Week 42 The Peace of God
The peace of God is not the same as the peace of Man and we fail if we try to make it so
“No God, no peace. Know God, know peace.”
Rev. Croft M. Pentz
Passage
4Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!
5Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near.
6Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
7And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:4–7 (NASB95)
Background
Quote- Reverend Croft M. Pentz (May 14, 1931-July 2, 2008). Rev. Pentz received his theological training at Central Bible College, Springfield, MO and began his ministry in Little Rock, AR, in August 1952. He served as a minister to the deaf for 44 years (1952-1996). He established The Calvary Chapel of the Deaf in Elizabeth, NJ, in 1954 and served as Pastor for 42 years. He appeared weekly on the The Evangel television show in New York City from 1957-1971. He interpreted, for the deaf for 5 of Rev. Billy Graham's crusades. From 1996-2007 he served as Pastor of the Senior Adults/Outreach of the Calvary Assemblies of God, Waynesboro. In 1999, he led the opening prayer for the PA House of Representatives, 7 times. He was also an accomplished author, having authored 30 sermon outlines, several of which are still in print. He compiled two books of quotes, The Complete Book of Zingers and 1001 Things Your Mother Told You. He also compiled two books of Christian Poetry and authored four Christian Handbooks with over 1 million books sold and several translated into other languages.
Passage-The book of Philippians is a Prison Epistle (letter written while in prison). Paul wrote it about 62 A.D. as he anticipated his release from prison. They key personalities are the Apostle Paul, Timothy, Epaphroditus, Euodia, and Syntyche. It was written to show his appreciation and love to the Philippians in a thank-you letter for their continued help and support, and also to encourage their growth. Chapter 4, Paul again mentions joy in Christ as he encourages believers to rejoice in the Lord. It is important for the believer to be well grounded in prayer and thanksgiving. To offer praise and to give God thanks for the many provisions they are blessed with, “my God shall supply all your needs” (4:19).
Lesson Notes
Opening Statement
Previous lessons suggested we can be happy as a choice. Today’s passage seems to indicate we can cast away our worries (being anxious) as a choice too. Not worrying may seem harder than choosing to be joyful to some, but the way we do both is really the same.
Ask: How is the peace of God different from the peace of the World?
Point: The peace of the World is the peace of men, of the flesh.
Ask: What does that mean “the peace of the flesh?”
Point: It means our lives proceed in a manner we individual define as good, calm, and smooth.
Ask: Why is it a “bad thing” that our lives proceed in a good, calm, and smooth fashion as we define it?
Point: Because our definition is often times not the same as God’s definition. Please read the following:
7Let the wicked forsake his way And the unrighteous man his thoughts; And let him return to the Lord, And He will have compassion on him, And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.
8“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord.
9“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.
Isaiah 55:7–9 (NASB95)
Ask: What does it mean for our peace to understand that sometimes we cannot understand how God operates?
Point: Trust. We have to trust in God that when we do not understand why things in our lives are going a certain way, that He does. Please read the following:
25“For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
26“Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?
Matthew 6:25–26 (NASB95)
Ask: Jesus says, “…do not be worried…” but that’s really tough to do. How do we do that?
Point: Please read the following:
6Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time,
7casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.
1 Peter 5:6–7 (NASB95)
Ask: What does that mean to “casting all your anxiety on Him?”
Point: The answer is in verse six where it says to humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, which means agree to be obedient to His ways and call on our lives.
Ask: The “mighty hand of God” is somewhat ambiguous. What does that look like in practice?
Point: The Romans had this same problem. Paul addressed it there for them too. Please read the following:
1Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
2And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
3For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.
Romans 12:1–3 (NASB95)
Ask: What is the “renewing of your mind” and what does it look like in the real world?
Point: The answer to both is the same. Please read the following:
14Remind them of these things, and solemnly charge them in the presence of God not to wrangle about words, which is useless and leads to the ruin of the hearers.
15Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.
16But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness,
2 Timothy 2:14–16 (NASB95)
Ask: How does studying God’s Word bring us peace?
Point: It brings us the peace of God, not the peace of the World.
Ask: We’ve come full circle and are back where we started this lesson. Is the answer to the first question any more clear?
Point: Please read the following as the closing statement:
8Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.
9The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
10But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity.
11Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.
12I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.
13I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:8–13 (NASB95)
Questions for the Week
Question 1 Review all the words in the Definitions section and contemplate which parts of each definition the Holy Spirit highlights for you.
Question 2 Read all of Romans 12 keeping the definitions answers in mind.
Question 3 Write as much or as little in your journal as you are led to write concerning concrete actions or steps you can take relating to the answers to Questions 1 & 2.
Question 4 Consider how you might put one or more of those steps you wrote in your journal into practice right now.
Definitions
know
noh
verb (used with object),knew, known, know·ing.
1. to perceive or understand as fact or truth; to apprehend clearly and with certainty:I know the situation fully.
2. to have established or fixed in the mind or memory:to know a poem by heart; Do you know the way to the park from here?
3. to be cognizant or aware of:I know it.
4. be acquainted with (a thing, place, person, etc.), as by sight, experience, or report:to know the mayor.
5. to understand from experience or attainment (usually followed by how before an infinitive):to know how to make gingerbread.
6. to be able to distinguish, as one from another:to know right from wrong.
7. Archaic. to have sexual intercourse with.
verb (used without object),knew, known, know·ing.
8. to have knowledge or clear and certain perception, as of fact or truth.
9. to be cognizant or aware, as of some fact, circumstance, or occurrence; have information, as about something.
noun
10. the fact or state of knowing; knowledge.
peace
pees
noun
1. the nonwarring condition of a nation, group of nations, or the world.
2. Often Peace . an agreement or treaty between warring or antagonistic nations, groups, etc., to end hostilities and abstain from further fighting or antagonism:the Peace of Ryswick.
3. a state of mutual harmony between people or groups, especially in personal relations:Try to live in peace with your neighbors.
4. the normal freedom from civil commotion and violence of a community; public order and security:He was arrested for being drunk and disturbing the peace.
5. cessation of or freedom from any strife or dissension.
6. freedom of the mind from annoyance, distraction, anxiety, an obsession, etc.; tranquility; serenity:Has therapy helped you find the peace you’ve been looking for?
7. a state of tranquility or serenity:May he rest in peace.
8. a state or condition conducive to, proceeding from, or characterized by tranquility:the peace of a mountain resort.
9. silence; stillness:The cawing of a crow broke the afternoon's peace.
10. Peace, a comedy (421 b.c.) by Aristophanes.
interjection
11. (used to express greeting or farewell or to request quietness or silence.)
verb (used without object),peaced, peac·ing.
12. Obsolete. to be or become silent.
humble
huhm-buhl
adjective,hum·bler, hum·blest.
1. not proud or arrogant; modest:Though very successful, she remained humble.
2. having a feeling of insignificance, inferiority, subservience, etc.:In the presence of so many world-famous writers I felt very humble.
3. low in rank, importance, status, quality, etc.; lowly:of humble origin;a humble home.
4. courteously respectful:In my humble opinion you are wrong.
5. low in height, level, etc.; small in size:a humble member of the galaxy.
verb (used with object),hum·bled, hum·bling.
6. to lower in condition, importance, or dignity; abase.
7. to destroy the independence, power, or will of.
8. to make meek:to humble one's heart.
submit
suhb-mit
verb (used with object),sub·mit·ted, sub·mit·ting.
1. to give over or yield to the power or authority of another (often used reflexively).
2. to subject to some kind of treatment or influence.
3. to present for the approval, consideration, or decision of another or others:to submit a plan;to submit an application.
4. to state or urge with deference; suggest or propose (usually followed by a clause):I submit that full proof should be required.
verb (used without object),sub·mit·ted, sub·mit·ting.
5. to yield oneself to the power or authority of another:to submit to a conqueror.
6. to allow oneself to be subjected to some kind of treatment:to submit to chemotherapy.
7. to defer to another's judgment, opinion, decision, etc.:I submit to your superior judgment.
obey
oh-bey
verb (used with object)
1. to comply with or follow the commands, restrictions, wishes, or instructions of:to obey one's parents.
2. to comply with or follow (a command, restriction, wish, instruction, etc.).
3. (of things) to respond conformably in action to:The car obeyed the slightest touch of the steering wheel.
4. to submit or conform in action to (some guiding principle, impulse, one's conscience, etc.).
verb (used without object)
5. to be obedient:to agree to obey.