O Worship the LORD in the Beauty of Holiness

DO YOU HAVE PEACE?

Do you have peace? In our daily lives we regularly find ourselves in situations of difficulties, for example stress in work in school or in our jobs, tension with colleagues, friends or family members. Even when we are alone are our minds occupied with the cares of this world, for example thinking about work not done or unhappiness with friends, colleagues or family members? In such times often you become unsettled, worry, and do not have peace. 

Our Lord Jesus wants us to have peace. He says in John 14:27: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid”. He had said this to His disciples, who were the true ones He trusted, because the traitor Judas Iscariot had left them by that time to scheme how he would betray and hand Jesus to be captured. Jesus had said those words to them knowing they were troubled after He told them that He would soon be betrayed to be crucified (Matt 26:2, Luke 22:21). These words are also meant for us if we belong to Jesus. The clear significance of these words is that we can have peace, which the Lord Jesus wants us to have. However, do we have peace? 

What is the meaning of “peace” that the Lord Jesus speaks of? The underlying Greek word for it has a variety of meanings: “calm, quietness, rest, set at one again, absence or end of strife, a state of being untroubled, undisturbed, well being”. It was also a common greeting or farewell amongst the Jewish people. Relevant to our verse are two meanings: first, peace with God and second, the peace of God. 

Peace with God

Peace with God concerns our position or status vis-a-vis God. Do we have peace with God? God’s justice and wrath over sin demands punishment of all who sin. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). In the eyes of God we are under His condemnation for our sins, unless the penalty for them is paid. The penalty is eternal never-ending torment in hell, in the lake of fire without release. Do you sometimes read in the news of persons found guilty by a court of law of very serious crimes and sentenced to death? That is the ultimate punishment the law can impose. When the judge pronounces such a sentence on a person in court, he may say something along the lines of “I now pronounce on you the death penalty. May God have mercy on your soul”. While such a person is kept in the prison until his execution, he is known as a condemned prisoner. Unless he receives a pardon according to law, he will in due course be executed to death by hanging. 

In a far greater way, we are condemned by God unless we are pardoned and declared not guilty of our sins. No criminal justice system in any country of this world allows a person to ‘take over’ the punishment of another person for a crime. However, in God’s loving kindness He has given His only begotten Son, Jesus, who is God but came into this world, to suffer and die on the cross to pay for the penalty of our sins. If you repent of your sins, believe in faith on the Lord Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, then God is faithful to pardon you on account of Jesus’s death for the penalty of your sins. That is peace with God - Romans 5:1 - “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:” (also Ephesians 2:14-15). Without peace with God we can have no peace in this world. 

The Peace of God

When the Lord Jesus spoke of ‘peace’ in John 14:27 He had in mind the peace of God. This is inward peace that we can experience. It is calmness regardless of any disturbance. This peace comes only from peace with God - Romans 15:13 - “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost”. This peace is for our hearts and can guard our hearts and minds - Colossians 3:15 - “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful” and Philippians 4:7 - “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”. Peace is a fruit of the Holy Spirit that is in us (Galatians 5:22). 

In the verse the Lord Jesus cautioned about the peace that the world gives. This is not what He wants us to have. The word ‘peace’ is used often by this world in different contexts, often as a reconciliatory term. The peace the world purportedly gives is external and based on tangible circumstances. Peace is said to be achieved once there is ceasing of disagreement or war - between countries, groups, persons, even friends or family members. Such ‘peace’ may be temporary and easily broken. Underlying it may still be hatred and enmity. Such ‘peace’ is deceptive and ignorant of the peace the Word of God speaks of. Therefore, in the verse the Lord Jesus warns us about the peace that the world gives.  

In the verse is Jesus’s promise to us that we can have the peace of God and He wants us to have that peace. He said “my peace I give unto you” and He said further in John 16:33 “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world”. We can have this peace if we are in union with Him because He has given this peace to us by the Holy Spirit who is in us.  

How to Have Peace

How can we experience such peace? Even though the Lord has given it to us, we need to take steps to experience it. These are some ways. First, we need to be clear about our position with God, i.e. if we have peace with God we no longer are under condemnation for our sins. Second, we need to be clear about how great God is, i.e. He is sovereign, in control of all things, and His will is perfect and best for us. He watches over us and takes care of us. If God be for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31). Third, we need to pray regularly, to draw close to God and ask Him to give us peace - Philippians 4:6-7: “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”. Fourth, we must fix our hearts and minds on God, trusting Him - Isaiah 26:3 - “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee”. We need to train ourselves to do these whenever we fall into difficult situations and not immediately rely on ourselves or panic. Lastly, we must still do our best in all things (“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love and of a sound mind” - 2 Timothy 1:7) and leave the outcome to Him, trusting and knowing that God will help us. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, what are we to do? In any difficulty or when you are troubled or disappointed, immediately pray, set your heart and mind on God and His Word, do your best and trust God, remembering that the Lord Jesus wants you to have peace, and not for your heart to be “troubled, neither let it be afraid”. When you fall into sin, confess and repent of your sin to God. When we do so, we can have confidence and peace that God forgives us our sin (1 John 1:9). Let us do these again and again even though we may fail from time to time, rejoicing in the Lord Jesus Christ. Finally, let us also share the peace with God and the peace of God with others who do not have it. 

– Elder Peter Koy

Shorter Catechism Question 26

26. How doth Christ execute the office of a king?

Christ executeth the office of a king, in subduing us to himself, in ruling and defending us, and in restraining and conquering all his and our enemies.

Appointments for the Week

Monday-Friday, Dec 16-20 YF Camp

Tuesday, Dec 17

        8.00 pm     Prayer Meeting (Shawn Lim)

Thursday, Dec 19

      10.00 am     Ladies’ Prayer Group

Saturday, Dec 21

        3.00 pm     LTF

        6.30 pm     YLM Christmas Dinner (MPH)

Sunday, Dec 22

  9.00 am The Good News of Great Joy! (Luke 2:8-20) by Rev Quek Keng Khwang

  9.00 am Chinese Service (MPH)

  9.40 am No Sunday School

10.30 am Coffee Corner

  2.30 pm Thai Service (LMH)

  4.00 pm Indonesian Service (Rm 1-6)

Announcements

Christmas Street Evangelism @ Orchard Road

20 Dec (Friday), 7pm

Outdoor atrium @ Ngee Ann City (Takashimaya)

(Meet at steps outside Chanel)

Contact: Dn Lim MY / Eld Michael 

Christmas Eve Bilingual Service

“Jesus came for you”, Matthew 1:18-25

Speaker: Rev Calvin Loh

24 Dec (Tuesday), 8pm, Church Sanctuary

Invite your friends!

Catechism Class for Easter Baptism on 20 April 2025

will commence on 12 January 2025 at 9.30am. Please pre-register by emailing to Church Office. Those seeking baptism, reaffirmation of faith and transfer of membership must attend the catechism class. Closing date: 5 January 2025.

Pre-Nursery Sunday School

Registration for 2025 Pre-Nursery Sunday School class is now open for children aged 18 months to 3 years old. Parents who are keen, please email Ling Ling at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Church Camp 2025

Save the date! Please mark your calendars for our upcoming church camp!

Theme: Are We Prepared to Meet Christ?
Dates: 17-20 June 2025
Venue: Radisson Hotel, Batam, Indonesia
Speaker: Rev Ian Goligher, Retired Pastor of Free Presbyterian Church in Cloverdale, BC Canada

Join us for a blessed time of spiritual growth and fellowship as we explore the messages from the letters of Christ to the seven churches in Revelation. Camp registration will commence from January onwards.

For any questions, please contact Dn Chen Wei'an.

Traffic Warden Service

We welcome all church members to join in this work. Our TW’s role is to provide godly service to facilitate worship. We need help in following time slots for Sunday: 7.30-8am or 10.30-11am with a frequency of once or twice a month.
Please contact Dn Chan Yong or Bro Kelvin.

Mailbox Club Bible Correspondence Course (MBCC)

Another Church Outreach Ministry invites Lifers to register their young children, teens, or grandchildren with our MBCC. Those whose loved ones, friends or colleagues who are either young in their faith or being non-believers, are interested to know and explore more of Christianity, are also invited to register with us by filling in the registration forms which are now available at the Church front counter and post them to:

Life B-P Church

No.10, Gilstead Road

Singapore 309064

Attention: Mrs Ong Chuay Ying 

YLM: Word made Flesh, Food made Fresh

21 Dec 2024 @ Life B-P Church Beulah MPH. 6.30pm. An evening of feasting, fellowship, and the Good News of Jesus Christ. All are welcome! 

The Presbytery Seminar 2024: Culture Wars: Engaging Today’s World

28 Dec 2024 @ Life B-P Church. 10am. Register at https://tinyurl.com/ybmpy3mu by 23 Dec 2024.

YLM 3^rd Anniversary

31 Dec 2024 @ Life B-P Church Beulah MPH. 7pm. “Unity in Christ” by Dn Ian Tay. For enquiries: contact Rae-ann 

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