I need God's peace
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Big Idea:
Big Idea:
When I know God, I will have His peace and won’t be stressed out.
Intro:
Intro:
Good morning Church Online, thanks for joining us.
[Some of you have probably noticed a newer family hanging around church and Life Groups lately. Maybe you’ve seen them at the office. Maybe you’ve seen them rockin TRC merch and thought, “Who are these people?” Well today, I’d like to officially introduce Dennis and Katie Gervais.
I won’t tell their whole story - I’ll let them do that as you get to know them - but they are spending the next year as church planting residents with us. Their heart is to start a new church, in the town they love and live in, Rocky Hill. And we’re going to help them do that in at least two ways:
We are going to train them. Over the next 12 months, they will spend time learning and working in the different ministries here at TRC. We’re also going to pray and plan with them to help develop and clarify what God is calling them to do.
We’re going to support them. This includes prayer. It includes friendship. It includes financially. It may even include physically. What I mean by that is maybe God is calling YOU to go help them? If that’s the case, I want to give you permission (not that you need it) to do so. Our relationship with this family will not end in 12 months. I’ve told them before, we are WITH them. And if you are with us, and God calls you to go with them, you are still with us too. Why? Because we are a family. Because that’s how we do things in the Kingdom of God.
So, I don’t want to take too much more time because you’ll have plenty of time to discuss this further with them... But River Church family , this is Dennis and Katie (and Elisa and Ben?), they’re planting a church in Rocky Hill, and we’re gonna help them do that. Can we pray for them?]
Alright [get off my stage]… I love hip hop music. Growing up in my house, there were two kinds of music playing:
Motown music (usually as my mom was cleaning).
And hip hop music (from my brother and I).
I know it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. Maybe you don’t like the way the music sounds. Maybe it’s hard for you to understand. And maybe, even when you do understand, you don’t like what you hear. I get that - rap can definitely speak about silly things.
But personally, I’ve always loved hip hop. Not just for the beats, but because of its ability to tell stories. True hip hop is powerful in that way. It can communicate in ways that help you understand someone’s story and struggle. And I have a deep appreciation for Christians who use hip hop to glorify God, to talk about God, and also to communicate the struggle we feel following Jesus in a broken world.
I was in Vermont earlier this week, and driving home, I was listening to the Rapzilla Christian playlist and this powerful song came on. The artist, Bizzle, started telling this story about how...
He was watching Oceans 8 and realized he was cheering for the bad guys. Like he wanted to the thieves to get away .
And that was strange because cheering for the bad guys isn’t a normal thing. But it felt normal while watching this movie. But he doesn’t watch “Law and Order SVU” and hope those bad guys get away. Strange.
Then, he realized what was happening. The director had strategically shaped his perspective. And then Bizzle connects it to reality.
There are two directors in this world: God and Satan. Both desire to shape our perspective. Which one do we listen to?
Today, we continue our new sermon series, “Why am I stressed?” Last week, we discussed how a lack of rest is often contributing to our stress. But it’s not the only thing...
Many times we’re stressed because we’re listening to the wrong voice. Last week, I shared the following verse, Jesus said...
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
The devil (the thief) wants to steal, kill, and destroy you. And stress is one of his favorite weapons to do it. And he uses his voice to promote a perspective of stress. And if stress is - as we defined it last time...
...the fearful concern experienced when life’s demands seem greater than my ability to meet them.
Then, the devil is constantly whispering into your ear, “Look at all this stuff happening. What are you going to do?!? You can’t handle this!” Do you ever feel like that? Yea… it’s the devil. And when we believe him, that’s when we get overwhelmed and stressed out.
However, Jesus has come to give us abundant life! And God’s speaking to us too. He wants to shape our story. It’s why His Word says...
do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Btw, want to make sure I honor the work I’m basing this series on. I’m currently reading “The Stressless Life” by Vance Pitman and his work influences much of what I’m sharing over the next few weeks. And, Pastor Vance points out that in this verse Paul (inspired by God) present us with two stories to choose from...
When we encounter “stressors”...
Again, stressors being the daily circumstances in our lives that create the levels of pressure, tension, and strain that can lead to stress.
We can either respond by being anxious - we can be stressed out.
Or, we can talk with God (pray).
Think about your life right now. Are you overwhelmed? Are you stressed? Why?
Is it because you’re listening to Satan’s voice?
Now, if your humble and honest answer is “Yes,” does that mean you’re purposefully following Satan? No, I don’t think so. While I fully believe the Scriptures when it says we are all sinners, I think very few of us are willingly following the devil.
However, the reason it SEEMS like it (at least when it comes to our response to stress) is because he’s tricked us. He’s lied to us. He’s deceived us. And when we believe his lies, it leads to stress, which leads to destruction. So, how do we change that?
I believe the answer is simple: We get to KNOW God. Those who know God listen to His voice.
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
And God’s voice always leads us to peace.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
You keep him in perfect peace
whose mind is stayed on you,
because he trusts in you.
Some of you may be thinking, “But I do know God and I’m still stressed.” I don’t doubt that. But, in the Bible, many times “to know” is not just an acknowledgement, agreement, or retaining of information. It’s a relational,it’s deep trust, an intimate experience. Some of us know God exists, but we don’t KNOW Him.
Who He is.
What He’s like.
How He acts and what He promises.
But when we do KNOW God in this way, we’ll live with supernatural peace instead of stress. So, let’s look to God’s word, so we can get to know Him. I want to look at four things specifically that will help us know Him.
Exposition:
Exposition:
Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!
Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
First thing I’d like us to know about God is...
1. God is good.
1. God is good.
You’ve likely heard this before. Maybe you’ve doubted this before. Honestly, as I was preparing this sermon, I began to think about ways to logically prove this to you. Then, I realized I don’t need to. Not that logic is incompatible or unnecessary to our faith - it is! God created logic AND uses it. But God’s goodness is true whether or not we personally believe it - whether or not I can prove it. As the apostle once said, “Let God be true though every one were a liar...” (Rom 3:4)
Therefore, it is not my responsibility to prove God’s goodness, but I do need to proclaim it. And I tell you confidently, “God is good.” And one thing you need to know...
The Lord is good to everyone.
He showers compassion on all his creation.
Alright, next thing to know about God is...
2. God is in control.
2. God is in control.
For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
I believe God’s word when it says He holds all things together. It means He’s in complete control.
When things go right, God is in control, because...
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
When things go wrong, God is in control, because, as Joseph said, even when...
You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.
God controls everything! He’s always in control. He says...
I make known the end from the beginning,
from ancient times, what is still to come.
I say, ‘My purpose will stand,
and I will do all that I please.’
I’ve come to personally know this in my own life. When Janelle and I first met, we’d hear other people’s miraculous God-stories - what we sometimes call their testimony - and we’d say, “We don’t really have a testimony.”
And God was like, “Oh… you want a testimony? Alright, buckle up!”
You’ve heard me tell the story of my oldest son, George, and his birth. First of all, Janelle wasn’t supposed to be able to get pregnant. But she did. He did the medically impossible because He’s good and in control.
But then, Georgie had a traumatic birth. He was born dead, had to be revived, only to have severe brain damage. But guess what? Even when things went wrong, God was in control. And God personally proved that to me when He spoke to my heart that He was going to heal my son. The doctors said the damage was done. But, “May God be true and every man a liar!” And you know today, that God was right! My son is healed.
But the range of God’s sovereignty (which just means God is in control) didn’t stop there. A couple of years later, Janelle’s cousin had a baby girl. And something was wrong. Her stomach wasn’t working properly and the baby couldn’t eat. It was bad.
But I remember messaging her and sharing the story of Georgie’s miraculous healing. And I truly believe one reason God gave us our story, is so it could strengthen Janelle’s cousin’s faith and remind her that the God is always in control. And like our story, she now has a story of her daughter being miraculously healed.
I know not everyone has the story of miraculous healings. I don’t know why. But I do know God is in control. He knows why. And we can trust in HIs control.
Which brings me to the next thing… we can trust God, because...
3. God loves us.
3. God loves us.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,
God loves us. Let that sink in for a moment...
Let the truth of God’s word, which is living and active, penetrate your soul and shape it. Know that God loves you. Maybe your willingness to believe that has been impacted by unstable people or circumstances. That’s understandable, but it’s not right.
God is the source of all things. He’s the standard. We get our reference point from Him, not from others. Meaning, while our love should reflect God’s love, our love doesn’t define God’s love. God alone defines His love. And people’s unfaithfulness doesn’t impact God’s faithfulness.
if we are faithless, he remains faithful—
for he cannot deny himself.
If God cannot deny Himself, it means He is always love. And that love - by His own undeniable, unchanging promise - is towards us. He loves us.
I love what author, Dane Ortland, says about God’s heart in his book, “Gentle and Lowly.” In Exodus 34, Moses wanted to know God more. So, he made a request to see God’s glory. This is what happened...
The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,
We could spend a long time here, but look at the phrase, “slow to anger.” This should surprise us, especially those of us who know we are sinners. We constantly rebel against God. And you’d think He’d be ready to give up on us or take us out.
When my mom was frustrated with me not listening, she’d say, “I brought you into this world, I’ll take you out.” When I was disobedient - when I was sinning - she was ready to bring her wrath and judgment. Wouldn’t we expect our holy God to be the same way?
But listen to Dane’s commentary on this phrase...
[God] doesn’t have his finger on the trigger… unlike us, who are often emotional dams ready to break, God can put up with a lot (He’s slow to anger). This is why the Old Testament speaks of God being “provoked to anger” by his people dozens of times. But not once are we told that God is “provoked to love” or “provoked to mercy.” His anger requires provocation; his mercy (or love) is pent up, ready to gush forth… [God] needs no provoking to love...
Did you hear that? It means God loves you. It means His default response toward you is not anger, judgment, or disappointment. It’s love! When He looks at you, love is the first response just waiting to be released from His heart. It’s lined up, waiting in the “fast position,” like a kid ready to run to recess to reserve the 4-square court.
God can’t wait to pour out HIs love on us. That’s because He loves us. It’s so important that we know this about God.
And since we’re speaking about Exodus 34, let me pull another phrase from this passage...
The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,
Look at the phrase, “steadfast love.” It’s the Hebrew word “hesed.” And it means loyalty. It means commitment. It God’s supernatural loving commitment to be with us. And that’s the fourth and final thing I’d like us to know about God today...
4. God is with us.
4. God is with us.
If you want to make a lot of money in life, don’t become a pastor. Don’t let the Jordans on my feet fool you. I didn’t buy these. My brother did. I can’t afford them. There have been times when I could barely afford to take my family grocery shopping.
Right before COVID, we all went to Disney World. We spent a week there. And we stayed at an actual Disney hotel. It was amazing. Staying at Disney for a week ain’t cheap. I can’t afford that vacation.
But my dad can. He’s the one who paid for us to go. And he was with us the whole time. Usually, I’m stressing trying to figure out how we can save money or eat somewhere cheap. But since I was WITH him, I didn’t have to worry about it. I had peace because He took care of everything.
In a more infinite way, the same is true when God is with us. No matter what we face, if God is with us, we have NOTHING to worry about. He’s got us. And the ultimate proof of that is at the cross.
Our sin is our biggest problem. It has doomed us to eternal death. It’s our biggest reason to stress! But, on the Cross, Jesus fixed everything. By the Cross God offers salvation to the world. And when we’re willing to turn from our sin, and put our faith in Jesus, God will forgive us, make us new, fill us with His powerful Holy Spirit, and eternally care for us.
Knowing this should change us. It should change how we live. How we respond to life. As the apostle Paul wrote...
What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?
Know this:
God is good.
God is in control.
God loves us.
And, God is with us.
Therefore, we don’t have to worry. We don’t need to believe Satan’s story of stress. Instead, we can know God and live with His supernatural peace.
Response:
Response:
As we close, let me ask: Are you stressed today?
Maybe it’s because you don’t know God like you should. But there’s good news: God wants to be known. And He wants you to know Him.
You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.
He hasn’t made it difficult. In fact...
For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
If you will… “Draw near to God… He will draw near to you.” (James 4:8).
In this life, there are two directors, telling two different stories, about the same world. One is trying to stress you out so he can destroy you. The other is leading you to an abundant life of peace. Which voice are you listening to?
After today, I hope it’s God’s voice. In this life, you will face stressors - circumstances that have the potential to stress you out. That’s just the reality of living in the present broken world. But in Christ, you don’t have to choose stress. You can have peace instead; again, peace being...
“The sense of divine favor arising from confidence in God and your relationship with Him.”
That’s what God wants you to have.
[As the worship team comes up] here are a few steps to help us live this way:
Make sure you truly know God. Just a moment ago, I said that “in Christ, you don’t have to choose stress.” In-Christ is the operative phrase. If you are not in Christ, meaning you have not repented of your sins, put your faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior, and been born again to new life, then you ARE STILL a slave to sin. Which means... you will always choose stress because that’s what Satan (your master) has chosen for you. But all that can change today by putting your faith in Jesus. Do that and receive His peace.
When you face stressors, remind yourself of the truth of God. The Bible says, “The truth shall set you free.” That includes from free from stress. Speak to your circumstances, “God is good. God is in control. God loves me. And God is with me.” And then, wait and watch by faith. Taste and see the Lord is good!
This is connected to the number 2, but remember who God is. God is Lord of all creation. He has no rival. There may be two directors telling stories, but they aren’t equal.
The apostle John says...
Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
He also writes...
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
I think it’s appropriate to connect stress with darkness and Satan (or he who is in the world). And that makes stress scary. But God is greater than the greatest darkness. He can overcome the most impossible amount of stress. Remember, there is NOTHING God can’t handle or heal. When you know God, you win.
Let’s pray...
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