FAITH COMES BY HEARING

 

Romans 10:15-“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the GOSPEL OF PEACE, Who bring glad tidings of good things!”

But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” 17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

 

When someone preaches the Word of God or we read it, we learn about what Jesus said He has and would do.  By that we obtain faith. That is why the person that brings the Good News is blessed because he is bringing more warriors into the army of God!  He is a messenger of PEACE, faith and grace to all those who are lost!  

 

HOLY SPIRIT AS OUR HELPER 

 

John 14:25- “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.27 PEACE I leave with you; my PEACE I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.28 You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. 30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, 31 but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.

 

When we study the word of God, the Holy Spirit is sent to be our helper, to give us understanding in all the things Jesus did on the cross and what He said He would do.

 

I would also like to suggest that the Gospel of Peace has double prophetic fulfillment as there is an everlasting covenant of PEACE that is promised to be established in the millenium.  This is a time when God's children will not fear for their safety anymore and they will live at ease with Christ reigning physically among them.  Some people suggest this was fulfilled when Christ died on the cross, but I feel the passages that talk about this PEACE definitely suggest a physical meaning more than a spiritual one.  Either way, both gopels (which just means good news) are of a time of PEACE for those that believe.

 

Let's look at a few verses that speak of a physical PEACE in the millenial reign...

 

GOD'S COVENANT OF PEACE IN THE MILLENIUM

 

God Redeems Jerusalem

Isaiah 52:7- How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings GOOD NEWS, who proclaims PEACE, who brings glad tidings of good things, who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns!” 8 Your watchmen shall lift up their voices, with their voices they shall sing together; for they shall see eye to eye when the Lord brings back Zion. 9 Break forth into joy, sing together, you waste places of Jerusalem! For the Lord has comforted His people, He has redeemed Jerusalem. 10 The Lord has made bare His holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.

 

A Perpetual Covenant of PEACE

Isaiah 54:9- “For this is like the waters of Noah to Me; for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah would no longer cover the earth, So have I sworn that I would not be angry with you, nor rebuke you. 10 For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, but My kindness shall not depart from you, nor shall My covenant of PEACE be removed,” says the Lord, who has mercy on you.

 

11 “O you afflicted one, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay your stones with colorful gems, and lay your foundations with sapphires. 12 I will make your pinnacles of rubies, your gates of crystal, and all your walls of precious stones. 13 All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the PEACE of your children. 14 In righteousness you shall be established; you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; and from terror, for it shall not come near you. 15 Indeed they shall surely assemble, but not because of Me. Whoever assembles against you shall fall for your sake.

 

16 “Behold, I have created the blacksmith who blows the coals in the fire, who brings forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the spoiler to destroy. 17 No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from Me,” says the Lord.

 

God's Wrath on His Enemies

Nahum 1:7-15 The Lord is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble; And He knows those who trust in Him. But with an overflowing flood He will make an utter end of its place, And darkness will pursue His enemies. What do you conspire against the Lord? He will make an utter end of it. Affliction will not rise up a second time. For while tangled like thorns, And while drunken like drunkards, They shall be devoured like stubble fully dried. From you comes forth one Who plots evil against the Lord, A wicked counselor. Thus says the Lord: “Though they are safe, and likewise many, Yet in this manner they will be cut down When he passes through.  Though I have afflicted you, I will afflict you no more; For now I will break off his yoke from you, And burst your bonds apart.” The Lord has given a command concerning you: “Your name shall be perpetuated no longer. Out of the house of your gods I will cut off the carved image and the molded image. I will dig your grave, For you are vile.”

 

Behold, on the mountains The feet of him who brings good tidings, Who proclaims PEACE! O Judah, keep your appointed feasts, Perform your vows. For the wicked one shall no more pass through you; He is utterly cut off.

 

God the True Shepherd

Ezekiel 34:20- ‘Therefore thus says the Lord God to them: “Behold, I Myself will judge between the fat and the lean sheep. 21 Because you have pushed with side and shoulder, butted all the weak ones with your horns, and scattered them abroad, 22 therefore I will save My flock, and they shall no longer be a prey; and I will judge between sheep and sheep. 23 I will establish one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them—My servant David. He shall feed them and be their shepherd. 24 And I, the Lord, will be their God, and My servant David a prince among them; I, the Lord, have spoken.

 

25 “I will make a covenant of PEACE with them, and cause wild beasts to cease from the land; and they will dwell safely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods. 26 I will make them and the places all around My hill a blessing; and I will cause showers to come down in their season; there shall be showers of blessing. 27 Then the trees of the field shall yield their fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase. They shall be safe in their land; and they shall know that I am the Lord, when I have broken the bands of their yoke and delivered them from the hand of those who enslaved them. 28 And they shall no longer be a prey for the nations, nor shall beasts of the land devour them; but they shall dwell safely, and no one shall make them afraid. 29 I will raise up for them a garden of renown, and they shall no longer be consumed with hunger in the land, nor bear the shame of the Gentiles anymore. 30 Thus they shall know that I, the Lord their God, am with them, and they, the house of Israel, are My people,” says the Lord God.’

 

One Kingdom, One King

Ezekiel 37:24 “David My servant shall be king over them, and they shall all have one shepherd; they shall also walk in My judgments and observe My statutes, and do them. 25 Then they shall dwell in the land that I have given to Jacob My servant, where your fathers dwelt; and they shall dwell there, they, their children, and their children’s children, forever; and My servant David shall be their prince forever. 26 Moreover I will make a covenant of PEACE with them, and it shall be an everlasting covenant with them; I will establish them and multiply them, and I will set My sanctuary in their midst forevermore. 27 My tabernacle also shall be with them; indeed I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 28 The nations also will know that I, the Lord, sanctify Israel, when My sanctuary is in their midst forevermore.”’”

 

The Lord Vindicates Zion

Isaiah 66:10-13 “Rejoice with Jerusalem, And be glad with her, all you who love her; Rejoice for joy with her, all you who mourn for her; That you may feed and be satisfied With the consolation of her bosom, That you may drink deeply and be delighted With the abundance of her glory.” For thus says the Lord: “Behold, I will extend PEACE to her like a river, And the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream. Then you shall feed; On her sides shall you be carried, And be dandled on her knees. As one whom his mother comforts, So I will comfort you; And you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.”

 

I really get excited when I think about the day our Lord comes to redeem us and save us! His promises speak of a deep love and compassion for His children. This is something as a parent I can understand, because even though my kids can be rebellious and down right naughty, I long to bless them and reward them in every way possible.  How do you feel about the Lord's promises of PEACE? How does this change the way you think about tough times you go through and chaos in the world today?  Does it help you to worry less?  I know that reading these promises definitely help me to think differently and be at PEACE when all things around me seem to be falling apart.  Here is a verse that I like to remember in those moments:

 

John 16:33- I have said these things to you, that in me you may have PEACE. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

 

So even though there will be trouble all around us, we have the GOSPEL of PEACE that will EQUIP us to be strong and fearless, knowing that Jesus has promised all these things. When we know what He has done for us already and that He will conquer our enemies and redeem us, we can act BOLDLY and stand our ground! Who would have thought PEACE could be a great way to battle the enemy?!