Peace in the Middle of the Storm
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Intro.
It’s so good to see you this morning. No one is here by accident. Isn’t God amazing that he would bring us together like this. If he brought us together then I believe that He has something to say to us this morning.
We are in the series titled The Fruit of the Spirit. These are character values that the Holy Spirit of God produces in our lives.
I believe that this series is the perfect series for what is going on in the world.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
There is power and strength in the Spirit of God. He produces these character traits in each of us.
Here is why this series is so good. The words we just read, the Fruit of the Spirit, are better than what the world offers. The world is looking for these, they just look in the wrong places. They are looking for all of these and what an opportunity we have to live these out for them to see so that they will want some of this.
We need to be reminded that we can only find these things in Christ. No matter what is going on around us… wars… politics… street violence… the moral decaying that we see in our culture… we can experience all of these through the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
But listen, You cannot force fruit. You grow fruit by getting closer to Jesus so he can do what he wants in our lives. We want to live in the Tree of life, not the tree of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.
Today our fruit is Peace
Today our fruit is Peace
I’m calling the message Peace in the Storm. Someone said that you are either in a storm, heading for a storm or coming out of a storm in our lives.
I know every single one of us here, and out there, want more peace. We are living in a world that has all the ingredients of anxiety and worry. We wake up and look at our phone and it will have all the bad stuff that’s going on popping up for us to see.
We just got out of a pandemic called COVID, but I believe we are living in another pandemic… the pandemic of anxiety.
In 2024 many things pour into this.
#1 is the economy - People are falling short because of the inflation we have experienced over the last few years. Things like milk, bread, gasoline… everything cost more.
#2 is the election - Ya’ll do know we have an election coming up… right? There is so much conflict this kind of a season… it’s become very toxic.
#3 Violence in our nation - gun violence… mass shootings… school shootings…
#4 Wars around the World - Russia - Ukraine … Hezbollah and Hamas and Iran and Syria vs. Israel.
#5 Moral decay of our nation… abortion politics… LGTBQ… issues
These are all triggers of stress in our lives. When you look at anxiety, and it’s on the rise, there are two targeted groups out there.
#1 young people - they are experiencing anxiety like never before. They get most of their news from social media which is wrong most of the time.
#2 parents - 2024 a lot of parents are stressed. These are difficult times to raise children… financial… schools… future of jobs…
This is a big topic, but the Bible has a lot to say about it.
The Bible is the most powerful, relevant, practical source for an abundant life, physical life, and SOUL life.
So we are, as usual, going to look at what the Bible says about PEACE. One of the things that you will notice is that the Bible’s definition of peace is different that the world’s definition of peace. We often misunderstand Biblical peace because we look at it through the lens of the world.
We assume peace is found in the absence.
We assume peace is found in the absence.
We think that if something is gone, we can have peace.
Absence of conflict.
Absence of conflict.
If I just had less conflict. We see conflict everywhere right now… Russia and Israel. We do stand with Israel…
Absence of disagreement.
Absence of disagreement.
If we could just have less disagreements in our relationships… at home… at work… in the streets… on social media. This is a version of peace, but it’s not what peace is in it’s entirety.
Absence of anxiety
Absence of anxiety
If I just didn’t have any anxiety, then life would be good.
Biblical Peace isn’t found in absence, it is found in presence.
Biblical Peace isn’t found in absence, it is found in presence.
Biblical peace is found in the presence of Jesus.
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.
Somebody needs to thank the Lord right there.
That word for peace in the Greek is
Eirene/Shalom - wholeness, completeness, fulfillment, inner-rest, without deficiency or lack.
Eirene/Shalom - wholeness, completeness, fulfillment, inner-rest, without deficiency or lack.
This is what we are all looking for and we can only find it in the presence of Jesus in our lives. It doesn’t matter what you came in here with… anxiety… you can leave with peace in your lives.
The peace of God is the fruit of the presence of God in my life.
The peace of God is the fruit of the presence of God in my life.
When we have this, no matter what is going out there, we have what God wants us to have peace in our lives.
Peace is all through the bible. It’s used over 229 times depending on the translation you have.
He is the God of Peace
He is the God of Peace
33 And now may God, who gives us his peace, be with you all. Amen.
This means that our God is the giver of peace. He is peace and anything else is counterfeit. Escapism is not peace. Prescription help is not peace. Self Help… will power… God is the source of real peace.
He is the Prince of Peace.
He is the Prince of Peace.
6 For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Jesus went to the cross to pay for our sins but with that Blood, he bought for us … peace. You have a birthright now that you follow Jesus and part of that birthright is peace. On the scoreboard of anxiety vs. peace… the peace of Jesus wins every single time.
He has crushed anxiety just like he did ever other sin.
He is the Lord of Peace
He is the Lord of Peace
16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you all.
Where do we find peace? We find peace under His Lordship. We find peace when we come under His authority and the authority of His word. So,
How do we cultivate peace in our lives?
How do we cultivate peace in our lives?
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:4–7 (NIV) Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Paul is saying that no matter what you are going through you can have joy. Joy begins in the inside and moves out… The 2nd rejoice is an outward expression.
5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
We will talk in this one soon… Then he hits us with a big one when he says,
6 Do not be anxious about anything,
This one is is a big one. In the original language, it means “Don’t be troubled by your troubles / cares.”
The bible is not saying that you are wrong if you experience anxiety, or that something’s wrong with you if you experience anxiety. Nor is it saying that you don’t have any or enough faith.
We live in a world with all the ingredients for anxiety. There are going to be “cares” in this world. Jesus even said that in the world there will be trouble… There is trouble all around us.
But God is teaching us in the language here that
We are going to have trouble, but we don’t have to be troubled by it.
We are going to have trouble, but we don’t have to be troubled by it.
There is a better way to handle our cares than what the world offers. We can take our cares to the Lord. The worst thing we can ever do is to hold our cares back from God. Taking our troubles to God is not weakness, it’s strength. You will have troubles but you do not need to be troubled by it.
That verse in John 16 finishes by saying that you will have trouble but take comfort, “I have over come the world.” We have an invitation to give our troubles to Jesus.
but in every situation,
I would say that we all have some situations going on. Kids and parenting. Elderly parents. Job… relationships… sicknesses
But then Paul gives us these ways to find peace.
by prayer
Prayer is our pathway to peace.
Prayer is our pathway to peace.
We pray first. The first of the year, the first of the Fall, before we make decisions… we always pray first.
Prayer is a conversation with God… it’s not in King James… there are no proper words. God is not concerned with the form of prayer, he is interested in our posture of prayer… humble… with thanksgiving.
It’s like writing a letter where you are telling God what’s going on. He wants to know what’s going on in your life… don’t hold it to yourself and try to fix it on your own power.
We have had plenty to go to the Lord about over the last few years.
Parents - with your kids in school through COVID and after.
Moral Decay in our culture -
Relationship issues.
and petition,
This brings to mind people who sign petitions. These address specific issues and ask for a specific solution.
Petitions are specific. God is saying you can ask him for specific answers.
with thanksgiving,
We don’t see the answer yet, but we are thanking him for the answer before we get it. … that we are the head not the tail… that He is working in our situation even though we don’t understand it completely… because the Holy Spirit lives inside of me, so I will not worry.
present your requests to God.
7 And the peace of God,
eirene - The peace of God… we don’t understand it because
which transcends all understanding,
This means that it is higher in rank. Peace of God outranks anxiety…. stress… worry and it outranks all feelings, thoughts and emotions.
What will it do?
will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Paul’s view was probably a military institution.
This is not a casual word but this is a strong word because we are in a battle. Paul is saying that when we pray, when we petition and when we rejoice …when we live in that rhythm Paul is saying that it will guard our hearts and minds.
This is a promise from God.
Just like being in a safe room that protects you from attack from the outside, God’s peace will keep you safe.
When I have trusted God and his word, the peace of God has flown into my life.
ILL - of someone struggling with issues of life and on meds… thought family would be better off without them. A customer kept sharing the Gospel. Finally she prayed and asked God to prove he was real. 30 minutes later, a friend she had not talked to in months called and asked her to come to church with her. She went and felt something shift in her life. She said God was working in small ways and kept sending people to encourage her. She listed 21 different people that God sent to help her. She began to experience peace. Their relationships are healed and they are serving God. She felt that she would have lost everything if God didn’t leave the 99 and come looking for the one.
There is more… Paul was always facing persecution.
How do we sustain peace in our lives?
How do we sustain peace in our lives?
8 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. 9 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.
Prayer is our pathway to peace. Right thinking is our practice to preserve it.
Prayer is our pathway to peace. Right thinking is our practice to preserve it.
Right thinking is the way to preserve peace in our lives. We have to replace the lies from the enemy (culture or the devil) with the truth of God’s word.
What are the right thoughts…
Philippians 4:8–9 (NIV) 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. 9 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.
He says to put into practice…
Daily Declarations
Daily Declarations
Think on whatever is True
Think on whatever is True
I am defined by the truth of God’s Word. It tells me that I am a deeply loved child of god and that His love for me will never change.
I am defined by the truth of God’s Word. It tells me that I am a deeply loved child of god and that His love for me will never change.
38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Think on whatever is Noble
Think on whatever is Noble
I called to live a life that reflects the goodness of God’s character to others. I choose to honor Him in all that I say and do.
I called to live a life that reflects the goodness of God’s character to others. I choose to honor Him in all that I say and do.
27 Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News.
Think on whatever is Right
Think on whatever is Right
I am made righteous through the sacrifice of Jesus. His Holy Spirit leads me in the way that’s right and good for me.
I am made righteous through the sacrifice of Jesus. His Holy Spirit leads me in the way that’s right and good for me.
3 He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.
Think on whatever is Pure
Think on whatever is Pure
I am washed clean by the blood of Jesus. He has made me pure, so I can choose to walk in freedom and confidence he purchased for me.
I am washed clean by the blood of Jesus. He has made me pure, so I can choose to walk in freedom and confidence he purchased for me.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.
Think on whatever is Lovely
Think on whatever is Lovely
I am more loved by God than I could ever imagine. He fills every area of my life with beauty and grace.
I am more loved by God than I could ever imagine. He fills every area of my life with beauty and grace.
Think on whatever is Admirable
Think on whatever is Admirable
I am made in the image of God and have been given eternal value and worth. I choose to see others in the same light and walk my mission and purpose.
I am made in the image of God and have been given eternal value and worth. I choose to see others in the same light and walk my mission and purpose.
10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
Think on whatever is Praiseworthy
Think on whatever is Praiseworthy
“I am safe in the arms of my perfect Heavenly Father. My life and circumstances will be a constant testimony of my praiseworthy and faithful God.”
“I am safe in the arms of my perfect Heavenly Father. My life and circumstances will be a constant testimony of my praiseworthy and faithful God.”
1 I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done.
Whatever is right and true and noble…
3 You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!
He is the God of peace, the Prince of peace and the Lord of peace.
Prayer time.
Salvation is first. Without this you have no chance to experience the peace of God.
Then we will go through the rhythm Paul showed us. I believe we can experience peace as we go through this.
Sinners prayer -
Rhythm of Paul
Prayer - circumstance -
Petition - heal people… give provision… restore relationships…
As you begin to work in these areas, we thank you before we see the answers.
And we thank you that you are the God pf peace. We receive your peace.
Now, we want you to think on things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, and praise worthy to protect that peace.