Spring
1986
Peace with and Peace from God
Willard Beesley
Pinecrest Staff
Many of us have never been able to see, or to fully experience
these two different aspects of PEACE:
1. “Therefore, being justified by faith, we have
peace WITH God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Romans 5:1
2. “Grace to you and peace FROM God our Father and
the Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 1:2
When I accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as my Saviour and was
forgiven of my sin, I received “PEACE WITH GOD.”
For the first time in my life, everything was different, I
felt clean on the inside. I was at peace with God and with
my self.
I began to be appreciative of the people around me. Now,
I could begin to reach out and touch other lives and receive
from them. A whole new life was laid out before me; it was
beautiful and precious to me.
But, receiving “Peace with God” was not meant
to be the end of my experience; instead it was just the beginning.
Deep inside, I felt that something was still lacking, and
that I needed something more. After sharing this with many
other Christians, I realized that many of us have this same
inner feeling of need.
In earnest, I began to seek the Lord and to inquire of Him
concerning this need that I felt. I read the Word faithfully
every day and meditated on it. I cried and repented, often
for what I do not know, it sounded good, so I did it. After
all this, I still was not satisfied. There was a struggle,
deep within me; I had no lasting inner peace.
Different brethren told me what I needed to do. They said
that I needed to be baptized in water, which I did. I received
a measure of peace, yet I did not receive the deep inner peace
that I longed for.
Then, they instructed me that I needed to be filled with
the Holy Spirit. Gladly and earnestly, I asked the Lord that
I might be filled with His Holy Spirit. It was such a blessed
experience. It caused me to be made aware of so many things
that I could not fully understand or grasp before. Words could
not express the Joy of the Lord now coming into me in a new
way.
Yet, after a while there was still that “something”
that was missing in my life. I was encouraged to ask the Lord
for the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. With expectation, I sought
the Lord, and because of His great Love, He bestowed gift
ministries in my life. I willingly did all that I was asked
to do, yet no one seemed to have the full answer for me. All
were sincere in their counsel and guidance concerning this
inner need, for which I could find no answer.
Then, I began to minister for the Lord, with my eyes and
heart fixed on Him. Soon, I was attacked from behind and knocked
down. For what, I did not know or understand. After a while,
I got up and looked around. There was no one there, so I started
again. All of a sudden I was slammed down from my blind side.
The hurts were very bad. Should I get up and try again? As
I gained courage and strength from the Lord, I went on with
renewed fervor, more determined than ever before to come out
the victor.
I held my head high and went on. Throughout all these encounters,
I kept asking the Lord, “Why? and other questions that
come up at times like these. There seemed to be no answer,
but I had gone this far, so I could not give up or quit.
The goal now seemed so close to me. All began to go well,
almost to the point of victory. I was beginning to come into
a new place in the Lord, when just as it was almost in my
hands, I was robbed of it all. The blessings, victories, joys
and happiness that should have been mine.
For so long, this has been the struggle of many of us, and
we do not know what to do. This is why so many are discouraged
and cast down. The promises seemed so very real and were within
our grasp, then they were robbed from us.
Though I could not seem to understand this then, as I came
through all these processings, I can now say with the Psalmist
of old, (Psalm 40:1) “I waited patiently for the Lord,”
and He did not let me down.
One night, as I was quietly waiting before the Lord, I began
to be made aware that there was a door ajar. I was directed
of the Holy Spirit to enter through it. As I did, I became
very aware of the manifest presence of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I began to understand and to experience what “PEACE
FROM GOD” is. There is no human tongue that could describe
this beautiful peace that I received at this time.
All that was before; turmoil, distractions, or anything that
could cause unrest, now had no power over me. I had received
“PEACE FROM GOD.” It seemed that I was partaking
of the tree of life. There was no death of any kind, no more
interference at all. It was a total and complete Peace and
Rest that had entered into my very being.
No longer did the Lord seem to be distant or unapproachable.
I was a part of Him and He was a part of me. This opened up
to me such new depths and heights in God, that I could not
fully comprehend it all.
This is the experience that the Lord desires for each one
of us to come into. The dealings and processings that we go
through are to cause us to come into the place where we can
fully receive this “PEACE FROM GOD.”
I have come into this experience. But, at times there has
been a difficulty in being able to maintain it. Without a
daily experience of this peace from God imparted into our
lives, we would be most miserable and at times intolerable
to get along with. I am sure that there will be a time when
we will be able to continually abide in this experience.
“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.” John 14:27 The
cry of my entire being is to come into this place of His Peace
and to abide there. What a joyful day this will be for all
of us.
This will be accomplished, no matter what happens or takes
place. For, He is faithful that promised. Israel did not come
into the promised land for a long time. The processings had
to come first, in order to remove the things which hindered
the blessing that the Lord had purposed for them.
I rejoice that I am a part of the struggle. But, I am also
a part of the triumphant victory that was won at Calvary.
This experience of “PEACE FROM GOD” is ours. Let
us press on to the prize and to the goal that is set before
us. We will not be denied that which is rightfully ours in
Christ: His peace reigning in our Lives.
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is
stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee.” Isaiah
26:3 “And the Peace of God, which passeth all understanding,
shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Phil 4:7