I am free from anxiety because things are right between God, myself, and others. Philippians 4:6-7 - Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Assessment Statements I know God has forgiven me because of what Jesus has done. I am not angry with God, myself, or others. I forgive people who deeply hurt me. I have an inner peace from God. Other Related Indicators #5 - indicator related to Salvation I believe that salvation is available to everyone who believes in Jesus Christ and chooses to follow Him. #34 - indicator related to Holy Spirit I believe His power and control are appropriated by faith. #8 - indicator related to Love God s grace enables me to forgive people who have hurt me. #11 - indicator related to Patience I do not get angry with God when I have to endure suffering. #43 - indicator related to Faithfulness I discipline my thoughts based upon my faith in Jesus Christ. #77 - indicator related to Grace: About Humanity I believe all people are loved by God; therefore, I, too, should love them. #23, #53, #83, #113 - indicators related to Groups: Conflict Resolution I seek resolution of conflict in my relational world. I practice Jesus mandate of going to the person, in private, and discussing the conflict. When handling relational conflict, I avoid practices such as stuffing my emotions or going to another person first. Love is my consistent motivation for seeking resolution of conflict #24, #54, #84 - indicators related to Groups: Relationships I practice Christ-honoring relationships at home. I practice Christ-honoring relationships within the church. I practice Christ-honoring relationships at my job and out in the world. #106 - indicator related to Grace: My Identity in Christ I believe I am forgiven and accepted by God. 1
Understanding Peace Peace does not necessarily refer to the absence of conflict or trouble. It does describe the calm and serenity of a life which is free of fear and anxiety. Peace describes the serenity, the tranquility, the perfect contentment of the life which is completely secure. The way of righteousness will be peace, and the effect of righteousness will be quietness and assurance forever (Isaiah 32:17). The Psalmist will lie down in peace and sleep, for it is God who makes him to dwell in safety (Psalm 4:8). Peace is right relationships Peace is also characterized by being in right relationship with God and our fellow man. In meaning carried over from the Old Testament, peace is most often used in the New Testament to describe right relationships in every sphere of life. For example, peace describes the unbreakable unity of relationship which should exist between husband and wife within the home, where God has called us to peace (1 Corinthians 7:15). Peace transcends all racial, gender, and socio-economic barriers in relationships such that there is neither Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female (Galatians 3:28). In the church, Christians must maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:3). In Colossians 3:15, Paul encourages to Let the peace of God rule in your hearts. In saying this, he uses the analogy of games where the umpire is making decisions. The peace of God is to be the umpire making all decisions within our hearts. Decisions are not to be governed by personal ambition, the desire for personal prestige, bitterness, or an unforgiving spirit. Peace describes the new relationship between man and God. We have peace with God because through the work of Jesus Christ we have entered into a new relationship with Him (Romans 5:1). Jesus made peace, that is, He established a right relationship between God and man, through the blood of His cross (Colossians 1:20). Peace is of the mind Peace also is descriptive of peace of mind or serenity. It comes to ones whose minds are controlled by the Holy Spirit and who think about things that please the Spirit (Romans 8:5). Coupled with it, are our efforts to think about whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable anything that is excellent or praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8). Sources of peace Peace comes from believing. It is Paul s prayer for the Christians at Rome that the God of hope would fill them with all joy and peace in believing (Romans 15:13). Peace comes from the certainty of the wisdom, the love and the power of God. Peace comes from 2
staking life on the belief that what Jesus said about God is true. Peace comes from belief that has turned into action. There is glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good (Romans 2:10). Peace comes from God. Paul speaks of the peace of God which passes all understanding (Phillipians 4:7). Peace is something which God gives far more than it is something which man creates. Peace is a gift of Jesus. In sort of His last will and testament, Jesus said, Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you (John 14:27). Peace is not something which a man achieves, but something which a man accepts. It is clear in the New Testament that the attainment of peace is not easy task. Though all God s greatest gifts are freely given, there is also a sense in which they are not given away. The must be intensely desired and strenuously sought. So the New Testament uses three words for man s part in the search for this peace. We must seek peace and pursue it (1 Peter 3:11). We must be zealous to be found by Him at peace (2 Peter 3:14). The word for to seek means to make peace the object of all our endeavor. The word for to pursue means to hunt down as a hunter might. The word for to be zealous means to seek for a thing with a burning enthusiasm. That peace which is right relationships does not come easily or automatically, but when we desire it with our whole hearts, when we seek it with our whole minds, when we strain every faculty to find it and to maintain it, then God opens His hand and most abundantly gives. Resources Fruit of the Spirit Bible Studies; Peace; Overcoming Anxiety and Conflict by Jack Kuhatschek Abba s Child by Brennan Manning Chapter 9 in Henry Cloud and John Townsend s How People Grow on Getting to the Warmth of Forgiveness The Anger Workbook by Les Carter The Art of Forgiving by Lewis B. Smedes Chapter 5 in John Ortberg s The Life You Always Wanted on An Unhurried Life. Forgive and Forget by Lewis B. Smedes The Search for Peace by Robert S. McGee The Road to Peace by Henri J.M. Nouwen 3
The Life of Joy and Peace by D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones Nurturing Silence in a Noisy World by Wayne Oates The Freedom of Simplicity by Richard Foster Ordering Your Private World by Gordon MacDonald The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence Finding Contentment by Neil Clark Warren Fruit of the Spirit Series: Peace, Maranatha Music Peace with God by Billy Graham Peacemaker Ministries www.hispeace.org Community Christian Church message tapes: #042593 Practice Loving Others #070493 Practice Patience #081593 Control Anger #073094 Practice Reconciliation #090494 I Believe that Jesus is the Savior #100994 Relationships Take Work #091095, #092495, #100895 the Love of Another Kind series #101396 When Community Breaks Down #012697, #020997, #022397 the All About Anger series #112298 Manage Anger #020799 Relational Fundamentals #061100 How Secure is Salvation? #EX033199 What Keeps Me From Love? #EX042899 Fearless Love #EN041801 Forgive Us Our Debts as We Forgive #010602, #012002 the What Matters Most series #062302 An Unquiet Mind: Overcoming Anxiety #070702 Life Stories: Real Forgiveness Scripture: Psalm 91 Matthew 6:25-34 Romans 8:5,6 Romans 12:17-21 Romans 14:19 Ephesians 2:11-22 Ephesians 4:3-6 Philippians 4:6-9 4
Colossians 1 19-21 Practices Work toward reconciling a broken relationship. Practice repenting and receiving God s forgiveness. Start the forgiveness process by saying I forgive you to someone. Practice forgiveness by writing down all the ways a particular person has hurt you then, tear it up or burn it. Seek help from a mediator to resolve the conflict. Pray for the wellbeing of the person with whom you have a broken relationship. Practice Sabbath-keeping. Reserve time for family. Reserve time for relaxation. Practice meditation. Identify things that would be cultural status purchases and don t buy them. Practice the discipline of silence. Eat one or more meals per day around the table with your family. Practice saying no. Evaluate whether or not your commitments are centered around things you have identified as priorities. Practice the discipline of reflection. Do a word study of eirene, peace. Tithe. Practice self-denial. Live on a budget. 5
Get adequate sleep. Drive older cars. Purchase clothing from second-hand stores. Reduce or eliminate TV viewing. Practice slowing (driving in the slow lane, chewing food at least 15 times, not wearing a watch, getting in the longest checkout line, etc.). Practice solitude. Enlist the help of others who, along with you, will pray that the Spirit will produce this fruit in you. 6