OUR PEACE IS COMPLETE
 
As Christians we either have the peace of God flowing through our souls or we have some sort of anxiety.  God's peace comes in different variations just like our anxiety can range from something small to stark raging fear.  To give you an example on how God's peace residing in us can be different imagine a child of God having a full measure of the Holy Spirit's joy. Do you have some kind of picture in your mind?  Would you not agree that this individual not only has God's joy but also God's peace?  Now imagine an individual ( a child of God) going through something in life and he or she faintly rests upon God and finds him or herself experiencing a small comfort in their soulish realm.  Just like there are different degrees of anxiety there are also different degrees of God's peace.  For the most part  ( not in all cases) we as God's children have a conscious choice in the midst of our troubles as to whether we will have earthy anxiety or God's peace.
 
I heard a minister years ago give a sermon dissertation on the peace of God.  He was going over all his technical points and close to the end of his presentation he said something to the order of "just get the peace of God."  If we get all technical that might  trip us up because God's peace has a simplicity about it.  In short he meant if you don't get God's peace there is lurking anxiety which has its' foundation in fear that will just naturally reside in us and we will respond accordingly based on our personality.  I can kind of relate to this because just like there are two choices regarding salvation in Jesus Christ (yes or no) there really are only two choices as to how a Christian will live their lives. That would be earthly anxiety or God's peace. God has called us to "nothing" on this earth (a temptation, a trial or a string of horrible things taking place in our life) that would keep us from His comforting peace through His Son Jesus Christ. As children of God we are destined to experience His peace. The question really comes down to "how soon do we want it?" I think another question should come to our minds and our hearts. How consistently do we desire it? The constant comforting peace of God might even be more important than the first (how soon do we want it) because the second question will stand the test of time and eternity. Who would want God's peace once in a while when we could have it all the time?
 
It is around Christmas time. You will start to hear a holiday saying- Peace and goodwill towards all men. I think that is a very admirable saying but what people have to realize is there is peace with God and there is the peace of God. They are two different things. True peace and goodwill toward all men will never happen. It would be nice but Romans 5:1 says "Therefore being justified by faith,we have the peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." This verse was written to the person that accepted Jesus Christ into their heart as their personal Savior; therefore, they obtained "peace with God." If an individual has not made this decision they have no peace with God. According to the Bible although God loves unbelievers in Jesus Christ very much they are enemies of God. There are several verses in Scripture for this but just nine verses down in Romans 5:10 the Bible says "For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life." It is very interesting to me that one of the basic themes of the Bible is that the Righteous will have peace. That will be their end. The unrighteous will have no peace. That will be their end.
 
There is a misconception among Christians regarding God's peace. I will often hear "if I can just get a little bit more of God's peace." When an individual accepts Jesus Christ into their hearts as their personal Savior He comes in to live inside of that person. This person has the full measure of God's love,joy,and peace and other fruits of the Spirit that I did not even mention inside of them. The real question is "How does a child of God experience the Holy Spirit's peace on a moment by moment basis? I'm going to answer that question but I want to touch on another issue. Sometimes at the very least subconsciously a true Believer in Jesus Christ will say "I'm going through such a horrible trial so this is obviously my cross and there is no room for God's peace to be flowing through my heart" or "I just can't see that for me right now." Let me ask what I believe to be an intelligent question. Is there ever a time when a true child of God that sincerely accepted Jesus Christ into their hearts should live without experiencing God's comforting peace? I believe my answer may surprise some people but I would say "no way." We were called to endure things,trials,a Damascus road experience which is the highest hardship a Christian could ever endure but we were never called to carry our own burdens at any time. The primary reason why God even allows us to go through these things is so we will learn to let go and let the Holy Spirit work through us. I used to segment life because I am not the brightest person in the room. Bad trials-anxiety,quiet time-God's peace. It is very interesting to me that it almost never worked out that way. With that mentality, bad trials-anxiety,quiet time-more anxiety.Two of the most popular verses the apostle Paul quoted regarding God's peace working inside of him were both couched under chapter 4 headings. Four has a consistent meaning throughout Scripture of the World.Paul said "We are troubled on every side,yet not distressed; We are perplexed,but not in despair (9) Persecuted,but not forsaken; Cast down,but not destroyed." 11 Cor.4:8-9. How is it even possible to be troubled yet not distressed? God's supernatural peace. Paul also said in Philippians 4:11 "Not that I speak in respect of want : for I have learned ,in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." Both of these popular verses are under the canopy on the theme of the World (Chapter 4). It is very simple. In this World of fear we can have God's peace. When we yield to God in this world it is like He is giving us a new beginning in the midst of all our stress. 11 Cor.4:"8", 9.  When we allow God to do this we will bear fruit  (9) in our trails. In Phil. 4:11 God's numeric signature is perfect. Main theme;4 (the World ), sub theme 11 (Confusion). Paul was testifying that in this World ( 4) of confusion (11) He found the secret to obtaining God's peace inside of him.  I am going to get more specific on how we can tap into God's peace on a moment to moment basis but just like the minister said don't make this complicated just get the peace of God.
 
Before I go over some of the verses if you ever find yourself walking around being anxious say a little prayer to God that He would experientially impart His peace through your soul. You would be surprised as to how gracious God is in bestowing this upon His children. Remember the choice is up to us-anxiety or God's peace. Peace,peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near,saith the Lord; and I will heal him. Isaac 57:19. I find it interesting that this verse is couched in verse 19. Nineteen is the number of faith. Think about this no matter where you are in life God just wants us to have a little faith in Him and what is the result-God's peace? Of course I can't go over all the verses but just to quote a few. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts,to the which also ye are called in one body, and be ye thankful. Col 3:15. There is one word for me that just stands out and that would be "let." It is a small word but is very powerful. All we have to do is "let" the peace of God "rule" in our hearts. God's peace covers our anxiety. Notice the numeric positioning of this verse. 3 (divine fulfillment) 15 (Rest). God already through His Son Jesus Christ divinely fulfilled our rest or peace. Amazing ! In Psalm 85:8 " I will hear what God the Lord will speak: for he will speak peace unto His people, and to His saints. This verse is couched in verse 8. Eight has a consistent meaning of New Beginnings in Jesus Christ from Genesis to Revelation. Once again God's peace is a New Beginning. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Phil.4:7. Notice God's peace is keeping our heart and mind. The numeric combination is perfect. Main theme 4 ( the World) and sub theme 7 ( Spiritual perfection). In the" World" we as God's children can have "spiritual perfection" working through us in the form of God's peace.
 
I feel very bad that I cannot go over all of the verses because this article would be 75 pages long but my heart does rejoice as I read verses about God's peace and how it relates to us and our lives. And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. Isaiah 32:17. Righteousness produces peace and as a result there is a quietness resting in our souls for all eternity. This verse is couched in verse 17 which stands for victory. The signature of our victory through Jesus Christ will be God's peace resting in our souls. Jesus Christ said in Luke 7:50 "Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace." Notice faith in God and peace are in the same sentence. Main theme 7 ( Spiritual perfection) sub theme 50 (Jubilee or deliverance). When we have faith in God He gives us His perfect peace and sets us free. It is a deliverance or a Jubilee !!!  Mark the perfect man,and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace. Psalm 37:37. Main theme 37 (Exaltation,to exalt) sub theme (Exaltation, to exalt). I think it is very obvious that God desires to exalt us through His peace. Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. 11 Thes.3:16. Notice this verse says "always." Main theme 3 (Divine Completion) sub theme 16 ( Love). God already( past tense) completed our peace through His Son Jesus Christ. He bestows His peace upon us because He loves us. God is love so it would be the most natural thing in the universe for Him to give us His peace. 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. John 14:27. Jesus Christ was saying the World's peace is fragile. I believe that life is so delicate that 2 seconds could literally ruin your life. Jesus was actually saying "let not your heart be troubled." He made a distinction between His peace and the World's peace. If I were to rely on the World's peace I might only have it for 2 seconds but God's peace is different. It comforts and transcends all understanding.
 
I want to make a point that I have never heard anyone even mention. Joy is indeed a higher level than peace but if we continually have the peace of God in our hearts it is so much easier for God to grant us joy. Let me give you an analogy. Two people are sitting next to each other in a computer class. One man turns to the other and asks " do you have any idea what this woman is even talking about?" The other man responds "oh yes I can follow what she is saying." One man's mind and heart was prepared because he was familiar. The other man could not comprehend. What am I trying to say? If we have God's peace flowing through our hearts continually we become a candidate for God's joy which is a higher level of living in Jesus Christ. This is where God desires to bring all His children. "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee." Isaiah 26:3. Once again faith in God and His peace are tied together. Main theme 26 ( the Gospel or the good news of Jesus Christ) sub theme 3 (Resurrection; divine completeness). We have the good news of Jesus Christ and it has been resurrected or divinely completed in us. All we have to do is keep our minds on Him, trust God and His "perfect" peace will be granted to us. In Isaiah 9:6 Jesus Christ is referred to as the Prince of Peace. In Romans 16:20 Jesus Christ is referred to as " the God of peace." True to Biblical numeric form Isaiah 26:12 says "Lord, thou wilt ordain peace for us: for thou also hast wrought all our works in us." Another word for ordain is appoint. God appointed peace for us (past tense). Main theme 26 (the gospel,the good news of Jesus Christ) sub theme 12 (divine order or authority). The good news of Jesus Christ was a divine order from Heaven and because of this God's peace was already ordained for us. Let me go over just one more verse because this is amazing. The Lord will give strength unto His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace.Psalm 29:11. Strength,blessing and how is it done? God's peace. Main theme 29 (Depart) sub theme 11 (Confusion). The message is so obvious. In the midst of departure and confusion I will give my people strength through my transcendent peace.
 
I could not be a unbeliever in this World. The promises God has for His children are very difficult to put into words yet the Bible does just that. A heavenly language is placed in the form of earthly words and God's numeric signature is positioned in each and every verse. This would have to be a real blessing and strength to us in a hard World. If you are an Unbeliever in Jesus Christ you would have to experience this peace that guards our hearts and minds to understand it. If you accept Jesus Christ into your heart you will have peace with God (Romans 5:1) but hopefully you will pursue the peace of God by earnestly reading the Bible and seeing for yourself that we truly serve the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).
 
Love and Peace in Jesus Christ
 
             Bob D