Pastor Jeremias Antonetty
Peace Like A River -Part # 2 John 14:27 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. (NKJ) peace I leave with you Christ being about to die and leave his disciples, makes his last will and testament, and as the best legacy he could leave them, bequeaths peace unto them; my peace I leave with you He left the Gospel of peace with them, to be preached by them to all the world; which is a declaration and publication of peace made by his blood. "giving" it, shows that it is not to be acquired by any thing that man can do, but is a pure free grace gift of Christ; and which being given as his legacy, is irrevocable. It cannot be taken away. Not as the world gives, give I unto you -The peace Christ gives is true, solid, and substantial, -The peace the world, the men, and things of it gives, is a false one; and whilst they cry, "peace, peace, sudden destruction is at hand": -The peace of the world is at best but an external one, -The peace Christ is the giver of, is internal, -The peace the world affords is a very transient, unstable, and short lived one, -The peace of Christ is lasting and durable, -The peace of the world will not support under the troubles of it, -The peace, which Christ gives, cheerfully carries his people through all the difficulties and exercises of this life: -The world gives peace in words only, -The peace of Christ is given in deed, -The world gives imaginary peace, -The peace of Christ is given wholeheartedly, -The world gives it for its own advantage, -The peace of Christ for his people's sake, -The world gives its peace to the men of it, to the ungodly, none to the godly, whom it hates, -The peace of Christ is given to his; not to the wicked, for there is no peace to them, but to the saints, the excellent in the earth. Wherefore Christ says to them. let not your heart be troubled At my departure from you, since I leave such a peace with you: neither let it be afraid At the dangers you may be exposed unto, and the trouble you may be exercised with; for in the midst of them all, "in me you shall have peace", This internal peace of the eternal God is given to his children because they have been: Justified by faith Rom 5:1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, Although we have been completely justified before the Father through our Lord Jesus Christ, there is a growing process for us as his children in reference to the peace of the Lord. Jesus grew strong in spirit and in wisdom. The Father made us born again by his Holy Spirit in order that we may grow up in our salvation, like wise we are admonished by the Holy Scriptures to grow in peace as our relationship with God deepens. The fruit of the Spirit is peace Fruit that is good is the product of a good plantation and proper nourishment. In order for the fruit to be healthy, it must be cultivated in rich soil. The believer is planted like a tree in the streams of God, and will grow properly when it retains the nourishment that comes from the Holy Spirit and the word of God. Therefore it is imperative that we abide in the vine, which is Christ himself, in order that we may grow the fruit of peace as well as the other fruit of the Holy Spirit. Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, (NKJ) This fruit of the Spirit cannot be obtained by human effort, it is vain to think that we have the ability to produce God-like traits in our lives by our own means. This self-effort labor will only bring about a life of total frustration and complete failure. But the fruit of the Spirit consists in all that is good, righteous and truth. Eph 5:9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), (NKJ) False prophets bear bad fruit Matt 7:15-20 15 "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 "You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 "Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 "A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 "Therefore by their fruits you will know them. (NKJ) To grow in peace we must first grow in truth Eph 4:15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head-- Christ-- (NKJ) Notice here in the book of Ephesians by speaking truth, which is Christ himself, we grow up into him who is the head of everything. Therefore as we mature in Christ we mature in peace. The Greek definition for speaking the truth means simply to: 226 aletheuo (al-ayth-yoo'-o); Be true in doctrine and to have a true profession of faith in Christ The Greek definition for grow up or that you may grow up simply means to: 837 auzano (owx-an'-o); a prolonged form of a primary verb; to grow ("wax"), i.e. enlarge (literal or figurative, active or passive): KJV-- grow (up), (give the) increase. The growth of a flower Matt 6:28 "So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; (NKJ) The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed of faith Matt 13:31-32 31 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, 32 "which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches." John the Baptist grew strong in spirit Luke 1:80 80 So the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel. (NKJ) Jesus grew strong in spirit and was filled with wisdom Luke 2:40 And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him. (NKJ) We must become less John 3:30 "He must increase, but I must decrease. (NKJ) * A Lack of assurance is a stumbling block for future hope * Christ has made it possible for us to draw near to the Father by the shedding of his blood. Full assurance of faith Heb 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. (NKJ) Boldly before the throne Heb 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (NKJ) Feet that are fitted Eph 6:15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. (NIV) beautiful feet Rom 10:15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!" (NKJ) The God of peace crushes Satan under your feet Rom 16:20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. (NKJ) the Greek word for crush 4937 suntribo (soon-tree'-bo); from 4862 and the base of 5147; to crush completely, i.e. to shatter (literally or figuratively): KJV-- break (in pieces), broken to shivers-quake-shake (+-hearted), bruise. The way of peace Luke 1:78-79 78 Through the tender mercy of our God, with which the Dayspring from on high has visited us; 79 To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." (NKJ) The mind controlled by the Holy Spirit Rom 8:5-6 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Peace with one another Mark 9:50 "Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another." (NKJ) the Greek word for peace 1515 eirene (i-ray'-nay) KJV-- one, peace, quietness, rest, + set at one again. Rom 14:19 Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. Ps 31:24 Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the LORD. (NKJ) 2388 chazaq (khaw-zak'); The Hebrew word for Courage 1. to fasten upon 2. to bind 3. be constant 4. continue 5. be established 6. fasten 7. force 8. fortify 9. make hard 10. lean 11. maintain 12. prevail 13. be recovered 14. repair 15. retain Self reliance is a deceit Ps 33:17 A horse is a vain hope for safety; neither shall it deliver any by its great strength. (NKJ) the Hebrew were for vain 8267 sheqer (sheh'-ker); From 8266; an untruth; by implication, a sham- counterfeit- of falsehood)
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