Brothers

Colossians 3:15

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. The answer is the peace of God in the heart and in the church. When a believer loses his inner peace he knows he has in some way disobeyed God.

Paul encourages the believer to “Let the peace of God rule in your hearts.” The word “rule” is an athletic term, which means, “to preside at the games and distribute the prizes.” In the Greek games, there were judges or umpires who rejected the contestants who were not qualified, and who disqualified those who broke the rules. The peace of God is the “Umpire” in the believer’s heart and in the church. When we obey the will of God, we have God’s peace within, but when we step out of His will (even unintentionally), our hearts will be troubled and not at peace with God.

We must beware of a false peace in the heart. Jonah deliberately disobeyed God, yet he was able to sleep in the bottom of the ship in a storm. Jonah 1:5, Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god, and cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it of them. But Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship; and he lay,
and was fast asleep. Just to say “I have peace about it, is not sufficient evidence that you are in the will of God. We must
pray, surrender to His will, seek His guidance in Scriptures.

The peace of heart alone is not always the peace of God. Another evidence of peace involves peace with others in the church. The nature of our relationship with God involves other believers. If we are out of the will of God, we are certain to bring discord and disharmony in the church. Jonah though he was at peace, when actually his sins created a storm! When a Christian loses the peace of God, he begins to go of in directions that are out of the will of God. He will turn to the things of the world and the flesh to compensate for his lack of peace within. He will try to escape, but he cannot escape himself! It is only when he confesses his sin, claims God’s forgiveness, and does God’s will that he experiences God’s peace within.

Finally, when a believer is happy he will be thankful. The believer out of God’s will is never found giving sincere praise
to God. When David covered up his sin he lost his peace and praise. When he confessed his sins the joy of his salvation returned. Psalms 32:1-5, “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom
the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile. When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long. For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah. I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.”

by Dennis Baker, Brotherhood President

When considering the nature of God’s providence and our role in prayer we are faced with the question of what prayer really accomplishes. If prayer has any effect on what happens, then it would seem that God’s plan is not fied in the fist place. The
other side is, if God’s plan is established and He will do what He is going to do, does it really matter whether we pray?

As we try to analyze this issue there are two important facts that most be considered: 1) Scriptures teach that God has a plan
and that plan is defiite and fied and is not subject to revision. 2) Scriptures command each of us to pray and that prayer has value. James 5:16, “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

When we examine Scripture it appears that in many cases God works in sort of a partnership with us. Jesus did not perform
any major miracles in Nazareth. He only healed a few sick people and stated that He “marvelled because of their unbelief,” Mark 6:6. Therefore, it appears that Jesus did not heal because of the lack of faith. On the other hand, the centurion bringing his request for the healing of a servant and the woman with the hemorrhage, clinging to the garment of Jesus, are examples of faith that resulted in God working. When God wills the end (in these cases, healing), He also wills the means (which includes a request to be healed). Thus, prayer does not change what He has purposed to accomplish. It is the means by which He accomplishes His will.

Prayer is more that a method of creating a positive mental attitude, so that we are able to do what we have asked God to do. Prayer is a matter of creating a right attitude with respect to God’s will. Jesus taught His disciples to pray “Your kingdom come, your will be done,” before “give us our daily bread.” Prayer is not so much about getting God to do our will as it is demonstrating that we are as concerned as God is about getting His will done.

Jesus also taught us to be persistent in prayer. It takes little faith, commitment, and effort to pray only once for
something. When we are persistent in prayer it shows that our petition is as important to us as it is to God.

We do not always receive what we ask for. Jesus prayed three times for the removal of the cup (death by crucifixion). Paul prayed three times for the removal of the thorn in his flesh, but in each case something more needful was granted. We can pray confidently, knowing that our wise and good God will gave us, not necessarily what we ask for; but what is best. Psalms 84:11,
“For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that
walk uprightly.”

by Dennis Baker, Brotherhood President