The peace of God

Isaiah 26 verses 1 - 12
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” verse 3

A promise from God - not a feel good verse but from the heart of God to you personally. It is the mind that is the subject of our verse.

The mind is polluted. Matthew Henry the Bible commentator said “the mind is the acting ruling part of us.” Proverbs 4 verse 23 “keep thy heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life.” When was the mind polluted? “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” Genesis 6 verse 5 “From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it.” Isaiah 1 verse 6 In the middle of the summer if you look at a lovely crystal flowing stream it is beautiful. Flowing down through the mountains giving life, sustaining life to so many creatures but if some way in the distance a chemical leak got into that stream it would not be long until it was polluted. That is what happened in Genesis 3. There was no flaw in the creation of God when man was created. Perhaps Satan was reminded of what he once was before he tried to exhalt himself. Satan tricked Eve into taking of the fruit then tricked her husband into also eating too. Evil and wickedness entered into this world. Man fell from the peace God had given him. Man no longer had fellowship with God. He was not contaminated with sin. Romans 8 verse 7 “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” Man is a pleasure profit seeking thing, bears no thought for God at all, separated from God for all eternity. Romans 1 verse 21 “Because that when they knew God they glorified him not as God neither were thankful but became vain in their imagination and their foolish heart was darkened …Wherefore God also gave them up.” Paul writing to Titus said of the human race “even their mind and conscience is defiled.” (chapter 1 vese 15). Our minds are polluted.

The mind is blinded. 2 Corinthians 4 verse 4 “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not.” Satan got man to fall from grace, to look away from God. If that was not bad enough what else does he do? Blinds our minds to the things of God. The devil doesn’t want the message or light of the gospel to shine in you that you might be saved. The glorious light of the gospel cannot shine in our hearts. Why? Because the devil is there to block it. Remember the parable of the sower. The sower scattered the seed onto the ground. The fowls of the air came down and took the seed away. If you have been saved what a tremendous responsibility we have to our family, friends, neighbours and community. Jesus came down to seek and to save that which was lost. The devil tries to take the word of God we hear in Sunday School, in youth meetings, in the Sunday morning services. Blinds us to the fact that Jesus died for us, that we can be saved if we trust him. Look at the people God saved in the Bible including Saul of Tarsus.

The mind is also hardened. Remember in Daniel chapter 5 there was a young prince called Belshazzar. He decided to hold a great feast and invited 1000 of his lords. Just as they were enjoying themselves there came the writing on the wall of a man’s hand. Daniel was brought in. He rebuked the young man for not learning the lessons from his father. Have we learned any lessons in our lifetime? God brings us certain ways to teach us things. Nebuchadnezzar had been spoken to by Daniel. At the end of his life he looked around and thought he had gained his kingdom by his own power. When his heart was lifted up his mind was hardened. This young prince was making the same mistakes - everything he had was given to him by God alone. God who gave him the ability and power now hardened his heart and mind with pride. Our minds can be hardened. Everything you have today is from God - our food, clothes, home and health all is from him.

That mind can be changed. It can be renewed. What is required? We must present ourselves to the working of the Holy Spirit. We cannot do anything of ourselves. “And that ye put on the new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” Ephesians 4 verse 24 The new man is presented to us but we have got to put him on too. Is there something in our hearts and minds missing - the blessing of God? It is a blockage - doesn’t allow the peace of God to flow into your heart. When the mind is changed we can centre it on God, can enjoy the peace God has for us.

The mind needs protection. Ephesians 6 verse 17 “the helmet of salvation.” Before the soldier went out had on the helmet to protect him. The helmet protects from all evil thoughts. Have we got the peace that passeth all understanding? God has promised to give us that - were our minds are stayed on him. Are we concerned today? Faithful today? Bring it to the Lord of heaven and ask him to give us peace that passeth all understanding. It is in your power to come and give your life to Christ, to surrender your all to him.