SHALOM: THE GIFT OF PEACE… PEACE AND GOOD WILL TO ALL
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (Check out YouTube Wade Hughes)
In the Wild West a PEACEKEEPER WAS A PISTOL… a Colt single action revolver. Jesus said: BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS NOT PEACEKEEPERS… You can make a difference if you wanted to… Your words, your attitudes and behavior can affect peace. DIVINE PEACE STARTS IN THE HEART.
Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
**DEFINE: PEACE---The absence of mental stress, worry or anxiety. Stress free, calm, harmony. Freedom from disturbance, tranquility, no strife, no war, no conflict.
** SHALOM: peace, wholeness, completeness, prosperity … IT MEANS BOTH HELLO AND GOODBYE…
WE CAN KNOW PEACE WHEN THE ODDS ARE AGAINST US... IF GOD BE FOR US… BE AT PEACE IS A CHOICE!
Romans 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Romans 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
LET US MAKE THE CHOICE OF PEACE… SEEK PEACE. PURSUE PEACE.
1 Peter 3:11 Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.
GOD DESIRES TO BLESS HIS PEOPLE BY LIVING IN HARMONY. GOD HAS A MESSAGE TO HUMANITY… THIS ANNOUNCEMENT WAS MADE TO LOWLY SHEPHERDS. WE HAVE GOOD NEWS. GOD SENT HIS SON TO BRING JOY --- WITH JOY GOD SAYS: FEAR NOT --- WE CAN HAVE DIVINE PEACE…
When mankind comes into the presence of God HIS GLORY COMES… Where God is glorified one of the benefits is PEACE, REAL PEACE. There is an angelic benediction to the announcement of the birth of the SON OF GOD… PEACE AND GOOD WILL… As human beings we can have the tendency to look for reasons to be mean, cruel or reject others. Jesus has a plan to walk in JOY and PEACE. Jesus died for us to live in peace, divine peace.
Luke 2:10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
WE CAN EXPERIENCE TRUE AND LASTING PEACE WHEN WE RECONCILE OURSELVES TO GOD… UNITY NEEDS TO BE A GOAL WE STRIVE TO REACH… PUT UP THE SWORD.
Psalm 133:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! 2 It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; 3 As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.
THERE ARE 4 KINDS OF PEACE:
Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
1. PEACE WITH GOD…
2. PEACE WITH OTHERS… Relationships. How do you talk and live with others?
3. PEACE AT HOME…
4. PEACE WITH YOURSELF...
JESUS GAVE US HIS PROMISE… WE KNOW THAT JESUS CHRIST IS THE PRINCE OF PEACE. DIVINE PEACE IS NOTHING LIKE THE PEACE OF MAN…
John 14:27 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 (NLT2) “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.
AS FAR AS FRIENDSHIP DEPENDS ON US, IF THERE IS ANYWAY POSSIBLE --- DO ALL THAT YOU CAN--- TO LIVE IN PEACE…
Often we find obstacles to peace… Pride, personal taste and prejudices, EGO, fleshly desires can destroy peace. We must always do what is right… Sometimes life happens and conflict cannot be avoided. There are people that thrive on conflict.
Romans 12:14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. 15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. 16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. 17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. 18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. 20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
Romans 12:18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
Romans 12:18 (NLT2) Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.
Romans 12:18 (NLT2) Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.
PEACE COMES WHEN WE PRACTICE THE GOLDEN RULE:
Matthew 7:12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
REST IN KNOWING… GOD IS OUR FATHER: GOD IS OUR HOPE AND PEACE… HE CARES FOR US… God says: TRUST ME, DON’T WORRY, DON’T BE AFRAID, ACCEPT MY PEACE. WE CAN TAKE SHELTER IN THE ARMS OF GOD… TALK ABOUT REAL PEACE.
Psalm 61:3 For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. 4 I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah.
Isaiah 46:3 Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are borne by me from the belly, which are carried from the womb: 4 And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.
Isaiah 46:3 (NLT2) “Listen to me, descendants of Jacob, all you who remain in Israel. I have cared for you since you were born. Yes, I carried you before you were born. 4 I will be your God throughout your lifetime— until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you.
PEACE FORGETS THE SCARS OF THE PAST AND REACHES FOR A NEW THING…
Isaiah 43:18 Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. 19 Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.
CONCLUSION: WE MUST REFUSE TO LET OTHER’S BEHAVIOR DESTROY OUR PEACE. Stay calm, refuse to be upset.
Peace does not run from your problems. Peace faces your problems, then trust God’s plans. Peace is never a once and for all --- peace is a monthly, weekly and daily EFFORT. Always face the son, the shadows will fall behind you! Peace must become our goal. Change what you can… accept what you cannot change.
THE BOTTOM LINE IS CLEAR: NO ONE CAN BRING YOU PEACE! NO ONE CAN TAKE YOUR PEACE. PEACE OF MIND IS A CHOICE. PEACE MAY BE A 1,000 MILE JOURNEY BUT PEACE IS TAKEN ONE STEP AT A TIME. LOVE BRINGS PEACE.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (Check us out at YouTube: Wade Hughes)
I have read babies are born with open hands. When men die they have clenched fist.
