John 14:27-28
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. You have heard Me say to you, ‘I am going away and coming back to you.’ If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, ‘I am going to the Father,’ for My Father is greater than I.
INSIGHT
-Peace in Hebrew is written as Shalom and in Greek; Eiréné. It means quietness, rest, comfort, serenity, liberty, safety, wholeness of life or body and harmony between parties or people e.g. covenant of peace (Num 25:12-13; Isa 54:10; Ezek 34:25-26). Other scriptures have defined peace as victory over one’s enemies or absence of war. Peace offering to God, prosperity, success or fulfilment (Lev 26:3-9). God alone is the source of peace (Jud 6:24). Jesus is the Prince of peace/ Jehovah Shalom (Isa 9:6; Jer 33:8-9). Peace with God came through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Rom 5:1; Eph 2:14-17; Col 1:19-20; Heb 13:20) and gave us the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22).
-Jesus took on the form of a servant and became obedient to death on the cross. After His resurrection, He was restored to His glory with the Father, seated at the right hand over all authority in the universe (Eph 1:20-22, Phil 2:5-11). He did not leave us orphaned but gave us the Holy Spirit to dwell in us and bestows unto us the fruit of peace that we may always rest secure in Him.
PRAYER
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace, where there is hatred, let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light. Where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand. To be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive. It is in pardoning that we are pardoned and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen
2 Samuel 24:24-25
Then the king said to Araunah, “No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price; nor will I offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God with that which costs me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. And David built there an altar to the Lord, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the Lord heeded the prayers for the land, and the plague was withdrawn from Israel.
INSIGHT
-The peace offering was vital for the people of Israel as instructed by God. It was offered by the priest as stipulated in Leviticus 3 where an animal without blemish was offered to the Lord. Blood was smeared on the altar and the sacrifice produced a pleasing aroma to God. This was to be repeated from generation to generation as a perpetual covenant between God and the people. When king David took a census of the people of Israel and Judah against Gods’ will, a plague befell them. Seventy thousand men fell and when the plague persisted; king David offered a peace offering to the Lord on the threshing floor of Araunah. God was merciful to them and delivered them from destruction. Christ became for us a sacrifice of peace reconciling us to the Father once and for all; through His precious blood. We are therefore called to walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and gave Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma (Eph 5:2).
PRAYER
Thank You Jesus for this far that You have brought us. It is because of Your mercy and grace, we give You all the glory and praise. We are nothing without You Holy Spirit and we can do nothing without You, dwell deeper in our hearts we humbly implore You. For the many times we have gone against Your will, forgive us merciful Father. Guide us throughout the week and make all our plans succeed according to Your divine purposes. Straighted every crooked path and deliver us from all wicked plan of the evil one. Protect us, provide for us, heal us, restore us and guide us together with our loved ones Almighty Father for Your love for us endures to all generations. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us now and forevermore. Amen
Genesis 26:29-32
that you will do us no harm, since we have not touched you, and since we have done nothing to you but good and have sent you away in peace. You are now the blessed of the Lord .’ ” So he made them a feast, and they ate and drank. Then they arose early in the morning and swore an oath with one another; and Isaac sent them away, and they departed from him in peace. It came to pass the same day that Isaac’s servants came and told him about the well which they had dug, and said to him, “We have found water.”
INSIGHT
-Isaac and his people went to Gerar, the land of Abimelech the king of the Philippines when they were faced by drought. God then instructed Isaac to remain in the land and He would bless him. Despite the opposition and conflict that he experienced from Abimelech’s herdsmen, Isaac trusted in God; just like his father Abraham. When his men dug wells of water, Abimelech’s herdsmen filled them up with soil. They encountered many challenges but the Lord prospered them. Peace with one another is an important aspect of our lives. Peace with God results to peace with one another. When conflict arises, it is necessary to resolve it in God’s way of forgiveness and reconciliation. God removes all bitterness from our hearts as we sort for His grace which overcomes all evil intentions. When Abimelech realised that Isaac had become prosperous, he decided to resolved their conflict through a covenant of peace. Christ gave us peace through His sacrifice of cross and left us His Holy Spirit Who fills our hearts with rivers of flowing water; that we may remain faithful to Him and dwell in peace with one another.
PRAYER
How marvellous is Your name Oh Lord. Thank You for the peace that we continue to enjoy in our country. It is not by our design but Yours Almighty Father; we give You all the glory and praise. Remember all the war torn countries Holy Spirit; that You may grant them Your peace. Be with all the families and relationships that are not united as one people; that You may train them in Your wisdom. Give us the grace Lord to forgive one another despite the bitter experiences that we encounter and increase our faith in You. Bless us and keep us dear Father like You blessed Abraham for we are his seed according to the promise. Make Your face to shine upon us and be gracious to us. Lift up Your countenance upon us and grant us peace; Lord. Amen
Ephesians 2:14-18
For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.
INSIGHT
-Jesus is our Prince of peace and has united the Jews and the Gentiles as one tongue, people and nation; through His works on the cross. He broke down the middle wall of separation between us and God created by the sin of Adam that we may no longer be bound by the law but dwell in His grace. He reconciled all things to Himself, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross (Col 1:20). By dwelling among us, Jesus brought peace through justification by His blood through faith and gave us the Holy Spirit who sanctifies us daily. God in His unchanging absolute nature of love, truth and holiness; brings us under His authority and conforms us to His image as His children that we now call Him Abba Father. Through sanctification; God gives us peace with Himself and one another as we grow in holiness through His grace.
PRAYER
Many are the thoughts in a man’s hearts but the Lord ordains his steps, ordain our steps daily Holy Spirit we humbly ask You. You are perfect and holy, conform us to Your image and guide us to always do Your will. Thank You Lord for Your love and grace upon our lives and for all You have done unto us, our families and nation. All glory and honor belongs to You. Guide us Lord throughout the day and deliver us from all our anxieties, pain and fears. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us now and forevermore. Amen
Philippians 4:6-7
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 understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
INSIGHT
-Thankful prayer with knowledge that only God can change our situations leads to peace. The presence of God should sustain us and remove all anxiety from our hearts no matter the difficulties we are going through. When we submit all our anxieties, prayers and supplications to God, He works His grace in us and brings us rest. Jesus calls us when we labour and are heavily burden and He will give us rest for our souls (Mat 11:28).
SUMMARY
Peace from the Hebrew root refers to total well-being. Peace brings before us the prosperity of the whole man especially including spiritual prosperity. Spiritual peace refers both to peace with God and peace with one another, which came from being reconciled to Him through the blood of Christ (Eph 2:13-15). When we were alienated to God due to sin, Christ sanctified us through His grace. Peace that is not aligned to the truth in God then is not complete. We enjoy inner peace or freedom from anxiety as we bring all our needs to our gracious Lord in thankful prayer and walking in obedience before Him (Phil 4:6-9). Further, the sum total of gospel blessings can be expressed by peace. We therefore get peace with God, peace with one another and peace within from God of peace Himself as He sanctified us and makes us holy. Lastly, to grow in Christ, we need to seek His peace, sought for His presence and saturate ourselves with His word. Peace always and in every way. Peace of Christ that rule our hearts, to which also we were called in one body and be thankful (Col 3:15).
PRAYER
Abba Father, grant us peace of mind and calm our troubled hearts we humbly ask You. Give us the strength and clarity of mind to find our purposes everyday and walk the path that You laid out for us from everlasting to everlasting. Heal us Holy Spirit from all anxiety we submit our lives to You. Like the sun rises and sets each day, may You Prince of peace give us peace always in every way. Be with us all Lord and our entire nation forever; we pray. Amen
Isaiah 9:6
For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
INSIGHT
-Peace is written as shalom in Hebrew & it means safety, comfort, placidity, serenity, tranquility, calmness, rest, liberty, comfort, quiet, sanctuary & satisfaction. Peace has seven main definitions: – Attribute of God i.e. Jehovah Shalom, Fruit of the Holy Spirit, Wholeness of life or body (health), Harmony between two parties or people, Prosperity or success, Victory over one’s enemies or absence of war, Interjection i.e. ask for silence, or salutation & farewell.
-The manifestation of a King completed the picture of a kingdom of peace, eternal & universal in nature. Christ is the Wonderful, Counsellor, for He knew the counsels of God from eternity & gives counsel to men. He is God, the mighty One & one with the Father. As the Prince of Peace, He reconciles us to God in remission of sins. He restores peace in our heart & conscience. The government is upon Him for He bears our burden & holds the Keys of His Kingdom.
PRAYER
We humbly beseech You Father, our Prince of Peace. You are our Messiah, Wonderful, Counselor, Mediator, Saviour, Lord & King, have mercy on us & cleanse us from all unrighteousness. As we vote tomorrow, may we have peace of mind, heart & peace with one another. Unite all the communities in our nation as one people, that tribalism may not cause our nation internal or external strife. Protect us from any form of violence & bloodshed, Father. Guide us in electing leaders who have a genuine interest to unite all people, a vision for the nation & those who will follow Your will in true justice & governance. You are our God of peace, be with us all. Amen.
1 Chronicles 22:9
Behold, a son shall be born to you, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies all around. His name shall be Solomon, for I will give peace and quietness to Israel in his days.
INSIGHT
-God made a promise to king David of a son who will protract his reign to perpetuity through Christ as prophesied by prophet Nathan. Just as God gave king David rest from all his enemies (2 Sam 7:1), king Solomon his son; also enjoyed the same privilege. Later, when king David was old & advanced in age; Adonijah his son, born of Haggith exalted himself, saying, he will be king. He prepared for himself chariots, horsemen, fifty men to run before him, sacrificed flock in abundance & called a great banquet to celebrate his kingship. When this news got to king David, he was in distress & called in Zadok the priest who took a horn of oil from the tabernacle & anointed Solomon king after him. We should always remember that leadership comes from the Lord despite our own wishes. All things were predestined before the foundation of the earth, for He knew us. Peace is a gifts of God; a fruit of the Holy Spirit, Who gives us rest in our hearts, homes & nation through His divine promises to us.
PRAYER
Thank You Lord our Father for we have seen this long awaited day. We know that You have already elected the leaders who will govern our nation. Direct our hands to do Your will, Lord. Help all the leaders & voters to accept the results that will come out of this elections. You are Emmanuel our King, dwell with us & give us peace. We thank You & praise You for we always have victory in You. Amen
Romans 12:17-18
Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.
INSIGHT
-Peace is a function of perseverance, wisdom & self control given by the Holy Spirit at the wake of conflict. That makes it our utmost endeavour to preserve peace by tranquilizing our own anger & the malice of others. This exposes to us to acts of forgiveness, reconciliation & doing good to those who wrong us & giving no place to quarrelling & wrath.
PRAYER
Thank You Father for we have concluded the elections in Your peace. May the same peace fill our hearts that we may live peaceably with all men. Remove all hatred, unforgiveness & enmity from our hearts. Strengthen those who have lost to accept the results & give them hope of a brighter future. May the elected leaders share in Your victory by uniting all the citizens in recognising that we are one people. All glory & honor belong to You Father. Amen
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.
INSIGHT
-Christ prepared the disciples for His departure when He assured them His peace. His message to us is to cast out all fear for His peace that surpasses all understanding will guard our hearts & minds. Christ did not leave us orphan but with a Helper, the Holy Spirit, to council, guide & bestow His gifts & fruit upon us. Where the Spirit of the Lord is; there is unity, peace & liberty, which we continue to pray during this election period. Many would expect our country would be burning by now but we have experienced Christs’ everlasting peace & continue to thank Him, for if God is for us, who can be against us.
PRAYER
Oh God of all creation, bless this our land & nation, justice be our shield & defender, may we dwell in unity, peace & liberty, plenty be found within our borders. We thank You Father for You continue to settle our hearts & minds in Your unfathomable peace. Our country subsists in Your mercy & peace, we thank You. Protect us from all forms of violence & any evil plans to destroy our peace. Our lives & country belong to You Lord, have mercy on us. All glory & honour belong to You, Father now & forever. Amen
Matthew 5:9
Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.
INSIGHT
-Peacemakers are blessed as sons of God & joint heirs with Christ. They love, desire & delight in peace. They also prevent contention, strife & war in their families, neighbourhoods, work places, businesses & other social areas at all cost. Further, in the scriptures, those who love their enemies, do good & led by the Spirit are also referred to as sons of God.
SUMMARY
-Peace is written as shalom in Hebrew & refers to: – an attribute of God i.e. Jehovah Shalom, fruit of the Holy Spirit, wholeness of life or body, solidarity between two parties or people, prosperity or success, victory over one’s enemies or absence of war, interjection i.e. ask for silence, or greetings & farewell.
-The kingdom of God is eternal, universal, peaceful in nature & was manifested through Christ. He is our Prince of Peace & reconciles us to God in remission of sin. In the Old Testament, God gave king David rest from all his enemies & protracted the same privilege to king Solomon his son. In the New Testament, Christ prepared the disciples in advance when His death drew near & assured them His peace. As His disciples, we are also called to cast out all fear from our hearts & minds; that His peace that surpasses all understanding may dwell within us by the help of the Holy Spirit, Whom Christ left us. He councils & guides us in wisdom at the wake of conflict, that we may tranquilize our own anger & the malice of others. He shepherds us in acts of forgiveness, reconciliation, doing good to those who wrong us & giving no room for quarrelling & wrath. Where the Spirit of the Lord is; there is unity, peace & liberty, which we continue to pray for during this election period & pronounce through our national anthem.
PRAYER
We thank You Holy Spirit for the peace that we continue to enjoy in our country; especially during this sensitive time of elections. We have seen Your mighty hand in our nation. Bestow unto us Your peace, that we may be reconciled to our neighbours, families, friends, enemies, those around us & to You Father. As we come to the close of this elections, have mercy on us & unite us as one people in Your love & peace. May the same peace that surpasses all understanding guards our hearts & minds through Christ our Lord & Saviour. Amen