"What Is Peace?"

What Is Peace?

When I typed the word peace into the google bar I found the following:

1.  Freedom from disturbance; quiet and tranquility.

2.  Freedom from or cessation of war or violence.

It is used as an exclamation in different ways such as being used in a greeting or used as an order to remain silent.

Synonyms:  law and order, lawfulness, order, peacefulness, peaceableness, harmony, nonviolence; concord along with the example of its usage "we pray for peace".

1.  My personal definition of peace is:  the consciousness of my life with all that it entails in the

      hands of my father with my best interest in the forefront of his mind and heart.

 2.  Having an "It's okay, He's got my back" on the inside.

 3.  Walking in the reality that "God knows" and is capable of divinely intervening.

synonyms:  trust, rest, faith

Peace is mentioned 420 times in the Bible, 109 of which are in the New Testament alone.

How to let peace reign in your heart.

1.  Receive peace with God through Jesus (Ro. 5:5, Jn. 3:16)

 2.  Let the word of God be the final authority and have the final say in your life because God and

      his word are one and the same.   (Jn. 1:1)

 3.  Connect with God's thoughts of peace about you.  (Jer. 29:11)

 4.  Know that for the born again believer,  before the foundations of the world, you said yes to being

      conformed to the image of Jesus Christ.  (Ro. 8:29)

 5.  Trust your Pastor, whom God has given to shepherd you into maturity.  (Eph. 4:11:12)

 6. Fear is never a sign from God.  Rebuke it.  (2 Tim . 1:7)

 7.  Manage your thoughts.   (Phil. 4:8, Jer. 33:3)

 8.  Be thankful. (1 Thes. 5:18, Col. 3:15,1 Tim. 2:1)

 9.  Pray for others  (Tim. 2:1&2)

 10.  Be peaceful toward everyone, no exceptions (1 Tim. 2:1&2)

If you don't know Jesus as Lord of your life that is the first step.  Before you can have true peace, you must have peace with God.  So, here is some added information, just in case you need help with step #1:  Peace with God.

Each of us has been created in the image and likeness of God.  We are not robots and we don't automatically love and obey Him.  We must willfully love and obey him. 

People choose to disobey Him and go our own willful way.  This action results in separation from God.  When you are separated from your creator it is impossible to let peace reign in your heart. 

Consider the following:

 For all  have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.  (Ro. 3:23)

 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord  (Ro. 6:23)

 People try and try in many ways to have peace between themselves and God.  It won't come by meditating, medicating,  humanitarian efforts or advocating injustices.

The bible says,

 There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death, (Pro. 14:12)

 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear. (Is. 59:2)

 There's only one way to find peace with God.

 Jesus Christ died on the Cross and rose from the grave.  He paid the penalty for our sins and bridged the gap between God and people.

The Bible says…

 For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Jesus Christ. (1 Tim. 2:5)

 For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. (1 Pe. 3:18)

 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this:  While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Ro. 5:8)

 God has provided the only way.  Each person must make a choice

 Here I am!  I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and dine with him, and he with me. (Re. 3:20)

 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.  (Jn. 1:12)

 That if you confess with your mouth "Jesus is Lord" and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. (Ro. 10:9)

Do you want Peace with God right  now?

1.  Admit your need (I am a sinner)

2.  Be willing to turn from your sins (repent)

3.  Believe that Jesus Christ died for you on the Cross and rose from the grave.

4.  Through prayer, invite Jesus Christ to come in and control your life through the Holy Spirit

      (Receive Him as Lord and Savior)

How to Pray:

 Dear Lord Jesus,

I know that I am a sinner and need Your forgiveness.  I believe that You died for my sins.  I want to turn from my sins.  I now invite You to come into my heart and life.  I want to trust and follow You as Lord and Savior.

 In Jesus' name.  Amen.

 If you prayed this prayer,

The Bible says…

Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved (Ro. 10:13)

Did you sincerely ask Jesus Christ to come into  your life?  Where is He right  now?  That right, He is inside of you.

 For it is by grace you have been saved,through faith and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works so that no one can boast. (Eph. 2:8&9)

He who has the Son has life; he who does  not have the Son of God does not have life.  I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.  1 Jn. 5:12-13.

Receiving Christ, we are born into God's family through the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit who indwells every believer.  This is called regeneration or new birth.

This is just the beginning a wonderful new life in Christ. To deepen this relationship you should:

1.  Read your bible everyday

2.  Talk to God in prayer everyday

3.  Tell others about Christ everyday

4.  Worship, fellowship and serve with other Christians in a church where Christ is preached.

5.  As Christ's representative in a dying world, demonstrate your new life by your love and concern

     for others.