Guard Your Hearts - - Obtaining His Peace

 

Philippians 4:7

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 

Peace of God: one, quietness, rest, peace of mind, to join together as a whole, God's gift of wholeness

From the Greek word 'eiréné' (pronounced  i-ray'-nay). 

    This Peace of God is only made possible when the born again believer is IN CHRIST. We know He is in us when we exercise our faith and believe in Him as our Lord and Savior. But we are In Christ when we are in The Word, when we live The Word and The Word lives and thrives in us. Do people see Jesus in you when they look in your direction? Has a total stranger come up to you and said, "You're a Christian. I can tell," without you ever having said a word? This has happened to me a few times. I am so very thankful that Christ is in me and I am in Christ. 

    To get the full gist of this verse we need to read the verse previous and the verse after:

6. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

8. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think on these things.

    The psalmist wrote (Psalm 42:5), "Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why the unease within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him for the salvation of His presence." In Christ there is no reason to be downcast, to be sad, to be anxious. In Christ we have peace. The psalmist had hope as he reminded himself (and us). He had hope in God: in God's Word, in God's presence. 

FILL OUR MINDS CAREFULLY

    Be anxious for nothing, Paul writes to the church in Philippi. The church must have been suffering, going through hard times. For unknown reasons Paul was urged by the Spirit to encourage the church in Philippi to be "anxious for nothing". Don't worry, don't stress. Instead, bring your requests to God. He was reminding them to pray. And to pray diligently. 

    Paul also reminds the church to be careful of how they think; to think with intelligence and wisdom:

• Whatever is True (don't harbor lies)
• Whatever is Honorable (have integrity)
• Whatever is Right (uncorrupted)
• Whatever is Pure (no impure thoughts)
• Whatever is Lovely (no unpleasant thoughts)
• Whatever is Admirable (no shameful, despicable thoughts)
• Excellent (not ugly, not crude, not detestable thoughts)
• Praiseworthy (dishonorable, disrespectful thoughts)

    The opposite of all these positive ways to think is a distraction from how God wants us to think. How do we obtain God's peace? By reading God's Word. By praying God's Word. By living God's Word. By speaking God's Word. In other words, God's Word is essential to the church's, to the born again believer's way of life, which includes how we think. 

Isaiah 26:3 "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee."

    When we pray, we are to pray expecting. Expecting God to keep His promise: His Peace will guard our hearts. In Christ. The believer is in Christ through the power of God's Holy Spirit. And Christ is most definitely in the believer through the power of God's Holy Spirit. 

    What thoughts are more wonderful than thinking on God's Holy Word? What thoughts are more powerful than thinking on God's Holy Word? None. Once the Word of God is in us, it is up to us to keep it at the forefront of our thinking. 

    Waking up with thoughts of praise and worship are wonderful ways to greet our day. Keeping those thoughts there is the challenge. It is then that we call on God to guard our tongues, as well. To keep us near Him and speak only what He wants us to speak, that our words be gentle, kind and loving. The frustrated heart should keep the tongue silent. 

GOD IS JUDGE

    The church is living an age when all the forces of evil are again coming against it. The only secure refuge is in God. Psalm 37:7 "Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him: fret not yourself because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked devices to pass." And again, in Psalm 37:1, 8 1. "Do not fret over doers of evil; do not envy those who do wrong." 8. Refrain from anger and abandon wrath; do not fret--it can only bring harm."

    In other words, let God handle the wrong that is being done to the church and in the church. Be aware now that God will accomplish His purpose in the church first before He moves onto they who come against her. So we need to be "strong in the LORD and in the power of His might" (Ephesians 6:10). His strength and His power is, after all, part of our uniform, so to speak, part of our soldiers of Christ gear. 

    Acts 17:31 "For He has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the Man He has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising Him from the dead.” 

     Christ will judge the thoughts of mankind, too. Which is why The Word warns us against thinking bad thoughts, unkind thoughts, unloving thoughts. When we love like Christ ("love one another as I have loved you" [John 13:34]), it is impossible to have ugly thoughts roaming our mind. 

    When we live In Christ, we live in the Love of Christ. We are His temple, His residence. Our bodies are in His body, His service. It is our job to keep the temple clean. 

    We sweep away the cobwebs of thoughtlessness and think with purpose, a higher purpose. We wash the floors of dirt and grime (impurities) and walk in The Word that is in us. We scrub the walls of our minds and brush off the years of thinking outside The Word, that thinking on The Word of God will be etched and embedded within us. We make room for The Word of God when we, first, ask Him into our hearts, and second, read and study His Word faithfully. 

KNOW GOD, KNOW PEACE

    God's Word must be in us in order for us to think wonderful thoughts that His Peace would be able to guard our hearts and our minds. Let us come into His presence with humble hearts, ask and receive His forgiveness for our arrogance in thinking we can do it all by ourselves. We can't do anything on our own. We need to be faithful in our prayer times, even as His Word says, "Pray without ceasing." 

    If we are in constant communication with our God, then we know that we have this Peace. Why wait until you're at the end of your rope to reach out to God, to cry out to God, when you can talk to God before you ever touch the rope? Ephesians 2:12 "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ."

LET US PRAY by Steven Curtis Chapman

PERSON IN CHRIST  by Tenielle Neda

PERFECT PEACE by Bec Armour

YET NOT I BUT THROUGH CHRIST IN ME by CityAlight

HERO by Seph Schlueter

    

Signs & Wonders of Christ's Arrival - - Peace On Earth, Good Will To Men

 

Luke 2:14

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth Peace, good will toward men. 

#Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 2107

Good Will: good pleasure, favor of God

From the Greek word 'eudokia' (pronounced yoo-dok-ee'-ah). God's good favor, good pleasure, good will, "requires something is done through His work of inbirthing faith." 

GOOD WILL OF GOD

    (cf) 2 Thessalonians 1:11, 12

11. Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:

12. that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

On whom is this good will of God endowed? All people everywhere:

-To all nations (Malachi 1:11; John 3:16). 

-To all nationalities (Romans 10:12)

-To the people whose God is The Lord (Psalm 144:15)

-To those who walk in the Light of His presence (Psalm 4:6, 89:15)

-To those living in darkness and shadow (Matthew 4:6)

-To you (Romans 10:11, 13)

-To me (Psalm 23:1, 27:1)

PEACE ON EARTH

    Was Christ sent to bring Peace on Earth? No. His very coming was to BE Peace on Earth. Peace between God and the people whom God chose to be His people. Not bloodline descendants of Abraham, but seedline inheritors of Abraham, sons and daughters of righteousness. 

    People who see God as an enemy are not God's people. People who deny God's existence are not God's people. People who enjoy chaos, death and destruction are not God's people. People who choose to remain in darkness and shut out the Light of God's Love and Peace are not God's people. And while there is still time for many of them, their time is running out to turn to God. 

    Jesus Himself said He did not come to bring peace at this time, but that His existence would bring enmity: hate, anger, death and separation of families, of friends, of worship places. (Matthew 10:34-36; Luke 12:51;  Micah 7:1-6). 

    Jesus IS PEACE, but His reason for coming to earth divides, and He divides with a Sword: the gospel of salvation through Him, through His atoning work on the cross Christ Is Peace for everyone who believes on His Name. 

    Jesus has Peace for us (John 14:27) that is permanent. The world cries out for "Peace, Peace!" but there is no peace to be found, for that peace is fleeting. Peace which the world hungers for is only found in Jesus Christ. Peace of mind is having the mind of Christ in us (1 Corinthians 2:16). 

    Peace between nations and cultures is not possible. Tolerance is not peace. Cooperation in providing fundamental necessities of life is not peace. Nations are not united if all nations do not base their standard of living on The Word of God. Without God's Peace there is no peace. 

    God's PEACE on Earth is His only begotten Son, The Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6, 7). 

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 1515

Peace: one, quietness, rest

From the Greek word 'eiréné' (pronounced i-ray'-nay), to join together as a whole, wholeness through God's peace.

    Do you have this Peace? I do. Has it separated me from my family? Yes. Do I have Peace of mind? Yes. Can you suffer from anxiety and still have Peace? Yes, because I have 'the peace that passes understanding' (Philippians 4:7) but still get anxious in crowds and noise. Do I still have the Peace of God in me? Absolutely; because I have Christ living in me and He Is My Peace (THE LORD MY PEACE [Romans 8:31-39; Ephesians 2:14]) Know God, Know Peace. No God, No Peace. 

    Can you fear and have Peace of mind? Only if our fear is 'the fear of the Lord' (Proverbs 9:10). All other fears must leave. Fear that separates us from God's Peace needs to vacate the premises. 

    With this knowledge in mind we all the more sing Glory to God in the Highest! As the angels sang of this wondrous Peace and Favor of God to usward, let us also raise our voices in praise to God. 

ANGELS  WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH by Third Day

    

NOEL by Chris Tomlin/Lauren Daigle

PEACE ON EARTH by Austin French

EMMANUEL by Hannah Kerr

HERE TO STAY by Hannah Kerr/Cochren & Co.

Signs & Wonders of Christ's Arrival - - Angelic Announcement

 Luke 2:13, 14
And suddenly there appeared with the angel a great multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying:
"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 

Angel: messenger, delegate

From the Greek word 'aggelos' (pronounced ang'-el-os). Spiritual beings created by God to serve His plan, convey His messages to people. They are servants and attendants of the Most High God. 

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 134 and 136

Praise: praise, laudatory discourse

From the Greek word 'ainos' (pronounced ah'-ee-nos).

To laud is to:

1. To praise, honor, or exalt in words or song.

2. To praise in words alone, or with words and singing; to celebrate; to extol.

3. Laud is from the Hebrew word 'shabach', which means 'shout'. 

Romans 15:11

And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people. 

Psalm 98:4

Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.

Such a wondrous birth needed a wondrous choral announcement. "The Lord is Here! Shout praise! Sing of the glories of God! that such an unusual event is taking place! Come and See! Come and Worship! Your King is born!"

GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST

AWESOME GOD by Carman

Glory, Honor, Renown, The Unspoken Manifestation of God, Splendor, His Infinite, Intrinsic Worth (Substance, Essence)

1 Chronicles 29:11

Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the splendor and the majesty, for everything in heaven and on earth belongs to You. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom, and You are exalted as head over all.

Matthew 6:13

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

AND ON EARTH PEACE

WONDERFUL PEACE by Don Moen

God's Gift of Wholeness, One, Quietness, Rest, When All Essential Parts Are Joined Together

John 16:33

Psalm 85:8-11

8. I will listen to what God the LORD will say; for He will surely speak peace to His people and His saints; He will not let them return to folly.

9. Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, that His glory may dwell in our land.

10. Loving devotion and faithfulness have joined together; righteousness and peace have kissed.

11. Faithfulness sprouts from the earth, and righteousness looks down from heaven.

"I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!”

GOOD WILL TOWARD MEN

In Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 2107, the two-word phrase "good will" reads as "God's good pleasure requires something is done through His work of inbirthing faith. Good or beneficial to men (meaning all of mankind, including women; for the Word is not just for some but for All). 

Kindly intent, Delight. 

Ephesians 1:9, 10

9. And He has made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ

10. as a plan for the fullness of time, to bring all things in heaven and on earth together in Christ.

PROCLAMATIONS, ANNOUNCEMENTS

Psalm 111:1

Praise the LORD! I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, In the assembly of the upright and in the congregation.

Psalm 118:26

Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD. From the house of the LORD we bless you.

Luke 

Luke 19:38

"Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"

Luke 10:36

He has sent this message to the people of Israel, proclaiming the gospel of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.

John 12:13

They took palm branches and went out to meet Him, shouting: "Hosanna!" "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Blessed is the King of Israel!"

HOSANNA medley 

Have you heard the good news? A Savior has been born! He saves us from our sins, from all our unrighteousness. He saves us from death and the grave and hell. For this purpose God sent His Son to this dark earth: to reveal the Light of God's Holy Love to all men everywhere. 

Can you see His Light? Rejoice that Jesus is here! SHOUT to the LORD all you people! Truly we sing, with the heavenly host, and all the people who have gone before us, "GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST!" 

Our hearts ring out with JOY. The cry of our hearts is, LORD SAVE US! and He does. Have you cried out in the night for God to come near? He's right there. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. Sweet, sweet Name of Jesus. Hold me in Your arms that I might not wander from You. 

Let's walk this last little bit of our journey together, hand in hand, side by side. 

 

Peace & Contentment

 In all things I am content: through every trial, in every situation I have the peace that passes understanding, the Prince of Peace reigns in my heart. It may look like apathy to you, but it's truly peace. The peace that only a relationship with Jesus Christ can bring. By applying the Word of God to my life on a daily basis, I remain in the will of God.

Philippians 4:6-9, 11-13

6. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

7. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think on these things.

9. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me, put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

11. I am not saying this out of need, for I have learned to be content regardless of my circumstances.

12. I know how to live humbly, and I know how to abound. I am accustomed to any and every situation—to being filled and being hungry, to having plenty and having need.

13. I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

9. But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me. 

10. That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

 

Real Peace

     There is a peace that passes all understanding. But we won't find it in philosophy. Aristotle can't give it. Ptolemy doesn't have it. Of the hundreds of philosophical ponderings throughout time, none can give that peace which passes understanding. 
     We won't find it in organized religion. Our denominations cannot give us peace that passes understanding. 
     Peace that passes understanding is not in our politicians or governments or even in our military status. Negotiations between countries gives a worldly peace, but this peace is temporary, it is not the peace that passes understanding. They cannot give us that.
     Avoidance of hot topics and news headlines is not peace: it is hiding your head in the sand like an ostrich, hoping whatever it is that frustrates, angers, saddens us will just blow over and leave us alone. That's not even close to peace. 
    Do you want real peace? An everlasting peace? A peace that passes understanding? Come to Jesus now. For He is our Prince of Peace: Isaiah 9:6 "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, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." 
     He gives peace like no other: John 14:27 "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." 
"And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7 

Only Jesus Christ has real peace, because He Is Peace. Without Him you can never know peace. To know Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior is not only to have this real peace, but to live it, to know it, to breathe it. 
Since you are reading this, you know it is not too late to receive Jesus Christ into your heart, your life. Receive Him, receive His peace.