In Isaiah 9:6 (Amplified), the Word calls Jesus the "Prince of Peace." Finding peace in this world is almost impossible to most of the population on the planet. We have tried to find peace by many different ways and means. We'd thought that having more money would bring peace and that having more things would bring us peace. We have chased this elusive peace for most of our lives. Even God's people haven't been in peace for the most part.
We've believed and even taught from the pulpit that if you'd just Jesus in your life then everything will be alright. For most of us, we found that getting saved didn't bring the great Utopia we'd heard about. We preached about heaven, sin, faith and many other things. We talked about the enemy and his attacks and about God trying and testing us. We explained away the peace that Jesus promised by foolish sermons.
A good share of Christians only took comfort in the fact that they would go to heaven when everything was over, but that still didn't bring peace while they were here. We thought that our going to church and acting differently would make the difference, but it didn't. I've found that the same things that upset the world still upset and cause discomfort to the Church.
In Ephesians 1:1-2 (Amplified) the Word of God says that, "Paul, an apostle (special messenger) of Christ Jesus (the Messiah) by the divine will (the purpose and the choice of God) to the saints (the consecrated, set apart ones) at Ephesus who are also faithful and loyal and steadfast in Christ Jesus." Verse 2 goes on, "May grace (God's unmerited favor) and spiritual peace (which means peace with God and harmony, unity and undisturbedness) be yours from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ."
This peace that's been given is not a things or a doctrine or something that can be obtained by anything we can do on our own. It's the person of Jesus, Himself. When we spend time with Him, we will receive His peace. John 14:27 (Amplified) says, "Peace I leave with you; My (Own) peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid (stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed, do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled)."
Philippians 4:6-8 (Amplified) says, "Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything by prayer and petition (definite requests) with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God." Verse 7 says, "And God's peace shall be yours, (that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ) and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." Verse 8 goes on, "For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things (fix your minds on them)."
I've heard so many times by so many people that, "I can't control what I think." This isn't true! If we have no means of controlling what we think, then God wouldn't have placed these instructions in the Word for us to follow.
Isaiah 26:3 (Amplified) says, "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)."
When we do as the Word instructs in Philippians 4:6-8, then we're instructed to think on Jesus. Not only the promise of heaven when we die, but the promise of heaven while we live. The Mind of Christ that is within us is the knowledge of Christ in us and our hope of glory.
This is fellowship with and a personal walk with Him. We've walked in a place of public relations with Him in our churches, but this peace comes from a personal relationship with God in our private lives. We hear sermons and testimonies about God, but they cannot take the place of knowing Him on your own. The peace that was promised has already of some future time, but here now. Isaiah spoke of a future time and John 14:27 speaks of the here and now. Paul speaks of a constant peace in Philippians 4:6-8.
This peace isn't us trying to "keep up with the Jones'." There's no peace with what the world is doing. This doesn't mean to necessarily live like a beggar and be content in it, but to live in peace with what you have. Trust God for what you need and rest in the fact that God will supply your every need, according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Matthew 6 (Amplified) we find Jesus speaking about the needs we have as men on earth. Every father knows that when you bring children into your family, they will need provisions. Do you actually think God didn't foresee this when He created us in the beginning? God didn't merely give us heaven, but everything that heaven can provide. We seem to forget that everything we see, touch, smell, hear or partake of in this realm came from the spirit realm. It was all made by the same Father Who placed us here to begin with.
Whenever Jesus needed food for the multitude, didn't God provide food for them (from the Spirit realm into the natural realm? It all came from heaven to be used here. The heavens moved on behalf of the disciples and loaded an earthly boat with earthly fish, for earthly men. I've never quite understood why we try to put off God into the spiritual realm as though He was only capable of doing things in the Spirit.
Peace comes from knowing, talking and walking with and staying in constant fellowship with Jesus here and now. Don't keep Him somewhere in the future. Keep your mind on Him.
Matthew 6:31-33 (Amplified) says, "Therefore do not worry and be anxious, saying, what are we going to have to eat? or, what are we going to have to drink, or what are we going to have to wear?"
Verse 32 goes on, "For the Gentiles (heathen) wish for and crave and diligently seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows well that you nee them all." Verse 33 says, "But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His Kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right) and then all these things taken together will be given you besides."
In other words, when you and I received Jesus (Who is God's righteousness) and we were born again, we were translated into His Kingdom and if we will understand more about Jesus and more about what He's done, then we can actually walk in heaven's peace in this earthly realm. It doesn't do away with heaven, but it manifests heaven on earth.
When we keep our minds on Jesus instead of earthly circumstances that are part of this earthly life, Jesus said He will take care of the things we need here as well as things we need there. This is the peace that manifests Jesus in the realm of the natural world.
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