Golden Pillar Class Study, teacher Rick Coleman.
Prior to 1977 Brother Rick remembers when he didn’t have peace in his heart. God gave him peace when he was saved.
Isaiah 26:1-3 In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah; We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks. Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
There have been wars and turmoil in the world and people can’t get along. There’s power, pride, and hate causing this. Brother Rick was caught up in the 1970 peace movement when he was at college in San Diego. He and a buddy went to a peace march in San Francisco. Everyone was yelling, Peace. It was a time when the pull out of the military in Viet Nam occurred. Nothing of the uproar changed his heart or the hearts of men. There was no peace because because he didn’t know the Prince of peace. What did Christ mean, “rest unto your souls”? Only Christ can give rest in your soul.
Matthew 11:28-29 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
When God spoke peace to our soul, there was a great calm. Fear and no faith in God brings turmoil. God gave each of us a measure of faith to be saved but the enemy brought fear and questions. He questioned, Is God really real?
Mark 4:35-40 And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?
Brother Rick was under heavy conviction for 7 years until he asked God to help him have faith and help his fear. He didn’t know that God was the author of peace. God took the sin away to calm the waters of our soul and give us peace.
I Corinthians 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
There’s no peace to the wicked with the pleasures it offers. The peace is only for those who have a relationship with God.
Isaiah 48:22 There is no peace, saith the Lord, unto the wicked.
Before we found Christ, there was no peace. When we took hold of faith, we began to see things could be different and we could have peace. We saw we could be saved and changed. We repented, asked God to save us and change us.
Isaiah 59:8 The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace.
When the Lord said, “Peace, be still” he took all the wrangling (noisy and bad-tempered argument or disputes) out and gave us peace. The Lord said he’d give peace under the condition that we keep our mind stayed on him. We find a recipe for keeping peace in the scripture. When we were in sin, everything was all about us. We can’t have peace that way. We must have the mind of Christ and avoid catering to the flesh. We must seek God with all our heart.
Romans 8:5-13 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
When we’re tried, we have to crucify our flesh. We’re in the flesh, in the likeness of men. Are we humbling ourselves to be servants before our brothers, sisters, and spouses? To have the mind of Christ is to be humble and obedient to God.
Philippians 2:5-7 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God…But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
We have to be humble every daily to obey God and his word. Paul told the church to live in peace and peace will be with us.
II Corinthians 13:11 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.