Pursuing A Life Of Peace
I.
1 Peter 3:4-This quiet
spirit is something worth pursuing because in the sight of God it is very
precious
A. A quiet spirit is the
total opposite of the spirit of heaviness, the spirit of fear-1 Peter 3:4 AMP
1.
Quite-Tranquil, Peaceable-Undisturbed,
Not agitated with passion; Websters-Still, state of
rest, calm, undisturbed, tranquility, peace
a. AMP-Peaceful spirit, [one that is calm and self-controlled,
not overanxious, but serene & spiritually
mature] which is very precious in the sight of God;
2.
Spirit-The disposition
(temperament) or influence which fills and governs the soul of anyone – Something
in you is governing you
a. Disposition-A person’s inherent qualities of mind and
character; Natural constitute of the mind; The temper or frame of mind; Temperament,
Character, Nature, Make up, Mentality, Inclination, tendency, proneness,
propensity-(EX: A nervous disposition)
b. EX: It’s like the person
with a generous spirit; Generosity influences everything you do, think, say,
and feel
c. EX: This person who’s has
a disposition to generosity and this generous spirit has this inclination, this
tendency, the proneness and propensity to be generous; If you said they have a
generous spirit what you are saying is that generosity has filled their soul
and is governing their thoughts, their feelings and their actions
d. It’s a quiet disposition, a quietness in you that’s governing
you and how you respond and react in every situation
3.
The
opposite is this tormented disposition, this heavy disposition-Isaiah 61:3, 2
Timothy 1:7
a. 1 John 4:18-Fear has torment-To vex, to harass, to put into
great agitation, to distress
b. Ecclesiastes 7:9-You’re
troubled often, you quick to get troubled, you walk around in this tormented state,
pressured, the heaviness of many things sits on you, the torment looms over you
and when situations arise your propensity is to go this way (About your kids,
your future, your finances, your family); Quick to get mad, quick to get upset,
quick to worry, quick to sorrow, quick to get down
c. It’s not just your upset,
but you look at life through that leans of fear and heaviness instead of
through the lens of faith; Where you’re looking from determines what you see
B. This quiet spirit is very
precious, very valuable in the eyes of God (Precious-Excellent, of surpassing value, very costly)
1.
1 Peter 3:4-CEV-God
considers it very special; ERV-It is worth very much to God;
GNT-Which is of the greatest value in God’s sight; LEB-Which is highly
valuable in the sight of God; VOICE-In which God delights; GW-God
considers precious
2.
Ecclesiastes
4:6-We see value being attached to this quietness
(quiet attitude, rest)
a.
GNV-Better is an handful
with quietness, than two handfuls with labor and vexation of spirit
b.
MSG-One handful of repose
is better than two fistfuls of worried work
3.
The ability to not freak
out and lose it and get upset, but remain calm and collected is one of the
greatest things you can develop
a. This quiet spirit and the
spirit of faith go hand in hand-Romans 15:13
4.
Real
genuine developed faith is precious; Your faith is more precious than gold
a.
1 Peter 1:7-ERV-These
troubles test your faith and prove that it is pure. And such faith is worth
more than gold; ISV-So that your genuine faith, which is more valuable than
gold that perishes; AMPC-Your faith which is infinitely more precious than
perishable gold; CEB-Your faith is more valuable than gold; JB-Which is
infinitely more valuable than gold; NIRV-Your faith is worth more than
gold
b. 2 Peter 1:1-To them who
have obtained like precious faith
5.
Real
genuine faith is not common, it’s rare
a. Matthew 8:10-I have not
found so great faith, no, not in Israel
1)
He
wasn’t frantic, he wasn’t upset, he was calm and in faith and Jesus marveled
b. Romans 12:3, 2 Thessalonians
3:2-Every person has the potential to have faith, but not everybody has faith
c. Proverbs 20:6-A faithful
man, a man God can count on first of all must have faith and God’s saying who
can find one
d. 2 Chronicles 16:9-To have
a heart that’s perfect to God you have to have real faith and God’s saying I’m
searching for it
C. We are supposed to seek
peace and pursue it and to do so is good because you’re pursuing something
that’s precious to God
1.
Hebrews
4:11-Labor to entered into rest (Labor-Exert
yourself, give diligence; Rest-Calming
of the winds, to still, lead a quite abode, make quite)
a.
AMP-Make every effort to
enter into that rest; CJB-Let us do our best to enter that rest; ERV-Let us try
as hard as we can to enter into God’s place of rest; YLT-May we be diligent,
then, to enter into that rest
2.
Seek
peace and pursue it; Make it your target, your aim something you’re going after
a.
1 Peter 3:11-AMP-He must
search for peace with God, with self, with others] and pursue it eagerly
[actively – not merely desiring it]; CEB-Seek peace and chase after it;
MSG-Run after peace for all you’re worth; NLV-They must look for peace and go
after it; NLT-Search for peace and work to maintain it
b.
Psalm 34:11-AMPC-Crave peace
and pursue (go after) it!; GNT-Strive for peace with
all your heart; ICB-Look for peace and work for it; MSG-Embrace peace and don’t
let it get away
3.
There’s
great emphasis placed on you not allowing your heart to be troubled; God is
strong on this in His Word
a.
Matthew 6:25-Jesus said,
“Take no thought for your life.” – Thought-Troubled with cares, anxious
b.
Philippians 4:6-Paul by
the Spirit said, “Be careful for nothing.” – Careful-Troubled with
cares, anxious, take thought, have care
c.
1 Peter 5:7-Peter by the
Spirit said, “Cast all your care upon him.” – Care-Anxiety
d.
John 14:1,27-Jesus said,
“Don’t let your heart be troubled.”
4.
Approximately
215 references to fear not and fear has torment-1 John 4:18
II.
God will help you to not
be troubled because he doesn’t want you troubled
A. Genesis 35:3-God will
answer you in the day of your distress
and sustain you every where you go (Straits, distress, trouble, vexer, anguish)
1.
God
responds to faith – When you’re starting to feel heaviness trying to
settle down upon you it’s time to call upon him; We don’t call on him from the
standpoint of an inferior beggar, but from the standpoint of faith and His Word
a. Psalm 18:6-In my distress (tight, narrow, straits, distress) I
called upon the Lord
b. Psalm 118:5-17-He’s
surrounded defeat looks inevitable, but instead of being troubled he called
upon the Lord and trusted God
2.
David,
twice, introduced the Lord as the one who redeemed my soul out of distress and
we serve the same God
a.
1 Kings 1:29-And the king sware, and said, As the Lord liveth,
that hath redeemed my soul out of all distress
b.
2 Samuel 4:9-As the Lord liveth, who hath redeemed my soul out of all adversity
3.
You’re not on your own in
pursuing this peace, God will help you, but you must take the step of faith
towards it
B. He is the God of
peace-Romans 15:33,16:20, Philippians 4:9, 1 Thessalonians 5:23, Hebrews 13:20;
Jesus is the prince of peace-Isaiah 6:9; Romans 10:15, Ephesians 6:15-The
gospel of peace
1.
Jeremiah
30:10, 46:27, Matthew 11:28-They shall be quiet and NONE shall make them afraid
– God’s plan always included perfect peace
C. Jeremiah 23:4-With a
shepherd over them you’ll be fed, you’ll fear no more, you won’t be dismayed
and you won’t be lacking
1.
Zechariah
10:2-The peace I walk in is directly connected to the shepherd I have and the
trust I have in him
2.
John
10:14, Psalm 23:1-I don’t have to be troubled because I have A GOOD SHEPEHRD
D. God will help you to not
be troubled
1.
Psalm 94:16-19 MSG-When I
was upset and beside myself you calmed me down and cheered me up
2.
Zephaniah 3:17 MSG-He’ll
calm you with His love
3.
Psalm 94:13 ERV-You help
them stay calm when troubled comes