Peace comes from God’s presence, guarded by prayer, gratitude, trust, and hope

Enjoying How to Maintain Peace and Avoid Stress and Anxiety - Bill Johnson Sermon | Bethel Church

Bill Johnson teaches that peace is not the absence of problems but the presence of God, who guards the heart and mind when we stay grounded in prayer, gratitude, and trust. Scripture reinforces this pattern. Jesus gives a peace the world cannot match (John 14:27), and believers are urged to let that peace rule their hearts (Colossians 3:15). Prayerlessness opens the door to temptation and lack (James 4:2; Matthew 26:41), while thankfulness acts as protective armor (Philippians 4:6–7). Worry is misplaced faith (Matthew 6:27), but casting burdens on God restores confidence and strength (1 Peter 5:7; Isaiah 41:10). Fear disrupts intimacy, yet perfect love drives it out (1 John 4:18), enabling us to hear God clearly (John 10:27). Biblical peace restores spirit, soul, and body (1 Thessalonians 5:23), and the God of hope fills His people with joy and peace as they trust Him (Romans 15:13).

Peace is presence, not escape.

God’s peace is His active presence, not the absence of conflict.
• “My peace I give you… not as the world gives.” John 14:27
• “He himself is our peace.” Ephesians 2:14
• “The God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:9

Keep your peace.
A noisy heart loses what God already gave.
• “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.” Colossians 3:15
• “In returning and rest you shall be saved.” Isaiah 30:15
• “Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10

Prayerlessness creates lack.
No prayer. More pressure.
• “You do not have because you do not ask.” James 4:2
• “Pray continually.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17
• Jesus warned Peter to “watch and pray… so you will not fall into temptation.” Matthew 26:41

Thankfulness is a guard.
Gratitude is armor.
• “Present your requests… and the peace of God will guard your hearts.” Philippians 4:6–7
• Jesus “gave thanks” on the night He was betrayed. Luke 22:19
• “Give thanks in all circumstances.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Worry is misplaced faith.
Anxiety trusts the wrong kingdom.
• “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour…?” Matthew 6:27
• “Cast all your anxieties on Him because He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7
• “Do not fear… I will strengthen you.” Isaiah 41:10

Guard peace to hear God.
Noise blunts discernment. Peace sharpens it.
• “My sheep hear my voice.” John 10:27
• “In quietness and trust is your strength.” Isaiah 30:15
• “The mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.” Romans 8:6

Fear breaks connection.
Fear disrupts intimacy with God.
• “Do not fear, for I am with you.” Isaiah 41:10
• “Perfect love drives out fear.” 1 John 4:18
• “The Lord is my light… whom shall I fear?” Psalm 27:1

Peace restores spirit, soul, and body.
Peace is whole-person restoration.
• “May your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23
• “The God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23
• “He restores my soul.” Psalm 23:3

Hopelessness is a spiritual attack.
Reject it. Replace it with resurrection hope.
• “Why are you downcast, O my soul? Hope in God.” Psalm 42:5
• “By His great mercy… a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 1:3
• “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace.” Romans 15:13

Breakthrough requires standing.
Hope activates when we respond.
• “Stand firm… and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring.” Exodus 14:13
• “Resist the devil, and he will flee.” James 4:7
• “Call to me, and I will answer you.” Jeremiah 33:3

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Gratitude brings you into the present even when reflecting on the past

 

Love https://www.openbible.info/topics/gratitude, an open-source Bible Reference voted up by real people.

Gratitude is acknowledging God in all things, his faithfulness in creation bringing all of us from one man. But how do acknowledge God in all tings? Psalm 100:1-5 is a Psalm for giving thanks. "Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations."

Offer thanksgiving to God and dedicating your way rightly gives you eyes that see God's salvation. "The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!” - Psalm 50:23

Gratitude shows what you treasure. "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."- Matthew 6:21

The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him. - Psalm 28:7

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. - Colossians 3:16

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God’s grace reaches more and more people, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory. 2 Cor 4:15

Thanksgiving, praying for those I've met along the way and the people I'm close to now.
https://myanmar-christian-bible-resource.s3-ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/index.html

as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the favor shown us in answer to their prayers. 2 Cor 1:11
For we are not like so many others, who peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as men sent from God. 2 Corinthians 2:17
All of this is for your benefit. And as God’s grace reaches more and more people, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory. 2 Cor 4:15

But we continue to preach because we have the same kind of faith the psalmist had when he said, “I believed in God, so I spoke.” We know that God, who raised the Lord Jesus, will also raise us with Jesus and present us to himself together with you. All of this is for your benefit. And as God’s grace reaches more and more people, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory.

That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

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Accepting others differences means abstaining from our freedoms (Romans 14)

Romans 14
A) Accept other believers, let God judge his servants
1) Accept others in fellowship differing faith maturity not arguing about opinions
 - God’s acceptance: Acts 10:47-48; 15:8-11 
2-3) Food and sensitive conscience, don't look down on each other
 - Special diets: 1 Corinthians 8:1-13; 10:23-33 
 - Avoiding meat: Daniel 1:8-16 
 - Dietary restrictions: Exodus 23:19; Leviticus 11; 17
4) Don't judge God's servants, Lord will they'll stand or fall
  - Idols: 1 Corinthians 8:4 
 - Christian freedom: 1 Corinthians 8:13 
 - Honor one another: Romans 12:10 
 - Gift of God: Ephesians 2:8-9 

B) Worship observe and honor the Lord with thanksgiving
5) Every day is significantly holy, be convinced your choice is acceptable
 - Maundy Thursday - Mandate to Love, Friday Jesus died for our sin, Sabbath when God rested from creation, Resurrection Sunday, Monday BSF...
 - Most important is "today"
 - Special days: Galatians 4:8-11; Colossians 2:16-17
6) worship, observe, honor the Lord on a special day, eat or abstain with thanksgiving
 - Good gifts: James 1:17
7-9) We live and die for the Lord, we are his, Jesus death/resurrection is Lord of dead and living
10) Why condemn/criticize/look down another believer? We'll all stand before God's judgment seat
 - Talents, rewards
 - Rescue the one, help him put it to work, give him an opportunity
 - Last day: Romans 2:16; Acts 10:42; 17:30-31
 - Judgment seat: Romans 2:5-16; Revelation 20:11-15
11-12) Every knee bows, every tongue confess/declare allegiance/give praise to God
 - Every knee: Isaiah 49:18; 45:23
 - Acknowledge God: Philippians 2:9-11
Principle: gratitude and thanksgiving remove the critical spirit.

C) Decide abstinence for others good, following God's conviction
13) Stop condemning each other, decide to live NOT to cause another believer to stumble and fall
 - don't be a source of temptation
 - Jesus as judge: Acts 17:31; Hebrews 4:15

14-16) Nothing unclean, but if it causes distress - abstain and you won't be criticized
 - Opportunities: Matthew 11:21-24
 - Every secret exposed: Matthew 7:21-23; 10:26; Mark 4:22; 1 Corinthians 4:5; Hebrews 4:13
17) Kingdom of God not food but righteousness, peace, and joy in Holy Spirit
 - Accountable to God: Romans 3:19
18-19) Attitude in serving Christ, please God and others, harmony church build each other up
20-21) Don't tear down God's work over food, it's better to abstain than cause another to stumble
 - Opportunity to repent: Hebrews 9:27
22-23) beliefs between you and God, blessed no guilt, but doubts "am I sinning" follow conviction and stop.
Romans 14:1-8;Romans 14:9-12;Romans 14:13-18;Romans 14:19-23

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Simple requests of God, gratitude, a positive attitude are antidotes for anxiety

I was reading this soul shepherding post that had an excellent summary of my life verse of Phil 4:4-7, and what I read at my baptism in 2005. "Simple requests of God, gratitude, a positive attitude are antidotes for anxiety" - brilliant! I came across this as I was looking for inspiration for my annual Thanksgiving card for my friends and co-workers that I like to share my happiness with.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things” (Philippians 4:6-8).

I designed this card cover and think, this one is the best yet!

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." - Jesus Christ, (Matthew 5:8 ESV)

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Whoever is wise, consider the steadfast love of the Lord (Psalm 107:43)

Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things; let them consider the steadfast love of the Lord .

Psalms 107:43 ESV 

He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and burst their bonds apart. Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! Some were fools through their sinful ways, and because of their iniquities suffered affliction; they loathed any kind of food, and they drew near to the gates of death. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction. Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man!
Psalms 107:14‭-‬15‭, ‬17‭-‬21 ESV

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Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God and keep the vows you made to Him (Psalm 50:14)

Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God,

    and keep the vows you made to the Most High.

(John 6:10-11) Jesus: “people sit down”, took loaves/fish gave thanks, distributed as much as they wanted

Giving thanks magnify's God (Psalm 69:30)

29I am suffering and in pain.

    Rescue me, O God, by your saving power.

30 Then I will praise God’s name with singing,

    and I will honor him with thanksgiving.

31 For this will please the Lord more than sacrificing cattle,

    more than presenting a bull with its horns and hooves.

32 The humble will see their God at work and be glad.

    Let all who seek God’s help be encouraged.

33 For the Lord hears the cries of the needy;

    he does not despise his imprisoned people.

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Jesus heals the sick, feeds 5,000 and walks on water

John 6:1-21
AIM: God's miraclous grace is abundant, mankinds apathy is abhorant
A) Jesus heals the sick then feeds 5,000 from 5 loaves, 2 fish with 12 leftover baskets
(1-2) Jesus, far shore Sea of Galilee (72 times, Tiberias just here), crowd followed signs, healing sick
(3-4) Jesus mountainside, sat disciples Jewish Passover Festival near
(5-6) Jesus saw crowd, tested Philip “where can we buy bread” – knowing his plan
(7) Philp “1/2 year’s wages for single bite
(8-9) Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother “Here boy, 5 barley loaves 2 small fish, but how far?”
(10-11) Jesus: “people sit down”, took loaves/fish gave thanks, distributed as much as they wanted

• Giving thanks magnify's God (Psalm 69:30)
• "Come Lord Jesus be our guest, bless this food prepared for us Amen" Psalm 50:14 "Pay your vows to the Most High"

(12) All enough to eat, Jesus commands gather left over/nothing wasted
(13) filled 12 baskets with pieces of 5 barley loaves
Application: Jesus Feeds 5,000+ and Promise we will do more. How am I recognizing God's healing by the nature of my body? How much "Left over" does God want me to recognize and use for his glory?

B) People see Jesus as Prophet and try to force him to be king
(14) After, “sign” people said he’s THE Prophet (John 1:21,25;7:40)
(15) Jesus knowing they intended make him king by force withdrew to mountains by himself
Application: What's my motivation for following Christ? What evidence in my life shows God is with me and not retreating from me?

C) Jesus sends disciples to Capernaum and walks on water
(16-17) evening came disciples set across lake for Capernaum
(18-19) strong wind, rough water rowed 4 miles saw Jesus walk water frightened
(20-21) Jesus "don't be afraid", then willing to take him in - immediately boat reached shore
Application: Where am I seeing Jesus show up in "imposible places"

“sea of Chinneroth This inland sea, or rather lake, which drives its several names, the Lake of Tiberias, Sea of Galilee, Lake of Gennesaret, from the territory which forms its western and south-western border, is computed to be between seventeen and eighteen mile in length, and from five to six in breadth. The waters of this lake, which are sweet and agreeable, lie in a deep basin, surrounded with lofty hills, except at the north and south, where it is a plain country or level. There is a current through the whole lake even to the shore; and the Jordan through it is discernible by the smoothness of the surface in that part. Its appearance from the north- western extremity is said by Mr. Buckingham to be exceedingly grand; but the barren aspect of the mountains on each side, and the total absence of wood, give a cast of dullness to the picture.” - http://biblehub.com/joshua/12-3.htm

http://biblehub.com/john/6-1.htm
Praying over food

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