Now may the Lord of peace himself
give you peace at all times and in every way.
2 Thessalonians 3:16a
I am writing this bulletin message on the anniversary of 9/11, eighteen years after that unforgettable terrorist attack that most of us remember. It is amazing to think there is now a generation of young people who have grown up with only with the yearly ceremonies memorializing the tragic events of that day, who will never have the memories or the emotions most of us have about the tragic day. For those of us who do remember the events that happened eighteen years ago, we have many distinctive memories and emotions that will always be with us.
Even though none of us reading this were actually present at the various places where the attacks took place; Lower Manhattan, Stonycreek Township, PA and the Pentagon, some of us still might feel emotional in one way or another about the events that took place eighteen years ago. One of these emotions that some might experience is fear. It is a well-known fact especially learned after 9/11 is “One of the most effective weapons of a terrorist is fear, some times more effective than bullets and bombs.” Many years later there many who are still traumatized by these events with fear today. The fear was not only limited to those who experienced these hideous terrorist attacks, but fear was also experienced by many who lived in the general vicinity and even by some who witnessed the aftermath on television.
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear,
but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
New King James
As Christians, we should never live our lives with the constant fear of an imminent terrorist attack or even a random shooter at the mall, at the airport or at a public place or event. This should never mean that we should not be mindful or even cautious of the possibility. Some Christians continually live their lives overwhelmed by phobias or fears about many different things of life. But the sad reality is that they do not realize its spiritual source. This fear is what our enemy, Satan, is very effective of using to hinder, bind and disrupt the life of a Christian.
“The absence of fear, anxiety and even paranoia
in a Christian’s life is the presents of God’s peace.”
The apostle Paul tells in us Galatians 5:22 that peace is the fruit of the Spirit, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace…“. “The fruit of the Spirit is the character of Christ, produced by the Spirit of Christ, in the follower of Christ.” So, if peace is one of the many aspects of the character of Christ in a believer, then how does fear attack and work in us?
Jesus when he was still with His disciples told them in John 14:27, Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. Jesus refers of two kinds of peace, one kind is from the world. The world’s peace is based on circumstance, it is conditional, it is temporary. The world’s peace is imperfect because it is dependent on flawed sources. The world’s peace works with one’s emotions.
The other is from Jesus, “my peace I give you”. Which is biased on who Jesus is and which does not change or depend on circumstance, it is not flawed, or influenced by our emotions. A good example of how God’s peace works in a Christian is what Paul told the Philippian church in Philippians 4:6-7, note verse 7; 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Just looking at verse 7 we see other characteristics of “the peace of God”. First it, “transcends all understanding”, which simply means it is “beyond human comprehension” because it comes from God because it is who He is, “the God of peace”. 1 Thessalonians 5:23, May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. This does not mean that we cannot recognize God’s peace, but it is talking about being full of God’s peace in spite of the circumstances.
Secondly, this peace that a Christian has present in them guards or stands sentry “will guard” and is protecting our “hearts and your minds”.
Finally, the key to all this is simply where we stand with God, “in Christ Jesus.” If a Christian is not “in Christ Jesus” which means living their life submitted to Christ, there is no guarantee that that person will have the blessing of the “peace of God” guarding their hearts and minds. Not being “in Christ Jesus” leaves the person vulnerable to believe the thoughts and lies of the enemy and to be also led by their fleshly emotions to react in a way that would cause them to do and to say things that does not exemplify Christ. Romans 8:5-6, 5 Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace.
God knows that the enemy will attack us in our minds which many times will manifest as fear and our hearts which will be expressed in our emotions. We have all seen in a movie when a person is emotionally distressed because of fear and is screaming uncontrollably and as they are being slapped in the face they are being told to “calm down, get a hold of yourself.” This might be a comedic scene in a movie, but this happens to many Christians on the inside when their hearts and minds are left vulnerable to the attacks of fear from the enemy because they are not in Christ Jesus.
In Colossians 3:15 Paul says, Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. When Christians are “in Christ Jesus” our hearts and lives are submitted to Christ and not pride. This allows our mind to be controlled by the Spirit and our hearts to be under “Christ rule” or literally being umpired by God’s peace which inwardly and outwardly exemplify our trust have in God.
Pastor John
You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you,
all whose thoughts are fixed on you!
Isaiah 26:3, NLT
