Sermon
#1553 Miscellaneous
Notes
Title: PEACE
Text: Isaiah 26:3
Subject: The Peace God
Gives To Those Who Trust Him
Date: Sunday Morning ―
Tape: #X-90b
Introduction:
This past month, Shelby and I have received between 200 and 300 hundred Christmas cards. Some had personal notes. Some, it was obvious, were very carefully selected. But almost all of them expressed a wish, a desire, or a prayer that we might enjoy peace. That is my heart’s desire and prayer to God for you.
Someone
once said, “Peace is such a rare precious thing that I would give all the world to obtain it.” Blessed is that person
who has peace! Blessed is that home where peace resides! Blessed is that church
that enjoys the fellowship of peace! And blessed is that country whose citizens
live in peace! I want to talk to you today, as practically as I know how, about
the most practical of all subjects ― Peace. Peace is to the soul what health is to the
body. You will find my text in Isaiah 26:3.
(Isa 26:3) "Thou wilt keep him in perfect
peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth
in thee."
In our text we have a picture of a well-secured,
fortified city in the midst of hostile enemies who are bent upon her
destruction.
Her enemies are many, mighty and malicious. But they can do
her no harm, because the city is an impregnable fortress. That city is the
(Isa 26:1) "In that day shall this song be sung in
the
·
Salvation’s walls are the high and lofty
works of God in heaven ― (His Covenant ― His Decrees ―
Christ’s Acceptance ― His Intercession).
·
Salvation’s bulwarks are the mighty,
unalterable works of God in the earth ― (Redemption ― Regeneration
―
Though the
(Isa 26:2) "Open ye the
gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in."
In
preaching the gospel, we throw open wide the gates of life and bid sinners,
“Enter in.”
·
Here is Christ. Will you yet be
Christless?
·
Here is Atonement. Will you yet be
guilty?
·
Here is Righteousness. Will you yet be
unrighteous?
·
Here is Life. Will you yet choose death?
Come now, enter into the city of life, come into the family of God, come into this fortified place of security and eternal life by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Trust Christ and live forever.
To all who trust Christ
there is a promise given of infallible, sure, eternal security. ―
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is
stayed on thee; because he trusteth in thee.” I love those words of
unconditional grace ― “Thou wilt keep him!” This is the promise of
God to all who believe. God’s saints are all kept in faith and kept in grace
forever (Eccles. 3:14; John 10:27-28; Phil. 1:6).
(Eccl 3:14) "I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it
shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any
thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear
before him."
(John 10:27-28) "My sheep hear my voice, and I know
them, and they follow me: {28} And I give unto them eternal life; and
they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my
hand."
(Phil 1:6) "Being confident of
this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it
until the day of Jesus Christ."
We
are not kept by our works, but by God’s work. We are not even kept by our
faith. We are kept in faith. And we are kept through faith. But we are kept by
the power of God and the grace of God.
Proposition: One delightful result
of that salvation and security which God gives to his people in Christ is peace, ― “Thou wilt keep him in
perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”
Divisions:
1. What
is this perfect peace?
2. Who
can give this perfect peace?
3. Who
shall obtain this perfect peace?
4. What
is the connection between peace and faith?
I. What is this
perfect peace?
That
is a question I cannot answer. If the peace of God “passeth
understanding” it certainly “passeth explanation.” When our text
speaks of “perfect peace,” it is telling us that the peace God gives is
true and real. It is not an imaginary false peace.
These words “perfect peace” might be translated,
“peace, peace,” or “peace upon peace.” They are
intended to express peace in an emphatic way, certain peace, real peace,
increasing peace, extensive peace, everlasting peace.
I
know that I cannot define this peace, or explain it to you. The best that I can
do is describe it.
A. The peace Isaiah here
speaks of certainly means the absence of war and danger (Isa. 40:1-2).
(Isa 40:1-2) "Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith
your God. {2} Speak ye comfortably to
There was a time when God himself appeared to be at war against us. But as soon as a sinner trusts Christ, his warfare is over. And the danger of war is gone. Therefore we have peace, real peace.
1. Look upward!
― There is no sword of justice against you, no cup
of wrath threatening you, no angry God against you.
2. Look downward!
― For the believer there is no condemnation, no
death, no judgment, no second death.
3. Look backward!
― All your past sins are blotted out, forgiven,
taken away and remembered no more.
4. Look around you!
― “All things work together” for your good.
― “There shall no evil happen to the just.”
5. Look outward! ― God
has made all the beasts of the field, all the stones of the earth, all the
trees of the forest and even your enemies to be at peace with you.
6. Look inward! ― God
has set up a guard in your heart. His name is Peace,
the peace of God that passeth understanding keeps our hearts and minds in
Christ Jesus.
(Isa 26:12) "LORD, thou wilt ordain peace for us:
for thou also hast wrought all our works in us."
(Phil 4:4-7) "Rejoice in the Lord alway:
and again I say, Rejoice. {5} Let your moderation be known unto
all men. The Lord is at hand. {6} Be
careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with
thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. {7} And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall
keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
If
we who are believers do not enjoy this peace, the blame must be laid at our own
doors. We make our own selves restless by unbelief.
God promises, peace upon peace to those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.
B. This perfect peace
reigns over all things within the circle of our lives.
Not only is it impossible for any enemy to come near us (Isa. 54:17), but our God assures us that all the affairs of our lives are ruled by him for good. ― If we had any cause for restlessness it could not be said that we are kept in perfect peace. Perfect peace implies that there is nothing that should disturb our souls.
(Isa 54:17) "No weapon that is formed against thee
shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment
thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD,
and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD."
1. Our
sins are forgiven once for all ― Never to be charged against us.
2. Christ
has taken possession of us ― Never to lose us.
3. Our
heavenly Father rules the universe ― Never
neglecting us.
4. There
is nothing that we cannot safely commit to him.
·
Our Sins.
·
Our Families.
·
Our Affairs.
C. Perfect peace means a
peace that is well founded.
Our peace is a matter of justice ― (Rom.
(Rom 8:32-34) "He that spared not his own Son, but
delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all
things? {33} Who shall lay any thing to the
charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. {34} Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that
died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at
the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us."
“The
pardon which God gives us is not a smothering-up of our sins, nor a blinding of
justice. God is as just in his pardons as he is in his punishments. It shall be
seen at the last, when believers enter into their glory, that they rise there
by law, just as surely as the lost sink down to hell by law. That is to say,
that the Lord Jesus Christ hath rendered to the law such recompense by his
perfect obedience, and his matchless atonement, that it shall be as just on
God’s part to save his elect as to condemn the unbelieving world.”
C.
H. Spurgeon
Our
peace is just and right!
D. Peace in a city
implies agreement, unity and fellowship.
The
·
God’s saints are at peace with God, the
Governor.
·
God’s saints are at peace with one
another.
E. The peace that God
gives is rest in the soul
(Ps. 42:5, 11; 43:5).
(Psa 42:5) "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope
thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his
countenance."
(Psa 42:11) "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope
thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my
countenance, and my God."
(Psa 43:5) "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope
in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance,
and my God."
As the body cast upon the bed finds rest for every limb, so the soul stretches itself upon Christ and finds rest for every faculty.
·
My heart rests in God’s love.
·
My judgment rests in God’s wisdom.
·
My desire rests in God’s goodness.
·
My hope rests in God’s Word.
·
My expectation rests in God’s promises.
1. Peace
is resignation to the will of God.
2. Peace
is confidence in the goodness of God.
3. Peace
is contentment with the providence of God.
Peace
is the deliberate resignation of my life to the will of God. So long as I
resist my Father’s will, I resist peace. William Hendriksen
described peace as the smile of God reflected in the soul. How blessed it is to
enjoy that smile. But there are some things that destroy peace in our souls.
·
Unbelief.
·
Self-will.
·
Ambition. ― Those
who have no desire for the praise and do not fear frown of men, and they only,
enjoy peace.
·
Pride.
·
Envy.
·
Greed.
·
Anger.
F. Being kept in perfect
peace means that we are kept from despondency.
Despondency
is the fruit of unbelief. Peace is the fruit of faith. Our Anchor is not in
ourselves, but outside ourselves. Our Anchor is Christ (Heb.
(Heb 6:18-20) "That by two immutable things, in which it
was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have
fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: {19} Which hope
we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which
entereth into that within the veil; {20} Whither the forerunner is for
us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of
Melchisedec."
G. To be kept in peace is
to be kept from rashness.
Peace makes men prudent. If we rest in Christ, if we repose our souls upon our God, we need not be hasty. We can wait on the Lord. He will deliver us in his time. Every second of every day is controlled by God’s infinite wisdom, love and goodness to us.
I
say, that man or woman who has this peace is the richest person in all the world.
(Psa 27:14) "Wait on the LORD: be of good courage,
and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD."
(Psa 37:9) "For evildoers shall be cut off: but
those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth."
(Psa 59:9) "Because of his strength will I
wait upon thee: for God is my defence."
(Isa 40:31) "But they that wait upon the LORD shall
renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they
shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."
II. Who
can give us this peace?
·
No Philosopher.
·
No Psychologist.
·
No Therapist.
·
No Physician.
·
No Preacher.
·
No Church.
Our
text says, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace.” Peace is God’s gift,
only God can give it. Peace is not packaged in pills. It is the gift of God. As
John Calvin put it, “Peace is a free gift and flows from the pure
mercy of God.”
Yet,
it can be had very easily. We attain peace by putting ourselves in God’s hands.
Striving after peace is hard work. We can never attain peace by work, or even
by inward strength. Peace can only be had by trusting Christ.
God
gives us peace by…
·
The special
application of his Word.
·
The inner work
of his Spirit.
·
The gracious
revelation of his Son.
·
The blessed
operations of his
·
He gives his Jonahs’ a whale and a gourd,
as they are needed.
·
He gives his Josephs’ a Pharaoh.
III.
Who shall obtain this peace?
“Thou
wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee.” The “mind”
here refers not only to the intellect, but to the whole of our inner being. If
I am stayed upon Jehovah I have peace. If I am straying from Jehovah I am
wandering into misery.
A. Let
all my thoughts be stayed upon my God.
I want never to
think of anything without thinking of Christ.
·
My Sin.
·
My Family.
·
My Needs.
·
My Past.
·
My Future.
B. Let
my imaginations be stayed upon my God.
I ought never to imagine anything a possibility that is in any way contrary to the goodness, grace, power and promise of God.
C. Let
my desires be stayed upon my God.
My soul, want nothing but what God wills to give. Desire nothing but what God deems good, and be kept in peace.
D.
To be stayed upon the Lord is to rest upon him. ― To be stayed upon the Lord is to depend upon him, to be
glued to him. To be stayed upon the Lord is to be kept in perfect peace (Phil.
(Phil 4:12-13) "I know both how to be abased, and I
know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be
full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. {13} I can do
all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."
“Stayed
upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blessed,
Finding,
as He promised, perfect peace and rest.”
IV.
What is the connection between peace and faith?
Look
at the text one more time ― “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace,
whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”
·
Faith is not the cause of peace. Grace
is.
·
Faith is not the foundation of peace.
Christ is.
·
But faith is the means of peace!
(Mat 11:28-30) "Come unto me, all ye that labour
and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. {29}
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart:
and ye shall find rest unto your souls. {30} For
my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
(Rom
(Rom 5:1-11) "Therefore being justified, by faith we
have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: {2} By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein
we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. {3} And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also:
knowing that tribulation worketh patience; {4} And patience, experience;
and experience, hope: {5} And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love
of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
{6} For when we were yet without strength, in due
time Christ died for the ungodly. {7} For
scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some
would even dare to die. {8} But God commendeth his love toward us, in
that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. {9} Much more then,
being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
{10} For if, when we were enemies, we were
reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we
shall be saved by his life. {11} And not only so,
but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now
received the atonement."
A. God rewards faith with peace.
B. Faith proclaims peace to the soul.
C. And faith nurtures peace.
Application: If you would have
peace, it is as simple and as difficult as faith in Christ. It is impossible
for me not to have peace if I trust Christ’s Redeeming Work ― His Providential
Care ― His Infinite Wisdom ― His All-sufficient Grace, ― and
His Everlasting Promises.
We have a Refuge strong,
A place of peace and rest;
Our Refuge is the Lord our God,
And in Him we are blest.
There is a Man above;
Christ Jesus is His name;
He is our God; in Him we trust;
We hide ourselves in Him.
Christ is our Rock secure,
A covert from the wind,
A River in a desert place,
Peace in a troubled land.
My soul, on wings of faith,
Fly to your Refuge dear,
Your foes defy, your troubles too,
And cast on Christ your care!
(Isa 3:10) "Say ye to the righteous, that it
shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their
doings."
Real peace is tested and proved by
enduring the storm; and the only way to be secure in and endure the storms that
come upon our souls is to find a secure hiding place. That hiding place is our
Savior.
(Isa 32:1-4) "Behold, a king shall reign in
righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment. {2} And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a
covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a
great rock in a weary land. {3} And the eyes of
them that see shall not be dim, and the ears of them that hear shall hearken.
{4} The heart also of the rash shall understand
knowledge, and the tongue of the stammerers shall be ready to speak
plainly."
(Isa 32:17-18) "And the work of righteousness shall be
peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.
{18} And my people shall dwell in a peaceable
habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places."
(John 14:1-3) "Let not your heart be troubled: ye
believe in God, believe also in me. {2} In my
Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have
told you. I go to prepare a place for you. {3} And
if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto
myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."
(Isa 26:4) "Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in
the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:"
(2 Pet 1:2) "Grace and peace be multiplied unto you
through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord."
Amen.