“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” John 14:27.
Today your LORD (יהוה) God (אלהים) says:
I so loved the world I gave you Jesus, not to judge you but to save you, not to condemn you but to acquit you. But there is much more than that, being saved is just the beginning, Jesus told you that He is not only your Savior, Shepherd, and Lord, He is also the door. The door to what? To all My benefits and every good thing and perfect gift now and forever.
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Romans 8:31-32.
He leads you out of the curse and the slavery of sin and death, to the blessing and the glorious freedom of My children.
Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers. For I was very glad when brethren came and testified to your truth, that is, how you are walking in truth. I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth. 3 John 1:2-4.
“For I know the plans that I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans for shalom and not for evil to give you a future and a hope.”
Jesus is your peace. He made peace between you and Me by the blood of the cross, reconciling all mankind to Me. In Him you are set free from all that encumbered and ensnared you. And this gives you the background for what Jesus told His disciples, and through them to you, at the Last Supper that we are considering today. You will see again, I give you amazing gifts that make you partakers of the divine nature, but it is up to you how you respond to them. It is up to you whether you receive them and enjoy them or totally miss them.
“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” John 14:27.
In the context of what we studied yesterday you know that you have a gift within you that will help you, guide you, lead you, teach you, and remind you of all that I have told you.
“These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” John 14:25-27.
Yes, the gift of My Holy Spirit to be with you and in you forever. If you unite with Him and listen and obey My voice you will produce the fruit of the Spirit in your spirit as a branch on the vine of Christ and the Holy Spirit is the sap, the life, that flows into you from the vine to quicken you and raise you up. The POWER is in you and on you to live a beautiful life of shalom peace.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23.
In a fallen, corrupt, world where death and sorrow seem to reign how do you keep and cultivate peace in your heart? You do not let your heart be troubled or afraid.
Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another. Galatians 5:24-26.
Here you see that you have a part to play in how you respond to the challenges of life as it is in this fallen and corrupted world that is hostile to God’s Word. You are to crucify the flesh. The flesh wants to worry, be anxious and upset, blame others, and give up. The flesh fears because the flesh ultimately fears death. You are going to get a glorified body, flesh and blood as you have it now is perishable and your flesh knows it. You are not to permit your heart to be troubled and afraid. How do you do that? What takes down fear? Only one force is stronger than fear and can overcome it every time: Faith in My Word, My power, and My love for you and the one whom I sent to undo the works of the devil, Jesus your Messiah, Savior, and Lord.
Jesus had peace and He had joy even in the midst of extremely adverse circumstances according to the flesh. Remember, He embraced your humanity, laying aside the power of the divinity while amongst you as one like you. And that night He gave you both as gifts, He gave you His peace, and He gave you My Words (“these things”) to put His joy in you so your joy could be complete.
And He gave you another confirmation of His help in all of this:
“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33.
Again you see it is “these things,” that is, the things He told you that night. Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.
You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. 1 John 4:4.
Jesus was speaking of another paraclete (one by your side as advocate, helper, encourager, teacher, guide, witness, and leader), the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, whom He would send to you to be in you and with you forever.
Your part is guarding your heart by keeping the peace and joy Jesus imparted to you in your heart. Jesus told the disciples that night that they could not understand yet all the truth, that is, all “these things,” that He was speaking to them that night because He had not died and been raised as yet, no one was a new creation in Christ as yet, but He told you the Holy Spirit would teach you all these things and guide you to all truth. So let us look to the inspired writings of the entire book of My Words, the Bible, Old and New Testaments, and, particularly concerning the New Covenant, to the Gospels and the letters of the apostle Paul to see what Jesus revealed to him by the Holy Spirit on this subject for everything in My Book is for you to learn from and I have given you the anointing to receive revelation knowledge as you read it.
How do you stop your heart from being troubled and fearful when things go contrary to My Word? When Satan tries to make you doubt and fear by thoughts and circumstances challenging your trust in Me? You must know how to respond. You must know how to say “No.” You must know how to refuse to fear. You must know what is yours in Christ Jesus, your Lord, and fight the good fight of faith to enforce it and keep it from the thief by using My Word that is the answer to His life. Take up the Sword of the Spirit, which is My Word.
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. John 10:10.
First, at something you must do to get the result you want, i.e., the promise that is in My Word shown in My Covenant Promise Names.
I do not just tell you not to fear or worry once, this is a recurrent theme that I counsel you about. And I have given you the Wonderful Counselor.
Do you recall the synagogue ruler named Jairus in Capernaum? Jesus often was attending and working mighty miracles in that synagogue. Jairus’ twelve-year-old daughter became very ill, so ill that her death seemed imminent. Jairus knew where to go when he was faced with an impossible situation, he went to Jesus. And he had faith for the miracle, just look at what he said:
When Jesus had crossed over again in the boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around Him; and so He was by the seashore. One of the synagogue rulers named Jairus came up, and on seeing Him, fell at His feet and implored Him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death; come and lay Your hands on her, so that she will be saved and live.” And He went off with him; and a large crowd was following Him and pressing in on Him. Mark 5:21-24.
But do you recall what happened? They got stopped along the way by the woman who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years that touched Jesus’ garment and was healed. While He was still speaking with that woman, a group of officials came from the house of the synagogue ruler, saying, “Your daughter has died; do not trouble the Teacher anymore.” Luke 8:49.
What did Jesus do? Did He say that it must not have been My Will to heal her and give up? NO. He knew My Will was to heal and that you would live a long satisfying life. But listen to what He said to Jairus:
“DO NOT BE AFRAID; only believe, and she will be saved.” Luke 8:50.
Jairus had a part. He could ruin it or stand through to the end and get the result he had first believed for when he went to Jesus.
Jairus listened. He then proceeded as planned and refused to say anything. He kept to his original statement: “come and lay Your hands on her, so that she will be saved and live.”
When He came to the house, He did not allow anyone to enter with Him, except Peter and John and James, and the girl’s father and mother. Now they were all weeping and lamenting for her; but He said, “Stop weeping, for she has not died, but is asleep.” And they began laughing at Him, knowing that she had died. He, however, took her by the hand and called, saying, “Child, arise!” And her spirit returned, and she got up immediately; and He gave orders for something to be given her to eat. Luke 8:51-55.
Why is it so important not to let your heart be troubled and not to be afraid? Consider Job:
“For what I fear comes upon me, and what I dread befalls me. I am not at ease, nor am I quiet, and I am not at rest, but turmoil comes.” Job 3:25-26.
What did I tell Joshua when he was ready to go in and face the giants in the promised land?
Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go. This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:7-9.
Fear and faith are opposites, but they work alike. You believe in your heart and speak with your mouth and you call in what you are saying and give it full entrance into your life.
With the fruit of a man’s mouth his stomach will be satisfied; he will be satisfied with the product of his lips. Death and life are in the power [hand] of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:20-21.
In the presence of Him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist. Romans 4:17.
How do you not fear? Strong faith. And there is only one way to get that. You feed yourself (meditate, speak, and hear) My Word, like I told Joshua, and refuse to feed yourself (meditate, speak, and hear) on the dreaded result.
It comes through speaking the result you find in My Word, for My Words are not idle words but Words of power that created, maintain, and sustain the entire universe and all life.
God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature and upholds all things by the Word of His power. Hebrews 1:1-3.
When Jesus gave you His peace, He gave you an unfathomable gift. Knowing I had told him to go to the other side, He peacefully slept through a storm that caused professional fisherman to panic, sure that they were about to perish. He simply got up when they woke Him and rebuked the storm and then asked them quite calmly where their faith had gone. He termed it “little faith,” “no faith,” and “lost faith.” He certainly did not compliment them on their “concern.” And He certainly did not call it “great faith” to just throw the rescue all in His court. And He is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and so I am I.
You cannot be at peace without faith in the One who gave it to you. You can count on the One who is seated at My right hand and soon will be returning on the clouds of Heaven to take back the fee simple of the world when man’s lease runs out. He will break the seven seals on the title deed and all will know that He is the Lord. Jesus let men blaspheme and condemn Him to death because he was not worried about keeping His throne. He is the King of kings and no one can dethrone Him. He would never turn against any of you to save as many as possible but it never shook the everlasting Kingdom.
Why are the nations in an uproar and the peoples devising a vain thing? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers take counsel together against the LORD and against His Messiah (Anointed), saying, “Let us tear their fetters apart and cast away their cords from us!” He who is enthroned in the heavens laughs, the Lord scoffs at them. Then He will speak to them in His anger and terrify them in His fury, saying, “But as for Me, I have]installed My King upon Zion, My holy mountain.” “I will surely tell of the decree of the LORD: He said to Me, ‘You are My Son, today I have begotten You. Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance, and the very ends of the earth as Your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron, You shall shatter them like earthenware.’” Now therefore, O kings, show discernment; take warning, O judges of the earth. Worship the LORD with reverence and rejoice with trembling. Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way, for His wrath may soon be kindled. How blessed are all who take refuge in Him! Psalm 2:1-12.
And I have seated you who believe there with Him and when He comes you shall appear with Him in glory.
Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. Colossians 3:1-4.
I love you. Jesus died to give you shalom peace with Me, it cost Him and Me to give you this gift, but neither of us turned back no matter how much men railed against us. We only had one goal in mind, your salvation so you could be with Me forever. He came to bring back My own to Me forever. All creation is Mine and I will take it and restore it in newness of life. One family, one Name, one hope, and one glorious Kingdom that will fill all in all. Peace be with you.
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 comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7.