Peace of God: A Spiritual Power (Part 1)
[ Preached by Pastor Kenneth Chin at Acts Church Malaysia on 9 July 2017 ]
The problems that we face at times are unseen or are spiritual things. And because we cannot see it, we often do not know how to deal with it; but because we do not see it, it does not mean we should not solve it.
In working out these unseen problems, this is to be acknowledged: they are not to be dealt with mere physical methods.
A spiritual problem needs a spiritual answer.
Prayer is a spiritual answer; when we learn how to pray, we learn how to attack an unseen problem. Thanksgiving is also a spiritual answer; when we start giving thanks to the Lord, there is the power to overcome the unseen negativity.
Choosing to pray and to give thanks is the unseen work that brings about the peace of God.
Read | Philippians 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
You may be on the hospital bed, body filled with pins and needles, yet have peace because you know you will be in a better place with Jesus. Or you can have wealth, be on a comfortable chairman seat in your office, but have no peace in your heart.
The lack of peace allows the enemy to create havoc in our lives.
We go to various religious institutions and we chase after people and prophets to help us, but what we are truly after is peace.
The peace of God is a spiritual power, those of us who have experienced knows that though you cannot see the peace of God, you can feel it. And when we have the peace of God, our lives are changed.
Read Again | Philippians 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
The Bible does not say that all your requests and needs will be met. It says God will answer your prayer by giving you His peace.
It’s good that the peace of God guards our hearts and minds – our thinking and feeling. Your mind and your heart can play tricks on you and we have allowed our minds and our hearts to extend the problems in our lives.
It’s not about the “not enough money” that is the problem, but that the thinking and feeling of the “not enough money” that is the problem. Most times, it is not the situation that we are in that is the problem, it is what we are thinking and feeling about the situation that is the problem.
Read | Proverbs 4: 23 – 24
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
We cannot guard our hearts on our own, we need the peace of God to guard our hearts.
Read | Mark 9: 23 – 24
Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”
Call out and receive the peace of God, with our mouths we confessed, and with our hearts we believed.
A person who has God’s peace can never be defeated.
You can put sickness to a man who has God’s peace, you can take away money from a man who has God’s peace, and yet you cannot do anything to him.
Read | Acts 26:14
We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.
This is the encounter of the Apostle Paul who was persecuting the church of God. Jesus has won; anyone that tries to harm a man of God or be an opponent to God’s side, he is kicking against the goads.
Let’s refrain from the tendency to bring our complaints to man, let’s bring it to God through prayer; because you do not need to convince anyone to be on your side, you just need to move yourself to be on God’s side!
Read | Romans 16:20
The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.
Jesus is the Prince of Peace. He answers not immediately of what you ask for (your prayers and your petitions), He answers immediately of what you need (the peace of God). How powerful is that peace, that God will crush all of Satan’s plans and all of Satan’s attacks against you! God not only provides and loves, but He also protects.
Read | Philippians 4:8-9
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me — put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Read | Psalm 19:14
May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Meditate on the good things – the things that are true and are praiseworthy. Fill your thoughts with God’s Word, and fill your heart with His promises. Today is the day to stop worrying and start trusting. Nothing can take our lives away, it is God who has the final say.
Written by Hailey Chung