How to find Peace in the Pressure
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Intro and Tension
Intro and Tension
Where do you go to find Peace?
Beach | Bush | Quiete Place | Mountains
I would argue | Not “peace” but “Quiet” | a place to “GO” without distractions | doesn’t give you “Peace” - Instead, if we idolise these places for peace, teaches you to run, from, pressure.
problem; as Christ Followers, told we will face pressure - Do we run, to somewhere Peaceful, No, promised a peace that surpasses all understanding - During. That. Pressure.
even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.
Title: How to find Peace in the pressure
My Hope: Perplexed on each side but feel ok | We may face emotional, physical, spiritual pressure but not moved and as the Bible Promises we can find peace, that surpassses all understanding
**Prayer**
Series;
Yearly Theme | In Transit | God is doing NEW THING | Lean in | Before get on the bus | Some things to take | Series called “Packing Season”
Goin through Jonah. Learning.
1 Essential thing to take on this journey: A heart that is in tune with God’s.
Coming weeks - Unpack | Pack | Last week - Ripped up fear. Spoke about Jonah told to Arise - He did to Run - We said Fear comes from wanting Sight about God’s Plan and listening to the Enemy - Father of Lies |
Last week - emptied something ; time to pack something - Peace.
[context of Jonah]
But the Lord hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship threatened to break up. Then the mariners were afraid, and each cried out to his god. And they hurled the cargo that was in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them. But Jonah had gone down into the inner part of the ship and had lain down and was fast asleep. So the captain came and said to him, “What do you mean, you sleeper? Arise, call out to your god! Perhaps the god will give a thought to us, that we may not perish.”
interesting = Lord Hurled wind = Storm not caused by Enemy = Caused by God = Why? To get Jonah’s Attention.
We’ve talked God’s Soveriengty before -
Preceptive Will (what SHOULD happen), Soverign will what WILL Happen |
God desired Jonah go straight to Tarshish, but because of our FREE WILL, He chose not to - God then caused the Storm |
Disciples | They wake up Jesus | Storm allowed them to know Jesus.
Not all pressure is from the enemy. Given, or allowed.
So what happens?
Pagans did what Jonah should have in Pressure | Turned to their god’s | hurled cargo over | Bible goes on to say they draw lots - falls on Jonah - They ask him | He says
And he said to them, “I am a Hebrew, and I fear the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.”
says the Men where afraid - asked what should we do | He said;
He said to them, “Pick me up and hurl me into the sea; then the sea will quiet down for you, for I know it is because of me that this great tempest has come upon you.”
The men ignored, rowed harder (showed him grace), eventually threw jonah over, storm stopped | God’s plan prevailed - Shocker |
Question; Was Jonah worried in storm? not one mention of him being scared or afraid - Why? maybe cause he wrote it or maybe because of what he said;
I am hebrew, I fear the Lord - God of Heaven - Who made the sea and the dry Land.
Maybe it’s becuase He Knew who His God is. Notice he says “Tempest has come upon you” - Not Jonah - Knew he’d be fine - Knew sovereignty God.
He knew;
Even there, Your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.
Peace is not found in the presence of our circumstances, Peace is found in the presence of our creator.
Ankle snap story- Doc said I was going ot be alrihgt - I believed him, because he had the AUTHORITY to tell me.
When Jesus told me He was taking Mum, I believed him, because he had the Authority to take her
Question; How well do you know the authority on peace?
Remember song “Silent Night” -
Silent night…Holy Night…There is a line…Sleep in heavenly peace...
Has anyone stopped to think; New Baby - Joseph not father | in a cave | had newborn? - Not peaceful, and yet - Heavenly peace - How?
Because they had Peace | Peace is not a Place | It’s not a feeling |
Peace is a person. one of Jesus Names; PRINCE OF PEACE | If looking for peace - Start with a person |
Problem; it’s not that simple - someone called “Prince of peace” - yay, i’m done - no. let’s dig it up
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
Jesus words | At resurrection Jesus came, first word to his followers: “Check that out, I just rose from the dead”
On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
issue is: So many living without Peace - Time to change that - This is an ACTION series | why do we live without peace?
Instant access to anti-peace on earth - NEWS starts “Good evening - then tells us why its not - instant access to sin
Because of instant access, we compare our worst moments to someones best moments (Social Media) - Oh look at their perfect little holiday ,with perfect family etc.
Be evaluated by anyone at anytime - “Pfft, you only went to bali? We went to.,.,.”
No “Off-Button” - grandparents told me a time, tv would say “Off air”
What do we do?
Paul - Jail Cell - Through Holy Spirit wrote this;
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 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.
Offer on table | Getting this peace that transcends understanding | not little angel | Gaurd your HEARTS | Guard your MINDS.
What do we do?
Re-Calibrate your concept of Jesus - Last week - asked question: Who is Jesus to you; - All of this - ABove - Is happening in CHRIST - NOTHING LEFT FOR YOU TO DO - Who is Jesus?
**Felt Board** * Picture on cross* *Picture of long haird*
Andrew story , blaspheming, no because Jesus is someone I love, like you
Is he dimensional? | dead on the cross? | historical? | tv character? |
OR is he moving through your life? | not just a nice concept | He is not just a great guy | REAL, GRITTY, POWERFUL, KNOWING - COMING BACK | K o K, L oL |
What concept of Jesus? Until we know Jesus both as MIGHTY and PERSONAL - Then we just have an idol in our minds.
If you don’t know Jesus as the LION OF JUDAH but at the same time knows every hair on your head - You better get to know Jesus.
… as the one who conquered the grave, but also the one who forgave Peter for his mistep - You better get to know Jesus.
…as the one that DEFEATS YOUR DEPRESSION, but also the one that says “I forgive you” when you repent...
…as the one that FIGHTS YOUR BATTLES…but also comforts you in grief and sorrow...
…As the one that will come back on a horse where every knee will bow and every tongue will confess but also the one that offered you salvation....
Jesus is a the greatest person you’re ever going to know. He is running History because he conquered grave
A friend, nigeria prince -
Need to build relationship with someone before there is trust.
Knowing OF Jesus will not bring you peace - Building a relationship with Jesus will bring you peace - Because He is Peace.
2. Release your concerns to HIM -
Only way - not be anxious about anything - is to give God EVERYTHING - Last week “Follow me” - Replace your peace giver for Jesus
sore leg - Doctor | Sore back - Chiro | Eyes - Optomitrist - Why? They have authority
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,
Jesus is the Authority - Take your anxieties to the one that has the authority| K o K | Where is enemy stealing your peace?
Present, by prayer and supplication = With detail, beg, a cry, an expectation - with thanks giving - it’s already done - in THAT WAY, make your requests known. “Doesn’t he already know?” “Yes” - It’s not for God, it’s for you - And yet, told to ask.
Inspo and Close
Inspo and Close
Safest job in Soccer - Assistant Manager - You can have your input, but you know the Manager calls the shots
The pagans going to wrong manager -their gods were POWERLESS
Which manager are you going to?
You must know where your request is | Constantly release it | not a one time thing | Need to constantly know;
Your way not my way, your plan is not my plan, and YET the CROSS is ALWAYS INFORMING ME that YOU WIN. PSALM 23 reminds me, your ROD and your STAFF, COMFORT ME . LIE ME DOWN IN GREEN PASTURES, LEAD ME BESIDE STILL WATERS.
Invite Matt up - Play some Guitar - write something down
But, don’t just release something -take something on board - to replace it.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
no replacement plan - things come back up - What will you do tomorrow to get to know Jesus?
Not Works for Peace, but getting to know Peace, if you believe HE IS PEACE - Because HE gives Peace, the work is DONE.
Read the Psalms | Prayer | Worship | Put God first in ____
**Commitment** -
Seek his face | Know HIs goodness | Jonah in the boat, got thrown in | Jesus in the boat, stopped the storm - Only to get thrown into the bigger storm of our Sin, and died through nothing that we did | We don’t deserve it, we can’t earn it | but we get it |
How do you sleep in peace?
The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.
By knowing it is not you who gaurds your house | Your life | Your job | Your spouse | Your children | Even when you sleep - God works
As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people, from this time forth and forevermore.
How do we fight? Hands lifted high! It may look like you’re surrounded, but your surrounded by the LORD.
I want you to bring that request to GOD.
**prayer**