24-0121p - Detailed Summary

Preacher Jim continues with the sermon. Jesus was steadying the nerves of his disciples, who would soon face great adversity and see their Lord crucified. He wanted to place his peace in their hearts to carry them through those difficult times. This morning the lesson was challenging, but tonight the preacher brings comfort like a salve. The topic is peace. It will not be an exhaustive study, but it will provide a good understanding of biblical peace.

Our English word “peace” comes from the Greek word eirene (Irene), which means harmonious relationships between people and nations, friendliness, freedom from molestation, tranquility, and quietness. Peace is one of the nine fruits of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22-23, and these fruits are a gift from God. When we receive peace from God, we receive his special kind of peace.

The word “peace” appears in most books of the New Testament. A study of these examples gives us a clear idea of how to obtain peace in our lives. This morning the sermon addressed prayer during adverse times, noting that everyone in the congregation is either facing difficulties or knows someone who has suffered greatly or even died. Tonight’s message focuses on how to receive peace during those same difficult times.

In a world filled with negative energy—death, hate, evil, fear, anger, envy, strife, violence, and our own burdens of worry, anxiety, and stress—how do we find peace? All these negative emotions rob us of peace.

First, we must understand that there are no spiritual blessings outside of Christ, as taught in Ephesians 1-3. The peace the world offers may be limited, superficial, and even give a false sense of security. Lasting peace that gives life to both body and soul comes only from God. We must seek God for this peace.

Jesus invites us in Matthew 11:28-30: “Come to me, and I will give you rest.” He offers his own rest and peace. In Jesus’ day, farmers would yoke an older, experienced ox with a younger one so the older animal could teach the younger how to plow. Jesus uses this metaphor: “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me.” He is the older, more experienced one who can show us how to find rest and peace.

How comforting it is to know we have a God who is patient and understanding. Jesus was tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin. He is the perfect teacher of morality and virtue, able to give the most effective advice on life and how to avoid the pitfalls of sin. Jesus is humble and gentle, never overbearing or abrasive. In him we find rest for our souls—true peace.

Before his betrayal, Jesus gave final instructions and encouragement to his disciples. In John 16:33 he said, “I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” He made a qualifying statement: peace is found in him. We must be in Christ to receive spiritual blessings.

How do we get into Christ? We all know the basics, but they are worth repeating. First, hear the good news—the gospel—of how Jesus loves us and died for us while we were still sinners. God sent Jesus to die on the cross so that if we believe in him, our sins can be washed away. We must believe that God raised him from the dead.

We must also decide in our hearts to repent—to change direction and follow Christ’s teaching, becoming like him, full of love. At its core, being a Christian means love and obedience to Christ. We must be peaceful and truthful, giving up the old way of life that is contrary to God’s way. We must confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe that God raised him from the dead. When we are baptized, we die with him and are raised to new life, just as he was raised from the dead. That is how we get into Christ.

There are different ways to obtain peace while we are in Christ. First, peace must be actively pursued; the desire for it must be in our hearts. David wrote in Psalm 34:14, “Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.” Romans 14:19 urges us to “make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.” Hebrews 12:14 says, “Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy, because without holiness no one will see the Lord.”

We hear strong action words: seek, pursue, make every effort. Obtaining peace requires action on our part. In 2 Peter 1:2, Peter writes, “Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.” We receive grace and peace in abundance as we continually pursue knowledge of God by spending time in his word.

The deeper our understanding of God’s word, the more we trust him, knowing he is in control and nothing can separate us from his hand or his love. Psalm 29:11 says, “The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.” This harmonizes with Peter’s teaching. God strengthens us through knowledge of his word, which increases our faith, which increases the grace he gives us, and then he gives us more peace.

Paul’s teaching in Philippians 4:4-9 is a great paragraph that serves as the antidote to anxiety and worry. It begins with an apostolic command: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

These are some of the most comforting words in the Bible. Paul commands Christians to rejoice and be happy because Christ died to set us free, he is in control, and he lives inside us. Paul shifts the reader’s focus away from their own problems to an outward focus on good things.

If you are being beaten down and feeling low, get your mind off yourself. Fill your head with good thoughts. Distract yourself. Get busy. Develop an outward focus. This practice protects not only your mind (your soul) but also your physical body.

Proverbs and the Psalms warn repeatedly about the damage caused by holding onto unconfessed sin. It deteriorates the bones and leads to depression. David experienced this when he kept his sin hidden; he could not sleep, his sheets were soaked with sweat, and he had no peace. Only when he got on his knees and confessed his sins to God was the burden lifted and he was freed.

Prayer is powerful and confession is cleansing to the soul. James instructs us to confess our sins to one another and pray for one another. We do not need to share every detail, but we can tell a brother or sister we are struggling with a sin so they can pray for us. We do not even have to come before the whole church—just ask someone right then and there.

When righteous people pray for a sinning brother or sister, God forgives that sin. This is how we begin to get peace. This is how we become healthy mentally, spiritually, and physically. Congregations become healthy when members care for one another, pray for one another, and look out for one another.

When we put what we have learned into practice, as Paul teaches, we receive peace and the God of peace himself is with us. Just knowing that can bring great comfort. If you are tormented by negative emotions, those emotions can steal the peace God wants to give you. It is nearly impossible to obtain such peace on our own or from the world.

Thankfully, God spoke through Paul and showed us how to have a healthy mind and soul.

Matthew 6:25-34 is examined briefly to highlight key points about worry. Jesus commands, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?”

He points to the birds of the air, which do not sow, reap, or store in barns, yet the heavenly Father feeds them. Are we not much more valuable than they? Who of us, by worrying, can add a single hour to his life? Why worry about clothes? Look at the lilies of the field—they do not labor or spin, yet not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of them.

If God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, “What shall we eat?” or “What shall we drink?” or “What shall we wear?” For the pagans run after these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Jesus directly states the reason people worry. Worry, stress, and anxiety, if not dealt with in a healthy way, rob us of peace.

Jesus says, “O you of little faith.” These words should sink in for anyone dealing with worry and anxiety. God does not want us to worry. Notice how many times Jesus says “do not worry” in these verses: do not worry about your life, do not worry about what you will eat, do not worry about your clothes. Worry is the great peace killer.

Jesus declares, “O you of little faith.” People who worry have little faith. This truth is confirmed in Isaiah 26:3: “You keep in perfect peace those whose mind is steadfast, because they trust in you.” Faith in God means keeping our mind fixed on him.

The lack of faith is the lack of trust in God. If you worry, you are not trusting in God. The preacher has observed Christians who have been in the body of Christ for decades and are still chronic worriers. He urges them to give up that worrying, to trust God, and to give the burden to him.

Pray to God and dump your burden on him—his shoulders are broad. Jesus has walked this path before and did it perfectly. He is better than any tightrope walker with a balancing beam and blindfold. He lived life sinlessly and knows exactly what we are going through. Do not worry. Trust God.

No one can love you more than Jesus. He will see that your needs are met. Trust him, and in the absence of worry he will fill you with his peace. God’s love is unconditional, and he wants to bless you with peace. If anyone needs to experience that peace, the church is ready to pray with you, brothers and sisters.

The planned scripture reading for the evening was Proverbs 16:7: “When a man’s ways are pleasing to the Lord, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him.” When we trust God and walk in his ways, our peace becomes infectious—others around us will also be at peace.

Finally, returning to John 14:27: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. Let not your heart be troubled nor let it be fearful.” Let God bless you.

If anyone needs a reason to get rid of anxiety, worry, or anything robbing them of peace, the church will gladly pray for you. Come forward as we stand and sing.