Untitled Document

• The Peace Of God
(Part One)
• A Lesson In Two Parts
• What is the peace of God? (Pt.1)
• How can I obtain it? (Pt.2)

• Introduction
• Peace is something we all want.
• We certainly want it in the world, whether it be the absence of war between nations, or peace in our neighborhoods or our homes.
• We seek lives where stress is minimized.
• The definition of peace typically means the absence of conflict.

• Introduction
• While peace is something we all desire in the details of this life, there is a far greater peace with greater implications.
• And that is peace with God and from God.
• In our lesson, we want to spend a few moments talking about the peace of God and how to obtain the peace of God.

• The Peace Of God
• What is peace?
• From the Greek word--e????? (eirene) –
• To be in a state of tranquility or calmness.
• Harmony and concord.
• As we have already noted, we desire such in the affairs of this life, but it really ought to be our goal with our relationship with God and within ourselves.

• The Peace Of God
• The source of this peace – God – “God of peace” –
• Romans 15:33, Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.
• Romans 16:20, And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
• Philippians 4:9, The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:23, Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
• As we can see there are many passages that directly address God as the God of peace.

• The Peace Of God
• The peace of God is an inner calmness in our lives because we are faithfully serving Him.
• Because we serve Him, we know that we are forgiven and loved by Him.
• We know that He has made His home with us.
• John 14:23, Jesus answered and said to him, “if anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.
• He dwells in our hearts.

• The Peace Of God
• Peace WITH God!
• This produces hope which leads to a sense of spiritual calmness in our lives.
• Because of His peace we are at peace with Him.
• It is this peace that we strive to achieve.

• The Peace Of God
• Phil. 4:6-7, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
• This peace “surpasses all understanding.”
• This means that it is something difficult to describe – especially to one in the world who doesn’t understand it and doesn’t want to either.

• The Peace Of God
• The reason it is difficult to understand is because it comes from God.
• Jesus told His disciples, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27)
• It rules in our hearts - Colossians 3:15, “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.”

• The Peace Of God
• Ephesians 2:14-18 speaks of Jesus being our peace – in this text He notes –
• 1) the wall of separation (between Jews and Gentiles, AND between God and man) is broken down;
• 2) Through His sacrifice He has reconciled us to God.
• 3) He came and preached this peace
• 4) Through Him we now have access to the Father.

• The Peace Of God
• This peace does NOT mean we face no conflict.
• We know better.
• In fact, it is often conflict that brings out this peace in our lives.
• An interesting saying of our Lord is Matthew 10:34 where Jesus said, ““Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.”
• Paul in Romans 5:3-5 spoke of the hope produced by tribulations.

• The Peace Of God
• We can think of the faithful martyrs of the first century who willingly died and suffered for Him without letting it overcome them.
• Consider Paul and Silas in prison in Philippi (Acts 16:25).
• Stephen (Acts 7:54-60).
• But it is calmness within that knows that no matter what the world does to us, it cannot touch our souls or our relationship with God.

• Conclusion (Part One)
• There is nothing like complete and total peace.
• And if that can be achieved here on earth, it is but a taste of what heaven will be like.
• What are you doing to enhance your peace with God?

• The Peace Of God
(PART TWO)
• A Lesson In Two Parts
• What is the peace of God? (Pt.1)
• How can I obtain it? (Pt.2)

• Introduction
• While peace is something we all desire in the details of this life, there is a far greater peace with greater implications.
• And that is peace with God and from God.
• In our lesson, we want to spend a few moments talking about the peace of God and how to obtain the peace of God.

• How To Obtain The Peace Of God
• By purifying your hearts and minds –
• This involves both God’s part (being made right with Him – obeying the gospel) and us putting forth the necessary efforts to cleanse ourselves.
• Romans 8:6 says, “For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.”
• Colossians 3:15 speaks of the peace of God ruling in our hearts.
• WE must strive to live pure lives if we want peace.
• Living with impurities will bring misery, fear, guilt and other qualities that rob us of our peace.

• How To Obtain The Peace Of God
• By seeking it – 1 Peter 3:10-12, “For “He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”” (A quotation from Psalm 34:12-16)
• Peace is something we ought to crave.

• How To Obtain The Peace Of God
• If there is something in your life producing strife, you need to deal with it.
• Physically that means addressing the problem.
• Spiritually it means the same thing.
• Consider what Jesus said in Matthew 5:9, “Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.” (NOTICE it says, “peacemaker” NOT peace-lover.)
• Sometimes, before you can achieve peace you have to struggle.

• How To Obtain The Peace Of God
• By learning to trust in God –
• that is what faith is about.
• Proverbs 3:5–6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”
• Isaiah 26:3. In a passage addressing Judah (and actually looking toward the Messiah and His kingdom) he says of God, ““You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.”

• How To Obtain The Peace Of God
• Paul in his persecutions trusted in God. “Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us,”
(2 Corinthians 1:9–10)
• With boldness he said in Romans 8:28, 37-39, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” … “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

• How To Obtain The Peace Of God
• It is sometimes a challenge to trust in God, but it is essential if we are to enjoy His peace.
• It keeps our mind focused in the right direction as we face troubles.

• How To Obtain The Peace Of God
• By not worrying –
• Matthew 6:25-34 finds Jesus speaking about not worrying.
• How many fail to find peace because they worry too much about everything?
• NOTE that this does not mean we never show concern –
• it deals with anxiety – an obsession with worry.

• How To Obtain The Peace Of God
• One of the things it demonstrates is a lack of trusting God!
• Note again Philippians 4:6,7, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

• How To Obtain The Peace Of God
• Through self-acceptance –
• to be at peace with yourself, you have to accept who you are.
• In this I do NOT mean that you accept ungodly behavior in your life!
• You have to take care of your sins.
• I mean you need to accept your place in life and if you are striving to do your best, accept yourself.
• Don’t be your own worst enemy!

• How To Obtain The Peace Of God
• Romans 12:3, “For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.”
• NOTICE how it says not to think MORE highly than you ought.
• Accept your lot in life!
• Paul said, “By the grace of God, I am what I am”
(1 Corinthians 15:10)
• Matthew 25:15 – according to your ability.
• There are people who are only “one talent” people.
• If that is you, accept it and be the best “one talent person” you can be. (similar to a speech by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.).

• How To Obtain The Peace Of God
• By being content –
• Philippians 4:11-13 – Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content; I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
• Be content in whatever state you find yourself in.

• How To Obtain The Peace Of God
• Through keeping His word –
• Ephesians 6:15 - in describing our spiritual armor, Paul noted that our feet are to be shod with “the gospel of peace.”
• Psalm 119:165, “Great peace have those who love Your law, And nothing causes them to stumble.”
• Philippians 4:8-9, “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.”

• How To Obtain The Peace Of God
• Through prayer –
• Again Philippians 4:6-7. When we are anxious, we need to learn to pray and cast our cares on Him.
• He does care (1 Peter 5:6-7).
• James 5:16 tells us that the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man accomplishes much.
• And don’t forget to pray for others –
1 Timothy 2:1-2 tells us to pray for kings that we may be able to lead a quiet and peaceable life.

• How To Obtain The Peace Of God
• Seek peace with your brethren
• Mark 9:50, “Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another.””
• Romans 14:19, “Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.”

• How To Obtain The Peace Of God
Reasons to seek peace with our brethren :
• 1)We need to be united as brethren and that involves peace –
• Philippians 2:1-2, If therefore there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.
• Ephesians 4:1-3
2) We need our brethren there for us when we are struggling and dealing with the world.

• How To Obtain The Peace Of God
• Live in peace –
• Again Matthew 5:9, “Blessed are the peacemakers.”
2 Corinthians 13:11, “Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.”
Heb. 12:14, “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:”

• How To Obtain The Peace Of God
• Don’t meddle in the affairs of others –
• 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 “that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.”
• It is a rare moment (VERY rare) when one who causes strife or stirs up things has peace in so doing.
• If you want others to treat you peacefully, you do the same for them (Matthew 7:12).

• Conclusion
• And there you have it –
• Some things we can do to promote the peace of God in our lives.
• There is nothing like complete and total peace.
• And if that can be achieved here on earth, it is but a taste of what heaven will be like.
• What are you doing to enhance your peace with God?

By Carey Scott from a sermon by someone else.

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