PEACE
DEFINITION: Peace is a condition of quiet, calm, tranquility, and harmony. It is the absence of strife, anxiety, and concern. Peace is not just passivity, because maintaining peace requires directed action on the part of a peacemaker. In Greek, “peace” means to bind together in wholeness.
FACTS ABOUT PEACE:
There are two types of peace. The first is peace with God which comes through accepting Christ as Savior (Romans 5:1). After you have made peace with God, you can have the peace of God manifested in your life (Philippians 4:7).
You must know God to experience true peace. You will never experience true peace apart from making peace with God. You do this by confessing and repenting of sin and–if you are not a believer–accepting Jesus Christ as Savior. Jesus is the Prince of Peace, enabling you to have both peace with God and the peace of God (Ephesians 2:14).
Lack of peace results from wrong attitudes and sinful actions. Worries over provision–a job, housing, clothes, food, money to pay bills–often result in a lack of peace. Jesus said not to concern yourself with these things (Matthew 6:31-34). Unconfessed sin will also cause you to lose your peace.
Lack of peace can be caused by tormenting spirits. Demonic spirits bring tormenting thoughts that steal your peace.
Peace is a gift from God. It is a spiritual legacy bestowed by Jesus: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27).
Peace is a Fruit of the Holy Spirit. As one of the Fruit of the Spirit, it is a virtue that is to be developed in the lives of all believers (Galatians 5:22).
Peace is a benefit of the atonement of Christ. The Prophet Isaiah declared: “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).
Confusion is the opposite of peace. God is not the author of confusion, rather He is the God of peace (1 Corinthians 14:33).
DEALING WITH PEACE:
Make peace with God. If you do not know Jesus as Savior or there is known sin in your life, make peace with God. Confess, repent, and ask forgiveness. There is no peace without the Prince of Peace. You must have peace with God in order to experience the peace of God.
Bind tormenting spirits. Bind the spirits that bring confusion and the tormenting thoughts that cause you to lose your peace. Loose the spirit of peace to operate in your life.
Accept peace as a gift from God. Just as you accepted salvation, accept peace as God’s gift to you (John 14:27) and a Fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22).
Ask God to transform your mind. Lack of peace begins with your thought life…”Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:1-2).
Keep your mind focused on God. Despite adversities and the circumstances of life, keep your mind focused on God (Isaiah 26:3). You can do this through continual prayer and study of the Word, for one of the purposes of the Word is to bring peace (John 16:33).
Allow peace to reign. You must allow or “let” the peace of God to reign in your life despite the circumstances: “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace” (Colossians 3:15).
WHAT GOD’S WORD SAYS ABOUT PEACE:
I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. (Psalm 4:8)
The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace. (Psalm 29:11)
Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. (Psalm 34:14)
Consider the blameless, observe the upright; there is a future for the man of peace. (Psalm 37:37)
When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.(Proverbs 3:24)
When a man’s ways are pleasing to the Lord, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him. (Proverbs 16:7)
The beginning of strife is like releasing water; Therefore stop contention before a quarrel starts.(Proverbs 17:14, NKJV)
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. (Isaiah 9:6-7)
You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.(Isaiah 26:3)
The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever. (Isaiah 32:17)
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10)
If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the waves of the sea. (Isaiah 48:18)
“There is no peace,” says the Lord, “for the wicked.” (Isaiah 48:22)
But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5)
“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you. (Isaiah 54:10)
All your sons will be taught by the Lord, and great will be your children’s peace. (Isaiah 54:13)
You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. (Isaiah 55:12)
“I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future .” (Jeremiah 29:11)
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. (Matthew 5:9)
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. (Mark 9:50, NKJV)
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14:27)
I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)
The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; (Romans 8:6)
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1-2)
If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. (Romans 12:18)
For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. (Romans 14:17)
Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. (Romans 14:19, 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. (Romans 15:13)
For God is not a God of disorder but of peace. (1 Corinthians 14:33)
…Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you. (2 Corinthians 13:11)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)
For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. (Ephesians 2:14-18)
Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:3)
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. (Philippians 4:6-7, NKJV)
For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. (Colossians 1:19-20)
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. (Colossians 3:15).
Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all. (2 Thessalonians 3:16, NKJV)
Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. (Hebrews 12:14)
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without variance, without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for them that make peace. (James 3:17-18, ASV)
Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it. (1 Peter 3:11, NKJV)
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7)
