Did you know that the word peace is used in the Bible 429 times? That's a lot of emphasis on peace.
Peter quoted Psalms 34, "The One Who Desires Life, To Love And See Good Days, Must Keep His Tongue From Evil And His Lips From Speaking Deceit. He must turn away from evil and do good; He must seek peace and pursue it. - 1 Pe 3:10-11 NASB95
God wants us to know His peace.
There are two words that God had led me to regarding peace: Shalom in Hebrew and eirene in Greek.
Rick Renner teaches that peace, translated from the Greek word eirene, depicts the cessation of war, an end of conflict, and a time of rebuilding and reconstruction after war has ceased. It is a time of prosperity, and distractions are removed, a rule of order, and a place of calm and inner stability. This is the kind of peace that enables one to conduct themselves peacefully even in the midst of troubled circumstances or trauma."
Eirene is the equivalent of shalom in Hebrew. The word shalom has several meanings. Two of which are salvation and deliverance.
Shalom expresses the idea of wholeness, completeness, or tranquility in the soul that is unaffected by outward circumstances or pressures. This kind of peace only comes from a relationship with God.
Jesus is the Prince of Peace.
Jesus is peace on earth.
Gideon built an altar and called it The Lord is Peace.
To live a life of peace despite circumstances, one must make peace with God. In Christ, we are reconciled to God. Without this reconciliation with God, there is no true peace.
The world offers false peace. This type of peace comes when we try to control our circumstances, but it doesn't last, and it often comes with a price. People attempt to find peace in relationships, money, drugs, alcohol, sex, fame, etc., but all these things will diminish over time.
Jesus said where your heart is there is your treasure as well. He said, "The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart. – Luke 6:45
When our hearts are full of the light of Christ, peace will flow from us even in the worst times. Jesus said it this way - He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." - Jn 7:38
The Apostle Paul said, Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. – Col 3:15 NASB95
The word rule is translated from a Greek word that is defined as to control the activity of someone, based presumably upon correct judgment and decision. So, when we say, "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts," we are saying let Jesus have the wheel.
You cast the things that are causing anxiety on Him with the full assurance that He loves you enough to take care of it. Give Him control.
6 Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God. – Phil 4:6
Rick Renner has a teaching from this verse where he breaks down some of the words used by the Apostle Paul.
Prayer is translated from proseuche the most common word for prayer. Rick Renner says this word was originally used to depict a person who vowed to give something of great value to God in exchange for a favorable answer.
When I heard this, I immediately went to Romans 12:1: I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
Since the highest value of a person is their blood because life is in the blood, it is only fitting that we lay our lives down in exchange for God's favor. Of course, Jesus' blood is the final cost. Ours is spiritual.
you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. - 1Pe 2:5 NKJV
To quote Rick Renner again, "Prayer portrays an individual who desires to see his prayer answered so desperately he is willing to surrender everything he owns in exchange for answered prayer." Therefore, prayer equates to surrender.
When we humble ourselves and admit we can't do this alone, we move out of the way and allow God to take over, giving us peace.
Supplication – This is the second most used word for prayer in the Bible, and it means to beseech, beg, plead earnestly, and appeal for help.
Thanksgiving means going to the Lord in prayer and supplication with a thankful, expectant heart that He hears and will answer.
This made me think of the words in James that when we ask in prayer, we are to do so without doubt. Being thankful moves us from anxiety to faith. This is the attitude of prayer.
"Request portrays a person who insists or demands that a specific need be met after approaching and speaking to his superior with respect and authority." "It represents faith because it expresses the idea that you expect to receive what you requested." Rick Renner
And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven's Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. - Heb 10:19 NLT 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. - Heb 4:16 NKJV
This is a covenant relationship in action. You give your life over as a living sacrifice, holy, set apart, and in the sanctification process, and God responds with His peace.
7 And the peace of God [that peace which reassures the heart, that peace] which transcends all understanding, [that peace which] stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus [is yours]. - Phl 4:6-7 AMP
Your heart is the seat of your emotions, and from that place, the issues of life flow. The Guard is Jesus' Spirit. He keeps or guards the entrance of your heart so anxiety, worry, and fear don't consume you.
Lastly, verse eight encourages us on how to think. Think about things that are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, good report, virtuous and praiseworthy. Follow someone who follows peace as Paul instructed, and the God of peace will be with you.
Let's pray,
Heavenly Father, thank You for sending peace to the earth and allowing me, as a believer, to partake of such peace. I choose to pursue Your peace, love, joy, and righteousness even when circumstances try to dictate my future and take me outside of Your perfect will. I can only live out this choice with Your Holy Spirit, so I ask for Your help to trust in Your work in my heart. In Jesus name, Amen
Beautiful! Love the sermon on peace.