REJOICE IN THE PEACE OF GOD
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IT IS UNIQUE.
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.
SEVERAL THINGS TO NOTICE
- THIS PEACE HAS TO BE GIVEN. IT IS NOT MADE OR BROUGHT ABOUT BY MAN.
- THIS PEACE IS GIVEN NOT BY MEN, BUT BY GOD HIMSELF.
- THIS PEACE IS UNIQUE. “MY PEACE” IS DIFFERENT THAN ORDINARY PEACE.
1. THE PEACE OF GOD IS DISTINCTIVE.
LOST PEOPLE CLAIM SOMETIMES TO HAVE PEACE. WHAT DO THEY MEAN ? THEY MEAN ABSENCE OF CONFLICTS, FREE FROM FEARS, WITHOUT PAIN, AND WITHOUT CHALLENGING THOUGHTS. That is basically a person who is unconscious or sedated and in a mental hospital.
A. LOST PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE THE PEACE OF GOD.
THEY WORRY ABOUT EVERYTHING AND WHEN THEY ARE TIRED OF WORRYING, THEY TAKE PILLS, SHOOT UP DRUGS, HUNT UP A NEW SEX PARTNER, OR GET DRUNK SO THEY HAVE SOME RELIEF. BUT IT IS NOT THE PEACE OF GOD.
♦ MANY HAVE NO CONCEPT OF GOD’S PEACE. THEY THINK THEY HAVE PEACE, WHEN THEY DON’T. THE FRAUDS OF THIS WORLD TELL PEOPLE THAT THEY HAVE PEACE WHEN THEY DON’T. POLITICIANS HAVE TOLD US THAT WE HAVE PEACE WITH IRAQ, WITH IRAN, WITH CHINA, ETC. BUT, WE DON’T.
Jeremiah 6:14 They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of My people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.
♦ GOD REFUSES TO GIVE PEACE TO THE WICKED. THAT IS WHY THEY TRY SO MANY OTHER WAYS TO GET IT. DRUGS, ALCOHOL, TRYING TO GET EXCITEMENT INTO THEIR LIVES, ETC.
Isaiah 48:22 There is no peace, saith the LORD, unto the wicked.
♦ SALVATION THAT GOD GIVES BRINGS PEACE.
Luke 7:50 And He said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.
B. MANY CHRISTIANS HAVE FAILED TO RECEIVE IT.
Confusion in their lives due to battles. Decisions not made, but constantly thought about. God is not the author of such.
1 Corinthians 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
As with the people in the church at Corinth speaking all different languages at the same time, some Christians are confused because they have too much going on at the same time. There are people eve now, who never finish anything they start, and so are packed with many troubles.
3. GOD’S PEACE COVERS ALL AREAS OF LIFE.
A. THE PAST.
Psalms 55:18 He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me.
Romans 3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
B. THE PRESENT.
If saved, Jesus has made peace in Heaven on your behalf.
Colossians 1:20 And, having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself; by Him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
C. THE FUTURE.
2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
* This is not the fate which awaits the world. They will think they have peace, but sudden destruction will come.
1 Thessalonians 5:3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
3. GOD’S PEACE CAN ONLY BE OBTAINED IN THE WAY GOD SAYS IT MUST BE OBTAINED.
A. GOD WANTS PEOPLE TO TAKE HIM SERIOUSLY, AND OBEY HIM.
Jeremiah 16:5 For thus saith the LORD, Enter not into the house of mourning, neither go to lament nor bemoan them: for I have taken away My peace from this people, saith the LORD, even lovingkindness and mercies.
Jeremiah 16:12 And ye have done worse than your fathers; for, behold, ye walk every one after the imagination of his evil heart, that they may not hearken unto Me:
♦ HIS PEACE IS CONDITIONAL
Psalms 119:165 Great peace have they which love Thy law: and nothing shall offend them.
Requires a change in focus for many people. (This is not something that suddenly overwhelms a person at once, it is a constant growth where the focus is on God and His will becomes dominant).
Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
♦ STAY AWAY FROM EVIL.
2 Corinthians 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
IF YOU WALK INTO THE ENEMY’S CAMP, EXPECT TO BE WITHOUT PEACE.
♦ EXERCISE FAITH IN THE PROMISE OF GOD. HE WANTS YOU TO HAVE FAITH.
James 1:7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
UNBELIEF WILL HOLD YOU BACK FROM TRUE PEACE.
♦ A LIFE OF FAITH IS ESSENTIAL TO YOUR MIND BEING READY TO RECEIVE FROM GOD.
1 John 3:22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.
B. GOD WANTS HIS PEOPLE TO RECEIVE HIS PEACE THROUGH FAITH.
♦ THERE IS TRUE PEACE IN KNOWING THAT GOD WILL RECEIVE YOU IF YOU HAVE TRUSTED HIM AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD.
John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
”Rejoice In The Peace Of God”
A Bible Study with Dr. Ed J. MacWilliams
092215
