As Christians we either have the peace of God flowing through our souls or we have some sort of anxiety. God's peace comes in different variations just like our anxiety can range from something small to stark raging fear. To give you an example on how God's peace residing in us can be different, imagine a child of God having a full measure of the Holy Spirit's joy. Do you have some kind of picture in your mind? Would you not agree that this individual not only has God's joy but also God's peace?
Now imagine an individual (a child of God) going through something in life and he or she faintly rests upon God and finds him or herself experiencing a small comfort in their soul. Just like there are different degrees of anxiety there are also different degrees of God's peace. For the most part (not in all cases) we as God's children have a conscious choice in the midst of our troubles as to whether we will have earthy anxiety or God's peace.
As children of God we are destined to experience His peace. The question really comes down to "How soon do we want it?" I think another question should come to our minds and our hearts. How consistently do we desire it? The constant comforting peace of God might even be more important than the first (how soon do we want it) because the second question will stand the test of time and eternity. Who would want God's peace once in a while when we could have it all the time?
You will start to hear a holiday saying- peace and goodwill towards all men. I think that is a very admirable saying but what people have to realize is there is peace with God and there is the peace of God. They are two different things. True peace and goodwill toward all men will never happen. It would be nice but Romans 5:1 says "Therefore being justified by faith,we have the peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." This verse was written to the person that accepted Jesus Christ into their heart as their personal Savior; therefore, they obtained "Peace with God."
If an individual has not made this decision they have no peace with God. According to the Bible although God loves unbelievers in Jesus Christ very much they are enemies of God. There are several verses in Scripture for this but just nine verses down in Romans 5:10 the Bible says "For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life." It is very interesting to me that one of the basic themes of the Bible is that the Righteous will have peace. That will be their end. The unrighteous will have no peace. That will be their end.
There is a misconception among Christians regarding God's peace. I will often hear "If I can just get a little bit more of God's peace." When an individual accepts Jesus Christ into their hearts as their personal Savior He comes in to live inside of that person. This person has the full measure of God's love,joy,and peace and other fruits of the Spirit that I did not even mention inside of them. The real question is "How does a child of God experience the Holy Spirit's peace on a moment by moment basis?" I'm going to answer that question but I want to touch on another issue.
Sometimes at the very least subconsciously a true Believer in Jesus Christ will say "I'm going through such a horrible trial so this is obviously my cross and there is no room for God's peace to be flowing through my heart" or "I just can't see that for me right now." Let me ask what I believe to be an intelligent question. Is there ever a time when a true child of God that sincerely accepted Jesus Christ into their hearts should live without experiencing God's comforting peace? I believe my answer may surprise some people but I would say "No way."
We were called to endure trials,a Damascus road experience which is the highest hardship a Christian could ever endure but we were never called to carry our own burdens at any time. The primary reason why God even allows us to go through these things is so we will learn to let go and let the Holy Spirit work through us.
Paul also said in Philippians 4:11 "Not that I speak in respect of want : for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." When we yield to God in this world it is like He is giving us a new beginning in the midst of all our stress. 11 Cor.4:8-9. When we allow God to do this we will bear fruit in our trails. In Phil. 4:11 Paul was testifying that in this World of confusion he found the secret to obtaining God's peace inside of him. I am going to get more specific on how we can tap into God's peace on a moment to moment basis.
"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts,to which also ye are called in one body, and be ye thankful." Col 3:15. There is one word for me that just stands out and that would be "let." It is a small word but is very powerful. All we have to do is "Let" the peace of God "rule" in our hearts. God's peace covers our anxiety.
Righteousness produces peace and as a result there is a quietness resting in our souls for all eternity. The signature of our victory through Jesus Christ will be God's peace resting in our souls. Jesus Christ said in Luke 7:50 "Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace." Notice faith in God and peace are in the same sentence. When we have faith in God He gives us His perfect peace and sets us free.
God is love so it would be the most natural thing in the universe for Him to give us His peace. "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." John 14:27. Jesus was actually saying "Let not your heart be troubled." He made a distinction between His peace and the World's peace. If I were to rely on the World's peace I might only have it for only a short time but God's peace is different. It comforts and transcends all understanding.
Once again faith in God and His peace are tied together. We have the good news of Jesus Christ and it has been resurrected or divinely completed in us. All we have to do is keep our minds on Him, trust God and His "Perfect" peace will be granted to us. In Isaiah 9:6 Jesus Christ is referred to as the Prince of Peace. In Romans 16:20 Jesus Christ is referred to as " the God of peace."
The peace of God was already ordained for us as Believers in Jesus Christ. Let me go over just one more verse because this is amazing. "The Lord will give strength unto His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace." Psalm 29:11.
If you are an Unbeliever in Jesus Christ you would have to experience this peace that guards our hearts and minds to understand it. If you accept Jesus Christ into your heart you will have peace with God (Romans 5:1) but hopefully you will pursue the peace of God by earnestly reading the Bible and seeing for yourself that we truly serve the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).
Love and Peace in Jesus Christ,
Bob D
Now imagine an individual (a child of God) going through something in life and he or she faintly rests upon God and finds him or herself experiencing a small comfort in their soul. Just like there are different degrees of anxiety there are also different degrees of God's peace. For the most part (not in all cases) we as God's children have a conscious choice in the midst of our troubles as to whether we will have earthy anxiety or God's peace.
As children of God we are destined to experience His peace. The question really comes down to "How soon do we want it?" I think another question should come to our minds and our hearts. How consistently do we desire it? The constant comforting peace of God might even be more important than the first (how soon do we want it) because the second question will stand the test of time and eternity. Who would want God's peace once in a while when we could have it all the time?
You will start to hear a holiday saying- peace and goodwill towards all men. I think that is a very admirable saying but what people have to realize is there is peace with God and there is the peace of God. They are two different things. True peace and goodwill toward all men will never happen. It would be nice but Romans 5:1 says "Therefore being justified by faith,we have the peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." This verse was written to the person that accepted Jesus Christ into their heart as their personal Savior; therefore, they obtained "Peace with God."
If an individual has not made this decision they have no peace with God. According to the Bible although God loves unbelievers in Jesus Christ very much they are enemies of God. There are several verses in Scripture for this but just nine verses down in Romans 5:10 the Bible says "For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life." It is very interesting to me that one of the basic themes of the Bible is that the Righteous will have peace. That will be their end. The unrighteous will have no peace. That will be their end.
There is a misconception among Christians regarding God's peace. I will often hear "If I can just get a little bit more of God's peace." When an individual accepts Jesus Christ into their hearts as their personal Savior He comes in to live inside of that person. This person has the full measure of God's love,joy,and peace and other fruits of the Spirit that I did not even mention inside of them. The real question is "How does a child of God experience the Holy Spirit's peace on a moment by moment basis?" I'm going to answer that question but I want to touch on another issue.
Sometimes at the very least subconsciously a true Believer in Jesus Christ will say "I'm going through such a horrible trial so this is obviously my cross and there is no room for God's peace to be flowing through my heart" or "I just can't see that for me right now." Let me ask what I believe to be an intelligent question. Is there ever a time when a true child of God that sincerely accepted Jesus Christ into their hearts should live without experiencing God's comforting peace? I believe my answer may surprise some people but I would say "No way."
We were called to endure trials,a Damascus road experience which is the highest hardship a Christian could ever endure but we were never called to carry our own burdens at any time. The primary reason why God even allows us to go through these things is so we will learn to let go and let the Holy Spirit work through us.
Paul also said in Philippians 4:11 "Not that I speak in respect of want : for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." When we yield to God in this world it is like He is giving us a new beginning in the midst of all our stress. 11 Cor.4:8-9. When we allow God to do this we will bear fruit in our trails. In Phil. 4:11 Paul was testifying that in this World of confusion he found the secret to obtaining God's peace inside of him. I am going to get more specific on how we can tap into God's peace on a moment to moment basis.
"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts,to which also ye are called in one body, and be ye thankful." Col 3:15. There is one word for me that just stands out and that would be "let." It is a small word but is very powerful. All we have to do is "Let" the peace of God "rule" in our hearts. God's peace covers our anxiety.
Righteousness produces peace and as a result there is a quietness resting in our souls for all eternity. The signature of our victory through Jesus Christ will be God's peace resting in our souls. Jesus Christ said in Luke 7:50 "Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace." Notice faith in God and peace are in the same sentence. When we have faith in God He gives us His perfect peace and sets us free.
God is love so it would be the most natural thing in the universe for Him to give us His peace. "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." John 14:27. Jesus was actually saying "Let not your heart be troubled." He made a distinction between His peace and the World's peace. If I were to rely on the World's peace I might only have it for only a short time but God's peace is different. It comforts and transcends all understanding.
Once again faith in God and His peace are tied together. We have the good news of Jesus Christ and it has been resurrected or divinely completed in us. All we have to do is keep our minds on Him, trust God and His "Perfect" peace will be granted to us. In Isaiah 9:6 Jesus Christ is referred to as the Prince of Peace. In Romans 16:20 Jesus Christ is referred to as " the God of peace."
The peace of God was already ordained for us as Believers in Jesus Christ. Let me go over just one more verse because this is amazing. "The Lord will give strength unto His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace." Psalm 29:11.
If you are an Unbeliever in Jesus Christ you would have to experience this peace that guards our hearts and minds to understand it. If you accept Jesus Christ into your heart you will have peace with God (Romans 5:1) but hopefully you will pursue the peace of God by earnestly reading the Bible and seeing for yourself that we truly serve the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).
Love and Peace in Jesus Christ,
Bob D
No comments:
Post a Comment