Verses 3 and 4 of Psalm 121 reveal to us an important attribute of God. That attribute is His never failing watchfulness over His people. "He that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep". These verses bring us much comfort and assurance. According to these verses, God assumes the place of a watchman. Wealthy families employ a security guard to look after their house and property. These guards have to be awake throughout the night to protect the families which employ them. When the members of the family know that the security guard is faithful, they sleep in the night peacefully. This is the blessing we receive from our Heavenly faithful Security Guard. The restful sleep speaks to us of deep peace. David was surrounded by distress and hounded by the enemy, but he said something remarkable in Psalm 4:8; "I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety". This peace and sleep came to him because of the assurance he had of God's watching care over him. So according to Psalm 121 peace is the third blessing that we receive from the Lord Who made the heaven and the earth. Do you have true heavenly peace in your heart?

The Bible speaks to us of three kinds of peace; peace with God, peace of God, and peace with man. Many people today seek after peace. They say, "I have no peace in my heart; please help me to obtain the same". What they mean by saying this is that they do not have the peace of God. But little do they realize that they need peace WITH God before they can have the peace OF God. The Bible says that we are enemies of God because of our sin. But God in His love has made a provision to abolish this enmity through the
death of His Son. " For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life" (Romans 5: 10). And this is what the Lord Jesus did when He was hanging on the cross. He took the sinful hand of man and the holy hand of God and brought them together. If you lack peace, your primary need is to establish peace with God. That you can do by confessing that you are a sinner before God, and receiving the Lord Jesus into your heart as your Lord and Savior. Once you establish peace WITH God that way, you will experience the peace OF God in your heart. The Lord Jesus wants us to have perfect peace in our heart.

The Bible speaks to us of seven kinds of peace that we can experience as believers. These are also the seven tests of peace. Please check if you have this kind of peace.

1. PERFECT PEACE -"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee" (Isaiah 26:3). An alternative translation to "perfect peace" given in the margin is "peace, peace". This is the kind of peace God wants to give us. It is an ever-abiding peace. It come$: to us through the assurance of forgiveness of sins and eternal life. Keep your mind rested on the Lord Jesus, then He will give you perfect peace.

2. GREAT PEACE -"Great peace have they which love thy law; and nothing shall offend them" (Psalm 119:165). This verse speaks to us of the peace we derive from reading the Scriptures. Can you truly say that you love the Word of God? In Psalm 1 the Lord speaks to us of the blessedness of the man who meditates on the Scriptures day and night. Believers must overcome the sin of daydreaming. Instead, we must meditate on the Word of God. "My soul hath kept thy testimonies; and I love them exceedingly" (Psalm 119:167). "How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" (Psalm 119:103). If we love the Word of God, we will have great peace in our hearts.

3. ABUNDANCE OF PEACE -"Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth" (Jeremiah 33:6). Whatever God gives us, He gives us in abundance. Man does not know how to give in abundance. In John 14:27 the Lord Jesus says, "Peace I leave with you not as the world giveth, give I unto you". He gives us abundance of peace. Some people have peace only when their circumstances are favorable. Some Christians lose their peace when someone utters one or two words against them. They begin to worry over what others have said about them. Some even go into depression. Such believers cannot say that they have abundance of peace. We must learn to claim Jeremiah 33:6 for our lives on a daily basis. We must pray saying, "Lord, please reveal to me the abundance of peace that Thou hast promised". Nothing can penetrate or disturb this God -given abundant peace.

STRIVE IN PRAYER - 2 BAKHT SINGH

We who are believers have become co-intercessors with the Lord Jesus Christ, Who is our great heavenly High Priest. Often we do not realize, what a great privilege it is to be co-intercessors with the Lord Jesus Christ, to intercede for God's servants and His people. We also do not realize how much others depend upon our intercession.

There is going to be a time of much suffering, persecution and difficulties for all believers. Some believers are tempted even now to call themselves, Harijan Christians to get admission into colleges secure jobs or scholarships. They are ashamed to confess the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Some people are ashamed to carry the Bible or pray in public. By our intercession such people can be
delivered. Those who are overcomers have the privilege of interceding for people who are in such danger. If we fail God by not interceding, as we should, God can raise another testimony, but we will suffer with other people. In this respect, now we have a tremendous responsibility for all those who are facing great persecution. Our intercession is so very necessary for God's servants, fellow believers and all God's people in the whole world. Paul the apostle went on requesting believers in different assemblies to intercede for him. "Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's. sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me- (Rom.15:30). "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known. The mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak" (Eph. 6:18-20). We have to intercede individually, as a family, and as a church. By our intercession God can deliver many people and prepare them for the coming persecution. At the same time we also can be strengthened. May the Lord grant us a travailing and agonizing burden of prayer for God's servants, fellow believers and those whom we meet here and there.

GOD'S SERVANT - BAKHT SINGH

This message is primarily intended for those who are in the Lord's service, who have heard the call of God to serve Him and to give all that they have to Him. Secondly, it is for those who have a real and sincere desire to be used of the Lord even though they are not able to give their whole time to is service. There are some who have not heard a call to give up their jobs, but they have a clear consciousness of God's desire for them to be such as can be used by Him.

Now, first of all it is necessary that you should be very clear and sure in your calling for God's service. Some of you may have been used by God during the past weeks, months or years in a greater or lesser measure, and there may be a tendency to be satisfied because of what has happened in the past. Let us remember, however, that there is a still greater blessing and fruitfulness in store for all of us, in a greater and enlarged ministry. God wants us to bring forth "much fruit". There are times when by some means the other He reminds us of past mistakes, that these may be brought before Him, and confessed. By this means those very same weaknesses, faced and overcome in His strength can enable us to be more useful in the future. Such experiences can be compared to a very costly handkerchief which has been spoiled by a drop of ink on it. Let however that spoiled handkerchief be given to an artist, and that very spot can be changed into a beautiful flower. In this way, the costly but spoiled handkerchief becomes still more valuable. In the same way when we are faithful and sincere in confessing our failures and mistakes, these very mistakes can be used of the Lord to increase our fruitfulness.

Once in a very wealthy home many guests and great persons came to stay for a week. The mother told the children not to ask for anything while the guests were there. One small girl, however, became very impatient, and could not wait so long. One day she took something from the table herself so the mother told her to leave the table and go to a
corner, where she had to stand with her face to the wall and window. The poor child shed many tears because of this punishment, but nobody noticed her. In the party, however, there was a very clever artist. When all were asleep he came downstairs with his brush and paints, and in the very same corner where the child had stood, he drew a beautiful design. Next morning when the guests came for breakfast, they saw a change in the corner, and before they had food, they went to admire the beauty and scenery of the
wall-painting. The guests understood why the picture had been drawn there, and from that day, the child was given much more love, because through her punishment others had been benefited. In the same way, even though you have made mistakes do not be ashamed to confess them before the Lord, because they can be used of Him to bless you and others.