We all have such busy lives today, we often wonder “how can I survive!?”. I know I have been there, likely you have too! Between work, family, bills, health, and trying to live a good and enjoyable life, we get burdened. So how can we have any hope of Finding Peace and Quiet? The answer is in looking at the One who is at the center of all our lives, whether we recognize that or not, and finding Him and looking at what He did can show us how to find what we feel we lack.

Recordings of both lessons are below, as are outlines for each lesson further down. Listen, study, research, learn, grown, and tell others! Most of all, find Christ and join a church that is in line with what the New Testament says a church should be – not what a family member or some denominational creed or doctrine says it is.

Finding Peace and Quiet – Starnes, part 1

Finding Peace and Quiet – Martin, part 2

Finding Peace and Quiet – Lesson 1 – Roger Starnes

• “Just give me a second…”
• “Breathe!”
• “Deep breath”
• “Just relax”
• Got the world on your shoulders?
• Consider Christ: a solo role – Creator, Mediator, Savior, Sacrifice, Redeemer, and human

Today we are going to look at finding Peace and Quiet, what it really is, look how WE can do it, and note WHO else needed it…

• Government of the promised Son…
• Isaiah 9:6-7 – “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.”
• John 1:1-5 – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.”
• John 1:1-5, 10-13 – “He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

After John is killed…

• Matthew 14:13 – “When Jesus heard it, He departed from there by boat to a deserted place by Himself. But when the multitudes heard it, they followed Him on foot from the cities.”

After the 5,000 fed…

• Matthew 14:23 – “And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there.”

After healing the sick and diseased…

• Mark 1:35-37 – “Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed. And Simon and those who were with Him searched for Him. When they found Him, they said to Him, “Everyone is looking for You.”
  • Think Christ was not busy?
  • He needed peace and quiet, even if it meant getting up early!
  • Escaping life and finding time for prayer was important to God’s Son, and it is for us today!

Following a discussion on how we should keep our charitable deeds secret…

• Matthew 6:6 – “But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.”
  • Finding peace and quiet starts where God is when YOU are with Him

After telling the crowds that some of them would see the Kingdom come…

• Luke 9:28-32 – “Now it came to pass, about eight days after these sayings, that He took Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray. As He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening. And behold, two men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of His decease which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.”
  • Sometimes peace and quiet includes those close to you (ladies)
• Luke 9:32-33– “But Peter and those with him were heavy with sleep; and when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men who stood with Him. Then it happened, as they were parting from Him, that Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said.”
  • Was peace interrupted by Peter?
  • What distracts us from prayer?
• Luke 9:34-37– “While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were fearful as they entered the cloud. And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!” When the voice had ceased, Jesus was found alone. But they kept quiet, and told no one in those days any of the things they had seen.”

Before His arrest, Jesus goes to the garden to pray, 3 times…

• Matthew 26:36-38 – “Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.” And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.”
  • Christ went a “little farther” to pray alone, even with those so close to Him
  • Though distressed, He still found peace in quiet

Peace and quiet give us rest!

• Matthew 11:28 – “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
• Matthew 11:29 – “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
• Hebrews 4:8-10 – “For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day. There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.”

After discussions about not carrying on the old law…

• Galatians 2:20 – “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
• Christ will reconcile…
• Colossians 1:20 – “and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.”

Per discussion on submission to government and masters…

• 1 Peter 2:23-25 – “who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”

No warfare but peace…

• John 18:35-37 – “Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered You to me. What have You done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.” Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth.
• Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”
• Philippians 4:6-8 – “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”

To review what we we have looked at…

• Life is not easy
• There is plenty to weigh us down
• We need a break to relax and find some peace and quite
• We need to remember that Christ had a greater load than we could ever know
• We can learn from Jesus on how to deal with our challenges
• Jesus is the Prince of Peace!
• He was God, made all things, was unknown to His creation, and not received
• To recharge after stressful events, Christ went alone to find peace and quiet by getting close to His Father, God
• He climbed mountains to get away from life and get closer to God
• He took boats or got up very early in the morning if that helped
• Even with so many disciples he often was on his own, or protecting them
• His vigor was increased by God until at last He overcame death and now HE is our Peace and Quiet if we find Him, and Follow Him

Do you have peace in your life?
Is your life quiet and worry-free?
Of death? Of eternity?
You can do something about it now.

• Matthew 11:28 – “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

Finding Peace and Quiet – Lesson 2 – Abe Martin

Psalm 23 – “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.  He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.  He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.”

Finding Peace and Quiet

• Roger started these lessons by talking about our Lord and Savior while He was on earth.
• He accomplished all the works that were planned for Him perfectly.
• Since He was in the flesh, He needed to take time to refresh Himself.
• We too need refreshing.
• God from the beginning planned a time of rest for the children of Israel.
• We see purpose in that.
• We too need a time of peace and quiet.
• How do we do this and please God?
• Too many are more concerned about pleasing self and not pleasing God.

Pleasing God

• He knows we need to be refreshed because He created us – Leviticus 23:3 – “Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation. You shall do no work on it; it is the Sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings.”
• He knows we need to be refreshed because He created us – Exodus 16:23 – “Then he said to them, “This is what the LORD has said: ‘Tomorrow is a Sabbath rest, a holy Sabbath to the LORD. Bake what you will bake today, and boil what you will boil; and lay up for yourselves all that remains, to be kept until morning.'”
• He knows we need to be refreshed because He created us – Leviticus 23:3: Exodus 16:23
  • Sabbath
  • To cease, desist, rest
  • To repose
  • To desist from exertion
• He knows we need recovery times – Joshua 22:4 – “And now the LORD your God has given rest to your brethren, as He promised them; now therefore, return and go to your tents and to the land of your possession, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you on the other side of the Jordan.”
• He knows we need recovery times – Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 – “Here is what I have seen: It is good and fitting for one to eat and drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor in which he toils under the sun all the days of his life which God gives him; for it is his heritage.  As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor-this is the gift of God. For he will not dwell unduly on the days of his life, because God keeps him busy with the joy of his heart.”
• He knows we need recovery times – Joshua 22:4; Ecclesiastes 5:18-20
  He expects us to take care of this “temple” – 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 – “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?   For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
• He knows we sometimes need “alone” time – Philemon 22 – “But, meanwhile, also prepare a guest room for me, for I trust that through your prayers I shall be granted to you.”
• He knows we sometimes need “alone” time – Psalm 56:6-8 – “So I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.  Indeed, I would wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah  I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.”
• He knows we sometimes need “alone” time – Philemon 22; Psalm 56:6-8
• He knows we sometimes need “company” time to get refreshed – Philemon 7 – “For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.”
• He knows we need recovery times
• He expects us to take care of this “temple”
• He knows we sometimes need “alone” time
• He knows we sometimes need “company” time to get refreshed

Staying Away From The World

• When choosing this recovery time, do I include God in my plans? – James 4:13-17 – “Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”;  whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.  Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.“   But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.  Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.”
• When choosing this recovery time, do I include God in my plans? – James 4:13-17
• Do I use the time to get closer to the world? – 1 John 2:15-17 – “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world–the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life–is not of the Father but is of the world.  And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”
• Is my choice based on lust of the flesh? – Galatians 5:16 – “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.”
  • Places where the flesh is tempted to sin
• Is my choice based on lust of the eye? – Matthew 18:9 –“And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire.”
  • Places where the eye sees things that cause one to lust
• Is my choice based on pride of life? – James 4:6 – “But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”
  • Places where one is lifted up in pride
• When choosing this recovery time, do I include God in my plans?
• Do I use the time to get closer to the world?
• Is my choice based on lust of the eye?
  • Places where the eye sees things that cause one to lust
• Is my choice based on lust of the flesh?
  • Places where the flesh is tempted to sin
• Is my choice based on pride of life?
  • Places where one is lifted up in pride

Getting My “Positive” Back

• Use it for a time to remove negative thoughts – Psalm 37:7-11 – “Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him; do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.  Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; do not fret-it only causes harm.  For evildoers shall be cut off; but those who wait on the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.  For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more; Indeed, you will look carefully for his place, but it shall be no more.  But the meek shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.”
• Use it for a time to get closer to God – Jeremiah 6:14-17 – “They have also healed the hurt of My people slightly, saying, ‘Peace, peace!’ When there is no peace.  Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? No! They were not at all ashamed; nor did they know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; at the time I punish them, They shall be cast down,” says the LORD.  Thus says the LORD: “Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.‘  Also, I set watchmen over you, saying, ‘Listen to the sound of the trumpet!’ But they said, ‘We will not listen.'”
  Use it for a time to get closer to God – Isaiah 32:15-18 – “Until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field, and the fruitful field is counted as a forest.  Then justice will dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field.  The work of righteousness will be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever.  My people will dwell in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places”
• Use it for a time to prepare to get back to work – Proverbs 3:5-6 – “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”
• Use it for a time to prepare to get back to work – Proverbs 16:1-3 – “The plans of the mind belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.  All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the spirit. Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established.”
• Use it to prepare for the eternal rest – Revelation 14:13 – “Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.'” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.”
• Use it for a time to remove negative thoughts
• Use it for a time to get closer to God
• Use it for a time to prepare to get back to work
• Use it to prepare for the eternal rest

True rest comes from Christ.  (Matthew 11:28-30) –“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

• Once we accept His invitation to come to Him in obedience, we can have rest for our souls.

Have you found rest in Christ?