by Pastor Roy Esposito
9-17-23
I want to talk about apprehending a particular type of Peace today but not in the sense of an absence of war.
Not as having an extreme indifference to the world as some of the early church monastics did – and not as –
Not the peace the swamis might profess as they seek a transcendental state of being but;
The peace that comes as a result of a revelation of God’s love for us – a peace that is the “fruit of the confidence” His love affords us.
It’s the peace that comes through the knowledge (by revelation) that “Greater is He who is IN me than he who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4)
We need this knowledge for success in the “wrestling match” we find ourselves in.
We know that we’re not fighting people but against “principalities, powers, against rulers of the darkness of this age – spiritual hosts of wickedness in the HEAVENLY PLACES.” (Ephesians 6:12)
** Important to note: The wrestling is done in the “heavenly/spiritual realm.”**
So, it’s good to know that God has equipped us to win because God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the same heavenly places. (Ephesians 1:3)
Because our enemies are spiritual ones, they take form in this realm as FEAR – fear in its many expressions:
1. Failure; 2. Illness; 3. Rejection; 4. Betrayal; 5. Insignificance;
6. Irrelevance.
My response over time: 1. Physical intimidation; 2. Mental intimidation; 3. Use of occult power; 4. After receiving salvation – manipulation of scripture.
None of this worked – so the result was INCREASED FEAR.
The methods I had constructed for protection and put my faith in were bogus and contained no power.
They were doomed to failure because “soul power” can never be effective in “spiritual wars.”
In reflection, I’ve realized that God has allowed many circumstances in my life to expose my bad habits and wrong attitudes, which “blurred my vision” and were products of a prideful, self-contained mind.
It was a painful experience and painful to admit.
But through these trials of faith, God has begun to teach me that true spiritual authority over the demons of fear would arise from the areas in myself where His Peace had replaced my conflict.
His Peace resulted from “Coming to the end” of my ways – releasing them to Him – and calling on His help.
Ephesians 2:14 – “He, Himself, is our Peace.”
Psalm 34:4 – “I sought the Lord, and He heard me and delivered me from all my fears.”
When He delivered me from my fear, I entered His peace.
And then I realized that true authority comes from His Peace.
Paul said in Philippians 4:12 – that he had learned to be CONTENT in whatever state he was in.
Content – in this context, doesn’t mean he learned to be “happy.”
It means he learned to be “Undisturbed” and at Peace.
Peace (Strongs) – “to be at REST” or to “Set at ONE again.”
This is Love’s (God’s) goal for His creation: ONENESS or PEACE.
Our enemy’s goal: – Duality – Conflict – Separation and Division.
If you want to know the next battle you’ll be facing, look to where you’re separated: spouse, family, friends, church, or where you’re “double-minded.”
James 1:8 – “A double-minded man is UNSTABLE in ALL of his ways.”
You’ll be at war and unrest where you are not at peace and where “oneness” is non-existent.
Philippians 4:6-7 – “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be known to God, – and the PEACE OF GOD, which passes all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Paul is saying – ”Stop sweating it! Cry out to God for help, and He’ll give you His Peace — a peace that is not available through any human process. And once you have it – it will keep your hearts and minds safe.”
We can have real peace because Jesus bequeathed HIS PEACE as a blessing.
John 14;27 – “Peace, I leave to you. MY PEACE I give to you, not as the world gives, do I give it to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
Amplified – “Stop allowing yourself to be agitated and disturbed (You have a choice to allow or disallow) and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated, cowardly, and unsettled.”
Christ gave us His Peace, but it’s up to us to DISALLOW fear from intimidating us and thus voiding its power.
We will never experience Christ’s victory in its fullness until we stop reacting to our circumstances soulishly.
When you truly have authority over something, you can look at it straight in the eye without fear or intimidation.
Your peace in conflict will be the proof of your victory!
Jesus’ victory over the storm was an expansion of His peace over the elements.
He didn’t fear or fight the storm – he just faced it and subdued it through His “perfect peace.”
He was the “Living Word,” expressing the truth of the written Word through His being.
Isaiah 26:3(AMP) – “You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both in character and inclination] is stayed on You, because he COMMITS himself to You, and leans on You and hopes confidently in You.”
2 Timothy 1:12 – He will keep what I commit to Him.
Jesus’ victory came because He refused to judge the situation by what He saw but instead trusted in and testified to God’s promises in the written Word.
Even when The devil confronted him – He didn’t get angry – nor was He in fear.
He knew the devil was a liar, so He simply refused to be intimidated by his words.
So, we know that satan has an arsenal of weapons he can use against us: Fear, depression, anxiety, worry, doubt, hopelessness, self-pity, any of which will steal our peace and leave us troubled.
But only if we ALLOW them, too.
Remember the truth of Ephesians 1:3 – God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the Heavenly Places –the very place where our battles are fought.
Ephesians 6:14 – The Armor of God
- Truth – lean on the Holy Spirit,
- Righteousness – The shed blood of Christ,
- Peace – The result of the finished work of the Cross,
- Faith – HIS faith to stand in (Galatians 2:20),
- Salvation – Thoughts kept on the spiritual truth of the Word,
- Speak and declare the Word, thereby testifying to its power,
- Prayer of communication, as well as supplication,
- Watchfulness – Stay vigilant and focused to keep distractions to a minimum.
While preparing this message for today, I remembered what God said to me when He asked me if I would serve His purpose full-time.
“No Marketing to the church.
“No Manipulating the people to get them to join or to stay.”
“Use no sales tricks, and I will be with you on the journey always.
“Roy, I want you to help bring My people’s lives into obedience to Christ and into FULL MATURITY of My Spirit.”
He said, “Mature believers will walk in My Peace and subsequently in My Power!
My Peace is a fruit and an attribute of My Spirit: It is Spirit Power!
Galatians 5:22(TPT) “…Peace that SUBDUES….”
As we “shod our feet with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace,” we will walk in Peace.
When we walk in Peace – we walk in the Power of a Peacemaker.
We walk in the power of one who is so yielded to God in spirit and purpose he can be called “A Son of God” (Matthew 5:9)
He is fearless, calm, and bold; always humble and never arrogant.
Wherever he walks, he brings and leaves peace – Peace emanates from him like heat does from a fire. – His peace is a weapon against the chaos of the Darkness.
Philippians 1:28(AMP) – “And do not – for a moment – be frightened or intimidated in anything by your opponents and adversaries – For such constancy and fearlessness will be a clear sign – a proof and a seal – to them of their impending destruction and a sure token and evidence of your deliverance and salvation, and that from God.”
So, when you’re in the battle, don’t engage – step back into the tower of the Almighty – and REST.
Psalm 37:7-9 “Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him. Do not fret – it only causes harm.”
Verse 11 – But the meek shall inherit the earth and delight in the abundance of Peace.” (Meek – ”Power under control”)
The source of our Peace is GOD Himself
Ephesians 2:14 – “He Himself, is our Peace.”