Experiencing the Peace of God
Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 6 viewsNotes
Transcript
Peace with God
- Last week we started Advent by looking at the Hope available in Christ. We talked about the anticipation and expectant waiting for the redemption of our souls and the forgiveness of sins.
- The feeling of tension and waiting was met with the birth of Jesus who has brought Hope to the entire world.
- Today we will begin to look at the Peace we can experience with God.
- So at this time, we can light the candle of Peace.
Pray
- As I did last week, I’ll start tonight by looking at the definition of the word Peace. I believe that will help to set the tone of what we will be looking at, and will give us greater understanding.
- The word “peace” in the Hebrew language is “Shalom”. Now that word “Shalom” – has the meaning behind it of being complete or to be made whole.
- To be made complete by adding or subtracting.
- Think of a wall being built. That wall is built brick by brick or stone by stone. Each stone is built upon another stone . When all stones have been put in place, the wall is now complete. That wall is now made whole.
- This is the picture I want us to get tonight as we look at the word Peace or Shalom. …. To be made whole or complete.
Transition
- Now this word “shalom”, also has the meaning ….. “to restore or to make right through payment or restitution”.
- It’s interesting because in the Book of Leviticus we see the different laws being given to Moses to give to the people.
- And in Lev. 5 & 6, you see the laws of the Trespass offering and the Guilt offering.
A. Trespass Offering
- The trespass offering would be required when a person would cross the boundaries set in place by God. In other words, God specifically said not to do this and a person still did it.
- When a person broke the law of God in general, it caused a separation in the relationship with God. That person would be at odds with God or to have a lack of Peace with God.
- Something would be required to make that relationship right. A trespass offering would be required. But it’s interesting , because before person could offer a trespass offering, the law required for a person to Confess their sins first. (Lev. 5:3)
- Confession or an acknowledgement of their failure would be required prior to offering the trespass offering.
- Only then could they offer that trespass offering which would be the sacrificing of a lamb or goat.
B. A Guilt Offering
- A Guilt Offering was required by the law when one of two things happened.
1. When a person sinned against the Holy things of God. ( Lev. 5:15)
- Which would be …
- The First fruits Lev. 2:14
- The tithe Lev. 27:26-27
- The vowed Offering Lev 27:1-5
Or
2. When a person sinned against his neighbor ( Lev. 6:1-7)
- When a person sinned by lying or extortion or stealing in order to make a profit…. It was required for that person to make restitution with the person he offended.
- He had to pay back what he stole, and add 20% on top of that…..
- Once he made it right with his neighbor, then he could offer a guilt offering to the Lord for his sins.
IMPORTANT
- It is important to take notice that in both cases of the trespass offering and the guilt offering …… the sin committed would break the relationship with God and with Man. An acknowledgement of wrong doing would be required in both cases either before God or before our neighbor.
- Matter of fact it is the very thing that Jesus told us in the New Testament.
Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
- Only then, could they offer the sacrifice to make that relationship right, only then was Peace brought in the relationship.
Transition
- So in the biblical days, there was an understanding of the importance of having peace with God and with their fellow neighbors.
- When all of the pieces of the wall were in tact if you will, there was Peace. But, when those pieces fell out of place because of sin and rebellion….. there would be a lack of peace, or a lack of wholeness, a lack of completion.
- Last Sunday night before everyone arrived, a few of us were here early praying. And my Son Brayden was out riding his scooter and he came and told me of an accident that had just happened down the street. I ran out there to see if the people were ok.
- When I arrived to the scene, there were 2 cars that had crashed. I spoke with one of the drivers who informed me that one car ran the stop sign causing the cars to collide pushing one car into a large brick wall.
- The car that ran into the wall was completely destroyed as well as the wall. Thankfully everyone was ok.
- But this picture reminded me the reality of humanity. The fact that Humanity has collided with our own sinful nature causing us to be completely separated from God in complete ruin. As sin entered the world through Adam, man has been left incomplete, he has been left unable to be made whole spiritually, man has been left in a relationship that has no Peace between himself and God.
- Matter of fact the bible says that we were once dead in our trespasses (Eph. 2:1-2)
- As we’ve mentioned, the old testament acknowledges the need and the solution to make things right with God through the sacrifices……
- But…… there is a problem. Those sacrifices would never be able to completely take away our sins. They would never be able to establish a complete and whole and right relationship between God and man.
For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.
- The passage says, the fact that sacrifices had to be offered yearly, is the evidence that these sacrifices could not make us complete. The blood of animals would never be able to make us completely right with God. They did not take away the sin, they simply covered it.
- What the Nation of Israel in the Old Testament was looking forward to the future in anticipation, was for the one who would bring complete Peace between man and God.
I. Experiencing the Peace with God ( Ish. 9:6-7)
Turn with me to Isaiah 9
- In Isaiah 7-8 we see this vision of the fall of Northern tribe of Israel to Assyria. After the description of the fall, we see this statement in v. 22 at then end of chapter 8.
Then they will look to the earth, and see trouble and darkness, gloom of anguish; and they will be driven into darkness.
- Now this is a prophetic vision specifically about the Northern tribe of Israel during the days of Isaiah. Their constant rebellion and rejection of God had left them with the inevitable consequences of judgement.
- Which was a removal and separation from their land. They would be carried away to Assyria. The description given of the people during this time, is that they would be in distress, in darkness and in anguish.
- but this is much more than a description of their physical and emotion state…..it is not only a description the Nation of Israel during Isaiahs days, but a description of all of Humanity.
- Because of our sins, we have been separated from God. We were spiritually in distress, spiritually in darkness and in anguish. That word “anguish” speaks of being in constraint or under pressure or distress. It is a description of someone who has no Peace with God.
- Because of our sins we were at odds with God.
But your iniquities have separated you from your God;
And your sins have hidden His face from you,
So that He will not hear.
Transition
now as we jump into chapter 9, its on the heels of the description of the gloom and darkness of the previous chapters and it moves forward with the promise of better days.
Read v.1-5
We now see a contrast to the gloom of anguish and the darkness in chapter 8, to a description of Hope for the Nation of Israel, the Hope of freedom from bondage, the Hope of deliverance. The promise of no longer being in darkness but being brought into the light, the promise of having Joy, of their burdens being broken.
- Again, this prophecy is not only for the Nation of Israel, but it is also for all of Humanity. The vision goes right into a Messianic promise, the promise of the coming King who would be a fulfillment of all these things. He would be the one who would bring us out of darkness, He would be the one who would break our bondages, He would be the one who would set us free and bring us into the light.
- He would be the one who would brings us Peace with God.
“I, the Lord, have called You in righteousness,
And will hold Your hand;
I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people,
As a light to the Gentiles,
To open blind eyes,
To bring out prisoners from the prison,
Those who sit in darkness from the prison house.
I am the Lord, that is My name;
And My glory I will not give to another,
Nor My praise to carved images.
Behold, the former things have come to pass,
And new things I declare;
Before they spring forth I tell you of them.”
- The promise of the coming Messiah is the dawn of a new day…… where we who were once in darkness and in distress unable to have Peace with God…….In His love for us, HE reached down in the form of a man by sending His son to take upon himself the sins of the world, that thru Him, we might have Peace with God.
Read Isaiah 9:6-7
- Such a beautiful description of Jesus here. Isaiah sees a Child being born to us, the same child he prophecied about in
Ish. 7:14
“ Behold, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and she will name Him Immanuel”. Which means , God with us.
- The promise of God with Us is what we look to on Christmas morning.
Transition
- This child will have the Government upon His shoulders…. This prophecy is not only looking forward to the first coming of Christ at the birth of Jesus, but it is also looking beyond that to the second coming of Christ where He will establish His kingdom on earth.
- Then we are given these names for Christ which are a description of His nature and Character.
1. Wonderful Counselor
- He is the one who leads and directs our lives. He is the one who gives us wisdom in our daily lives
2. Mighty God
- The God who created all of creation and glory, the Lord who reigns in heaven, the one worthy to be worshipped and praised…. Jesus is God. No better picture of that than here.
3. Eternal Father
- The idea in these Hebrew words is that Jesus is the source or author of all eternity., that He is the creator Himself. It does not mean that Jesus Himself is the Person of the Father in the Trinity.
4. Prince of Peace
- He is the blameless perfect lamb of God who sacrificed Himself on the cross. It was by His death and resurrection that our sins have been paid for. He made restitution for our sin. He paid for that which we could never pay for.
- It is by His death and resurrection that I now have the ability to have Peace with God thru faith.
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
- Looking back to how we started this message…… Peace speaks of being made whole or to be made complete.
- It is by the death and resurrection of Jesus that the wrath of God against us was satisfied…. And more that than, by the grace of God, you and I are welcomed to His family as a child of God. You and I who were once incomplete spiritually, who were dead spiritually, now have been made whole in this new relationship with God.
J.I Packer
“The peace of God is first and foremost peace with God; it is the state of affairs in which God, instead of being against us, is for us.”.
- The darkness and anguish is gone…. I enter into a new day walking in the light that Christ brings, I am set free from the bondage of sin, I now have access to a beautiful relationship with God.
- This is what the birth of Jesus on Christmas morning means to you and I. it is at the birth of the Prince of Peace that we were made whole.
- This is the beautiful promise that the old testament believers looked forward to and it is what you and I get to experience by faith in Jesus.
II. Experiencing the Peace of God ( John 14:27)
- As believers we not only experience the Peace with God, but we also get to experience the Peace of God.
Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
- Jesus gave us a promise of giving us His peace which is different from the worlds. The world seeks Peace by having an absence of trouble or difficulty. In other words, as longs as I don’t have anything going wrong in my life, I can experience peace. The worlds Peace is based on their current situation.
- But we know that while we live in this world, we will deal with difficulties. There is no way around it.
These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
- True biblical peace is not based on the absence of difficulty rather it is based on the one who is holding me together.
Transition
- The reality is that there are so many things in our lives that can rob us of our peace.
- One writer said…..
“Our lives are often a chronicle of trouble and pain- dashed hopes, miscarried babies, lost loved ones, relational heartbreaks, stinging injustice, crippling illness, and chronic loneliness”.
- The hardships of life hit everyone no matter what age you are, what nationality you are or what gender you are.
- And it is often these hardships that can create worry and anxiety in our lives that rob us of our Peace.
- I was reading these statistics from the Anxiety & Depression Association of America and the numbers are staggering.
Statistics
General Anxiety Disorder – affects 6.87 million Adult Americans
Panic Disorder – affects 6 million Adult Americans
Social Anxiety disorder- Affects 15 million adult Americans
Specific Phobias – affect 19.3 Million Adult Americans
PTSD- affects 7.7 million adults Americans
Anxiety disorder- affects 31.9 % of adolescents between the ages of 13 and 18 years old.
- There is no doubt that we are living in a society that is riddled with worry and anxiety. It has even affected our younger generation.
- One book I was reading stated that according to Psychologist Robert Leahy…. “The average high school kid today has the same level of anxiety as the average psychiatric patient in the early 1950’s”.
- It stated that $42 - $47 billion dollars are spent annually on anxiety treatments and medications.
- The reality is that Satan has had a field day with worry and anxiety, he has used these things to rob us of our peace.
Transition
now it’s not only troubles or anxiety that cause us to lose our peace.... it can also be the lack of being satisfied, a lack of contentment in our present situation , in our present job, in our present relationship, in our present season of life.....
the constant longing for what i don’t have can create such turbulence in our hearts. It may cause dissatisfaction and the feeling of being empty. It can cause us to seek to be fulfilled in many things, like drinking , drugs or relationships.... seeking to find approval, to find love, to find worth and acceptance in anything under the sun.
we might find satisfaction for a season, but eventually, that feeling runs out.
it is the Prince of Peace who makes us whole, who makes us complete in Him. It is Him who brings a complete fulfillment in our hearts. He is that which our hearts our longing for.
- Now I want to give you a few practical steps to experiencing the Peace of God in the midst of a troubled world.
Steps to experiencing the Peace of God.
1. Keep your mind focused on the Lord.
You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You.
- My current situation cannot determine or disrupt the inner peace I can have……
- But, what often happens, is that our situations can become so large and that our focus can go from looking to the Lord to looking to the situation…… this is often where we as believers can begin to lose our peace in the midst of a difficulty and we can experience anguish, even darkness., anxiety and worry.
- I begin to forget that God is in control of my life.
- I think because the invention the iphone, the streaming services, social media….. it is very easy to be distracted now and days. It is very easy to get caught up scrolling on your phone or streaming movies
- As we’ve mentioned before, even the busyiness of Christmas can distract us from the true meaning of Christmas.
- The reality is that our minds can be filled with so much stuff other than the things of God….. that when a hardship or a trial hits us….. we can easily lose perspective and lose our peace.
- We feel anxiety, stress, depression……and in the midst of these situations, we lose sight of the very one who is meant to bring us Peace.
Story of the Storm
- I am reminded of the story in Matt. 8:23-27. Jesus got into the boat with His disciples to cross the Sea of Galilee. The story tells us that Jesus fell asleep on the boat. Then a large storm developed and the large waves began to crash against the boat.
- The disciples were afraid and woke up Jesus in a panic. Jesus asked them , “why are you afraid, you men of little faith”. And he calmed the storm.
- These disciples in one moment are witnessing Jesus perform miracles and the next moment they are fearing for their lives. Nothing had changed, Jesus was with them in both the miracles and in the midst of the storm…… the difference was what they were focusing on. They were focusing on the storms rather than the one who could bring them peace in the midst of the storm.
- And we can be just like this. One minute we are full of faith and the next we are in a complete panic because of our situation. We slowly move our eyes, mind and hearts away from looking at our Lord to looking at our situation….. and we being to lose our peace.
- The mind is often filled with worry because we have set our minds of something less than the character of God.
- In most of life’s season’s, we don’t have a say about the pain or trouble we endure…. We do however, have a choice where to look- either at our worries or at God.
- We need to realign our focus by filling our hearts and minds on the things of the Lord.
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
2. Keep yourself in the Word of God ( Heb. 1:3)
God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
- V. 3 is one of my favorite verse. It says that Jesus holds all things by the power of His word.
- Did you catch that. He holds all things by the power of His word.
- Most of the time, the things that make us lose our peace, is the feeling that everything is falling apart. The feeling that I have no control over this current situation.
- That is actually what causes many of our anxieties…. The fact that I have no control over this matter.
- But we are told here a couple of things.
a. Jesus holds all things.
- The fact that He holds all things together. Even when it seems like the entire world around you is falling apart….. the reality is that God is holding you together.
- We often lose sight of the reality that all things were created by God and that He holds all things together including my life.
b. Jesus holds all things by the power of His word
- We are told how Jesus holds all things…… by the power of His word. His literal words are what created all things, and we are told it is those same words that hold all things together.
- Now you and I have been given His specific word, the bible. He has revealed Himself in the bible to us. God has revealed His character to us in the bible. And it is an understanding of God’s character that will help to bring us peace in the midst of our troubles.
- One writer said this…
“In a world desperate for hope, the bible provides the remedy our hearts are searching for; God’s unchanging and matchless character is the antidote our worried and anxious souls need the most”.
- when I dig into God’s word, I begin to see how much God loves me, how faithful God has been, how He is patient, how He is merciful and compassionate, how He promise to provide for me, how He promises to protect me, how He promises to direct my steps, how He promises to uphold and sustain me.
- it is the reminder of who God is, that can bring every dark and hard situation into it’s proper place. No situation is too hard for my God,. No situation is too impossible for my God, no situation is out of God’s reach.
- With this in mind, how much should I be searching and digging into His word. Often I hear people worried and stressed out about their lives falling apart, but there is no effort to reach out to the very thing that can help sustain them.
- It is the word of God that will ground us in truth, it is what will remind of who God is, of what God has done for us and of what God has promised.
3. Keep yourself in Prayer ( Phil. 4:6-7)
Be anxious for nothing, 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 minds through Christ Jesus.
- The reality is that we often carry our anxieties and problems ourselves because we want to fix it ourselves. But as I mentioned already, the inability to fix the problem is what will create anxiety in us. Or we seek to find fulfillment on our own, yet when we don’t .... it creates a lack of contentment.
- What Paul tells us here is to go to God in prayer and supplication with thanksgiving and give it all to Him. Stop trying to carry the burden by yourself. Yes it is important to have friends in your life who can help carry your burden….. but we so often reach for the phone to call our friends about our problems much more than we pour ourselves out before God in prayer.
- I’m speaking to myself here. As a man and someone who has fixed problems for a living…… my first instinct when facing a problem is to come up with a way to fix it.
- But the promise here is that when you and I can go before the throne of God in prayer and pour ourselves out before Him…. we can experience the peace of God. It doesn’t mean that our problems will go away instantly….. but it means God will give us peace and will sustain us in the midst of our problems.
Heb.4:16
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
we have both the complete access to the Father who, hears us and who cares about what we are going through.
Closing
- Listen, the world seeks it’s peace from circumstances. You and I as believers do not look to our circumstances, but we are anchored in the Character of our Heavenly Father.
- The answer to finding Peace in this troubled world is not to looking inward or outward….. but to look upward.
- We close tonight with this except from a book.
“Have you ever realized that your every worry is an invitation to draw closer to God? That every anxiety in your life compels you to direct your gaze to someplace or someone?
- When you and I can get our minds and hearts focused on the Lord, when we are daily in His word getting a close look at the Character of God …… when we can pour ourselves out before Him in prayer…. We will experience the peace of God that surpasses all understanding.
