I are not “troubled”.
(And wasn’t this clearly seen, when Judas and the soldiers came to arrest HIm….He spoke up, not for Himself, but for His disciples. John 18:4-8 “Let these go their way”)
“Let not your heart….be afraid”
Fear is torment. Love casts out fear. If our eyes of love to the Lord are on Him….and HIs glory….fear is abated….and finally cast out.
1 John 4:17-18 “Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as He is, so are we in this world.
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”
As we know His love for us….we love Him.
1 John 4:19 “We love Him, because He first loved us.”
And as we love Him….we find our Stronghold, our fortress…our refuge…in Him..
David, in the psalm that spoke of his battles in life….”
….begins with…
Psalm 18:1 “I will love thee, O Lord, my strength.”
And then he continues to describe what he has learned the Lord will be to him. Weak as he was in many situations….yet David knew the Lord’s love….and loved God.
Psalm 18:2 “The Lord is my Rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler (armor), and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.”
And we, too, are called to be garrisoned about with HIs peace…as a fortress through this world.
Philippians 4:7 “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
It isn’t only our thoughts and emotions that are kept….we are not just calmed….but delivered from fear and trouble.
Psalm 46:1-2 “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;”
Our God, by the Holy Spirit is “very present”. He is with us….and working in us. Let us yield to Him….and have the Peace that the Lord left us….gave us.
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 