Calm

CALM                                                                                                   ROSS SMITH 22032014

Psalm 94:13  That You may give him power to KEEP HIMSELF CALM in the days of adversity, until the [inevitable] pit of corruption is dug for the wicked.

The first point of interest here, outside of the subject matter of CALM is that God gives US the power to keep OURSELVES calm.

Romans 12:21 DO NOT LET YOURSELF be overcome by evil, but overcome (master) evil with good.

Knowing to do right and not doing it is “evil”, we have the choice and need to overcome!!! (see JAMES 4:17)

The reason I find this interesting is because of the studies done under “Hierarchy of Holiness” where James 3:18 states:-

And a HARVEST of righteousness is grown from THE SEED OF PEACE planted by PEACEMAKERS. (ISV)

So I conclude that “PEACE”, “CALM”, “RIGHTEOUSNESS”, “SERENITY” are so intimately related , so convoluted that scripture reinforces the benefits, and the necessity for us to be a righteous people, and therefore provides numerous reasons.

By comparing a verse in the Old Testament with a verse in the New Testament we can see the consistency of this truth. Look at the comparison.

Isaiah 32:17 And the effect of righteousness will be peace [internal and external], and the result of righteousness will be quietness and confident trust forever. (can I insert here “CALM”?)

 James 3:18 And the harvest of righteousness (of conformity to God’s will in thought and deed) is [the fruit of the seed] sown in peace by those who work for and make peace [in themselves and in others, that peace which means concord, agreement, and harmony between individuals, with undisturbedness, in a peaceful mind free from fears and agitating passions and moral conflicts]. (can I insert here “CALM”?)

Psalm 85:10 Mercy and loving-kindness and truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

If we want to experience the depth and breadth of “CALM” or “PEACE” that the word prescribes then we need to strive to evidence His righteousness. The scripture in Hebrews 1:9 is an incentive and also a very instructive verse.

Hebrews 1:9 You have loved RIGHTEOUSNESS [You have delighted in integrity, virtue, and uprightness in purpose, thought, and action] and You have hated lawlessness (injustice and iniquity). Therefore God, [even] Your God (Godhead), has anointed you with the oil of exultant joy and gladness above and beyond your companions.

How closely does this relate to the pattern laid down in 2 Peter 1 where we are encouraged to “expend every effort, with diligence, and exercise”

Words are powerful tools not the least of which is CALM, when we consider words such as “CALM, SERENE, PEACE” they carry the intent of a settledness and induces that sort of sensation that then becomes infective on those with whom we relate.

Conversely if we employ words like ”STORM, TEMPEST, VIOLENCE UNREST” and all those other terms which conjure up in our minds scenes of disruption and conflict, they have an unsettling effect, and a similar infection on others. We can “sow peace”.

And so we will be aware that there are two sides to the equation, contrasts that we can determine where we stand, for I would suggest that the EVIDENCE OF A PEACEFUL NATURE IS ONE MEASURE OF FRUITFULNESS. For example, when Jesus was on the Sea of Galilee and a great storm arose, and because of His nature, his fruitfulness, He could speak “CALM” to even the sea, which by nature is restless.

But even equally important is the contribution that “CALM” makes for our health. I often ponder why someone should be so ill and why they are passing through various experiences, but part of that answer lies in :-

Proverbs 14:30 A calm and undisturbed mind and heart are the life and health of the body, but envy, jealousy, and wrath are like rottenness of the bones.

Notice that we have to have both the “MIND”, which compliments PSALM 94:13, “Keep himself CALM”, but also involves the HEART or as we now understand the “ATTITUDE”.

Before someone tries to misinterpret what I am saying, I am not implying that “The power of positive thinking” is the intent of these verses, because both of these attributes are germinated in RIGHTEOUSNESS. There are many reasons why people are ill and because we don’t understand the reasons is often why they are not healed, because “we ask amiss”

1 John 5:14 – 15 And this is the confidence (the assurance, the privilege of boldness) which we have in Him: [we are sure] that if we ask anything (make any request) according to His will (in agreement with His own plan), He listens to and hears us. And if (since) we [positively] know that He listens to us in whatever we ask, we also know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that we have [granted us as our present possessions] the requests made of Him.

What peace and calm that will afford us, that “settled and absolute knowledge”.  In this state or condition we can live in total calm, it is when we are not sure of what hinders that we become insecure, or lose our CALM.

CALM contributes to “The peaceable fruit of Righteousness”, and the process we go through to reach that point is acutely aligned with 2 Peter 1, as follows.

2Timothy 1:7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of CALM AND WELL-BALANCED MIND and discipline and self-control.

 Do you recall what Peter said in 2 Peter 1? We have been given “qualities” but now we have to “develop” them:-

2Peter 1:6 And in [exercising] knowledge [develop] self-control, and in [exercising] self-control [develop] steadfastness (patience, endurance), and in [exercising] steadfastness [develop] godliness (piety),

There is a purpose in being calm, not just for the benefit of evading conflict, because that is not possible, but to be able to exert our ministry. Some may say, “What Ministry”, well every one of us has a part to play and whilst we cannot go into it here, but we are all strategic parts of the body.

2Timothy   4:5 As for you, be calm and cool and steady, ACCEPT AND SUFFER UNFLINCHINGLY EVERY HARDSHIP, do the work of an evangelist, fully perform all the duties of your ministry.

It is a medical fact that people who have a bitter spirit frequently end up with arthritis, a condition which cripples the body while the bitterness cripples the mind. Even under the most perverse conditions we need to maintain this supernatural calm, not a complacency, or a resignation, or an ambivalence, but a CALM that has been given us to develop.

Ecclesiastes 10:4 If the temper of the ruler rises up against you, do not leave your place [or show a resisting spirit]; for gentleness and calmness prevent or put a stop to great offenses.

Psalm 37:8 Cease from anger and forsake wrath; FRET NOT YOURSELF–it tends only to evildoing.

I enjoy reading about Elijah and Elisha. Elijah had just informed Elisha that he was going to Bethel and that Elisha should stay where he was, but Elisha was not having any of that, so they both went off to Bethel. See what happens when they get there.

2Kings   2:1-3 As the time drew near when the LORD was about to take Elijah to heaven in a wind storm, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. Elijah instructed Elisha, “Remain here on this side, please, because the LORD is sending me as far as Bethel.” But Elisha replied, “As the LORD lives, I’m not going to leave you while you’re still alive!” So they both went on to Bethel. When the Guild of Prophets who lived in Bethel came out to greet Elisha, they asked him, “You are aware, aren’t you, that later today the LORD is going to remove your master from being your mentor? “OF COURSE I’M AWARE OF IT,” HE SAID. “CALM DOWN.” (ISV)

2 Peter 3:14 So, beloved, since you are expecting these things, (that is, the Second Coming of Christ …..   comments mine) BE EAGER  (or could we use the word “Diligent with its potent intention ….. comments mine) to be found by Him [at His coming] without spot or blemish and AT PEACE [IN SERENE CONFIDENCE, FREE FROM FEARS AND AGITATING PASSIONS AND MORAL CONFLICTS].

 This is the only time I can find such an amplification that brings such clarity, “In serene confidence”, Peter takes up where he left off in chapter 1.

Hebrews 12:14 STRIVE to live in peace with everybody and pursue that consecration and holiness  (or commonly called RIGHTEOUSNESS ….. comments mine) without which no one will [ever] see the Lord.

Hebrews12:11 For the time being no discipline brings joy, but seems grievous and painful; but afterwards it yields a PEACEABLE FRUIT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS to those who have been trained by it [a harvest of fruit which consists in righteousness–in conformity to God’s will in purpose, thought, and action, resulting in right living and right standing with God].

 This condition or state of PEACE or CALM is part of that convolution of RIGHTEOUSNESS that we have now contemplated for such a long time but found it elusive. But the Prophet Isaiah was moved to write:-

Isaiah 32:17 -18 And THE EFFECT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS WILL BE PEACE [internal and external], and the RESULT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS WILL BE QUIETNESS AND CONFIDENT TRUST FOREVER.  My people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, in safe dwellings, and in quiet resting-places.

See how it is intended that “CALM” and “PEACE” are to be a lifestyle. You will recall how when we started out in this study I referred to the power of words, well PROVERBS reinforces this with some force.

Proverbs 17:27 Whoever controls what he says is knowledgeable; anyone who has a calm spirit is a man of understanding.

Sometimes it suits us to “blast off”, it seems to relieve the congestion of our gastric juices, even if we don’t have all the phrases and adverbs that suit the occasion, it just feels good to get it off our chest. Well may I suggest that if it is on our chest then we haven’t applied the principles of the Word that are applicable.

Philippians 4:6-7  Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. And God’s peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, THAT PEACE] WHICH TRANSCENDS ALL UNDERSTANDING SHALL GARRISON AND MOUNT GUARD OVER YOUR HEARTS AND MINDS IN CHRIST JESUS.