Peace
The peace of God is a perfect peace, with wholeness being its total focus. When we are walking in God’s peace, sickness and disease cannot stay; poverty has to flee; satan cannot stay. God’s peace is a total peace, with nothing missing from our lives or nothing broken and “unfixable” in our lives.
Jesus told us that He was giving us His peace, a peace that the world cannot give. What did He mean by that statement? The world’s peace depends upon the circumstances around us and the situations in which we find ourselves. God’s peace depends on nothing but Him and trusting Him. He is the author of peace, a peace that passes all of our human understanding. How can a woman sleep in the middle of the bombing of England? Yet, there was a woman who did that. How can someone stand up in the face of a doctor’s report and say no to the verdict of death? Yet there are those who are doing it without batting an eyelash. What distinguishes them from the rest? They are resting in the peace of God and knowing that He is the One to trust, not what they see or hear around them.
Let’s look at some of God’s Word concerning peace. What does He have to say about His peace?
We start with Jesus’ instruction to us here in John 14:27.
He tells us that He is leaving His very own peace with us, giving it to us, bequeathing it to us as His gift. He is not giving as the world gives. This is a different kind of peace. This peace is His peace, which is unshakeable and unaffected by the world’s trials and tribulations. With this in mind, we are not to let our hearts be troubled or let them be afraid. We are not to permit ourselves to be fretful, anxious, full of care, agitated, disturbed, cowardly or unsettled. Rather, we are to be peaceful and tranquil, without care or anxiety or concern. All is well. The God of peace is taking care of us.
Here is what Jesus said in John 16:33 in the Amplified Bible.
…in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]
Do you notice the word “confidence” here? Jesus said that in Him (Isn’t He the Word?) we have perfect peace, confidence. In the Word----when we dwell in the Word of God----we have complete confidence. He told us to be confident in Him. In the midst of all this mess here on the earth, be confident in the Lord; take courage in the Lord; be certain of His power to keep you. He has already overcome the world for us. He has already deprived it of its power to affect us, to harm us, to conquer us. This is a command from Jesus. BE OF GOOD CHEER. In other words, BE CONFIDENT, BE CERTAIN, BE UNDAUNTED OR UNMOVED.
Let’s look at Isaiah 26:3 in the Amplified Bible.
You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You.
There’s that word “confident” again. Peace and confidence go hand-in-hand, don’t they. When one is at peace regarding anything, he or she is confident that all is well.
In 1 Peter 3:11 we are told to pursue peace. In 1 Corinthians 7:15 we are told that God has called us to peace. In Ephesians 2:14 we are told that Christ Jesus Himself is our peace. He is called the Prince of Peace in the Old Testament.
And I want to close with a confession based on 2 Corinthians 13:11 from the Amplified Bible.
I am strengthened, perfected, completed, made what I ought to be. I am encouraged and consoled and comforted. I live in peace, and then the God of love. Who is the Source of affection, goodwill, love, and benevolence gives me love toward all men because He is love toward all men. He is the Author and Promoter of peace. The Source, Author, and Promoter of peace is with me always. He dwells in me and keeps me in a peaceful state in my spirit, soul (mind, will, emotions) and body all the days of my life. And I will live long and live strong while I am on this earth.
Jesus told us that He was giving us His peace, a peace that the world cannot give. What did He mean by that statement? The world’s peace depends upon the circumstances around us and the situations in which we find ourselves. God’s peace depends on nothing but Him and trusting Him. He is the author of peace, a peace that passes all of our human understanding. How can a woman sleep in the middle of the bombing of England? Yet, there was a woman who did that. How can someone stand up in the face of a doctor’s report and say no to the verdict of death? Yet there are those who are doing it without batting an eyelash. What distinguishes them from the rest? They are resting in the peace of God and knowing that He is the One to trust, not what they see or hear around them.
Let’s look at some of God’s Word concerning peace. What does He have to say about His peace?
We start with Jesus’ instruction to us here in John 14:27.
He tells us that He is leaving His very own peace with us, giving it to us, bequeathing it to us as His gift. He is not giving as the world gives. This is a different kind of peace. This peace is His peace, which is unshakeable and unaffected by the world’s trials and tribulations. With this in mind, we are not to let our hearts be troubled or let them be afraid. We are not to permit ourselves to be fretful, anxious, full of care, agitated, disturbed, cowardly or unsettled. Rather, we are to be peaceful and tranquil, without care or anxiety or concern. All is well. The God of peace is taking care of us.
Here is what Jesus said in John 16:33 in the Amplified Bible.
…in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]
Do you notice the word “confidence” here? Jesus said that in Him (Isn’t He the Word?) we have perfect peace, confidence. In the Word----when we dwell in the Word of God----we have complete confidence. He told us to be confident in Him. In the midst of all this mess here on the earth, be confident in the Lord; take courage in the Lord; be certain of His power to keep you. He has already overcome the world for us. He has already deprived it of its power to affect us, to harm us, to conquer us. This is a command from Jesus. BE OF GOOD CHEER. In other words, BE CONFIDENT, BE CERTAIN, BE UNDAUNTED OR UNMOVED.
Let’s look at Isaiah 26:3 in the Amplified Bible.
You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You.
There’s that word “confident” again. Peace and confidence go hand-in-hand, don’t they. When one is at peace regarding anything, he or she is confident that all is well.
In 1 Peter 3:11 we are told to pursue peace. In 1 Corinthians 7:15 we are told that God has called us to peace. In Ephesians 2:14 we are told that Christ Jesus Himself is our peace. He is called the Prince of Peace in the Old Testament.
And I want to close with a confession based on 2 Corinthians 13:11 from the Amplified Bible.
I am strengthened, perfected, completed, made what I ought to be. I am encouraged and consoled and comforted. I live in peace, and then the God of love. Who is the Source of affection, goodwill, love, and benevolence gives me love toward all men because He is love toward all men. He is the Author and Promoter of peace. The Source, Author, and Promoter of peace is with me always. He dwells in me and keeps me in a peaceful state in my spirit, soul (mind, will, emotions) and body all the days of my life. And I will live long and live strong while I am on this earth.
posted by Rev. Kialeen Potterton @ 7:12 PM
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