Let God's Peace Rule Your Heart Series

Let God’s peace rule in your heart

15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Colossians 3:15-17 NKJV

1.) As a believer you are called to let God’s peace rule in your heart.

15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body…

Rule (brabeuetô). Imperative active third singular of brabeuô, to act as umpire - Word pictures in the New Testament A.T. Robertson

Peace

by Henry Van Dyke

With eager heart and will on fire,

I fought to win my great desire

“Peace shall be mine,” I said;

but life grew bitter in the weary strife.

My soul was tired,

and my pride was wounded deep:

to Heaven I cried,

“God grant me peace or I must die,”

The dumb stars glittered no reply.

Broken at last, I bowed my head,

Forgetting all myself, and said,

“Whatever comes, His will be done;”

And in that moment peace was won.

- We must allow peace to rule. Peace must be our umpire our official, the controlling force in our life. This requires a humble submission to the will of God in each situation in life.

- We must let go and let God, we must allow His peace to invade and rule our lives.

- We must put aside worry and angst and trust in our sovereign and loving God.

- The peace of God is an everlasting peace which never fails and is capable of comforting us and guiding us through any and all situations.

27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27 NKJV

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV

Illustration: An umpire is in control of a game his decisions guide and control the game being played. In the same way peace should rule the believer’s heart. Peace should be the controlling and dominant force in a believer’s life. During sports events we all see calls made that we don’t agree with or even understand, yet everyone accepts the final authority of the official, referee of umpire, whether we understand their decision or not. The same should be true with God’s Peace in our lives it should rule our hearts, our lives, and guide our choices and decisions.

2.) As a believer ruled by God’s peace you are to be thankful to God.

…and be thankful

Be ye thankful (eucharistoi ginesthe). "Keep on becoming thankful." Continuous obligation. - Word pictures in the New Testament A.T. Robertson

in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 NKJV

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Philippians 4:4 NKJV

- when we focus on what He has done rather than on what he hasn’t done or what we want done we will find our attitude will be a grateful one rather than an anxious one.

Illustration:

When Robinson Crusoe was shipwrecked on a lonely island he thought of both the good and the bad.

- He was cast onto a desolate island, but he was still alive, not drowned as all of his ship’s company was.

- He was divided from mankind, but he was not starving.

- He had no clothes, but he was in a hot climate where he didn’t need them.

- He was without means of defense, but he saw no wild animals.

- He had nothing to speak of, but God had sent the ship so near to the shore that he could get out of it all things necessary for his survival.

So he concluded that there was not any condition in the world so miserable but that there was something positive for which to be thankful.

SOURCE: Steve Shepherd in "Thanksgiving" on www.sermoncentral.com.

3.) As a believer ruled by God’s peace you are to be saturated by the word of Christ.

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Colossians 3:16 NKJV (emphasis added)