Historians have concluded that since 3600 B.C. the world has only known 292 years of peace. However, there have been more than 14,000 wars & close to 4 billion people killed (War has killed 2 million children in the last twenty years). In addition to the human casualties, the value of the property destroyed in these wars would pay for a golden belt around the world 97.2 miles wide and 33 feet thick. According to Taxworld.org, “Income tax was invented by the British to finance the 100 Years War with France.”
2 Types of Peace in this world:
P1 Peace = The Absence of hostility, conflict, and fighting.
P2 Peace = The Presence of God despite the circumstances.
Catherine Marshall tells the story of a king who sought the perfect painting of peace. The king offered a prize to the artist who could best capture what peace really is. Many artists attempted their best renditions of peace, and the king, in turn, looked at all their pictures carefully. After careful observation he finally narrowed down to two pictures that he thought were closest and decided to select one of them.
One picture was of a calm lake. The lake was a perfect mirror for towering and yet peaceful mountains all around it. Overhead was a blue sky with fluffy white clouds. Trees blew gently in the breeze with a few birds nestled in its branches. All who saw the picture thought it was a perfect picture of peace.
The other picture had mountains too, but these were rugged and bare. Above was an angry sky, from which the rain fell and in which lightning played. Down the side of the mountain tumbled a foaming waterfall. This did not look peaceful at all. But if you would look closely, behind the waterfall was a tiny bush growing in a crack in the rock. In the bush, a mother bird had built her nest. There, in the rush of angry water, sat a mother bird; warm and quiet in her nest. The mama bird won.
#1 PEACE COMES WHEN WE RECEIVE CHRIST.
Romans 5:1–2 (NIV) “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.”
Romans 8:6–8 (NIV) “The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.”
We all know people who avoid church like the plague. If we were to ask them, “Are you angry with or hostile toward God?” they’d likely say, “No.” They might even be offended by your question and say, “As a matter of fact, I am at peace with God.” The peace they are referring to is P1 Peace. In their mind there is no conflict or hostility. They have an arrangement— God does His thing and they do their thing. They have an agreement with God (BUT it’s an agreement that God never agreed to): To them, He is the Big Guy in the sky. They believe He is there but they ain’t one of them “Born-Agains"--even though Jesus said in John 3:3 (NIV) “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”
TRUTH: You will never find Peace at the center of your soul until you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ—until then, You ARE in conflict with your creator. Jesus is our peace!
Ephesians 2:13-14 (NIV) “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility,”
#2 PEACE COMES WHEN WE RELINQUISH CONTROL.
John 14:27 (NIV) “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
The Peace that Jesus gives transcends the human mind—it is something beyond our ability to reach. It is a peace that is RECEIVED not ATTAINED. It is a gift.
Jesus said, “My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives.” The Peace that God gives, the world cannot take away, rob, or duplicate. It is a peace that changes everything.
On December 1, 1873 Horatio Spafford received a telegram from his wife: "Saved Alone." Earlier that year Horatio, a successful attorney, had bought tickets for his family to board a luxury liner to France. He and his family had lost most everything in the great Chicago fire—and needed the vacation. Just before they were set to leave, a business problem forced Horatio to stay behind. The ship carrying his precious cargo sank. Only his wife survived.
He boarded the next ship east to get to his wife—asking the captain of the ship to show him the approximate spot where his children perished. When he passed over the watery grave, he was overcome with the presence of God.
He took out a legal pad and scribbled these words:
“When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea-billows roll,
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
“It is well, it is well with my soul.”
Thou Satan should buffet,
tho’ trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
It is well, it is well with my soul”
Folks, that is a PEACE that passes All understanding!
Philippians 4:4–7 (NIV) “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
D.L. Moody was right when he said, "A great many people are trying to make peace, but that has already been done. God has not left it for us to do; all we have to do is to enter into it."
#3 PEACE COMES WHEN WE RECONCILE RELATIONSHIPS.
Matthew 5:9 (NIV) “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.”
Romans 12:18 (NIV) “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
When you get saved, things bug you that used to not bug you. Before you knew the Lord, you could hold a grudge with the best of them. Now, it messes with your PEACE when you’ve got unforgiveness rattling around in your heart. For peace to return you know there has to be reconciliation. You may not want to hang out with them 24/7 but you know you can’t leave things the way they are—or you will be miserable. God will nudge you and bug you until you make things right so you might as well stop fighting HIM!
Matthew 5:23–24 (NIV) “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.”
Philippians 4:9 (NIV) “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.”
It all comes down to a phrase small enough to fit on a bumper sticker
No Jesus No Peace ~ Know Jesus Know Peace
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