God's Peace

I. EXORDIUM:

Do you have His Peace?

II. AUDIENCE PROFILE:

Believers

III. OBJECTIVES:

To know and apply GOD's Peace in our hearts and minds.

IV. TEXT:

Philippians 4:7 (Amplified Bible)

And God’s peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

V. THESIS:

Know and apply GOD's Peace in our hearts and minds.

VI. TITLE:

GOD's Peace

VII. EXPLICATION:

A. Author: Apostle Paul

B. Date written: 60 - 64 A.D.

C. Purpose: 3-fold purposes:

1. To express Paul's affection for the Philippian believers

2. To thank them for their gift

3. To encourage them to a lifestyle of unity, holiness and joy

D. To whom written: Philippian believers

E. Main theme: JESUS CHRIST

VIII. MAIN BODY:

A. Transcends all understanding

"And God’s peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding"

1. GOD's Peace is a:

a. Gift

Psalms 29:11 (Amplified Bible)

The Lord will give [unyielding and impenetrable] strength to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace.

b. Abundant

Psalms 119:165 (Amplified Bible)

Great peace have they who love Your law; nothing shall offend them or make them stumble.

Proverbs 3:2 (Amplified Bible)

For length of days and years of a life [worth living] and tranquility [inward and outward and continuing through old age till death], these shall they add to you.

Isaiah 32:17 (Amplified Bible)

And the effect of righteousness will be peace [internal and external], and the result of righteousness will be quietness and confident trust forever.

c. Perfect

Isaiah 26:3 (Amplified Bible)

You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You.

d. Like a river

Isaiah 48:18 (Amplified Bible)

Oh, that you had hearkened to My commandments! Then your peace and prosperity would have been like a flowing river, and your righteousness [the holiness and purity of the nation] like the [abundant] waves of the sea.

Isaiah 54:13 (Amplified Bible)

And all your [spiritual] children shall be disciples [taught by the Lord and obedient to His will], and great shall be the peace and undisturbed composure of your children.

e. CHRIST's legacy - He left something for us, His disciples, something that can't be faked, that is His genuine Peace.

John 14:27 (Amplified Bible)

Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.]

John 16:33 (Amplified Bible)

I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]

f. Passes understanding - surpasses, excels all human understanding

Philippians 4:7 (Amplified Bible)

And God’s peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

1 Corinthians 2:16 (Amplified Bible)

For who has known or understood the mind (the counsels and purposes) of the Lord so as to guide and instruct Him and give Him knowledge? But we have the mind of Christ (the Messiah) and do hold the thoughts (feelings and purposes) of His heart.

As long as you keep on knowing GOD's will for you and being obedient, submissive and you follow it like a slave following his master, then you are unbeatable, no one can be above you in peace, you're always above everything else, you rule and reign in life, by reigning over your fears, problems and obstacles with CHRIST and in CHRIST.

B. Guards our hearts

"shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts"

2 Thessalonians 3:3 (Amplified Bible)

Yet the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen [you] and set you on a firm foundation and guard you from the evil [one].