Maintaining the Peace of God

[Minister Aaron Atkinson]

JOHN 14: 27, says “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give it you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled neither let it be afraid.” If the word of God be True and it is, because JOHN 17: 17, says “thy word is truth” and if Jesus tells the truth and He does, because “He is the Way, the Truth and the Life” (John 14:6), then Jesus told the truth when He said that He gave us His PEACE. Now if the truth be told and God is not a man that He should lie (Numbers 23: 19) then it stands to reason that we have the PEACE OF JESUS. If Jesus is your Lord then you have peace with God (Romans 5:1) and you now have the PEACE OF GOD. So Jesus can actually say, “Do not let your heart be troubled neither let it be afraid.” The Amplified Bible says “stop allowing yourself to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled (v 27). So if He says LET NOT then we can do something to keep our peace. If the word is true and it is, then there must be a way we can tap into or operate in this peace that’s already ours. There are three ways that we can maintain the peace that God has given to us. The first way is to PRAY. PHILIPIANS 4:6 says to BE CAREFUL FOR NOTHING, that’s the same as LET NOT YOUR HEART BE TROUBLED. But in everything, everything means everything, nothing left out. PRAY (seek God’s face and presence), SUPPLICATE (cry out to God about your intense need), WITH THANKSGIVING (in everything we give God thanks, not for the problem but because we know that He’s with us, and He will work it out), REQUEST (are specific petitions to God; MK 11: 24). He said that His peace would not only surpass your understanding but keep your heart and mind as well (v7). The second way is TO THINK POSITIVE. The bible tells us what to think on in PHILIPIANS 4: 8, Think on, reckon, reflect, consider these things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, good report, if there’s any virtue, if there be any praise think on these things. When you think on these things you’re be spiritual minded, which is life and peace (Romans 8:6), also He said that He would keep us in perfect peace when our mind is stayed on Him (Isaiah 26:3). The last way is TO LET THE PEACE OF GOD RULE IN YOUR HEART (Colossians 3:15). Let the PEACE OF GOD act as an UMPIRE settling all disputes that go on in your heart and mind. In other words, when you are disturbed, have anxiety, worry, unsettled, not at peace, indecisive about some situation or circumstance, let the peace of God that’s in you help you decide. When you get a green light, a velvety feeling, a knowing that it’s alright, then go with that, it’s probably safe to follow that direction when you’re not disturbed anymore, that’s the PEACE OF GOD. PEACE MEANS TO BE BIND, WOVEN TOGETHER, BEING WHOLE, NOTHING MISSING, AND NOTHING BROKEN. A THREE STRAND CORD OR ROPE IS NOT EASILY BROKEN. IT MEANS TO BE AT PEACE WITH GOD, WITH YOURSELF, AND YOUR NEIGHBOR. ITS WHOLENESS SPIRIT, SOUL, AND BODY. IT IS THE HEBREW WORD FOR SHALOM.