Peace of Mind
Philippians 4:6-9 (KJV)
Philippians 4:6-9
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
There are many things that we can consider valuable in this world right now. I could make a quick and short list to name a few
1.car – transportation
2.house – shelter
3.money – provisions ie food and clothes
4.relationships - comrade re, togetherness
I could go on and on about things that are valuable but really you can make your own list
The first thing that I would like to say is if we compare any of these things that we consider valuable to the true and living God, then we should be able to easily come to the conclusion that they fair extremely short when we compare them to the almighty.
But I would also like to say that the true reason that we feel the need for these things is really for a peace of mind. When I say peace I am talking about P-E-A-C-E and not P-I-E-C-E. There is certainly a huge difference in the meaning of these two words when we are talking about the state of mind we are in
Peace - The absence of mental stress or anxiety
I would really enjoy a PIECE of cake but it is absolutely essential that I maintain a PEACE of mind
Some of us have truly underestimated the importance and the value of a mind at peace
Isaiah 57:19
19 I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the LORD; and I will heal him. 20 But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. 21 There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.
Some of us are giving up our peace of mind way too easy. We are letting small things cause us to go into uproars and tailspins and it is completely unnecessary.
Even in the name of Jesus we are losing our peace. We walk around quoting scripture and don’t even realize that it is the wrong scipture for the wrong time. Even worse we go around talking about what God is going to do based on our common sense approach to God.
“Just keep praying and God will change him.”
“We can stay saved if we just pray church is not important”
We say many things like this and we really don’t have scripture reference and if we do we are misquoting and if not misquoting we are many times using the wrong scripture for the wrong time
We need to know that we need to even control our holiness.
We may think we know Jesus even better that he knows himself
We are setting ourselves up to be denied just by our lack of self control
We are giving up our peace of mind for the sake of the gospel and this is truly not even of God
I Corinthians 14:31-33
31 For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.
32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.
33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
Let’s talk about our mind for a moment
In 1972, the UNCF partnered with the Ad Council to launch a public service advertising campaign encouraging Americans to support the fund. The campaign slogan, "A Mind is a Terrible Thing To Waste," has remained unchanged for more than three decades and has become part of the American vernacular.
Mind - That which is responsible for one’s thoughts and feelings; the seat of the faculty of reason
I would like to invite you to try this at home for at least one week. I would really like for you to attempt to completely use the mind of Christ for one week
See if anything in your life changes
The bible invites us and I believe that God would have us use the mind of Christ. Listen we should use the mind of Christ
Philippians 2:5
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
(Verse 6) Supplication - A humble request for help from someone in authority
It would truly be a delight to God for all of his believers to be mentioned in this manner: (Verse 8)
1 whatsoever things are true
True - Devoted (sometimes fanatically) to a cause or concept or truth
"true believers bonded together against all who disagreed with them"
2 whatsoever things are honest
Honest - Not disposed to cheat or defraud; not deceptive or fraudulent
"honest lawyers"; "honest reporting"
3 whatsoever things are just
Just - Free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules
"a just and lasting peace"; "a kind and just man"; "a just reward"; "his just inheritance"
4 whatsoever things are pure
Pure - Free of extraneous elements of any kind “pure water”
5 whatsoever things are lovely
Lovely - Appealing to the emotions as well as the eye (stop trying to be so hard)
6 whatsoever things are of good report
Good Report - Announce as the result of an investigation or experience or finding
Good – God is good
Spread gospel not gossip
IF there be any virtue
Virtue - The quality of doing what is right and avoiding what is wrong
Ruth 3:9 And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman.
10 And he said, Blessed be thou of the LORD, my daughter: for thou hast showed more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as thou followedst not young men, whether poor or rich.
11 And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman.
Proverbs 12:4 A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.
Proverbs 31:10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
What is the price for rubies and diamond?
Diamonds – 5 carats $123,000.00 Rubies – 5 carats $144,000.00
and IF there be any praise
Praise - An expression of approval and commendation (Credit card approval)
THINK ON THESE THINGS
CONCLUSION
I am not saying walk around as if you are dead because nothing bothers you
We all have issues and things that bother us. It is good sometimes to let people know that you don’t like certain things.
But after you have done all that you know how to to do, don’t let them make you lose your peace of mind
Before you do that know that the battle is not yours
Don’t settle for anything but neither let anything unsettle you. Use the mind of Christ and you will certainly have a change in your walk and talk
Let’s Pray
Father God I have truly let things cause me to lose my peace of mind. I realize Father that it was because of my lack of faith that I became unsettled. It was because I let the fact that you spoke to the winds and they obeyed slip my mind and this is why I have momentarily allowed my peace to get away but I speak the words from your mouth to the sea over my life right now. Peace be still. Thank you God and I pray that you continue to see fit to see about me. Amen
ThankYou,
May God continue to bless you and keep you. Amen
Your Friend
Pastor Juan D. Lane Sr.
