The Shoes of Peace pt. 2

Avoiding False Peace

John 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.”

Jeremiah 6:14 “They have also healed the hurt of My people slightly, Saying, ‘Peace, peace!’ When there is no peace.”

What is false peace?

False peace is when a person thinks they are whole or thinks they are good with God, but they are not.

Thinks they are forgiven (Christian), but they don’t live for God

Thinks that there is no judgment coming. No wrath of God.

Thinks that their sin isn’t that bad. (usually compares their sin to others)

Thinks they are further along in their spiritual walk than they actually are.

Thinks that their is no spiritual conflict

Thinks that their sin will not have consequences

Thinks that God is focused on their happiness and prosperity

Thinks medicine, pleasure, work, relationships, fame, power, influence, titles, friends, money, etc can fix/complete them

Many preachers today encourage this as they did in the time of Jeremiah.

Ezekiel 13:10 ““Because, indeed, because they have seduced My people, saying, ‘Peace!’ when there is no peace—and one builds a wall, and they plaster it with untempered mortar—”

Micah 3:5 “Thus says the Lord concerning the prophets Who make my people stray; Who chant “Peace” While they chew with their teeth, But who prepare war against him Who puts nothing into their mouths:”

As long as they are getting your money they will give you a good, positive message, but if you stop they go to war against you

2 Peter 2:18-22 “For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage. For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.””

Ezra 9:12 “Now therefore, do not give your daughters as wives for their sons, nor take their daughters to your sons; and never seek their peace or prosperity, that you may be strong and eat the good of the land, and leave it as an inheritance to your children forever.’”

Luke 19:42 “saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.”

Do we know what will bring us peace? What are our feet running to? Are we willing to do what is required to bring us peace? Submit, trust, obey, sacrifice?

How do we end up with false peace?

Ignore the Word when we don’t like what it says.

We listen to people rather than God

We convince ourselves that we aren’t that bad and our sin isn’t that bad.

We justify our actions even though we may know we shouldn’t be doing it.

We become hyper-critical and focus on the flaws of others in order for us to feel better about ourselves.

Because of our pride we refuse to accept truth and correction when needed and offered.

We follow our flesh

When asked, “What’s wrong with the world today?” many will point to volatile stock markets, corrupt governments, disappearing rainforests, poor diets, lack of healthcare, broken families, overcrowded schools, and more. The world tries to fix these problems by doing good: feeding children, building wells, regulating markets, conserving wildlife, funding charter schools, and thereby achieving a type of peace.

The world’s peace tries to fix the symptoms of sin but fails to see how the root of the problem is the sin-disease itself, something that can only be healed by Christ—not by money, regulation, or reform. Dealing with the symptoms of sin but failing to diagnose the sin itself is not new. In the Old Testament, the false prophets treated sin “lightly” and proclaimed the problem “solved” when it wasn’t

Satan baits the hook with something that looks like peace. Something that looks like it will fulfill you, sustain you, complete you, but once you take it the trap snaps on you!

1 Thessalonians 5:3 “For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.”

1 Peter 5:7 “casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”

care (anxiety)- literally means to divide or seperate. Remember that Shalom (peace) means to make whole.

Matthew 12:25 “But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.”

Think of your body as a kingdom. If Satan can turn your mind against yourself he can divide you and then conquer you.

Sickness- Auto-immune disease- the body literally starts fighting against itself

This is why your thoughts and what you choose to focus on and believe are so important!

Proverbs 23:7 “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, But his heart is not with you.”

This is a picture of someone divided!

Dangers of self-pity- Isolation! Division from the Body!

self-reliance- division from God!

diuble-minded

Luke 21:34 ““But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.”

the word "casting" used in First Peter 5:7 was the Greek word epiripto, a com­pound of the words epi and ripto. The word epi means upon, as on top of something. The word ripto means to hurl, to throw, or to cast, and it often means to violently throw or to fling something with great force.

The only other place this word epiripto is used in the New Testament is in Luke 19:35, where the Bible says, "And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus there on." It is important to note this passage, for it correctly conveys the idea of the word epiripto, which in secular literature often pictured the flinging of a garment, bag, or excess weight off the shoulders of a traveler and onto the back of some other beast, such as a donkey, camel, or horse.

Cast off your anxiety, fear, worry, depression, grief, pain, overwhelmingness, lies on Jesus!!!!!

Jesus is the only TRUE peace!