LET PEACE RULE YOUR HEART (Episode 21)

Col. 3:15 – And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also you are called in one body; and be thankful.

A. Four Things to Consider from this short verse –

1. We need to receive/allow God’s peace into our hearts.

• Jn. 14:27(NET) – Peace I leave with you, MY peace I give to you: I do not give it to you as the world does. Do not let your hearts be distressed [agitated] or lacking in courage.

• It’s a choice in whatever situation we are in to grab hold of the supernatural peace given to us by Jesus to overrule anxiety of heart. (Bad diagnosis; concern over kids; unexpected upsetting events….)

• Is. 26:3 – You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You; because he trusts in You. Let’s read that again in a different version:

• Is. 26:3 (AMP) – You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You and hopes confidently in You.

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2. It needs to rule our hearts.

• To rule expresses our confidence in Jesus’ promise to us when He said He would never leave us, nor forsake us, nor leave us as orphans or comfortless (Jn. 14:18).

• We lean into the authority of God to umpire, decide, direct, and arbitrate our thoughts and actions.

• Thoughts of heart/mind are always tied to decisions and actions.

• What disrupts your ‘peace’ of mind and heart?

1. What do we ruminate on during times of indecision? God-thoughts or thoughts that bring distress/anxiety?

2. Remember what God has spoken to you; remember His character.

• Peace of heart and mind helps us HEAR GOD SPEAK to us.

3. We are called into God’s peace in one body.

• Ro. 14:7-8 – For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, if we live or die, we are the Lord’s.

• These verses are followed by examples (v. 9-18) – situations within the relationships of Believers:

1. Contempt or Judgment towards someone – peace resolves differences (v. 13)

2. Stumbling blocks, i.e., offenses, and temptations to sin/err are also brought to forgiveness when we grab hold of peace and let it have its way in our hearts. Forgive as Christ forgave you!

3. Distresses of differing opinions (v. 15), what someone looks on as wrong though another as right (such as certain foods, or beverages) – peace leads us to act righteously releasing peace and joy of the HS into the situation (v.17).

• Ro. 14:19 – Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.)

o This means that we intentionally put ourselves in agreement with Christ who is our peace!

4. Be thankful – grateful to God and others; as well as being mindful of His favor towards us.

• As people of God’s peace, and carriers of His peace, we have God-given authority to give it to others by our very presence and the words we speak

1. Lk. 10:5 – And whatever house you enter, first say, ‘peace to this house.’

• The difference between God’s Kingdom and the World System: Peace vs Tribulation (Jn. 16:33)

1. Ro. 8:6 – For to be carnally [worldly] minded is death; but to be spiritual [Kingdom] minded is life and peace.

2. The peace of God bruises Satan under our feet (Ro. 16:20)

3. I Cor. 14:33 – For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace…

• Thankful hearts and minds grow on into maturity by living in God’s love and peace, experiencing His comfort, and thinking as He would/does think (II Cor. 13:11)

• King David learned to keep his eyes and mind always upon the Lord (Ps. 25) no matter how distressing his situations were. This enabled him to fully trust the Lord and give thanks beforehand.

Consider the weight that God’s voice carries when you are walking in peace! His voice comes with the power that grips you and makes your heart burn within you. He doesn’t leave us to always reason things out to survive. He causes us to be always victorious overcomers.