Untitled Sermon

Peace

I. Introduction

A.Condition of the world today

- What headlines do you see when you turn on the news?

B. Mental Health crisis

-"Adults ages 35-44 also experienced the highest increase in mental health diagnoses-from 30% reported in 2019 to 45% in 2023-though adults ages 18-34 still reported the highest rate of mental illnesses at 50%..."

C. There are even people in church that are getting overwhelmed by the cares of this world. Our world is in desperate need of peace.

D. John 14:27- I am leaving you with a gift-peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid.

II. Wordly Peace

A. Freedom from hardship

-There are people, unbelievers and Christians alike, who can only feel at peace when they are comfortable.

B. Success, wealth, health, "think positive"

-Wordly peace is achieved by our own efforts. People seek peace through succeeding, through money, and by trying to have a positive mindset without seeking God.

C. Counterfeit of God's peace

- These are all temporary knock offs in comparison to the peace of God. It is impossible to find peace without finding God first.

III. Heavenly Peace

A. Gift from God

-In John 14:27, it says that peace is a FREE gift from God himself. It's not something you can buy or earn.

-The Holy Spirit was sent to as as a Helper, Counselor, and Comforter. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to bring us peace.

B. Surpasses circumstances

-The peace of God is steadfast through any hardships you're going through.

-Story of Horatio Spafford. author of "It is Well with My Soul."

C. Not by human efforts

-There is no other person in this world that can bring you peace the way Jesus does.

-Man will always let you down, but God never will.

-The things of this world are temporary, but God's peace is eternal. Its surpasses anything the world can offer.

IV. Kingdom-Minded (Isaiah 26:3)

A. Stay in the Word

-You need to renew your mind daily in order for God's peace to guard your mind. It's easy to let the world speak into our lives and our circumstances. We need to drown out the noise of the world with God's voice.

B. Pray without ceasing

-Always run to Jesus for everything. Every question, every tear, every petition needs to be laid at his feet.

-Believers need to be filled everyday with rejuvenation that can only be found at his feet.

-God is ALWAYS ready to fight our battles.

C. Obedience

-1 Peter 3:11, Psalm 34:14. We have to pursue peace.

-Peter puts this side by side with turning away from evil, and doing good.

-We cannot live a disobedient life and expect to live a life of peace.

IV. conclusion

A. How many of you can say that you have the peace of God in your hearts?

B. There may be some people sitting in this room that are still trying to find peace in all the wrong places, but that won't fulfill you like Jesus can.

c. Prayer over the audience that they receive peace in their lives.