LIVING A PEACEFUL LIFE
Philippians 4:6-7
Phil 4:6 In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.
ASV
Peace is not the absence of turmoil and problems, it is calm in the midst of them. Peace is not something you are born with, it is something you learn through life experiences. Peace is not humanly possible without God. True lasting, ongoing peace comes from Jesus.
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 fearful.
A PLAN FOR PEACE
Philippians gives us a plan of peace. We have to see God’s word as directions for every area of our life.
Don’t be anxious (worry) about anything. Worry is defined as tormenting ourselves with disturbing thoughts. It is a state of fear. It is what we do to ourselves with negative thoughts. It never solves anything. It is easy to worry about what you don’t know and what you cannot control. It is a human attitude,
2. PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING.
The solution to worry is prayer. First we must communicate our problems
with God.
Second we must trust God with our problems. Telling God about what is
going on in our lives is one thing. Leaving the solution to God is a totally
different thing. We must trust that God has the answer and will act on
our behalf.
Third we must listen to God to see how He directs us. God involves us
in the solution. We must do all we can to stand against the wise of the
Devil. We must be sure we are doing what is right in the sight of the
Lord.
Forth, we must wait patiently on the Lord. He is not on our time.
God does not work the way we want. His ways are better.
3. Take your prayers to God with thanksgiving. Thank God for what He has
done for you. Thank God for your present situation. All things work for
our good. You may not understand it. But God draws you closer to Him
in the midst of your problems.
The text instructs us to take everything to God in prayer. The small stuff,
the big stuff and the in between stuff. Don’t consider that you can handle
anything without God. Little things can easily turn out to be big. The fact
that you are still here is a reason to be thankful.
4. THE REWARD.
The peace of God with guard your heart and mind
First, God goes to work on your heart and mind. He guards your heart to
Keep you in love and trusting Him. He guards your heart to keep you in
Love with those around you. He guard you heart to keep you from
hating your situation,
Second He guards your mind to keep out negative thoughts. He guards
your mind to keep you from being fearful. He guards your mind to keep
you encouraged and uplifted in Him
5. God give you a peace that surpasses your understanding. He calms
your spirit in the midst of a storm.
Before you can experience this peace that surpasses all understanding you
Must have a relationship with Jesus. Paul wrote this letter to the Phillipians from Jail in Rome around 60 AD. Paul and Silas had been beaten and thrown into jail In Phillipi. At midnight chained to cell in darkness they
Prayed and praise God in song. As a result a powerful localized earthquake
Shook the foundation of the jail and all chains fell of that jail cells opened
The jailer confessed Christ and he and his family were baptized.
Paul wrote not from comfort but confinement. Not from wishful thinking but experience with the Lord. Paul wrote not from doubt or fear but with confidence in the Lord.
We are not talking about peace of the world which does not last, but the peace of God that continues throughout our lifetime.
THE ELEMENTS OF PEACE
I.The Nature of Peace
1. Peace of a quiet conscience (Rom. 8:33-35; three questions)
Rom 8:34 who is he that condemneth? It is Christ Jesus that died, yea rather, that
was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who also maketh
intercession for us.
2. Peace of a surrendered will
Not my will but thine will be done
3. Peace of a hopeful heart (Isaiah 50:7)
Isa 50:7 For the Lord Jehovah will help me; therefore have I not been
confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not
be put to shame.
II. The Source of Peace
Peace with God (Rom. 5:1)
Rom 5:1 Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through
our Lord Jesus Christ;
III. The Channel of Peace
2 Thess 3:16 Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all
ways. The Lord be with you all.
GOD IS THE AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR PEACE
WE HAVE PEACE THROUGH A RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST.
Jesus settled our sin debt with the Father with His death on the cross.
We first must accept Jesus as our personal savior. Accept His death as a payment for all our sins past present and further John 3:16
WE HAVE PEACE THROUGH JUSTIFICATION
Rom 3:23 for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God; 24 being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
WE HAVE PEACE THROUGH FAITH IN THE WORD
Rom 5:1 Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus is the word of God. He put in print for us to live by it. Man shall not live by bread but every word of God.
WE HAVE PEACE THROUGH PRAYER AND THANKSGIVING
Philippians 4:5-6
Ps 42:5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And (why) art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God; for I shall yet praise him (for) the help of his
countenance
The peace of God and the joy of the Lord go hand in hand. God does not give us one without the other.
John 15:11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy may be in you, and (that) your joy may be made full.
Rom 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13 puts all the pieces together. Believing in God brings hope,
The filling of peace and Joy through the power of the Holy Spirit.
SUMMARY TO A JOYFUL, PEACEFUL LIFE
START YOUR DAY WITH PRAISE AND WORSHIP
TAKE ALL YOUR NEEDS TO GOD IN PRAYER
THANK GOD FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME TO HIM
RESOLVE TO WAIT PATIENCELY ON GOD’S SOLUTION
RESOLVE TO ACCEPT GOD’S WAY
RESOLVE TO TRUST GOD COMPLETELY
LET YOUR SOLE RECEIVE GOD’S PEACE AND JOY
REST IN THE LORD
Rom 15:13 I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.
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