By Albert Friend
Let me explain just what I mean when I say we are to obey it until it clearly happens. The first thing we must do is discover the promise in God’s word about the peace of God that we need. After this, we must treat God’s promise as a seed. Next, we plant this seed in our heart and let it grow for as long as is needed for this seed to produce its fruit.
This will result in the promise becoming real in our troubled lives because we have activated the peace of God that is promised in His word. We have obeyed the word until it clearly happens. The peace of God now reigns in our heart.
Jesus explained it like this in Mark 4:26-29, “And he said, ‘So is the kingdom of God, is like a man should cast seed into the ground; And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.'”
We do not know everything that went on in our hearts when the seed was planted. We just know we have the fruit of the seed planted, “The Peace of God.”
Allow me to refer again to Philippians 4:7. “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
The peace of God will keep your hearts. The word “keep” here is the Greek word phroureo. It has these meanings:
1 To be a watcher in advance
2 To mount guard as a sentinel
3 Post spies at gates
4 To hem in
5 Protect: Keep (with a garrison).
The peace of God is doing all this for your heart and mind through Christ Jesus. This is why God’s peace passes all understanding. Don’t try to understand it. Just believe it, obey it, and teach others by your example. Reinforce and maintain your peaceful dominion.
The Early Church Maintained Their Peace By “Continuing Steadfastly”
“And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” Acts 2:42
The knowledge of how to think and act in the time of our biggest problem comes through the man, Christ Jesus. Jesus came to be a doer of the word and to give us an example for living. Study Jesus’ life and imitate Him. Do good. He is a Prince at this. He kept His peace when they all forsook Him.
You Should Teach Others How To Obey God’s Word
“Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Matthew 28:20
You are never alone in this. He is always with you and always there to help you.
Study Jesus’ life and imitate Him.
You Should Teach Others How T Observe
The Greek word for “observe” is tereo (tay-reh’-o) and has the following meanings:
1 A watch.
2 To guard (from loss or injury, properly, by keeping the eye on).
3 To prevent escaping.
4 A fortress or full military lines of apparatus.
5 To note (a prophecy; figuratively, to fulfill a command).
6 By implication, to detain (in custody; figuratively, to maintain).
7 Hold fast, keep (-er), (pre-, re-) serve, watch.
The dictionary meaning of “observe” is “To conform one’s action or practice to; comply with; as, to observe the rules.”
Observing is obeying. Meditate day and night on the verse with your promise. Stop being self conscious and release your spirit. Just speak it aloud.
“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” Philippians 4:6
Put your future in the hands of God. That is a safe and peaceful place to be. Become hidden in Christ by taking no thought about the outcome of your problem. Word your way out. Let the word do the work without interfering with it. Only believe.
The psalmist said it this way, “Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.” Psalm 27:14
Spiritual Rules Are Different
You must think spiritually! In the temporal world you can “reason” with things and think them through. But when you “reason” with your own mind in the spiritual world, you are trying to second guess what God is doing. That’s confusing. You cannot do that.
God’s plan for your life is so much bigger than you can comprehend. God has such a big picture for your life that you will never see it all. Your life in the spiritual world is to TRUST and OBEY. There is no other way.
You must trust God. Just keep walking in His promises. He is there! Obey the word completely and things will get clearer. He is ALWAYS with you!
How To Advance And Obey
This means to accept God’s promise as God’s will for your life. Delight yourself in doing His will. The obstacles will have to go. God’s promise will remain as long as you do not allow the cares of this life to choke the word.
“And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.” Mark 4:19
“Casting all your care on him; for he careth for you.” 1 Peter 5:7
Do not be concerned that you are not getting your way because He is looking out for you. Think like a child. Tell yourself, “My father will take care of this.”
Observe the rules. Conform to the rules. Comply with the rules. Guard your peaceful dominion with His peace.
Use These Affirmation Confessions
“I have kept My Father’s commandments.” John 15:8-11
“I delight to do thy will, 0 my God: yea, thy law is in my heart.” Psalm 40:8
“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth with sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.” Psalm 1:1-2
“Encourage me to go in thy commandments; for in it do I delight.” Psalm 119:35
“Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live: for thy law is my delight.” Psalm 119:77
“But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD that exercise loving kindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.” Jeremiah 9:24
“I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man.” Romans 7:21-22
This article “Obey Until It Happens” written by Albert Friend is excerpted from his book The Peace Of God.
