Contributor: Ngozi Roberts
INTRODUCTION
The previous study we focused on Psalms 15:1-5 which emphasizes on the character of those who abide in the Lord. We were reminded of the character of the person whom God receives which starts from having intimacy with God and in the process we are enabled by His Spirit to conform to His Will in all that concerns us either physically or spiritually. Today we are going a little bit deeper to discuss the topic Peace of God. When we talk about the Peace of God, we must first acknowledge that there is another kind of Peace which is not of God.
Peace in general encompasses both external circumstances and internal well-being. In a broader sense, peace can refer to absence of war or violence, when nations or communities coexist without hostility. It can also refer to inner calmness, which is a sense of quietness and contentment within oneself. It could be referred to as relational harmony which is when individuals or groups interact without strife or discord. It also refers to when one experiences Spiritual serenity. This is having a deep sense of connection with a higher power. This is where our topic for today falls under. God’s kind of Peace.
What is the peace of God?
The Bible made us to understand that the peace of God is the calmness that the body, mind and spirit experience through the trusting in the power and grace of God. It is the experience that we get when we choose to rest on Him in prayer. When we choose prayer and trust in Him during our anxious moments then it is said that we have the Peace of God. It is a supernatural and unexplainable experience that guards our hearts. How do we know these?
Philippians 4: 4-7
4 Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. 5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. 6Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Now this scripture sums it all up. It guides us into how to experience the Peace of God:
• Rejoice always
• Be careful for nothing – don’t be anxious
• Prayers
• Thanksgiving
Then be sure to experience the peace of God and note this kind of peace, no one will understand it except you!
God of Peace
We serve a God of Peace. Heb. 13:20 "20Now 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,"
In Isaiah 9:6 "6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."
When Jesus was born the angels came to sing in Luk 2:14 - "14Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."
And when Jesus was leaving the earth he promised Peace. He said in John 14:27 - 27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
He explains that there is a difference between other people or the world kind of peace and His kind of peace. His kind of peace is experienced when we do not let our heart be troubled or when we are not afraid. This tells you that you can have everything but if you do not have the prince of peace you do not know anything about peace.
Types of Peace
Peace of God can be in different categories or degrees
1. Great peace
2. Multiplied Peace
3. All round peace
4. Peace like a river
5. Peace of God that passes all understanding
6. Absence of Peace, No peace
All these kinds of peace can be found in our God.
Great Peace - If you have children according to Isaiah 54:13. If you teach your children the way of God then great shall be your peace. Example in Gen 18:17-19 God was confident that Abraham will bring up his children in Gods ways. Can God vouch for you like that? This was evidence in Gen. 22:1-18 when Isaac was going to be sacrificed, he did not fret. He was not afraid because he had been trained to believe in His father and God. He believed that God will provide even unto death, by not resisting when he was tied up for the kill. He had great Peace that can only be experienced by children brought up in the way of the Lord.
Multiplied Peace - In Daniel 4: 1 Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you. It is used as a royal greeting. 1 Peter: 1-2 , …. Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. Also in 2 Peter 1:2 2Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
So as long as we have peace it can be multiplied. Wherever you go you can contaminate them with the peace of God. That is when you multiply the peace of God in you. This can be gotten through the knowledge of God.
All round Peace
• Could be physically. When God brought out the children of Israel from Egypt, He promised them all round health 26 And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.
• Could be materially, He said in Psalm 92:12-15 that 12 The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. 13 Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. 14 They shall still bring forth
• Could be Spiritual. In Mark 5: 2- 15 a story was told of a mad man in the country called Gadarene. This man was possessed by many demons such that he was always hurting himself and living in the grave yard amongst the dead. Yet when he met with Jesus, He was delivered and when the people heard and came to see what happened, they met this formerly mad man sitting quietly at the feet of Jesus at Peace. Amazing!
An example of one that experiences this all round peace was King Solomon. 1 king 4:24 24 For he had dominion over all the region on this side the river, from Tiphsah even to Azzah, over all the kings on this side the river: and he had peace on all sides round about him
Spiritually, God loved him. Physically, he did not experience any sickness until he was dying and Materially, he was the wealthiest in the world.
• Peace like a River – this can be experience when we harken unto His voice. 18 O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea:
o When you have peace like a river, you will be singing praises in the day of trouble like Paul and Silas –Acts16:16-34 when they were put in prison.
o 22 And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. 23 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: 24Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks 25And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
• Peace that surpasses all understanding – Phil 4: 7. This is the one you do not have understanding of. No one understands this. It is usually based on experience. Acts12:5-11 – a story was told of Peter in prison, and there he was snoring away! So much so that when the angel woke him up, asked him to tie the lace of his shoes and put on his garment and took him past the first gate, second gate, until in he came into the city, he thought he was dreaming! He could not understand what has just happened to him until he was physically knocking on the door of his brethren. It was like a dream. The God that has the key of David that opens doors where no one can and shut doors where no one can, this same God opened the gates of the prisons and led him out in Peace. So when you experience this kind of deliverance and peace from this God, it gives you the confidence and re-assurance that since he has done it before, he can still do it again and from there your Peace that surpasses all understanding comes in.
• Lost Peace – This is the experience you get especially when making decisions, a child of God wants to embark on a journey or take a business project or carry out an assignment. God speaks to such people mostly by removing their Peace.
• No Peace - Isaiah 48:22 the bible says there is no peace for the wicked - "22 There is no peace, saith the LORD, unto the wicked." So If you are not one of his children and you are praying for peace, His peace will not come. But if you are still not sure that you are His Child, and want to experience His kind of peace, then cry to him right
now. 28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
How to Experience God’s Peace
When you genuinely give your life to Jesus Christ is when the Peace of God steps in. It is one of the fruits of the spirit that steps into your life when you genuinely give your life to Christ. Nothing offends you – Psalm 119:165
1. Submission and Trust: To experience God’s peace, we must humbly submit to and trust His commandments.
2. Moving Closer to God: As we draw near to God, we encounter more of His peace. Psalm 24:3-4 emphasizes the importance of a pure heart and clean hands.
3. Growing in Knowledge: Our relationship with God deepens as we grow in our knowledge of Him. 2 Peter 1:2 encourages us to seek more grace and peace through this knowledge.
4. Restful Faith: As we understand God’s love and wisdom, our minds and spirits develop a restful faith in His power and grace.
5. Assurance: God’s peace assures us that He works all things together for our good and accomplishes His purposes.
CONCLUSION
The Scripture describes God’s peace, as a profound and transformative experience that transcends earthly circumstances. It is characterized by harmony and calmness of body, mind, and spirit. It surpasses all understanding, meaning it goes beyond what our human minds can comprehend. It is rooted in trust—specifically, trusting in the power and grace of God. Peace is considered a blessing from God and is consistent with His character. God’s peace is not merely the absence of conflict; it is a profound inner tranquillity that comes from trusting in Him and aligning our hearts with His will.
As we submit and trust in God, move closer to him, grow in knowledge of him and restfully have faith in him, we will be rest assured that Gods kind of peace will be our portion in every area of our lives.
