Questions

1. How does / should the believer react when there is a disruption of harmony with others at work or in any setting?
2. Should we consider leaving an environment where the lack of peace has led to real and unhealthy impacts in our inner lives? If so, how do we navigate this process?
3. If the normal state of an environment becomes disorderly and fragmented how do we handle this? Does this impact everyone the same?  How do we determine what is most healthy for our selves?  Is it ok to think this way?
4. Are we supposed to remain in these situations where peace is lacking because we are simply to rest in God even though we are enveloped in chaos? Do levels of chaos impact everyone the same?  If we have the freedom to move into a different situation does that make it right to do so?  If so, how should that unfold?
5. Hebrews 12:14 says to pursue peace (see the scripture note) with all people. What if you are in a situation where there are mostly good people operating within a structure that is inherently disharmonious?  This creates a jarring environment and in a measure is shocking to your soul and therefore detrimental to your well being.  Can we draw a distinction between people and the structure within which we operate and conduct life?
6. We are to pray for calmness of heart that is independent of circumstances. Even though we have a calm disposition in a troubling environment does that mean the situation, in a practical sense, will work itself out as a result?  If not, how are we to walk this out not only spiritually but practically and logically in the natural?
7. When the storms are raging and if we are at peace in Christ during this time, does this also mean we are to stay indefinitely in that situation?

 

Spurgeon Quote:  I find myself frequently depressed—perhaps more so than any other person here. And I find no better cure for that depression than to trust in the Lord with all my heart and seek to realize afresh the power of the peace-speaking blood of Jesus, and his infinite love in dying upon the cross to put away all my transgressions.

 

A.T. Pierson Quote:  The peace of God is that eternal calm which lies far too deep in the praying, trusting soul to be reached by any external disturbances.

 

Story:  Compass on a SteamBoat

The compass on board an iron steamboat is placed aloft (at great height in the air), so that it may not be influenced by the metal of the ship. Though the compass is surrounded by that which would put it out of place, the needle faithfully adheres to the pole, because it is set above misleading influence. So it is with the child of God when the Lord has given him/her peace: he/she is lifted beyond the supremacy of his sorrowful surroundings, and his heart is delivered from its sad surroundings.

 

Story:  The robin’s nest

A contest was held in which artists were invited to paint a picture of PERFECT PEACE. The judges eventually narrowed the number of competitors to two. The first had created a scene of a quiet mountain lake. The second depicted a thundering waterfall with the branch of a birch tree bending over the foam. On the fork of that limb, wet with spray, a robin sat undisturbed on her nest. The first picture spoke of tranquility, but the second won the prize because it showed in dramatic detail that absolute calmness can be found in the midst of turbulent surroundings. Yes, it is easy to remain unruffled when everything is quiet and serene. But to rest while the storm is raging—that is "perfect peace."

 

Story:  The cushion of the sea

There is a story about a submarine that was being tested and as part of its test, it had to remain submerged beneath the surface for a long time. While the submarine was submerged, a powerful storm passed through the area, causing a great deal of damage. When the submarine returned to the harbor, the head of the team that was evaluating the submarine asked the captain, “How did that terrible storm affect you?” The captain looked at the man in surprise and exclaimed, “Storm? We didn’t even know there was one!” The reason for the captain’s surprise was that his submarine had been so far beneath the ocean’s surface that it reached this area known to sailors as “the cushion of the sea.” Although a storm’s high winds may whip the surface into huge waves, the waters in the “cushion” are not even stirred. So while vessels up above were being subjected to turmoil and damage, the submarine down below was not affected. It remained "at peace" so to speak safely set on the “cushion.” This illustration pictures the supernatural peace of God which guards the believer's heart, in response to thankful prayer (Php 4:6 – be anxious for nothing….).

What things may masquerade as God’s peace?

• Being numb through substances is often mistaken as peace. While there is a place for the proper use (not abuse) of appropriate and safe substances, becoming more conscious through an increased awareness of God and abiding in Him is lasting peace.  Becoming numb is temporary and superficial.
• Seeking happiness is superficial and fickle but it often fools people and it quickly subsides.
• Constantly looking into the past or the future is not healthy. Focus on abiding in God and nurturing relationship with Him.

 

Does peace mean accepting & approving others?

Romans 15:1-7 speaks about the example of Christ.  Verse 7 says to accept one another just as Christ accepted us for the glory of God.  Accept here is the word proslambono.  The practical understanding is to accept the presence of a person with friendliness.  We are to be welcoming and receiving.  We are also to use discernment and wisdom when accepting someone.  This means we are to guard our hearts and our homes as this is a process as are many such things in life.  Just because we accept someone doesn’t mean we approve of their choices.  We are to build up those that are people of peace (believers and unbelievers) as the Spirit leads us to do so.

 

Colossians 3:15 - Let the peace of Christ, to which you were indeed called in one body, rule (to govern) in your hearts; and be thankful.

• Will peace remain, be multiplied OR will peace crumble, deteriorate, be destroyed if I make a choice to proceed in thought & action?

 

1 Corinthians 14:33 (orderly worship) - for God is not a God of confusion (instability, disorder), but of peace…

2 Corinthians 13:11 - Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice, mend your ways, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.

Ecclesiastes 3:7 - A time to tear apart and a time to sew together; A time to be silent and a time to speak.

Ecclesiastes 9:17 - The words of the wise heard in calm are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools.

Ephesians 2:14 - For He Himself is our peace, who made (poieo) both groups (jews and gentiles) into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall

• All the hostility from the distortion in keeping and following commandments and ordinances (laws), were abolished in His flesh. He alone broke the barrier that fragmented the body.  Only through Him alone is there unity and peace.

Ephesians 4:2,3 - …with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

• Agape Love:   Fondness & tenderness.  A feeling of liking & caring for someone.
• Diligent: Make an effort with earnestness and an intensity of purpose.
• To keep: To guard; to prevent escape.  To keep your eye upon.
• Unity: Oneness of being in harmony.  United in temper & affection.
• Bond of Peace: Bond is used to describe tendons and ligaments that hold the body together.

It is important to think of the bond and unity in light of what we know in our minds to be true then how does that “functionally” unfold in our lives (thoughts & actions).  From 1 Cor 6:15 we know our bodies are parts of Christ.  Vs 17 says when we join (glue, stick, cleave) ourself to the Lord we are one spirit with Him.  To be one spirit means we “breathe together as one” in our reason, logic and affections.

Galatians 6:16 - And as many as walk according to this rule (standard of faith/practice, within a sphere/boundary), peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.

• Our daily practice of walking through life (especially times of confusion) should be to glory in the cross of Christ – dead to the world’s ways; a new creature in Christ and His ways.

Haggai 1:5,6 - Now then, the LORD of armies says this: “Consider your ways!  “You have sown much, only to harvest little; you eat, but there is not enough to be satisfied; you drink, but there is not enough to become drunk; you put on clothing, but there is not enough for anyone to get warm; and the one who earns, earns wages to put into a money bag full of holes.”

Hebrews 4:10,11:  For the one who has entered (come into – go through) His rest (abode – lie down) has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His.  Therefore let’s make every effort (speedily, prompt, with earnest) to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following the same example of disobedience.

• We may often be weary in our “working” rest but we never grow weary of the unfolding of our lives in Him.

Hebrews 12:14 - Pursue peace with all people, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.

• Where the Holy Spirit dwells there will be a flow of living water in a persons life. Absence here is cause for concern.
• To pursue (dioko) means to follow or press hard after. It means to chase with earnestness to obtain like hunting a fox with hound dogs.
• It’s good to consider what you’re pursuing and what others are pursuing. If we are to chase after peace (God) in this manner and others are on different pursuits then we cannot combine our pursuits.

Isaiah 26:3 - “The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, because he trusts in You.

Isaiah 30:15 - …“In repentance and rest you will be saved, In quietness and trust is your strength.”…

Isaiah 41:10 - ‘Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

Isaiah 53:7 - He was oppressed and afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He did not open His mouth.

Isaiah 57:1,2 - The righteous person perishes, and no one takes it to heart; And devout people are taken away, while no one understands. For the righteous person is taken away from evil, He enters into peace; They rest in their beds, Each one who walked in his upright way.

Isaiah 57:15 - For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite (feeling crushed) and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

James 1: 2-4 - Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.  And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

James 1:19 - You know this, my beloved brothers and sisters. Now everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger

James 3:16-18 - For where envy and self-seeking (living to gratify natural appetites) exist, confusion (disorder) and every evil thing are there.  But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield (good for persuasion), full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.  Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make (poieo) peace.

Envy:  Passion / heat.  A strong feeling of energy.  An intensity of restlessness.  This state of being often produces instability and disorder.

God’s Wisdom: The highest and fullest form of excellence in governing our lives.

• Remember to not quench the Spirit (1 Th 5:19). Things such as:  sin, man’s traditions and rules, disorder / lack of unity, harsh words, cold behavior, lack of sympathy, resisting His expression in us.

Jeremiah 17: 7-8 - Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, And whose trust is the Lord.  For he will be like a tree planted by the water, That extends its roots by a stream, And will not fear when the heat comes; But its leaves will be green, And it will not be anxious in a year of drought, Nor cease to yield fruit.

Jeremiah 32: 26-27 - Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, saying, “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh; is anything too difficult for Me?

Job 2:13 - Then they sat down on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights, with no one speaking a word to him, for they saw that his pain was very great.

John 14:27 - Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.

• Jesus purchased peace with His own blood. His peace comes and settles within us out of our gratitude and worship of having our sins forgiven and being approved before the Father in Christ.

 

John 16:33 - These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world. *We have power and endurance through the Holy Spirit.

Judges 6:23,24 - But the LORD said to him, “Peace to you, do not be afraid; you shall not die.”  Then Gideon built an altar there to the LORD and named it The LORD is Peace. To this day it is still in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.

1 Kings 19:12 - and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.

Matthew 5:9 - “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

• Peacemakers are not on the sidelines, they are active in the peacemaking process and by their actions their sonship as children of God is made known.

 

Matthew 6:25-26 - For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?

Matthew 6:31,32 - And He *said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a little while.” (For there were many people coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.)  And they went away in the boat to a secluded place by themselves.

Matthew 11:28-30 - Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

1 Peter 3:4 - but it should be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.

2 Peter 3:18 - but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

Philippians 4:5-7 - Let your gentle spirit be known to all people. The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

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

Anxiety: Becoming distracted and divided (fragmented). Our attention becomes dominated by legitimate concerns and that fragments / breaks apart God’s word and work in us, becoming unfruitful.

Surpasses: The peace of God is superior and supreme; it is high above intellect and feelings.  Functionally this means His peace is in a position of control.  We “continually” yield to the Spirit so He is in control as our lifestyle!

 

Proverbs 3: 5-6 - Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge (to know by seeing) Him, and He will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 10:19 - When there are many words, wrongdoing is unavoidable, but one who restrains his lips is wise.

Proverbs 11:12 - One who despises his neighbor lacks sense, but a person of understanding keeps silent.

Proverbs 13:3 - One who guards his mouth protects his life; one who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.

Proverbs 15:1 - A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Proverbs 16:9 - The mind of man plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.

Proverbs 17:1 - Better is a dry morsel and quietness with it than a house full of feasting with strife.

Proverbs 17:27,28 - One who withholds his words has knowledge, and one who has a cool spirit is a person of understanding.  Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise; When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.

Proverbs 25:15 - Through patience a ruler may be persuaded, and a gentle tongue breaks bone.

Proverbs 29:11 - A fool always loses his temper, but a wise person holds it back.

Psalm 9: 9-10 - The Lord also will be a stronghold for the oppressed, A stronghold in times of trouble; And those who know Your name will put their trust in You, For You, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.

Psalms 23 -

• The LORD is my shepherd, I will not be in need. He lets me lie down in green pastures.
• He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for the sake of His name.
• You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows.
• Certainly goodness and faithfulness will follow me all the days of my life, and my dwelling will be in the house of the LORD forever.

Psalms 25:9 - The humble He guides in justice, And the humble He teaches His way.

Psalm 29:11 - The LORD will give strength to His people; The LORD will bless His people with peace.

Psalm 34:14 - Turn from evil and do good, seek peace and pursue it.

Psalm 34: 17-19 - The righteous cry, and the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.  The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.  Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all.

Psalms 37:7 - Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him; Do not get upset because of one who is successful in his way (course of life-action), Because of the person who carries out wicked schemes.

Psalms 55:6,22: - I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest. Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain (make provision) you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken (fall–decay-get off course).

Psalms 127:1,2 - Unless the LORD builds a house, They who build it labor in vain; Unless the LORD guards a city, The watchman stays awake in vain.

It is futile for you to rise up early, To stay up late, To eat the bread of painful labor; This is how He gives to His beloved sleep.

Psalm 131:1,2 - LORD, my heart is not proud, nor my eyes arrogant; Nor do I involve myself in great matters, Or in things too difficult for me.  I have certainly soothed and quieted my soul; Like a weaned child resting against his mother, my soul within me is like a weaned child.

Romans 5:1 - Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ

• Through Jesus we are set right with the Father. Authentic, deep and lasting peace is now within us as new creations.  We are to pursue and nurture this peace.  Consider having a spouse.  You have one another yet you pursue them to nurture and keep the love and affection alive.

Romans 8:6 - For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace – This is a way of thinking

Romans 14: 17-19 (don’t cause another to stumble) - For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.  For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men.  So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.

1 Samuel 16:7 - But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

1 Thessalonians 2:7,8 - But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children.   So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.

1 Thessalonians 4:11 - and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we instructed you

1 Thessalonians 5:23 - Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Thessalonians 3:11,12 - For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies.  Now we command and exhort such persons in the Lord Jesus Christ to work peacefully and eat their own bread.

1 Timothy 2:1,2 -  First of all, then, I urge that requests, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made in behalf of all people, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.

2 Timothy 2:22-25 - Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife.  And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth