Living Free by Beth Moore
Lesson 5:Experiencing God's Peace

The Key To Peace
What key(s) do you have with you today? Where do these keys allow you to enter? __________________________________________
Today, we will explore the key that allows a person to enter into God's peace.
May the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you. (2 Thessalonians 3:16)
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14:27)
To us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)
Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over His kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.
(Isaiah 9:7)
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts; since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. (Colossians 3:15)
You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.
(Isaiah 26:3)
The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever. (Isaiah 32:17)
He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him. (Isaiah 53:5)
This is what the Lord says-your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go. If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the waves of the sea. (Isaiah 48:17-18)
Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and His disciples followed Him. On reaching the place, He said to them, "Pray that you will not fall into temptation." He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed. "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." An angel from heaven appeared to Him and strengthened Him. And being in anguish, He prayed more earnestly and His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. (Luke 22:41-44)
After having read these scripture passages, what might be a common denominator? ______________________________
Words like: reign, government, and trust may give a hint
The key to peace is authority.
When we allow the Prince of Peace to govern our lives, peace ultimately results. Peace accompanies authority.
Why is who God is and what He does give Him the right to ask us to submit to His authority? ___________________________________
This is what the Lord says-your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.
(Isaiah 48:17)
What titles for God were mentioned? __________________________
God has a right to all authority because _________________________
He is God, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, the supreme Author of all existence. He reigns over all and in Him all things exist. He is Lord, the Master and Owner of all living creatures. He is the Covenant Maker and Keeper. He is holy. As Lord, He will never ask anything of us that is not right, good, and open to the light. He is perfect and undefiled. Lastly, He is Redeemer, the One who bought us from sin's slave master so that we could experience abundant life. He bought us to set us free.
"What, then, shall we say in response to this?" If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31)
Why do we often experience more peace in very difficult times than in the minor annoyances of life? ______________________________________________
Yielding to God's authority is the key to peace.
WHY SO RELUCTANT?
What kinds of situations threaten your peace? ________________
Many times we face situations that seem to roll over us, like a powerful river of rapids. Our image is skewed. We have the image reversed. God's peace is the river. The obstacles of life cannot stand against the power of God's river of peace.
Peace like a River
1. A river is a moving stream of water. _________________
Why doesn't the Bible say that peace is like a pond? ___________________
Does the word peace=boring?
To have peace like a river is to have security and tranquility while meeting the many bumps and unexpected turns on life's journey. Peace is submission to a trustworthy Authority, not resignation from activity.
Security in the Middle of Life's Turmoil
2. A river is a body of fresh water fed by springs or tributary streams. __________
An Active, Ongoing Relationship with Christ
3. A river begins and ends with a body of water. ___________________
Staying Connected to My Source
Explain: The path to peace is paved with knee-prints.
OVERCOMING FEELING UNLOVED

• Even the most outwardly confident people we know have insecurities.
• Minor insecurities are nothing more than occasional challenges.
• When life erupts like a volcano, insecurity turns into panic.

AGREE/DISAGREE: The fear or the feeling of being unloved is our greatest source of insecurity.

What a man desires is unfailing love; better to be poor than a liar. (Proverbs 19:22)

This verse means ____________________________.

Our human tendency is to stockpile belongings to satisfy a cavernous need in our souls.

Each of us craves a lust that is unconditional, unwavering, radical, demonstrative, broader than the horizon, deeper than the sea. The Bible uses the phrase "unfailing love" at least 32 times. None of them refers to any source other than God Himself.

Searching for perfect, unfailing love in anyone else is fruitless, disappointing, and destructive.

Oswald Chambers: "No love of the natural heart is safe unless the human heart has been satisfied by God first."

AGREE/DISAGREE: We desperately need to be loved.

We are wrong to think we can make anyone love us the way we need to be loved. Only God's love never fails.

THE OBSTACLE OF PRAYERLESSNESS

Avoiding prayer is a sure prescription for anxiety, a certain way to avoid peace.

We often do everything but pray. We tend to want to do something more substantial...study the Bible, go to church, talk to a Christian friend, or get counsel.

We face a lot of "big stuff" in our lives. Only through prayer are we washed in peace.

ONE WAY TO PEACE

Something in us makes us want to be our own boss. We don't want to need anybody. God never intended for us to be this way. He created us to be loved and to be in relationship with Him. Satan is the author of the "be strong" and "be independent" philosophy.

The Spirit of God released through our prayers and the prayers of others turns cowards into conquerors, chaos into calm, cries into comfort.

Use Psalm 86 to pray.