The world that we find ourselves living in today is spinning at a faster pace than ever before. The demands that are put on family, work, and ministry seem to be heavier than even 10 years ago. Often we can find ourselves racing to meet schedules, only to find at the end of the day we are exhausted from the pace we have been keeping. While it is not entirely possible to slow down all of our surroundings, we can hide away with the Lord at times and enter into His amazing peace and rest. In the article, I would like to share about how the peace of God can be a powerful weapon in your life, unlocking blessing and healing in your spirit, soul, and body.
A People of Peace
As I travel, I run across many believers that seem to be stressed out and anxious about many things. We worry about the plans that God has for us, His provision, world events, and scores of other things. I find that the enemy loves to attack our minds with these types of thorns, trying to keep our minds from exploring the mysteries of Heaven. We, as followers of Christ, should be walking in huge amounts of peace. Jesus is the Prince of Peace, and we need to wrap ourselves in His garment of perfect peace.
Often the Lord will send us into areas where there is great turmoil and strife. There has been much talk about Joel's Army and the new breed of supernatural believers that will do great exploits in this hour. I believe this army will be marked by the peace of God it will carry into the battlefield. They will be so secure in their Commander-in-Chief, that even though they walk through the valley of the shadow of death, they fear nothing, but rather they release the peace and love of God to the nations. I see an outpouring of God's living peace that is being poured out upon the Church like never before. It is available today. The world is searching for true peace and rest. We as believers have the great honor to walk in God's peace and share it with the world.
Ministering Out of a Posture of Peace and Rest
We are all familiar with the story of Jesus and His disciples out at sea in Mark 4:35-41. A great windstorm arose and waves began to swamp the boat. The disciples started to freak out, and they woke Jesus up from a nice nap telling Him about their concerns. Jesus got up and rebuked the wind saying "Peace! Be Still!" Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm.
Jesus and His disciples were all in the storm together, but their response was much different than His. The disciples were freaked out. Jesus was asleep. The storm was real and definitely a concern to everyone in the boat, but Jesus addressed the situation from a position of peace and rest. There is a Heavenly authority that we walk in when we, like Jesus, minister out of a position of peace. There will always be storms that will come our way, but let us aim to walk in peace and authority when they arise.
Peace Releasing Healing to Our Bodies
I read an article in my local newspaper the other day while I was enjoying breakfast. This article began to describe the dramatic increase in young children that are taking prescribed medications to treat ADD, ADHD, and other disorders. The article went on to say that while there were some positive results in the children, they really doubted if the medication was working as well as they had hoped.
My spirit began to stir within me as I read this article, and I said to myself, "Where is the God of Peace for these young children"? I thought of the Scripture in Romans 16:20, "The God of peace will soon crush satan under your feet." I saw in the spirit how a touch from the Peace of God would calm the children down and bring their minds and emotions into perfect Kingdom order. The God of peace crushing the enemy under their feet!
I saw visions of children each day being handed medicine from their mothers. I saw the desperate look in the parent's eyes, hoping that this would be the answer to help their children gain rest and control in their lives. Then I began to think of a whole new way to pray for these precious children. I began to pray and ask the Lord to come and visit every child with His peace the moment they take the medicine from their parents. I cried out and said, "Lord, let these millions of children in America have such an encounter with You the next time they take their medicine that they would be healed, saved, and delivered."
You may say that is a crazy prayer. Would God really heal people with a prayer like that? Psalm 107:20 says, "He sent out His word and healed them." We also know about the centurion soldier that said to Jesus, "Just speak the word and my servant will be healed" (Matthew 8:8), and who can forget about handkerchiefs in Acts 19:12 that healed the sick.
There are millions of children dying of aids in Africa as you are reading this article. What if we began to pray over them? Lord, each time they take their medicine let Your healing presence come down and destroy every form of sickness in their bodies. Let a movement of healing spring up and touch every child in Africa that is suffering from this plague, in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
Don't Worry--It's Like Trying to Shovel Smoke
Science has discovered that many of the illnesses that we face today can be traced to fear, anxiety, stress, and worry. People that have excesses in these areas often develop a wide variety of health challenges. You may also be familiar with the ministry of the "Healing Rooms." I was a director in Olympia for several years, and we had a manual from Spokane called "The Disease Sheet." In this manual, you can look up a wide range of ailments. On each page, it would have a section called "Root Causes."
While we were praying for people, sometimes the Spirit would direct us to this manual. It was amazing to find, as we spoke to the person receiving prayer, that the root cause listed, such as unforgiveness, was something they were currently dealing with. As we ministered first along the lines of forgiveness, the tears began to flow as layers of bondage evaporated before our eyes. After lovingly leading the person through this stage, we would then command healing to come to their body. It was amazing to find that when the individual first dealt with the "root," that healing sprang forth quickly in their body. While not all sicknesses are connected to our emotions, there are many that are. We just need to be led by the Spirit as we minister, just as Jesus was.
Jesus Desires for Our Entire Being to be Made Whole
We all have a body, soul, and spirit. This is basic understanding that we have in the Church today. Just pinch yourself, and you will remember you have a body, or watch a sad movie, and you may find yourself in tears as your soul hurts for someone on the screen. Jesus longs to bring health and freedom to every area of our lives.
"May the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely, and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The One who calls you is faithful, and He will do this." I Thessalonians 5:23-24
Could there be a power in God's peace that promotes healing in our entire being? We spoke earlier about the God of peace crushing satan under our feet. And now we see again the Prince of Peace touching our spirit, soul, and body. Jesus told the woman with the issue of blood in Mark 5 to "go in peace, and be healed of your disease." I believe there is a spring of God's peace that is flowing in this hour like never before. While the power and benefits of God's living peace have been hidden from some, I sense the Lord is illuminating the need for people to walk in total peace as Jesus Himself is our Peace.
Paul Imparts Peace to the Early Church
I often wonder if the Apostle Paul knew the full price he would have to pay for building the Church as he did. In Acts 9, Paul went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus. His intent was to wreak havoc for the early believers and bring them bound to Jerusalem. While on the road, Paul has a powerful visitation from Jesus, and within three days he is filled with the Holy Spirit and baptized.
Paul begins to passionately build the Church and preach the Gospel with great wisdom and boldness. His efforts though, were not without some amazing challenges. 2 Corinthians 11:23-28 shares a powerful insight into the trials that Paul faced: imprisonments, floggings, beatings with rods, shipwrecks, danger, and the constant daily pressures for the churches.
Many of the letters that Paul wrote to the early Church were not typed up at the local Starbucks from his laptop while he enjoyed his favorite Mocha Coconut Frappuccino. No, they were often written from behind bars. Paul shares in Philippians 4:4-7 the following:
"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, 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 understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Paul knew how to live with a Kingdom perspective. Though the situations that he often found himself in appeared to be dim, Paul looked through the eyes of the Spirit and knew that God was working all things in his life for the Glory of the Lord. This allowed Paul to walk in a greater amount of peace and impart that peace to others. He anchored his life in Colossians 3:1-3, "So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God."
Being Content in All Circumstances
Paul shares in Philippians 4:8-9 the following encouragement:
"Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you."
Paul was in prison as he wrote this. How was it possible for him to encourage the churches to imitate him? It was because Paul had already died to himself, and the life he was living was in Christ, allowing him to walk in amazing peace and joy. Paul even shares that his imprisonment is actually helping to spread the Gospel. It had become known to many that Paul was in prison for the sake of the Gospel, and many brothers and sisters were encouraged and preached the word of God with great boldness and without fear.
Through the hardships and blessings, Paul learned the discipline of being content in all circumstances. This Kingdom mindset afforded him a greater ability to see God's perspective in everything, allowing him to walk in peace and rest.
I believe Paul's desire was to see the Church walk in peace in the midst of persecution, trials, and even martyrdom. The days that the early Church lived in were filled with many uncertainties. Every letter that Paul wrote in the Bible has this statement in some form in the first few lines: "Grace to you and peace." I sense that this was not just a traditional statement taking up space, but rather this was a declaration from the Spirit of God. Paul was releasing and imparting peace to the early Church. He wanted to encourage young Timothy, "Do not worry, my son, press on and do not let anyone despise your youth--walk in peace." He shared with Titus, "I left you in Crete to appoint elders, yes, you will have opposition but I impart to you grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior."
Just as Paul prayed and released peace to the early Church, the Lord Jesus prayed for His disciples to walk in peace in John 16. I sense the Spirit of the Lord is praying for you to enter into His peace today. As many of you are touched by the Prince of Peace, stress, fear, and worry will begin to melt from your body. The Lord desires for you to be a carrier of His peace--that so much of His peace would be upon you, that literally atmospheres would change as you and Jesus enter a room.
The Lord is giving you a fresh invitation to dance with Him in the rivers of peace. Won't you take His hand today as He leads you along this amazing journey? Your life and many others will be changed forever.
Numbers 6:24-26 "The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn His face toward you and give you peace."
Jason Phillips
Revival Town Ministries
Email: info@revivaltown.org
