Hello, I am Adam Knapp form All Peoples’ Church. I am with you today on God Today. I want to look at the subject of the peace of God. In our world, everything around us, everything that is going on, does everything in its power to srtip of peace. We turn on the television network and all of the news will say all of the terrible things going on. Social media continues to blitz us with information on top of information. Yet, as believers, we are supposed to be stewards of the peace of God.
Paul write about this in Philippians 4:6-7. He gives a recipe so you can steward the peace of God you have been given. In verse 4 he says, “Rejoice in the Lord in all things, again I say rejoice.” So, the first part of that is to begin rejoicing in God. I don’t know if today you have rejoiced yet, but begin to rejoice in the things God has done for you. The good things He has done, His testimony in your life.
Then he says, “Let your reasonableness be known to all men.” He is literally saying be reasonable in how you look at things. Sometimes we have to govern our own emotions. We have to calm ourselves down. He says, “Be anxious for nothing.” That is a command out of scripture. Right now, if you are struggling with anxiety, realize that is not God’s portion or purpose for your life.
Then he goes into a long discourse where he says, “But, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God.” Here he says the last part, the fourth part of that recipe is thanksgiving. Sometimes we lose our peace because we are not thankful for the circumstances that are going on. We are not thankful for the things that are going on that are negative and positive. If we bring that into the discussion, it adds an element that brings all of these four things together to produce the peace of God. Then it says, “Because of these things you will have the peace of God that surpasses all understanding.”
Maybe right now you are out there and there are things that are going chaotic in your life. There are circumstances that seem out of your control. There are frustrations. There Is worry. There is anger. There is sadness. You aren’t sure exactly what to do. I want to remind you, first rejoice in the Lord. Take a moment, catch your breath, let reasonableness control your heart. Don’t let anxiety ruin and reign in your life. Finally, begin to thank God for the things He has done, even the things He has yet to do. If you will do these things, the peace of God which surpasses understanding will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.
I want to take a moment and pray with you right now and trust that God is going to bring peace to your heart and assurance to your soul. Father, I thank you. I thank you that those that are watching now have an opportunity to enter into your peace, to trust you in all of their circumstances. To rejoice in you for your goodness, to remain reasonable, and control anxiety and not allow it to rule and reign. I ask God that you would help them to be thankful, to thank you for the things you have done that are good, and for the hard times and the difficulties, knowing that when we enter into these things, we can trust you that you are going to bring peace that surpasses understanding and you are going to guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. I thank you for this in the name of Jesus. Amen. Again, I am Adam Knapp and this is God Today.