Acknowledge the peace you already have

In this episode, we reflect on the peace that believers already have in Christ and the importance of acknowledging it in the midst of uncertainty, pressure, and the search for security.

Many people give themselves to endless activities, decisions, pursuits, and responsibilities in an attempt to feel secure. Yet Jesus reminds us that only one thing is needful. Through the examples of Mary and Martha, the lilies of the field, and the words of Christ in John 16:33, this message calls us back to the settled assurance that our peace is not found in perfect circumstances, but in the victory of Jesus over the world.

This episode is a prayerful exhortation for everyone who feels surrounded by uncertainty, overwhelmed by pressure, or distracted by the pursuit of false security. May your eyes be opened to recognize the peace already given to you in Christ, and may your heart be guarded by the peace of God that surpasses all understanding.

Transcript

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There is a kind of pressure that makes people run after many things for security while forgetting the peace Christ has already given them. But the answer is not always that God should give us peace afresh. Sometimes the deeper need is that our eyes be opened to acknowledge the peace we already have in Him. Good morning and welcome to this expression of igniting your day with Bamidili Oloro Toba. This morning, we are interceding for a group of people who are more aware of the uncertainties surrounding them than they are aware of the peace already given to them in Christ. Let me say that again. There are people who are more aware of the uncertainties surrounding them than they are aware of the peace they already have in Christ. Due to this lack of acknowledgement, they are unable to settle for what truly matters. Their lives are filled with many other things that look like security to them. Yet, in the eyes of the Lord, just as Jesus said to Mother, only one thing is needful. I see many people trying many things just to feel more secure. Humanly speaking, some of these things may be good moves, but there is a poor acknowledgement of the peace that has already been given to them in Christ. I see people who are no longer satisfied with the little things the Lord calls important. I see people who are no longer satisfied with the few things the Lord calls necessary. I see people who are no longer satisfied with the few things the Lord calls sufficient. Instead, activities pile upon activities, expenditure upon expenditure, and the investment upon investment. When I say investment here, I do not mean only financial investments. I mean giving yourself to many things just to attain or achieve a sense of security. As someone who loves to pray, I wish I could simply continue to pray that the Lord will give you more peace, that the Lord will give them more peace. But the truth is that we already have peace. The issue is that many are not acknowledging it. Peace has already been given to us. The challenge is that the peace given to us is not yet been acknowledged by many. Ask me, how do I know? John chapter 14, verse 27. Jesus said, Peace I live with you. My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, do not be afraid. Friends, peace has already been given to us. The challenge is that the peace given to us is not yet been acknowledged by many. This morning, we have a responsibility to bring this group of people before the Lord. Where they are in the world, I may not know. What their daily activities look like, I may not know. But I know that God's plans, God's thoughts, and God's intentions for his people are of peace and not of evil. Jeremiah 29, 11 says, For I know the thoughts that I think towards you, says the Lord. Thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. God's thoughts towards his people are thoughts of peace. Thoughts of peace. He intends to give them hope, a future and unexpected end. The prayer burden this morning is that people will acknowledge the peace that has already been given to them. Why is this important? One strong reason is that many things people are giving themselves to for the sake of security also have a cost. It's not that they are giving themselves to these things and those things are totally free. When I say free, I do not mean only in financial terms. These things have a cost. For example, uncertainty may be happening around someone, and they may think, I need to take another course, I need to earn another degree, I need to go back to school one more time so I can secure my future. These things may be good things, they may be beautiful things, but in many cases, the time they should spend building their family, they are paying with it. The time they need to give to the things of God, they are paying with it. The time they need to give their children the care they should receive, they are paying with it. Am I saying it's not good to make progress? No, it's good to make progress, but it is better to acknowledge the security we have in Christ and let our lives be driven from that security, so that the things we get involved in will be the things that truly matter. Friends, our burden this morning is that everyone connected to us, everyone the Lord has given us to watch over, will acknowledge the peace they have in Christ. One of the ways Jesus taught people was through the power of examples. Jesus took advantage of available examples to explain spiritual realities. This was what happened with Mary and Martha. When Martha became too busy, Jesus used Mary as an example. Jesus was so good at exemplifying truth, he used Mary as an example to teach Matha. We declare today that wherever these people are, the Lord will raise examples around them so they can see. If it's in the office, the Lord will raise a Mary who will teach a matter. Somewhere in church, the Lord will raise a Mary who will teach a matter. On the street, the Lord will raise a Mary who will teach a matter. In that estate, the Lord will raise a Mary who will teach a matter. Wherever they are, whatever they do, may a Mary arise one Jesus can use to teach a matter. We pray that the people of God will acknowledge the peace that has already been given to them. Luke chapter 10, verse 41 to 42 says, And Jesus answered and said to her, Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things, but one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her. The intention of Jesus was not to spark jealousy between Mary and Mother, it was because Mother was already involved, so that only a visible example will be strong enough to bring her to conviction. Let me say that again. The intention of Jesus was not to spark jealousy between Mary and Mother. It was because Martha was already so involved that only a visible example will be strong enough to bring her to conviction. There are many people around us who have given themselves deeply to many things. It will take a visible and strong example around them for them to see clearly. Lord, we know that there is a merry around you can use to speak to every mother. Yes, Lord, we ask that you raise men and women who were potent and effective examples in the name of Jesus. Friends, there is a way a person can become so busy that nothing the Lord drops into their spirits seems strong enough to make them see it as they should. There is a level of busyness where even what the Spirit of God says no longer seems to touch the heart because the person has become too involved. At that level, it takes examples around them to help them see what they should see. For every busy mother, there is an attentive Mary. For every unsettled mother, there is a settled Mary. For every engrossed mother, there is a calm merely. For every active mother, there is a calm and well-connected Mary whom God will use to speak. We declare again this morning in the name of Jesus that the Lord raises men and women who He will use to teach every mother that He has already given us peace. Jesus did not only use human examples, he also used creation to teach trust. Matthew chapter 6, verse 28 to 31 says, So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They neither toil nor spin, and yet I say to you that even Solomon, in all his glory, was not arrayed like one of these. Now, if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you? O ye of little faith, therefore do not worry, saying, What shall we eat, or what shall we drink, or what shall we wear? Jesus used strong relatable examples to teach that we ought to trust more. He used what we cannot deny to show us what we need to believe. When you become engrossed, overtaken, or deeply involved, it becomes difficult for you to receive direct communication in your spirit. Then the Lord in His mercy begins to use things around you, things you can see, things you cannot deny. I do not know how many engrossed people are around you. Some of the things they are involved in have taken their time. They have been robbed of family time, they have even been robbed of their health. Many are involved in so many things today that their health is no longer doing well, all because they are chasing security. We declare in the name of Jesus that the eyes of everyone who belongs to the Lord are open to see and acknowledge the peace that has already been given to them in Christ. Yes. John chapter 16, verse 33. The Bible says that these things I have spoken to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. The word tribulation here speaks of pressure. Jesus said, In me you may have peace. In the world you will have pressure, but be of good chair, I have overcome the world. The victory of Jesus over the world is our source of peace. Be of good cheer beyond the pressure. Be of good cheer beyond what is happening around you. Be of good cheer beyond the systems, beyond the uncertainty, beyond the weight of life. Jesus has overcome the world. We declare that we enjoy peace, the peace that comes from acknowledging the victory of Jesus. It is not hidden, friends, that some of the pressures are caused by prevailing systems in different places. Many times these pressures would not need to be there if governments did what they should do. Many times the pressure is at work. Many times the pressure comes from systems, structures, and circumstances around us. But when Jesus prayed to the Father in John 17, he said, I do not pray that you should take them out of the world. That means, while there may not be much you can personally do about certain systems, you must remember what the word of God says. 1 John chapter 4, verse 4 says, You are of God little children, and have overcome them, because he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. We declare this morning that the greater one in us leads us. We submit ourselves to the leading of the greater one within us. We yield ourselves to the life of the one who is greater than everything in the world in the name of Jesus. We declare concerning everyone who may be troubled, you have peace. We declare concerning everyone who is struggling today, you have peace. We declare concerning everyone who has pain today, you have peace. You have peace in Christ. Hallelujah. Friends, the peace of God that passes all understanding guards your heart. The peace already given to you in Christ becomes clear to you. We declare concerning you today that your eyes are open to see what matters. Your heart is delivered from the body of Jesus for security in the name of Jesus. And we declare concerning you, you are led by the greater one within you in Jesus' mighty name.