If you’re a believer, you already know Jesus as your Savior. But do you know Him as your Prince of Peace?
Anxiety stinks. Nobody likes it. It’s terrible! It’s draining to live with anxiety and worry. I like peace and happiness a whole lot more. So, what do I do when the devil tries to bust me in the head with his circumstances? What do I do when he tries to fill me with anxiety and rob me of my joy? I remind myself of that secret thing Jesus left to me.
I remind myself of my legacy.
I’m talking about that amazing spiritual gift that Jesus left to the Body of Christ after He went to the cross, resurrected and went home to be with His Father. I’m talking about the legacy of supernatural peace that Jesus left for me. You see, Jesus knew the stuff I’d have to deal with in life. He knew what would come my way. So, He made a plan to leave me a legacy that I could be proud of – a legacy that I could rejoice over and lean on in times of trouble.
And He’s left that same legacy to you.
A Word With the Disciples
Before Jesus went to the cross, He had a little talk with the disciples about dealing with trouble. He knew that things were about to get rough. He knew He was going to have to leave them physically and that they were going to feel like the world was collapsing around them. So, what did He say to them? What did He assure them of? What did He promise them?
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know (John 14:1-4).
Jesus was saying, “Don’t get down in the dumps, guys. Things are about to hit the fan. But believe God anyway! Believe in Me and what I’m about to tell you. I’m going home to my Father. And there are lots of nice houses where He lives. I’m going home to build you a house. So, if I’m going to build you a house, don’t you think I’m coming back for you? We’ll be together again. You know the way to get there; it’s through Me.”
Of course, the disciples heard Him but they didn’t understand Him and He had to do a lot of explaining. You can read that for yourself sometime. But one of the key elements in this chapter is Jesus’ promise to send a Comforter once He left. Who was that Comforter? The Holy Ghost.
This was a powerful meeting between Jesus and His disciples. He was warning them of what He was about to do. But, here’s one of the best parts! After He tells them about the Comforter, one of the last things He says during the conversation is this: “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)
Legacy!
Today, you and I are the disciples of Jesus. We’re His followers. That means everything He said to the disciples is applicable to us. If you’re a believer, you already know Jesus as your Savior. But do you know Him as your Prince of Peace? Or have you gotten caught up in the anxiety of life and settled for less than your legacy? Jesus commanded us not to be troubled. That means don’t be worried. He told us not to be scared when things look bad. How can we obey that command? By living in our legacy of peace.
Remember that we’re talking about Jesus’ personal peace here! He said, “My peace I give to you….” How’d you like to enjoy the peace Jesus has? You can. His peace is deeper than what the world offers. It’s not temporary tranquility. It’s a spiritual calm that let’s you know everything is going to be all right. That kind of peace isn’t something I dreamed up. It’s your legacy as a follower of Christ!
Peace Is In Your Covenant
A great price was paid to give you that peace, so never take it lightly. Jesus poured out great drops of blood and sweat at Gethsemane for your peace. He was beaten, scourged and tortured on the cross for your peace. He bore the sins of the world and was separated from the peace of God, so that it would never happen to you.
When Jesus went to the cross for your salvation, He had stripes laid on His back for your healing. 2 Corinthians 8:9 says, “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.” So we know prosperity is part of our legacy too.
Jesus accomplished so much through His death, burial and resurrection. But, before He even ascended to Heaven, He left us a legacy of peace. Why did Jesus talk about the Holy Spirit right before He said He’d give you peace? Because the Holy Spirit is our Comforter. That’s what Jesus called Him.
Notice in the scripture that Jesus didn’t call the Holy Spirit our Counselor. If you want counsel, talk to Jesus. If you want comfort, that’s the Holy Ghost’s job. The Bible says that Jesus is the Counselor, the Mighty God and the Prince of Peace!
Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you…” So, what have you done with the peace He left you? Have you accepted it and lived a life of peace even in troubling times? If not, you aren’t living in the fullness of your salvation. You aren’t enjoying your legacy!
Don’t Let Your Heart Be Troubled
What does the world give you? Every kind of trouble. The world gives 30-year mortgages, hospital bills, high divorce rates, suicides, drug cultures and every other thing meant to steal your peace. Yet, Jesus said, “Let not your heart be troubled.”
I don’t deny that I will face trouble in this world. But the Prince of Peace left us His peace, so I refuse to be troubled by it. Would you agree that being in three near-crash airplane situations is troubling? Yet I wasn’t afraid in any of them. That verse says, “Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” I know where I’m going if I bite the dust! And it ain’t a scary place!
The Bible says you aren’t to let your heart be afraid. That means that you have a choice of what you’re going to do when circumstances hit. When I saw smoke spiraling out of the engine during one of those plane incidents, did I have to fight fear? Oh, yes! My body was screaming, “I’m going to die here!” I had to be firm. I had to make a choice to not let my heart be afraid. I had to make a heart decision to obey God and have some faith.
My other options? Scream and cry like a baby. Cuss like a sailor and run up and down the aisles with my arms over my head in terror. I could have done that, you know! There were people choosing to do that!
The bottom line is that when problems arise, there’s a heart decision to be made. How am I going to act? What am I going to choose to think? Bad or good, it’s up to me whether I’m going to be proud of my legacy and stand strong in Jesus’ peace.
What I’m trying to show you is that you aren’t living in your legacy if you have peace about the electric bill, but you’re worried sick over the doctor’s report. The peace of God is powerful enough to keep you steadfast through any trial. It’s not what problems arise or what thoughts arise into your head that counts…it’s what you let your heart be troubled with that matters.
Jesse Duplantis, minister of the Gospel, motivational speaker, television personality, and best-selling author, has been in full-time ministry since 1976 and is the founder of Jesse Duplantis Ministries, located in the Greater New Orleans area of south Louisiana in the United States of America. With over four decades of sharing his unique blend of humor and faith around the world, generations of believers have been inspired by his messages and countless numbers have come to know Jesus Christ as Savior through his ministry.
Known for his unflinching, status-quo-breaking messages and humorous take on experiences in the life of the believer, Jesse continues to draw large audiences of believers through social media, television, and meetings held around the world. With speaking engagements booked years in advance, Jesse Duplantis continues to keep an intense traveling schedule, flying throughout the United States and the world preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. With no booking agents pursuing meetings for him and no set fees imposed upon churches for speaking engagements, Jesse chooses his outreach meetings based on the same two criteria he always has: invitations that come in and prayer over each one. This uncommon way of scheduling in today’s world means Jesse’s many followers may find him speaking in some of the largest churches and venues in America and the world, as well as a great many small and growing congregations, too. No church is too big or small for the Holy Spirit, as he says.
Side by side with his wife Cathy Duplantis, the co-founder and chief of staff of Jesse Duplantis Ministries and the senior pastor of Covenant Church in Destrehan, Louisiana, Jesse continues to fulfill his life’s calling by daily taking up the Great Commission of Jesus Christ: “Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). Through social media, television broadcasts, books, and other ministry products, as well as through many evangelistic meetings, the JDM website, the JDM app, and Voice of the Covenant magazine, Jesse Duplantis continues to see growth in his ministry and expand each year while maintaining his roots. Jesus is the center of his life. The salvation of lost people and the growth of believers is the purpose of his ministry. And for both he and his wife, every day is another day to “Reach People and Change Lives, One Soul at a Time.”