SHEEP IN THE WORD MINISTRIES Rev. Robert C. Lewis Glendale Baptist Church Houston, Texas quicknotes.org 1999

INNER PEACE Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all! (2 Thessalonians 3:16)

CONTINUAL PEACE

it's possible to have peace of mind in every circumstance of life (2 Thessalonians 3:16) it's possible to have peace of mind in every circumstance of life (2 Thessalonians 3:16)

"continually" (of time, lit. 'through every time') and "in every circumstance" (of place, lit. 'in every turn') suggest a continual, uninterrupted mental peace—in good times and in bad "continually" (of time, lit. 'through every time') and "in every circumstance" (of place, lit. 'in every turn') suggest a continual, uninterrupted mental peace—in good times and in bad

this inner peace is available anytime, anywhere, day in, day out, in every situation of life (with temporary setbacks, of course) this inner peace is available anytime, anywhere, day in, day out, in every situation of life (with temporary setbacks, of course)

APPLICATIONAPPLICATION Are you at peace with yourself? Or are you always angry, fearful, worrying? Is a war raging in your mind? What can I do to have perfect peace of mind? Are you at peace with yourself? Or are you always angry, fearful, worrying? Is a war raging in your mind? What can I do to have perfect peace of mind?

FOR ALL

inner peace is available to all Christians (2 Thessalonians 3:16) inner peace is available to all Christians (2 Thessalonians 3:16) Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all! (2 Thessalonians 3:16)

"may give" expresses a possibility or obtainable wish (optative mood)—implying some doubt or uncertainty (cf. Romans 15:13) "may give" expresses a possibility or obtainable wish (optative mood)—implying some doubt or uncertainty (cf. Romans 15:13) Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all! (2 Thessalonians 3:16) Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all! (2 Thessalonians 3:16)

Paul's desire was for every person in the church to have continual inner peace no matter what difficulties they faced Paul's desire was for every person in the church to have continual inner peace no matter what difficulties they faced

even though this peace was available to everyone, the apostle knew many believers in the church would never experience it even though this peace was available to everyone, the apostle knew many believers in the church would never experience it

FROM JESUS CHRIST

inner peace comes from the Lord (2 Thessalonians 3:16) inner peace comes from the Lord (2 Thessalonians 3:16) Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all! (2 Thessalonians 3:16) Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all! (2 Thessalonians 3:16)

the Lord Jesus Christ continually gives His own perfect peace of mind to Christians the Lord Jesus Christ continually gives His own perfect peace of mind to Christians

if peace is continually given, then peace of mind is always available in all the various circumstances of life—no matter how difficult if peace is continually given, then peace of mind is always available in all the various circumstances of life—no matter how difficult

FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT

inner peace comes from the indwelling Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22) inner peace comes from the indwelling Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law (Galatians 5:22–23).

peace of mind is a fruit of the Spirit and is the natural result of walking in the Spirit (cf. Galatians 5:16) peace of mind is a fruit of the Spirit and is the natural result of walking in the Spirit (cf. Galatians 5:16) But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh (Galatians 5:16).

FROM THE BIBLE

inner peace comes from a knowledge of God's Word (2 Peter 1:2) inner peace comes from a knowledge of God's Word (2 Peter 1:2) Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence (2 Peter 1:2–3).

en ('through') is a preposition of means indicating what must be done for inner peace to be multiplied to you— Bible study en ('through') is a preposition of means indicating what must be done for inner peace to be multiplied to you— Bible study

inner peace is proportional to how much you know about God and His Son—the more you know, the more peace you'll have inner peace is proportional to how much you know about God and His Son—the more you know, the more peace you'll have

learn all you can about God (attributes, will, desires, commands, promises) and the person and work of Jesus Christ learn all you can about God (attributes, will, desires, commands, promises) and the person and work of Jesus Christ

inner peace is an obtainable wish (optative mood)—it's possible for your peace to multiply from a few minutes to hours a day inner peace is an obtainable wish (optative mood)—it's possible for your peace to multiply from a few minutes to hours a day May grace and peace be multiplied ( plhqu/nw ‘to increase greatly in number or extent’) to you through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord’ (RCL);

note the implied promise in this verse: your peace of mind will increase by leaps and bounds (not added but multiplied) as you learn the Bible note the implied promise in this verse: your peace of mind will increase by leaps and bounds (not added but multiplied) as you learn the Bible May grace and peace be multiplied ( plhqu/nw ‘to increase greatly in number or extent’) to you through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord’ (RCL);

FROM THE PROMISES OF GOD

inner peace comes from believing God's promises (Romans 15:13) inner peace comes from believing God's promises (Romans 15:13) Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing ( e˙n twˆ◊ pisteu/ein ), that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13).

the preposition en ('through') introduces the means or mechanics by which mental peace is acquired—by claiming the promises of the Bible the preposition en ('through') introduces the means or mechanics by which mental peace is acquired—by claiming the promises of the Bible

for example, claiming the promise "casting all your care upon him" (1 Peter 5:7) provides inner peace because you're no longer worried about your problems for example, claiming the promise "casting all your care upon him" (1 Peter 5:7) provides inner peace because you're no longer worried about your problems

FROM PRAYER

inner peace comes from prayer (Philippians 4:6–7) inner peace comes from prayer (Philippians 4:6–7) Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6– 7).

these verses are cause and effect: first you pray (6) and then you receive the peace of God (7) these verses are cause and effect: first you pray (6) and then you receive the peace of God (7) (6) Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (7) And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

peace in testing (loss, suffering, tragedy, persecution) is beyond human comprehension— most are angry, afraid, or worried peace in testing (loss, suffering, tragedy, persecution) is beyond human comprehension— most are angry, afraid, or worried

God's peace stands guard at your heart's door to keep worries out, to keep them from coming in and stealing your peace— of guards who keep people in (ethnarch of Damascus put guards at the city gates to keep Paul from escaping, 2 Corinthians 11:32–33) or keep people out (Josephus stationed guards along the roads to keep couriers out of Galilee, Josephus, Life 240) God's peace stands guard at your heart's door to keep worries out, to keep them from coming in and stealing your peace— of guards who keep people in (ethnarch of Damascus put guards at the city gates to keep Paul from escaping, 2 Corinthians 11:32–33) or keep people out (Josephus stationed guards along the roads to keep couriers out of Galilee, Josephus, Life 240)

inner peace perpetuates itself by keeping worries out: peace of mind is so wonderful you simply won't let anything spoil it inner peace perpetuates itself by keeping worries out: peace of mind is so wonderful you simply won't let anything spoil it

LESSONS FOR LIVING

Peace of mind comes from (1) Jesus Christ, (2) the Holy Spirit, (3) a knowledge of the Bible, (4) claiming promises, and (5) prayer

SHEEP IN THE WORD MINISTRIES Rev. Robert C. Lewis Glendale Baptist Church Houston, Texas quicknotes.org 1999