YHWH Sha lom^ God Peace
YHWH Shalom -God Peace, God is Peace, God is our Peace
(illus) A strange story of peace
It was Dec 25, 1914, in WW1, fighting had started some 5 months earlier, 800,000 men had been killed or wounded. But it was Christmas, what would happen? The trenches were not that far apart. Some British soldiers raised Merry Christmas signs and soon Christmas carols could be heard from German and British trenches alike. In vain officers tried to stop the soldiers, but to no avail. The rank and file put down their guns and proceeded to meet each other in no-mans land. They exchanged small gifts and in one part of the line played a soccer match.
PEACE occurred that Christmas Day, the soldiers on both sides had agreement, had union, were bound together in one accord -they would not fight on Christmas
New troops were brought to the front line the next day and they did not have the same accord, the bullets flew.
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How humankind needs Peace with each other
100,000 Russians have died and 40,000 Ukrainians have died so far in the war
Lay them all out head to toe. It would stretch from PTBO city hall to Toronto City hall and back again.
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How people all need peace with God, their Maker. The source of real peace. YHWY SHALOM -God Peace, God is Peace, God is my Peace
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How individuals need peace with themselves,
-the mental anguish that goes on inside of people is staggering
The Greek word, "eirene", means "to bind" or "union".
The conotation is that where there is a tie that binds, there is peace.
(illus)
If I were to take 2 large 8in. spikes and put them in a pillowcase and shake the pillow case violently around, you would hear the 2 spikes clanging, clinking and jangling about, making all sorts of noises. This friction makes noises.
Now if I were to bind the two spikes together fast with rope or tape and shook them again in the pillowcase there would be no noise, no clanging about would be heard.
No friction, bound together as one - peace
Unbind them - friction, no peace
POINT is that in order to have peace there has to be something binding us together.
The English word, "peace," implies an agreement. Such as a "Peace Treaty."
When world leaders want to make peace, they sign a pact, or a treaty.
Peace is the result of enemies coming to an agreement.
If Russia and Ukraine would have agreement to stop fighting, would have union in this and bind themselves together like 2 spikes in a pillowcase then the friction would cease and there would be peace.
This is peace in the world talk and we so doubt the possibility of peace in the world.
(illus) COKE commercial from the 60’s–
I'd like to teach the world to sing In perfect harmony
I'd like to hold it in my arms And keep it company
I'd like to see the world for once All standing hand in hand
And hear them echo through the hills For peace throughout the land
Peace, peace but there is no peace -not until Jesus comes to rule this world will there be peace on earth, not peace now but peace then and not until then. There will be wars and rumors of wars, nations will rise against nations these are just the birth pains that the end is nearing. Jesus takes his church in the rapture, the world grows worse and worse, more fighting and death. Then after that time is over, Jesus and his people return to earth, to rule and to make peace. Then there is peace as the weapons of war are turned into ploughs and implements of peace
The Hebrew word, shalom, implies friendship, rest, security.
Jesus walks into the locked room where His disciples are hiding and the first thing Jesus says to them is: -SHALOM - PEACE -meaning PEACE friends, PEACE rest, PEACE security and PEACE safety.
If we have agreement, and we become friends, I am no longer afraid, and am now secure. I am now at rest, because he who was my enemy is now my friend, and so we have peace, Shalom.
The Bible says that we are at enmity with God, enemies not friends. In order to make ‘peace with God’ we need to come to God believing that YHWY is, God exists, that we have all sinned and that we need forgiveness, through Jesus taking our sin upon himself and bearing our punishment we through faith, believe, and are forgiven
(illus)
Moe was a gentleman that was given less then 24 hours to live. I visited Moe in the hospital and pleaded with him to make ‘Peace’ with God. To put his faith and trust in the Savior’s death for him. I have never been so bold and blunt with a person as I was with Moe. I was convinced in my soul that God was going to save Moe. But Moe said to me, ‘I’ll think about it”. I left the hospital room that afternoon with my heart aching for that man. He died the next day. His daughter phoned me to tell me that just before he died Moe told his daughter that he had trusted in Christ as his personal Savior. HE MADE PEACE WITH GOD.
Rom. 5:1 "Therefore being justified by faith (believing that God is), we have peace with God (forgiveness of our sins) through our Lord Jesus Christ (Christ who died for us and we believe that to be true)."
Eph.2:13-14 But now in Christ Jesus you who previously were far away (at enmity with God) have been brought near (saved -received forgiveness) by the blood of Christ. For He Himself (Christ YHWY) is our peace,
Peace with God is available to all and to you right now. This peace can be received by believing that God is, by agreeing with God that you have not lived up to God’s standard (you’re a sinner) and asking God to forgive you through Christ’s substitutionary death for you.
If you have never done that then do that right now, right where you are.
MAKE PEACE WITH YOUR GOD AND YOU WILL HAVE HIS PEACE
This is also called the Peace of SALVATION YHWY SHALOM
You can never have peace with yourself, that inner peace that we all so desperately want, if you first don’t have peace with God, the peace of salvation
And further, just because you have the peace of salvation that God gives, doesn’t necessarily mean you have inner peace, peace with yourself.
I think there are several reasons for that lack of inner peace for Christians
1. Some of us keep fighting with God about how we are living.
God’s Spirit is convicting us and we wrestle without peace over that. There is no such thing as a convictionless peace. You can’t live like you want, doing and saying whatever you want to. God, out of love, mercy and faithfulness, steps into that scenario, into your personal scenario with conviction.
God convicts us of sin, that which is wrong -word, deeds & thoughts
We fight with God, wrestle with God over it
We do not have inner God peace -Shalom
We surrender to God and then we have HIS inner Peace
God is sanctifying us (making us more like Christ) and uses conviction, that disquieting lack of peace, to move us to be like Him.
When you don’t have peace -ask God why and He will reveal/show you
Usually we already know why peace evades us. JUST SURRENDER
Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice, mend your ways, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. 2 Corinthians 13:11
2. God also uses lack of inner peace to steer us, guide us or lead us
I am so thankful for this guidance through peace or no peace. So many bad decisions in my life have been thwarted by God’s guiding Spirit giving me NO PEACE.
On the flip side, I have gone against God’s guidance, having no peace and still went ahead with the poor decision. (I’m still learning)
1 Corinthians 14:33
for God is not a God of confusion, but of peace. (inner peace)
-if you have peace -go for it
-if you don’t have peace -duck -you don’t know what will happen
3. God uses troubling circumstances in your life for the sake of others.
Other people are watching especially our children, to see if inner peace, God’s peace, leaves us when turmoil comes upon us. Jesus is our grandest example of peace in the storm.
In fact, Jesus said this: John 14:27
Peace, I leave you, My peace I give you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, nor fearful.
-when trouble comes and you’re tempted to fear (lose peace) Go to God for help and strength and His peace, Shalom, because other eyes are watching
-the not so secret, secret, about inner peace, peace in the storms, peace in the battles, peace in the pain is -GO TO GOD
Phil. 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything,( do not worry, do not be fearful, do not lose your peace about ANYTHING) but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God (Shalom), which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
-if a Christian does not have peace GO TO GOD à tell God about your troubles, ask God to help/resolve/give strength and then trust God in the matter and trust God to do what He said He would do à give peace, unbelievable, mind blowing, out of this world PEACE -SHALOM
YHWH SHALOM HAS PROMISED and it is so
Psalm 119:165
Those who love Your Law (Your Word, Your Truth, Your Spirit’s guidance,) have great peace,
3 more verses on peace
Hebrews 12:14
Pursue peace with all people, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
Colossians 3:15
Let the peace of Christ, to which you were indeed called in one body, rule in your hearts; and be thankful.
1 Thessalonians 5:23
Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify (to be like Christ) you entirely;
YHWY SHALOM GOD PEACE, GOD IS PEACE, GOD IS MY PEACE
How is your peace?
Know this, Peace with God and peace with ourselves through God, is possible with YHWY Shalom
Romans 15:33 Now may the God of peace be with you all. Amen.
January 8, 2023
