Saturday, July 27, 2013

Week 5: Peace Be With You, Day 5: Prerequisites of Peace

Today's Treasure: "The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace." Romans 8:6

"...the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace." This sums up this week's study - we must live by the Spirit in order to have peace with and in God.

Prerequisites of Peace
(1) we must keep our mind stayed on Jesus Christ
(2) our mind must be governed by the Spirit
(3) we must live a spirit-filled life

Colossians 3:12-17(MSG)
"So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it. Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way."

The only way we will experience the peace of God that passes all human understanding is through the blood of the cross, the blood that Jesus shed.

You cannot have the peace of God until you first have peace with God.

Week 5: Peace Be With You, Day 3-4: Portraits of Peace

Today's Treasure: "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." John 14:27

"For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit," Romans 14:17 Portraits of Peace...

Peace in aloneness
Peace in provision
Peace in storms
Peace in waiting
Peace in tears
Peace in God's plan

One main assurance I received from these two days is the assurance that God gives peace in all situations in our life. All we have to do is trust him! GOD I TRUST YOU! I know that you are going to get the glory out of my life!

Week 5: Peace Be With You, Day 2: The Price of Peace

Today's Treasure - "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility," Ephesians 2:13-14

The price of peace - The blood of Jesus on Calvary's Cross. That's the price of peace.

The cross ushered us from the sword of division to the peace of reconciliation. Because this price was paid I can go before God without fear and doubt and I know that He hears me.

Week 5: Peace Be With You, Day 1: Life Without Peace

Today's Treasure: " The way of peace they do not know." Isaiah 59:8

Our journey through the Fruit of the Spirit has taken us to LOVE, JOY and now PEACE. In this week's lesson, we look at the trials of Job. a man who was blameless, upright, God-fearing, a loving father, and a great and wealthy man. Job experienced the loss of everything: his livelihood, his servants, and his children all in a matter of moments. Job is that great example of having peace in the time of a storm. Job's response to this great loss "The Lord gives and the Lord taketh away; may the name of the Lord be praised!" should also be our response to life's challenges.

As I studied this lesson, the first thought that came to me was the words to the song "What a Friend we have in Jesus"

What a friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry Everything to God in prayer!
Oh, what peace we often forfeit, Oh, what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry Everything to God in prayer!

The author states that 'Life is unbearable without peace.' I agree. If only we would take our cares to our friend Jesus in prayer. Stop forfeiting your peace! Pray daily - lay your cares at the feet of Jesus!