Fear, the enemy of true peace

by Pat Dalrymple
Pastor says: God never said DIE NOT, SORROW NOT, or SUFFER NOT, but He did say, ‘FEAR NOT!’ And when you take the fear out of life, then all the terrible experiences- all the trials and all the suffering-become bearable.
John 14:33 (NKJV)“These things have I spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world.”
True Peace is one of the most precious assets that anyone can have. Some people like drama and strife and do not know how to have peace in their inner spirit.
Christians have peace available to them, but they must learn to stay away from strife. 
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​Titus 3:1-7 Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, 2 to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. 3 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. 4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
So we can see that if we do not avoid strife, we will not have peace.
Proverbs 26:17 He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.
James 3 :13-18 13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. 14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
Jesus promised to give us peace. His peace is available to us if we make the right choices to stay in peace.
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27
There is so much turmoil and unrest in society today, but we can have peace in the midst of it and not be in denial. We can have peace and not be apathetic and stick out heads in the sand.
Peace is not an absence of turmoil, emotion, indifference, or insensitivity to suffering or injustice. We don’t have to close ourselves off into our homes to have peace. True peace is having God’s assurance that everything is going to be alright. It’s walking with God in His presence—like a child holding his parent’s hand in a crowded mall. That assurance that God is with us.
Total Trust in God----------Total Peace
Some Trust-----------------Some Peace
No Trust--------------------No Peace
Isaiah 48:22: There is no peace, says the Lord, unto the wicked.
Why? Because the wicked have no faith they can have no real peace. Some love drama . Some love upheaval and turmoil.
Our job is to model peace and attract people to Christ through our life.
In John chapter 16, Jesus gave the disciples two keys to victory.
John 16:32-33 Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. 33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
1. Jesus told them he was not alone even though he knew he would be abandonned by people
2. He said even though we would experience turmoil, have peace because He overcame, we can too.
The world defines peace as a state in which there is no war or fighting; a state of tranquility or quiet; freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions. Harmony in relationships. The world sees peace as no opposition. “We can be in peace with our neighbors if we shut our mouths and not say anything.
God’s Definition of Peace
True peace is a gift from God. A biblical definition of peace is having our decisions and actions in harmony and obedience with the known will of God. True peace comes from having true trust in God. We have to know and obey what God says about situations in order to enjoy the peace that God offers to us.
John 17:14-20 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. 18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. 20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
Jimmy Swaggart commentary said, God’s word is a permanent endowment. We must live by the Word of God. The Bible doesn’t contain truth, it is truth. When we read the Bible, pray, and spend time with God, we are purifying ourselves from the world and getting closer to Godliness.
Commentator Matthew Henry said this, “If truth be once deserted, unity and peace will not last long.”
John 17:17—…Thy word is truth.
2 Thessalonians 3:16 Now the Lord of Peace Himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all.
This is a sanctifying peace. It does not refer to an absence of problems, or troubles but rather to the availability of an unending peace. The more we set ourselves apart from this world and set ourselves in agreement with God, the greater our peace will be. It’s our attitude that makes all the difference in the world.
And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. Romans 16:20
God will fight our battles
Let’s look at the character of the God of Peace

• He is the God of tranquility
• He is free of impulsiveness and agitation
• He sees the bigger picture and yet is concerned with the details
• He is the definition of righteousness and confidence
• He is the God of wholeness—He lacks nothing, He has everything

Not only will God help us to do something, He will do it for us, and he has done it for us.
He is the peace in our storm.
You won’t have peace if you let fear dominate your decision making
Let doubt make you double minded or let unbelief rule your thoughts.
Pretending things are “fine” when things are in chaos is hazardous to true peace!
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
Ephesians 4:27 Neither give place to the devil
God’s peace is the promise of peace in a storm, not the absence of the storm
You must hear from God and have that peace in your inner man to know if you are going in the right direction. True peace will help you to know the will of God and to help make decisions.
Let the peace (soul harmony) which comes from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts—deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds. Colossians 3:15 [Amplified]
When you have to make a major decision, let the peace of God direct you. If you don’t feel true peace about it, just wait.  The devil is like a pushy used car salesman. He wants you to hurry up and decide NOW! Don’t rush into major decisions. Learn to step back and wait until you have peace. If you miss out on the “deal of the century”, don’t worry. There will always be another car, another house, another opportunity.
If you feel uneasy because you are afraid to make a change and you are unsettled, just wait. Wait for peace and then proceed. God will help you to have clarity before you make your decision.
Symptoms of false peace include sleepless nights, trying to make something happen, anger, worry, anxiety, stress. If you are experiencing those symptoms, the remedy is to stop what you are doing. Examine it and then repent and get back on the right path. Don’t keep going down a wrong road because of pride.
Learn to hear the voice of God and follow it. His peace will guide you and give you good direction. James says, if anyone lacks wisdom, ask God. (James 1:5).
Trust God
God’s kind of peace is where we put our total and complete trust in Him, no matter what the circumstances are. We do not have the promise of a better material life on this earth. We can see that by looking at the lives of Christians in other countries. We cannot always think with a western mindset. Many Christians in other parts of the world are persecuted daily for their belief in Jesus.
What we all have is God’s promise of protection, and provision while we go through our storms. Our life here is to be one of loving God and service to others. Yes, we will be blessed and have our needs met, but we must understand that God’s direction for us may not lead us into desirable or physically comfortable circumstances. Sometimes we may be asked to sacrifice our comfort, our convenience, and our rights so that we can serve others and accomplish what God needs for us to do here. Sometimes, we need to be uncomfortable to reach someone else with the gospel.
We can see the great lengths God will go to reach a sinner. In Acts 16 Paul and Silas were jailed for casting a devil out of a slave girl. The two men had such great peace in jail because they trusted God. Even though they were beaten and chained, they began to worship the Lord in the midst of their physical pain. God’s larger plan was to send an earthquake to free them and to be witnesses to the other prisoners and the prison guard.
That night, the Philippian jailer and his family were saved. Probably some of the prisoners were saved as well. What would have been the final destination for those souls if Paul and Silas had not been jailed? We will never know, but what we do know is that their stories are already written–their eternal destination is already decided. It’s over for them. For us, we have our own stories to write about how God used us to reach others with the gospel.
But through all the turmoil, you can be assured God will keep you in peace if you follow Him. We have to keep our sight on eternity. Everything you see now is temporary and subject to change. The things you cannot see are eternal and far more valuable.
Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord, Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;  While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:17-18
For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. 1 Corinthians 14:33    
Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you. 2 Corinthians 13:11  
 “You will keep in perfect and constant peace the one whose mind is steadfast [that is, committed and focused on You—in both inclination and character], Because he trusts and takes refuge in You [with hope and confident expectation].  “Trust [confidently] in the Lord forever [He is your fortress, your shield, your banner], For the Lord God is an everlasting Rock [the Rock of Ages]. Isaiah 26:3-4  
Philippians 4:6-7 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.

• Be anxious for nothing. When you feel anxious, stop and
• Pray
• Then give thanks to God
• And God’s peace will soothe your soul and spirit

Philippians 4:8-9 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.
If you do verses 6-8, the presence of God will be with you. If you do just 6-7, the Holy Spirit will soothe you, but if you keep yourself, you will experience God’s presence.
Matthew Henry says this about the God of Peace:
“We must not eye him as the Lord of Hosts, whose all power is, but as the God of peace.

• A God at peace with us
• Speaking peace to us
• Working peace in us
• Creating peace for us

Victory comes from God more as the God of peace than as the God of war. For  in all our conflict, peace is the thing we must contend for. God, as the God of peace will restrain and vanquish all those that cause divisions and offenses, and so break and disturb the peace of the church and the individual. “
Don’t be afraid of the future. Stay in peace. God is with you!