1. WHAT IS THE NATURE OF PEACE ON EARTH ?

Isaiah 32:18 And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places;

A. OUR DWELLING IN A PEACEABLE HABITATION….

THIS INCLUDES OUR COMMUNITY. SECURE HOUSES. SAFE FROM BURGLARS AND THIEVES. INCLUDING POLITICAL TYRANTS. QUIET RESTING PLACES. HOME IS A PLACE WHERE THERE IS REST AND QUIET.

This is hard to do when parents make their children the lords of the manor. There is no rest, no quiet. They train them to go to school, but say they can’t make them learn how to go outside or to their rooms. Instead the children are the ones making the decisions about what will be done and when and the parents do all in their power to keep them from pitching fits and give in to their every demand.

B. SPIRITUALLY SENSITIVE PEOPLE WHO ARE CARING CHRISTIANS ARE AFFECTED BY THE CONDITION OF THE WORLD.

BUT, THEY MUST NOT FALL INTO THE DEPRESSION OF JEREMIAH, WHO SAID HE WOULD NO LONGER PREACH IN THE NAME OF GOD.

Jeremiah 4:19 My bowels, my bowels! I am pained at my very heart; my heart maketh a noise in me; I cannot hold my peace, because thou hast heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war.

2. GOD CAN CREATE A PEACEFUL ATMOSPHERE TO LIVE IN.

A. PEACEABLE COMMUNITIES ARE RUINED WHEN THE JUDGMENT OF GOD COMES. THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT INDIVIDUAL HOMES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY CAN’T HAVE PEACE.

B. GOD CAN TAKE WAY THE PEACE THAT WAS ONCE THERE BECAUSE OF HIS JUDGMENT AGAINST THE SINS OF THE COMMUNITY.

Jeremiah 25:37 And the peaceable habitations are cut down because of the fierce anger of the LORD.

PARENTS ARGUING AND FIGHTING ARE TYPICALLY WHAT MAKE GOD’S ANGER COME DOWN. BECAUSE THEY FIGHT, NOT OVER WHAT IS IMPORTANT AND SEEK GOD’S WILL, BUT THEY FIGHT OVER SELFISH AND PERSONAL WANTS FOR THEMSELVES. THIS BRINGS THE ANGER OF THE LORD.

C. GOD CAN TAKE AWAY THE PEACE BECAUSE OF THE CHASTENING BROUGHT UPON HIS OWN CHILDREN.

Hebrews 12:11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

D. A PEACEFUL COMMUNITY HAS RESPONSIBILITIES ATTACHED.

WE CAN BE GIVEN PEACE THROUGH GOD’S WORKING IN GOVERNMENT WHEN WE PRAY FOR THEM FAITHFULLY.

1 Timothy 2:2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

3. THERE IS A TRUE SPIRITUAL PEACE.

A. IF A PERSON IS NOT SPIRITUALLY MINDED,–EVEN THOUGH SAVED–THEY CANNOT APPRECIATE THIS FULLY.

SOMETIMES, THEY CAN’T EVEN RECOGNIZE IT.

1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

SELFISH PEOPLE USUALLY DO NOT HAVE PEACE UNLESS THEY ARE GETTING THEIR OWN WAY. A CHRISTIAN WITH THE PEACE OF GOD CAN HAVE PEACE EVEN UNDER CONDITIONS WHERE THEY DO NOT SEE THEIR WAY BEING CARRIED OUT.

B. THERE IS A PEACE STRONGER AND BETTER THAN PEACEFUL SURROUNDINGS.

Isaiah 54:10 For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but My kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of My peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee.

C. WE CAN SEEK THE WISDOM OF GOD WHICH IS PEACEABLE.

James 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

D. MERCY AND LOVINGKINDNESS ARE INGREDIENTS OF PEACE FROM GOD.

Jeremiah 16:5 For thus saith the LORD, Enter not into the house of mourning, neither go to lament nor bemoan them: for I have taken away my peace from this people, saith the LORD, even lovingkindness and mercies.

PEACEABLE