Peace is translated in the KJV as ‘peace, quietness, rest, or to be set at one again.’ There exists many earthly definitions for peace. But, here we are talking about peace in your heart. Peace that is in your recreated born again human spirit. We are talking about quietness or rest in your spirit. The Bible says the fruit of the spirit is peace! If it is a fruit, then know that fruit can grow! Here are three things that God’s peace provides in the life of a believer.

Galatians 5:22 (KJV)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

Dictionary Definitions of the Greek word for peace – eirene

1. A state of national tranquillity, exemption from the rage and havoc of war.
2. Peace between individuals, that is, harmony, concord.
3. Security, safety, prosperity, felicity, (because peace and harmony make and keep things safe and prosperous).
4. Used of the Messiah’s peace, the way that leads to peace (salvation).
5. Used of Christianity, the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot, of whatsoever sort that is. The blessed state of devout and upright men after death.
6. Probably from a primary verb eiro (to join); peace (literally or figuratively); by implication, prosperity:
7. It is translated in the KJV as one; peace; quietness; rest; to be set at one again.

• Above are listed some of the ways that peace is used in the Bible.
• Here in Gal. 5:22, the reference is to peace in your heart; peace in your recreated born again human spirit.
• Peace can also mean quietness or rest in your spirit.
• The fruit of the spirit is peace!
• Peace is a fruit and fruit can grow meaning your spirit can develop in this fruit.
• So, what does God’s peace provide?
  

Peace Provides Healing

Mark 5:34 (ESV)
34 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”

• Note the connection between peace and healing.
• In many of these episodes, recounted by the gospel writers, there is no description of the ‘feelings’ that the individuals involved experienced.
• In the case of the women with the issue of blood, an exception occurs.
• Jesus statement to the women ‘to go in peace’ opens up a window into her life for us to see.
• The women was in an anti-peace state: why else would Jesus tell her to ‘go in peace’?

How did this anti-peace state come about?

•  She may have been stressed over this condition in her body.
•  She may have been disquieted over the length of time of her malady,
•  The fact that she was financially destitute because of this unchecked bleeding, added to her frustration. Have you ever been in this place?
• The thought that maybe death was nearby awaiting her would have been alarming to her.
• All of these things would have been ‘peace disturbing’.
• It is the will of God, though, that we always stay at peace or rest.
• So, Jesus instructs this women to walk in peace as well as to walk in faith.
• Jesus spoke these words ‘go in peace’ to one other person; the sinner women with the alabaster box in Luke 7:50.

Luke 7:50 (ESV)
50 And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

• Here the emotional torment of this women is uncovered by Jesus instruction to her to ‘go in peace’. Her lifestyle was tormenting to her.
• Sin is ‘fun’ but only for a season.
• After that, sin and its by-product death, has it’s payday.
• Also, disquieting to this women, was rejection she experienced from the religious crowd.
• Pangs of distress also plagued her over whether, Jesus would accept her as a person.
• Jesus quickly alleviated this stress by saying to her, ‘Go in peace’.
• In both of these accounts, here and Mark 5:34, peace is linked to faith.
• So that we could surmise, that when you reach the end of your peace, you have also reached the end of your faith.
• That when you are walking in frustration; when you are not in state of rest, when you are in consternation, you are no longer walking in faith.
• Faith is primarily a rest.

Hebrews 4:11 (KJV)
11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

• So then, if your in a state of ‘fighting’…
  • Fighting symptoms
  • Fighting thoughts
  • Fighting worry
    • You are not in faith.

Peace Provides Protection

Philippians 4:6–7 (ESV)
6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

DEFINITION: guard/φρουρέω/phroureō – to be a watcher in advance, i.e. to mount guard as a sentinel (post spies at gates); figuratively, to hem in, protect: KJV– keep (with a garrison). To guard, to protect by a military guard, either to prevent hostile invasion, or to keep the inhabitants of a besieged city from flight.

Proverbs 4:23 (ESV)
23 Keep your heart with all vigilance, (above all keeping) for from it flow the springs of life.

• What does this mean to us to have peace guarding our heart and mind?
  Why does it have to be kept?
  One reason: We live in perilous times.

2 Timothy 3:1 (KJV)
1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

DEFINITION: perilous/χαλεπός/chalepos  – difficult, grievous, dangerous, hard to live in.
Difficult times comes from having to deal with difficult humans.

• Notice in verse 2 of 2 Tim. 3:2, the first two words … ‘For men…’

2 Timothy 3:2 (KJV)
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

• Difficult times come from difficult and selfish people.
• We have to deal with difficult situations and circumstances and aren’t these the things that could burden your spirit?
  Aren’t these the things that could make you heavy and clog up your mind?
• But thank God that in the midst of these challenges, the peace of God can come and protect our hearts and minds!

John 14:27 (KJV)
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.

• Peace helps you to remain tranquil.
  Jesus is saying, “I know that you are going to have tribulation, testings and trials and that the enemy is going to come against you. But be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. And if I have overcome the world, you can overcome the world through me. And here is something to help you, my peace.”

John 16:33 (KJV)
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.

• Notice though that the scripture says – ‘Let not your heart be troubled’.
  The word ‘LET’ implies that you have a choice about whether or not your heart is troubled.
  Can you see that we can get all wound up and upset about things or we can yield to peace.

Peace Provides Direction

Colossians 3:15 (KJV)
15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

DEFINITION: rule/βραβεῖον/brabeion – to be an umpire or to arbitrate.

• Peace is like an umpire in baseball.
  An umpire makes one of two calls, either the player is safe or the player is out!
• Being led by peace is similar to the umpires call.
  If you have peace, you are safe and you can proceed with the plan or intended action.
  If you don’t have peace, or you are unsettled in your spirit, you are out and you should stop or desist in the direction or the intended action you wish to take.
• It is never wise to override a lack of peace in your heart.
  Again this verse says ‘Let the peace of God rule….’  meaning that your will is the determining factor.
  Being ‘led by the Spirit’ fits this description of peace.
  It’s either on or off.
  It’s either clear or it’s not.
  It’s one state or the other.
• O.T. saints did not have peace in their hearts to guide them.
  They had a type of this kind of leading called ‘Urim and Thumin’.

Exodus 28:30 (KJV)
30 And thou shalt put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim; and they shall be upon Aaron’s heart, when he goeth in before the LORD: and Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart before the LORD continually.

Numbers 27:21 (KJV)
21 And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall ask counsel for him after the judgment of Urim before the LORD: at his word shall they go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he, and all the children of Israel with him, even all the congregation.

1 Samuel 28:6 (KJV)
6 And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.

• Apparently, Urim and Thummin were stones that were used to give a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer when inquiring of the will of God.

Call to Action:

God has multiple ways and avenues to minister to a person’s life. In this post, we looked at the provision of peace. Are you monitoring the peace of God in your heart? Are you looking to peace within for direction? Are you allowing His peace to guard your mind and heal your body?

Question: What steps do you take to guard your life from the anti-peace attacks that come from the enemy?  What mechanisms do you use? Would you be willing to share that in the comments section below, so that we can all be instructed and edified?