Personal Matters

This is one of the most difficult teachings I have ever written, because Jesus has been teaching ‘ME’ that my personal estimation of my spirituality has been way above his (Rom 12:3). I am sensing the fear of the LORD perhaps more strongly than ever, and recognising at a very deep level that I really don’t have any control over my own life (1 Cor 6:19-20). I shouldn’t have been so surprised at what has happened in the last few days, after all my last article, Transparent ‘ME’, ended with a prayer for open confession.  This was a prayer God certainly heard, for a set of otherwise trivial circumstances united under his sovereignty in a way that saw my emotions spiralling out of control. I needed to take responsibility before God and my wife for a deep well of anger that had been repressed for decades. As I prayed about this however I became very aware that the root problem was not the anger at her comments but concealing a trivial mistake from her[1]. The sinful events that followed were built on a foundational act of hiding the truth.  This one seemingly small act of cover up drew the strong discipline of the Father because it obscured the revelation of Christ to my wife (Heb 12:5-11). Behind the anger and the cover up was the sin of fear and unbelief.

The Rule of Peace

As I was out praying about these things I clearly sensed Jesus appearing the midst of a fear-filled room of disciples. Here is the original story:

“On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”” (John 20:19-23) The power of Jesus peace-filled presence dissolved the disciples’ fears and filled them with delight. Christ’s peace has always had the power to rule in every circumstance.

When Jesus was taken by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tested by the devil he was filled with God’s peace because this was another step on the way of righteousness (Matt 3:15; 4:1). In driving out a legion of demons empowering a possessed man to break even iron chains the presence of the kingdom of God stilled Christ’s heart (Mark 5:1-13; Matt 12:28). In a midst of a violent storm the Lord slept peacefully (Matt 8:24). Though his enemies tried to violently kill him he placidly walked through their midst (Luke 4:30; John 8:59). Even on trial before Pilate for his life Christ possessed an amazing stillness (Mark 15:5). Jesus was always at peace because he knew that his life was always in the hands of his all-loving Father. The cross is the great exception to this truth.

Jesus terrible cry of dereliction, ““My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34) reveals the time when the revelation of the righteousness of God is concealed by the all consuming wrath of God against our sin (cf. Rom 1:17-18). Jesus however never abandoned his faith in the justice of his Father, and as such has been raised from the dead into God’s kingdom realm of eternal joy and peace (Heb 12:2). The appearance of risen Christ to his terrified disciples in their locked room was a gracious manifestation of the Father’s gift of unconquerable peace to his resurrected Son (John 20:19, 21). Jesus words, “Peace be with you.” are a transmission of an unconquerable peace (John 14:27).

There are no circumstances where the heavenly Lord ceases to retain this peace in the depths of his heart for he has authority in all things (Matt 28:18; 1 Cor 15:27). Jesus is simultaneously the wrathful Lamb to his enemies and the Prince of Peace for his persecuted Bride (Rev 6:16; Isa 9:6). If Jesus is Lord of all our circumstances (Acts 10:36) why then do we lose our peace? I can only offer the answer which I believe the Lord has given me.

Discipline of the Father

Paul’s statement, “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” (Rom 14:17) teaches us that the God’s kingly righteousness has priority over all of our creature comforts. When confronted with painful circumstances we are called to believe that we remain within the sovereign and just will of an all-loving Father (Rom 8:28). In the midst of such trials the divine discipline is “painful” but when accepted by faith “later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” (Heb 12:11). Acceptance and trust of the sovereign righteousness of God will always bring forth peace, and peace will overflow into joy (John 20:19-20). To submit to the peace of the risen Lord is a command, no matter what our circumstances. “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.” (Col 3:15; cf. Phil 4:4-7; 1 Thess 5:18)

Rooms of Fear

Prophetically I see people like many rooms full of fear. There is the room of a less than Peaceful ‘ME’, the troubled lives of so many Christian friends, I see church meetings with little of no consciousness of the storm stilling Christ in the midst (Rev 1:12-13), I see school rooms and offices, pubs and clubs full of folk frightened of rejection, failure and exclusion from their peer group (cf. John 12:42-43). The revival of which I have spoken so much recently, breaking out in homes, schools, offices, factories, shops, clinics, court rooms, studios and all the spheres of culture, will come when there is a manifestation of Christ the peace bearer and proclaimer of forgiveness in our midst (John 20:21-22).

Conclusion

I have not called this article simply Peaceful ‘ME’ but Peaceful ‘ME’: a Journey, because I feel like another episode in my life with Jesus has only just begun. How humbling this is for a Christian of 40 years! This article does not end with a plea for us to pray for some alteration in our lives. Rather it is time to ask Jesus to sovereignly appear in the midst of our fears It is his Word alone, “Peace be with you.” that can fill our hearts with faith and confidence whatever may befall us. I sense something more, I sense the Lord of peace issuing an invitation, “Let’s go fishing together”. If I am right in hearing this a net filled of converts from all the nations of the world is coming soon (cf. John 20:21-23; 21:4-14).Will you join ‘ME’ as I seek to walk with Jesus on this journey over which he alone is Lord?