The Prince of Peace In You
To the scattered saints being sanctified for holiness, in the name of the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, may the peace and grace of the Lord be with you.
The commandment to make peace is integral to the manifestation of salvation. This seemingly little commandment packs more power in working salvation in us than we ever knew.
Mat 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Understanding the depth of being a peacemaker and contrasting it with the opposite action equips us to walk the narrow path without straying. The children of God are known as the peacemakers.
Praying for peace is praying for Christ to come. In almost every Epistle, the letter opens or closes with a prayer for peace to come upon the brethren. Peace is a very important fruit and topic we need to understand.
1Co 1:3 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
2Pe 1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
2Jn 1:3 Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
Jesus Christ, the Lord from heaven, is the Prince of Peace. This was prophesied way back in the Old Testament. The prophecy and the Promise are that this child, this Prince of Peace, is born into our hearts. This peace, the man-child has many names, including the Comforter, the Counsellor, the Mighty God, and even the Everlasting Father. The Holy Spirit is Christ and also the Father because they are One. When we receive the Promise of being born again into the new living hope, they have come into our hearts. The zeal of the Lord will perform this as salvation is His Work and none of ours.
Isa 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Isa 9:7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
The Prince of Peace rules the Kingdom of God within us as Christ’s kingdom is not of this world.
Joh 18:36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
We already see what true peace is about. The Lord’s servants do not fight; we do not engage in the back-and-forth arguing and reasoning of the world. We bow to the commandments and trust in the Lord who is working all things for the counsel of His will. We come back to the topic of fighting.
The peace of Christ is the Holy Spirit that is the grace of God, the Living Commandments that guide us and judge us. When Christ comes the second time, the Prince of Peace now lives in our hearts, whom we can access at any time of need.
Joh 14:26 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 things that I said to you.
Joh 14:27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
The Holy Spirit, Christ in us, is the Peace of God. The Lord’s peace is not like the world’s definition of peace. In the commandments, we find peace.
Joh 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
When we focus on the commandments, the Living Christ, the Prince of Peace, keeps us in perfect peace as we are dead to sin and the bondage of the carnal mind that is set at enmity with the ways of the Lord.
Isa 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
Perfect peace is abiding in eternal life, knowing the Lord and the Father. This peace is established in us when we stand in the Holy Commandments and just do them. The true sabbath of the Lord has always been resting from our carnal works as God rested from His works after seven days. When the Promise comes, the eighth day has come. The new man, Christ in us, the Prince of Peace, now rules in our hearts.
Heb 4:8 For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.
Heb 4:9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
Heb 4:10 For he that is entered into his rest,he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
Resting in Peace
The world uses the phrase “rest in peace” when someone has physically died. This is the spiritual significance of what the peace of God is all about. Resting and abiding in peace is following Christ’s example. When Christ is accused, He did not respond or retaliate to any provocation. Christ answered nothing back or gave the commandment, showing He was dead to the world and alive to God. Christ made His grave with the wicked, being dead to their provocations and temptations. This is peace.
Isa 53:9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
We are to do likewise as we are dead and our life is hid with Christ. This is what it means to mortify our members. Our inner beast is subdued, it is dead, and does not respond to accusations and provocations of the carnal mind. Resting in peace, being dead, sets us free from the power of sin in our lives. Our carnal mind is put to death as we subject ourselves to the commandments.
Rom 6:7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
When a provocation comes [a stone is thrown], we are to stand in the commandments, which are peace and life. This is the Living Commandments, our Shepherd, making us lie down and be still.
Psa 23:2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
Psa 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
Only Christ and the commandments can rebuke the winds of the carnal mind and the roaring waves of our flesh. When Christ is with us, and we speak Christ, there is great calm in the earth.
Mar 4:39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
Peace is the Opposite of War or Violence
To be spiritually minded is peace, the opposite of being carnally minded. To be carnally minded is death, which has one engaged in spiritual violence. This is the works of the law, Moses, the same as the law of the Gentiles and also called the law of sin and death. This law has one constantly engaged in back-and-forth arguments and reasoning. This is the accusing/excusing, back and forth, to and fro mindset of the devil that keeps all without Christ in bondage for their entire lives. The new man born of the Spirit is no longer under that law and now abides in peace, standing in the commandments, walking by the Spirit.
Rom 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Peace is essential to enter into our rest and stand in the living Christ. Spiritually speaking, Peace is the opposite of doing violence. Peace is where there is no violence heard or found in the land. Peace is salvation, meaning the Lord has come. It is the end of the endless spiritual wars and rumours [accusations] of wars we have engaged in our entire lives. The Lamb comes to end all the wars with the Promise of salvation.
Rev 17:14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.
Before He comes, our warfare remains carnal, where we strive one against another, accusing and excusing one another, being bound to the law for the lawless. Christ coming via the Promise is the end of this carnal law for righteousness’ sake. We are once and for all set free from the law of sin and death in our members by the perfect law of liberty that is the Spirit of Christ in us. The violence is now over, and the accusations are no more.
Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Rom 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
All the brass and wood, that spiritually signify the carnal world and its mindset, are being replaced with the gold of the Lord that has been tried in the fire of His commandments. When Christ is raised in us, the violence of the carnal world is no longer heard in the promised land within.
Isa 60:17 For brass I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring silver, and for wood brass, and for stones iron: I will also make thy officers peace, and thine exactors righteousness.
Isa 60:18 Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise.
There is a time for peace and a time for war. War always comes first, and then peace is the end of the matter.
Spiritual Violence
Violence is what fuels the carnal mind and is how everyone first tries to enter the kingdom. But the prophets and John the Baptist only prepare the way for the coming of the King and the Kingdom that is established by Peace. We can only enter in when Christ comes to us by way of the Promise.
Mat 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
Being yet carnal, the mind of the tempter, the waster and destroyer, still rules in our hearts despite the outward cleaning of our cup. Until the Gospel comes to us, we do not know the way of peace, and our steps and walk remain crooked. We need Christ to speak His Gospel to ears prepared to hear, and then the violence begins to be replaced with peace. Without Christ, we are spiritually shedding blood and in bondage to the accusing and excusing mindset.
Isa 59:7 Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths.
Isa 59:8 The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace.
When Christ comes, we no longer wage war the way flesh wages war; we fight the good fight by standing on the commandments and resting in Christ.
2Co 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
Until the tempter within us is subdued and bound by the power of God via the Promise dwelling within us, we struggle mightily to cease doing violence. Temptations are everywhere in this world, which is the domain of the devil.
Jas 4:1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
Jas 4:2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
Soldiers for Christ are told to do no violence, no longer accuse others in the flesh, and to be content with their wages, which is being content with the commandments and not chasing knowledge.
Luk 3:14 And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.
The story of Noah is a parable to show us the Lord coming to make a new earth wherein righteousness shall dwell. The first earth, the first Adam, is the man of sin and is incapable of doing good. That marred vessel is corrupt and full of spiritual violence, so the Lord sends lots of rain, the Holy Commandments, to sweep away the wicked and establish the new man in all of us.
Gen 6:13 And God said to Noah, ‘An end of all flesh hath come before Me, for the earth hath been full of violence from their presence; and lo, I am destroying them with the earth.
Envying and strife in our hearts is the work of the devil in our carnal minds. This needs to be brought into subjection to the commandments. The fruit of righteousness in our hearts is only sown in those who make peace by obeying the commandments to cease from their own works.
Jas 3:14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
Jas 3:15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
Jas 3:16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
Jas 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
Jas 3:18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
When the Promise comes, the power comes, and the tempter, the devil, is finally cast out of our heaven. This is how peace is established on our earth [See Revelation 12:7-10]. We need the power, we need the Promise to come, and we should fervently pray for it every day. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done.
When the Lord comes with salvation, the God of peace IS come. As Satan decreases, Christ in us, the Prince of Peace, is increasing.
Rom 16:20 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
The Peace that Transcends all Understanding
Jesus Christ, the Living Word in us, is our peace. His coming abolishes the natural enmity between the flesh and the Spirit that had kept us separated from Him and abiding in spiritual death, being of our father the devil. But rejoice as Christ has come and He is coming. Believe and confess, and it shall come to pass.
Eph 2:14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
Eph 2:15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
Eph 2:16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
When the Prince of Peace comes, the war is over. The enmity of the carnal mind has been defeated. Violence is no longer heard in our land. This is the true peace of God we are to pray for and seek. This is also known as being reconciled to God. The more we eat of His Body and drink His blood, partaking of the Lord’s Supper, we are crucifying the lusts of the flesh and entering into greater peace.
Col 1:20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
Col 1:21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
When the Promise comes, we are henceforth kept by the power of salvation. Our hearts and minds are being ruled by the living commandments that dwell in us. This is the peace of God that we dwell upon, meaning our focus is on them in everything we do.
Php 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Php 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Php 4:9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
We First Live a False Peace
Until the Lord comes with the Promise, the second time for salvation, those to whom the Lord IS come know perfectly that the day of the Lord comes when we are in this deception of a false peace.
1Th 5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
1Th 5:3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
We only see this when we look behind us, as the delusion of a false peace is convincing. Strong delusion is a good name for it, and all things written are ours to fulfil, even the false peace.
Jer 8:11 For they have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.
The Gospel of Peace:
The preaching of the Gospel, the living and abiding Word and commandments of the Lord, is how this peace is spread to the children of God. Preachers of the Gospel of Peace are sent to those prepared to hear the Gospel.
Rom 10:15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
The goal of salvation is establishing righteousness, peace, and joy in our hearts and minds.
Rom 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
We tarry with one another and edify each other by having all our thoughts and deeds in submission to the commandments. This is pursuing peace.
Rom 14:19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
Receiving John’s baptism, receiving the Lord’s true commandments and doctrines, is the preparatory step that guides us into the way of peace. We still must tarry for the Promise, the Living Power to come, but this is the prerequisite. John the Baptist was prophesied by his father Zecharias to be the one who would prepare the way for Christ.
Luk 1:76 And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;
Luk 1:77 To give knowledge of salvation [The Commandments] unto his people by the remission of their sins,
Luk 1:78 Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,
Luk 1:79 To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Christ chooses and equips His disciples to spread the Gospel, and in the same way He spoke peace to us, we speak it to others. This is why some receive the Promise earlier, so they can be used to spread it as faith comes by hearing this Gospel of love.
Joh 20:21 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”
Joh 20:22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.
When Christ healed a woman [Mrk 5:34, Luk 7:50, Luk 8:48], He said, “Your faith has healed you, and to go in peace”. Going in peace means to walk it out, to stand in the commandments in which we now profess faith. One going in peace is one being a doer of the Word. It is the same as saying “Go and sin no more” as Christ did to the woman caught in adultery.
Mar 5:34 And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.
Our old self is being crucified as Christ, and the Promise lives in us. The result of laying down our lives is reaping the fruits of the Spirit, the righteousness that is Jesus Christ. We fail not when we keep walking in the Spirit that now lives in us. Rejoice, brethren, it is God’s good pleasure to give all of us this blessing.
Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
Gal 5:23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
Gal 5:24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Gal 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
The Lord loses none of His. He is faithful and sanctifies us completely when He comes.
1Th 5:23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1Th 5:24 He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.
With only an earnest of the Spirit of peace, we remain vigilant in weak flesh to pursue the things of righteousness and flee from our former lusts. We have many reminders of this, not to be haughty and think we have arrived.
2Ti 2:22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
We are to pursue peace with all men and be holy in all of our behaviour. This is how we stay on the path and fail not the grace of God that now lives in us. Stand in the Gospel, stay in the peace of the Lord, and let no violence be heard in the land. An abundant harvest of spiritual fruit awaits.
Heb 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
Heb 12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
We need to be wearing the armour of God as we fight the fight of faith. A key piece of the armour of God [Ephesians 6] is wearing the sandals of Christ, that is, His Gospel. This guides every step and deed we do. We walk in the ways of peace which transcends all understanding of the carnal world.
Eph 6:15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
The Lord’s commandments, speaking to our hearts, are always speaking peace. This is to do His will, not ours, as our lives are laid down in submission to the commandments. Thus, mercy and truth come together as righteousness and peace kiss each other and the result is Truth springing forth from our earth [walk].
Psa 85:8 I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly.
Psa 85:10 Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
Psa 85:11 Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.
The love of God and the peace of God are closely related. Love is the doing part, the action, our obedience to the faith. Peace is the believing part, our resting and doing nothing except standing in Christ. Both work for the good of our salvation. Those who love God also have peace, and vice versa.
Psa 119:165 Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.
Psa 122:6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.
If we live in God’s peace, the Lord is with us, and we fail not.
2Co 13:11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
May the peace and love of God be multiplied unto all the saints.