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PEACE: MORE THAN A FEELING – IT’S A FORCE
### A Teaching by Rick Renner with Commentary
PART ONE: THE ORIGINAL TEACHING
Peace is more than a feeling — it’s a force.
The Greek word “eirēnē” describes the cessation of war. If there’s a war raging inside you, peace can end it. Conflicts will be put away, struggles silenced, and chaos replaced with order.
It’s a time of rebuilding and reconstruction after the battle has ceased. Instead of constant fighting and striving, the peace of God settles your heart and empowers you to move forward.
This word is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew concept of “shalom” — wholeness, completeness, tranquility of soul that remains steady regardless of outward pressure.
That’s how powerful God’s peace is.
— Rick Renner
PART TWO: COMMENTARY ON THE TEACHING
Introduction: The Misunderstood Concept of Peace
In contemporary culture, peace is often reduced to a feeling—a fleeting emotion dependent on favorable circumstances. We say, “I feel at peace” when things are going well, and “I’ve lost my peace” when trouble comes. But Rick Renner challenges this superficial understanding by taking us back to the original languages of Scripture.
Peace, according to Renner, is not merely a feeling; it is a FORCE. It is an active, powerful reality that can transform the internal landscape of the human soul.
The Greek Word: Eirēnē
Renner begins with the Greek word eirēnē, which is translated “peace” in the New Testament. This word carries a rich meaning:
Cessation of War – At its core, eirēnē describes the end of hostilities. It is the moment when warring parties lay down their weapons, when conflict ceases, when peace treaties are signed. When applied to the internal life, it means that the war raging inside you—the battle between fear and faith, anxiety and trust, chaos and calm—can come to an end.
Conflicts Put Away – The word suggests not just a temporary truce but a genuine putting away of conflict. The issues that caused the war are resolved. The points of contention are settled. Peace is not a ceasefire; it is a lasting resolution.
Struggles Silenced – The noise of struggle—the internal arguments, the racing thoughts, the endless worries—is silenced. Not suppressed, but genuinely quieted. The voice of fear is drowned out by the voice of peace.
Chaos Replaced with Order – Chaos is the absence of order; peace is the restoration of order. When peace comes, things are put in their proper place. Priorities are clarified. Perspectives are corrected. The乱 of life is replaced with divine order.
The Hebrew Concept: Shalom
Renner connects eirēnē to its Hebrew counterpart, shalom. This word is even richer in meaning:
Wholeness – Shalom is not just the absence of conflict; it is the presence of wholeness. Every part of your being—spirit, soul, and body—is integrated and functioning as designed.
Completeness – Nothing is missing. Nothing is broken. Every need is supplied. Every wound is healed. Every gap is filled.
Tranquility of Soul – This is a deep, settled calm that is not dependent on external circumstances. It is the peace that Jesus spoke of when He said, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27).
Remaining Steady Regardless of Outward Pressure – This is the most remarkable aspect of shalom. It is not peace because everything is easy; it is peace even when everything is hard. It is the calm in the storm, the stillness in the chaos, the confidence in the crisis.
The Power of God’s Peace
Renner concludes: “That’s how powerful God’s peace is.”
God’s peace is powerful enough to:
– End internal wars
– Silence internal struggles
– Replace chaos with order
– Rebuild and reconstruct after battle
– Settle the heart
– Empower forward movement
– Remain steady under pressure
The Work of Peace
Renner mentions an important aspect of peace: “It’s a time of rebuilding and reconstruction after the battle has ceased.”
Peace is not just the end of conflict; it is the beginning of construction. After the war ends, the rebuilding begins. What was destroyed is restored. What was broken is mended. What was lost is recovered.
This is the sequence:
1. War – The internal battle rages
2. Peace – The battle ceases
3. Reconstruction – What was damaged is rebuilt
4. Movement – You are empowered to go forward
Many believers want to skip to reconstruction without allowing peace to do its work. But you cannot build on a battlefield. The war must end before construction can begin. Peace prepares the ground for progress.
PART THREE: SCRIPTURAL FOUNDATIONS
John 14:27 – “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” Jesus’ peace is distinct from worldly peace. It is not dependent on circumstances.
Philippians 4:7 – “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” This peace acts as a sentinel, guarding the heart and mind from attack.
Isaiah 26:3 – “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” Perfect peace (shalom shalom) is the portion of those who fix their minds on God.
Colossians 3:15 – “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.” Peace is to be the umpire, the decision-maker, the ruling force in our hearts.
Romans 5:1 – “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Peace with God is the foundation for the peace of God.
PART FOUR: PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
1. Recognize Peace as a Force
Do not treat peace as a passive feeling you wait for. Treat it as an active force you receive. When chaos threatens, command peace to rule. When fear attacks, declare peace to reign.
2. Allow Peace to End the War
Identify the internal wars you are fighting. Is it worry about finances? Fear about health? Anxiety about relationships? Let God’s peace speak to that war and command it to cease.
3. Move from Conflict to Construction
After peace has done its work, do not remain idle. Begin to rebuild. Reconstruct what the enemy has destroyed. Move forward in the strength that peace provides.
4. Cultivate Shalom
Seek wholeness, not just calm. Ask God to bring every area of your life into integration and completeness. Let peace touch your spirit, soul, and body.
5. Stay Steady Under Pressure
The proof of peace is not the absence of pressure but the presence of calm in the midst of it. Practice remaining steady when circumstances are unsteady.
PART FIVE: DECLARATIONS BASED ON THIS TEACHING
Declare these aloud:
- I DECLARE that peace is not just a feeling but a force in my life!
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I DECLARE that every internal war raging within me is ended by the peace of God!
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I DECLARE that conflicts are put away, struggles are silenced, and chaos is replaced with order!
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I DECLARE that this is a time of rebuilding and reconstruction in my life!
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I DECLARE that the peace of God settles my heart and empowers me to move forward!
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I DECLARE that I have shalom—wholeness, completeness, and tranquility of soul!
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I DECLARE that my peace remains steady regardless of outward pressure!
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I DECLARE that the peace of God guards my heart and mind through Christ Jesus!
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I DECLARE that my mind is stayed on God, and I am kept in perfect peace!
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I DECLARE that the peace of God rules in my heart as umpire and decision-maker!
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I DECLARE that I have peace with God through justification by faith!
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I DECLARE that I receive the peace of God NOW!
PART SIX: PRAYER
Father, I thank You for the revelation that peace is more than a feeling—it is a force. I thank You that the Greek word eirēnē describes the cessation of war, and the Hebrew word shalom describes wholeness, completeness, and tranquility of soul.
Lord, I invite Your peace to end every war raging inside me. Every conflict, every struggle, every chaos—let Your peace speak and bring order. Let the battles cease so that rebuilding can begin.
I receive Your peace that settles my heart and empowers me to move forward. I receive the wholeness and completeness that only You can give. I receive the tranquility that remains steady regardless of outward pressure.
Let Your peace rule in my heart. Guard my heart and mind through Christ Jesus. Keep me in perfect peace as my mind is stayed on You.
I declare that I am at peace—with You, with myself, with others, with my circumstances.
In Jesus’ mighty name. Amen.
CONCLUSION: THE FORCE OF PEACE
Rick Renner’s teaching is a powerful corrective to the superficial understanding of peace that pervades modern culture. Peace is not a fleeting feeling dependent on favorable circumstances. It is a force—a powerful, active reality that can end wars, silence struggles, replace chaos with order, and empower forward movement.
It is the Greek eirēnē—the cessation of conflict. It is the Hebrew shalom—wholeness, completeness, tranquility that remains steady under pressure.
That is how powerful God’s peace is.
Receive it today. Let it end the war. Let it begin the rebuilding. Let it empower your movement. Let it keep you steady.
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