Christ our Foundation

Peace that Holds

This is the second Sunday of advent.

During this time of the year, we prepare ourselves to celebrate the birth of our Lord and savior and to remind ourselves that He is coming again.

The word advent in the Latin means “coming”

Christians around the world use the four Sundays and weeks of Advent to prepare and remember the real meaning of Christmas.

 Peace that Holds

How do we hold on to a deep inner peace?

There are days that I just begin to think about my to do list, and I look at the circumstances around me, and I begin to few anxious. I need God’s peace.

But scripture says

Php 4:7 And the peace of God [that peace which reassures the heart, that peace] which transcends all understanding, [that peace which] stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus [is yours].

I believe God wants to give us His peace today.

Let’s pray,

Peace that Holds

1 Is a promise.

God promises us peace!

Jer 29:11 For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,' says the LORD, 'plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster to give you a future and a hope.

Your Heavenly Father loves you, and His plans and thoughts for you are good, are for peace and well-being, not for disaster to give you a future and a hope.

Jesus tell us about this peace, that is different than the peace the world gives, and he wants to give to you and me.     

Joh 14:27  Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Shalom in Hebrew, i-rah-nay in Greek

The definition we have for peace is

freedom from disturbance; quiet and tranquility:

Shalom means

According to Strong's Concordance 7965

 completeness, wholeness, health, peace, welfare, safety soundness, tranquility, prosperity, perfectness, fullness, rest, harmony, the absence of agitation or discord. shalom meaning to be complete, perfect and full.

Peace is not the absence of conflict or war; Shalom is to be in the presence of the prince of peace Jesus and be in peace with Him.

We were created to live and enjoy peace, peace is God’s desire for you and me, the lack of peace leaves our souls in anguish. 

We will never find real peace outside of a relationship with Jesus, Jesus has made it possible by taking our place at the cross, and forgiving our sins, even before we acknowledge and repent for them.

Our Heavenly Father is waiting for us, with open arms.

Just welcome Him

Shalom is the presence of Jesus in our lives, the presence of God in us. Our daily relationship with Christ.

And He

2 Is with you

When we follow Jesus, there is no guarantee that storms will not come, and sometimes they surprise us.

I don’t know what kind of storm you are in right now, but I want to remind you that your Heavenly Father knows and He is right here with you.

Some times is a medical report, or a bill we are not expecting, or your medical insurance decides they are not paying for something they should.

Someone picks up an offense that you never intended to be an offense. All of the sudden is a huge problem and is totally out of your ability to fix it.

Storms will come from nowhere,

 If we are honest with ourselves peace is not the first thing that comes to our minds when we look at the circumstances around us,

yes Hawaii is a beautiful place, but has become more dangerous, 44 years ago  when I first came to Hawaii, we left our cars open when we went shopping, we would leave the keys in the ignition, nobody would mess with your car, for many years we didn’t have keys for our house it was always open, the population it was much smaller, I would drive some days from here to Kohala and after passing the airport, I would not see another car,  today we need to be careful, we need to consider where we are going  and what time of the day we will go, back then We would go to the park to play tennis at 8pm.

Things are different.    

Mat 8:23 Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him.

Mat 8:24 Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping.

Mat 8:25 The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!"

Jesus was sleeping,

Lord we are going to die. It Must being a pretty impressive storm, because these guys were fisherman, they were used to the weather changing rapidly around that area.

When we are caught in the middle of a storm, sometimes feels like Jesus is sleeping, seems like He is totally unaware that we are about to go under.

But He is right here with us

 Mat 8:26 He said to them, "Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?" Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was [at once] a great and wonderful calm [a perfect peacefulness].

Jesus asked them, why are you afraid, you men of little faith?

Why are you afraid?

What do you think of Jesus? How do you see Him?

All powerful? or just an observer?

He rebuked the winds and the sea, if the disciples new who was in the boat with them, they would know that all was well, Jesus was in the boat.

Remember when you follow your master into the boat, He is right there with you, and all His power. 

The disciples could have rebuked the winds and the sea, but their little faith kept their eyes on the storm, not on Jesus.

Mat 8:27 The men wondered in amazement, saying, "What kind of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?"

He is Jesus the Prince of Peace

just remember the boat you are in, and who you are following. Storms will not take you down.

When Jesus was teaching the sermon on the Mount, he ended saying this.

Mat 7:24 "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

Mat 7:25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.

Mat 7:26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.

Mat 7:27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."

Storms will come, is not an if, All of us will face storms during our lifetime, but if our lives are built on the rock, Jesus, and we are listening to Him, we will not be destroyed.

His Peace

3 Will come when you call on Him.

Jer 29:12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.

Jer 29:13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Welcome Jesus daily

Make Him part of your Day

If we seek Him with all our hearts, we will find Him. When we call on Him and pray, He will listen to us.

Just a couple weeks ago we were celebrating 205 years of God’s faithfulness, the arrival of the gospel and rededicating our sanctuary that we were working in preserving since 2013.

There were many battles in this journey, spiritual, financial, physical, and emotional.

All very real, some were aiming to discourage , others to stop the project, an open church proclaiming the good news is a treat to the enemy .   

Some of the storms we experience are part of the daily battle we are in, others are only to expose the condition of our hearts.   

Ignoring or avoiding a problem will not work, only will make it bigger, wishing that a problem or storm will go way is only a desire, having positive thoughts may help you momentarily, as soon as the fantasy fades you are back with your problem.

Seek Him with all your heart, He is faithful, and His word is true, pray.

Psa 23:4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Psa 23:5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Psa 23:6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Your loving Father is with you, He prepares a table, he sets a table to welcome you in His presence, to nourish you and to fellowship with you, in the presence of your enemies, in the middle of a storm , He will minister to you, anoints your head with oil, empowers you with His Holy Spirit, satisfy your soul and spirit, your cup overflows, his abundant blessings and grace.

It doesn’t matter what kind of storm you are walking through. He Is with you call on him.

John 15:4-9

4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.

7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you[a] will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.

8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

Love and Joy Perfected

9 “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.

His peace

Is a promise He made.

He is with you and Will calm the storm.

 when you call on Him, His amazing peace will be there.

Are you praying for God to fill your heart with His Peace today?

make Jesus the Lord of our lives.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. Joh 3:16 To receive Jesus we need to accept Him as God’s son,

 we need to repent from our sins and a life of selfishness,

 ask Him to be your Lord and savior, not that we deserve it, but is a gift from God.

If this is your desire today, please repeat this prayer after me?

Heavenly Father I’m sinner, I’m sorry for my sins, I repent of my sins I’m willing to turn away from my sins. I receive Christ as my savior, I confess Him as Lord And from this moment on, I want to follow and serve Him, in the fellowship of His church, In Jesus name, Amen!

1Co 11:23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread;

1Co 11:24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me."

1Co 11:25 In the same manner Healso took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me."

1Co 11:26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes.

1Co 11:27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.

 Heb 9:14 dead works, acts, sins

E mau aku ka loko maika’i o ka Haku, Iesu Kristo; me ke aloha a ke Akua, a me ka launa pu ‘ana mai o ka Uhane Hemolele ia ‘olua, a me makou apau.  Amene.