Resting in God's Peace

Resting in God's Peace Ministry of Education Church Service Faith Temple Church 01.09.25

In his book Tortured for Christ pastor Richard Rembrandt who in the 1940’s was a pastor in Romania and at that time Romania was a communist country explains what he went through while in prison in Romania. The torture that he endured while in prison for many years… Months of solitary confinement, years of ongoing periodic beatings. Just horrible things this pastor went through because he was a follower of Jesus Christ and more specifically, he was a leader of Christians. There are many things he has done that I can share with you but one of the things he has done in recent years is a publication to awake the Christian church in the west to the matter of martyrdom and persecution that is still going on in the world today. Pastor Rembrandt began this monthly publication known as the voice of the martyrs… How many of you have seen this publication before?

In his book tortured for Christ there is one section that says quote “We made a deal we preach, and they beat. It was strictly forbidden to preach to others in prisons as it is in most captive nations today. It was understood that whoever was caught doing this received a severe beating.

A number of us decided to pay the price for the privilege of preaching so we accepted their terms “it was a deal” we preach, and they beat us. We were happy preaching… they were happy beating… So both were happy. The following scene happened more times than I could remember. A brother was preaching to the other prisoners when the guard suddenly burst in surprising him halfway through a phrase. They hauled him down the corridor to their beating room. After what seemed to be an endless beating, they brought him back bloodied and bruised and threw him on the prison floor. Slowly he picked up his battered body painfully straightened his clothing and said this… Now brothering where did I leave off when I was so rudely interrupted And he continued preaching his gospel message to his fellow prisoners that day.” End quote "Reflect, Rejoice, Give Thanks: Rising Above the Storm". That can only happen if we Rest in God’s Peace…

Today I want to talk to you about Resting in God's Peace! When the world talks about peace it is circumstantial. If there is a lack of conflict or freedom of violence, the world considers it peace.

Biblical peace, often represented by the Hebrew word "shalom" and the Greek word "eirene," holds a nuanced meaning that goes beyond the simple absence of conflict. It encompasses a sense of wholeness, well-being, and completeness across various aspects of life. God’s peace sustains us through all circumstances.

This refers to the reconciliation and restoration of brokenness between humans and God through Christ's sacrifice.

5 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

As we consider the subject Resting in God’s Peace. I want us to look at three areas:

1. Peace In Salvation. Rom. 5.1

2. Peace In Sanctification. Phil. 4.7

3. Peace In Service. 2 Cor 1. 2

All three are extremely essential in the context of resting in God’s peace. They are not devoid of each other because they are from the same source and the same substance.

1. Peace in Salvation. Rom 5.1 5 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

In respect to Salvation. You can only rest in God’s peace if you are in a genuine relationship with him.

We are all enemies of God and only achieve peace with him by embracing his Son Jesus Christ who reconciles us, thus bringing the enmity to an end and establishing peace.

“Being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” Rom 5:1

So I rest securely in Peace with God knowing that I am his friend not His enemy. That I am His son, and he is my Father. That I am loved by him inseparably. That I am destined for Heaven, not hell. That He has accepted me and will never abandon me.

Peace with God removes all insecurities of the future. It assures us that we are safe and secure. We have absolutely nothing to fear. Our eternal security is assured, and we have very clear evidence of that in the Bible of promises in such verses as….

Rom. 8. 1 “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus”

1 John 5. 13 “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know you have eternal life”

John 10. 28-29 “My sheep hears my voice, I know them and they follow me and I give to them eternal life and they shall never perish.”

So as a child of God you can rest securely in Peace with God, concerning your future destiny (Safe & secure in Salvation).

There is a difference between happiness and Joy. Happiness is temporary, it is circumstantial. Fleeting Emotion: Happiness is often a temporary state triggered by specific events or circumstances. For instance, receiving a compliment, enjoying a delicious meal, or the sun is shining today evoke feelings of happiness.

Situational: Happiness often fluctuates based on life events. A good day at work might lead to happiness, while a stressful day could diminish it.

However, Joy is much different. Joy is not based on our circumstances. Joy is that deep and abiding confidence that despite my circumstances all is well between me and the Lord. ILLUSTRATION: * Time in England You desire peace? True peace comes from a genuine relationship with the Prince of Peace and his name is Jesus Christ.

2. Peace in Sanctification. Phil. 4.7 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

We can rest in God’s peace through sanctification. We can rest in the peace of God as it relates to our present circumstances. Our struggles, our development into maturity (which is our sanctification). Sanctification is being “set apart” is progressive… It happens over time…

Our spiritual struggles are plentiful, and they are varied. We all experience them in different ways and forms. Here is where we need the peace of God to calm or overcome our fears and anxieties

The Lord Jesus knows how they affect us all, why he calls us to come unto him all who labor and are heaven laden so he can give us rest. Matt 11: 28-29.

How can the Apostle Paul tell the Philippians to be anxious about nothing. Isn’t anxiety part of the human DNA?

But Jesus also discourages anxieties in Matt 6:31 when he mentioned some specific areas of anxieties that confront us daily “food, clothing, shelter. Jesus intimated that these things are necessities that confront everyone. The saved and the unsaved.

“For the gentiles seek after all these things. But your heavenly father knows that you need them.

The difference is that the unsaved man or woman has no way out, but the child of God has one who knows about these needs and provides an avenue for supply.

That avenue is through Prayer and supplication making request to God and thanking him in confidence that his request will be granted. In that regard the Child of God can rest in the Peace of God which transcends all understanding. All our anxieties, all our fears, all our worries, all our guilt, so we can focus on the all sufficiency of Christ.

Hallelujah for the Peace of God in our sanctification

To do that, I want to share some lessons I’ve learned thus far…

And I’ve chosen to break it down into thingsI’m convinced of…

THINGS I’M CONVINCED OF . . . As leaders, teachers, you are principals, educators, P.S. ministers of government. The power behind your job does not only come in your intellectual abilities. It comes through prayer. Do you pray? Prayer is dependence upon God plus faith. I encourage you to pray for your staff. Walk by their desk and pray for them.

Prayer breeds passion Little prayer, little passion; Lots of prayer, lots of passion

No wonder – how can you come away from spending close, intimate, focused time with the God of the universe, and not be more passionate about the things near and dear to his heart? You can’t! Just like you can’t get close to a fire without getting hot . . .

You can’t get close to God without getting fired up.

EM Bounds, who wrote 7 books on prayer, and more importantly woke up at 4 a.m. the last 17 years of his life to study the Bible and pray, said it this way (quote)

Spiritual work is taxing work, and men are loath to do it. Praying, true praying, costs an outlay of serious attention and of time, which flesh, and blood do not relish. Few persons are made of such strong fiber that they will make a costly outlay when surface work will pass as well in the market.

I don’t know which one you tend toward – surface work or hard work.

But I can tell you from experience which one yields more godliness.

I’ve learned that prayer is work, and it doesn’t always come easy

· Prayer changes youto change the world

Through prayer, God changes you to change the world. Yes, God changes things as a result of our prayers. Things we have nothing to do with. But he also, and I’m convinced, often, changes us to change the things we pray for. He changes us to be the agentsof change in answer to our prayers.

Connect with GOD through prayer

In our fast-paced world, it is easy to rely on our knowledge and skills. We often think that our ability to teach, motivate, and inspire comes from our academic achievements or professional training. While these are important, they are not the ultimate source of our strength.**** You want to "Reflect, Rejoice, Give Thanks and rise Above the Storm"? Philippians 4:13 tells us, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." This verse reminds us that our capabilities are enhanced when we connect with GOD through prayer. It is through prayer that we invite divine guidance into our lives and work.

Prayer for our Families

As educators, your responsibilities extend beyond the classroom. You are also family members—spouses, parents, siblings,—and your personal lives can significantly influence your professional effectiveness.

1 Peter 5:7 encourages us to cast all our anxieties/cares on Him because He cares for us. By praying for your families, you create a foundation of love and support that empowers you in your role as an educator. When you pray for your spouse, your children, and your extended family, you invite peace and strength into your home. This peace translates into your work environment, allowing you to be more present and effective for your students and co-workers.

Prayer for our Marriages

Your marriage is a partnership that requires nurturing and attention. In the hustle of daily life, it can be easy to overlook the importance of prayer in maintaining a strong relationship with your spouse. Ecclesiastes 4:12 states that "a cord of three strands is not easily broken." When you include God in your marriage through prayer, you strengthen the bond between you and your spouse. Pray together regularly; share your hopes, fears, and dreams with each other and with God. A strong marriage will provide you with emotional stability and resilience—qualities essential for an effective educator/leader.

Prayer for our Staff

You are not alone in this journey; you work alongside fellow educators who share the same challenges and triumphs. The power of prayer can foster unity and collaboration among staff members.

Matthew 18:20 reminds us that "where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them." By praying for your colleagues—lifting them up in their struggles and celebrating their successes—you cultivate an environment of support and encouragement.

This collective prayer can transform the atmosphere of your school/work place into one filled with compassion and teamwork.

Prayer for our Students

let us not forget the most critical aspect of your work—the students entrusted to you. Each student carries their own burdens, dreams, and challenges. Your prayers can have a profound impact on their lives. James 5:16 tells us that "the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." Pray for their well-being, their growth, and their futures. Pray for their families as well; many students come from difficult backgrounds where they need extra support. Your prayers can be a source of hope and strength for them.

As you continue in your important work as educators, remember that while intelligence is valuable, it is not the ultimate source of power in your lives or careers. The real strength comes from prayer—prayer for yourselves, your families, your colleagues, and most importantly, for the children and students you teach/lead and are entrusted under your care. Let us commit ourselves to this practice of prayer. Let it be our guiding light in times of challenge and our source of joy in times of success. Together, let’s harness this divine power to transform not only our classrooms but also our nation.

Resting in God’s peace requires:

1. Peace In Salvation. Rom. 5.1

2. Peace In Sanctification. Phil. 4.7

AND…

3. Peace in service 2 Cor 4:5-12

Third we can rest in Peace from God in His Service

As leaders we face some of the greatest challenges in life as it relates to molding and shaping the next generation.The pressure of education is stressful, difficult, and even dangerous which are enough to rob us of peace.

For many in education instead of peace there is nothing but pain. The Apostle Paul expressed this graphically in 2 Cor. 4. 5-12 ESV.

In this passage the Apostle Paul speaks of the perils of ministry/ leadership but also gives some powerful truths that will inspire the servant of God to rest in God’s peace. Let’s regard them as guiding principles.

Perhaps you are not in the spotlight and you feel insignificant amongst your more popular and influential colleagues. Here is a profound lesson for you.

You don’t have to be in the spotlight because you have the light of Christ in you.

God did not call you to blend in but stand out. Be who you are and not try to be like somebody else.

Look at verse 2 Cor 4: 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Sometimes we feel the pressure to perform. We want to be bigger, better, louder, faster, smarter,prettier, brighter. We’re tempted to toot our own horns, to draw attention to ourselves. Yet, Paul reminds us that Christ’s light shines in our hearts the moment we surrender to his lordship.

It’s not about you. It’s about Jesus in you!” And He is our peace

Because of the gospelyou may get knocked down but not knocked out (VV 8-9)

Paul gives four poetic couplets to illustrate this truth in his own life and in the lives of believers going through hard times. verses 8-9:

In these 4 couplets of ministry/leadership pressure, Paul talks about the difficulty and the outcome.1 “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; 2 perplexed,but not in despair; 3 persecuted,but not abandoned; 4 struck down, but not destroyed.”

The last statement of these couplets is a play on words in the Greek. The English equivalent might be, “I am struck down, but I'm not struck out.” or “I may suffer a loss, but I am never lost.” How cool is that! God’s people are never losers. We are victorious. Jesus says that to lose one’s life for his sake is to find it. Why? Because the believer’s life is hidden with Christ in God. What tremendous security! You can rest in God’s peace knowing you are never a loser.

Here is the essence of True Service:

In our society, it is easy to fall into the trap of serving with an expectation of reward or recognition.

However, as educators, our calling is much higher. Mark 10:45 reminds us that "the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve."This powerful example set by Christ illustrates that true service is rooted in humility and love. When you step into your classroom or your admin post each day, remember that your primary goal is not personal gain but the growth and well-being of your students and those you are called to serve. Each lesson you teach, every encouraging word you share, and every moment of patience you extend should be done with their best interests at heart.

Seeking the Interests of Your students

Serving with peace means prioritizing the needs and interests of your students above your own. Philippians 2:3-4 encourages us: "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others."When you approach your role with this mindset, you cultivate an environment where those you serve feel valued and understood. Your dedication to their success fosters trust and respect, creating a safe space for learning and growth. Remember that every child is unique, with their own set of challenges and dreams. By focusing on their needs, you not only enrich their lives but also find a deep sense of fulfillment in your service.

You are called to Persevere

In the journey of education, there will be challenges—days when you feel overwhelmed or underappreciated. It is during these times that we must remind ourselves to keep going. Galatians 6:9 encourages us: "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."When you serve with peace in your heart, even the toughest days become bearable. Your commitment to your students can inspire them to persevere through their own challenges. By modeling resilience and dedication, you teach them valuable life lessons that extend far beyond the classroom.

Serving as Unto the Lord

Ultimately, our service is an act of worship. Colossians 3:23-24 instructs us: "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters." When you view your role as an educator through this lens, it transforms your perspective on service.You are not just teaching subjects; or leading ministries which facilitates education in SVG you are shaping lives and futures. Each interaction becomes an opportunity to reflect God’s love and grace. When you serve as unto the Lord, you find peace in knowing that your efforts have eternal significance.

"Reflect, Rejoice, Give Thanks: Rising Above the Storm".

Resting in God’s peace requires:

1. Peace In Salvation. Rom. 5.1

2. Peace In Sanctification. Phil. 4.7

3. Peace In Service. 2 Cor 1. 2

Pray: