The Keys to Peace

“Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!

Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:4-7

1. Peace is not something we can pray for.

   a. It has already been given to us by God.

   b. Peace is a result of doing something right - ex. Salvation (Romans 5:1)

2. Peace is God’s main message and ours.

   a. Angels announced it at Jesus’ birth - Luke 2:14

   b. Peace is a title for our gospel - Isaiah 52:7, Ephesians 2:17, Matthew 5:9, Ephesians 2:17, 2 Corinthians 5:19

   c. Daily peace is our guide - Proverbs 3:17, Isaiah 55:12, Colossians 3:15, Hebrews 12:14

   d. Peace produces health - Proverbs 14:30

3. Initial peace came at salvation - Romans 5:1

4. Daily peace can grow or multiply - Ephesians 1:2, 1 Peter 1:2

5. Daily peace is a result of doing something right - Philippians 4:4-7

Five Keys to Daily Peace

1. Be a rejoicing and joyful person - vs. 4.

Let the main words out of your mouth be praise more than anything else. Rejoice in every situation. Joy is a choice.

2. Be considerate of others - vs. 5

Stop being so self-centered. Consideration for others is a choice.

3. Live always knowing Jesus sees everything you do - vs. 5

Knowing Jesus sees you is a choice.

4. Don’t worry about anything - vs. 6

a. Nothing can separate you from God or His love.

b. God will work a way of escape in this situation.

c. Lord has and will deliver you out of all affliction.

d. Not to worry is a choice.

5. Pray in every situation - vs. 6

a. Prayer puts your problems with God, leaving you only with thankfulness.

b. Prayer puts God’s power to work.

c. God gave you authority over Satan by giving you the name of Jesus.

d. Prayer is a choice.

Fear Will Replace Peace

“Behold, it is Solomon’s couch, with sixty valiant men around it, of the valiant of Israel. They all hold swords, being experts in war. Every man has his sword on his thigh because of fear in the night.” Song of Solomon 3:7-8

1. Unlike David, Solomon had no enemies, but also no friends.

   a. David had Jonathan. And as king, he had Hushai the Archite.

   b. Solomon had no friends, much less a best friend.

   c. David could walk down the street with his friends and greet people.

   d. David could sleep at night without fear.

   e. David’s warriors protected the wall - they did not surround his bed.

   f. David had a few wives. Bathsheba eventually became his only one and life companion.

   g. Solomon had seven hundred wives and three hundred mistresses (sex partners) for any whim he might have. Yet, Solomon had no peace, mate, companions, or friends.

2. Unlike David, Solomon had a peaceful reign with no foreign enemies or war.

   a. David could sleep, not fearing his enemies - Psalm 27:3

   b. Solomon had imagined enemies - inside and outside the palace.

   c. Solomon feared losing his money, his possessions, his women, his reputation, and his throne.

   d. David did not fear losing anything. Nothing was higher than God in his life. - Psalms 73:25-26.

   e. At Ziklag, David gave millions to those who hid him from Saul.

3. Solomon had great wealth, land, a kingdom - but no peace.

   a. Never put your trust in something you can lose.

   b. Possessions alone, without God, bring fear - not peace - Ecclesiastes 5:11.

4. He had wives, mistresses, sex - but no peace.

5. He had protection from his enemies - but no peace.

6. The finest military men were sent to surround his bed - but he had no peace.

“The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, whether he eats little or much; But the abundance of the rich will not permit him to sleep.

There is a severe evil which I have seen under the sun: Riches kept for their owner to his hurt.” Ecclesiastes 5:12-13

7. His workers slept and had peace. Solomon had great fear.

a. Solomon could hear the poor workers laughing and talking at night with their friends.

b. He could hear them snoring without guards.

8. It was hard to be a friend of Solomon

a. If you got close, he feard you wanted something.

b. He found things wrong with people and could not keep friends.

c. To keep friends, you must accept people for who they are.

d. Not everyone is like you. It would be a dull world.

One Point for God

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7

1. David fulfilled these verses:

   a. He was a rejoicing and joyful person. He praised God more than anything.

   b. He was considerate of others first - not self-centered.

   c. He lived knowing the Lord saw everything he did.

   d. He did not worry about anything.

   e. He prayed in every situation - casting his worries on the Lord - Psalms 55:22.

2. David’s results are our results.

“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7

1. God wants your mind surrounded by one soldier - His most valiant peace.

2. Solomon’s men guarded his body. Our one defender guards our hearts and minds.

3. Guarding is a warrior’s duty. Peace is our sentry.