1-10-99 Perfect Peace Acts 10

by Ronald E. George Jr.

Do we need peace? Do we want peace? On capital hill the debate rages as the Senate debates and tries our president for impeachment. In our homes families are torn apart by violence. On our streets there is crime of all shapes and sizes. In the Middle East the rockets rip through the sky. In our individual lives we live with the constant threat of disaster, disease, and death. We hear constant talk of Y2K and the threat of having everything from our water, electric, and food cut off. We live in the midst of a turbulent time. Can there be peace?

What is Peace? From the American Heritage Dictionary.

peace (pės) —n. 1. The absence of war or other hostilities. 2. An agreement or treaty to end hostilities. 3. Freedom from quarrels and disagreement; harmonious relations: They made peace with each other. 4. Public security and order: disturbing the peace. 5. Inner contentment; serenity: peace of mind.

Peace is not the absence of trouble, but the presence of God. J. Oswald Sanders

Peace is that quiet assurance that everything is going be all right. By me.

Scripture Text: Acts 10:34-43

Acts 10:34 (KJV) Then Peter opened [his] mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: 35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. 36 The word which [God] sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)

37 That word, [I say], ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; 38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. 39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: 40 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; 41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, [even] to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. 42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God [to be] the Judge of quick and dead. 43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

Key Verse: Acts 10:36 (KJS) The word which [God] sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)

Around Christmas 1944, Burt Frizen was fighting in the Battle of the Bulge. Hit by enemy sharpnel, badly wounded, and unable to move, he lay out on the battlefield, waiting for death or whatever was to come. Much of the time during those six long hours he sang softly, over and over again, the words of the song he had learned from his mother, "There is a name to me most dear . . . like sweetest music to my ear . . . for when my heart is troubled, filled with fear . . . Jesus whispers peace."

He heard a sound nearby. Opening his eyes, he saw a German soldier standing over him with a gun. This is it, thought Burt as he waited for the shot.

As Burt began to sing the song again, he felt the German lift him in strong arms and place him on the ledge of a rock. His own medics sported him a few minutes later and took him to safety. Jesus had whispered peace in the midst of war.

Monk who was only allowed to say two words per yr. 1st yr. "food bad", 2dn yr:" work hard, 3rd yr. "I quit." His superior replied, "All you do is complain, complain, complain."

  1. Peace between you and God.

    Peace is having the presence of God in your life and continually walking, talking, and looking to him for your life’s direction.

    Rom.5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

    I remember hearing of a young man who went to a minister of Christ in great distress about his spiritual state. He said to the minister, "Sir, can you tell me what I must do to find peace?" The minister replied, "Young man, you are too late." "Oh!" said the young man, "you don't mean to say I am too late to be saved?" "Oh, no," was the reply, "but you are too late to do anything. Jesus did every thing that needed to be done twenty centuries ago." --The Wonderful Word

  2. Peace between you and yourself.

    Peace is becoming who God created you to be by following the direction he gives in your life. This peace comes from within your heart. There is harmony within you.

    John 14:27 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.

    Phil. 4:7 The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.†

    A young lady was dying, and one Scripture which she had heard in health came to her at this time: "He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed," and she was led by the Holy Spirit to rest in him of whom it spoke, for salvation. A friend said to her one day, "You suffer much, I fear." "Yes," she said, "but," pointing to her hand, "there is no nail there. He had the nails; I have the peace." Laying her hand on her brow, she said, "There are no thorns here. He had the thorns; I have the peace," Touching her side she said, "There is no spear here. He had the spear; I have the peace." --Young People's Delight

  3. Peace between you and others.

Peace is coming to terms of compromise with your neighbor, spouse, children, co-worker. There is harmony between you all together. You can work together and live together in a way that is peaceful.

The Indians would bury the hatchet of war as a sign of peace. So, don’t dig it up and hit someone with it again. But we need to actively seek peace among ourselves.

Is. 9: 6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

There was a dispute which had grown into a lawsuit between two farmers as to just where the line between them was and where a fence should be. Finally one of the farmers sold out, and the purchaser moved in. Soon he met Farmer Smith, who was agitated and said to his new neighbor, "They tell me you have bought this farm, and I just want to inform you that you have bought a lawsuit." He was asked to explain, and said, "Well, the fence, being located where it is, cheats me out of two feet of my land." "Then," said the newcomer kindly, "we will move it back four feet." "No," said Farmer Smith, "that is more than I ask." "But," said the new neighbor, "I would rather have peace with my neighbors than a few feet of earth!" "Then," said Farmer Smith very quietly, "if that is the way you feel, the fence stays just where it is and the lawsuit is all off."

Whenever I am troubled

and lost in deep despair,

I bundle all my troubles up

and go to God in prayer,

I tell Him I am heartsick

and lost and lonely too,

That I am deeply burdened

and don't know what to do.

But I know He stilled the tempest

and calmed the angry sea,

And I humbly ask if in His love

He'll do the same for me.

Then I just keep quiet

and think on thoughts of peace,

And as I abide in stillness

my restless murmurings cease.