What does it mean to pray for Peace? What Peace did Jesus bring to the world?

The Angels spoke peace and Jesus came into the world (Luke). Jesus left peace and spoke peace to all when he left this world (John).

The Magi gave gifts unto Jesus upon his birth. But Jesus gave gifts to all men. Jesus was able to leave greater gifts unto us: the Holy Ghost, Peace and Salvation. God loves you more and wants to leave with you. Greater gift.

Peace has specific meanings. Peace= Salom (Shalom). Peace is a greeting and also a salutation. You speak peace when you great someone; and you speak peace when you leave someone.

Shalom (Peace) has several meanings:

(1) Shalom was the common friendly greeting, used in asking after the health of anyone; also in farewells (Ge 29:6, "Is it well with him?" ("Is there peace to him?"); 43:23, "Peace be to you"; 43:27, "He asked them of their welfare (of their peace)"; Jud 6:23, "Yahweh said unto him, Peace be unto thee"; 18:15 (the King James Version "saluted him," margin "Hebrew asked him of peace," the Revised Version (British and American) "of his welfare"); Jud 19:20, etc.) (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia)

Shalom in the bible (see Strong’s H7965)

I.completeness, soundness, welfare, peace

A. completeness (in number)

B. safety, soundness (in body)

C. welfare, health, prosperity

D. peace, quiet, tranquility, contentment

E. peace, friendship

a. of human relationships

b. with God especially in covenant relationship

F. peace (from war)

G. peace (as adjective)

When you have the peace of God then “Nothing is missing and Nothing is needed”

What is it that Shalom speaks about? This is what Jesus speaks about:

Matthew 15:29 (Restoration of Health)

John 5:24 (Everlasting life/Tranquil Death)

Shalom in the New Testament is eirene from verb eiro = to join or bind together that which has been separated) literally pictures the binding or joining together again of that which had been separated or divided and thus setting at one again

Luke 2 in the original intent means ‘Peace to men of good will’. In NIV the heralding of the angels indicates “Peace to whom God’s favor rests upon”. Peace comes from the relationship (favor) that we have with God. (John 14:22-3, see also Acts 10:36,) Paul indicated "been justified by faith (and) have peace (eirene) with God through our Lord Jesus." Christ." (Ro 5:1-note)

How does the word of the Lord come to us? In the Bible, it happened in many different ways: by a personal appearance of God, by an audible voice, by visions or dreams, by the ministry of angels, by the working of the Spirit of God upon the mind, by the making alive of a passage of Scripture to our hearts, or by the ministry of a prophet or preacher. Here is a brief lesson on How God speaks to us..

1. Personal Appearance - Exodus3, 4 & 33:18-23.

2. Audible Voice-God in the first chapters of Genesis speaks with man in the same form as one person would speak to another.

3. Passage of Scripture coming alive to our hearts: Acts 8: the Ethiopian Eunuch

4. Working of the Spirit upon the mind: Job 33:19. Some may describe this as the conscience working by the Holy Spirit.

5. Dreams Matthew Chapter 2, God gives the three wise men, and Joseph, dreams that warn them to change their plans.

6. Vision: Gen 15:1 After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision.

7. Ministering Angels Jdg 6:11 And there came an angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak which [was] in Ophrah, that [pertained] unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide [it] from the Midianites.

Part 1 Examines how God spoke to Moses in Appearance and in an Audible voice. Exodus 3-4.

ARE YOU MAKING AN EFFORT TO GET A SHARE IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD? (see Matt:11:6-18). Are you doing what God has called you to do with fear, reverence. Pushing, pressing, making your way through. Matthew 11:12 and the new King James Version says 'from the days of John the Baptist until now, the Kingdom of heaven suffers violence. And the violent take it by force.' A lot of people believe that this means that the times of the Kingdom have been manipulated, attacked, beat upon by violent men. But that doesn't square with what the timing that Jesus mentions because Jesus is not saying throughout history the Kingdom of heaven suffereth violence. He's speaking specifically something from a particular timeframe...from the days of John the Baptist until now, the Kingdom of heaven has been taken by storm, and eager men are forcing their way unto it. (Matt 11:12; The New Testament in Modern English for Schools - B. Phillips). The Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, no G726 for this reference indicates the meaning “to seize on, claim for oneself eagerly”.

This reference indicates the meaning is that there are men who are seizing on the Kingdom of heaven to claim it for themselves, to claim it for themselves eagerly. So this scripture, Matthew 11;12, is actually talking about those of us who are in the Kingdom. Who want to claim it for ourselves eagerly. Not for vainglory. We're pushing and pressing our way through, not because we want to be seen, but because God has commanded his work to be done and we are the foot soldiers to do it. Let's look at what Jesus said about the Kingdom of heaven as he's talking to the crowd. John sent messengers to Jesus to ask, 'Are you the one or should I look for another?' He said, Go and tell John what you see and hear, that blind men are recovering their sight, Cripples are walking, lepers being healed, the deaf hearing, the dead being brought to life. And the good news is being given to those in need and happy as the man who never loses his faith. Don't lose your faith, John, but look at the works! Then Jesus asks the crowd "What kind of man did you go into the wilderness to see? Was he a weak Reed, swayed by every breath of wind?" Verse 8 says. Or were you expected to see a man dressed in expensive clothes? No, people with expensive clothes live in palaces. Were you looking for a prophet? Yes, he is more than a prophet, he says of John in verse 10, this is the man to whom the Scriptures refer when they say, look, I'm sending my messenger ahead of you, and he will prepare your way before you. Jesus tells the crowd 'So you look at things and you make these judgments based upon your lack of knowledge. But Jesus says at the end of verse 19. But wisdom is shown to be right by its results.'

What are our lessons today:

• To seize on, claim for yourself the part of the kingdom that God is commanding you to take. God has given you his Spirit to do His Will.
• Do not keep company, friendships, partnerships with those who are not serious about their faith. As Matthew 11:8, 16-17 indicates; those who are looking for a show; or are putting on a show to impress others. Those who are complainers and criticizers; do not make friendships/relationships with this type of person.
• Focus on working in the way God has called you. Are blind men recovering their sight? Are cripples walking? What is being done? The bible says…”happy is the man who never loses his faith” (Matt 11:6). Have Faith that God has Power to do miracles yesterday, today and every day.
• Follow the Path God has laid out for you. Yes there are challenges (John faced many) (NASB95) Heb 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.