PEACE, JOY & SPIRITUAL FREEDOM“MY PEACE I GIVE TO YOU”

Dr. Kenneth W. Jones, Pastor, Practical Living Ministry

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What Brings You Peace?

What Do You Need to “Relax” You?

When Do Feel Free?

Do You Feel That You’ve Lost Your Joy?

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The World is Seeking Peace

But How Do You Achieve it?Is Peace to be achieved or received?

Some Feel Peace is a “Mystical” Goal

Meditation is the Way

Anxious Nation: 2 in 5 Americans

Feel Less Secure About Their Money

We are an Over-Medicated

Society

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Inner Peace?

Peace of Mind?

Stressed?

Anxiety Disorders affect 18.1 percent of adults in the United States

(approximately 40 million adults between the ages of 18 to 54). -

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).

Need a pill?

What Peace Are You Talking About?

Peace of God

Philippians 4:7 - And the peace of God,

which passeth all understanding, shall keep

your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Peace with God

Romans 5:1 - Therefore being justified by

faith, we have peace with God through our

Lord Jesus Christ:

Peace With Others

Romans 12:18 - If it be possible, as much as

lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

Hebrews 12:14: Follow peace with all men,

and holiness, without which no man shall see

the Lord:

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Why Do People Lack Peace?

Is it a Sin Issue?

Sin separates us from God and until we are

reconciled back to Him, we are not in peace

Is it a Physical/Emotional/Spiritual Issue?

i.e. Oppression or demonic attacks; Illness; Anxiety

Is it a Fruit Issue? (Undeveloped)

The root of fruit of the Spirit is love which produces

the fruit of peace (Gal 5:22,23)

Is it a People Issue?

Discord and Division in relationships

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Peace With God – God’s Gift to Us

Romans 5:1 - Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God

through our Lord Jesus Christ:

Peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: Because the price is paid

in full by the work of Jesus on the cross, God's justice towards us is eternally

satisfied. Now there is no more guilt and shame and we can be reconciled

to God.

The initial peace that comes from having our consciences wiped clean grows

as we come into a mature relationship with the Father

Hebrews 10:22 - Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having

our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

Man in his fallen state is not at peace with God (Colossians 1:21)

This peace can only come through our Lord Jesus Christ. He and His work

is our entire ground for peace. In fact, Jesus is our peace (Ephesians 2:14).

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Peace Through Relationship

True peace is experienced when one knows that

he is in right relationship with the Father

You cannot experience the peace of God if you

don’t have peace with God

Jesus is our Peace and through Him we obtain

peace with God. Paul refers to “the God of all

peace” (Romans 15:33; Galatians 6:16)

Ephesians 2:14 - For he is our peace, who hath

made both one, and hath broken down the middle

wall of partition between us;

You must believe and accept the work of God’s Son

to experience this true peace

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Jesus is identified as the Prince of Peace

(Isaiah 9:6)

The author of Peace between God and

Sinners

God Provides the Peace Not Man

We struggle with peace because we look to others, temporal things, and

even to our misconceptions about God to provide us with the peace we feel

we desire and become disappointed.

Yet God has made known that true peace comes from Him through His Son

by the Holy Spirit producing the fruit of God’s peace in our lives

1 Peter 1:2 - Who were chosen and foreknown by God the Father and

consecrated (sanctified, made holy) by the Spirit to be obedient to Jesus Christ

(the Messiah) and to be sprinkled with [His] blood: May grace (spiritual

blessing) and peace be given you in increasing abundance [that spiritual

peace to be realized in and through Christ, freedom from fears, agitating

passions, and moral conflicts].

Peace multiplied is abounding peace

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The God of Peace

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.

In believing - The effect of believing is to produce this joy and peace. Christians

are not experiencing peace of God because they are not believing God

(Hebrews 11:6)

Abraham was able to give glory to God, joyfully because he trusted in the

Father (Romans 4:20,21)

Colossians 3:15 - And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which

also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

Rule in your hearts - Preside in your hearts; sit as umpire there; govern and

control you. The word rendered here “rule” or govern is commonly used in

reference to the Olympic and other games.

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Peace of God Ruling Your Heart

The meaning of “Peace ruling your heart” is that the

peace which God gives to the soul operates to preside

over and govern the mind; and preserve peace and

order; it also tracks and refuses any irregularities such as

negative or destructive thoughts just as a referee or an

umpire calls the game.

Those thoughts that disturb the peace will receive a “foul’

from the Referee until those thoughts align with God’s

Word, will and purpose

Having confidence and trust in our relationship with the

Lord helps us to cast down those imaginations and

thoughts that are contrary and counterproductive in our

relationship with God and with others

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Who/What Controls Your Peace?

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Let us therefore follow after the

things which make for peace,

and things wherewith one may

edify another.Romans 14:19

Spouse

Your Past

Circumstances

Generational Curses

Other PeopleFear

Current Situation

His peace is not as the world giveth (John 14:27)

World’s Peace:

Based on the objects we pursue: fame, wealth, power

Faulty relationships: Feigned Friendships

False religions and philosophy: Sounds good, but temporal or

hollow fulfillment

Soul peace: temporal absence of anxieties, cares, and worries

God will provide perfect peace(welfare, health, prosperity, soundness) to

a mind that trusts and stays focus on Him (Isaiah 26:3)

Peace is a fruit of the Spirit of God for all believers

God’s peace is able to keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus

What Does God Says About Peace?12

Peace Defined

As defined within Christianity, Peace is the tranquil state of a soul assured

of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and content

with its earthly lot, of whatsoever sort that is (Strong’s Definition)

Uninterrupted happiness of mind based upon a relationship shared with

God

Romans 8:6 - For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is

life and peace.

When our minds are set on the things of the flesh (carnally minded) we

bring death into our lives. But walking in or being in submission to the Spirit

brings life and peace.

Peace" is an effect of spiritual mindedness; such enjoy peace of conscience

that stems from a minding of “spiritual things”

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Peace is not the absence of adversity. It is what sustains us as we go through

adversity. The peace of Christ is an unending source of strength in the midst of

difficulties.

Peace is not conditional or environmental, but based upon an attitude of

faith and maturity of the spirit of man

The biblical concept of peace does not focus on the absence of trouble.

Biblical peace is unrelated to circumstances, but by trust in God

True Peace is not “mystical” or something that we receive outside of

relationship with the Father

Points of Emphasis – What Peace Is Not14

Perfect Peace – Received

•Peace is evidence that we are walking & abiding in the Spirit. "But the fruit of

the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

meekness, temperance: against such there is no law" (Galatians 5:22-23).

Peace comes from abiding in the Word of God. "Great peace have they which

love Thy Law: and nothing shall offend them" (Psalm 119:165).

The peace that the LORD Jesus Christ gives, flows from a life that abides in

prayer. "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication

with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace

of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds

through Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6-7).

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There is a peace that is not of this world – What is

worldly peace?

Peace is not “Positive Thinking”

Beware of Counterfeits

Beware of Peace that makes us complacent (1st Thess 5:3)

Beware of False teachers who mislead us regarding the

peace of God (Ezekiel 13:10) for profits’ sake

They give us a false security avoiding to speak on the judgment of

God for those who live in disobedience and expounding on the

goodness of God who sacrificed for our redemption, peace, and

liberty

Doctrine and Culture: Beware of

Pseudo Peace16

Inner Peace

Deception:

The world places a priority on inner peace, and it offers thousands of

suggestions to those who seek “peace of mind and soul.”

Usually, the gurus of inner peace point to oneself as the source of peace.

There is much talk of meditation, finding an “inner light,” and “chakras” (a high

complex system of thought)

If we need any help from outside of ourselves, worldly wisdom says, it will

come in the form of a “spirit guide” or perhaps some crystals or herbs.

The problem with such advice, besides the obvious endorsement of witchcraft,

is that it completely ignores the source of true peace—the Lord Jesus Christ.

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Inner Peace

Truth:

Inner peace, then, is a wholeness of mind and spirit, a whole heart at rest.

Inner peace has little to do with external surroundings.

Jesus said, “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.”

Jesus also told His followers that “in this world you will have many troubles. But

take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). So peace is not the

absence of trouble; it is the presence of God in the life of the believer.

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Inner Peace

Inner peace comes from knowing that circumstances one is facing is

temporary and that God is sovereign over all (Isaiah 46:9-11). Peace is

strengthened as we exercise faith in the character of God and His Word.

Inner peace is that “quiet” confidence in the Lord, realizing that God is in

control and therefore our heart is fixed and comforted

This Inner peace resulting from a relationship with God allows us to keep

things in proper perspective as we make decisions, conduct relationships, etc.

We can have peace in the midst of challenges when we remember that “all

things work together for the good to those who love God and are called

according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). We can choose peace rather than

give way to fear and worry.

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F.A.I. T. H

F- Focus you thoughts on God’s Thoughts, Promises, and

purposes towards you (Jeremiah 29:11)

A – Accept what God says about you, your situation, and

His desire to deliver and sustain

I – Increase your faith through prayer, study of the Word

& worship

T – Trust in God’s timing, ability, and willingness to meet

your needs and be your shield and promise

H – Hold on and encourage yourself in the Lord

How Does One Achieve Peace?20

Practical Living Ministry

Practical Living Ministry exists to assist individuals, groups, and

organizations to operate to their full God-given ability by sharing life

changing principles for spiritual growth and development.

If this message touched you, please let me hear from you.

If you would like to encourage us financially to keep sharing these

kind of messages, please go to our donation section on our website

at www.practicallivingministry.org

If you would like to contact Dr. Jones for a speaking engagement at your

church or event concerning biblical leadership, mentoring, and Christian

culture. Please contact Pastor Kenneth Jones at

kenjones@practicallivingministry.org

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