Surpassing Peace

4 days ago

4 min read

As we conclude this week of receiving newness on what is for many, a passage that is old, in terms of how used it is and how long we have known it, I hold it once more before you.

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 understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4: 6 - 7.

We now conclude with the final point of Paul’s declaration notice concerning praying, when one is anxious. As was being done, we apply this final point also to Moses, God’s liberator and leader of the Israelites, chosen nation of God, in a deeply frightening and upsetting time. God is red-hot angry with His beloved people, because of their unmasked and unhidden idolatry and adultery. Let us not wane in exercising our faith, as we continue to receive living, present and needed newness concerning Paul’s declaration notice.

Point three: You are to know the peace of God that will guard your hearts and minds, through Christ Jesus. It is peace that surpasses all understanding.

The peace of God is the response of God to your prayer and supplication. The peace of God is the unconquerable power that brings you peace from your anxiety. The peace of God is the unfailing promise to remove your worry and fears. The peace of God brings you to deep praise and thanks as only comes through the aid of the Holy Spirit. It is the peace that guards your once anxious, worried and fearing heart and mind. The question is this. Does Moses receive this peace? O yes! Indeed he does! The declaration notice given by Paul concerning prayer is true, as convincingly proven with Moses. After Moses’ supplication for God’s idolatrous people, this is what we are told. So the LORD relented from the harm which He said He would do to His people. Exodus 32: 14. I ask you, hasn’t this move of God, this response of God to Moses’ prayer and supplication brought him peace, the kind of which not even Moses dreamt of?

Believer, whatever is your anxiety, by prayer and supplication, you can tell it all to God. Is this not heart and mind-soothing, to know that God will hear you and grant you His peace, which surpasses all your understanding?

Pause for a bit here. Before us is, man and God, created and Creator, servant and Master. God, in His unarguable Will, Wisdom and Way, has humbled Himself so low, stooped down so low, we humans can have a relationship with Him that is second to none. God communicates with humans so fully, so freely and so richly that we learn to communicate with Him also. Is this not, in itself, peace-bringing, peace-binding and peace-bearing? Is it not reassuring and comforting to know that this is an open declaration notice to all who believe and are facing present anxieties?

There is one more truth to be declared to us in this time of praying and supplicating. It has already been noted that Moses was alone in this. Moses is praying for God’s people whom God is about to destroy, as the Lord’s wrath boils hot against them. Moses is in fervent prayer to God for them, but where are the people of God? What are they doing?

They are steeped in sin, worshipping the Golden Calf which Priest Aaron had cast, at their command. They are offering burnt and peace offerings to that evil idol, rejoicing, dancing and singing songs. Moses is in earnest, deep, prayer and supplication to the One True God, who is about to kill these people and there they are, merrily singing and worshipping an idol. So it was, as soon as he came near the camp, that he saw the calf and the dancing. Exodus 32: 19a.

Dear believer, if you have been called to supplicate for brothers and sisters in Christ, even if they are not mindful of what you are doing, keep to your mission of prayer with thanksgiving. Though you are before God in deep supplication, seeking their lives and they are living their lives in utter wretchedness, keep to your mission of prayer with thanksgiving. Though you fear God on their behalf and they are stiffed-necked, not showing any fear for God, stick to your prayer mission. Keep your focus on your Just and Forgiving God and not on His unjust and disobedient people. You do not have to have the people’s permission, opinion or presence even, for you to go to God on their behalf.

Just as the declaration notice concerning prayer was boldly issued by Paul, servant of God, and just as in like manner, it was convincingly proven in Moses, may the same be done in you, servant of God.

And now, making this declaration more personal, I say this to you, fellow believer. May you 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 understanding will guard your heart and mind through Christ Jesus.