Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid (John 14:27).
The words of Jesus above are just so comforting! He makes it clear that under no circumstances should you allow your heart be troubled, because He has filled your life with His peace. The Greek word translated “peace” is “eirēnē,”which is akin to the Hebrew word “shalom.” Jesus wasn’t just referring to the peace of being quiet from disturbance, but peace without agitation, full of rest and prosperity. Notice He didn’t say “…my peace I will give unto you…,” no! “He said, “… my peace I give unto you….” You have His peace now.
When you study Christ in the Word, you’d observe that His life, while He walked the earth, was a demonstration of dominion and rest! He was never perturbed or ruffled by anything! When the people needed more wine at the wedding in Cana, He turned water into wine (John 2:1-11). When boisterous winds billowed against the ship while on a journey with His disciples, He hushed the tempest in an instant, saying, “Peace, be still” (Mark 4:35-40). When He needed to cross the sea to Bethsaida, with no ship in sight, He didn’t panic. He simply stepped on the water and walked on it as though it were dry ground (Mark 6:45-52).
Anywhere, any day, and in all circumstances, He was always at peace and in charge.
This is how He expects you to live today; with the boldness and confident assurance that the greater One lives in you, therefore you’ve overcome the evil one, the world and its systems. You’re more than a conqueror. He said in John 16:33, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” In Him, you have peace— not fleeting peace—but eternal peace with prosperity.
Not only did He give you His peace, He also brought you into peace with God: “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). He has brought us into oneness with God; there is, therefore, no more enmity between us and God. “For he is our peace, who hath…broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances…” (Ephesians 2:14-15).
And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge,that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:19).
Love is the greatest power in the world. It’s the greatest force in the universe. The Bible says God is love (1 John 4:8). Love raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Love can bring forth anything you require for your life. Even now, the love-power of God is present, but until you know the love of God, you can’t know its power. Some people don’t experience the love of God because they’re not certain that God loves them personally. A simple test can help you find
out. Ask yourself, “Do I love God?” If your answer is yes, then ask yourself another question: “Is God as good as I am?” If again, your answer is yes, then it means He’ll definitely love
you, at the very least, as much as you love Him. But God isn’t only as good as you are; He’s better.
His love for you is unfathomable, unconditional, pure and eternal. He loves you more than you could ever love yourself. In fact, you could never have loved Him if you didn’t learn of His love. That’s why John the Apostle declared, “We love him, because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19). Jeremiah 31:3 also says, “The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.”
Our opening verse says, “And to know the love of Christ…that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:19). God’s purpose for our lives is to be filled with His fullness, to be overflowing in His love, manifesting His life, nature, character and power. That’s what the Lord Jesus was talking about when He cried out in the temple, “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water” (John 7:38). His love-power flows from us to the world (Romans 5:5). It’s a fire that can’t be quenched (Song of Songs 8:7), an overcoming power that crushes fear (1 John 4:18) and every evil work. Walk in the fullness of this love-power.
PRAYER
Dear Father, I thank you for granting me revelation knowledge of the dimensions of your love; the breadth, and length, and depth, and height, thereby filling me with your fullness. I’m rooted and grounded in love, and my heart overflows with the love of Christ. I manifest and radiate your glory to my world today, in Jesus’ Name.
But we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word (Acts 6:4 KVJ)
It’s such a wonderful privilege to know that we can commune and fellowship with our heavenly Father through prayer, and that we have His full attention when we speak to Him (1 Peter 3:12). As emphasized, prayer isn’t just a way to get God to do something for you; it’s also a time to hear from the Lord and receive instructions on everything that concerns you.
Christians must strive at having effective prayer lives. Prayer is not only a fellowship, it’s also a labour. That’s why I think it’s ridiculous to think we should pray only when we feel like. Then again, because prayer doesn’t appeal to our minds and senses, our bodies and minds may not enjoy praying and can even rebel against it. Many times we put off praying till the end of the day but by the time we’re through with the activities of the day, we’re tired and drowsy and our thoughts start wondering while we’re praying. This is where the labour comes into prayer, this is where the fight is, but it’s not a fight with devils or men, neither is it a fight with God. It’s a fight to keep yourself on track against the dictates of the flesh. Romans 8:26-27 says “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groaning which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what the mind of the Spirit is because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God”
This takes training and so you must be resolved to stick with your personal prayer schedule. Some Christians find it almost impossible to do this simple because they’ve not been able to discipline their flesh. They go to work everyday of the week without ever considering getting to work late, much less not going at all. If you can train your mind and body to do this then you can train yourself to pray regularly and on time too. The problem is that too many aren’t willing to make such a sacrifice for their prayer lives, and that’s because they don’t know the important of prayer. But when trouble comes, they’re the first to cry, “Please, pray for me!” Don’t depend on ‘emergency prayers,’ consistency is the key. Make a fresh commitment to your personal prayer life today. There are so many things that will compete with your prayer time, but there’s so much you can achieve on your knees. So, stays connected to God, and maintain a disciplined prayer life.
Moses implemented God’s instruction. He rallied the children of Israel, to bring all the necessary offerings, and they built a beautiful sanctuary in accordance with the pattern and plan that God gave to Moses. However, that wasn’t good enough. God wanted a new sanctuary and showed David a vision of the new sanctuary; He gave him every detail of what it should be like.
David was excited, and laid down a lot of gold and silver for the building of the temple. Nevertheless, it was Solomon, David’s son, who was approved of God to build the temple, and he built for God a magnificent temple. The Bible says, “Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet” (Acts 7:48).
Then Jesus came on the scene and said, “…I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). The word translated “Church” means “Assembly or Congregation of the called out ones.” It’s therefore not a physical building, but a living tabernacle of human beings.
Let’s read Ephesians 2:19-22 NIV. It says, “Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.” We’re God’s habitation through the Spirit! His vision to dwell in the midst of His people has been realized in us, the Church.
Each one of us is a temple of the Holy Spirit. He lives and walks in us (2 Corinthians 6:16). You’re God’s holy temple (1 Corinthians 3:16); this, the Bible says, is the mystery that was hidden from ages and generations, which has now been made manifest. The mystery is, Christ in you, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:26-27). Hallelujah!
PRAYER
Precious Father, I worship and adore you; thank you for making me your dwelling place. I acknowledge your Spirit living in me, protecting, guiding, and leading me in your perfect will.
Thank you for beautifying my life with the glory of your presence, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
