God’s Peace

A Blessing of Service
  1. Introduction
    1. How many of us enjoy being part of a conflict?
      1. Disagreements with your family
      2. Being at odds with your boss or coworkers
      3. Most if not all of us do not enjoy taking part in quarrels and conflicts.
      4. We like to have peace
        1. In our families
        2. On our jobs etc.
    2. Being free from strife is only a part of what we as humans desire
      1. Everyone desires to have
        1. Inner Contentment
        2. Tranquillity
        3. Serenity
      2. Everyone wants to have Peace of Mind
    3. All not only want peace as opposed to war
    4. But also an inner peace
  2. Where does this peace come from?
    1. True Peace is from God 1 Cor 14:33

      2. (1 Cor 14:33 KJV) For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

      1. Several who were speaking in tongues all at once is not from God but rather confusion,
      2. God is a God of Peace, not of conflict and disorder
      3. Called the God of Peace in Heb 13:20

      (Heb 13:20 KJV) Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
    2. Apostles and other inspired men send greetings of Peace in their letters
      1. Beginning of letters
        1. Eph 1:2
          "Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father…"
        2. 2 Peter 2:2
          "Grace and peace be multiplied unto you…"
      2. Closing (Salutation)
        1. Eph 6:23
          "Peace be to the brethren…"
        2. 1 Peter 5:14
          "Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus…"
    3. Those that are led by the Spirit and Walk in the Spirit enjoy Peace as a fruit of the Spirit Gal 5:22

      4. (Gal 5:22 KJV) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
    4. And a favorite passage to many Phil 4:7

      5. (Phil 4:7 KJV) And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

      1. Peace of God shall keep your hearts
      2. Through Christ Jesus
  3. Can we have this peace from God? Can we have inner contentment, tranquility, and serenity? Yes
    1. How do we know? From others who have obtained it
      1. Apostles – Peter is asleep waiting to die. Acts 12
        1. James is dead
        2. Peter is waiting for his time in the morning
        3. Yet he is asleep in the prison
        4. Example, before a big road trip, I get little sleep.
      2. Early Christians – Stephen being stoned – Acts 7:54-60
        1. After preach the listeners have a similar reaction as on Pentecost v.54
        2. Yet they did not ask what to do
        3. While being stoned – "Lord Jesus receive my spirit"
        4. Before he died – v. 60
      3. It is Promised to all believers
        1. 2 Thess 3:16 – Paul writing to Christians in Thessalonica

          2. (2 Th 3:16 KJV) Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all.

        2. Rom 15:13

      (Rom 15:13 KJV) Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
    2. But to have true peace from God takes more than faith
      1. More than believing in God.
      2. Devils Believe and tremble
    3. It takes action on our part
      1. James 2:17, 26 – Faith without works is dead
      2. Col. 3:17 In word or deed
        1. DO
        2. v18-22 Action to be taken by various groups
      3. Old Testament examples Heb 11
        1. Noah – built – Heb 11:7
        2. Abraham – offered – Heb 11:17
  4. In order to have Peace and not only peace but the One who gives true peace there is action involved Phil 4:9

    5. (Phil 4:9 KJV) Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
    1. Let us now take a look at the apostle Paul who gives himself as an example for us to follow. 1 Cor 11:1

      2. (1 Cor 11:1 KJV) Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
    2. The instructions and example of Paul are to be practiced by the Philippians as well as us today.
      1. Result = God of Peace shall be with you
      2. Action = Do
      3. How = Example of Paul
  5. What actions of Paul do the Philippians and we have as an example to follow so that the God of Peace can be with us?
    1. Meeting the Needs of Others Acts 20:34-35
      1. Paul labored to take care of himself and those that traveled with him.
      2. Philippians learned from his example and took action
        Phil. 4:15-16
        1. Returned good back to him that he had done for others
        2. By providing him with his necessities
      3. How many of us see others in need but fail to take action
        1. Matt 25:40 When we meet needs of others we are doing as unto the Lord.
        2. Good Samaritan Luke 10:30
    2. Worship to God by Prayers and Praises despite surroundings
      1. Acts 16:25 – Praying and Singing in presence of others
      2. Are there times when we are afraid of others hearing our prayers?
        1. Giving thanks for our meals in a Public Restaurant
        2. Bowing our heads in times of Joy or Sorrow
        3. Do our children see us go to God in prayer
          1. In Thanksgiving for blessings
          2. For comfort in times of sorrow
          3. For courage in face of trials
        4. In 1 Thess 5:17 we are exhorted to Pray without ceasing or constant in Prayer
        5. Not to pray as to be heard like the Pharisee in Luke 18
      3. Or singing songs of praise to God
        1. James 5:13

          2. (James 5:13 KJV) Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.

        2. Favorite song on the radio when alone most of us tend to sing loud
        3. But what about singing songs of Praise to God
          1. Are we afraid of what others may think when they hear us?
          2. Are we concerned about how we sound to others when we sing?
          3. God doesn’t care how we sound as long as it is from the heart.
        4. We are to teach and admonish one another in Hymns, we can do that if everyone is silent – Col. 3:16
    3. No association with Evil
      1. Acts 16:16-18
        1. Maid possessed an evil spirit
        2. She followed Paul many days
        3. Speaks the Truth – "These men are servants of the Most High God, which shew unto us the way of salvation."
      2. Why would Paul command the spirit to come out of her?
        1. He wanted nothing to do with Evil.
        2. Even though the truth was told, There would be an appearance of cooperation between Paul and the masters of the girl
          1. The good repute of the Apostles would be associated with the Demon
          2. The evil of the Demon would be reflected on the Apostles
        3. Recall, Jesus, too, cast out the "legion" who spoke the truth of his being the Son of God as recorded in Mark 5
      3. Other passages to consider
        1. 1 Thess 5:22

          2. (1 Th 5:22 KJV) Abstain from all appearance of evil.

        2. Phil 4:8 Think on the things that are the opposite of evil and unholy,
        3. 2 Cor 6:14-18 Association with God and Satan, Light and Dark
      4. What about us?
        1. Are we found in association with evil?
          1. Like a mechanic who charges for replacing a window motor
          2. when all he did was replace a broken wire
        2. Are we friends with the World
        3. Or friends with God?
    4. We also have the example of Contentment – Acts 16:23-25
      1. We have seen Peter asleep in prison waiting to die.
      2. Paul has been beaten and thrown in Prison
        1. Yet, Phil 1:12 he writes that those unpleasant situations happened for the furtherance of the Gospel
        2. Phil 4:11-13 No matter what state he was content
        3. He writes to Timothy – 1 Tim 6:6

        (1 Tim 6:6 KJV) But godliness with contentment is great gain.

      3. Remember that being content, at peace no matter what are station or sourrunding might be is a goal of every Christian
  6. Conclusion
    1. Do you enjoy the peace that comes from God?
      1. Are you at peace with yourself and with God
      2. We may not be arguing and striving with others.
      3. Our nation may be enjoying a time of no wars
    2. Remember that to live a Life with God on our side, and to have the calm assurance that He can provide
      1. It takes Action on our part – do
      2. It takes following the examples and instructions provided in the Word of God