INTRODUCTION: God gives us an unimaginable. miraculous State of Being which is protected Spiritually (including banishing fear and anger) from the world while being in the world, just not OF it.

When the Creator-Messiah was being born as a human, there were heralds from God …angels declaring something about Him. Did they say Love was coming, conversion was about to appear, the Kingdom was at hand, that all men would come to the knowledge of the Lord or that they would be offered the unimaginable position of Children of God? None of these things were declared as the Christ was being born. What WAS? PEACE was coming among men of good will (those serving the living God) and further, He is to be called the Prince of PEACE.

This is not OUR peace, but a miraculous state of being that passes all understanding of man.

BENEFIT STATEMENT: We may feel we know for sure what God’s Peace is. We may even think we know how to have it and keep it. Well, since Christ gave it to the disciples on the night before His crucifixion, and then said He would ask His Father to send the Comforter, something big and frightening was about to start and they NEEDED PEACE beyond human understanding.

Specific Purpose Statement: How to be …IN and “GO” with God’s Peace .

BODY:

1. The Vital Importance of God’s PEACE. Literally, Compete for a place in this life and this world, or BE OF God’s Peace.

John 14:27 (NKJV) 27  Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

((( Shepherds)  (Luke 2:12-14 (NKJV) 12  And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger." 13  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 14  "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men! [NU among men of goodwill]"

(((Isaiah 9:6 (NKJV) 6  For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

TWO human “causes” or effects on Creation. Connection/Acceptance of God; Disconnection of God.

            We might feel unable to keep on the path God has led us to move forward on …due to the snares of this world and competing priorities of life and we may stumble.

God motivates GOOD Life. We are not created to be under constant stress while we change to be like our Father and Jesus Christ.

Peace is tied to Faith and that allows GREAT control of our State of being …

Mark 4:39-40 (NKJV) 39  Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. 40  But He said to them, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?"

Mark 4:41 (NKJV) 41  And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, "Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!"

Christians know that God is merciful and kind. We also know that He can and does rescue us from great difficulties. That’s why it can be especially discouraging when we endure trials.

We can stop worrying and being fearful. Brave and courageous people are those who have controlled their fears. Jesus did that when He was facing His death and He knows that we have the ability to control our thinking. What we need is motivation. Trust Him to give you peace.

If preventing believers from difficulties were God’s primary purpose, He would certainly provide it! But His main interest is our spiritual development. That includes the growth of our faith, our patience and our reliance upon Him. And it includes growing in compassionate sympathy for our fellow human beings who suffer trials similar to our own.

God, through His Spirit of comfort, will help you. It is important that you continue to seek Him daily, through prayer and Bible study. It is equally essential that you put the spiritual understanding that God gives you into practice in everyday life. As you do, you will build a relationship with your heavenly Father, through which He will encourage and help you. Great stress was to come on them humanly and if they did not have God’s Peace, they would fail, because of “the world”.

John 16:32-33 (NKJV) 32  Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. 33  These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."

            (((Matthew 5:9 (NKJV) 9  Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.

2 Peter 1:2-4 (NKJV) 2  Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3  as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4  by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

2. The Definition of God’s Peace - A Separate State …Being OF God while in this world.

UCG Definition: “Peace is a state of harmony and tranquility. Is an internal state of being that guides how we react to external situations.”

THE Example of being at Peace is Jesus Christ: (He KNEW it all would be “OK” OF God).

When we suffer, we can take encouragement from the fact that even Christ benefited from “the things that He suffered”

Hebrews 5:8-9 (NKJV) 8  though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He (humanly) suffered. 9  And having been perfected (as a human), He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him,

It stands to reason, then, that we who are His spiritual brothers and sisters would also undergo some of the same experiences in preparation for serving and reigning with Him. So, please don’t interpret discouraging trials to mean that God is not with you. As long as you seek to do His will, living by what you know to be true, He is always with you!

Hebrews 13:5 (Amplified Bible).quotes Christ’s promise, “I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!]”

What about this “State of Being” that passes all human understanding.

Philippians 4:6-7 (NKJV) 6  Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7  and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 1:3, 3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,

Expositor’s Bible Commentary states:

1. Notice that Paul wants his readers to understand every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places that comes from being in Christ.
   1. Beginning with this verse, Paul will refer to heavenly places five times in Ephesians.
   2. Ephesians 1:19-20 19and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places.
   3. (((((6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:6-7).
   4. 9and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; 10to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, 11according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord (Ephesians 3:9-11).
   5. Ephesians 6:11-12 11Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness – [we wrestle] in the heavenly places . [Motivation to DO this]
2. So heavenly places is an English expression used only in Ephesians to describe the State of Being OF and WITH God while in this age and also of the age to come.

Live as in the presence of God in heavenly places.

Mark 5:30-34 (NKJV) 30  And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, "Who touched My clothes?" 31  But His disciples said to Him, "You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, Who touched Me?' " 32  And He looked around to see her who had done this thing. 33  But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. 34  And He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction."

Trusting God to be God and in charge of our lives is intrinsically connected to PEACE of God.

Romans 5:1-4 (NKJV) 1  Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2  through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3  And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4  and perseverance, character; and character, hope.

GOD is control of it all - WE are allowed to be under His Protection and Guidance in Peace.

Greek Word: εἰρήνη  Transliteration: eirēnē

Phonetic Pronunciation:i-ray'-nay Root: probably from a primary verb eiro (to join) Cross Reference: TDNT - 2:400,207

Part of Speech: n f  Vine's Words: Peace, Peaceable, Peaceably, Quiet, Quietness

Usage Notes:  English Words used in KJV: peace 89  one 1  rest 1  quietness 1  [Total Count: 92]

 probably from a primary verb eiro (to join); peace (literal or figurative); by implication prosperity :- one, peace, quietness, rest, + set at one again.

James Strong, Strong's Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary, (Austin, TX: WORDsearch Corp., 2007), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, Under: "1515".

 “Peace” is the rendering of shalom. The term was used both in greeting and for farewell. This, however, is no ordinary farewell. “My peace” is Jesus’ bequest of the peace which is no less than the salvation of the kingdom of God.
, – , WORDsearch CROSS e-book, 262.

John 14:27

Let us take the word "Peace" in at least some of the senses which our Saviour would give to it, and which are on our part fulfilled.

I. There is peace within ourselves. Everyone knows what it is to be at peace with ourselves, or not at peace. We may be perfectly prosperous, and yet there is a secret pang which makes us ill at ease. There is a something of which we do not like to speak, of which we do not like to hear, and of which, if possible, we would rather not think. "Keep innocency," says the Psalmist, "and do the thing that is right, for that will bring a man peace at the last."

II. Peace with one another. Christ Himself was the great Peacemaker. In Him Jew and Gentile, Greek and Barbarian, came together and were one.. "Not as the world giveth," not as outward appearance giveth, not as the mere letter giveth, but as the Spirit, speaking to our inmost spirits, so is the peace which Christ gives to His disciples.

III. Peace with God.

A. P. Stanley, Penny Pulpit, No. 154 (new series).

References: 14:27.—Spurgeon, Sermons, vol. vi., No. 300; vol. v., No. 247; C. Stanford, Evening of our Lord's Ministry, p. 112; Clergyman's Magazine, vol. iii., p. 93; Preacher's Monthly, vol. v., p. 327; W. T. Bull, Christian World Pulpit, vol. iii., p. 133; R. A. Bertram, Ibid., vol. iv., p. 234; G. W. Conder, Ibid., vol. vii., p. 196; A. P. Peabody, Ibid., vol. xi., p. 358; J. Oswald Dykes, Ibid., vol. xxii., p. 11; Homiletic Quarterly, vol. ii., p. 394; vol. xviii., p. 127; J.

HOW do we connect to “GOOD” once we are aware of our corrupting of God’s Creation?

A FURTHER definition of God’s Peace is Christ Himself leading us to be a NEW Creation

Ephesians 2:14-18 (NKJV) 14  For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15  having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16  and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. 17  And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. 18  For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.

3. How to Gain God’s Peace and Continue With God in Peace – Fight for Peace

How to Gain Peace:

Psalm 34:14-15 (NKJV) 14  Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it. 15  The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their cry.

((((Psalm 86:11 (NIV) 11  Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided [unite] heart, that I may fear your name.

FIGHT for God’s Peace in US.

Believe it or not, God made us fighting beings. He put in man and woman’s nature to want to fight and conquer. In fact, we cannot really be happy without fighting and conquering.

The problem is that most people do not know what to fight. We often fight the wrong things. We tend to want to fight other people. We become jealous, envious of others. People want to fight all right—but they want to fight other people. And although God made us fighting creatures, He commands us to live in peace.

Romans 14:19 (NKJV) 19  Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.

God intends that we fight! But He does not want us to fight other people.

((((Ephesians 6:10-12 Put on God’s whole armor.

First battle front--

You and I have enemies—vicious, clever, murderous enemies. They are spirit beings---demons—who are fighting you and me on a spiritual front. They are assaulting you—causing doubt, division and discouragement in our lives.

Since the devil knows this principle of warfare, it is his purpose to get us to become concerned with the affairs of this life. We cannot do this or we will be injured or even killed in our spiritual battles.

In God’s church we hear a lot about overcoming, but do always understand the complete meaning of the term? Both Greek words used in the NT writings and the English word “overcome” actually means to “conquer”.

Revelation 2:26 (NKJV) 26  And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations--

Have you ever seen a boxing match, wrestling match, football game, basketball game or other sporting event that the prize or crown went to the losers? Losers just don’t win. And if we lose this fight, it will mean we have been conquered.

((((Revelation 21:7 overcomers will inherit all things.

Jesus Christ was, in a sense, the greatest warrior ever. He met the devil on a spiritual battlefield and conquered.

 SO …How do we know we are overcoming, conquering, and working in the State of Being called God’s Peace?

Philippians 4:4-7 (NKJV) 4  Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! 5  Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. 6  Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7  and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Easily said. HOW do we DO that and do it by God’s Spirit Essence of His Peace?

Philippians 4:8-9 (NKJV) 8  Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things. 9  The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

Sincerely go to God in fasting, prayer, study and meditation asking Him to show you that HE is Creator and Eternal God Who KNOWS and Works out His Plan …including YOU. Ce3ase deciding to be in charge of your state of being. See yourself as God sees you, dust He made into a living being and will return to dust without HIS intervention and your cooperation. HE is God, and what He tells us not only is True eternally, but it GOES

Ask Him to show you HIS Ways, not just talk about it, but to be OF His Ways, LIVE His sacrificing, selfless, Creating, Life-transforming WAYS of God, not self, this world, or certainly Satan.

Philippians 3:20-21 (NKJV) 20  For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21  who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.

Live WITH God All The Time: Consider living in the presence of God - this Spiritual REALITY?

Psalm 100:1-5 (NKJV) 1  Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands! 2  Serve the LORD with gladness; Come before His presence with singing. 3  Know that the LORD, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. 4  Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. [WHY?] 5  For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations. [HE doesn’t have term limits or will ever STOP]

CONCLUSION:

1. The Vital Important of God’s PEACE. Literally, Compete for a place in this life and this world, or BE OF God’s Peace.
2. The Definition of God’s Peace - A Separate State …Being OF & WITH God while in this world.
3. How to Gain God’s Peace and Continue With God in Peace – Fight for Peace

CLOSE:

            The Peace Christ Bequeathed to Them

John 14:27

When Christ was about to leave the world he made his will. His soul he committed to his Father; his body he bequeathed to Joseph, to be decently interred; his clothes fell to the soldiers; his mother he left to the care of John: but what should he leave to his poor disciples, that had left all for him? Silver and gold he had none; but he left them that which was infinitely better, his peace. "I leave you, but I leave my peace with you. I not only give you a title to it, but put you in possession of it." He did not part in anger, but in love; for this was his farewell, Peace I leave with you, as a dying father leaves portions to his children; and this is a worthy portion. Observe,

1. The legacy that is here bequeathed Peace, my peace. Peace is put for all good, and Christ has left us all needful good, all that is really and truly good, as all the purchased promised good. A tranquility of mind arising from a sense of our justification before God. It is the counterpart of our pardons, and the composure of our minds.

Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible, WORDsearch CROSS e-book, 1119.

            John 14:1 (NKJV) 1  "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.

Christ concludes the matter with God’s method of emphasis …He repeats what He already said.

John 14:27 (NKJV) 27  Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

May God Grant US His Peace