Peace Of God In Christ

"The Word of God is our Sword, but it is the Sword of the Spirit, and not the sword of man."

WE ARE NOT in a war. We are called to be peacemakers (Matthew 5:9). We are meant to stay always at rest (Hebrews 4:9)
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We do not fight against people, it says in Ephesians 6. We are fighting idolatry, wrong thoughts, and our need to worship things. That is the meaning of the progression in verse 12. We see this thought again in James 1:15.

“And when that ill-fated, unfettered desire has been entertained mentally for so long that a person conceives it and becomes pregnant with it, eventually the embryonic temptation becomes fully developed, and a moment comes when that person gives birth to behaviors that miss the mark of what is right and begins practicing acts that are wrong and sinful. You see, when the gestation for this destructive process is complete, birth finally takes place, and what is brought forth is permeated with every kind of death.” (James 1:15, Renner Interpretive Version)

We are NOT fighting the devil. He is de-feeted. Destroyed, rendered useless, Hebrews 2:14. We are NOT fighting devils and unclean spirits (by any name). They are the works of the devil referred to in 1 John 3:8, which have been destroyed, dissolved. Yes, they exist. No, we do not fear them. No, we do not allow them entrance. And for those tormented by them, we speak peace.

“The written law was powerless to restore trust, as it could merely diagnose the infection of distrust and selfishness pervading us all. God accomplished this restoration of his character of love in humans by sending his own Son in human flesh to eradicate selfishness from humanity, reveal the truth about God, expose the lies of Satan, and reveal what happens when the infection of sin is not cured. And so he condemned the infection of selfishness as the destroying element in sinful humanity.” (Romans 8:3, Remedy)

We are told to stop putting on a show. This is throughout the Word. The display of the Law was to diagnose the infection of selfishness in humanity (Romans 8:3). It was a vibrant picture of the work of the cross and the Resurrection, but peace was God’s heart. The God of Peace sent Jesus, the Prince of Peace, to send the Spirit of God in order to bring peace, Galatians 5:22, and bring the peace on earth, goodwill to men proclaimed in Luke. The Word of God is our Sword, but it is the Sword of the Spirit, and NOT the sword of man. It is our words spoken. As we speak THE WORD, it changes atmospheres.

The more we walk at peace, the more peaceful things around us become. These are the words of Isaiah 32:17-18. “And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.”

Our human nature is to fight. God is asking us to be as He is, victorious. A victorious army returns from war with no desire to fight. They want everyone to know they’ve won. Jesus is the Word of God made flesh. He fought the battle by dying for us as the Christ, and the Spirit who was in Him and upon Him without measure (John 3:44) carried the weight of all sin and removed it from us. Jesus, as God, died a physical death in order to be seen as God, fully alive forever in the Spirit. He spoke this while on the cross with the thief hanging beside him. The thief, a convicted criminal, asked to be remembered when He came into His kingdom, and Jesus replied that “to day”, this day, they’d be in Paradise. “To day” leaves no days of torment in hell, as some incorrectly believe. No, Jesus was God in completeness at that moment (John 17:5).

“And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:42-43)

Facing the cross, Jesus spoke peace over His disciples and He spoke victory; and this is our position IN CHRIST. This phrase is repeated many times, and some have taken hold of it incorrectly, as a stand during battle. It is not meant that way at all but is our resting in what Jesus accomplished. He fought for us, knowing His win was assured, and now, we take His hand and finish life well.

On this, I have a word from the Spirit: STOP SETTLING FOR HALFWAY. Most seek a peaceful death but turn loose of joy and honor and inheritance. These are the promises of Jesus, what He rose from death, victorious, to give us. Read below the words of Isaiah 65:22-23 and take them to heart. Make them your response whenever the world, the flesh, and evil try to turn you toward loss. Then raise your hands to heaven and REJOICE!

“They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them.” (Isaiah 65:22-23)

“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)

“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.” (John 16:33)

Photo by Vadim Mityushin on Unsplash


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Suzanne D. Williams, Author
www.suzannedwilliams.com
www.feelgoodromance.com