Christian Universe ™
Home | Christian Resources | Christian Links | Links | Site Map
Peace Amidst Turmoil
February 28, 2016
Christians are not promised shelter from turmoil and troubles in this life. Instead, we are told to have peace in the midst of the turmoil and troubles. Our peace is not a cessation from attacks by our enemies. Rather, that peace comes from God, and is born of our relationship with God. We know that He is ever with us, even when we are in trouble. We also know that if we persevere, we will have eternal life in heaven with God the Father and the Lord, Jesus Christ. Man may destroy our bodies but they cannot destroy our souls, only God can do that. - Bernie Parsons
Peace Amidst Turmoil
by Bernie Parsons
Presented to Globe church of Christ on 02-28-2016
Presented to Load church of Christ on 03-06-2016
We all wish for a little more peace in our lives, do we not? Trials and
tribulations keep churning our lives. Finances fail, health
deteriorates, family sunders, and enemies lay traps for us and life can
be tough. We dream of peace, we wish for peace, we pray for peace.
I hear people say, “If this one or that one would just leave me alone, I
could have some peace.”
Peace does not come that way. We studied in the lesson, “They Will Kill
You” that the world will hate Christians because the world wants the
cover of darkness – where is the peace in that? We learned that members
of our own families will turn on us and hate us – where is the peace in
that? Religious leaders will feel like that they are doing God a favor
by killing us – where is the peace in that?
Luke 12:49 "I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it
be already kindled?
50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened
till it be accomplished!
51 Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay;
but rather division:
52 For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three
against two, and two against three.
53 The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the
father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the
mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter
in law against her mother in law."
Is this true? What happened to Jesus as the “Prince of Peace”?
Isaiah 9:6 "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the
government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called
Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The
Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end,
upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to
establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for
ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this."
And did not the angels herald “Peace on the earth”?
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."
How, then, is there to be peace? We find a hint in the following
passage:
Isaiah 57:19 "I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that
is far off, and to him that is near, saith the LORD; and I will heal
him.
20 But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose
waters cast up mire and dirt.
21 There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked."
Peace from God is different than our notions of peace in our lives.
John 14:25 "These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with
you.
26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send
in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your
remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
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.
28 Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto
you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the
Father: for my Father is greater than I.
29 And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come
to pass, ye might believe."
Jesus said that His peace is not the same peace that the world gives.
Rather, the peace of God comes from embracing God and His word, learning
of Him and putting trust in Him.
Hebrews 13:5 "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be
content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never
leave thee, nor forsake thee.
6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear
what man shall do unto me."
It is the fearlessness that comes from trusting God that gives us our
peace in the midst of turmoil.
Matthew 10:25 "It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master,
and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house
Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?
26 Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not
be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.
27 What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear
in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.
28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the
soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in
hell."
Romans 8:14 "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the
sons of God.
15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye
have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the
children of God:"
2 Timothy 1:7 "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of
power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me
his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel
according to the power of God;
9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according
to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was
given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus
Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality
to light through the gospel:"
Look at another statement that Jesus made regarding peace.
John 16:31 "Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe?
32 Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be
scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am
not alone, because the Father is with me.
33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace.
In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have
overcome the world."
That peace comes from trusting God to do what is right by us, regardless
of the outcome.
Romans 8:5 "For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the
flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is
life and peace.
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject
to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the
Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of
Christ, he is none of his."
If we have the Spirit of Christ, we walk in God’s ways, and so we have
internal peace.
Romans 14:17 “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but
righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
18 For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and
approved of men.
19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and
things wherewith one may edify another.”
Romans 15:13 "Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in
believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy
Ghost."
