Sunday September 29, 2019

Text messages this morning. We are continuing in our series what's in a name looking at Jehovah Shalom. The Lord is peace. Literally the Lord is my peace. The Lord is your peace as you receive. Jehovah Shalom and declare his name as we get to know the names of God as he has revealed himself to us as we get to know more about him through his name's I think it is good for us because then we can call on the names of the Lord that he is Jehovah Rapha The God Who heals our diseases. He is Jehovah Nissi. He is my banner when I go into battle. He goes with me he goes before me and behind me and he takes me through the battle. He does battle for you and for me. So every time we learn something new as we did last week El Roi the God who sees and declared that he sees you he sees me he's aware. And it excites me that he knows Us by name. Of course. He does he cast a million billion stars him to the the sky when he created the heavens and the Earth and he knows every one of those Stars by name. He knows you by name as you pray to him. He's already knowing exactly who you are and what you need, but he loves to hear your requests making your requests known to him. How many of your parents?

And you some of your grandparents a couple break grandparents as you hear the request of your kids specially as we're getting closer to Christmas. I'm sure they're beginning to make their wants and wishes don't we need to make our wants and wishes known to our Heavenly Father? This morning we're going to be looking at a few passages and there are a plethora of passages in God's word about him as peace. He is the Prince of Peace.

And he's declared a nature about him, but let's start with looking at Gideon's. Accounting what what happened with him?

We find this in judges 2 chapter 6. We're going to be looking at verses 12 through 24. When the Lord appeared to Gideon. He said the Lord is with you. Mighty warrior.

Well, that's a strange greeting. If you've not been greeted by the Lord before and you're not considering yourself worthy of much when the angel of the lord of the Lord himself appeared to Gideon. He said the Lord is with you mighty warrior.

And what would you say? Here's what he said. Pardon me my Lord Gideon replied. If the Lord is with us the the Israelites the people of God, why has all of this happened to us? Have you ever called yourself? Scott yourself sane? God if you're really there why am I going through this mess this stuff?

If you're really with us Lord, why did the midianites warm down on us and steal everything that we have in here? I am hiding away in a wine press hidden away grinding out the grain so I can have some bread in my family.

Where are all the Wonders that our ancestors told us about? When they said did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt and I'm almost wondering whether he was thinking about habakkuk sprayer that we talked about last week. I've heard of your Fame. I know of all the deeds in and things that you've done. Do them again in our time in our diet? They make yourself known.

and so Gideon is questioning. Kind of tongue-in-cheek. I would think at this point did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt, but now the Lord has abandoned us. And given us into the hands of the Midian Army.

And the Lord turned to him and said go in the strength you have I understood that because there are times when God says to you and me I've given you strength. I've given you the ability to do when I'm calling you to do do it. Go in the strength you have and save is real out of the midians hand Mi. Sending you. Think on that for a minute.

Do pastor friend of mine has had under his teaching for? a couple of years when I was in youth group back in Santa Ana because all of us youth wanted to go to Chuck Smith Calvary Chapel Church in and we were amazed that we could sing for an hour. piano guitar so we just sing Hallelujah to the Lord and then we would listen to him just read right from the Bible That he would explain scripture to us for an hour and young people sitting there. That's an amazing thing.

But Chuck Smith had the same Chuck Smith 1 1 Where God guides he provides? Turn to your neighbor and say where God guides he provides.

and so God is saying the Lord is saying to Gideon am I not sending you and if I'm sending you I will give you the strength to do what I'm asking you to do go and do it.

Pardon me my Lord. Is again. Gideon replied but how can I save Israel? How can I do this my clan? Is the weakest in all of the tribe of Manasseh out of all of the 12 tribes Manassas the weakest of the tribes and and I am the least in my family. How could you expect that? I I alone Gideon. Could ever accomplish what you're asking me to do. I don't understand why you're calling me. I understand that. I cried out to the Lord when he came to me and said David I want you to be a minister of the gospel for me. And I said you got that all wrong Lord. Don't you know who I have been what I have done. You're calling the wrong guy.

And the Lord pop back as soon as I said that I know the troubles you've been through. I know your past but I know your future and the people I am sending to you have troubles problems.

And if I sent someone to them who never had a problem, how could they understand my people so I'm sending you. What could I say here? Am I send me?

Videos not quite there yet.

I'm a part of the badass that truck and that's clan of people is the least in all of the 12 tribes and I am the least in my family and why me Lord.

And the Lord answered I will be with you.

I'd just like you to underscore that in your in your mind and in your Bible. If you have been open in front of you. The Lord answered I will be with you no matter what you're going through. Temptations trials problems pain

I'm with you. You're going to make it you'll get through. You will strike down all of the midianites and leave none of them alive. Now if you had looked at the full scripture as we begin part way through actually. Gideon was aware that these midianites these roving mass of marauding robbers would descend upon them like locusts and you could not number there 10 store. The number of their camels. They were innumerable. It was a hard it was a mass of locust that would descend upon them right at Harvest Time and steal every one of their sheep and cattle and goats. But take anything they could have their food and leave them with nothing. They were a blight on Israel. And so Israel was beginning to feel like why do they take advantage of us year after year? Why do we put up with this year after year? enough is enough, but he wasn't willing to believe that God was going to strike down all of the midianites leaving none of them alive and you're going to do this to get Ian you

Gideon replied if now I have found favor in your eyes Give Me A Sign show me something that I'll know that it's really you talking to me because I'm going to go to some of my friends and ask them to join me at this endeavor and they're not going to believe me. Give me some kind of sign that it's really you talking to me. Please do not go away until I come back and bring an offering to set before you I'm going to do something for you. If you're going to do this for me. Let me do something for you. and the Lord said and I I love this one section. All of the Bible. The Lord said I will wait until you return I'm going to wait on you. How many times has God asked us to wait on him? Wait, wait wait on the Lord.

Recalled to wait on him. He's waiting on Gideon. The Lord is waiting for Gideon. It's so Gideon goes inside. He prepares a young goat that took a while. Are they prepared an ephah of flour and bake bread without yeast? This was unleavened bread. Any put the meat in a basket and the broth you put in a pot separately and he brought out the meat in the bread and the broth.

To offer them under the oak tree.

And the angel of God said to him take the meat in the unleavened bread and place them here on this rock then pour out the broth on top of it make it good and wet. Reminds me of Elijah.

They preparing the the bull. Top of the wood on top of the stones to make an offering to the Lord. Then he asked them to bring water and there been a drought for 2 and 1/2 years. So why did was very precious it was more precious than the than the offering it was on the wood the bull. He came and he asked for water to pour on top of the bowl and the wood to soak it and then he asked for more. And they kept pouring water on top of the bowl. What a great sacrifice water. They were probably thinking.

if that last drop

I need some water. It's a drought for 2 and 1/2 years. No water. hardly any food

And when Elijah called on the Lord the Lord set sent down fire and burned up. Not only.

the bull and the wood and all of the stones of the alter But not active all of the water to it. and in the same fashion

the angel of the Lord the Lord himself Took the staff in his hand and he touched the unleavened bread with a tip of his staff and fire flared from the rocket consume the beat in the bread in the broth, and it was gone. And the angel of the Lord was gone. He disappeared. But he wasn't really gone you'll see. Edward Gideon realized that this was The angel of the Lord this was the Lord. He exclaimed the last Sovereign Lord. I have seen the angel of the Lord face-to-face and like Hagar. I know if you looked at the original text, it would be implying I've seen God face to face and didn't die. He didn't strike me down, especially if it's I didn't believe it was him. But the Lord spoke out. And that idiot realized he wasn't really gone. The Lord said to him peace. Do not be afraid.

peace be I'm good cheer do not be afraid do not.

Fear that you're going to die. I'm not going to kill you.

So Gideon built an altar to the Lord there and called it. The Lord is peace declaring that is the name of the God that he came in contact with face to face. The Lord is my peace. That to this very day. It's stands and Oprah.

the a parasites

it would indicate that it's still there this altar. I just want you to know that God is a God of Peace as he was. To Gideon and we've got another scripture here. I want you to look at looking at the Lord is peace. This is found in. John 14 1 through 27, how often I've read this at a funeral I found Hope in at myself. Look how Jesus is speaking these words John the Apostle has written them down for us in John's gospel chapter 14 verse 1 through 27. follow along do not let your hearts be troubled. Isn't that a beautiful way to start do not let your hearts be troubled. You have troubles. I have troubles there things that trouble Us in life. This is a very sin-sick world that we're living in. Could I caution you not to turn on the Evening News because it'll just depress you. I've screamed the TV more than once my wife will bear me witness. Do not let your hearts be troubled believe in God. Jesus says believe also in me.

in my father's house are many rooms other translations say there are many mansions and if it were not so what I have told you that I'm going there to prepare a place for you. No, it's it's it's true. There is. And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me. But you also will be where I am.

You know the way to the place where I am going now, there's a wonderful question. Jesus asks of his disciples and you can just wonder what's going through their minds. We don't have to wonder long because Thomas doubting Thomas didymus beans actually a twin. So I wonder if his twin brother was his downfall as he was, said to him Lord know where you're going. So how will we know the way? Good question. But Jesus had the answer you always dance Destiny Jesus answered. I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the father except through me. If you really know me you will know my father as well. From now on you do not know him. From now on you do know him and you have seen him. Another disciple Philip. Philip said Lord show us the father and then that will be enough for us. Jesus answered don't you know me Philip even after all this time. I've been among you for such a long time. Anyone who has seen me has seen the father. How can you say show me the father if you've seen me you've seen the father. Don't you believe that I am in the father and the father is in me. The words I say to you. I do not speak on my own authority rather. It is the father living in me who is doing this work? Believe me when I say that I am in the father and the father is in me, or at least believe on the evidence of The Works themselves. Verily verily or truly truly I say to you whoever believes in me.

Will do the works that I have been doing and they will do even greater things than these because I am going to the father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name grab this and I will do whatever you ask in my name so that the father may be glorified in the son.

You may ask me for anything in my name. If you believe with all of your heart. And I will do it. If you don't go out with anything else, would you grab a hold of that and believe that you have favor with the Lord God Almighty? If you ask the father in the name of the son and you believe he'll do it for you. Amen trust in Jesus promises the Holy Spirit In this passage if you love me. Keep my Commandments. And I will ask the father and he will give you another Advocate another. Who will come to you and he will help you and he will be with you. What? forever forever

the spirit of Truth the world cannot accept him because it neither sees him or knows him, but you know him for he lives with you and will be in you.

He will not leave you as orphans.

I will come to you.

Before long the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me because I live you will also live and on that day, you will realize that I am in the father and the father is in me and I am in you I am with you.

Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. Are you feeling the love? Are you giving the love?

There's an old song that says You're Nobody Till Somebody. What? All you know it. He loves you. Therefore. You are somebody somebody in him.

I too will love them and show them myself.

the Judas another disciple not Judas, Iscariot

but Lord Why do you intend to show yourself to us and and not to the world?

fair question Jesus replied anyone who loves me will obey my teaching my father will love them and we will come to them and make our home with them. Are you grasping this? Jesus says the father and I are going to come and make our home in you because we love you if you love us. We're going to abide in you were going to live in you through you. Make your home in me. You art anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching these words. You hear are not my own they belong to the father who sent me. We're almost done. All of this, I have spoken while still with you, but the advocate of the Holy Spirit whom the father will send in my name will teach you all things and will remind you of everything that I have said to you. He's going to bring it back to your your minds.

At this is where we were all going, but you had to find the other kid really get this. Jesus leaves off by saying peace I leave with you my peace. I give to you I do not give you as the world gives peace. I give you my peace. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid to those words sound familiar at the end. That's what he started what they were bookends. Do not let your hearts be troubled. He said be leaving. God believe also in me any ends in this passage by saying do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Do we fear?

If you have fear you can't have peace. They can't abide together that one more quick little scripture and then I've got a couple of things. I just like to share with you and I'll send you out into the world this big bad world that we live in. I have told you these things John says in chapter 16 verse 33. He's continuing the same thought later. He says I have told you these things. So then in me, the Lord says you may have peace in the world. You have trouble.

amen in the world you will have trouble. But take heart be encouraged. I have overcome the world and you will overcome the world. As I am in you and you were in me a word that we don't use in our English language so much today abide. If you abide in me live in me, and I abide in living you. You will have peace. Beforeiplay just a little. Video clip about peace. I just like to share a couple of thoughts.

Francis of Assisi if you know the name Saint Francis by another name. And early 1st Century monk pen these words that have inspired many people over the years and here's his prayer. Please listen Lord make me an instrument of your peace. Would that be your prayer in mind Lord make me an instrument of your peace where there is hatred. Let me sow love where there is injury. Pardon where there is doubt. Let me sow Faith where there is despair. Hope where there is Darkness light. Where is there a sadness Joy? Oh Divine Master grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console others.

Not so much strive to be understood as to understand. to be loved but rather to love for it is in giving that we receive it is in pardoning that we are pardoned. It is also in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.

Author of this is unknown. But I love this little poem.

Cuz I remember Jesus being in the boat and the storm came and he was sleeping you remember that story and the disciples were fearful. They were thinking that the boat was going to sink because of the wind and the waves and Jesus stood in the front of the boat after they woke him up, and he said Peace. be still and the waves calm and the winds dissipated. And Jesus turned to them and they were all fearful. Faithless in the back of the boat and they said who is this that even the winds and the waves obey him? Hear these words Lord. Keep me still though the stormy winds may blow and waves my little boat May overflow. Or even if in darkness, I must go Lord. Keep me still. The waves are in die hand. The roughest Seas subside at your command stir though my boat steer my boat. Safely to land and keep me still. Lord keep me still peace is the calm of mine that is not ruffled by adversity. over clouded by remorse

a straight-up conscious

or disturbed by Peter

we have peace in the midst of our storm because Jesus. Is with us and he is the Lord our peace. You may not know that Jerusalem. Jerusalem the word Salem means peace it is the city of God, but it is the city of peace. ironically not laughable But there has been little peace in Jerusalem until the Prince of Peace comes again. And then there will be Eternal peace and rest in Jerusalem. Watch this little video and then we will close.

Many have given their lives on the road to peace.

Many have spent their lives on the road to peace and some even gave up their lives on the road to peace. but the true Peacemaker Jesus Christ has come that we might all have peace. May you know him by his name the Lord of Peace this day and forever more. Would you stand with me?