Reading …

Introduction …

  • We have spoken about …
    • Christ the hub of our lives …
      • Gives purpose … to live is Christ
      • Gives an eternal future… To die is gain.
    • The mind of Christ in us …
    • Humility results in exaltation.
      • We are the children of God.
    • Rejoicing in Christ …
    • Rejoicing in Humility …
  • Today we speak about rejoicing in the peace of God.

The World’s Definition of Peace …

  • The world’s view of peace is usually very negative and limited …
    • A state or period in which there is no war… confrontation
    • Personal relationships…
    • Political and international
    • Freedom from disturbance …
    • A war experienced in ...
  • The peace the world offers is usually short lived …
    • World wars ...21 years
    • Israel and Palestinians
    • Our marriages ...
  • The problem is they are barking up the wrong tree in their efforts at solving the problems.
    • Peace in this troubled world is not possible.

The Bible’s view of Peace…

  • In our reading peace is mentioned on 2 occasions…
    • The peace of God … v7
    • The God of peace … v9
  • Turn with me to John 14:27 …
    • Jesus washes their feet …
      • For them a slightly disturbing lesson in humility and service
    • Jesus predicts His betrayal … John 13:18-30
    • Jesus predicts His death and Peter’s denial … John 13:31-38
    • He is about to leave them ... John 14:1-3
    • There is tension, suspicion, anxiety in the air …
    • Context …Occasion is the last supper …
    • The dinner party does not seem to be going well …
  • Jesus says to them …
    • Trust in God … Trust in me.
    • Peace I leave with you …
      • My peace, I give to you
      • Not as the world gives you
    • Let not your hearts be troubled ... Do not be afraid … John 14:27
    • Let not your hearts be troubled.
    • Then later He again reassures them …
  • The next 48 hours and all that it has in store for Jesus …
    • His arrest, betrayal, Peter’s denial, the beating, scoffing, mocking, hatred.
    • His agonising death on the cross …
    • God’s judgement during the dark hours.
  • Yet in the face of all of this suffering ... more than all the sons of men …
    • He says “My peace … that I am experiencing right now ... I leave with you”
  • So what can we say about the bible’s view on peace …
    • The bible’s view of peace is not like the world’s view of peace …
    • It transcends all (human) understanding… Philippians 4:7
  • In the Old Testament the scriptures use the Hebrew word shalom …
    • A greeting Jews use to this day …
  • It has a broad base of meaning …
    • Wholeness, unity, harmony, completeness
    • It includes prosperity, health, fulfillment.
  • It is used 50 times in relation to absence of strife
    • It is used 120 plus times with regard to the presence of God in and with His people.
  • So in conclusion we must say peace in the bible is about relationships …
    • Because He is the God of peace
    • Primarily with God …
    • Secondly we are made for Him and in His presence only do we experience the wholeness promised in shalom...

The Godhead of Peace …

  • Paul uses the term, God of peace, frequently in his epistles ... Romans 15, 1 Corinthians 14
    • Jesus says to his disciples ...my peace I give ... John 14:27
    • The fruit of the Spirit is peace… the Comforter… Galatians 5:22
  • Thus the entire Godhead is Peace …
    • It is who they are …
  • Who you are dictates how you think and act.
    • There is no truth in him. When he lies he speaks his native language for he is a liar and the father of lies.... John 8:44
      • Who the devil is dictates what he does.
    • Not a God of disorder but peace … 1 Corinthians 14:33
    • God so loved that he gave
    • God of peace made peace … Colossians 1:20
    • It is who they are.
    • Therefore man's finite minds cannot comprehend it
      • And their efforts fail because they ignore the God of peace.
      • And we need the Spirit of peace to reveal truth to us.
    • This is His destiny… his purpose …
    • Not my will but yours Father.
    • Into your hands I commit my spirit.
      • He knows the Fathers will so the future which holds so much pain holds no fear for him.
      • Who for the joy set before Him endured the cross… Hebrews 12:2
    • My peace I give … not as the world gives
    • Let not your hearts be troubled.
    • Speaking to the Jews about the devil Jesus said …
    • Similarly how the members of the Godhead behave, react, think is in keeping with who they are.
    • In the same way as love is of God so peace is of God.
    • Their peace transcends finite human understanding because it is of an infinite Godhead… Philippians 4:7
    • Jesus does not hit the panic button in the garden as the cross looms near
    • With absolute confidence and trust He says ...
    • And to his anxious disciples he says …

The source of Peace …

  • When you are experiencing problems where do you go …
    • Because they are creators or experts in their fields …
    • Financial … to financial adviser.
    • Sickness … Doctor or specialist.
    • Broken digital watch … to the supplier … Garmin
  • We have been talking about experiencing joy in every situation at all times .
    • The reality is that we all experience ...
      • Nights when sleep does not come easily
      • When there are differences of opinion that develop into open disagreement
      • When difficulty, anxiety, concern and fear are our reality.
    • Who/where do we turn to ...
    • But the truth is that it is not a reality for all of us …
  • You need to go to your Creator …
    • And He invites you to come to Him… and will give you rest ...
    • He knows you … He understands your circumstances … He loves you
  • The source of peace is found in ...
    • The God of Peace…
    • the Prince of Peace,
    • The Spirit of Peace

Application …

  • The songwriter said …
    • You’ll never know real peace till you know Jesus … no matter how or where you try.
  • The world tries to find or create peace …
    • Entertainment, work, multiple relationships, hobbies and toys.
    • Pornography, drugs and alcohol … and other addictions.
      • But none of them work.
    • They attempt to blot out the voice of God with …

To know the peace of God this is what is required.

1. Knowing the God of Peace

  • Principal …
    • One cannot experience the peace of God if you do not know the God of peace …
  • Problem is in our sinful state we are enemies of God …
    • By the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace … Ephesians 2:14
    • That He might reconcile both (Jew and Gentile) to God in one body … the church… Ephesians 2:16
    • At one time you were .... Without hope and God in the world … Ephesians 2:12
    • But now in Christ Jesus you have been brought near
    • For thru Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father … Ephesians 2:18
  • Paul is talking about the Jews and Gentiles being brought into the family of God
    • God the father is working through Christ the son by the Spirit of God.
      • The entire Godhead is involved in restoring the relationship between God and man....
    • Thru this work of salvation man who was the enemy of God is now firmly entrenched in the family of God who is now our father.
      • The consequence of this is that we now know the God of peace …
      • And there is peace with God.
    • To procure this salvation of men ...
  • What drives man to seek God …
    • Spending so much money on statues, Cathedrals, alters, etc.
    • Through religious practices.
  • Guilt is the great driver …
    • Our sin is a heavy burden
    • I’m religious … go to church …
      • Therefore God owes me.
    • I’m just as good as … if not better than
      • Unfair to exclude me
    • There is no such thing as hell …
      • How can a loving God damn a sinner to eternal punishment
    • All faiths lead to the same God
    • Because they do not know the God of peace.
    • We are all aware that we have fallen short of God’s legal requirements.
    • So we use very creative ways of trying to appease our sense of guilt …
    • But they never experience the peace of God
  • But Paul is able , with great confidence to say …
    • I know in whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed to Him against that day … 2 Timothy 1:12
  • You must know the God of peace in order to experience the peace of God

2. Experiencing the Peace of God…

  • It is one thing to know the God of peace …
    • Thomas was there when Jesus said “be anxious for nothing.
      • But circumstances overcame him and doubt swept him away.
    • Did that make him a bad guy …
      • No … It just proved he was normal
    • But for many of us experiencing the peace of God is different …
  • Hear Paul as he writes …
    • Everything … means just that
    • Prayer and supplication … requests made earnestly with humility
    • But in everything by prayer and supplications with thanksgiving make your requests known … and the peace of God… Philippians 4:6-7

Not demanding.

  • With thanksgiving … in faith, believing.
  • To experience His peace we must trust Him ...
    • A humble prayer with thanksgiving does not dictate the outcome …to God
      • It accepts the outcome as God's best for us.
    • We do not always know the best answer to our requests …
      • Believing He does takes real faith
      • And ensures his peace … for us.
    • Leaving the outcome to Him ensures peace always.
  • The song …
    • When I first began to walk with the Lord I really did not trust him

How He longed for me to understand that I could.

  • Surely that is true of many of us
  • We see Him as a killjoy.
  • And it's only when we learn to trust that we enjoy peace.
  • When we are resting in His faithfulness and love…
    • His peace will guard our …Hearts … Minds …
  • But how do we achieve this peace on the moment by moment basis

3. Think on these Things …Philippians vs 8-9

  • Paul's final instructions are in verses 8,9
    • Meditate (Think about} and practise…
    • This is a concentrated application of the mind…
    • Thinking thru things and coming to a conclusion.
    • His final challenge requires us to do two things …
    • The starting point is meditating on … Think on
  • The things that are so important are …
    • Noble
    • Just
    • Pure
    • Lovely
    • Of good report
    • Virtuous
    • Praiseworthy
  • These items are important because all of them are found in the God of Peace, the Prince of Peace and the Spirit of Peace.
    • If we are to have the mind of Christ we need to spend time on Godly things.
    • And then put them into practice …
  • Listen to what Jesus said…
    • He who sent me is with me. The Father has not left me alone for I always do those things that please Him … John 8:29
  • Obedience and the presence of the God of Peace are tied together.
    • When we walk in disobedience, guilt destroys our peace.
  • Paul says of those who are enemies of the cross…
    • We need to set our minds on these heavenly things.

Summary …

  • So we rejoice in the Lord Always because ...
    • And give you His peace that passes all understanding.
    • We have a personal relationship with the God of Peace our Father
    • We TRUST the Prince of Peace the Lord Jesus with every concern because He is our source of peace
    • By the Spirit of Peace we think, understand and are able to walk the life worthy of the Gospel.
    • You need to OBEY the God of Peace and then He will stay with you.
  • If you do not spend time on the things of the God of Peace you can't expect to rejoice in the peace of God.