For awhile, I struggled to wake up with a sense of joy for the upcoming day and then more recently, I experienced something I never have before… a series of panic attacks. Some setting me back for weeks. However, God, in His faithfulness gave me a revelation regarding peace. What is peace? How do we get it? And more importantly, how do we share it? This short video explains how peace is like a funnel, as we share it, God is able to give us more…
The notes for this message are provided below the video. They are also available for you to download here: From Panic to Peace – Part 1
(Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional. If you have a serious physical or mental condition, please seek professional help and medical care. There are many variables that contribute to a mental condition, this is only one potential way to receive peace into your life).
From Panic to Peace – Part 1
Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, 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.”
Colossians 3:15 (NIV)
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”
Peace – (verb) , to join – one, peace, quietness, rest
Heart – thoughts or feelings, (mind) – also the middle , hearted
In the Old Testament (such as Psalms 122:7) – peace is a noun – (7965 in Strongs concordance: safe, well, happy, friendly). Peace seems to be subtly yet significantly different then the New Testament (NT). Old Testament (OT) peace is something obtained through the obedience of God’s law as servants.
In the New Testament – peace is a verb, action word, denoting a requirement of movement, that peace would be given after prayer, petition and thanksgiving is not the end of “peace’s” journey- rather the middle. The hidden meaning not caught by English understanding is the agreed upon definition, “to join” by several scholars. The joining is attributed to unity, and there is a case for that in Ephesians 4:3 but there Paul says to keep unity because of the bond of peace. So peace was the bond that created unity. How did that peace make its way to a bond? Well, I’m glad you asked!
In Luke 10, specifically verse 5-6, Jesus sends 72 missionaries to go to all the towns and villages. He commands them to say “peace” upon the home they enter and notice if the peace stays – are if they willing and open to their peace, if so, they will rest upon that peace or even fix their abode to that peace.
Parable of the Ten Talents: I’m reminded of the parables of the talents. When the master trusts investments to his servants, he returns expecting an increase, for the one who hides his investment, he is thrown out, to those who turned 1 into 10, ten cities were given. The one who turned 1 into 5, five cities were given.
If God’s peace has been given to us through Christ and that peace is meant to join, but the Bible never says it stops joining, and so that peace becomes the basis of uniting (Ephesians 4:3), so, shouldn’t we consider that peace from God is not just meant to be shared – but has to be shared?
I propose that as an action word (verb), peace is a force, a supernatural power from God which must be stewarded like any other valuable possession given to us. Can it also be true that until we share what little peace we have with those who need it even more than we do, that God will actually withhold more peace as to not make us responsible for its distribution until we are ready?
God is a loving Father, but every loving and healthy father will hold their child accountable to certain morals of the family, not for the father’s sake, but the sake of the child’s future.
In my 16 years of working with folks on the street and mentoring kids no one else wanted to, a constant stood out, but I have only understood now… those who struggled the most with happiness, generally lived life for themselves, and did not make an effort to bring peace to those who needed it more than themselves.
Proverbs 12:20 says, “Those who promote peace have joy.”
Through Jesus Christ, we have the water that allows us to thirst no more. But we must remember that since Jesus’ accession, God put the job of taking the new living water to others onto us, His children. We are now the fruit bearers, cycling the grace of God to a new fruit that the world around us can see and taste. Yet, if we do not go to where that fruit will be properly used, it will fall to the ground and die…going to waste.
Stay tuned for my next post, when I’ll be chatting about the specifics of what it means to share “peace”, with those around you.
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