Jehovah Shalom

Introduction

My name is Zach Wells

I’m a college resident here at FBC Bryan as well as the Production director here

Explain Series:

Names of God - We have been walking through different names of God, what they mean, and how they are influential in our life

Does anyone remember any of the ones we have covered over the last couple of weeks?

Today we are talking about Jehovah Shalom

The Lord of Peace

Illustration:

Here’s how I want to start today

What do you guys think of when I say peace? What comes to mind when I say the word peace?

Walk through pictures that appear on screen…

None of these are bad things at all… don’t get me wrong, but when we look at this image (put up cross):

We don’t think of peace at all… (we don’t think of the Lord of peace when we see this)

We think of wrath, we think of an angry God and His suffering Son and rightfully so

But wrapped up underneath the cross and Jesus’ resurrection from the tomb is what??

That we might be able to make peace with God through placing your hope, your trust, your entire life, your entire eternity on Him

The Lord of peace wants to give you His peace but that only happens becuase of what Christ did on that cross some 2000 years ago

Transition

Over these next couple of minutes I want us to get a clear picture of the Lord of peace

I want us to see that the peace that believers in Christ experience isn’t one that the unbelieving world can’t understand or experience

Lastly, I want to remind us how we can experience the peace of God again pointing back to this cross that our Savior died on

Pray

Main Passage

Luke 8:22–25 ESV

One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” So they set out, and as they sailed he fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger. And they went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm. He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?”

Jesus said let’s go to the other side (Do you think Jesus would go back on His word?)

After they set out… Jesus almost immediately falls asleep (your sleep is important, even Jesus slept)

At this point it would make sense for Jesus to rest after doing a lot of ministry and being in a boat with experienced fishermen who know the sea and are experts of boats

However, this storm was different and the disciples felt they couldn’t do anything to stop it

So they turn to their good teacher, they turn to the one who had been performing miracles

They turn to their “Master’ their “Lord” and this word in it’s original meaning can also mean “one who stands near”

They assumed Jesus was standing near watching them react, but in fact he was sleeping and was awoken by their fear of perishing

And immediately at the spoken word of Christ…. there is peace… the winds and the waves come to a calm… the disciples can breathe a sigh of relief… exhale

But right in the midst of when they catch their breath… Jesus asks, “Where is your faith”

Remember the beginning of the passage Jesus said, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake” - why should have the disciples have feared the storms? They shouldn’t have but they teach us an important lesson…

The power of Christ over the natural realm, to make the weather obey at just His Word should make one question… who is this guy?

The MacArthur Bible Commentary (5. The Winds and Sea Rebuked (8:23–27))

the winds and the sea obey Him. This was convincing proof of Christ’s deity

This leads us to John 14:27-31 if we can trust Christ’s deity the fact that He is God then we can trust that He is the God of peace

John 14:27–31 ESV

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. You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.

This passage yells and screams that there is peace from God through the fact that Jesus is going to resurrect and be with His Father

Jesus is leaving us with peace through the Holy Spirit, but this can only take place if He goes to the cross

Momentary peace with incarnate Jesus (boat) vs. eternal peace with the holy spirit

This peace is only attainable in our hearts through the Spirit of God if He is pierced for our sins and our transgressions

This peace is only possible if Christ then resurrects 3 days later

Like do you get it??

True peace, not peace that the world offers is only attainable with the cross

This gruesome death of Christ

Discuss:

When we read that passage in Luke about the calming of the storm, I want us to look at our lives and see how we react in the turbulant, chaotic, stressful, terrifying moments of life

Do you find yourself like the disciples (explain)

Or at peace in the midst of the storm? (explain)

How do we not react like the disciples did in fear?

I want to commend them for who they went to first when they were in trouble

They went to the One who they believed could save them from the immediate danger of the storm even if it didn’t seem logical

Philippians 4:7 ESV

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Peace that surpasses all understanding is often standing firm in the midst of the storm holding on to the truth of God and His Word

How does the cross bring us hope for peace?

Romans 5:1 ESV

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

It brings us into a peaceful relationship with God, not one of dread or judgment

Invitation (Pull Ipad Aside) all phones down, eyes on me

Are you at peace with God? Even Christians in the room, are you at peace with God?

Do you have a peace that surpasses all understanding…

I know some of the heartache and struggle that is in this room right now and the Lord sees it with all clarity and all knowledge… and if we are being honest is there a peace about you even in the brokenness of this world or are you walking around looking for the next thing to satisfy

Are we one at peace with God (Romans 5:1 “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” )?

If you haven’t please share that with your prayer group or come talk to me…

To experience the peace of God in our lives we must first be at peace with God

Here’s the other half of this:

But if you do have peace with God, here is the question for you.. do you really trust that God is Jehovah Shalom? Do you think He is the Lord of Peace? The Master of Peace?

Do you think you could walk through the hardest moments of life and still have a peace about you that transcends wordly understanding?

Peace is not from you, it’s a fruit of the Spirit

Prayer groups:

Are you at peace with God?

Do you believe that He is the author and creator of peace?

Do you think He can give you peace in your life no matter the circumstance?

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