11.12.17 The God of Peace

and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7 NKJV

 

The God of Peace

Written by Michael Herbert

 

One of the verses that the naysayers will claim is an impossibility is our key verse for the day. By every stretch of the human imagination, this verse is an outright fraud. They said how is it you can have peace in the midst of a human beings biggest tragedies? A valid question and how can you have peace in the midst of an ongoing crisis for these things they can cause people emotional unstableness to the point where they have to reach out to a doctor to prescribe anxiety pills or some type of medication to ease the pain and stress. I believe the doctors are well-meaning, however, they lack in their education how this could be that in the middle of a person’s darkest hour they can have peace. I am not saying if you are on meds to stop taking them. I am not a doctor, nor do I know your situation. I am merely stating this in the spiritual. So, then they look to mind over matter as if some eastern mysticism is now in play. Yet, the answer isn’t found in mind over matter, but a real peace. Recently, two  Christian women I know were in New York City on some very important business for the Lord. Their plight was time sensitive and odds, of their trip being successful was extremely rare. The place where they had to go wasn’t exactly open to Americans, travel, but in spite of the obstacles that came after they got to the place they had to go to I received a text in the midst of all the chaos that simply read,”They had a real peace from God.” I knew that meant God was in their situation and that he would win the battle.

In a wonderful passage of David and Goliath 1 Samuel 17, Most of Isreal was in a panic over the Philistines who have come to battle and possess their land. When Goliath enters the scene, it had been said his height ranged to about 9 feet 6 inches. He indeed was a strong, big muscular man who talked a big talk. And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 1 Samuel 17:43 Certainly, people were afraid of the talk that Goliath gave and many a good man ran for fear of what he could do, yet it was a short, young redheaded boy who dared to face him when all the others didn’t want any part of him. David remembered as a shepherd how a bear came and he was able to defeat him and he recalled a lion came to destroy the sheep and he was able to destroy him as well. The question is David, why aren’t you afraid of this giant? It is quite simple. David already had to place his complete trust and hope in a God he could not see, but yet he knew was with him. David’s response to all the hype from Goliath was simply this,Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. 1 Samuel 17:45 He further went on to say, And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’S, and he will give you into our hands. 1 Samuel 17:47 The key to David’s peace that passes all understanding was not in David’s ability to win battles nor was i5t found in his own strength or abilities, but it was found in a God who partnered with David in the victory. David had peace because he knew the battle wasn’t his to fight, but the Lords. If a victory was going to come it would have to be from God.

The same God who gave David peace in a major confrontation is the same God who, aided by Christian sisters in New York City. The battle to obtain what they had to get was way out of their hands. Yes, they had a part to play in it all, but so did David. They came to a place of complete surrender to the will of God and in exchange, they rested in God for their answer. Jesus made this incredible remark in Matthew 11. “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus knew it was the tendency of humans to fight and wrestle through their own problems. My Bible School teacher said Folks, will only come to Jesus when they have exhausted their own efforts to fight on their own. Having a peace that passes all understanding takes place when we rest in the arms of Jesus and allow his supernatural strength to enter through us. It makes no sense to the unbeliever. It seems impossible to the skeptic. The facts are real peace comes because our key verse points out, “it surpasses all understanding.” It makes no sense to the average Joe who battles their own issues. This reality first is made known when we come to Christ as a born again believer. You realize you are no longer fighting against God, but now have found peace being reunited with him. The claim to the believer, is nevertheless, true and God gives peace in the most stressful situations. I’ve seen everything from death to losing everything and yet they are totally at peace. Perhaps The Holy Spirit is whispering in your ear you are carrying a load that was never meant for you to carry. Many Christians strive for their own strength and wonder why they have no peace. Give your matters to God and trust him for the answer and the peace that passes all understanding. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly, and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thes 5:23