Jesus, The Prince Of Peace

And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!”  But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.

—Matthew 8:24-26

 

What was the response of the disciples to the sudden storm that came upon them on the Sea of Galilee? They were filled with fear. They saw the wind and the waves, and that their boat was in danger of sinking. Then, they saw Jesus! How could He sleep when everything around them spoke of death? Shouting above the tumult, they woke Jesus up. His response was to rebuke the winds and the waves. A great calm came, and in that calm was peace.

 

Just like the disciples, uncertainties surrounding unfamiliar or unexpected situations can cause us to fixate solely on what we perceive. We can even fixate on all the potential negative outcomes. Look at the disciples. They were fixated on the storm, and they were convinced they would die. They were in total panic while Jesus was peacefully sleeping. Our doubts can quickly become an obsession, dominating our minds and spilling over into our mouths. 

“Lord, save us,” we cry out!  “Don’t you care we are persishing?”

The words we speak are powerful. The disciples spoke fear. But Jesus spoke peace. We must choose to speak life into our circumstances because the words we speak either produce life or death (Proverbs 18:21). 

 

If we think the worst, we prepare ourselves to receive the worst. When we declare our doubts, fears, and uncertainties, we speak exactly what the enemy wants to hear. When we don’t feel peace, the enemy immediately plays it to his advantage. He acts quickly to make sure we continue to believe our issues are bigger than our God. 

 

Peace is not an emotion. It isn’t something you feel. Peace is a person. His name is Jesus. He’s the Prince of Peace, who wants to rule your heart. You don’t have to feel peace (and often you don’t) before you speak the victory that is yours in Jesus Christ. Instead, you must remain confident in who the Word declares Him to be. You must remain confident about His promises regarding your circumstances.

 

The wind and the waves appeared to be certain death. However, Jesus was the answer. When our circumstances appear to speak death, we must look inside ourselves to Jesus, the Prince of Peace, who lives in our hearts. By telling our problems how big our God is and declaring His Word, we strip our circumstances of any power to control us. We must seek the Holy Spirit’s revelation of the Word to remind us of God’s truth and promises. Through the whole process of renewing our minds, our senses are trained to discern God’s truth and align us with the Word of God. 

The Lord has made His home in you. If you have a relationship with Jesus, the Prince of Peace, you have no reason to fear. But you must invite Him into all your circumstances and expect His promise to change what you entrust to Him. Let Him be in control of your emotions, bringing your thoughts into obedience to Christ. Continually choose God’s truth over what you see or feel or what others speak.

 

Jesus speaks death to your storm and life to you. The storm that rages hears Him. Do you hear Him? Do you trust Him?

Trusting God is peace. Trust doesn’t yield to your problem. It believes God has overcome it. The disciples didn’t need to yield to their fear of the storm. They needed to believe that Jesus, who was asleep and unconcerned with the storm, already had it under control. When a person is outwardly unconcerned about his circumstances, you can be sure that Jesus, the Prince of Peace is working deep within his heart.

When Jesus is Lord of all of me, I know that He’s the Lord of all that concerns me. I think on thinks that are pure, lovely, and of good report. His perfect love casts out fear. I follow His peace. He’s my wonderful counselor, mighty God, and my everlasting Father. He’s my Prince of Peace, who rules my heart.

I Come

You remain, Lord.

In my darkest moment 

And in my deepest despair,

You speak softly, 

“Child, I love you. Come here.”

My heart, longing, aching,

And reaching, 

I come.

I come vulnerable,

Broken of self.

I give you my pain—

My loss. My rejection. My offense.

I hold nothing back.

Stripped of all pretense,

I own nothing.

You paid it all—

So I owe nothing.

There is no image to save.

No mask to hold in place. 

No perfection to maintain.

No expectation to meet.

No hindrance.

Only you, Jesus.

You in me, 

And I, in you.

Deep calling to deep,  

I draw you from 

The well within.

Your waves crash over me.

Praying what I cannot,

You finish me.

My faith takes flight,

Trusting without measure.

I am—

Not abandoned, 

I am known.

Not rejected, 

I am accepted.

Not fearful, 

I am at peace.

Free of pain and loss.

Rejection and offense,

I am filled to the fullest

Of you, Jesus. 

As a deer pants for flowing streams,
So I thirst for you, 

My Living Savior.

You satisfy my soul.

Without our fellowship,

I thirst, and I thirst

So I come, and I come.

My hope remains in you, 

My salvation and my God.

Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.

—Psalms 42:11

Come Here

The Lord longs to be gracious to you. He waits on high to have compassion on you.

—Isaiah 30:18

I have never left you.

I am that gentle stirring—

That faint kiss against your cheek—

That quiet whisper,

Waking you and lingering.

I’m your prayer from long ago,

A remembrance of closer times

When your heart beat as my own.

I wait in your darkest moment

And in your deepest despair—

Heart longing and arms reaching

Aching to hold you once again,

Speaking softly

Hoping you will hear

Child, I love you.

Come here.

The Whole Armor of God

Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.

—Ephesians 6:14-18 (ESV)

Ephesians 6:14-18 shows us how to be a winning contender in spiritual warfare. The whole armor of God powerfully overcomes powers, principalities, and all the power of the enemy. Each weapon in the armor comes from the Word of God, residing within you.

The belt of truth, like that of a Roman centurion, serves as a unifying force, holding all the armor together. By diligently reading and studying the Bible daily, believers establish the Word of God firmly in their hearts until it becomes their foundation, holding everything together in their lives.

Ephesians 4:14 says, “having fastened on the belt of truth.” 

“Fasten” means to make fast or secure (American Heritage Dictionary). “Fastened” is in the past tense in this verse, and it means something you have secured. When you’ve “fastened” on the belt of truth, you’ve disciplined and prepared yourself with the Word of God. Just as a Roman soldier once practiced and prepared for war, so too have you. 

The next is the breastplate of righteousness. As a born-again believer in Jesus Christ, you are deemed righteous and have right standing with God (2 Corinthians 5:21). Righteousness is the realization of the Holy Spirit’s revelation of the completed work of Jesus for you. As you grow wiser and more mature in your understanding of your identity in Christ, God’s love will flood your heart, making you compassionate and respectful of others’ needs.

Ephesians 5:15 says, “And, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.” 

This refers to being ready to share the message of God’s peace. You can’t do that until you’re at peace with God in your own heart. Do you know that God loves you unconditionally, and His promises are always true? Are you ready to embrace His Word, whether it’s in good times or challenging circumstances? When you are trained and prepared in God’s truth, you are prepared to take the gospel of peace into any situation.

Ephesians 5:16 continues, “In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one.” 

Ephesians 6:14-15 represents the “logos,” the written Word of God. This preparation of the Word affects the way you conduct your life. Ephesians 5:16 is the “rhema,” the spoken Word of God. When the devil tries to lie about you, steal from you, attack you with sickness, penetrate your mind, and direct your actions, this Word is your power to stand against him. The Word you’ve put in your mind and heart activates your faith for the battle that is coming. You are so full of the Word that when the attacks of the enemy come, you recognize the lie. The shield of faith prevents that lie from taking root in you. It’s snuffed out.

Ephesians 6:17 says we are to “take the helmet of salvation.” 

This helmet is our renewed mind to the Word of God. It ensures we are saved, delivered, healed, protected, thriving, and whole. You know no lie of the devil, no darkness, or ailment can come near you because you are covered by your salvation, the finished work of Jesus. You lack nothing.

Ephesians 6:17 also says we are to take “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” In Greek, “distomos” is a two-edged sword.

“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).

God’s Word, when spoken, has immense power. The spoken Word can thwart the enemy’s attempts to deceive you with lies that contradict God’s truth about you. Jesus responded to the devil in the wilderness by speaking God’s truth over each temptation (Matthew 4:4-11, Luke 4:3-12). The devil could not win against the spoken Word, declaring, “It is written.”

Finally, Ephesians 6:18 reminds us to always be aware of the enemy’s schemes, “praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.” 

Warfare manifests as demonic influence, mental depression, unforgiveness, offense, illness, or any other evil attack by the devil. His lies go on forever. But God IS your forever. His truth is always available. When you truly get into the Word, God tears down strongholds and brings life and freedom in every area of your life. He wants you to experience the joy found in winning your battles. 

The Lord loves you. He formed you. You are fearfully and wonderfully made. He wants you to know everything He has already provided for you. The only way you will know what is yours and be prepared to defend it is to know God's Word. The devil wants to steal God's promises from you, kill your faith, and destroy you. It’s time to learn what God has promised you.

 

Standing to Win

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

—Ephesians 6:10-13

The devil is working overtime, employing his cunning schemes to deceive you. He devises wicked plans to annihilate you. Satan attempts to persuade you and ensnare you. However, in Psalm 91:3, God declared that He will “defend you from the snare of the fowler.” The devil is the fowler. Knowledge of the Word is essential in your struggle against him.

Ephesians 6:12 reveals who your real opponent is and where the battle occurs. The battle is not against people or worldly things, so combat in the natural has no power. The battle is spiritual. We are engaged in a war against principalities, powers, and rulers of this dark age—against Satan and all his demonic forces. Yet, we are not defeated. God has provided us with powerful spiritual weapons that tear down the devil’s strongholds and secure our victory (2 Corinthians 10:4). But we must learn to wield these spiritual weapons effectively. 

Ephesians 6:13 says, “Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” 

“Having done all to stand” is the mindset of someone who is determined to fight and never give up. Gladiators who fought in the arena had this mental attitude and determination. Roman soldiers were mentally trained and physically prepared for battle. Each one was focused, fully prepared to stand, fight, and overcome, no matter what. 

Many believers have a fatalistic, pessimistic mindset, believing they have reached their breaking point and have exhausted all their resources. They feel that they have given everything they have, but nothing has resulted from their efforts; it seems insurmountable to them. This kind of thinking enables people to indulge in self-pity, begging God to intervene. God is not moved by our pitiful state. God is moved by our faith. People must change their thinking and beliefs to align with the Word of God. If you’re in a difficult time, know how much Jesus loves you. He loves you right now, no matter what you are going through. But God has already moved on your behalf in the gift of His Son on the cross for you. You must put your faith in Jesus’ finished work to overcome.

Ephesians 6:13 says, “that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”  

“To stand” doesn’t imply that you’ve exhausted all possibilities and, consequently, God doesn’t want you to succeed. It doesn’t mean that because you messed up, God won’t help you now. It doesn’t mean you’ve tried everything, failed, and now you must endure the consequences. This mindset contradicts the teachings of the Word of God.

“To stand” in Ephesians 6:11 speaks of being a “contender.” You are contending for the win with the supernatural assistance of Jesus. A contender goes into battle with the knowledge that he is trained and prepared. He is not just standing to endure. He is standing to win with the mindset of a gladiator. Getting into the Word is not an option. It is life or death. The Word trains, prepares, and equips you to fight “principalities, powers, and rulers of this dark age.”

You are a blood-bought, Holy-Spirit-endowed contender with access to mighty spiritual weapons that can tear down strongholds, empowering you to tread on demons and all the power of Satan’s barrage. 

The battle is not over until you win.