"Seek God: NOT Things! Session 8 Part 2 - B-1-1. John 14:1,27; Philippians 4:6-7 & Two Kinds of Peace"

[Dr. Dorothy E. Hooks, PsyD]

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II. Main Scriptures: Matthew 6:25-34; John 14:1,27; Philippians 4:6-7; 1 Peter 5:6-7:

B-1-1. John 14:1,27; Philippians 4:6-7 – Session 8 – We saw what Jesus had to say about worry, in Matthew 6:25-34; “…Do not worry about your life…”

Now, let’s see what Jesus says about our heart being troubled, in John 14:1,27. But before we study John 14:1,27, let’s look at the kinds of peace that are available to us in the New Testament; so, we can understand the context in which peace is being used in John 14:1,27 and Philippians 4:6-7. I know Jesus is the Prince of Peace and He gave us His peace, but we must know, what context we are using Jesus’ peace in; you will understand it better, once I get into the explanation of the kinds of peace. However, ALWAYS, ask Holy Spirit, to give you understanding of anyone’s teaching and He will!

II. Main Scriptures: Matthew 6:25-34; John 14:1,27; Philippians 4:6-7; 1 Peter 5:6-7:

B-1-1. “Two Kinds of Peace” – Session 8 – According to John MacArthur in his teaching, “The Gift of Peace,” under the subtopic of “The Nature of Peace,” there are two kinds of peace (or operations of peace), in the New Testament. This is what John MacArthur said:

“The New Testament speaks of two kinds of peace—the objective peace that has to do with your relationship to God, and the subjective peace that has to do with your experience in life. The natural man lacks peace with God. We all come into the world fighting against God, because we are a part of the rebellion that started with Adam and Eve. Romans 5:10 says we were enemies of God. We fought against God, and everything we did militated against His principles.

But when we receive Jesus Christ, we cease being enemies of God—we make a truce with Him. We come over to His side, and the hostility is ended. Jesus Christ wrote the treaty with the blood of His cross. That treaty, that bond, that covenant of peace declares the objective fact that we now are at peace with Him.

Romans 5:1 says, "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God." We who trust Christ are redeemed and declared righteous by faith. Our sins are forgiven, rebellion ceases, the war is over, and we have peace with God. That was God's wonderful purpose in salvation.

Colossians 1:20-22 says that Christ "made peace through the blood of His cross.... And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach."

But Jesus is not talking about objective peace in John 14:27. The peace He speaks of here is a subjective, experiential peace. It is tranquility of the soul, a settled, positive peace that affects the circumstances of life. It is peace that is aggressive; rather than being victimized by events, it attacks them and gobbles them up.”

Click here for PDF version of "Seek God" Session 8 Part 2 B-1-1

Click here for PDF version of "Seek God" Sessions 1-7

God's Blessings,

Dr. Dorothy E. Hooks