Adapted from 2012 Sermon “Come Home” and 2014 Sermon “Be Still”

City of Peace_pt3: Easter Sunday 2019

This month we are covering the series City of Peace.

We’ve looked at what the prophet Isaiah said about the Mountain of God, Zion, the City of God… the City of Peace.

It’s here that the world will stream for salvation and refuge.

This mountain… this city… is no geographical place. It is the CHURCH!

The foundation of this city is Jesus.

To understand the peace of God that we each seek, we must understand why Christ - the foundation - has come.

Luke 19:10 NIV

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Jesus came to find that which is lost.

Most people don’t want to be labeled “lost.”

Most people don’t want to consider themselves “lost.”

But we are discounting there are 2 parties involved in “lost”

1-The lost one

2-And, the one who lost

Lost things

You couldn’t have lost something without having possessed it.

ü The search intensifies with the value of the thing lost.

The search intensifies with the value of the thing lost.

Think of a parent losing a child.

When you’ve lost something, you don’t stop and think of what you have.

When you’ve lost something, you don’t stop and think of what you have.

Again, a parent losing a child.

Jesus teaches about “the lost”

Luke 15:1–2 NIV

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

Lost sheep

Luke 15:3–7 NIV

Then Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

Lost coins

Luke 15:8–10 NIV

“Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Lost son

Luke 15:20–24 NIV

So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

He just wants you home!

He doesn’t care where you’ve been or what you’ve done

[TRUE STORY] - 15-year-old girl, Cristina ran away from home. Her mother Maria went after her.

Posters: I don’t care what you’ve done; I don’t care what you’ve become… I just want you home!

[PAYOFF] - Jesus is the way home.

After the Resurrection, Thomas said “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way”

Take Away

() “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Going home is knowing Him!

Knowing Him

Knowing Him

Ephesians 1:17–19 NIV

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength

Going home… knowing Jesus… is coming to the realizations

We are lost without Him

He is the hope

We have eternal life in Him

His Spirit is the power we need to live a resurrected life

Colossians 3:1–4 NIV

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

1. Look up!

Hope!

“Set your eyes”… “Look to the Lord”… = Trust.

Colossians 3:2 NIV

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

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2. Receive it!

Inheritance!

Receive your inheritance. Receive NEW LIFE.

ü Receive it!

o How do I receive?...

Colossians 3:3 NIV

For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.

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3. Be strong!

Power!

Paul was having trouble with something in his life. He pleaded with God over it and here is what happened…

ü Be strong!

Colossians 3:4 NIV

When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Paul was having trouble with something in his life. He pleaded with God over it and here is what happened…

2 Corinthians 12:9–10 NIV

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

There is a place where each of us belong.

Jesus is the way to that place.... the way home.