“Then Gideon built an altar there to the Lord and named it The Lord is Peace” - Judges 6:24.
Audio Sermon: Judges 6:22-24
The peace of God was not natural to Gideon and is not even to the Christian in this day. He captures the fullness of Christ’s peace by aborting his natural appetite for self-absorption and by resting in Christ’s strength. He is so thoroughly influenced by the promises of Scripture that he commits his emotional intellect to trusting his God.
Mature saints experience a holy calm even in the midst of life’s lightning and thunder. They are anxious for nothing because their strength is unaffected by moth, rust or thieves (Mt. 6:19ff). Their religion is not merely social and they insulate themselves from spiritual stranglers by being thankfully aware of the nearness of God’s Spirit.
The characteristic mantra of heavenly Christianity is “not of the world.” (Jn. 15:19). God’s martyrs never look to the creature for what can only be found in the Creator. Though their souls attempt to cleave to this world’s dust, they refuse to exchange the land flowing with milk and honey for the parched desert. They know both biblically and experientially that the ark of God’s covenant goes before and divides the turbulent waters so that they pass over on safe ground.
Have you ceased living situationally? Have you surrendered the satanic yoke of circumstantial living? A story is told of a conversation between a martyr and his executioner as the executioner was leading him to the stake so that he might be burned for practicing his Christianity. The martyr said, “Put your hand on my heart and now place your other hand on your own heart. Which one beats the hardest and which is the most troubled?”
Being Transformed Christians (as opposed to those who are Christian in name only!) enjoy an uncommon measure of the presence of their Christ. Worldliness and non-eternal matters do not have the strength to rob those growing in the grace and knowledge of their Lord Jesus Christ (II Pe. 3:18).
During the season of Pharaoh’s chariots pressing down upon the Israelites standing on the edge of the Red Sea, Moses cried out to his kinsmen saying, “Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again forever. The Lord will fight for you while you keep silent” (Ex. 14:13f.).
A Christian’s life is devoted to contrasting the offerings of your Lord and the offerings of your anxious peaceless world. The world’s peace is nothing more than stylish fig leaves. It is a disquieting veneer having the facade of calm waters but a tidal wave underlies its misleading calmness. You know that anything you receive from the world costs the world little yet may demand of you everything.
“Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Ps. 46:10; Phil. 4:6f., respectively).
GLORIA IN EXCELSIS DEO!
